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Fighting Politics and diplomacy Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/11/18/russia-ukraine-war-list-of-key-events-day-997

A “remote-controlled” bomb blast has claimed the life of one person and wounded five others in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s South Waziristan district, police said on Sunday. The wounded persons have been shifted to the District Headquarters (DHQ) Hospital, Wana, after the bomb blast rocked Azam Warsak bazaar in the tribal district, the police added. The martyred man was identified as Mufti Ejazul Haq while the wounded persons include Saddam, Shah Hussain, Noor Hussain, Zain Ullah, and Maulana Shahzada Wazir. Maulana Shahzada was seriously injured in the blast, and the condition of some of the injured is also critical, according to Deputy Medical Superintendent Dr Fazlur Rehman. The injured are being treated at the DHQ Hospital and an emergency has been declared in the hospital by the authorities. Two injured were shifted to Dera Ismail Khan in critical condition for further treatment. Station House Officer (SHO) Usman Wazir of Azam Warsak Police Station confirmed the incident and stated that unidentified persons had planted a remote control bomb near the mosque. The police have started investigating the incident, sources told Geo News. Pakistan continues to battle militancy as terrorist activities spiked across the country, especially in KP and Balochistan, since the Taliban takeover of bordering Afghanistan. As per a report issued by the Centre for Research and Security Studies (CRSS), third quarter (July-September) of 2024 saw a sharp increase in fatalities of terrorist violence and counter-terrorism campaigns, with a 90% surge in violence. A total of 722 people were killed, including civilians, security personnel, and outlaws, while 615 others were wounded in as many as 328 incidents recorded during the period under review. Nearly 97% of these fatalities occurred in KP and Balochistan — marking the highest percentage in a decade, and over 92% of these incidents of terror attacks and security forces’ operations were recorded in the same provinces. Source: https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/1252028-remote-controlled-bomb-blast-kills-one-injures-5-in-south-waziristan

Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2024/11/18/live-israeli-attacks-kill-111-in-gaza-as-pope-calls-for-genocide-inquiry

Here is the situation on Saturday, November 16: Fighting Politics and diplomacy Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/11/16/russia-ukraine-war-list-of-key-events-day-995

Punjab continues to struggle with a deepening smog crisis as various cities remain engulfed in grey smog, with Lahore and Multan topping the air pollution rankings on Saturday. The region is grappling with its annual winter air pollution, exacerbated in recent years by a combination of cold air that traps dust and harmful emissions, low-grade diesel fumes, and smoke from illegal crop residue burning.  The situation has been worsening in recent months, with the capital city consistently reporting deteriorating air quality levels. Air quality in Lahore was deemed “hazardous” as the AQI reached 766 around 9am, according to data by IQAir, with the concentration of deadly PM2.5 pollutants — fine particulate matter in the air that causes most damage to health — around 87.4 times the level deemed acceptable by the World Health Organisation.  Meanwhile, Multan remained the most polluted city in the country, in terms of air quality, despite a decline in the AQI compared to the extremely high smog levels recorded during the past week. The AQI in the southern Punjab city was 396 around 9am, which is well within the hazardous range. Karachi, on the other hand, had the sixth worst air quality in the world, with an AQI of 188, which is deemed “unhealthy” by the Swiss group, IQ Air. Traffic disruptions The hazardous smog has severely impacted daily life, with poor visibility, disrupted traffic flow, and health concerns plaguing residents. Dense fog has significantly reduced visibility, causing major arteries to close for traffic. M4 Motorway was blocked from Multan to Toba Tek Singh, while M5 Motorway was blocked from Multan to Sukkur. The district administration has said all markets across the city will remain closed for two days this weekend — Saturday and Sunday. Moreover, leaves of medical staff have been cancelled after health emergency was imposed in Lahore and Multan. Major traffic disruptions were also reported from Kamalia, Orgarra, Gujrat, Kot Addu and surrounding areas, as drivers faced hazardous conditions due to extremely low visibility. In an unfortunate incident, a man died after being hit by a trailer near Rojhan Miani Phatak area in Rajanpur, police said, blaming the accident on smog and low visibility. With no immediate relief in sight, residents have been advised to stay indoors and avoid unnecessary travel. In response to the worsening air quality, the provincial government has extended school closures in Lahore for another week to protect students from exposure to the dangerous air. Local authorities have also declared a health emergency in Lahore and Multan, the two cities that are most affected by the ongoing pollution crisis. Hospitals in both cities are on high alert, with an increase in respiratory issues and other smog-related health problems. Lahore has topped Swiss group IQAir readings as the world’s most polluted city, for most of the week. The province, home to more than half of Pakistan’s 240 million people, last week closed all schools until November 17 in major cities enveloped by smog. Colleges and universities were also ordered shut down, moving to virtual classes. The authorities have also banned construction, extended schools’ closure for another week and shifting all educational institutions to online classes.  Meanwhile, entry to parks, zoos, playgrounds and other public spaces also remained restricted. As the smog continues to smother the country, authorities are urging citizens to wear masks and limit outdoor activities. Other parts of South Asia are also dealing with high levels of pollution and Punjab blames neighbouring India for contributing to its hazardous air quality. New Delhi, the world’s second most polluted capital, has banned non-essential construction, moved children to virtual classrooms and asked residents to avoid using coal and wood from Friday. Source: https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/1251646-punjab-struggles-as-lahores-air-quality-hits-hazardous-levels

Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2024/11/16/live-who-chief-slams-israels-killing-of-12-paramedics-in-lebanon-strike

Valencia and Madrid, Spain – When flash floods swept through Valencia, priceless family mementoes were destroyed as waters engulfed Marilo Grandoli’s ground-floor flat. But, despite this, Grandoli feels fortunate. “We lost things like the card which showed when my great grandfather opened his food shop in 1915, my school homework and family photographs,” she told Al Jazeera. “These were precious to us. But there are other families who have lost relatives. They have lost far more.” The 52-year-old journalist, who lives in Catarroja, one of the worst affected areas of Valencia where 28 people died, says she is still in shock, more than two weeks after the floods. Now, fears are rising again across Spain as more rainstorms threaten to overflow rivers. On Wednesday, Aemet, the state weather forecaster, issued red alerts for Malaga, where thousands have been evacuated, and Tarragona in Catalonia. An amber alert, the second highest level, was issued for Valencia. On Thursday, though alerts were not issued for Malaga, heavy rain is expected in parts of the Valencia region. These do not include the areas worst affected by the floods on October 29. Some Spaniards have covered their cars in plastic and tied them to lampposts in preparation. “I don’t know what day of the week it is, whether it is Monday or Tuesday,” said Grandoli. Like thousands of other Valencians, her life was turned upside down on October 29 when flash floods devastated the city. At least 223 people died and 23 are still missing. As a mammoth cleanup operation continues, Grandoli says she feels a mixture of anger, gratitude and determination. “I feel anger towards the politicians, but gratitude to the volunteers and the public services for the way they have helped clear up. The Valencian people will recover,” she said. The ire of many people has been directed at Carlos Mazon, the Valencian regional president, whose administration issued a red alert to residents’ mobile phones at 8.11pm on the day of the floods, hours after the villages and suburbs of the city started witnessing the devastation. Aemet had issued a red alert warning at 7.31am on the day of the downpour, 12 hours before the Valencian authorities. Mazon, who will appear before the Valencian parliament on Friday to explain his administration’s decisions, told reporters on Monday that “errors may have been committed” and “everyone” would be obliged to review them. ‘He has the blood of so many people on his hands’ Tens of thousands of people called for Mazon’s resignation at an angry demonstration on Saturday in Valencia, with protesters plastering the Valencian government building in mud. Eulalia Gregori held aloft a homemade sign showing an upside Mazon with devil’s horns. “Go to hell where you belong, you left us with blood on your hands,” reads the poster. “Mazon should be the one who pays for this disaster. He has the blood of so many people on his hands, yet he spent his time denying he did anything wrong,” Gregori, 38, a teacher, who lives in Valencia, told Al Jazeera. “I did not lose a brother or a father in the floods and my house is not covered in mud, but we are all together in this.” A Valencian government spokesman sent Al Jazeera a statement saying a series of warnings were issued to residents before the floods. On the day of the disaster, it said, it was not informed in time of the danger of flooding by the state-run hydrological authority, which is responsible for water management in the area. Others have directed their anger at the Spanish government for failing to deliver aid to the region faster. Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/11/14/i-feel-anger-spain-braces-for-more-storms-after-deadly-flash-floods

A day after slipping to second place, Lahore once again topped the global pollution chart reporting worst Air Quality Index (AQI) in the world on Thursday. Lahore’s AQI, as per Swiss group IQAir’s live ratings, reached 1,039 making it the worst polluted city globally, while New Delhi ranked second with an AQI of 422 around 10:48am. According to the AQI scale, an index value of 300 or higher is considered “hazardous” to health, and Lahore has consistently recorded values between 800 and 1,000 on the scale. Lahore tops global pollution chartPauseUnmute The prevailing smog situation in Punjab has warranted strict measures from the provincial government which has ordered the closure of schools and a shift towards online classes till November 17. The drastic deterioration of air quality in the smog-hit regions has caused an increase in health issues like eye and throat infections and respiratory diseases.  Authorities have advised citizens to avoid stepping out of their homes unnecessarily and keep their doors and windows closed besides ensuring use of face masks. The smog crisis is not limited to Punjab as it has also affected Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Peshawar and surrounding districts. However, residents of Lahore have some hope as the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has forecast strong winds and rain in the upper regions of the country including Lahore from November 14 to 16. Met officials said between November 14 and 16, Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Peshawar and Lahore were likely to experience light rain with strong winds and thunder. The downpour might likely improve the city’s air quality which currently is way beyond the “hazardous” level. Source: https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/1250950-dense-smog-propels-lahore-to-record-worst-aqi-in-world

Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2024/11/14/live-israel-bombs-gaza-camps-6-israeli-soldiers-killed-in-south-lebanon

People in flood-hit areas of Spain are bracing for a new weather front expected to bring heavy rain, two weeks after the worst floods in Spain’s modern history killed more than 200 people. Spain’s State Meteorological Agency, AEMET, issued an orange alert on Tuesday, the second-highest level, for heavy or torrential rains in the eastern Valencia region, which was hit hard by a previous storm on October 29. The official death toll from the floods stands at 222 people, after a year’s worth of rain fell within hours. Rosa Tauris, a spokesperson for Valencia’s emergency committee, told reporters that the impact of the expected rainfall could be severe due to the amount of mud already on the ground from the previous floods and the conditions of the sewage system. The emergency committee issued a special warning calling on municipalities and organisations to take preventative measures, including closing schools. Advertisement Tauris also recommended that citizens work remotely when possible and avoid non-essential travel. The town council in Chiva, one of the worst-hit sites, cancelled classes and sports activities, while in nearby Aldaia, workers piled up sandbags to protect the town. “We are placing sandbags to replace the floodgates that the previous floods tore down,” municipal worker Antonio Ojeda said, hoping it will prevent the Saleta ravine from overflowing again. Ditches and drains that are obstructed with trees, tyres and car parts are also being cleaned out in preparation for the rainfall. On Monday, 10,000 tons of furniture, appliances, and clothing were removed, almost as much waste as Valencia disposes of in a year. Weather warnings were also issued for the Balearic Islands and parts of Galicia in the far northwest, Catalonia in the northeast, and Andalusia in the south. Weather forecaster Monica Lopez told the state broadcaster that she did not expect the new storms to be as tumultuous as those in Valencia two weeks ago. Royal visit The preparations come as Spain’s King Felipe VI said he and Queen Letizia would return to the epicentre of the floods “early next week” after survivors heckled and threw mud at the royals during their last trip. The king is due to return to Valencia on Tuesday to meet with soldiers participating in the relief work following the October 29 floods. On Monday, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced a fresh aid package worth almost 3.8 billion euros ($4bn) to residents, property owners and farmers. The government previously announced more than 10.6 billion euros ($11.3bn) in economic recovery measures to help flood victims and areas. The final bill to recover from the floods is expected to soar to tens of billions of euros. On Sunday, tens of thousands of people took to the streets to protest against the authorities’ handling of the floods. Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/11/12/spains-flood-hit-areas-brace-for-new-storms