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Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2024/9/5/israels-war-on-gaza-live-thousands-flee-jenin-homes-at-gunpoint

NATO-member Poland has scrambled aircraft as Russia launched air strikes on Ukraine‘s western city of Lviv close to its border. Polish and “allied” aircraft were scrambled overnight on Tuesday as Russia launched a major attack on Lviv, according to Reuters news agency. It was the third time in eight days that the NATO member’s defences had been activated since Russia stepped up its bombardment across Ukraine. At least seven people are reported to have been killed in Lviv, with many more injured in drone and missile attacks that saw historic buildings destroyed in the heart of the city, according to regional officials. Andriy Sadovyi, the mayor of Lviv city, said three children were among the dead. In a video posted on the Telegram messaging app that showed the mayor among the debris of a destroyed building, he said more than 50 structures, from schools to homes and clinics, most of them in the heart of the city, had been damaged. The operational command of Poland’s armed forces said on X platform that “Polish and allied aircraft” had been scrambled due to the Russian attack in western Ukraine. “This is another very busy night for the entire air defence system,” the post read. Russia also hit Kyiv and several other regions with missiles on Wednesday morning, but no immediate damage was reported. Moscow has been pounding Ukraine with hundreds of missiles and drones over the past two weeks. Russian military bloggers claim that the step up in air strikes is a response to Kyiv’s incursion into its territory in Kursk. The deadliest single attack this year was seen on Tuesday, as a military institute in the central town of Poltava was hit. The strike, by a pair of ballistic missiles, killed more than 50 and wounded hundreds. Russia has yet to comment on the attack on Poltava or Wednesday’s strikes on Lviv and Kyiv. It has long insisted that its strikes only aim at military, energy and transport infrastructure targets, not civilians. Poland beefing up defence On Tuesday, Warsaw announced new military deals worth $520m, the latest move in a drive to beef up its defence prompted by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Poland currently spends 4 percent of its gross domestic product (GDP) on defence – the highest ratio of any NATO member – and hopes to boost the number to 4.7 percent next year. Last month, Warsaw signed a $10bn deal to buy 96 Apache attack helicopters from US manufacturer Boeing. They will replace outdated Russian Mi-24 helicopters. Warsaw has also announced a deal to buy hundreds of AIM-120C AMRAAM air-to-air missiles, as well as a contract for 48 launchers for US-designed Patriot air defence systems. Poland’s army has 200,000 soldiers, making it NATO’s third largest after the United States and Turkey, and the biggest in the European Union. Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/9/4/poland-scrambles-planes-as-russia-strikes-western-ukraine

Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2024/9/4/israels-war-on-gaza-live-israel-bombards-north-south-gaza

Two children and a young man lost their lives after falling into a 120-foot-deep submersible pump well in Karachi’s Garden East, police said on Sunday. Eyewitnesses said the boys were “jumping” on the lid of the well when it suddenly broke under their weight, sending the victims, aged 8 and 12, crashing down to the bottom, where a submersible water pump was installed. In a panic, the residents called a local plumber to go down the well and rescue the children, but tragically, he met the same fate when the rope he was hanging onto snapped, according to the residents As soon as the authorities were alerted on the matter, rescuers were dispatched to the spot. The rescue teams told Geo News that they faced difficulty in pulling the children out of the well because it was very narrow. Both the children, identified as Badar and Talha, and the plumber were pulled out in critical condition and were later declared dead. They said that one of their workers also got stuck inside the well but he was later pulled out safely. Speaking to Geo News, the residents said that when the plumber stepped into the well, he told them about the “lack of oxygen” inside. “He tied both children to his body with a rope and asked us to pull it up, but it broke,” they said. Source: https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/1226106-two-boys-man-die-after-falling-into-120-foot-deep-well-in-karachi

A fierce tropical storm has caused floods and landslides that have killed up to 11 people in the Philippines. Tropical Storm Yagi lashed the north of the country overnight into Monday. The heavy rains flooded many areas and set off landslides. Newswire reports say nine to 11 people have been killed. About 20 big storms and typhoons hit the Philippines or its surrounding waters each year typically between late June and October, damaging homes and infrastructure and killing dozens. Yagi brushed past the Bicol region southeast of the capital, Manila, overnight on Sunday and was expected later on Monday to make landfall on the northeast coast of the main island of Luzon. Schools and government offices across Manila were shut down as a precaution, while ferry services in affected areas were suspended and 29 domestic flights were cancelled. Three people, including a pregnant woman, were killed in a landslide in the Manila suburb of Antipolo, a city information officer told the AFP news agency. The bodies of four other people, all drowning victims, were also recovered on Monday. Yagi also lashed the eastern city of Naga, killing two people, including a baby girl who drowned as floodwaters rose, rescuers said. Separate landslides killed two people and damaged five houses in the central city of Cebu on Sunday, the local disaster office said. In July, powerful Typhoon Gaemi triggered heavy rain and massive flooding in the Philippines, resulting in at least 22 deaths. Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/9/2/up-to-11-reported-dead-as-tropical-storm-yagi-lashes-philippines

Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2024/9/2/israeli-war-on-gaza-live-israel-bombs-school-killing-11-palestinians

Britain’s High Commissioner in Islamabad Jane Marriott has “encouraged” Pakistani students to apply for the Chevening and Commonwealth scholarship programmes at the United Kingdom universities. This year marks the 65th anniversary of the Commonwealth Scholarship programme as 46 Chevening and 47 Commonwealth scholarships have been awarded to Pakistanis, according to an official statement issued by the British High Commission in Islamabad on Friday. These long-standing programmes have developed a network of over 1,500 Commonwealth and nearly 2,000 Chevening alumni in Pakistan, who regularly meet to discuss live issues, it added. The statement further stated that scholars come from diverse backgrounds, representing the rich cultural tapestry of Pakistan, adding that this year’s cohort come from Punjab, Sindh, Baluchistan, Pakistan Administered Kashmir, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, and the Federal Capital Territory. Over 60% of this year’s Chevening scholars are women. The British High Commission strongly encourages people from all backgrounds and across Pakistan to apply. Talking to the students, the high commissioner offered advice to them for living in the UK, ahead of a year of studying at British universities. She said, “The Chevening programme helps develop a new generation of Pakistani leaders and change-makers. Many of our alumni have gone on to achieve extraordinary things back home.” “Not only do they get the benefit of studying at some of the best universities in the world, they also get to experience the best of living in the UK. From climate studies to football coaching, I am looking forward to seeing what they achieve, and encourage all those interested to apply early.” Fareeha Gull Hashmi, Assistant Manager of Oral History Project Citizens Archive of Pakistan and upcoming Chevening scholar, said: “I am thrilled to be joining the University of Essex for my MA in Heritage and Museum Studies. This programme is exactly what I was looking for to help me on my journey to improve heritage and cultural preservation in Pakistan. I can’t wait for my journey to begin.” The cohort includes those on a scholarship in Football Science, with the support of Swindon Town Football Club. For the first time, this year’s cohort also saw an additional scholarship for Heritage and Museum Studies with the support of Essex University. This scholarship will cover tuition fees, living expenses, and travel costs. This, and a University of Essex Scholarship for Climate Studies, are again available in this year’s application cycle, as are additional scholarships from the University of Birmingham. This month, the British High Commission launched Chevening Connect in Karachi, a new debate series bringing together industry experts and Chevening alumni. The first debate, on tackling climate, looked at the technical, economic and political leadership needed to support Pakistan with adaptation and resilience. Applications for Chevening Scholarships to study in the UK from 2025-26 will close on 5 November. Applications for the South Asia Journalism Programme, a two-month journalism fellowship with the University of Westminster, are open and will close on 10 October. Applications for the Oxford Centre of Islamic Studies fellowship, a five-month fellowship, are open and will close on 5 November 2024. To find out more about eligibility and to apply, visit chevening.org. Applications for the Commonwealth Scholarships for 2025-26 will open later this year.  Source: https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/1225443-93-pakistani-students-heading-to-uk-on-chevening-and-commonwealth-scholarships

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has fired the commander of the country’s air force, four days after an F-16 warplane that Ukraine received from its Western partners crashed during a Russian bombardment and killed the pilot. The order to dismiss Mykola Oleshchuk was published on the presidential website on Friday. “We need to protect people. Protect personnel. Take care of all our soldiers,” Zelenskyy said in an address minutes after the order was published. He said Ukraine needs to strengthen its army on the command level. Anatolii Kryvonozhko was appointed acting air force commander, the army’s general staff said. The dismissal came on the same day that Oleshchuk directed scathing criticism at a lawmaker who is deputy head of the Ukrainian parliament’s defence committee for her claims that the F-16 was downed by a Patriot air-defense system. Ukraine has received an unspecified number of the US-made systems. Mariana Bezuhla cited unnamed sources for her claim and demanded punishment for those responsible for the error. Oleshchuk accused Bezuhla of defaming the air force and discrediting US arms manufacturers and said that he hoped she would face legal consequences for her claims. “The truth will win,” Bezuhla posted on X shortly after the dismissal order was published. The air force did not directly deny that the F-16 was hit by a Patriot missile. US experts have joined the Ukrainian investigation into the crash, the air force said. A US defence official told the Reuters news agency that the crash did not appear to be the result of Russian fire, and possible causes from pilot error to mechanical failure were still being investigated. F-16s are one of the weapons that could be used to hit Russian bases behind the front line. Oleshchuk said on Telegram that “a detailed analysis” was already being conducted into why the F-16 jet went down Monday, when Russia launched a major missile and drone barrage at Ukraine. “We must carefully understand what happened, what the circumstances are, and whose responsibility it is,” Oleshchuk wrote in the post shortly before his dismissal. The crash was the first reported loss of an F-16 in Ukraine, where the warplanes arrived at the end of last month. At least six are believed to have been delivered by European countries. Military analysts have said the planes will not be a game-changer in the war, given Russia’s massive air force and sophisticated air defence systems. But Ukrainian officials welcomed the supersonic jets, which can carry modern weapons used by NATO countries, for offering an opportunity to hit back at Russia’s air superiority. Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/8/30/zelenskyy-fires-ukraines-air-force-commander-after-deadly-f-16-crash

Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2024/8/31/israels-war-on-gaza-live-israel-bombards-gaza-besieges-west-banks-jenin

Germany has deported 28 Afghan nationals charged with criminal acts, in the first such move since the Taliban returned to power in Afghanistan in 2021. “These were Afghan nationals, all of whom were convicted criminals who had no right to stay in Germany and against whom deportation orders had been issued,” German government spokesman Stefan Hebestreit said on Friday. The Qatar Airways charter jet carrying the deportees departed for Kabul at 6:56am (04:56 GMT), according to the Ministry of Interior in the eastern state of Saxony. The men had been brought from across the country to Leipzig for the flight. Sources confirmed to the German news agency dpa that all the Afghan citizens on board the flight were men. “Our security counts, our constitutional state acts,” German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser said on X, and thanked federal police and state authorities for their cooperation. The government had to work through other channels to secure the deportation as Germany cut diplomatic ties with the Taliban government since the ousting of then-President Ashraf Ghani in a stunning power grab three years ago. The operation was the result of two months of “secret negotiations” in which Qatar acted as the go-between, German magazine Der Spiegel reported. Hebestreit said Germany had “asked key regional partners for support in order to facilitate the deportations”, without giving details. While the spokesman said the deportations had been in the works for months, they took place a week after a deadly knife attack in Solingen where the suspect is a Syrian citizen who had applied for asylum in Germany. The suspect was supposed to be deported to Bulgaria last year but reportedly disappeared for a time and avoided deportation. The ISIS (ISIL) group claimed responsibility for the attack, without providing evidence Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/8/30/germany-deports-28-afghans-for-first-time-since-2021-taliban-takeover