“We are not happy with a two-speed Europe,” Trud writes, quoting an interview given by President-elect Rumen Radev for the Financial Times.“I think we face common threats — terrorism, Islamic fundamentalism — and co-operation between NATO and Russia is necessary,” he says. Rumen Radev goes on to say that he will launch a personal campaign to tackle Bulgaria’s chronic problems with graft, pointing to neighbouring Romania’s success in jailing corrupt politicians and recovering stolen EU funds.  Standart writes that laughing off his reputation for being Russia-orientated, Rumen Radev says his first trips abroad will be to Brussels and Bucharest, not Moscow.

Following a publication by Trud newspaper that Islamists in Syria are using Bulgarian-made weapons, the prosecutor’s office has decided to consider the issue on its own initiative, writes the newspaper. An inspection of the exporting firm – Arcus arms company – has been ordered.

The economic growth rate in Bulgaria in 2016 came as a surprise even to Finance Minister Vladislav Goranov, Standart writes. “A successful financial year – the budget is going well, the financial plan is being implemented, the economic growth is a surprise compared even to our own financial projections,” Minister Goranov said and added that the optimism among businesses is good reason for a rise in domestic consumption.

Heavy duty vehicles and undercover agents will be put in place to ensure security in Batenberg square in Sofia, where people will throng on New Year’s Eve to celebrate, today’s papers write. The security measures were planned after an analysis of the terrorist act in Berlin on 19 December.

The damage assessment in Hitrino village, where freight train tanks exploded on 10 December, killing seven and wounding dozens and destroying many houses, will be ready within a fortnight. Warm meals will be provided for the population of the village until spring, Telegraph writes. The people living in one of Bulgaria’s poorest regions – Madan – have collected seven tons of potatoes they will donate to Hitrino, 24 Chassa on its part writes.  

France tops the world list of foie gras manufacturers with 20,000 tons per year, Yet an RTL survey shows that 80 percent of the French foie gras sold in the world is actually Bulgarian, purchased and relabeled in France, Zemya writes.

Compiled by Miglena Ivanova

English version: Milena Daynova