These are some of the top headlines in Bulgarian newspapers on August 1 2008. The Sofia Echo has not verified these stories and cannot vouch for their accuracy.

Politics

- The day after Parliament rejected the sixth no-confidence motion against the Cabinet, President Georgi Purvanov said he was “disappointed with its (the motion’s) futility,” Dnenvik daily revealed. “The Cabinet after all […] showed the will, readiness and specific plans to get out of the current situation,” Purvanov said.

Social

- Some opposition parties are already ready to boycott Parliament’s sessions in the autumn of 2008, Monitor daily said. The Order, Law and Justice party announced it intends to launch protests on September 10, Parliament’s first working day in the autumn.

- The supreme environmental expert council has approved construction in the Strandja nature park, Dnevnik said. The body, which falls under control of the Environment and Water Affairs Ministry, approved small amendments in the zoning plan of the municipality of Tsarevo, by which construction along the coastal line of the park would continue.

Economy

- Only two days after US CME bought TV2 and Ring TV, another even larger deal was completed in the Bulgarian media market, Dnevnik said. Scandinavian media group Modern Times Grup (MTG) bought Nova Television, cable channel Nova+ and 80 per cent of the lifestyle magazine Eva for 620 million euro from the Greek Antena Group.

- Gas supplier Bulgargaz has renounced its intentions to cut off supplies for Kremikovtzi steel mill, Dnevnik said. On July 30, Bulgargaz announced that it would cut off the supplies to the mill because of unpaid debts.