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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 •

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01/01/2023

European Natural Gas Prices Surge Up to 45% After Qatar Halts LNG Production

Natural gas prices in Europe rose sharply on Monday following an escalation of conflicts in the Middle East after attacks on Iran and Qatar’s decision to halt production at the world’s largest liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility. European gas prices climbed by as much as 45% in early afternoon trading, reaching around €46 per megawatt-hour. A significant share of the world’s energy supply originates from the Middle East. The Strait of Hormuz , a narrow sea passage largely co

Number of Foreign Doctors in Germany Doubles

The number of doctors without German citizenship reached 64,000 in 2024. The recognition of foreign medical degrees and the situation of Syrian doctors are among the key issues drawing attention. This figure corresponds to 13% of all doctors working in Germany. Ten years ago, the number of doctors holding foreign passports stood at around 30,000, accounting for just 7% of the total. According to data from the Federal Statistical Office of Germany , nearly one quarter of all d

Why Are Europeans Giving Up on Buying Homes?

Europe in Motion examines the latest European Housing Trends report. Homeownership was once seen as a major milestone for every working adult with a stable income. However, rapidly rising property and energy prices, instability in the labor market, and freedom of movement are gradually reshaping this paradigm across Europe. According to the annual European Housing Trend report by real estate consultancy RE/MAX Europe , homeownership rates are declining in nearly half of the

Naturalizations in Germany break records consecutively: Berlin leads the way

Germany saw an increase of over 90,000 naturalizations from 2023 to 2024. With 300,000 people acquiring citizenship in 2024, and 2025 data not yet released, the trend signals continued growth nationwide. 🔶️ In the capital, Berlin , more than 39,000 people received German passports in 2025. This figure is nearly double the 22,000 recorded the previous year and roughly four times the 9,000 in 2023. 🔶️ A similar trend is observed in Hamburg , where the number rose from 7,530 i

Politics

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

Renewed rapprochement after a tense decade: The EU and the UK

The EU and the UK, which parted ways with the Brexit referendum, are set to accelerate talks to build closer relations. The unstable geopolitical environment has prompted the European Union and the United Kingdom to deepen cooperation in various areas, including defense and trade. As the 10th anniversary of the referendum that led to the UK’s departure from the EU approaches, and following years of harsh rhetoric, a genuine rapprochement between London and Brussels now appe

Polish president describes the EU as a “fading star”

Polish President Karol Nawrocki has criticized European Union policies, describing the 27-member bloc as a “fading star.” Nawrocki said he opposes the EU’s Green Deal , the Mercosur trade agreement , growing centralization tendencies , and the Union’s migration policy . “I believe Poland should be at the forefront of a camp advocating for EU reform—open to all countries that do not support the continuation of current policies, yet do not wish to be counted among the opponent

Business

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

Jack Dorsey Announces AI-Driven Layoffs: 4,000 Employees Dismissed

Jack Dorsey , the founder of Twitter , has announced the dismissal of 40% of the company’s workforce as the use of artificial intelligence expands. Dorsey argued that the layoffs were not the result of a crisis, but rather a reflection of the company’s financial strength. Claiming that many firms are lagging behind in this transformation, he said, “I believe most companies will make similar structural changes within the next year.” Dorsey added that he preferred to take a sin

Meta hits the brakes: 10% of Reality Labs workforce to be laid off

Meta Platforms is preparing for a restructuring within Reality Labs , the division responsible for its virtual reality and metaverse initiatives. As part of this move, the company is reportedly planning to part ways with around 10% of the unit’s employees . The decision is said to be aimed at reducing resources allocated to certain virtual reality projects while shifting greater investment toward AI-powered wearable technologies . Source: Dünya Gazetesi

Musk: “The humanoid robot Optimus will outperform the best surgeons within three years”

Elon Musk is once again at the center of the global agenda with his vision for artificial intelligence and robotics. His latest remarks about Tesla’s humanoid robot Optimus have sparked widespread discussion across both the technology sector and the healthcare ecosystem. Speaking on a podcast, Musk stated that the day when Optimus will perform better than the world’s top surgeons is only three years away . Source: Independent