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A magnitude 6 earthquake has hit Afghanistan near its border with Pakistan.

The death toll from Sunday night’s disaster has risen to more than 800 people, according to the government. Flooding and debris have hampered rescue efforts.

Here is more about what happened and why Afghanistan is vulnerable to earthquakes:

What happened?

At 11:47pm (19:47 GMT) on Sunday, the earthquake shook Nangarhar and Kunar provinces in eastern Afghanistan. It was 8km (5 miles) deep, making it a shallow…

Gaza / PNN /

Munir Al-Barash, director of Gaza’s Ministry of Health, said Monday that death is spreading slowly among residents of the Gaza Strip, while the health sector continues to struggle.

Al-Barash explained that displacement and contaminated water create fertile conditions for the spread of viruses throughout the territory.

He noted that Gaza lacks laboratories capable of testing for viruses, with roughly half of existing labs out of service.

“Deaths from…

Today, +972 Magazine joins over 250 media organizations in a global appeal calling for the protection of Palestinian journalists in Gaza. Launched by Reporters Without Borders (RSF) and the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), the appeal demands an end to the impunity that has allowed the Israeli army to kill some 200 journalists since October 7, the lifting of Israel’s blockade preventing foreign reporters from entering the Strip, and safe passage for…

Cairo / PNN /

Egypt has informed a visiting U.S. delegation of its rejection of any attempts to displace Palestinians from the Gaza Strip, while affirming its readiness to discuss a reconstruction plan for the territory at a post-ceasefire conference.

The statement came during a meeting on Sunday in Cairo between Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdel-Aati and U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Jeff Merkley, according to the Egyptian Foreign Ministry on Monday.

Abdel-Aati…

Ramallah / PNN /

Palestinian local authority leaders affirmed on Monday that the situation in Gaza constitutes a genocide that must be stopped, and that Israeli occupation leaders should be held accountable.

The leaders stressed at the conclusion of their conference that local authorities have never been mere service providers, but remain a cornerstone of the national project, an integral part of its political and social structure, at the forefront of efforts to defend its…

Gaza / PNN /

The Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor reported that the Israeli army is destroying approximately 300 housing units daily, either partially or completely, in Gaza City and Jabalia, using around 15 explosive-laden vehicles carrying nearly 100 tons of explosives.

In a statement on Monday, the monitor said these explosions are occurring at an unprecedented pace, aiming to obliterate Gaza and displace its residents, as part of what it describes as an ongoing…

Cairo / PNN /

Egypt on Monday condemned what it described as a “systematic and deliberate” policy by Israel using starvation as a weapon to break the will of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.

The statement came from Egypt’s Deputy Foreign Minister and G20 President’s representative, Ragy Etrabi, during an official meeting in Cairo of the G20 Working Group on Food Security.

Etrabi said in his televised address: “It is difficult to address food security issues without…