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War Fears Shake Markets: Gold Hits New Record, Oil at Four-Year High • European Natural Gas Prices Surge Up to 45% After Qatar Halts LNG Production • Number of Foreign Doctors in Germany Doubles •

News

01/01/2023

Huge gap in average annual salaries across Europe

According to the OECD’s 2026 Taxing Wages report, average annual gross salaries across Europe range from €18,590 in Turkey to €107,487 in Switzerland. The data covers 27 European countries, including 22 members of the European Union. Switzerland is the only country where average gross salaries exceed €100,000 annually. Iceland ranks second with €85,950, while Luxembourg leads among EU countries with €77,844, placing third overall. Denmark (€71,961) and the Netherlands (€69,02

German giant to cut 3,000 jobs

Commerzbank, Germany’s second-largest bank, has announced plans to cut 3,000 jobs as it strengthens its independence strategy against a takeover attempt by Italy’s UniCredit. The bank also said it plans to invest around €600 million in the use of artificial intelligence by 2030 in order to improve operational efficiency. Source: Habertürk

U.S. to reduce troop numbers in Germany by 5,000

The decision came one day after U.S. President Donald Trump criticized German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, claiming that the United States had been “humiliated” by Iranian negotiators. The United States maintains a significant military presence in Germany, with more than 36,000 active-duty troops stationed at bases across the country as of December 2025. German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said: “The presence of American troops in Europe, especially in Germany, is in the in

Lifetime smoking ban for those born after 2009 in the UK

A bill that raises the legal age for purchasing cigarettes and ensures that anyone born after 2009 will never be old enough to legally buy tobacco is set to become law after receiving approval from King Charles III. Under the new legislation, shops found selling tobacco or electronic cigarettes to children will face fines of £100. Source: Hürriyet

Politics

Montenegro moves one step closer to EU membership

Montenegro, an official candidate for European Union membership since 2010, is aiming to become the bloc’s 28th member by 2028. The country made further progress in its accession process this week after existing EU members agreed to begin work on an accession treaty for the small Balkan state. Minister for European Affairs Maida Gorčević said that, alongside the closing of negotiation chapters, preparation of the accession treaty marks “the final stage of a 14-year marathon o

U.S. and Russia Lose, EU Wins in Hungary: Peter Magyar Becomes Prime Minister

In a major political shift, Hungary has elected a new prime minister, with Peter Magyar set to take office after defeating long-time leader Viktor Orbán. Orbán, who had been in power since 2010, conceded defeat and congratulated Magyar on his victory, stating that he would continue to serve the public from the opposition. During the campaign, Orbán employed rhetoric critical of the European Union and Ukraine. He had also drawn criticism from European partners after vetoing €9

Europe under pressure from Trump seeks a new role and balance in the world: All eyes on the Munich Security Conference

The conference brings together 65 European and international heads of state and government, along with 450 representatives from academia, politics, and the defense industry. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz stressed in his opening address that the world is no longer the same. “The world order as we knew it no longer exists. The international order based on rights and rules is on the brink of collapse. I must state clearly that even in its flawed form, that order no longer ex

UK Prime Minister Starmer is fighting for political survival

The Chief of Staff, Morgan McSweeney , resigned from his post, saying he takes “full responsibility” for his advice to Keir Starmer in December 2024 to appoint Peter Mandelson as the United Kingdom ’s Ambassador to the United States . McSweeney said: “The decision to appoint Peter Mandelson was wrong. It damaged trust in our party, our country, and politics.” The 48-year-old strategist was the architect of the Labour Party’s election victory in July 2024 and had been Starme

Business

Google plans massive investment in Anthropic: $40 billion

Google is reportedly planning a major investment in AI startup Anthropic that could reach a total of $40 billion, including $10 billion in cash, depending on the achievement of performance targets. Source: Dünya Gazetesi

World Bank President Banga Issues New Warning: ‘800 Million People Could Be Left Without Jobs’

World Bank President Ajay Banga has warned that enough jobs may not be created for the 1.2 billion people expected to enter working age in developing countries over the next 10 to 15 years. According to Banga, if current trends continue, only 400 million new jobs will be created. Banga said that while global financial markets are currently focused on the short-term economic effects of war, a deeper and more lasting risk is approaching for developing countries: a widening empl

HR Skills on the Rise in the Job Market: Indeed 2025 Report

According to Indeed, human resources skills are among the most sought-after capabilities in today’s job market. A new report by Indeed Hiring Lab found that HR skills ranked as the third most in-demand skill set, appearing in 27.3% of all job postings in the United States by the end of 2025. The report noted that HR skills such as employee engagement and people management are valuable far beyond traditional HR departments, adding that the HR skill set is “required across a wi

War Fears Shake Markets: Gold Hits New Record, Oil at Four-Year High

Attacks by the United States and Israel on Iran triggered sharp volatility across global markets. While sell-offs accelerated on U.S. stock exchanges, investors turned to safe-haven assets such as gold, U.S. Treasuries, and the Swiss franc . Gold prices surged past $5,390 per ounce, approaching record levels, while Brent crude climbed to its highest level in four years. In contrast, declines were notable across equities and crypto assets. Source: Dünya Gazetesi