In a decision on an issue that symbolises the divisions in the Bulgarian Orthodox Church, its national council has turned down a proposal to return to the Julian calendar and celebrate Christmas on January 7. The decision was taken at the sixth National Orthodox Church Council, which began meeting on May 14 and closes on May 18. The council is discussing wide range of issues, including the permissible minimum age limit for its head, to be elected after the death of Patriarch Maxim, who is in his 90s and in frail health. read more

Delay of additional information, lack of qualified staff at national and local levels and a lack of parliamentary support were some of the findings in a report adopted by Parliament's subcommittee on the absorption of European Union funds on May 17 2008. The report was presented in Black Sea town of Kavarna and covered funds absorbed by Bulgaria for the period January 1 2007 - June 8 2008, Bulgarian National Radio said. read more

Queen Elizabeth II of England and the Duke of Edinburgh concluded a four-day state visit to Turkey on May 16 with a reception at the British embassy, given in their honour. The Queen and her husband Prince Philip were on a visit in Ankara from May 12. She described Turkey as a "confident and dynamic democracy," Agence France-Presse agency said. She praised close ties between Ankara and London and underlined British support for Turkey's bid to join the European Union. read more

Massive protests of transport companies are scheduled for May 19 2008 in 38 towns throughout Bulgaria. In Sofia, lorries are expected to block the right lane of Tsarigradsko Chousse in the direction of Sofia centre, according to an order signed on May 17 by Sofia mayor Boiko Borissov. read more

The Parliament's subcommittee on the absorption of European Union funds will present a report on the funds absorbed by Bulgaria for the period January 1 2007 - June 8 2008. The report will be presented at a sub-committee's session held on May 17 2008 in the Black Sea town of Kavarna, Parliament's website said. read more

These are some of the top headlines in Bulgarian newspapers on May 17 2008. The Sofia Echo has not verified these stories and cannot vouch for their accuracy. Saturday May 17 is an official working day in Bulgaria, to compensate for the additional non-working days between May 1 and 6. read more

An international conference “Integration of new immigrants: European policies” starts on May 17 2008 in Sofia's Military Club Dnevnik daily said. The conference aims at joining the efforts of state institutions, NGOs and immigrant communities in Bulgaria in integrating immigrants to Bulgarian society. read more

Bulgarian government has been warned that the country could lose its right to take part in European Union voting procedures, Elmar Brock, chairman of the Foreign Policy Committee of the European Parliament (EP) told Bulgarian-language Dnevnik daily on May 16 2008. Other than that, Bulgaria could face financial and political sanctions imposed by the EU, Brock said. This would include the freezing of funds Bulgaria was entitled to as an EU member Dnevnik said. read more

The Bulgarian-Portuguese consortium that was suppose dto build the last remaining sections of the Trakiya highway between Sofia and Bourgas has sent an e-mail to Regional Development Minister Assen Gagaouzov that it failed to raise the necessary funds for it, Gagaouzov told Parliament on May 16 2008. The Cabinet would make an official decision to cancel the concession within a few days, Gagaouzov sad, as quoted by Bulgarian news agency Focus. read more

Bulgarian Prime Minister Sergei Stanishev, whom United States president George W Bush addressed as “Mr Clean” in 2007, will pay a visit to the White House on June 18 2008. The news came after Stansihev met US ambassador to Bulgaria John Beyrle on May 16 2008. read more