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- A rare sighting of the Little Bunting, a bird not previously recorded in Rajasthan, has been made in Mount Abu recently.
- About the Little Bunting:
- The Little Bunting is a small passerine bird that belongs to the Emberizidae family.
- Scientific Name: Emberiza pusilla
- Habitat & Migration:
- This bird breeds across the taiga in the far northeastern regions of Europe and northern Eurasia, extending to the Russian Far East. It migrates to subtropical regions for the winter, including northern India, southern China, and parts of Southeast Asia.
- Physical Features:
- Measuring only 12–14 cm (4.7–5.5 in), the Little Bunting has white underparts with streaked markings on its breast and sides. Its chestnut-colored face, along with a white stripe along the cheek, gives it a resemblance to the female reed bunting. However, it is distinct with its black crown stripes, white eye-ring, and fine dark border behind its chestnut cheeks. Both sexes look alike.
- Conservation Status:
- It is listed as "Least Concern" on the IUCN Red List.
- Israel has recently agreed to double its population in the occupied Golan Heights.
- About the Golan Heights:
- The Golan Heights is a hilly region that overlooks the upper Jordan River valley to the west.
- It is Syrian territory that has been under Israeli occupation since 1967.
- The name "Golan" comes from the biblical city of refuge in Bashan.
- Geographically, the area is bordered by the Jordan River and the Sea of Galilee to the west, Mount Hermon to the north, the seasonal Wadi Al-Ruqqād River to the east, and the Yarmūk River to the south.
- It stretches approximately 71 km from north to south and 43 km at its widest point from east to west. The region has an area of about 1,150 square kilometers, and its shape is roughly that of a boat.
- Historical Context:
- The Golan Heights was part of the extreme southwestern region of Syria until 1967, when it came under Israeli control during the final stages of the Six-Day War.
- Most of the local Syrian Arab population fled during the conflict.
- In 1973, Syria attempted to reclaim the Golan Heights during the Middle East war but was unsuccessful.
- Following this, both countries signed an armistice in 1974, and a UN observer force was stationed along the ceasefire line.
- In December 1981, Israel unilaterally annexed the portion of the Golan it controlled.
- International law and United Nations Security Council resolutions regard it as occupied territory.
- Settlements and Demographics:
- There are over 30 Israeli settlements in the Golan Heights, housing about 20,000 people. These settlements are considered illegal under international law, though Israel disputes this.
- The Israeli settlers live alongside around 20,000 Syrians, primarily Druze Arabs, who remained in the area when it came under Israeli control.
- Strategic Significance:
- The Golan Heights offers a commanding view of the Syrian capital, Damascus, and overlooks northern Israel’s Galilee region and the Sea of Galilee. It also controls the strategic route to Damascus.
- In addition to its military importance, the region shares borders with Jordan and Lebanon and serves as a crucial water source. Rainwater from the Golan's catchment area feeds into the Jordan River, which is vital for the surrounding arid region.
- A Russian oil tanker recently split apart during a severe storm, spilling thousands of tonnes of oil into the Kerch Strait.
- About the Kerch Strait:
- The Kerch Strait is located in Eastern Europe and serves as the sole waterway connecting the Black Sea to the Sea of Azov.
- In Roman times, it was called the Strait of Cimmerian Bosphorus, and in Greek, it was known as the Cimmerian Strait.
- It separates the Kerch Peninsula (part of the Russian-occupied Crimean Peninsula) to the west from the Taman Peninsula in Russia to the east.
- The strait is approximately 3 km long, 15 km wide, and has a depth of about 18 meters. At its narrowest point, near the northern end of the Chushka Landspit, it is only 3 to 5 km wide.
- The city of Kerch, located near the middle of the strait on the Crimean side, is a key urban center.
- The Kerch Strait is a vital global shipping route, providing access from the Sea of Azov to the Black Sea. It has also been a focal point of conflict between Russia and Ukraine since Russia annexed Crimea in 2014.
- Kerch Strait Bridge:
- The Kerch Strait Bridge, also known as the Crimean Bridge, connects mainland Russia to Crimea.
- Completed in 2018, this bridge includes both road and rail links and is the longest bridge in Europe, stretching 19 km.
- It is seen as a symbol of Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2014.