Bulgaria became the 21st member of the eurozone, despite political turmoil and divided public opinion, according to Reuters. The move, finalized after a long path that saw Bulgaria leapfrog more prosperous candidates like Poland, the Czech Republic, and Hungary, marks a significant step in the country's integration into the European mainstream.
The adoption of the euro follows Bulgaria's membership in NATO, the EU, and the Schengen zone. Since August, shops in Bulgaria have displayed prices in both lev and euros, preparing citizens for the transition. The Bulgarian lev, meaning lion, has been the national currency since 1881, but it has been pegged to other European currencies since 1997, first the Deutschmark and then the euro.
The transition is not without its challenges. Reuters reported that opinion polls indicate Bulgaria's 6.5 million population is almost equally divided on the new currency. The change has been met with optimism from urban, young, and entrepreneurial Bulgarians, who see it as a potentially lucrative move. However, older, rural, and more conservative segments of the population express fear and resentment toward the replacement of the lev.
Political instability further complicates the situation. Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov's coalition government lost a confidence vote on Dec. 11, adding uncertainty to the transition process.
According to Reuters, Bulgaria is the poorest country in the European Union. The adoption of the euro is expected to bring both economic benefits and challenges as the nation navigates this significant monetary shift.
Multi-Source Journalism
This article synthesizes reporting from multiple credible news sources to provide comprehensive, balanced coverage.
Deep insights powered by AI
Continue exploring
In 2025, the concept of "decentering men" gained traction, particularly among young women seeking fulfillment outside traditional relationships. Sparked by Charlie Taylor's book and amplified on platforms like TikTok, this movement encourages women to prioritize their own well-being and independence, challenging conventional societal expectations around dating and marriage.
A recent report suggests Americans harbor negative feelings towards AI, particularly regarding data center construction, energy costs, environmental impact, and job displacement, leading some Democrats to advocate for an anti-AI stance. However, the Democratic Party is internally divided on how to respond to these concerns, highlighting the complex political landscape surrounding AI's societal implications.
A team of forecasters revisited 25 predictions made at the start of 2025, achieving an impressive 80% accuracy rate. This exercise in predictive analysis highlights the challenges and potential biases inherent in forecasting future events, offering valuable insights for refining AI-driven prediction models. The analysis underscores the importance of probabilistic forecasting and continuous evaluation in navigating an increasingly complex world.
The Trump administration's policies have significantly undermined federal data collection across various sectors, including environment, public health, and demographics, driven by ideological resistance, budget cuts, and personnel reductions. This degradation of data integrity threatens scientific progress, obscures the economic landscape, and hinders the identification of critical health trends, ultimately eroding public trust in governmental institutions.
A Vox video recaps the whirlwind of 2025, highlighting Trump's second term, the Epstein files release, and significant global events like Gen Z protests and China's AI advancements with DeepSeek. The year, marked by political upheaval and technological shifts, concluded with escalating international tensions and a sense of global unrest.
The "Stranger Things" series finale on Netflix concludes the Hawkins storyline with Eleven seemingly sacrificing herself to destroy the Upside Down, only to reappear alive, bringing closure to the characters' arcs. The episode, written and directed by The Duffer Brothers, resolves the central conflict while leaving room for potential future narratives within the "Stranger Things" universe.
Get ready to ditch the frostbite and party on your couch! Networks are bringing the heat with star-studded New Year's Eve broadcasts, from Ryan Seacrest's iconic "Rockin' Eve" on ABC to Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen's wild CNN special, offering something for every kind of reveler eager to ring in the new year. With streaming options galore, you can catch all the action and killer performances from the comfort of your living room, making it the ultimate way to celebrate!
Oops! Country fans ringing in 2026 with CBS's "Nashville's Big Bash" got an unexpected dose of legal drama when a mid-show outage cut to "Matlock"! The brief interruption had social media buzzing, proving that even New Year's Eve TV isn't immune to a little unexpected plot twist, leaving viewers wondering what other surprises the night might hold.
Global K-pop sensation BTS is set to release their first album in almost four years on March 20th, marking a highly anticipated return after a hiatus for solo projects and mandatory military service. The announcement, initially leaked via handwritten letters to fans, was later confirmed by BigHit, signaling a major event in the music industry and a cultural moment for the band's massive following.
A new study in *Nature* reveals the significant and often overlooked environmental impact of wearable healthcare electronics, projecting a 42-fold increase in global consumption by 2050. Researchers emphasize that focusing solely on plastic components is insufficient; instead, mitigating the carbon footprint requires addressing critical-metal conductors and optimizing circuit architecture in these increasingly vital medical devices.
Researchers have developed random heteropolymers (RHPs) inspired by metalloproteins to mimic enzyme functions, using a one-pot synthesis to statistically control monomer distribution and create protein-like microenvironments. This innovative approach allows for the creation of enzyme-like materials that maintain catalytic activity even under non-biological conditions, potentially revolutionizing industrial catalysis and expanding the possibilities for bio-inspired materials.
Researchers have created a novel "chiral fermionic valve" that separates electrons based on their chirality using the quantum geometry of topological bands, achieving this separation without magnetic fields. This innovative device, made from single-crystal PdGa, spatially separates chiral currents with opposite orbital magnetizations, demonstrating quantum interference and opening new possibilities for advanced electronic devices.
Discussion
Join the conversation
Be the first to comment