Reports on serious issues facing Bulgaria and the wider region are among highlights in the issue of The Sofia Echo published on August 22 2008.

New statistics show that Bulgarians are among the lowest-paid employees not only in the European Union, but also in comparison to several other countries in Central and Eastern Europe. Petar Kostadinov has the details.

From Tbilisi, Elena Koinova reports exclusively for The Sofia Echo on the situation in the city and the plight of refugees fleeing the conflict with Russia over the breakaway territory of South Ossetia.

Defence Minister Nikolai Tsonev has vowed to clear up the controversy involving alleged dodgy deals involving military properties, while elsewhere in the business section, the newspaper has reports on trends in the air travel industry’s involvement in the Black Sea cities of Varna and Bourgas.

The features section presents Bulgaria’s answer to Madonna, while Bozhidar Stefanov samples Bulgaria’s air to test claims about pollution, and Rory Parsons takes a quizzical look at the story of the country’s stolen tanks and other matters military.

Appearing, as usual, are our regular columnists, and The Sofia Echo’s regular venue and restaurant review, listings of what’s on at the cinema and in live entertainment.

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