At least 31 people were killed and 169 injured in an explosion at a mosque during Friday prayers in Islamabad, Pakistan, according to officials. The blast, which occurred in the Tarlai area, was reportedly caused by a suicide bomber who detonated a device after approaching the gates of the Shia mosque, as reported by BBC World. Eyewitnesses told the BBC that gunfire preceded the explosion.
Emergency services were immediately deployed, and hospitals issued an appeal for blood donations. Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the incident, expressing "deep grief" and calling for a thorough investigation, according to BBC World.
In other news, two suspected Chinese spies were arrested in Camblanes-et-Meynac, a quiet village in southwestern France, as reported by BBC World. The men, aged 27 and 29, were allegedly using the village to gather information. Residents grew suspicious after the pair installed a large parabolic antenna, which coincided with cuts to their internet service. Intelligence experts believe this area of France is increasingly targeted by Chinese and other espionage efforts, according to BBC World.
Meanwhile, in Nigeria, the chief of a village in Kwara state recounted a night of terror after jihadists massacred residents earlier in the week, as reported by The Guardian. Umar Bio Salihu, the local head of Woro, said gunmen killed two of his sons and kidnapped his wife and three daughters.
Across Europe and northern Africa, Storm Leonardo continued to batter the region, causing severe weather alerts in Spain and Portugal, according to The Guardian. The Iberian peninsula experienced torrential rain and strong winds. Spain's state meteorological agency, Aemet, issued its highest red alert for heavy rainfall in Cádiz and parts of Málaga. Flash floods in Morocco forced over 100,000 people to evacuate.
Finally, newly released reports from National Highways indicated that many smart motorways in England are failing to deliver the expected value for money, according to BBC Business. Two schemes, involving sections of the M25 and the M6, were found to be offering "very poor" value. The AA, representing motorists, described the schemes as a "catastrophic waste of time, money and effort," as reported by BBC Business.
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