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Times of Oman
03-07-2025
- Politics
- Times of Oman
3 indians abducted from factory amid al-Qaeda linked terrorist attack; India urges Mali to secure their safe, swift release
New Delhi: The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has expressed deep concern over the abduction of three Indian workers from a factory in Mali's Kayes region and urged authorities in the West African country to ensure their "safe and expeditious" rescue. "It has come to the knowledge of the Government of India that many military and government installations at multiple locations of western and central Mali were attacked by terrorists on July 1," the MEA said in a statement on Wednesday. The armed attack took place at the Diamond Cement Factory in Kayes. Condemning the incident, the MEA said the Indian embassy in Bamako is in constant contact with local authorities, security agencies, and the families of the abducted workers. In its statement, the MEA described the act as "deplorable" and reaffirmed India's strong stand against violence targeting its citizens abroad. The Embassy of India in Bamako is in close and constant communication with the relevant authorities of the Government of Mali, local law enforcement agencies, as well as the management of Diamond Cement Factory," the MEA statement read. "The Government of India unequivocally condemns this deplorable act of violence and calls upon the Government of the Republic of Mali to take all necessary measures to secure the safe and expeditious release of the abducted Indian nationals. Senior officials of the Ministry are closely monitoring the evolving situation and remain engaged at various levels to facilitate safe and early release of Indian Nationals," it added. The attack on the Diamond Cement Factory in Kayes was allegedly carried out by an Al Qaeda linked group Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), according to several media reports. The attack was part of a series of assaults on Tuesday targeting Diboli near Mali's border with Senegal, as well as the nearby towns of Kayes and Sandere. Other attacks were reported in Nioro du Sahel and Gogoui, northwest of Bamako near Mauritania's border, and in Molodo and Niono in central Mali, according to Mali's armed forces as cited by Reuters.
Zawya
01-07-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Oman's expat workforce rises slightly to 1.81 million in May
MUSCAT - The number of expatriate workers in Oman edged up to 1,810,354 in May 2025, compared with 1,808,940 in April, according to the latest figures released by the National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI). The data shows a monthly increase of 1,414 workers, reflecting steady labour demand in key sectors despite broader efforts to boost national employment under Oman Vision 2040. The construction sector remained the largest employer of foreign labour, with 436,301 workers, followed by wholesale and retail trade with 272,774, and manufacturing with 179,418. By nationality, Bangladeshi workers topped the list at 623,186, followed by Indians at 507,695, and Pakistanis at 318,208. Most expatriates worked in the private sector (1.41 million), while others were employed in the family and communal sectors. In terms of occupation, engineering and technical jobs made up the largest share, followed by service-related roles, sales, and agriculture. Oman continues to monitor foreign labour trends as it seeks to balance economic growth with national workforce development goals.
Russia Today
28-06-2025
- Politics
- Russia Today
When opportunity turns to uncertainty: Indian migrants under fire in Israel
When sirens wailed across Israeli cities and missiles from Iran struck Israeli territory, about 150 Indian construction workers from the Bahraich district in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh found themselves caught in an increasingly dangerous situation, desperately seeking a way home. The workers, who traveled to Israel over the past year seeking better economic opportunities, faced a harsh reality: trapped between the promise of steady income and the very real threat of becoming casualties in a regional conflict. Sandeep, a resident of the Mihipurwa area, spoke to his family on the phone from Hadera, painting a grim picture of daily life under fire. 'Missiles are falling here, but we get alerts before they hit,' he explained to worried relatives back home. 'When the sirens start, we run to the bunkers and hide. These daily situations are affecting our work, and now we just want to come home.' The situation created a painful dilemma for the workers and their families. While the income from Israel has provided unprecedented financial stability – with workers earning around 160,000 rupees (about $1863) per month, compared to much lower wages in rural India – the escalating violence made the cost of this prosperity potentially too high to bear. Kamlavati, whose husband Gopal has been working in Israel for a year, captured the anguish felt by families back home. 'My husband has been working safely in Israel for a year, and in this situation, we demand from the government that he be sent back home safely,' she said. 'Because now, seeing the conditions in Israel, we are getting scared.' The irony of their situation is not lost on the families. Kamlavati described how the money from Israel has transformed their lives – they've been able to build a new home and provide better opportunities for their children. Her daughter has started attending school, while her younger son is still very small. But the fear for her husband's safety has overshadowed these material gains. 'We are getting money – he gets 160,000 rupees and keeps sending money home regularly, which helps run the household,' she explained. 'But now, seeing the new house being built doesn't feel good. We just want the children's father to come back.' The workers are part of a larger Indian diaspora in Israel. According to Indian Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh, as of December 4, 2024, 6,583 Indian workers had reached Israel for employment, recruited by Israeli authorities and deployed across 195 Israeli companies. Of these workers, 2,325 were engaged in building construction, 1,906 in iron bending, 1,578 in plastering, and 774 in ceramic tiling – all essential skills for Israel's construction industry. Mihipurwa has been particularly affected by this migration. Local official Shravan Kumar Madeshia revealed that 250 people from the area had filled out application forms for work in Israel, with 150 being selected and currently working there. This represents a significant portion of the area's working-age population, making tensions in West Asia a community-wide concern. The families of brothers Sandeep and Sanjay exemplify the collective anxiety gripping the region. 'Both brothers have been living in Israel for a year, but now seeing the terrible war between Iran and Israel, we want our sons to return home safely,' their relatives said. The conflict escalated dramatically before the countries agreed to a ceasefire on Tuesday. Recent Iranian missile attacks hit residential areas in Tel Aviv, bringing the war directly to neighborhoods where many of the Indian workers live and work. The tense environment presents a stark contrast to the hopes these workers had when they first arrived in Israel. For many from rural Uttar Pradesh, the opportunity to work in Israel represented a chance to escape poverty and provide for their families in ways that would have been impossible at home. The monthly salary is several times what they could earn in similar work in India. However, the reality of living in a war zone has quickly overshadowed these economic benefits. The workers described a daily routine of constant vigilance – working while listening for air raid sirens, knowing that at any moment they might need to run for shelter. The psychological toll of this existence is evident in their desperate pleas to return home. The absence of available flights made their situation even more precarious. Commercial aviation has been severely disrupted due to the conflict, with many airlines suspending or limiting services to and from Israel. This has left the workers with no clear path home, despite their growing desperation to leave. The Indian government faces a delicate diplomatic challenge in the Middle East. India maintains strong relationships with both Israel and Iran, and has refused to join international condemnations of Israeli actions. New Delhi is accustomed to balancing ties with rival states during crises, but the most recent presented a particularly difficult test. For the families in Bahraich, the geopolitical complexities matter little compared to their immediate concern: bringing their loved ones home safely. The transformation of their economic fortunes has come at an unexpected cost – the constant fear that their primary breadwinners might become casualties in a conflict that has nothing to do with them. With hundreds of people requiring hospital treatment, the Indian workers found themselves in an increasingly untenable position. They were neither combatants nor civilians in the traditional sense, but economic migrants caught in the crossfire of a regional conflict. During the recent crisis, when families in rural India waited anxiously for news from their loved ones, and workers huddled themselves in bunkers to the sound of sirens, one could not help but be reminded that in our interconnected world, no conflict is truly local, and its human toll extends far beyond the immediate theater of war.
Russia Today
26-06-2025
- Politics
- Russia Today
Trapped in the Crossfire: Indian workers bore the brunt of the Israel-Iran conflict
When sirens wailed across Israeli cities and missiles from Iran struck Israeli territory, about 150 Indian construction workers from the Bahraich district in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh found themselves caught in an increasingly dangerous situation, desperately seeking a way home. The workers, who traveled to Israel over the past year seeking better economic opportunities, faced a harsh reality: trapped between the promise of steady income and the very real threat of becoming casualties in a regional conflict. Sandeep, a resident of the Mihipurwa area, spoke to his family on the phone from Hadera, painting a grim picture of daily life under fire. 'Missiles are falling here, but we get alerts before they hit,' he explained to worried relatives back home. 'When the sirens start, we run to the bunkers and hide. These daily situations are affecting our work, and now we just want to come home.' The situation created a painful dilemma for the workers and their families. While the income from Israel has provided unprecedented financial stability – with workers earning around 160,000 rupees (about $1863) per month, compared to much lower wages in rural India – the escalating violence made the cost of this prosperity potentially too high to bear. Kamlavati, whose husband Gopal has been working in Israel for a year, captured the anguish felt by families back home. 'My husband has been working safely in Israel for a year, and in this situation, we demand from the government that he be sent back home safely,' she said. 'Because now, seeing the conditions in Israel, we are getting scared.' The irony of their situation is not lost on the families. Kamlavati described how the money from Israel has transformed their lives – they've been able to build a new home and provide better opportunities for their children. Her daughter has started attending school, while her younger son is still very small. But the fear for her husband's safety has overshadowed these material gains. 'We are getting money – he gets 160,000 rupees and keeps sending money home regularly, which helps run the household,' she explained. 'But now, seeing the new house being built doesn't feel good. We just want the children's father to come back.' The workers are part of a larger Indian diaspora in Israel. According to Indian Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh, as of December 4, 2024, 6,583 Indian workers had reached Israel for employment, recruited by Israeli authorities and deployed across 195 Israeli companies. Of these workers, 2,325 were engaged in building construction, 1,906 in iron bending, 1,578 in plastering, and 774 in ceramic tiling – all essential skills for Israel's construction industry. Mihipurwa has been particularly affected by this migration. Local official Shravan Kumar Madeshia revealed that 250 people from the area had filled out application forms for work in Israel, with 150 being selected and currently working there. This represents a significant portion of the area's working-age population, making tensions in West Asia a community-wide concern. The families of brothers Sandeep and Sanjay exemplify the collective anxiety gripping the region. 'Both brothers have been living in Israel for a year, but now seeing the terrible war between Iran and Israel, we want our sons to return home safely,' their relatives said. The conflict escalated dramatically before the countries agreed to a ceasefire on Tuesday. Recent Iranian missile attacks hit residential areas in Tel Aviv, bringing the war directly to neighborhoods where many of the Indian workers live and work. The tense environment presents a stark contrast to the hopes these workers had when they first arrived in Israel. For many from rural Uttar Pradesh, the opportunity to work in Israel represented a chance to escape poverty and provide for their families in ways that would have been impossible at home. The monthly salary is several times what they could earn in similar work in India. However, the reality of living in a war zone has quickly overshadowed these economic benefits. The workers described a daily routine of constant vigilance – working while listening for air raid sirens, knowing that at any moment they might need to run for shelter. The psychological toll of this existence is evident in their desperate pleas to return home. The absence of available flights made their situation even more precarious. Commercial aviation has been severely disrupted due to the conflict, with many airlines suspending or limiting services to and from Israel. This has left the workers with no clear path home, despite their growing desperation to leave. The Indian government faces a delicate diplomatic challenge in the Middle East. India maintains strong relationships with both Israel and Iran, and has refused to join international condemnations of Israeli actions. New Delhi is accustomed to balancing ties with rival states during crises, but the most recent presented a particularly difficult test. For the families in Bahraich, the geopolitical complexities matter little compared to their immediate concern: bringing their loved ones home safely. The transformation of their economic fortunes has come at an unexpected cost – the constant fear that their primary breadwinners might become casualties in a conflict that has nothing to do with them. With hundreds of people requiring hospital treatment, the Indian workers found themselves in an increasingly untenable position. They were neither combatants nor civilians in the traditional sense, but economic migrants caught in the crossfire of a regional conflict. During the recent crisis, when families in rural India waited anxiously for news from their loved ones, and workers huddled themselves in bunkers to the sound of sirens, one could not help but be reminded that in our interconnected world, no conflict is truly local, and its human toll extends far beyond the immediate theater of war.
Malay Mail
12-06-2025
- Business
- Malay Mail
Sibu's new Sri Maha Mariamman Temple undergoes final touch-ups, on schedule to open on July 7 (VIDEO)
SIBU, June 12 — Construction work on the new Sri Maha Mariamman Temple at Jalan Orchid here is almost completed with only final touch-ups remaining. Temple president Manogaran Krishnasamy said everything is expected to be completed by the end of this month, in time for the opening on July 7. 'The construction work was delayed for about four years due to the Covid-19 pandemic. We are grateful that the temple is nearly complete, accommodating around 400 devotees in Sibu. 'In light of this, we wish to extend our heartfelt thanks to the Sarawak government, through the Unit for Other Religions (Unifor), for their significant assistance, as well as to the public and everyone who has contributed in various ways,' he told The Borneo Post at the site today. The new ornate building is situated next to the existing temple. 'The temple was built in 1920, which was just a small hut back then. Later on, this existing building was built in 1971,' said Manogaran. He pointed out the cost of construction was nearly RM2 million from the initial RM1.1 million due to rising building material costs and wages. Skilled workers from India were involved in the temple's intricate design. — The Borneo Post pic Initially, 10 skilled workers from India were involved in the project but as it nears completion, only four remain. 'Each worker earns a salary ranging from RM3,000 to RM4,000. Yes, they are skilled workers, which is why they all have certificates,' he explained. Manogaran said 16 stone sculptures were recently brought in from India. 'The shipping expenses amounted to nearly RM22,000 for transporting these statues from there to here,' he said. He added 63 statues were already built in the temple by the specialist workers. On July 3-7, there will be a final prayer session involving some 30 priests, including six from India. 'For this final prayer session, we estimate to spend almost RM150,000 for expenses such as airfares, accommodation, and other related expenses. That's the reason we require further assistance from Unifor or other organisations. 'This will be followed by the 48-day prayers; each day will cost around RM2,000 totalling RM96,000, which is separate from the expenses of the final prayer,' Manogaran said. The current temple building is seen framed by the new archway. — The Borneo Post pic The current double-storey building accommodating the temple will be repurposed. 'We need to use the top floor as a hall and the ground floor will be for the priest's accommodation and related purposes. So, for now, we don't have any plan yet to knock it down. 'Moreover, the building is of significant historical and cultural importance, having been constructed in 1971,' he added. — The Borneo Post
