These are some of the top headlines in Bulgarian newspapers on May 16 2008. The Sofia Echo has not verified these stories and cannot vouch for their accuracy.

Politics

Cabinet said it would announce within a month the tenders for the construction of 107 km of Trakiya highway, Monitor daily said. The state budget would provide the funding.

The Prosecution launched an investigation against the former head of National Road Infrastructure Fund Vesselin Georgiev, Sega daily said. The investigation was launched hours after Prosecutor-General Boris Velchev received a report of Bulgarian National Audit Office, detailing extensive flaws in the operations of NRIF and its institutional predecessor, the Executive Agency Roads, over the period from January 1 2006 to June 30 2007.

Society

Starting September 1, all Bulgarians have to select a private health insurance, Dnevnik daily said. Those who do not select one themselves, would be appointed one by the state.

Economy

Bulgaria and Greece would be the top destinations for mass tourism from Russia, Dnevnik quoted Russian media as saying. The information confirmed expectations from Bulgarian tour operators, which hoped for 25 to 30 per cent increase in Russian tourists coming to Bulgaria.

First Investment Bank had no problems with its payment abilities or liquidity, Roumen Simeonov from Bulgarian National Bank told Dnevnik. The statement came in response to rumours about financial problems about the bank.

Ecobulpack opened the first refuse processing plant in Bulgaria, Dnevnik said. The investment was worth eight million leva. The plant would process glass, plastic and paper refuse.

The Cabinet decided to allow KG Maritime Shipping to buy 70 per cent of Navigation Maritime Bulgare (Navibulgar), according to Dnevnik. It would be the biggest deal in the current Cabinet’s mandate.