Workers at the American car manufacturer Ford's plants in Cologne are preparing for the first strike in protest against the planned job cuts, the IG Metall union announced on Monday.

Employees at two factories, established in 1930, are expected to stop work starting Wednesday morning, with the strike lasting until the end of the night shift on Thursday morning, the union said.

Job Cuts

The management plans to reduce the number of jobs in Cologne by 2,900 by 2027.

Unions accuse Ford's executives of acting without a clear concept, thus endangering the survival of Ford's German subsidiary.

IG Metall is one of the most powerful German unions, representing workers in various manufacturing sectors, advocating for a collective agreement that provides high severance payments and financial security for workers - write Index.hr.

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Broken Negotiations and Strike Decision

Negotiations between the two sides have stalled, leading IG Metall to hold its first workers' referendum last week, where as many as 93.5 percent of union members voted for an unprecedented workers' protest to increase pressure on management.

“It is time for the employer to take action and find a comprehensive solution for the workers in Cologne,” said Benjamin Gruschka, head of the works council at Ford's German subsidiary.

However, the leadership of Ford's German branch has limited options, as the company ultimately depends on its American parent company.

Expected Impact on Production

The strike will significantly impact production.

Of the 11,500 employees at Ford in Cologne, approximately 4,500 work in production and 3,500 in product development, according to union data. The spare parts center employs about 1,700 people, while the rest are in administrative and other departments.

The impact of the strikes is likely to be significant, as the vast majority of employees are union members and there is widespread dissatisfaction with the current situation.

Long-Term Problems of the European Subsidiary

Ford's European subsidiary has long been reporting losses, and in 2023, production of the Ford Fiesta, a small car that was manufactured in Cologne and was initially very successful, was discontinued.

Currently, Ford produces two electric cars in Cologne, whose sales are well below expectations despite investments of nearly two billion euros.

According to official data, Ford models accounted for only 3.5 percent of newly registered cars in Germany last year, compared to five percent in 2022.

Although Ford's factories will receive financial incentives of several hundred million euros from the American parent company for further investments over a four-year period, automotive industry experts believe this is far from enough.

Pessimistic Expert Forecasts

“The situation is bad, and the outlook is even worse,” said Ferdinand Dudenhöffer, director of the Center for Automotive Research based in Bochum.

“Ford is too small in the passenger car segment to operate profitably in Europe. That is the case now and it is very likely to remain so in the future,” he said.

Dudenhöffer gave a pessimistic forecast for Ford's business in Europe, saying that the number of vehicles sold is too low while labor costs are too high.

Ford has long been losing market share in Germany and Europe, the expert noted.

“Ford is getting smaller and smaller. It is now so small in Europe that it makes no sense to continue operating under the current circumstances,” he said.

Possible Solutions for the Future

According to Dudenhöffer, there are two solutions to Ford's European problems.

One option would be for the parent company from the US to sell its European automotive business to “get rid of the problem,” he said. Car production could remain in Cologne, but the development and administrative departments would be transferred to the buyer, according to the expert.

The second option would be to form a joint venture with another car manufacturer to achieve greater economies of scale and lower costs, Dudenhöffer said.

In this way, Ford of Europe “could finally become competitive,” he said, suggesting the French car manufacturer Renault as a potential partner.

Several thousand people, including 3,000 in Berlin according to police data, gathered across Germany demanding a ban on the far-right party Alternative for Germany (AfD), after the party challenged the domestic intelligence service's decision to classify it as a right-wing "extremist" party.

Demonstrators gathered in more than 60 cities, from Cologne to Hamburg, including in Berlin, at the call of the network "Together Against the Right" (Zusammen gegen Rechts).

"AfD is not a normal party and should not be treated as such. Now is the time to seriously consider banning the party," it says on their website – reports N1.

In Berlin, the gathering near the iconic Brandenburg Gate attracted more than 7,000 people in the afternoon, according to organizers, while police reported 3,000 attendees.

The crowd chanted "All together against fascism," waving rainbow flags and banners against the party that won 20 percent of the vote in the last parliamentary elections.

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A few days before the inauguration of the new chancellor, conservative Friedrich Merz, the domestic intelligence service classified AfD as a right-wing "extremist" party that could pose a threat to the democratic order.

On Thursday, the German intelligence service temporarily suspended this decision pending a court ruling, as the party filed an appeal.

The decision has already caused significant political tensions, especially in relations with the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump, which sided with the AfD.

The Taliban government has added chess to the list of prohibited activities, classifying it as gambling and a violation of moral values, the Afghan Sports Directorate announced today.

Chess is considered a “means of betting,” which is prohibited under the Law on Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, adopted last year, said Sports Directorate spokesperson Atal Mashwani to AFP.

Since this concerns religious issues, chess will be suspended in Afghanistan until these matters are resolved, Mashwani added, without specifying penalties for violations.

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Azizullah Gulzada (46), owner of a Kabul cafe where customers have enjoyed playing chess, said he will enforce the ban but remains unconvinced by the religious arguments for the decision.

“Many Muslim countries have international-level players participating in global competitions. Many young people used to come here every day without any money for betting,” he said.

Gulzada expressed regret that people will now have fewer excuses to gather, adding that passionate chess players will likely be dissatisfied with the decision.

Since regaining power in 2021, the Taliban has gradually imposed its ultra-rigorous interpretation of Islam, banning certain activities and sports.

Last year, the Taliban banned MMA (mixed martial arts) competitions, deeming them “too violent and problematic under Sharia law,” while cricket remains widely practiced but only among men.

The Taliban has progressively excluded women from public life, banning them from parks, gyms, beauty salons, and universities, prompting the UN to condemn this “gender apartheid” – reports Danas.rs.

Salaries in Europe vary significantly. The same applies to the cost of living. The question is – which countries offer the highest salaries, and where are those salaries really worth the most?

The most relevant indicator used is the average adjusted gross salary of a full-time employee, calculated annually by Eurostat and converted into monthly amounts by Euronews.

Denmark is the only country besides Luxembourg that has surpassed the €5,000 mark, with an average of €5,634. It is followed by Ireland (€4,890) and Belgium (€4,832). In the group of countries with salaries above €4,000 are Austria (€4,542), Germany (€4,250), and Finland (€4,033).

Ten Countries Below €2,000

Out of 26 EU member states analyzed (excluding the Netherlands due to missing data), as many as ten countries have an average salary below €2,000, and in four countries the salary is under €1,500.

Poland is close to that threshold with €1,505, while Romania, Greece, and Hungary range around €1,400.

Big Differences Even Among the Largest EU Economies

Among the four largest EU economies, Germany leads with €4,250, followed by France (€3,555). Italy (€2,729) and Spain (€2,716) are more than €400 below the EU average.

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According to OECD data, which includes countries outside the EU, Switzerland offers the highest average salary in Europe – as much as €8,104 per month. Norway stands at €5,027, while the United Kingdom has €4,220.

The Netherlands, although not included in the Eurostat analysis, has a salary of €4,629 according to other sources.

Turkey has the lowest average salary in Europe – only €873, which is below the psychological threshold of €1,000.

When purchasing power is taken into account, the picture changes.

Nominal salary differences shrink significantly when using purchasing power standards (PPS), which eliminate the impact of price differences between countries.

However, large differences still exist. Nominally, the highest salary is six times greater than the lowest. When using PPS, this ratio drops to 2.6 times.

The average salary in the EU by PPS is €3,155. The highest is in Luxembourg (€4,479 by PPS), followed by Belgium (€4,038), Denmark (€3,904), Germany (€3,898), and Austria (€3,851).

At the bottom of the list are Slovakia, Bulgaria, and Hungary, all below €2,100 by PPS standards. Greece has the lowest value at €1,710.

Interestingly, Romania and Turkey perform much better in the PPS context – Turkey has €2,413 by PPS.

Why Are Salaries Higher in Some Countries?

Experts emphasize that productivity and workers’ bargaining power are key factors.

Dr. Sotiria Theodoropoulou from the European Trade Union Institute states that countries with larger industrial or financial sectors, as well as high technology, record higher productivity and, accordingly, higher wages.

Additionally, labor market institutions and the strength of trade unions play a key role in income distribution.

Who Increased Their Salaries the Most in the Past Five Years?

Between 2018 and 2023, the average salary increased in all 26 EU countries. Across the Union, the monthly salary rose by €507, meaning an annual increase of €6,708, or 19%.

Lithuania recorded the highest relative growth – as much as 102%, while Sweden had the lowest – only 4%.

Among the major economies, growth was modest: Spain (19%), Germany (18%), France (14%), and Italy (10%).

In absolute terms, the biggest increase was in Luxembourg (€1,291), followed by Lithuania (€1,141). Greece had the smallest increase (€91).

Western and Northern Europe still offer the highest wages, both nominally and in terms of purchasing power. However, Eastern and Southern European countries are achieving faster wage growth, which may indicate a gradual narrowing of the gap – at least in the long term, writes B92.

A U.S. federal judge has temporarily barred President Donald Trump's administration from transferring ownership of disputed land to the Rio Tinto company for the construction of a copper mine, a move opposed by local Native Americans.

In the long-standing battle over the "Resolution Copper" project, the religious rights of the San Carlos Apache in Arizona are clashing with the growing demand for copper, driven by the energy transition and Washington's efforts to expand domestic production of the metal, reports Reuters as cited by Danas.

In an 18-page ruling, U.S. Judge Steven Logan stated that “Apache Stronghold” – a nonprofit group of Apaches and their allies – is likely to succeed in its appeal to the Supreme Court, and therefore, the land transfer should be halted for now.

He added that it was determined (and even likely) that irreparable harm would be caused if the transfer proceeded.

The dispute concerns land at the “Oak Flat” site, which is federally owned and considered sacred by the Apache people.

The location, however, holds reserves of more than 18.1 million tons of copper – a key component for electric vehicles and almost all electronic devices.

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The “Resolution” project, if launched, would create a crater three kilometers wide and 304 meters deep, thereby destroying the site where the Apache worship their deities.

Since 2021, courts have rejected the Apache request to block the transfer. Judgments have been delayed by a 2014 decision made by the U.S. Congress and then-President Barack Obama.

President Trump began the land transfer during his first term, a move later reversed by Joseph Biden, while the case continued to circulate through various courts.

The U.S. Supreme Court is currently considering whether to take up the case. The Court has said at least 13 times that it will continue to review the appeal request — an unusually high and prolonged process.

Meanwhile, Trump last month reignited the process of transferring the land, aiming to complete it by June 16.

Billionaire Bill Gates has escalated his feud with Elon Musk, accusing the world's richest man of "killing the poorest children in the world" through what he called misguided cuts to U.S. foreign aid, according to the Financial Times.

The Microsoft co-founder, who recently announced he would intensify his philanthropic work over the next 20 years and shut down the Gates Foundation in 2045, said in an interview that the Tesla CEO’s decisions were driven by ignorance.

Musk's Department of Government Efficiency, better known as DOGE, effectively shut down the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) in February — the main federal body overseeing American aid — declaring that “its time had come to die.”

Bill Gates argued that the abrupt cuts caused food and medicines meant to save lives to lose their viability and usability in storage, potentially sparking outbreaks of infectious diseases such as measles, HIV, and polio.

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“The image of the world’s richest man killing the world’s poorest country is not a good one,” said Gates, who himself was once the richest man in the world.

Gates stated that Elon Musk canceled aid to a hospital in Gaza Province, Mozambique, which was intended to prevent the transmission of HIV from mothers to their children — all based on the mistaken belief that the U.S. was supplying condoms to Hamas in the Gaza Strip in the Middle East.

“I wish he would now go and meet those children who contracted HIV because he cut that funding,” Gates said.

The 69-year-old philanthropist announced yesterday his plan to donate literally all of his wealth over the next 20 years. During this period, the Gates Foundation is set to spend over $200 billion on global health, development, and education. In the previous 25 years, the foundation allocated around $100 billion for the same causes.

The foundation will be closed in 2045, several decades earlier than originally planned.

According to Gates, the reason for accelerated giving is to achieve maximum impact, including the potential to fully eliminate infectious diseases such as polio and HIV.

Several thousand people protested on Friday in Bucharest, demanding that Romania remain committed to its European path, ahead of the second round of presidential elections in which the far-right candidate is the favorite.

"It is unthinkable that after all this time, we, the generation that built this country after the fall of communism in 1989 and led it toward Europe, should go back toward Russia," said Joana Nicolae, a 50-year-old writer and wife of the well-known author Mircea Cărtărescu, for Agence France-Presse – reports n1info.rs.

The leader of the nationalist AUR party, George Simion, favorite in the second round of elections and who received nearly 41 percent of the vote in the first round, is a critic of Brussels, opposes aid to Ukraine, and demands compensation for Romania for the aid already provided.

"We cannot vote for Simion. Europe is our home," Nicolae added, calling for "mobilization in light of this dramatic situation."

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Organizers claimed that around 20,000 people gathered at the rally, where demonstrators carried Romanian and European flags.

George Matei, a 23-year-old student, expressed his “fear.”

"I want to stay here. I never imagined living in another country, but this week I’ve thought about it a lot," he said.

Thirty-eight-year-old Simion, who cites American President Donald Trump as a role model, will face centrist Bucharest mayor Nicușor Dan in the second round, against whom he had about a 20-point lead in the first round.

Dan is counting on those who did not vote in the first round to offset Simion’s lead and secure a European future for the country of 19 million people.

"There are five million isolationist voters whom I respect greatly, but who have been misled. And there should be more of us than them," said the 55-year-old mayor on Friday.

Even before his name was announced from the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican, thousands in the crowd were shouting "Viva il Papa" – Long live the Pope!

Robert Prevost, the 69-year-old cardinal, will be the 267th on the throne of St. Peter and will bear the name Leo the Fourteenth.

He is the first American to become pope, although he is also considered a South American cardinal because he spent many years on a mission in Peru before becoming the archbishop there.

He also holds Peruvian citizenship and is remembered as someone who helped marginalized communities and built bridges within the local church.

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He was born in Chicago in 1955. His parents are of Ecuadorian and French origin.

Prevost served in the church as a boy and became a priest in 1982.

In his first address as Pope Leo XIV, he spoke with loving words about his predecessor Francis.

"We can still hear the weak but always brave voice of Pope Francis and his blessing."

"United and hand in hand with God, let us move forward together," he told the enthusiastic audience.

To the crowd gathered in St. Peter’s Square, he said he is a member of the Order of St. Augustine, one of the monastic orders in the Catholic Church.

He was 30 years old when he moved to Peru as part of the Augustinian mission.

Francis appointed him bishop of Chiclayo in western Peru one year after becoming pope.

He is known among cardinals worldwide for his prominent role in the Dicastery for Bishops – the department responsible for selecting new cardinals within the Catholic Church.

Since 80 percent of the cardinals who participated in the conclave were appointed by Francis, it is not a big surprise that someone like Prevost was elected.

He is seen as someone who could continue Pope Francis’s reforms within the Catholic Church.

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Although he is American and fully aware of the divisions within the Church, his Latin American background also represents a continuation after the Argentine pope.

Although during his service as archbishop in Peru he did not avoid sexual abuse scandals that cast a shadow over the Church, his diocese strongly denied that he was involved in any attempt to cover them up.

Before the conclave, Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said that during recent gatherings of the College of Cardinals, there was an emphasis on the need for a pope with a "prophetic spirit capable of leading a Church that does not close in on itself, but knows how to go out and bring light to a world marked by despair."