In response to the labour shortage caused by the Israel-Hamas conflict, over 6,000 Indian workers are set to arrive in Israel between April and May. This initiative, facilitated by a collaborative effort between the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office, Finance Ministry, and Construction and Housing Ministry, involves subsidising charter flights as part of an “air shuttle” arrangement.
On Thursday, approximately 200 Myanmar military personnel retreated to a bridge linking the border town of Myawaddy to Thailand after facing attacks from anti-junta rebels over several days. The junta forces’ retreat indicates the possible relinquishment of another crucial border trading point, which serves as a direct highway link to central Myanmar regions.
A survey by the International Institute of Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA) reveals a crisis of confidence in democracies worldwide. Among 19 countries surveyed, including the US and India, less than half of the voters deemed recent elections fair. Denmark stood out as the exception, with the Danish having confidence in their judiciary. Shockingly, in 8 out of 19 nations, people favoured a strong leader bypassing democratic processes.
According to Bloomberg, intelligence sources have reported that the US and its allies believe that Iran or its proxies might soon undertake a major missile or drone attack against military and government targets in Israel. The report comes days after Iran threatened to hit Israel in retaliation to an alleged Israeli airstrike on a diplomatic compound in the Syrian capital of Damascus, in which several Iranian military officials were killed. Israel has said that it will strike Iran directly if the speculated attack is conducted, a move that could widen the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
During Belgian Foreign Secretary Theodora Gentzis’ visit to India from 9-10 April, New Delhi raised the issue of Western sanctions on diamond imports from Russia. The topic was discussed as India’s diamond industry in Surat is suffering due to a recent G7 decision to ban the import of Russian-origin diamonds, which are polished in third countries like India.
India is upgrading substantial military infrastructure in strategically important Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Amid increasing Chinese belligerence in the Indian Ocean Region, India is modernising its airfields and jetties, expanding the logistics and storage facilities, and strengthening the surveillance system in the area. The move aims to accommodate more military forces, larger warships, aircraft, missile batteries, and troops.