Netanyahu government approves ‘expansion’ of Gaza offensive

Today’s news: Since the March 28 earthquake, the Burmese junta has launched more than 243 attacks and caused at least 200 deaths, according to UN estimates; Ten dead and at least 60 injured in the capsizing of two boats in the Chinese province of Guizhou; The “popemobile” used by Francis in the Holy Land in 2014 becomes a mobile clinic for the children of Gaza; Landslide victory for the Pope in the Singapore elections. Colombo and Tokyo strengthen defense cooperation.

ISRAEL - PALESTINE
The security cabinet of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has approved a gradual expansion of the offensive against Hamas in Gaza. According to a report by Kan, the army has already begun issuing tens of thousands of orders to call up reservists. Israel resumed ground operations in March after the collapse of the fragile two-month US-brokered ceasefire. Meanwhile, yesterday, a missile launched by the Houthis in Yemen grazed Ben Gurion International Airport in Tel Aviv, causing at least six minor injuries.

MYANMAR - UN
According to updated estimates by the United Nations, Myanmar has seen over 200 civilian deaths in at least 243 attacks launched by the Burmese military junta since the earthquake of March 28, despite having declared a de facto truce that has not been applied. "The vast majority - says senior UN official Volker Turk - occurred after the ceasefire came into force" on April 2.

CHINA
Ten people died and 60 others were hospitalized after two boats carrying tourists capsized in the southwest of the country. At least 70 people fell into the water when the two boats capsized while sailing on a river in the city of Qianxi, in the province of Guizhou. Rescuers were looking for a person who is still missing.

GAZA - VATICAN
The “popemobile” used by Francis on his apostolic visit to the Holy Land in 2014 has been transformed into a small mobile health station for the children of Gaza. The Vatican confirmed this yesterday, underlining that the vehicle - in accordance with the wishes of the pontiff - will be available to Caritas Jerusalem. The vehicle will have a driver and doctors, as well as equipment for diagnosis, examinations and treatments, including rapid tests for infections, suture kits, syringes and needles, oxygen supplies, vaccines and a refrigerator for medicines.

SINGAPORE
The People’s Action Party, long in power in Singapore, won another landslide victory in the general elections on May 3, extending its 66-year uninterrupted rule and giving enormous impetus to Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, who has been in office for a year. The PAP won 82 seats in Parliament, in addition to the five it had already won for a total of 87 out of 97, and 65.6% of the vote. The opposition Workers Party retained its 10 seats.

SRI LANKA - JAPAN
Japanese Defense Minister Gen Nakatani and Sri Lankan Deputy Defense Minister Aruna Jayasekara agreed yesterday to strengthen cooperation between the two countries' armed forces to promote stability in the Indo-Pacific region. The visit of the senior Japanese official confirms Tokyo's growing interest in expanding ties with Colombo.

RUSSIA - CHINA
According to the daily Izvestiya, Russia has been importing radio-electronic defense systems from China since 2023, the so-called "Burners" to intercept and destroy enemy drones, with a contract between Rosgvardia for almost a billion rubles (over 10 million euros). However, being remakes of equipment from other manufacturers, they have proven to be completely ineffective.

ARMENIA
The opposition party Armenia has announced its decision to collect signatures from all 28 deputies of the Yerevan parliament, to start the impeachment procedure against Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. And they are calling on other deputies who consider him unworthy of confidence to join with 10 more votes to open the process, hoping to then collect the relative majority of 54 votes.

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