Saudi Press

Saudi Arabia and the world
Sunday, Mar 22, 2026

Global Unrest: From Diwali's Pollution Crisis to Tensions in Israel and North Korea's Missile Threat

New Delhi's Diwali firecracker ban is flouted, pushing the city to the world's highest pollution levels with an alarming AQI of 348. Meanwhile, North Korea's latest missile test sparks global condemnation, heightening fears over its potential reach to U.S. shores.
In New Delhi, the Diwali firecracker ban was widely ignored, propelling the city to become the world's most polluted with an alarming air quality index of 348, as smog, intensified by local agricultural burning, enveloped the area amid winter's onset.

Meanwhile, in northern Israel, a rocket strike from Lebanon claimed the lives of four Thai nationals amidst ongoing conflicts with Hezbollah, underscoring the challenges faced by Thai workers in the region since the war with Hamas erupted in 2023.

Despite storm-related obstacles in the Philippines, millions marked All Saints’ Day by flocking to cemeteries to honor their deceased, in a national display of devotion that saw Filipinos braving floodwaters to partake in this cherished cultural and religious event.

Back in Pakistan, the notorious gangster Shahid Lund Baloch continues to leverage social media for notoriety while remaining at large, as authorities strive to apprehend him in the Katcha lands where challenging terrain aids his evasion.

In Gaza, escalated military operations are exacting a severe toll on civilians, with the conflict's regional implications stirring global apprehension over humanitarian conditions and the hurdles to achieving a ceasefire.

On the global stage, North Korea's latest missile test of the Hwasong-19, claimed to reach U.S. shores, has elicited widespread condemnation, amplifying fears of its missile's destructive potential and North Korea's ongoing military developments.
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