Despite a firecracker ban, Delhi faced a hazardous post-Diwali smog, with AQI levels skyrocketing, hitting an alarming 999 at India Gate. The city's initial relief on Diwali, marked by an AQI of 218, vanished as widespread firecracker use intensified pollution. Previous rain had temporarily improved air quality, but the illegal celebrations wiped out those gains. The situation underscores the city's ongoing struggle with deteriorating air quality, raising concerns about public health. Delhi's battle against pollution persists, with the aftermath of Diwali serving as a stark reminder of the challenges in curbing environmental degradation. [ photo courtesy: NDTV/X ]

Iceland declared a state of emergency Friday after nearly 800 earthquakes rattled the Reykjanes peninsula in just 14 hours, warning a volcanic eruption could be imminent. According to preliminary Icelandic Met Office figures, the biggest tremor had a magnitude of 5.2, north of Grindavik. Over 24,000 tremors have hit the area since October. On Friday, two major quakes were felt 40 km away in Reykjavik. Authorities said the intense seismic activity could lead to an eruption within days. The town of Grindavik near the epicenter is evacuating as a precaution. The Icelandic Met Office said magma is accumulating underground about 5 km down, and if it reaches the surface an eruption would likely take days. With 800 quakes in 14 hours, Iceland is on high alert as the rattled peninsula may soon erupt.