Bulgaria marked its entry into the euro zone on Thursday with a display of euro coins on the front of the central bank in the capital, Sofia.
As of midnight on 1 January, the euro became the country’s currency, replacing the lev.
Bulgaria becomes the euro zone’s 21st member and means they get a seat at the European Central Bank’s rate-setting Governing Council.
Successive Bulgarian governments have tried to make the step since the Balkan country joined the EU in 2007.
Some Bulgarians worry using the euro will increase prices.
Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov lost a confidence vote in December, after widespread protests against the 2026 budget.
A referendum on using the euro was proposed by President Rumen Radev but rejected by the outgoing government.
Now the number of Europeans using the euro exceeds 350 million people.
The last country to join the single currency group was Croatia in 2023.
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The United States launched fresh strikes against Iran after two U.S. service members were killed in Jordan. U.S. President Donald Trump paid tribute t...
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Regional economic cooperation took centre stage in Baku as the 28th Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors of the Black Sea Trade and Development Bank was held alongside a Business Forum. The event brought together government officials, business leaders and experts from across the region.
Bulgaria's newly appointed Defence Minister Dimitar Stoyanov has said the country will not provide additional military assistance to Ukraine and has called on Moscow and Kyiv to pursue a negotiated end to the conflict.
Eurovision Song Contest once again proved how unpredictable its outcome can be, with Bulgaria’s Dara turning a late surge into a dominant win while several expected contenders collapsed early. At the same time, the absence of the South Caucasus region from the final raised questions.
Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev has held a series of high‑level meetings with world leaders and delegations on the sidelines of the World Urban Forum (WUF) in Baku, with discussions focusing on energy, economic cooperation and international partnerships.
The U.S. military said it completed a sixth consecutive night of strikes on Iran late on Thursday, targeting logistics infrastructure and maritime capabilities. Iran responded by launching strikes at U.S. bases in neighbouring countries.
SpaceX's Starship rocket aborted its 13th flight test just seconds before liftoff in Texas on Thursday after some of its 33 engines failed to start. CEO Elon Musk said the company is likely to make another launch attempt early next week.
The United States launched a seventh consecutive night of strikes on Iran as Tehran targeted U.S. allies in the Gulf, while tensions remain high in the Strait of Hormuz.
Afghanistan, Iran and Tajikistan have agreed to establish a road transport corridor through Afghanistan to boost regional trade and streamline the movement of commercial cargo. The agreement was reached during talks in Mashhad this week.
The United States launched fresh strikes against Iran after two U.S. service members were killed in Jordan. U.S. President Donald Trump paid tribute to the fallen troops as Iran warned of further escalation.
A magnitude 5.6 earthquake struck central Peru on Saturday, a day after a powerful tremor off southern Mexico prompted a temporary tsunami warning across parts of the Pacific coast.
Russian missiles struck the Ukrainian capital Kyiv and the surrounding region early on Sunday, killing at least one person and wounding 13 others as fires broke out across the city, officials said.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 19th of July, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Scottish runner Josh Kerr has set a new world record in the men’s one mile, smashing the previous time, which stood for 27 years. The 28-year-old clocked three minutes 42.66 seconds at the London Stadium on Saturday,
Three political parties backing Algeria’s President have emerged on top following parliamentary elections, the country’s Constitutional Court has said. Turnout, however, plummeted to an all-time low of 21 per cent.
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