As it begins its controversial assault on Gaza City with depleted and demoralized personnel, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) are calling up 60,000 part-time reservists. Another 20,000 reservists currently serving will have their terms extended to prop up the nation's "exhausted military" for the "takeover and occupation" of the city in northern Gaza, said CNN. 

Does the IDF have enough soldiers? 
Israel has a "relatively small" standing army of about 169,000, said Middle East analyst Ian Parmeter at The Conversation. The IDF needs another 10,000 to 12,000 full-time soldiers to reach optimal staffing levels, including 7,000 additional combat troops. During times of military need, it relies on more than 400,000 reservists — Israelis who have completed their military service but can be called back if required. 

What problems is it facing?
Morale is a growing issue. Close to 40% of serving reservists felt slightly or significantly less motivated than they did at the beginning of the conflict, according to a recent survey from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem reported in The Times of Israel. Almost half said they disapproved of their government's handling of the war. 

Draft dodging is also depleting numbers. An arrangement made at the founding of the Israeli state exempted the Haredi (ultra-Orthodox Jews) from military service, but that exemption was rescinded last year. However, resistance to conscription remains high, and there are an estimated 14,600 "refuseniks" in the Haredi community, said Ynetnews. But even with the reservists, Israel doesn't have enough personnel to deploy its strategy for the entire strip, and it also needs soldiers in the West Bank. 

How is it boosting numbers?
Refusing military service is a criminal offence punishable by jail sentences in Israel, but the government recently offered a five-day amnesty in an attempt to boost enlistment among the Haredi community. Dubbed Starting Anew, draft evaders could escape punishment if they voluntarily enlisted by Aug. 21. 

The IDF is also said to be considering swelling its ranks from the Jewish diaspora. The army is "exploring the possibility" of recruiting approximately 600 to 700 additional soldiers a year from outside Israel, said The Jerusalem Post, with a focus on the U.S. and France.

India's top jurists have walked back a controversial plan to permanently round up the million or so stray canines estimated to call Delhi home. The about-face comes after the court earlier this month ordered Delhi's one million estimated strays be captured, sterilized, immunized and placed in local shelters to combat the "menace of dog bites leading to rabies." But prompted by mass pushback both online and in the streets, the Indian Supreme Court revised its ruling last week.

'Panic among animal lovers'
The court's initial order giving authorities eight weeks to round up all of Delhi's dogs was "aimed to control rising cases of biting," said The Associated Press. Delhi sees some 2,000 dog bite "episodes every day," according to "some estimates based on hospital records." The order caused a "panic among animal lovers and welfare organizations," many of which argued the city has "nowhere near the infrastructure to house its vast stray population," said CNN.

India "accounts for 36% of the total rabies-related deaths in the world," said the BBC, citing World Health Organization data. Despite that threat, critics of the court's ruling cited feasibility as their concern. "Most Indian cities currently do not have even 1% of the capacity" necessary to "rehabilitate stray dogs in shelters," said animal rights activist Nilesh Bhanage. 

Balancing 'animal welfare and public safety'
In its revised ruling, the Indian Supreme Court "suspended the 'catch-and-keep' plan," offering in its place a "more 'holistic' India-wide approach," said The Guardian. The new order will see stray dogs "sterilized, vaccinated" and "dewormed" before they are ultimately returned to the neighborhoods where they were initially captured. 

The ruling also specified that canines "exhibiting aggressive behavior or infected with rabies shall not be released into public spaces," said Indian newspaper The Hindu. The order bans unregulated public feeding of stray dogs but calls for the establishment of "designated areas for feeding" across the country, said CNN.

By scaling back their initial order, India's Supreme Court made a "progressive step toward balancing animal welfare and public safety," said Rahul Gandhi, the leader of the Indian parliamentary opposition, on X. 

A pack of corgis compete in a 50-meter race during the 2025 Corgi Race in Vilnius, Lithuania. About 120 teams from across Europe gathered in the capital's largest park for the ultimate corgi meetup, featuring solo sprints, costume contests and group races.
Petras Maluka / Getty Images

Not quite ready to make your U.S. Open debut but still want to unleash your inner Coco Gauff or Carlos Alcaraz? Head to one of these hotels serving up impressive tennis offerings.

Cromlix, Stirling, Scotland
This charming Victorian estate is owned by tennis great Andy Murray and his wife, Kim. The "regal" property "emits a sense of nobility," said Vogue. This feels palpable on the tennis court painted in Wimbledon colors with an umpire's chair used in a charity match between him and Roger Federer. Check the schedule to see if Murray's mother, Judy, is coaching during your stay, or find some friendly competition in the Billiards Room.

Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc, Antibes, France
An "icon of the French Riviera," Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc is the go-to escape for those seeking respite in "bucolic surroundings," said The Hollywood Reporter. Tennis lovers can head to the five clay courts for a day of play underneath pines, palms and olive trees. Book a private session with a coach to refine your skills, then go for a dip in the cliffside saltwater infinity pool.

Rancho Valencia Resort & Spa, Rancho Santa Fe, California
Rancho Valencia Resort & Spa is the "epicenter of country club California cool," with the resort's 12 plexipave, three European red clay, and four pickleball courts surrounded by gardens and citrus groves, said Vogue. Guests can also try their hand at padel and take lessons from pros before exploring the rest of the resort, a "terracotta, tile and adobe dream."