The Gaza region has once again been caught in the grip of tension as militants fire rockets and Israel launches airstrikes. The situation comes on the heels of a dramatic Israeli raid in the occupied West Bank which resulted in the deaths of nine Palestinians, mostly militants. This incident marked the deadliest single raid in the territory in over twenty years.
History of Tensions in Gaza
Since Hamas, a militant group, seized power from rival Palestinian forces in Gaza in 2007, Israel and Hamas have been embroiled in four wars alongside various smaller skirmishes. However, the tension escalated significantly after Israel increased its raids in the West Bank in 2022. This surge was prompted by a series of Palestinian attacks, resulting in nearly 150 Palestinian deaths in the West Bank and East Jerusalem in 2022 alone. This makes it the deadliest year in these territories since 2004.
‘Veer Guardian 2023’: A Milestone in Indo-Japanese Relations
In an unprecedented move, the Indian Air Force (IAF) and the Japan Air Self Defence Force (JASDF) conducted their inaugural bilateral air exercise, ‘Veer Guardian 2023’, in Japan. The IAF participated with the Su-30 MKI aircraft, bolstered by an IL-78 Flight Refuelling Aircraft and two C-17 Globemaster strategic airlift transport aircraft. Notably, this was also the first time an IAF woman fighter pilot participated in overseas aerial wargames.
The Challenges of Protecting Wildlife in Similipal National Park
Similipal National Park (SNP) in Odisha’s Mayurbhanj district is facing a significant threat from animal poachers. Since 2019, the park has witnessed the deaths of 11 elephants, targeted primarily for their ivory. SNP, part of the Similipal-Kuldiha-Hadgarh Elephant Reserve, was designated a tiger reserve in 1956 and declared a biosphere reserve by the Indian government in June 1994. Despite these protections, SNP’s wildlife continues to be under threat.
Understanding the Complex World of Short Selling
Traditional investment strategy encourages buying low and selling high and is commonly known as taking a “long position”. The expectation here is that the stock or security purchased will appreciate over time. However, short selling, or ‘shorting’, offers an alternative approach. It comprises a sequence of transactions where investors expect the price of the security to fall. Consequently, they sell first at a higher price and plan to buy later at a lower price. The distinctive trait of short selling is that the trader doesn’t own the securities sold but instead borrows them.
