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<ul class="summary-list"><li>Hamas carried out a devastating attack on <keyword id="19900599" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="israel" source="keywords">Israel</keyword> one year ago, killing about 1,200 people.</li><li>The terror attack has helped push the Middle East to the brink of a wider regional war.</li></ul>On the early morning of October 7, 2023, air raid sirens began blaring in Israel, warning its citizens that an attack was in progress. Hamas, a militant group much of the West has designated a terrorist organization, launched a highly coordinated strike that the Israel Defense Forces would later say killed about 1,200 people. One year after the massacre, the Middle East has only plunged deeper into violence and is on the brink of a broader war. Paths to de-escalation, largely facilitated by the US, have repeatedly failed. And Israel appears to be inching closer to a direct conflict with Iran, a grim prospect that has been avoided for years as the two countries limited their fight to proxies in a shadow war. The results of the yearlong conflict, with origins that date back decades, have been costly for both Israel and the Iranian-led "Axis of Resistance," noted Chuck Freilich, a former deputy national security advisor who served for over 20 years in Israel's security establishment. "Israel has turned the tide and has the Axis of Resistance on the defensive. Hamas has been defeated militarily, though not politically, and remains in political control in Gaza," Freilich told Business Insider, adding that Iran had come to be in a vulnerable position. "Conversely, Israel was in the midst of a multi-front war which may result in significant damage to its homefront and is deeply isolated in the world," he added. <h2>A year of bloodshed</h2>Israel's response to Hamas' attack on October 7 was a massive bombardment campaign and later ground incursion in Gaza, which Palestinian authorities say have left about 42,000 people dead. Amid the early stages of that campaign, the first high-profile <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-navy-warship-missiles-intercepted-2f5fc9c8a3737f762b29d5c53ec08a5b">expansion of the greater conflict blew open in late October,</a> when Yemen's Houthi rebels <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/israel-iran-idf-houthi-rebels-hijack-ship-red-sea-2023-11">began attacking commercial ships</a> seeking passage through the Suez Canal and the Gulf of Aden. The Houthis, historically backed and armed by Iran, said they were declaring a show of support for Hamas by attacking ships linked to Israel, though they were often found to have used drones, missiles, and raiding parties to harass vessels with no direct relation to it. <div type="image" title="Houthi supporters in Yemen brandish rifles and Yemeni and Palestinian flags in July." height="3840" width="5760" msid="114014767" hostid="261"></div>With the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/who-are-houthis-yemen-rebels-attacking-ships-red-sea-2024-1">Houthi attacks</a> threatening to close off a vital international shipping lane, the US and its allies and partners established a heavy military presence in the Red Sea to fend off the rebels. January saw the West's most direct and overt military involvement in the conflict, when the US, UK, and their allies <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/us-launches-strikes-houthis-following-shipping-attacks-2024-1">barraged Houthi targets</a> with airborne, surface, and subsurface-launched strikes after <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/us-launches-strikes-houthis-following-shipping-attacks-2024-1">warning the rebels repeatedly</a> to cease their attacks. The campaign has dragged on for almost a year with <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/why-the-west-cant-stop-houthi-missile-attacks-on-ships-2024-1">no end in sight</a>, and the US has been <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/us-navy-aircraft-carrier-left-middle-east-ending-show-force-2024-9">rotating multiple aircraft carrier groups</a> into the region while carrying out further strikes on Houthi territory. To the north, Syria became the site of further conflict in April, when Israel launched a <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/deadly-israeli-strike-syria-could-put-us-forces-crosshairs-iran-2024-4" target="_blank">strike on the Iranian Consulate in Damascus</a>, killing several senior officials of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, including two generals. Farzin Nadimi, a senior fellow at The Washington Institute for Near East Policy, previously told BI that the strike was significant because it was the "first time Israel struck an official Iranian government-affiliated site with high-ranking people inside." <div type="image" title="Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad, and other officials check the site of Israeli attack on Iran consulate in Damascus in April," height="2080" width="3040" msid="114014764" hostid="261"></div>Iran followed up with a <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/us-forces-destroyed-iran-missiles-drones-massive-air-defense-battle-2024-4">long-range attack on Israel at an unprecedented scale</a>, launching what Israeli authorities said were 170 attack drones, 120 ballistic missiles, and 30 cruise missiles — almost all of which were intercepted. Israel then responded with its<a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/explosion-heard-in-iran-according-to-state-media-2024-4"> own strikes on multiple cities in Iran</a>. And in July, <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ismail-haniyeh-top-hamas-leader-killed-in-iran-2024-7">Ismail Haniyeh</a>, the political leader of Hamas, was killed just after he attended the swearing-in of Iran's new president. <keyword id="20394829" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="haniyeh" source="keywords">Haniyeh</keyword> was widely reported to have been killed by a <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/08/01/world/middleeast/how-hamas-leader-haniyeh-killed-iran-bomb.html?smid=tw-share">remotely detonated explosive device</a> that was planted months before his death in a guesthouse he was using in Tehran. Israel also claimed responsibility that week for <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/israel-tried-killing-top-hezbollah-commander-beirut-with-us-bounty-2024-7" target="_blank">killing the Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr</a>, a senior advisor to the Lebanese militant organization's top leader, Hassan <keyword id="20081934" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="nasrallah" source="keywords">Nasrallah</keyword>, via an air-launched strike in Beirut. <div type="image" title="A billboard in Beirut. depicts Ismail Haniyeh, Qasem Soleimani, and Fuad Shukr." height="3067" width="4600" msid="114014762" hostid="261"></div>Meanwhile, Hezbollah, a longtime enemy of Israel, has been <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/hezbollah-lebanon-israeli-positions-gaza-hamas-2023-10">exchanging fire</a> with Israel on its southern border since the October 7 attack, forcing hundreds of thousands of civilians on both sides to flee. In one of the most dramatic attacks the region has yet seen, <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/iran-backed-hezbollah-members-hurt-after-pagers-just-weirdly-exploded-2024-9">thousands of pagers and communication devices</a> used by Hezbollah detonated in September, injuring more than 2,800 people and killing at least eight. Mossad, Israel's spy agency, is widely believed to have orchestrated the attack by <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/hezbollah-pagers-had-dark-feature-made-them-more-gruesome-2024-10">planting explosives inside the devices</a> before they were distributed, but Israel has not claimed responsibility. <div type="image" title="This picture shows a fire that emerged after an Israeli bombardment in south Lebanon." height="1588" width="2408" msid="114014770" hostid="261"></div>Later in September, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/who-was-hassan-nasrallah-the-hezbollah-leader-killed-by-israel-2024-9" target="_blank">Israel launched a strike</a> that killed Nasrallah at Hezbollah's headquarters in Beirut, bringing an end to his 32-year leadership of the militant group. Then, at the start of this month Israel began what it called a <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/israel-launches-ground-offensive-into-lebanon-destroy-hezbollah-targets-2024-9" target="_blank">limited ground incursion into Lebanon</a>, saying it sought to dismantle Hezbollah's positions and artillery in the south. Iran moved soon after to launch a second major attack on Israel. Tehran is reported to have fired about 200 missiles, including its <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/iran-used-one-of-most-advanced-missiles-massive-israel-attack-2024-10" target="_blank">advanced Fattah missile</a> capable of reaching speeds of Mach 5. It's unclear whether Israel might expand its scope in Lebanon, where it faces difficult terrain and Hezbollah troops who have had years to embed and prepare. Lebanon's health ministry has said more than 2,000 people have been killed so far in the ensuing strikes and raids. Tehran is reported to have fired about 200 missiles at Israel on October 2, including its <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/iran-used-one-of-most-advanced-missiles-massive-israel-attack-2024-10">advanced Fattah missile</a> capable of reaching speeds of Mach-5. <h2>Escalations don't bode well for the Middle East</h2>History shows there's little chance that Israel will let that attack pass without a response, as Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin <keyword id="19934489" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="netanyahu" source="keywords">Netanyahu</keyword> indicated in <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iUSI5tQuXys">a speech to the United Nations General Assembly</a> on September 27. "If you strike us, we will strike you. There is no place in Iran that the long arm of Israel cannot reach, and that's true of the entire Middle East," he said. Meanwhile, last month saw<a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/israel-fed-up-massive-protest-strike-demanding-gaza-deal-hostages-2024-9"> hundreds of thousands of Israeli protesters</a> rallying against Netanyahu's failure to secure some sort of cease-fire deal that could lead to the release of the hostages remaining in Gaza after the attack one year ago. Gili Roman, whose sister was kidnapped on October 7 and later released and whose relative Carmel Gat was among the six slain hostages recovered by the IDF in early September, told BI last month that Netanyahu and his government were "prioritizing themselves" over the hostages. The anticipation of yet another cycle of escalating retaliation has set the world on edge, amid fears that an all-out war between Iran and Israel will destabilize the entire region. Globally, the immediate concern is that oil supplies will diminish significantly should conflict spill over to the rest of the Middle East. Last week, Citigroup analysts estimated that a major strike on Iranian oil infrastructure could reduce global oil supplies by <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-10-02/latest-oil-market-news-and-analysis-for-oct-3">1.5 million barrels per day.</a> <h2>Israel ignores US red lines</h2>US President <keyword id="19919748" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="joe-biden" source="keywords">Joe Biden</keyword> has for a year been trying to avoid the war growing into a wider regional conflict that could pull in the US and other world powers. He has repeatedly sought to broker a cease-fire in Gaza, organize more humanitarian support for civilians, and limit Israel's campaign. But Netanyahu has repeatedly ignored Biden's red lines and has continued to push forward against Hamas even as the civilian death toll spiraled and international opposition to Israel's campaign mounted. The US has also helped shield Israel against Iranian missile attacks sparked by the April killings and recent attacks on Hezbollah, and has positioned troops in the area to deter further Iranian aggression, while also seeking to tamp down the conflict. Meanwhile, as Israel intensified its attacks against Hezbollah two weeks ago, the US announced that it had brokered a possible cease-fire agreement — only for Israel to assassinate Nasrallah one day later. Critics of US policy believe that Netanyahu is acting in his own self-interest to try to hold together his fragile coalition government, whose far-right members support intensifying the war against Iran and its allies. "Netanyahu doesn't care about his friendship with Biden, or even about Israel's dependence on the United States. He cares only about his near-term political interests. Everyone but Biden can see this," wrote Andrew Exum, a former US deputy assistant secretary of defense for Middle East policy, <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2024/10/israel-war-biden-iran/680155/">in The Atlantic</a> last week. <h2>The global economy on edge</h2>When the conflict began a year ago, there were fears that wider conflict in the Middle East could impact the global economy. Oil prices did rise in the days after the October 7 attacks and Brent crude peaked above $92 a barrel later that month, but then started declining to about $73 in mid-December. In contrast, oil hit about $130 a barrel after <keyword id="19900702" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="vladimir-putin" source="keywords">Vladimir Putin</keyword> invaded Ukraine in February 2022. However, experts recently told Business Insider that a wider war in the region could <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/global-economy-israel-iran-war-oil-growth-inflation-hurricane-china-2024-10">choke global economic growth and reignite inflation</a>. The Bank of Israel estimated in May that the costs arising from the war would total about $66 billion through the end of next year — equivalent to roughly 12% of Israel's GDP, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/year-war-creates-cracks-israels-borrowing-strength-2024-10-06/">according to Reuters</a>. And in June, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.imf.org/en/Blogs/Articles/2024/06/05/scars-of-conflict-are-deeper-and-longer-lasting-in-middle-east-and-central-asia">the IMF noted</a> that the long-term economic effects of severe conflict on real GDP per capita in the Middle East were particularly pronounced, compared to other regions. It said that countries in the Middle East can expect to experience a roughly 10% decline in real GDP per capita a decade after the onset of a conflict, compared to pre-conflict levels. Correction: October 7, 2024 — An earlier version of this story misstated when Israel launched its strike that killed Hassan Nasrallah. That attack took place before Israel's ground incursion into Lebanon, not after, and the subsequent Iranian missile strike came soon after the Israeli ground assault, not hours after Nasrallah's killing. The story also misspelled the name of the former deputy national security advisor in Israel. He is Chuck Freilich, not Chuck Frielich.

One year on, the Middle East is spiraling deeper into violence

<ul class="summary-list"><li>The US Navy has no aircraft carriers in the Pacific as focus remains on the Middle East.</li><li>The absence raises some concerns amid tensions in the region and continued Chinese aggression.</li></ul>The US Navy currently has no aircraft carriers deployed in the Pacific as ongoing conflicts in the Middle East demand the military's attention.The carrier gap in US naval power in what the Pentagon has said is a priority region raises some potential concerns about whether the force posture matches stated priorities, especially as China throws its weight around, alarming US allies and partners.The Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group arrived in the Middle East last week, joining the Theodore Roosevelt carrier strike group, which has been in the area since the beginning of the month.Both of the carrier strike groups came from the Pacific, and the Pentagon has said that <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/us-navy-carrier-strike-groups-significant-combat-power-middle-east-2024-8">both will remain in Middle East for an undisclosed amount of time</a>. Their deployments follow two others by East Coast-based carriers to the Middle East and Eastern Mediterranean in <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/us-navy-fourth-aircraft-carrier-warships-react-middle-east-fighting-2024-8">response to the ongoing crises</a>.The latest deployment marks the first time two US carrier strike groups have operated together in the Middle East since 2020. It is also a strong signal of US support for Israel and is intended as a deterrence against Iran and its proxies. And it came at a perilous time as the region braces for further violence and unrest.<div type="image" title="An E-2C Hawkeye descends on an aircraft elevator on a US Navy aircraft carrier." height="667" width="1000" msid="112877091" hostid="261" sizebytes="21792"></div>But the move has left the Pacific without a deployed aircraft carrier, a powerful combat platform and a <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/why-china-wants-to-build-aircraft-carriers-2024-6">visible symbol of American naval power</a> that reflects US interests and security commitments in priority regions.US aircraft carriers and the other warships in their strike groups bring a tremendous amount of firepower to any situation, making them formidable power projection assets that represent the military's reach and readiness.All of the US West Coast-based carriers are in port or currently unavailable. The USS Ronald Reagan, which was home-ported in Japan for nine years as the Navy's only forward-deployed carrier, <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/uss-ronald-reagan-aircraft-carrier-ends-yearslong-pacific-stint-2024-5">was recently redeployed</a> back to the States. And the replacement, the USS George Washington, remains in San Diego for the time being.Asked about how long the US military expects not to have an aircraft carrier in the region and whether the absence of carriers is concerning, Pentagon Press Secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder said that the Indo-Pacific was still the US' primary focus, a statement consistent with Pentagon rhetoric consistently identifying China as a "pacing challenge" for the military.<div type="image" title="Aircraft on the USS Theodore Roosevelt." height="2572" width="3600" msid="112877094" hostid="261" sizebytes="366072"></div>"You know, as we look at global force management and as we look at requirements around the world in support of our national security interests, we're always taking great care to make sure that we can cover those commitments to include, in our priority theater, which is the Indo-Pacific region," Ryder told reporters on Tuesday."So we have a significant amount of capability there to include a large naval presence," he added.Earlier this month, Ryder took a similar question about whether the Pentagon could posture forces in both the Pacific and Middle East at the same time.He said that "the thing about the US military, as you're seeing this week, is that we have the ability to surge forces and capabilities to where we need them, when we need them.""The Indo-Pacific Command continues to be our priority theater, and that is indicative of the number of forces that we have that are located within the region," Ryder said.Bryan Clark, a former naval officer and current defense expert at the Hudson Institute, told Business Insider "the inability of the US to maintain more than one carrier in the Pacific, short of a wartime surge, will require the Navy to rely more on amphibious ready groups and submarines to deter aggression from China or North Korea."The US Navy presently has the Boxer and America amphibious readiness groups in the Pacific, according to the USNI News fleet and maritime tracker. Submarine activities are not broadcast as clearly as those of other ships.A US Pacific Fleet spokesperson told BI that the US has "several ships operating across the Pacific to promote adherence to a rules-based international order, as well as maintain the presence and flexibility to rapidly respond to persistent and emergent missions."<div type="image" title="A US aircraft carrier sails in the Pacific Ocean with a cloudy sunset in the background." height="1474" width="2211" msid="112877093" hostid="261" sizebytes="76930"></div>The recent changes in the force posture of US naval power come amid rising tensions in the Pacific, particularly as China continues its aggressive behavior.On Monday, a <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/chinese-military-spy-plane-violated-japans-airspace-2024-8">Chinese military spy plane violated Japanese airspace for the first time</a>, and China also continues to <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/us-warships-could-protect-pacific-allys-ships-from-china-admiral-2024-8">confront Philippine vessels and aircraft in the South China Sea</a>. It has also been upping its pressure on Taiwan, continuing to trigger concerns about a <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-china-could-quickly-seize-key-islands-from-taiwan-2024-8">quarantine</a>, <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/chinas-drills-a-test-as-well-as-show-of-force-2024-5">potential blockade,</a> or <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/red-flags-tell-us-when-chinas-ready-to-invade-taiwan-2024-4">invasion</a>.The US military serves as a <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/america-not-ready-china-war-military-economy-2023-5">security guarantor</a> for Taiwan and American allies in the Indo-Pacific region. As tensions rise, so do the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/us-military-china-missile-problem-getting-worse-2024-5">risks</a>, highlighting the value of being able to maintain deterrence in this region the way it is in the Middle East. That doesn't all hinge on a carrier, but the gap is notable nonetheless.

The US Navy has no aircraft carriers deployed in Pacific as Middle East conflicts pull the Pentagon's focus from China

New Delhi, Candidates in Punjab's Jalandhar can spend Rs 15 for a cup of tea and the same price for a samosa they offer to people during public meetings and campaign trails in the <keyword id="19895394" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="lok-sabha" source="keywords">Lok Sabha</keyword> elections. However, those in Madhya Pradesh's Mandla can spend Rs 7 for a cup of tea and another Rs 7.50 for a piece of samosa, considered a staple snack in many parts of the country. With polls to elect the 18th Lok Sabha approaching, district poll panels are fixing the rates for expenses as part of the election expenditure monitoring process. The candidates will have to manage their expenditure within the prescribed limit. These rate cards often become a subject of "meme-fest" on social media about the prices not being in sync with the current inflation level. In most states, including Andhra Pradesh, the expenditure ceiling for a Lok Sabha candidate is set at Rs 95 lakh. However, in Arunachal Pradesh, Goa and Sikkim, the limit is slightly lower at Rs 75 lakh per candidate. Similarly, for Union territories, the expenditure ceiling ranges from Rs 75 lakh to Rs 95 lakh per candidate, depending on the region. In Jalandhar, chole bhature has been capped at Rs 40 while mutton and chicken have been priced at Rs 250 and 500 per kg respectively. Desserts like dhodha (Rs 450 per kg) and ghee pinni (Rs 300 per kg) are also on the menu besides <keyword id="20350738" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="lassi" source="keywords">lassi</keyword> and nimbu pani priced at Rs 20 and 15 per glass respectively. The cost of tea is low at Rs 5 in the rate card of Balaghat in Madhya Pradesh but the samosa is priced higher at Rs 10. The Balaghat rate card also has idli, <keyword id="21122493" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="sambhar-vada" source="keywords">sambhar vada</keyword> and poha-jalebi priced at Rs 20 while the cost for dosa and upma has been fixed at Rs 30. In Thoubal district of violence-hit Manipur, tea, samosa, kachori, khajur (dates) and gaja (dessert) have been priced at Rs 10 each. Candidates in the northeastern state's Tengnoupal district, will have to stick to Rs 5 for black tea and Rs 10 for milk tea. The list has a wider spread of non-vegetarian items with duck and pork priced at Rs 300 and Rs 400 per kg respectively. Chicken (broiler) and fish like rohu, mrigal and sareng, are also on the list. In Chennai, the price of tea has been raised from Rs 10 to Rs 15 and coffee from Rs 15 to Rs 20, while the rate of chicken biryani has been reduced from Rs 180 to Rs 150 per packet compared to 2019. In the expenditure card for <keyword id="20035063" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="gautam-buddha-nagar" source="keywords">Gautam Buddha Nagar</keyword> (Noida/Greater Noida), vegetarian thali comes for Rs 100, a samosa or a cup of tea for Rs 10, kachori for Rs 15, a sandwich for Rs 25, and a kilogram of jalebi for Rs 90 per kg. <keyword id="20009826" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="north-goa" source="keywords">North Goa</keyword> candidates can have batata vada on menu at a cost of Rs 15, same as that for a samosa. The tea has been capped at Rs 15 while coffee can cost Rs 20. The rate card for Haryana's Jind offers the candidates to hire a tandoor for Rs 300 and features delicacies like dal makhni and mix veg for Rs 130 while matar paneer has been priced at 160. Breads like butter nan, <keyword id="19994516" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="missi-roti" source="keywords">missi roti</keyword> and plain roti are also on the platter besides desserts including <keyword id="21122494" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="kaju-katli" source="keywords">kaju katli</keyword> and gulab jamun. While parties and candidates often offer workers and voters liquor, none of the rate cards mention alcohol. Other heads which find mention in the rate cards range from expensive infrastructure, such as helipads, luxury vehicles, and farmhouses, to miscellaneous items like flowers, cooler, tower ACs and sofa. The rate cards have also prescribed the ceiling on rates for hiring of different vehicles for campaigning right from a Tata Safari or Scorpio to a Honda City or Ciaz or a bus to ferry to public to rally grounds. Rates have also been set for rose garlands, marigold garlands and bouquet by some poll panels while some have included heads like party merchandise including caps and flags. The rate cards also have an list of permissible rates for hiring venues and accommodation. The expenditure includes the spend for public meetings, rallies, advertisements, hoardings, pamphlets, flexis, campaign material and all other election-related work. At present, there is a ceiling on campaigning funds for individual candidates in the electoral fray but no cap on the money political parties can spend for electioneering. According to the revised guidelines issued by the ECI, the maximum permissible expenditure for campaigning in a Lok Sabha constituency varies across different states and Union territories. Section 77 (1) of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 says candidates are expected to keep an account of expenditure incurred on the elections from the "date on which he has been nominated" till the "date of declaration of the result". Polling for the 543 Lok Sabha seats will be held in seven phases, starting with 102 in the first phase on April 19. The votes will be counted on June 4.

Elections on a plate: Poll panels fix menu & expense ceiling for Samosa, tea, biryani & more

The recently concluded winter of 2023-24 was a particularly dry one for <keyword id="90232" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="north-india" source="Orion">North India</keyword>. The region barely witnessed any snowfall until the end of January, painting an unusual picture marked by the absence of pristine white landscapes that typically cloak the majestic <keyword id="52569" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="himalayas" source="Orion">Himalayas</keyword>. This dry spell was down to the delayed arrival of winter storms — an ongoing trend that is raising concerns over dwindling water resources and potential flooding for millions of Indians! <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Beyond the Season: Winter Storms' Delayed Summer Appearance" comment="subhead" text="Beyond the Season: Winter Storms' Delayed Summer Appearance">Beyond the Season: Winter Storms' Delayed Summer Appearance</cmsannotation> Winter storms, technically known as western disturbances, are warm, moisture-laden winds that begin their journey over the Mediterranean Sea. As they waltz across continents, gathering moisture from the seas they encounter, they eventually reach the mighty Himalayas. There, amidst the towering peaks, they unleash the payloads and shower the land below with a mix of rain and snow. Traditionally, these winter storms have graced the Himalayas with abundant snow from December to March, ensuring a steady flow of water supply downstream. However, new research has unveiled a shift in these patterns, with western disturbances now arriving fashionably late compared to seven decades ago. Published in the journal Weather and Climate Dynamics, the study highlights a surge in western disturbances during India's summer months. Over the past 70 years, these unexpected guests have increased in frequency by 60% from April to July, reducing snowfall and increasing the risk of heavy flooding reminiscent of the calamities we saw in Uttarakhand in 2013 and around Delhi in 2023. The research team attributes this seasonal shift to changes in the subtropical jet stream, a high-altitude air current steering western disturbances. The warming of the Tibetan Plateau, a vast expanse at the crossroads of Central, South and East Asia, is amplifying temperature contrast with surrounding areas, creating a stronger jet stream that powers more frequent and intense storms. In tandem, <keyword id="6366055" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="global-warming" source="Orion">global warming</keyword> is weakening the temperature difference between the equator and poles, disrupting the traditional northward migration of the jet stream in summer. As a result, the jet stream is increasingly lingering at southerly latitudes later into spring and summer, allowing more storms to strike North India after the typical winter snow season has passed. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Precipitation Perils: The Dual Challenge of Dwindling Snowmelt and Flooding" comment="subhead" text="Precipitation Perils: The Dual Challenge of Dwindling Snowmelt and Flooding">Precipitation Perils: The Dual Challenge of Dwindling Snowmelt and Flooding</cmsannotation> As the regular occurrence of these late-season storms coincides with the setting-in of pre-monsoon heat, North India is likely to be lashed by torrential rainfall rather than snowfall. This shift in precipitation patterns poses a heightened risk of severe flooding, which could lead to devastation for communities and ecosystems alike. Concurrently, the decline in <keyword id="2005642" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="winter-snowfall" source="Orion">winter snowfall</keyword> mirrors the warming trend in the region, jeopardising vital spring water supplies. With less snow accumulating in the mountains during winter, there is a diminished reserve of meltwater to replenish rivers and streams come springtime. This threatens agricultural activities and water availability for households, disrupting the delicate balance of ecosystems that rely on seasonal water flow as well as the traditional rhythms of life and livelihoods in the region. Study author Dr. Kieran Hunt of the University of Reading adds: “Some areas of Kashmir saw no snow at all in December or January. This is a serious concern for the 750 million people in the Indus and upper Ganges basins who rely on these winter snows for water supplies. He describes the loss of winter snow and the increasing late-season storms as a “one-two punch” that underscores the urgent need to respond to the far-reaching impacts of <keyword id="6361617" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="climate-change" source="Orion">climate change</keyword> in this sensitive region.

As winter storms arrive later in the year, North India faces dual threat of water scarcity and flooding

New Delhi, The Supreme Court on Monday refused to entertain a <keyword id="19957723" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="pil" source="keywords">PIL</keyword> seeking a court-monitored CBI or SIT probe into the violence in West Bengal's <keyword id="20074422" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="sandeshkhali" source="keywords">Sandeshkhali</keyword> village. A bench of Justices B V Nagarathna and <keyword id="20645375" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="augustine-george-masih" source="keywords">Augustine George Masih</keyword> said the Calcutta High Court is already seized of the matter and taken cognisance. "Let there be no dual forums," the bench said while granting liberty to the PIL petitioner to approach the high court. As the bench was disinclined to entertain the matter, petitioner-lawyer Alakh Alok Srivastava withdrew the PIL. The matter was dismissed as withdrawn. Sandeshkhali, a village in North 24 Parganas district of West Bengal, has been witnessing violent protests over allegations of sexual abuse of women by a local TMC leader and his supporters. Several women have accused local Trinamool Congress strongman <keyword id="20150607" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="shajahan-sheikh" source="keywords">Shajahan Sheikh</keyword> and his supporters of land grab and sexual assault. <keyword id="20048236" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="sheikh" source="keywords">Sheikh</keyword> is absconding ever since a mob, allegedly linked to him, attacked Enforcement Directorate officials who had gone to search his premises in connection with a corruption case.

SC refuses to entertain PIL seeking court-monitored probe into Sandeshkhali violence case

<ul><li>District administration sealed three borders adjoining Northeast Delhi and imposed Section 144 in the district. </li><li>Curfews have been imposed in Maujpur, Jafrabad, Chand Bagh, Karawal Nagar. </li><li>The <keyword id="6358992" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Delhi-Police">Delhi Police</keyword> cleared the Jaffrabad road and issued a ‘shoot-at-sight’ order in Northeast Delhi. </li></ul>Northeast Delhi is on fire as what started as protests quickly escalated to clashes and turned violent. It has already claimed 18 lives and as many as 180 are injured, according to GTB Hospital authorities. Pictures of mobs setting shops, petrol pumps on fire are shared on social media. Localities like Chand Bagh Bhajanpura, Maujpur-Babarpur and Jafrabad witnessed numerous shooting incidents too. As Trump concluded his 36-hour visit to India, the Delhi police took multiple steps to control the violence. District administration sealed three borders adjoining Northeast Delhi and imposed Section 144 in the district. All the bars and liquor vendors were instructed to remain closed between 4 and 10 pm. Bars inside hotels, and pubs will be shut. Delhi Police cleared the Jaffrabad road and issued a ‘shoot-at-sight’ order in Northeast Delhi. Here is all that the authorities did in the last 14 hours: 
	<div type="Slideshow" msid="74312390" hostid="261" title="‘Shoot at sight’ orders to water cannons and barricades — here’s what Delhi police did in the last 14 hours" firstImageMsid="74312555" slideCount="8"></div>

‘Shoot at sight’ orders to water cannons and barricades — here’s what Delhi police did in the last 14 hours

<ul><li>The students also alleged that they were later detained by the Delhi police and were taken to nearby Civil Lines police station.</li><li>The students gathered near Chief Minister's residence at about 12:00 a.m. asking to meet him to submit a charter of demands </li><li>However at around 3:30 a.m. the Delhi police restored to use of <keyword id="658066" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="water-cannon">water cannon</keyword> over the protesters to disperse the mob. </li></ul>The Delhi police on Wednesday used water cannons on the students of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) and <keyword id="6379311" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Jamia-Millia-Islamia">Jamia Millia Islamia</keyword> (JMI) who were outside Delhi Chief Minister <keyword id="260213" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Arvind-Kejriwal">Arvind Kejriwal</keyword>'s residence asking to meet him to submit a charter of demands over violence in the capital. The students also alleged that they were later detained by the Delhi police and were taken to nearby Civil Lines police station. The students gathered near Chief Minister's residence at about 12:00 a.m. asking to meet him to submit a charter of demands that included the Chief Minister's direct intervention in violence-hit areas and action over the person involved in creating unrest in North-East Delhi. However at around 3:30 a.m. the Delhi police restored to use of water cannon over the protesters to disperse the mob. "Activate all Delhi government services and infrastructure to rescue, provide medical facilities and shelter to citizens," the students demanded in their charter. The students-led by JNUSU Vice-President Saket Moon also urged for action against the culprits involved in the communal violence. "Identify perpetrators of communal violence, including police officials who have participated in it and take action against them," the students said.

Water cannons used on JNU, Jamia students protesting at CM residence

<ul class="summary-list"><li>A Starbucks franchisee in the Middle East is set to lay off over 2,000 employees, Reuters reported.</li><li>AlShaya Group has been hit by boycotts of its Western brands amid the Israel-Gaza war.</li></ul>A <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/starbucks-founder-wants-it-to-do-some-soul-searching-2024-3">Starbucks</a> franchisee is set to lay off over 2,000 employees across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) in the wake of consumer boycotts linked to the Gaza conflict, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.reuters.com/business/retail-consumer/starbucks-middle-east-franchisee-alshaya-cut-over-2000-jobs-sources-say-2024-03-05/">Reuters</a> reported, citing people familiar with the matter.Starbucks has faced protests from <a target="_blank" href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-67777506">both pro-Palestine and pro-Israel camps</a>, but it has released statements saying it has "no political agenda" and that it condemns "violence, the loss of innocent life and all hate and weaponized speech."In a statement in December, Starbucks CEO Laxman Narasimhan said protesters had been "influenced by misrepresentation on social media" of what the company stands for.The company has also become embroiled in a dispute in the US, where its <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/starbucks-sues-employee-union-over-logo-use-pro-palestinian-posts-2023-10">management and a union organizing its workers sued each other over</a> using the company's name and logo following a social media post by the union declaring "solidarity" with Palestine.In a statement to Business Insider, the franchisee, AlShaya Group, which operates Starbucks in the Middle East, confirmed that it had "taken the sad and very difficult decision" to reduce the number of personnel in its Starbucks MENA stores.The company pointed to "challenging trading conditions over the last six months" as the reason for the cuts, which will affect around 4% of its total workforce, the Reuters report said.AlShaya told BI it was still "committed to the region" and would support those affected by the layoffs.AlShaya, established in Kuwait in 1890, also owns the rights to operate brands including Chipotle, The Cheesecake Factory, and Victoria's Secret, according to its <a target="_blank" href="https://www.alshaya.com/en/brands">website</a>.A Starbucks spokesperson told Business Insider: "As Alshaya reviews its business portfolio they have made the difficult decision to eliminate some roles in their Starbucks store portfolio.""Our thoughts are with the green apron partners who will be leaving, and we want to thank them for their contributions," they added.Starbucks CEO Narasimhan said in a Q1 earnings call that the company had seen "a significant impact on traffic and sales" in the Middle East but believed it would be a "transitory" issue.The layoffs came as Starbucks and other <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/world-turning-on-us-food-brands-mcdonalds-starbucks-israel-gaza-2024-2">Western brands such as McDonald's</a> and <a target="_blank" href="https://www.reuters.com/business/retail-consumer/boycott-campaigns-over-gaza-war-hit-western-brands-some-arab-countries-2023-11-22/">KFC</a> have faced consumer boycotts over the Israel-Gaza war.Fast good giant McDonald's missed its first-quarter sales target for the first time in almost four years after boycotts hit its operations in the Middle East, Indonesia, Malaysia, and France, per <a target="_blank" href="https://www.reuters.com/business/retail-consumer/mcdonalds-records-first-sales-miss-nearly-4-years-slow-international-business-2024-02-05/">Reuters</a>."So long as this war is going on ... we're not expecting to see any significant improvement (in these markets)," McDonald's CEO Chris Kempczinski said.<div type="image" title="israel missile gaza strip" height="1000" width="1500" msid="108351524" hostid="261" sizebytes="99298"></div>Israel's mass airstrikes and ground invasion of the Gaza Strip have killed more than 30,000 Palestinians in the conflict so far.The strikes were launched in response to Hamas' October 7 attacks, which killed around 1,200 people in Israel and saw about 240 others taken hostage in Gaza.

Starbucks Middle East franchisee to slash over 2,000 jobs as boycotts linked to the Israel-Gaza conflict hit Western brands, says report 

<ul><li>According to media reports, at least 5 people were killed including a cop and over a 100 others were injured. </li><li>Mobs are said to have used stones, pieces of glasses, and guns during the clashes in Northeast Delhi. </li><li>Some rioters reportedly tried <a href="https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/bhajanpura-petrol-pump-fire-1649533-2020-02-24">to set a petrol pump near Bhajanpura on fire. </a> </li></ul>The ongoing protests against the <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/politics/news/what-is-citizenship-bill-and-how-does-it-affect-religious-freedom-in-india/articleshow/72362487.cms">Citizenship Amendment Act</a> turned violent in several parts of New Delhi on Monday (Feb 24). This was even as the US president Donald Trump was praising India’s rise as an economic power, Twitter was buzzing with hundreds of photos and videos of protestors who were pelting stones and burning buses. This is the second violent protest in Delhi in less than 24 hours. According to media reports, at least five people were killed including a cop and over a 100 others were injured. The violence <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/politics/india/news/section-144-imposed-in-parts-of-north-delhi-after-a-violent-caa-protest-led-to-a-policemans-death/articleshow/74284941.cms">was reportedly triggered by a clash</a> between two sets of people— one protesting against the new citizenship law and the other campaigning in support of the legislation that has already been passed by the Parliament. Since Sunday (Feb 23), the pro-CAA groups had assembled at <keyword id="3409958" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="maujpur">Maujpur</keyword> metro station while the anti-CAA protesters settled down about a kilometer Km away, at <keyword id="71096" type="CITY" weightage="20" keywordseo="JAFRABAD">Jafrabad</keyword> metro station. Here’s how Delhi was on fire while Trump was visiting the iconic Taj Mahal: 
	
	<div type="Slideshow" msid="74294374" hostid="261" title="Bullets, glass and stones fly all over North East Delhi — killing 5 and injuring 100" firstImageMsid="74294469" slideCount="14"></div>

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