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Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz strengthened ties during a meeting in Gujarat, focusing on defense, skills training, health, and education. They signed agreements for climate action, energy, and mining, with Thyssenkrupp planning to build submarines in India. Modi and Merz emphasized their commitment to elevating relations, with Merz pushing for a free trade agreement between India and the EU. Merz also visited the Sabarmati Ashram and joined Modi at a kite festival, before heading to Bengaluru to meet business and tech leaders.

EUs Kallas Proposes New Sanctions Against Iran Amid Protest Crackdown; Death Toll Mounts

Germany grapples with a harsh cold snap, causing widespread black ice and travel disruptions. Schools close, flights cancel, and officials urge caution. Meanwhile, Chancellor Friedrich Merz embarks on a state visit to India, aiming to strengthen ties amid the chill at home.

Gambia accuses Myanmar of genocide against Rohingya; UN court hears case, seeking accountability for 2017 military clearance operation that forced over 700,000 Rohingya to flee to Bangladesh. Myanmar denies charges, insisting it was fighting insurgents. Rohingya face recruitment by armed groups, child prostitution, and starvation in overcrowded camps. Legal experts say a genocide finding could tighten the screws on an International Criminal Court probe.

Menopause: A Looming Crisis for German Workforce As one point two billion women worldwide approach menopause by 2030, Germany faces a significant challenge with one third of companies already grappling with skilled worker shortages, exacerbated by demographic shifts. Menopause symptoms, affecting one third of women, include hot flashes, joint pain, heart palpitations, cognitive issues, mood swings, and self-esteem issues, typically starting in mid to late forties and lasting up to fifteen years. These symptoms result in nine point five billion euros annual loss due to productivity, with forty million working days missed. A survey revealed that nearly a quarter of women reduced hours, almost one fifth changed jobs, and one in ten retired early or planned to. Certain jobs, like police officers, teachers, nurses, and sales workers, are particularly affected due to lack of flexibility. These female-dominated fields, such as nursing (eighty-five percent women) and schools (seventy-three percent women), are hit hardest by worker shortages. Despite stigma and discrimination fears, many women remain silent. While Britain leads with parliamentary studies, NHS health checks, and menopause pledges, Germany lags, with sixty-three percent of employers considering it a private matter and seventy-four percent offering no support. As shortages loom, forward-thinking companies are training doctors and offering flexible hours to retain talented women.

EU countries approve long-awaited Mercosur trade deal, despite farmer protests; Brussels offers concessions, including a €45 billion budget shift, to secure approval; farmers, despite being a shrinking sector, hold significant political power, forcing changes through tractor blockades and protests; deal marks a U-turn from earlier plans to redirect farm subsidies to defense or climate goals, with most farm spending remaining ring-fenced; farm groups express concerns about the rushed process and vow to maintain pressure on EU governance.

Europes new border system, the Entry Exit System (EES), is causing significant delays at airports across the Schengen area. The EES, which requires non-EU visitors to register fingerprints and facial scans, is set to fully roll out by April 10th. While the European Commission claims the system has run smoothly, airport leaders warn of massive discomfort and long processing times, with peak waits hitting three hours. The systems impact on summer travel remains to be seen.

Italys influential power couple, Chiara Ferragni and Fedez, face a scandal over charity pandoro bread promotion. Ferragni, a fashion influencer, is on trial for allegedly misleading fans, while Fedez, a rapper turned political figure, has distanced himself amid the controversy. Their fall from grace highlights the challenges of blending activism and business, and the importance of transparency in charity partnerships.

Marine Le Pens legal battle for French presidency: A court appeal in Paris could clear her to run in 2027, but her protégé Jordan Bardella might lead the party instead. The appeal, expected to wrap in a month, could reshape French politics and spark backlash if Le Pens ban holds. Bardellas rising popularity and a low-key strategy from Le Pens team add to the intrigue.