| | | | | | | Hello. Those of you who had a plane to take in Europe in the spring of 2010 might have not-so-fond memories of the Eyjafjallajokull volcano in Iceland. As the country is preparing for another eruption, experts tell us what to (not) expect. In southern Israel, Jeremy Bowen gives us his geopolitical analysis of the war between Israel and Hamas. We also have the latest updates on the conflict. Do not miss our story on Afghanistan’s first female orchestra. |
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| | | | | | Questions Answered | | What to expect of Iceland’s likely volcano eruption | | | | Seismic activity near Grindavik, Iceland, indicate a volcanic eruption could be coming soon. |
| | Iceland is bracing itself for a volcanic eruption in the coming days in the southwest of the country, around the Fagradalsfjall volcanic area. The Eyjafjallajokull eruption of 2010, which dramatically shut down Europe’s airspace, is on everyone’s minds. | | | | Esme Stallard, Climate and science reporter |
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| | What is happening in Iceland? | | Since late October, the south-west region of Iceland has been experiencing an increase in earthquake activity. This is due to a underground river of magma - hot liquid or semi-liquid rock - about 15km (10 miles) in length moving upwards below the earth's surface. One town, Grindavik, which lies directly above the magma, has already been evacuated. | | Will the impact be similar to the Eyjafjallajokull eruption? | | Dr Michele Paulatto, a volcanologist at Imperial College London, said the 2010 event “was quite different as it was associated with a shield volcano topped by a glacier. The interaction of the magma with ice and melt water made that eruption explosive and dangerous for aviation. This is not the case for Fagradalsfjall.” | | What have we learned lately? | | Dr Evgenia Ilyinskaya, an Icelandic geophysicist, said the activity on Friday and Saturday “looked concerning”, but that latest evidence that emerged on Sunday and Monday suggests the eruption will be much smaller than previously thought. Still, “the situation doesn't look good” for local residents, said Dr Bill McGuire, also a geophysicist. | | | | • | Shaky grounds: A couple in Grindavik, which was evacuated on Sunday, filmed the moment when their house was shaking from a series of earthquakes. Watch the video. | | • | Listen: Our podcast Witness History recently looked back on the weeks of disruption caused by the Eyjafjallajökull 13 years ago. |
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| Expert insights | Southern Israel | | Why this Israel-Gaza war is different | | | | A man amid rubbles in Khan Younis, Gaza, on Sunday 12 November. | | Our international editor Jeremy Bowen looks into the diplomatic aspects of the Israel-Hamas war. The longer it goes, the longer the likelihood of a broader conflict in the region increases, he explains. | | | | Jeremy Bowen, international editor |
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| The war comes at a time when the fault lines that divide the Middle East are rumbling. For at least two decades, the most serious rift in the region's fractured geopolitical landscape has been between the friends and allies of Iran, and the friends and allies of the United States. The core of Iran's network, sometimes called the "axis of resistance", is made up of Hezbollah in Lebanon, the Assad regime in Syria, the Houthis in Yemen and assorted Iraqi militias that are armed and trained by Iran. The Iranians have also supported Hamas and Islamic Jihad in Gaza.
Iran is also getting closer to Russia and China. Iran has become a significant part of Russia's war effort in Ukraine. China buys a great deal of Iranian oil. The longer the war in Gaza goes on, and as Israel kills more Palestinian civilians and destroys tens of thousands of homes, the greater the risk of conflict involving some members of those two camps. |
| | | | • | The latest: The Strip’s biggest hospital, Al Shifa, is “nearly a cemetery”, a World Health Organization spokesperson said. IDF says videos from Gaza show 'terror tunnel' close to a children’s hospital. Follow our updates live. | | • | Deployed in Gaza: Lipika Pelham talked to an Israeli reservist hours before he entered the Gaza Strip. Read what he had to say. |
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| | The big picture | | Sound of defiance | | | | Filmmakers said the orchestra had to practice and perform in secret. Credit: Give-Get-Go |
| | Filmmaker Tony Klinger, who has made documentaries on The Who, Deep Purple and the film Get Carter, has turned its attention to the story of Afghanistan’s first female orchestra. He said the film featured "the most extraordinary tales of triumph". | | | | |
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| | | For your downtime | | Last meal on the Titanic | | The sale of a first-class menu from the Titanic has put a spotlight on Maryland fried chicken. | | |
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| | | | | | | | | | Future Earth Newsletter | | Essential climate news and hopeful developments, in your inbox every Tuesday. | | |
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