These are some of the top headlines in Bulgarian newspapers on June 27 2008. The Sofia Echo has not verified these stories and cannot vouch for their accuracy.

Politics

- Within days, political and diplomatic factors would most probably set in motion the deal for French corvettes for Bulgarian navy, which had been blocked for three years, Denvnik daily said. In 2005, Defence Ministry launched a tender for four vessels, which was won by the French company Armaris, but the deal was frozen because there is still no official document announcing the winner of the tender.

Society

- Big corruption remains unpunished, deals are being delayed and citizens are making fewer tip-offs, magistrates admitted, as quoted by Dnevnik. Supreme Court of Cassation judge Nikolai Durmonski said that the court was currently trying cases dating back to 1992 and 1993.

Economy

- The significant increase in the amount of fines for employers, who violate labour legislation, advantaged corruption, labour and employers’ unions said as quoted by Sega daily. The fine for hiring an employee without labour contract had risen from 1500 leva to 15 000 leva.

- Electricity distribution companies would sell electricity at prices, varying in the different regions, starting July 1, State Energy and Water Regulatory Commission head Konstantin Shoushoulov said, as quoted by Dnevnik. The average price increase approved by the commission on June 26 is 14 per cent.

- Construction in Studentski Grad (Students' Town) will be frozen most probably within several weeks, Monitor daily said. The area was already over-constructed.

- Bobov Dol thermal energy plant was sold without bidding for 100 million leva, Dnevnik said. There was only one bidder for the plant.