These are some of the top headlines in Bulgarian newspapers on August 20 2008. The Sofia Echo has not verified these stories and cannot vouch for their accuracy.

Politics

- Almost all branch organisations in the agriculture field and processing industry would join the protest of livestock-breeders under Shipka peak on August 21, Dnevnik daily said. Last week, dairy producers granted a delay of one week to the Agriculture and Food Ministry to pay them state subsidies for March 2008. The farmers claim few of them had received any money but, according to the minister Valeri Tsvetanov, the money was paid on August 12.

Social

- A multifunctional sports hall and a hotel of 400 beds would be built in the Sofia’s north park, Dnevnik said. The construction was included in the park's new zoning plan.

- Authorities in Plovdiv were demolishing illegally built workshops, shops and metal garages in the Roma-populated neighbourhood of Stolipinovo. The action would last for four days. About 30 objects were demolished on the first day.

- Part of Bulgaria’s population was becoming drastically poorer, Sega daily said, quoting a Labour and Social Policy ministry. About 57 per cent of families with three children were considered poor. In 2005 the percentage was 31.5.

- A five-km long queue of cargo vehicles was waiting at Kalotina border checkpoint only a day after cash payments were forbidden, Monitor daily said. The new system has terminated the former practice of blackmailing drivers for ‘tips’ to cross the border faster, the newspaper said.

Economy
 
- More than 18 months after entry to the European Union, salaries in Bulgaria continue to be the lowest not only in the Union, but also in the whole of Eastern Europe, Dnevnik quoted information service EurActiv as saying. The average salary was nearly half that of Romania and 18 times lower than the German equivalent.