These are some of the top headlines in Bulgarian newspapers on February 21 2008. The Sofia Echo has not verified these stories and cannot vouch for their accuracy.

Politics

- The Cabinet refused to grant the Kremikovtzi management breathing space on repayment of on old debts. Kremikovtzi's majority shareholder was sentenced to pay 239 million leva for failing to meet his commitments, Dnevnik daily reported.

- Employers who hire foreigners illegally could face prison terms, instead of just fines, as it is now, Monitor daily said.

Social

- Quality certificate to sift out medical laboratories with the aim that their analyses be recognized in the EU, Dnevnik reported.

Economy

- The capital market is sinking into an information chaos, Pari daily claimed. Starting from March 1, public listed companies will have to choose how to make public the information they are required to publish, instead of it being the bourse's responsibility to distribute it.

- Farmers received 430 million leva in subsidies for 2007, but thousands tried to beat the system by demanding higher subsidies than the ones they were entitled to, Dnevnik daily said.