also owns property in Germany, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Serbia, Romania and Bulgaria. The Uzbek-born Leviev also owns one of the world's largest diamond cutting

compared to a year ago, 20 percent in Lithuania, 17.8 percent in Romania, and 10.5 percent in Bulgaria. For the entire 27-member EU, retail fell 1.7 percent, a figure

people. He eventually lost to Bulgaria's Irina Bokova, who gained ground at the last minute as other candidates dropped out, partly amid attempts to consolidate support for Hosni

and angry. Then coach Plamen Markov reportedly imposed a sex ban on Bulgaria's soccer team ahead of a European Championship qualifying match against Belgium in 2003. The result

access and for the construction of Nabucco, which would pipe gas from the Caspian area into Turkey and on to Europe. The prime ministers of Turkey, Austria, Bulgaria, Romania

, Bulgaria." He pointed also to the Russian invasion of Georgia, another former Soviet republic, in August 2008 as a strong selling point for NATO membership, which includes a

. Defending champion Italy (5-0-2) could open a four-point lead with a victory at home against Bulgaria. The Azzurri needed two own-goals from Kakha Kaladze for a 2-0 victory at Georgia

the scandal broke. Get the story and vote. · British newspaper The Sun went bananas over Madonna allegedly "collapsing" on stage during a performance in Bulgaria. We thought

with more than 200 crew members, according to the piracy watchdog International Maritime Bureau. Hostages are from Bulgaria, China, Germany, Indonesia, Italy, Russia, Taiwan, Tuvalu

States fortreatment and that concerts in Bucharest, Romania, on Saturday andSofia, Bulgaria, next Monday might also be canceled.The band's publicists in London gave no information