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This company decides to fire 35000 employees, 20,000 agree to end…, no connection with Mukesh Ambani, Narayana Murthy, Noel Tata, Sundar Pichai, company is….

This company decides to fire 35000 employees, 20,000 agree to end…, no connection with Mukesh Ambani, Narayana Murthy, Noel Tata, Sundar Pichai, company is….

India.com2 days ago

This company decides to fire 35000 employees, 20,000 agree to end…, no connection with Mukesh Ambani, Narayana Murthy, Noel Tata, Sundar Pichai, company is....
Automaker companies have also jumped into the massive layoff spree, with global automaker Volkswagen deciding to lay off as many as 35,000 employees in Germany by 2030. The significant job cuts are a part of the company's cost-cutting program amid the ongoing tariffs introduced by former United States President Donald Trump, looming over the German automotive industry, reported local news portal Bild. Notably, over 20,000 workers at Volkswagen have agreed to end their contracts early and take voluntary retirement. The reports cited a works council meeting at Volkswagen's Wolfsburg headquarters.
The job cuts will be made at the German plants of the company. Volkswagen is focusing on performing reductions in an acceptable manner, with the employees agreeing to the terms. Volkswagen's Severance Package
A German car manufacturer will provide severance payments to employees impacted by cost-cutting measures. The amount will vary depending on tenure, with potential payouts reaching USD400,000. While the total cost of these severance packages remains undisclosed, this information comes from a company staff meeting. Reduction In Apprenticeships
To reduce costs, the German automaker will cut 1,400 apprenticeships to 600 annually, beginning in 2026. Combined with significant job reductions, these measures are projected to save the company approximately €1.5 billion annually in labour expenses.
Apart from voluntary resignation, about 13 lakh employees in the company's core team are ready to accept the payment freeze. The automaker is also planning to give a five percent salary hike paid in two stages. Tariff Woes
As per an earlier report by Reuters, which cited the Ifo Institute, the German automotive industry further impacted last month following a fall in the business climate index after Trump tariffs.
'The confusion surrounding the U.S. tariffs is causing problems for the automotive industry in Germany,' Reuters quoted Anita Woelfl, Ifo sector specialist.
Facing weak European sales and intense foreign competition, Volkswagen, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz are negotiating with the US government to mitigate the effects of tariffs. Meanwhile, a recent report reveals declining business confidence in May 2025, with the business expectations index falling to -28.3 points from -25.2 points in April, and the business climate index dropping to -31.8 points from -30.7 points.

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Nato is set to approve new military purchases as part of a major defence spending hike
Nato is set to approve new military purchases as part of a major defence spending hike

Time of India

time44 minutes ago

  • Time of India

Nato is set to approve new military purchases as part of a major defence spending hike

AP file photo Nato defence ministers are set Thursday to approve purchasing targets for stocking up on weapons and military equipment to better defend Europe, the Arctic and the North Atlantic, as part of a US push to ramp up security spending. The "capability targets" lay out goals for each of the 32 nations to purchase priority equipment like air defence systems, long-range missiles, artillery, ammunition, drones and "strategic enablers" such as air-to-air refueling, heavy air transport and logistics. Each nation's plan is classified, so details are scarce. "Today we decide on the capability targets. From there, we will assess the gaps we have, not only to be able to defend ourselves today, but also three, five, seven years from now," Nato secretary-general Mark Rutte said. "All these investments have to be financed," he told reporters before chairing the meeting at Nato's Brussels headquarters. US President Donald Trump and his Nato counterparts will meet on June 24-25 to agree to new defence investment goals. US defence secretary Pete Hegseth said that "to be an alliance, you've got to be more than flags. You got to be more than conferences. You need to keep combat ready capabilities." by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Make the move from OpenAI to Open Source Intel® Xeon® Learn More Undo Spurred on by their own security concerns, European allies and Canada have already been ramping up military spending, including arms and ammunition purchases, since Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. At the same time, some allies balk at US demands to invest 5% of their gross domestic product in defence - 3.5% on core military spending and 1.5% on the roads, bridges, airfields and sea ports needed to deploy armies more quickly - when they have already struggled to grow their budgets to 2% of GDP. The new targets are assigned by Nato based on a blueprint agreed upon in 2023 - the military organization's biggest planning shakeup since the Cold War - to defend its territory from an attack by Russia or another major adversary. Under those plans, Nato would aim to have up to 300,000 troops ready to move to its eastern flank within 30 days, although experts suggest the allies would struggle to muster those kinds of numbers. The member countries are assigned roles in defending Nato territory across three major zones - the high north and Atlantic area, a zone north of the Alps, and another in southern Europe. Nato planners believe that the targets must be met within 5-10 years, given the speed at which Russia is building its armed forces now, and which would accelerate were any peace agreement reached to end its war on Ukraine. Some fear Russia might be ready to strike at a Nato country even sooner, especially if Western sanctions are eased and Europe has not prepared. "Are we going to gather here again and say 'okay, we failed a bit,' and then maybe we start learning Russian?" Lithuanian defence minister Dovilė Šakalienė said. Swedish defence minister Pal Jonson also warned that while Russia is bogged down in Ukraine right now, things could quickly change. "We also know after an armistice or a peace agreement, of course, Russia is going to allocate more forces closer to our vicinity. Therefore, it's extremely important that the alliance use these couple of years now when Russia is still limited by its force posture in and around Ukraine," Jonson said. If the targets are respected, the member countries will need to spend at least 3% of GDP on defence. Dutch defence minister Ruben Brekelmans said his country calculates in the medium term that "we should spend 3.5% at least on defence, which in the Netherlands means an additional 16 to 19 billion euro ($18-22 billion) addition to our current budget." The Netherlands is likely to buy more tanks, infantry fighting vehicles and long-range missile systems, including U.S.-made Patriots that can target aircraft, cruise missiles and shorter-range ballistic missiles.

Germany's Merz heads for delicate talks with Trump
Germany's Merz heads for delicate talks with Trump

Economic Times

timean hour ago

  • Economic Times

Germany's Merz heads for delicate talks with Trump

Live Events (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is set to meet with US President Donald Trump on Thursday, hoping to build a personal relationship despite discord over Ukraine and the threat of a trade war.A month into his job, the conservative Merz, 69, is a staunch transatlanticist at pains to maintain good ties with what he considers post-war Germany's "indispensable" ally, despite Trump's unyielding "America First" will hope that his pledges to sharply increase Germany's NATO defence spending will please Trump, and that he can find common ground on confronting Russia after the mercurial US president voiced growing frustration with President Vladimir Trump's threat to hammer the European Union with sharply higher tariffs, Merz, leader of the bloc's biggest economy, has argued that it must be self-confident in its negotiations with Washington, saying that "we're not supplicants".Despite the tensions, Merz said he was "looking forward" to his first face-to-face meeting with Trump."Our alliance with America was, is, and remains of paramount importance for the security, freedom, and prosperity of Europe," he posted on X late office has also voiced confidence that Merz will be spared the kind of public dressing down Trump delivered in the Oval Office to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and South Africa's Cyril is looking ahead to his first in-person meeting with Trump "with great calmness and joy", his spokesman Stefan Kornelius said, pointing to their "very good relationship" so far."Germany is the third-largest economy in the world, and we have a lot to offer as an economic partner of the USA," Kornelius said."At the same time, a very constructive and positive relationship with America is very important to us, for our own economy and for the security of Germany and Europe."The two leaders -- both with business backgrounds and keen golf players -- are on first-name terms after several phone calls, Kornelius said, and Merz now has Trump's cellphone number on speed dial.- Defence and trade -Merz has been given the honour of staying at Blair House, the presidential guest residence on Pennsylvania Avenue across from the White has even felt comfortable enough to have a little fun at Trump's expense, recently telling a TV interviewer that his every second or third word was "great".Whatever the personal chemistry, the policy issues are potentially launched his roller-coaster series of trade policy shifts in April, with the threat of 50-percent US tariffs on European goods who has sat on many corporate boards, is "very experienced in business, too -- the world from which Donald Trump comes," his chancellery chief of staff, Thorsten Frei, told the Funke media the Ukraine war , where Germany strongly backs Kyiv, Merz will hope to convince Trump to heighten pressure on Putin through new sanctions to persuade him to agree to a 78, has recently expressed frustration with Putin, calling him "crazy", but without announcing concrete new visit comes ahead of a G7 summit in Canada on June 15-17 and a NATO meeting in The Hague at the end of the has said Germany is willing to follow a plan to raise defence spending to 3.5 percent of GDP over coming years, with another 1.5 percent dedicated to security-related infrastructure.- 'Calm and reasonable' -Another potential flashpoint issue looms -- the vocal support Trump and some in his administration have given to the far-right and anti-immigration Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, which came second in February Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and former Trump adviser Elon Musk have all weighed in in support of the AfD, which in Germany is shunned by all other political Germany's domestic intelligence service recently designated the AfD a "right-wing extremist" group, Rubio denounced the step as "tyranny in disguise".Merz slammed what he labelled "absurd observations" from Washington and said he "would like to encourage the American government... to largely stay out of" German domestic Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul has also openly criticised Trump, saying this week that he frequently made statements "that seem directed against the fundamental foundations of our coexistence".

'Can't Risk Losing Money': Indian Students Pause American Dream Amid Visa Troubles
'Can't Risk Losing Money': Indian Students Pause American Dream Amid Visa Troubles

NDTV

timean hour ago

  • NDTV

'Can't Risk Losing Money': Indian Students Pause American Dream Amid Visa Troubles

Quick Read Summary is AI generated, newsroom reviewed. Amid uncertainty over US student visas due to the Trump administration, Indian families are reconsidering studying in the US. Enrollment has dropped significantly, with students now looking to the UK, Germany, and other countries for education. Distressed students, panicked parents have been calling Subash Devatwal, who runs an education consultancy in Ahmedabad. They all have one question - whether studying in the US is still possible. Last year there were 330,000 Indians enrolled at American universities, more than any other nationality, even surpassing Chinese students for the first time in years. Families in India invest their entire life savings to get their children enrolled in US universities, as for most, it is the ultimate symbol of success. However, now that Trump's administration has targeted international students, the numbers have weakened. Devatwal's organisation used to send more than 100 students in previous years, but it has now dropped to about 10. The Trump administration has implemented social media vetting, for all foreign students, and then paused all student visa interviews globally, which has left many students in a state of uncertainty. 'The students are in shock. Most of them spend several years preparing to study in the US,' Devatwal told The Guardian. He added that now his clients are unsure if they should pursue a US degree because of the turmoil associated with the Trump administration. Indian students can expect to pay between $40,000 to $80,000 (£29,500 to £59,000) a year on tuition alone to study in the US. He said that now students are looking at the UK and other European countries. Brijesh Patel, a textile trader in Surat said that he had saved up money for a decade, sold his wife's jewellery and borrowed money from relatives, just to make sure his son could go to a US university. He said, 'We simply can't take that risk. If our son goes now and something goes wrong, we won't be able to save that kind of money again.' Patel had already paid 700,000 rupees (£6,000) to consultancies who helped with the applications. He said that they will wait a year, and hope that things improve by then. 'It's not just my son who will be living the American dream, it's all of us: my wife, our relatives and our neighbours. I've struggled my whole life – I don't want my son to face the same struggles here in India', he added. Piyush Bhartiya, a co-founder of the educational technology company AdmitKard, said that many parents were rethinking if the US should be the study destination for their children. He said that a student had been admitted to New York University for the coming year but was planning to go to London School of Economics when US visa interviews were paused. He stated that the US was the main destination for students to study Stem subjects - science, technology, engineering and maths, however, now the focus had shifted to other countries. 'Germany is the main country where students are shifting to for Stem subjects,' he said. 'Other countries like Ireland, France, the Netherlands, which are also gaining substantial interest in the students. At the undergraduate level, the Middle East has also seen a lot of gain in interest given parents feel that it is close by and safer and given the current political environment they may want their kids closer to the home.'

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