Storms, political developments, and elections dominated the news cycle this week, with severe weather battering Europe and northern Africa, political tensions flaring in the Middle East, and voters heading to the polls in Portugal. According to The Guardian, Storm Leonardo brought torrential rain and strong winds to Spain and Portugal, prompting the highest red alert for heavy rainfall in parts of Spain. Meanwhile, in the Middle East, Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal rejected calls for disarmament, and Yemen announced a new cabinet. Portugal also held its presidential election run-off.
The Iberian peninsula faced severe weather alerts as Storm Leonardo continued to pummel Spain and Portugal with heavy rain and strong winds, as reported by The Guardian. The storm, which began on Tuesday, led to the issuance of a red alert for heavy rainfall in Cádiz and parts of Málaga, according to Spain's state meteorological agency, Aemet. Flash floods in Morocco forced over 100,000 people to evacuate.
In the political arena, Hamas's political leader abroad, Khaled Meshaal, rejected calls to disarm Palestinian factions in Gaza, arguing that it would leave them vulnerable, as reported by Al Jazeera. Speaking at the Al Jazeera Forum in Doha, Meshaal described the discussion around Hamas handing over its weapons as a continuation of efforts to neutralize Palestinian armed resistance. In Yemen, the Saudi-backed Presidential Leadership Council (PLC) announced a new cabinet after weeks of consultations in Riyadh, according to Al Jazeera. The new cabinet includes members with diverse political and regional affiliations.
Portugal held its presidential election run-off on Sunday, with polls opening at 9 am local time, as reported by Al Jazeera. The election was viewed as a high-stakes choice between the socialists and a resurgent far right, with 11 million voters eligible to cast their ballots.
Other notable events included a pro-Palestine rally in Yemen, as shown in pictures by Al Jazeera. Additionally, thousands of people attended the funeral for Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, the most prominent surviving son of Libya's former leader Muammar Gaddafi, and a deadly suicide bombing in a Pakistani mosque that killed dozens.
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