The Asian Development Bank has raised India’s growth forecast for the current fiscal year to 7% from the earlier projection of 6.7%. The bank said that India’s robust growth will be driven by public and private sector investment demand and gradual improvement in consumer demand.
According to the CSDS-Lokniti pre-poll survey, 79% of Indians believe that India belongs to all Indians equally, not just to Hindus. The survey also found an alarming fall in trust in Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) among voters, with 45% suggesting that the machines could be manipulated by the ruling party. Additionally, the survey found that unemployment and inflation are the key concerns for people ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.
Eight Sri Lankans who were rescued from an illegal cyber slave camp in Myanmar’s Myawaddy area will soon be repatriated to their home country. After being rescued on 4 March by Myanmar authorities, they were transferred under the care of the Sri Lankan Embassy in Thailand. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is now facilitating their return to Sri Lanka.
China on Thursday banned senior executives from two US defence firms from entering the country and froze their assets over arms sales to Taiwan. The ban affects General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, known for manufacturing unmanned aerial systems, and General Dynamics Land Systems, a unit of General Dynamics. China decried the sales to Taiwan as “interference” in its internal affairs, accusing the firms of undermining Chinese sovereignty and territorial integrity.
India and Peru held the seventh round of negotiations for their trade agreement in New Delhi from 8-11 April. Both sides showed eagerness for deeper economic cooperation, with Peruvian Ambassador Javier Manuel Paulinich Velarde expressing confidence in the outcomes. The trade pact aims to enhance collaboration, building on Peru’s status as India’s third-largest Latin American trading partner. The next round in June will address the remaining issues through intersessional negotiations.
The US has called on China, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia to dissuade Iran from retaliating against Israel for its airstrike on the Iranian consulate in Syria. Secretary of State Antony Blinken communicated with counterparts, including Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, expressing concerns about a potential Iranian attack. The State Department emphasised the importance of preventing escalation, urging European allies and Arab governments to send a clear message to Iran. There are worries that Iran may retaliate directly against Israel, bypassing regional proxies, in response to the assassination of its top generals.