FESTIVE SEASON SHOPPING: Go for the glow

In an effort to help you catch up with your Christmas shopping, we take you round a selection of perfume and jewellery outlets

If Christmas has, once again, found you with a long list of presents to buy, little time on your hands and not that many ideas on your mind, it's always safe to turn to tried and tested formulas. Getting your loved ones a favourite fragrance or a new jewel (or, if they're that lucky - both) is bound, while also making your life easier, to leave them glowing with contentment.

Press review: Headlines in Bulgarian papers on November 27 2008

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

First Starbucks opens in Sofia

For those of you who have long been craving a sip of your favourite Starbucks coffee, the wait is finally over. You can already get your cup in the very centre of Sofia, at 62 General Yossif Gourko Street, right on the corner with Vassil Levski Boulevard. "We are proud that with the opening of our first shop in Bulgaria we will present Starbucks Coffee and the unique Starbucks experience to our clients in a country with traditions and a very rich coffee culture," Yannis Kalfakakos, executive director of Marinopoulos Coffee Company Bulgaria, the company holding the license to operate Starbucks coffee shops in the country, said at the November 26 opening.

Press review: Headlines in Bulgarian papers on November 26 2008

These are some of the top stories in Bulgarian newspapers on November 26 2008. The Sofia Echo has not verified these stories and cannot vouch for their accuracy.

Bulgaria, Austria sign new culture, science and education programme

On November 24, Bulgaria and Austria representatives signed at the Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs in Vienna the new three-year programme on co-operation in the field of culture, science and education between their respective governments. The programme is based on the cultural agreement between Austria and Bulgaria, signed in 1973.

Visegrad Group asks Brazil to recognise market economies in CEE

The forthcoming second summit of the European Union and Brazil, scheduled for December 2008, needs to discuss the issue of Brazil recognising Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia as market economies, foreign ministers of the respective states concluded at a meeting of the Visegrad Group in Warsaw on November 24, the press service of the Bulgarian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

Bulgarian FM to open first meeting of new tourism committee

On November 26, Bulgarian Foreign Minister Ivailo Kalfin will open and host the first meeting of the newly-created consultative committee on tourism, the press service of the Foreign Ministry said in a statement. The meeting is expected to discuss a project for a national strategy for sustainable development of tourism in Bulgaria for the period 2008/13, as well as a draft law on amendments to the Tourism Act. It will also review the annual programme for national tourism advertisement for 2009 and will discuss the requirements towards the tourism associations listed in the National Tourism Register.

Press review: Headlines in Bulgarian papers on November 25 2008

These are some of the top stories in Bulgarian newspapers on November 25 2008. The Sofia Echo has not verified these stories and cannot vouch for their accuracy.

First female president of European Parliament visits Bulgaria

On November 23, the first female president of European Parliament, distinguished European politician Simone Veil, arrived to an official visit to Bulgaria at the invitation of Speaker of Bulgarian Parliament Georgi Pirinski and the rector of Sofia University St Kliment Ohridski, Ivan Ilchev. On November 24, Veil met Pirinski and Deputy Speaker of Parliament Anastassia Mozer, who chairs the group for friendship with France, MP and historian Andrei Pantev and the head of the Bulgarian Diplomatic Institute Milan Milanov, the press service of the Parliament said in a statement.

Bulgarian FM joins Visegrád Group meeting in Warsaw

On November 24, Bulgarian Foreign Minister Ivailo Kalfin will join the meeting of foreign ministers from the countries of the Visegrád Group, made of the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia. The meeting will also be attended by foreign minister from the Baltic states, Romania, Slovenia and Sweden, the press service of the Bulgarian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

Press review: Headlines in Bulgarian papers on November 24 2008

These are some of the top stories in Bulgarian newspapers on November 24 2008. The Sofia Echo has not verified these stories and cannot vouch for their accuracy.

Bulgarian national kidnapped in Nigeria, $4.2 million ransom demanded

On November 20, unknown individuals kidnapped a Bulgarian national in Nigeria, the spokesperson of the Foreign Ministry said in a statement. The name of the kidnapped Bulgarian, as well as more details about the incident, have not being made public at the request of the relatives. The kidnappers were asking for $4.2 million in ransom, a Nigerian intelligence services source was quoted as saying by Reuters news agency. According to the same source, the Bulgarian was attacked in the city of Aba and was forcefully pulled out of the car he was travelling in.

Buena Vista Social Club's Eliades Ochoa to perform in Bulgaria in December

Two-time Grammy award winner, "the guitar and the voice" of legendary formation Buena Vista Social Club, Eliades Ochoa, will arrive in Sofia to present the new album Buena Vista Social Club at Carnegie Hall. The concert, scheduled for December 10, 8pm at Hall 1 of the National Palace of Culture (NDK) in Sofia, will see eight people (two trumpets, two guitars, piano, two on percussions and a contrabass) fill the hall with the warmest sounds and rhythms of Cuba.

Weekend weather: stay warm, stay safe

Weather over the weekend will worsen considerably, forecasts say, and the dropping temperatures combined with the first snowfalls for the season have prompted meteorologists to warn against any mountain activities. Though the past two days have been quite warm and sunny, Saturday November 22 will see a sudden and sharp drop in temperatures, with the lowest values reaching seven to eight below zero degrees Celsius.

Press review: Headlines in Bulgarian papers on November 21 2008

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

EULEX quarrels

The future deployment of the EU's rule of law mission in Kosovo remains vague

When on February 16 the European Union officially announced its plans to launch its own police, justice and customs mission in what would within 24 hours be an independent state rather than a Serbian province, it probably did not expect to see its ambitions of making it operational within four months go down the drain. EULEX, which was originally intended to start safeguarding the rule of law in Kosovo in mid-June, currently has a mere quarter of its staff dispatched and the wrangles surrounding its legal framework are steadily diminishing the credibility of its presence in the newly-founded state, not to mention its supposed December start-off.

Bulgaria's President to take part in SEE economic forum

On November 21, Bulgarian President Georgi Purvanov will participate in the fifth Regional Economic Forum for South East Europe held in Ohrid, Macedonia, the press service of the Presidency said. The economic meeting will bring together the presidents of Albania, Bulgaria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Croatia and Montenegro. As part of the forum, Purvanov is set to meet Nebojsa Radmanovic, the Serb member of the tripartite presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Press review: Headlines in Bulgarian papers on November 20 2008

These are some of the top stories in Bulgarian newspapers on November 20 2008. The Sofia Echo has not verified these stories and cannot vouch for their accuracy.

Bulgarian FM visits Syria, signs two agreements

On November 19, Bulgarian Foreign Minister Ivailo Kalfin and Syrian counterpart Walid al-Muallem signed in Damascus a memorandum on holding regular political consultations between the foreign ministries of the two states and an executive programme on the culture agreement between the two governments for the 2009/11 period, the press service of the Foreign Ministry said. Kalfin began his official three-day visit to Syria and Jordan on November 18.

Bulgarian President visiting Serbia

On November 19, Bulgarian President Georgi Purvanov is making a work visit to Serbia, the press service of the Presidency said in a statement. In Belgrade, Purvanov is scheduled to meet Serbian counterpart Boris Tadic, and plenary talks between the Bulgarian and Serbian delegations are set to take place.

The Sofia Echo on the changing job market in Bulgaria

The global economic crisis and moves by some European Union countries to extend their ban on Bulgarians taking jobs are having an effect on job market patterns in Bulgaria. In the issue published on November 21 2008, The Sofia Echo has full details.

Press review: Headlines in Bulgarian papers on November 19 2008

These are some of the top stories in Bulgarian newspapers on November 19 2008. The Sofia Echo has not verified these stories and cannot vouch for their accuracy.

Six new border points between Bulgaria, Greece to open by 2012

Six new border points between Bulgaria and Greece are scheduled to be opened by 2012, Bulgarian Deputy Regional Development Minister Dimcho Mihalevski said in Greece, as quoted by Bulgarian National Radio and website mediapool.bg. Mihalevski is currently on a visit to Bulgaria's southern neighbour, where he is discussing policies on construction and rehabilitation of roads leading to the existent and future border points on the Bulgarian-Greek border.

Press review: Headlines in Bulgarian papers on November 18 2008

These are some of the top stories in Bulgarian newspapers on November 18 2008. The Sofia Echo has not verified these stories and cannot vouch for their accuracy.

Bulgarian FM on human rights

On November 17, Bulgarian Foreign Minister Ivailo Kalfin, addressing participants at an international conference on human rights in Sofia said that "the sense for justice hardly fits in solely in good legislation - it is related to the mentality and cast of mind of society." "The sense for justice comprises the moral views of society as well. The look to the moral categories beyond legislation is extremely important.

UN war crimes tribunal top prosecutor visits Serbia

Chief prosecutor of the United Nations' International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY), Serge Brammertz, is visiting Belgrade for talks with high-ranking Serbian officials in preparation of his regular six-month report on Serbia's co-operation with ICTY, due to be submitted to the UN Security Council at end-November, Serbian broadcaster B92 reported. On November 18, Brammertz is due to meet the head of the National Council for Cooperation with the Hague Tribunal Rasim Ljajic and war crimes prosecutor Vladimir Vukcevic. On November 19, he will talk to Serbian prime minister Mirko Cvetkovic and president Boris Tadic, the broadcaster said.

Estonian, Bulgarian FMs to open business forum in Sofia

On November 18, Estonian foreign minister Urmas Paet and Bulgarian counterpart Ivailo Kalfin will open a Bulgarian-Estonian business forum in Sofia as part of Paet's official visit to Bulgaria, the press service of the Foreign Ministry said in a statement. During his two-day stay in the country, Paet will be accompanied by a 15-member business delegation. He is scheduled to have a private meeting with Kalfin, followed by plenary talks between the two delegations.

Press review: Headlines in Bulgarian papers on November 17 2008

These are some of the top stories in Bulgarian newspapers on November 17 2008. The Sofia Echo has not verified these stories and cannot vouch for their accuracy.

Seeking justice

Foreign law firms protest to the European Commission about Bulgarian law on lawyers

Several foreign law companies operating in Bulgaria have complained to the European Commission, saying that Bulgaria's Bar Act is preventing them from practising law in Bulgaria on equal terms with local firms - and that the legislation does not comply with European rules. DLA Piper Weiss-Tessbach, CMS Cameron McKenna, CMS Reich-Rohrwig Hainz, Wolf Theiss and CHSH Cerha Hempel Spiegelfeld Hlawati say that the Bulgarian Bar Act breaches both the EC Treaty and Directive 98/5/EC by violating the rights of European Union lawyers to practice and set up branches in Bulgaria and prevents the foreign firms from operating under their own names.

Bosnia's turn

Preoccupied with the rising tensions in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the European Union has sought ways to prevent the outbreak of a new crisis on the peninsula

The year 2008 has seen a lot of drama in the Balkans. The secession of Kosovo from Serbia, and Macedonia's stalled Nato bid as a consequence of its unresolved name dispute with neighbouring Greece were events that caused serious tremors in the volatile region and caught the eye of the international community, who put in considerable effort to make sure the tensions would not grow into open conflicts.