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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

Housing crisis deepens across Europe

The housing crisis in Europe is intensifying. According to Eurostat, Hungary leads the European Union in housing price increases with a rise of 21.2%, followed by Portugal at 18.9% and Croatia at 16.1%. Ranked fourth, Spain has seen particularly sharp increases in cities such as Madrid and Barcelona. With average price growth reaching 12.9%, tenants have begun to mobilize. The Tenants’ Union Confederation has launched a campaign to organize the first nationwide rent strike ag

Oil prices fall after Trump announces two-week ceasefire

Oil prices dropped on Wednesday after U.S. President Donald Trump announced that a two-week ceasefire had been agreed with Iran, on the condition that the Strait of Hormuz is immediately and safely reopened. The price of Brent crude fell by around 14% to approximately $94 per barrel. U.S. crude also declined by more than 15%, dropping to $95.75. However, oil prices remain above levels seen before the conflict began on February 28, when crude was trading at around $70 per barr

‘Wartime’ regulation in Germany: Men aged 17–45 must now obtain permission

German media recalled that the Military Service Modernization Act has entered into force, noting that the amendments carry serious implications for men of conscription age and include a provision that came into effect without attracting public attention. Under the legal regulation that took effect on 1 January, Article 3 states that men who have reached the age of 17 must obtain permission from the relevant career center of the Bundeswehr if they wish to leave Germany for mor

Is Europe turning back to nuclear energy?

Facing a new energy shock, Europe is questioning whether reviving nuclear power could be part of the solution. Across the continent, households and industries are watching with growing concern as fuel prices and the cost of refuelling vehicles rise rapidly. The EU’s executive body, the European Commission, has urged people to work from home more and travel significantly less. Policymakers warn that the situation could deteriorate further depending on developments in the Middl

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