In connection with his telephone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Trud newspaper quotes Prime Minister Boyko Borissov as saying: 

“Putin expressed extraordinary goodwill with regard to Bulgaria and the Belene NPP and Balkan gas hub projects.”

The Bulgarian Prime Minister informed the Russian president that Bulgaria would demand a re-examination of the interest rates the National Electric Company will have to pay the Russian Atomstroyexport for equipment manufactured for the aborted Belene NPP.  

There are people convicted of or under investigation for various crimes who have been registered by the Central Election Commission and will be running for president, indicate the biographies of some of the presidential candidates, nominated by 15 initiative committees, 12 parties and 5 coalitions. The deadline for registration of candidates expired on Monday, Sega newspaper writes.

“14,000 people have contacted us over the first seven months of the year, whereas their number for the whole of 2015 was 20,500. At this rate, the numbers in 2016 will exceed those in 2015 which means there are more people inclined to seek their rights,” says Dimitar Margaritov, chairman of the Consumer Protection Commission in an interview for Trud newspaper. The greatest number of grievances are still in the telecommunications sector – around 40 percent. People are complaining of defective telephones, laptops, tablets. Other problems concern the quality of services offered, people are also disputing bills. Another problem is the attitude to customers by what are known as the natural monopolists – electricity distribution companies, central heating companies.

Stolen electricity will cost the culprits three times as much as before, 24 Chassa writes. Energy Minister Temenuzhka Petkova explained that the option of charging stolen electricity retrospectively – for the previous 6 instead of 3 months as is the case now – is being discussed with the Energy and Water Regulatory Commission. She is proposing that the money from the sanctions go to a fund for the poor and for investments, after deduction of costs incurred by the companies.

Around 9,000 Leva is the sum parents pay kindergartens during the first parent-teacher meetings, Monitor writes. Every family has to pay 50 to 100 Leva for wet hankies, water, repair work etc. However, these payments are not legal, as many mayors have issued ordinances to headmasters not to collect any money from parents.

“Chauffeurs and secretaries at the Medical University with professorial salaries. Former rector buys corporate jeep that costs 180,000,” reads a headline in today’s Standart newspaper.