Caretaker Health Minister Ilko Semerdjiev promised a full analysis of the health system by the end of the week, Zemya and Monitor newspapers write, quoting an interview he gave for the Bulgarian National Radio. In that time, the public will have all its questions answered, including regarding the controversial admission to hospital using a fingerprinting system. Patients will from now on be at the centre of the health system, Semerdjiev promises. Zemya quotes former Minister of Health Petar Moskov as saying that the fingerprint identification system he introduced has resulted in a reduction of hospital spendings by around 500,000 euro per day. “A health disaster is in the offing,” warns Prof. Dr. Krassimir Ivanov in an interview for Trud newspaper. The young are leaving the country, many of the medics are now over 60, he says.

The Czech energy company CEZ is looking for a buyer of its business in Bulgaria, Capital Daily writes. Local holding groups that do not carry much weight in power generation, as well as one French, one Turkish and one Romanian company have so far displayed an interest. This is the biggest non-state owned energy business in the country. The company supplies Sofia and the whole of Western Bulgaria with electricity.

Thousands of teachers stand to lose their right to free inter-city travel, under the new law on education, Sega writes. The pedagogues will have to spend up to one fifth of their salaries just to be able to get to work and back. Trud quotes former Minister of Education Meglena Kuneva as saying that over the space of 14 years 764 state and municipal schools have been closed down and just 12 have been opened because of the demographic crisis.

According to Eurostat data, quoted by Zemya, food is cheaper in Poland and Romania than it is in Bulgaria. Incomes in this country are the lowest in the EU, yet food prices are 68 percent above the European average.  

The son of a Bulgarian national has been named 2017 Young Australian of the year. 27-year old Paul Vasileff is an acclaimed fashion designer, the man who created the fashion label Paolo Sebastian when he was just 17. He is the first Australian designer to have taken part in the Paris Couture Week.

A 200-year old pedunculate oak in a locality known as Marash near Straldja, Southeastern Bulgaria was declared a protected tree, Trud writes, quoting the Bulgarian National Radio. The tree is more than 20 meters in height with a trunk circumference of 3.40 meters. The tree dates back to the 18^th century, which means it has witnessed the battles between the Ottoman invaders and the Bulgarian rebels.

Compiled by Miglena Ivanova

English version: Milena Daynova