Politics
- Franz-Hermann Brüner, head of the European Anti-Fraud Office, would arrive in Sofia on August 21 at the invitation of Deputy Prime Minister for European Union Funds Meglena Plougchieva, Dnevnik daily said. In Sofia, Brüner would meet Prime Minister Sergei Stanishev, Interior Minister Mihail Mikov and Justice Minister Miglena Tacheva, as well as Prosecutor-General Boris Velchev.
- The Cabinet planned to launch three major infrastructure deals before the end of its term in office, Dnevnik said. It would start the underground system expansion, the electrification of the railway stretch between the town of Svilengrad and the Turkish border, and an intermodal transport terminal in Sofia. The three projects are part of the Cabinet’s action plan for EU funds management.
Social
- University diplomas would have hologram stickers to prevent forgery, Dnevnik said. The first such diplomas would be issued to the students graduating in 2009, Education Minister Daniel Vulchev said.
- Most people at the age of retiring preferred to buy labour experience, National Social Security Institute data showed as quoted by Sega daily. Pensioners could "purchase" up to five years of labour experience to increase the amount of their pension.
- Nearly three million sq m of forests were burned down in a forest fire near the southeastern town of Svilengrad, Sega said. It took the fire fighters three days to extinguish the fire.
Economy
- Luxury offices’ rents in Sofia increased by 1.4 per cent in the second quarter of 2008, Monitor daily quoted consultancy agency CB Richard Ellis as saying. The prices already reach 18.25 euro a sq m.
