Olaf Scholz News

India with rapt attention and seriousness, and everyone is looking at the country with new hope and discussing the vast possibilities it presents in different fields. Addressing a gathering at Lathi in Amreli district of Gujarat after launching development projects worth Rs 4,800 crore, he said countries that participated in the recent BRICS summit (held in the Russian city of Kazan) expressed their eagerness to join hands with India and become partners in its development journey. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, during his visit to New Delhi last week, announced that his country will issue visas to 90,000 Indians every year, and it is now up to the country's youth to prepare themselves as per their requirements, said Modi.

Pedro Sanchez will begin a three-day official visit to India on Sunday-the first by a Spanish head of government in 18 years-which officials said will focus on defence industry partnership and cooperation in infrastructure and the Mediterranean region. Sanchez will land in Vadodara within 24 hours of German chancellor Olaf Scholz's departure from India, making it a back-to-back meeting with two European heads of government for Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In Vadodara, Sanchez and Modi will inaugurate the Tata Advanced Systems Ltd's (TASL's) final assembly line facility for the C295 aircraft on Monday, according to officials.

Olaf Scholz on Saturday said borders should not be changed by «war or force», and Russia's invasion of Ukraine poses the biggest threat to international peace today as «it is about changing borders». Inviolability of national borders is the basis for peace, he said, interacting with the students of Birla Institute of Technology And Science (BITS) Pilani at Vasco during a visit to Goa during which he also visited the German Naval ship FGS Baden-Wurttemberg docked at Mormugao Port. The chancellor, on a three-day visit to India, referred to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war while replying to a question.

Indian embassy is in touch with German officials regarding the Ariha Shah case and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar also raised the issue with his German counterpart, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said on Friday. He further said that German Chancellor Olaf Scholz also assured Prime Minister Narendra Modi that he is «closely following» the issue. «The case of Ariha Shah who is in Germany under foster has been followed very closely by us at various levels. Our Embassy in Berlin has taken it up with the German side. When EAM was in Germany he raised it strongly with his counterpart. I can confirm it was raised during the meeting as well today,» Misri said addressing a press briefing on Friday.

India «stands ready to make every possible contribution towards restoration of peace» in Ukraine and West Asia, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Friday. The strategic partnership between India and Germany has emerged as a «strong anchor» at a time when the world is going through an era of tensions and uncertainty, he said here with Chancellor Olaf Scholz by his side after an inter-governmental commission meeting. «We both agree on ensuring freedom of navigation and adherence to the rule of law in accordance with international laws in the Indo-Pacific region,» Modi said.

Turkey on Friday dismissed reports that India had opposed its entry as a BRICS partner country at the group's just-concluded Kazan Summit. A day earlier, a report had appeared in a German daily alleging that India had opposed Turkey's entry into the BRICS partner mechanism. Ankara's dismissal of the report came in an official statement. The news report also preceded German Chancellor Olaf Scholz's three-day official visit to India which began on October 25.

India and Germany voiced concern on the ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and West Asia on Friday, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi asserting that New Delhi is ready to make every possible contribution for the restoration of peace. At the 7th India-Germany Inter-Governmental Consultations (IGC), German Chancellor Olaf Scholz described India as an anchor of stability and requested Modi to work jointly to bring about political solutions to the twin conflicts that have been raging for long. «The ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and West Asia are a matter of concern for both countries. India has always been of the view that war cannot be a solution to problems. India is ready to make every possible contribution for the restoration of peace,» Modi said, with the visiting German chancellor by his side. At the IGC, the two sides signed 18 agreements and documents, including a Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty in Criminal Matters and an agreement on exchange and mutual protection of classified information.

Olaf Scholz said on Friday he wanted to deepen defence ties with New Delhi and bring the two countries' militaries closer, in comments following a meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Germany, which has not traditionally had close defence ties with India, is now pitching to join the latter's effort to wean its arms base from decades of dependence on Russia, at a time when the West seeks to counter China's growing influence. «Our overall message is clear, we need more co-operation, not less,» Scholz said.

Germany is focusing on attracting skilled workers from India, following new migration measures recently approved by Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s Cabinet. The move aims to streamline immigration processes and support the integration of Indian workers, addressing the critical workforce gaps caused by an ageing population. Germany, known for having the strongest economy in the European Union, faces increasing pressure to secure skilled labour to maintain economic momentum. Hubertus Heil, the German Labour Minister, emphasized India’s importance, saying, «Germany views India as an especially important partner when it comes to the issue of skilled labour migration.» The newly approved migration framework underscores the deepening economic relationship between Germany and India. With a focus on long-term economic sustainability, the German government aims to attract qualified Indian professionals across various sectors to address workforce gaps.

Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. New Delhi: Facing a workforce shortage, Germany is planning to substantially increase the number of skilled labour visas it grants for Indians to 90,000 every year, from the current cap of 20,000, said ambassador Philipp Ackermann. With a worker shortage worsening Germany’s economy, these visas will be used to fill gaps in sectors such as information technology, nursing and caregiving, Ackermann said in an interview.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has met with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Istanbul

France's BNP Paribas on Thursday said there are simply too many European lenders for the region to be able to compete with rivals from the U.S. and Asia, calling for the creation of more homegrown heavyweight banking champions.

European banking's latest takeover battle is widely regarded as a potential turning point for the region — particularly the bloc's incomplete banking union.

Italy's UniCredit appears to have caught German authorities off guard with a potential multibillion-euro merger of Frankfurt-based Commerzbank, a move that has triggered a fiery response from Berlin.

An exit poll shows Germany's Social Democrats with a slight edge over a far-right party in a state election in Brandenburg

Germany’s opposition center-right Christian Democratic Union has chosen its leader Friedrich Merz to be its candidate for chancellor in next year’s national election

German and Kenyan officials have signed an agreement to promote the recruitment of skilled Kenyan workers who can fill gaps in Germany’s labor market, and to facilitate the repatriation of Kenyans who don’t have the right to stay in Germany

Jaishankar will on Sunday embark on a six-day visit to Saudi Arabia, Germany and Switzerland with a larger aim to boost overall bilateral ties and deliberate on pressing regional and global challenges. He will first travel to the Saudi capital Riyadh on a two-day trip primarily to attend the first India-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) foreign ministers' meeting, according to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). The GCC is an influential grouping comprising the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar and Kuwait. The total volume of India's trade with GCC countries stood at USD 184.46 billion in the financial year 2022-23. In Riyadh, Jaishankar is also expected to hold bilateral meetings with foreign ministers of several GCC member countries.

Serbia's deputy prime minister has met with Russian President Vladimir Putin and vowed that his country will remain an ally of Moscow despite its proclaimed bid to join the European Union

The far-right Alternative for Germany could become the strongest party for the first time in two state elections Sunday in eastern Germany

The leaders of Germany and the United Kingdom have announced plans to draw up a treaty meant to deepen the two nations’ trade, defense and other relations