These are some of the top stories in Bulgarian newspapers on October 10 2008. The Sofia Echo has not verified these stories and cannot vouch for their accuracy.
- Dnevnik daily, among others, leads on the dismissal of Ivan Drashkov, deputy head of the State Agency for National Security. Drahskov was dismissed by Prime Minister Sergei Stanishev on October 9 on the request of SANS' head Petko Sertov. No reason was given, although Drashkov's brother Petar Drashkov was involved in a row about a property scheme in Sofia worth millions of leva.
- Monitor daily reports on claims that former interior minister Roumen Petkov had applied pressure on a witness to testify against the Marinov brothers - Krassimir and Nikolai. Evelin “Brendo” Banev, who has a money laundering investigation pending against him, said Petkov had asked him to testify against the brothers, a request he refused. Petkov called Banev's words “an absurd”.
Economy
- Sega daily reports about the Government's readiness to guarantee bank deposits worth 100 000 leva in light of the financial crisis that originated on Wall Street.
- Dnevnik reports about the possible delay of Austrian steel giant Voestalpine's five billion euro investment in South East Europe due to the world financial crisis. At the end of last year, Voestalpine announced plans to build a massive steel-producing factory either in Bulgaria, Romania or Ukraine.
- Dnevnik reports on the approved route of Hemus highway that is suppose to link Sofia to Varna on the Black Sea in parallel to Trakiya highway linking Sofia to Bourgas. The route will go around Veliko Turnovo, which is currently in the middle of the Sofia Varna road. Currently less than 150km of the 423km long highway have been built.
Social
- Duma daily reports about Switzerland's decision to hold a referendum in May 2009 on allowing Bulgarians and Romanians into the Swiss labour market.
- Novinar reports about the demand of 90 NGOs who insist on the closure of large social-homes for children. The NGOs want these homes to be replaced by family type centres where children will be raised in an environment closer to the family one.
