Locust swarms swept into Saudi Arabia, prompting an extermination effort to rid nine regions of the crop-guzzling pest.
Nineteen swarms were reported in the kingdom, the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture said on Monday.
It said that 5,100 hectares were treated by aerial pesticide spraying.
Since the start of the year, about 239,810 hectares infested with desert locusts were treated, the ministry's field exploration teams reported.
Pest control units were active in Riyadh, Qassim, Jazan, Asir, Al Baha, Makkah Al Mukarramah, Madinah, Tabuk, and Hail.
At this time last year, millions of locusts swarmed on agricultural land across Saudi Arabia after the Horn of Africa suffered its largest outbreak in decades.
The ministry said the latest swarms were the result of the inability of neighbouring countries to control the locust population.
Pest control before the locusts mature and mate will significantly contribute to limiting the population growth and spread, the ministry said.
It said that its field teams were more than equipped to deal with the infected areas, helping to eliminate the threat quickly.
Co-operation with the Centre for Locust Control and Migratory Pests by carrying out surveys and field visits would continue, the ministry said.
Locust activity in Qassim followed the UN's Food and Agriculture Organisation's report on movement within the Mena regions.
It maps the migration of immature adult groups from breeding grounds along the Red Sea coast through the Asir Mountains to the interior near Riyadh and Qassim.
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Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
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- Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids, especially water. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which can increase dehydration.
- Seek cool environments: Use air conditioning, fans, or visit community spaces with climate control.
- Limit outdoor activities: Avoid strenuous activity during peak heat. If outside, seek shade and wear a wide-brimmed hat.
- Dress appropriately: Wear lightweight, loose and light-coloured clothing to facilitate heat loss.
- Check on vulnerable people: Regularly check in on elderly neighbours, young children and those with health conditions.
- Home adaptations: Use blinds or curtains to block sunlight, avoid using ovens or stoves, and ventilate living spaces during cooler hours.
- Recognise heat illness: Learn the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke (dizziness, confusion, rapid pulse, nausea), and seek medical attention if symptoms occur.
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Friday (UAE kick-off times)
Real Sociedad v Leganes (midnight)
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Athletic Bilbao v Levante (5pm)
Atletico Madrid v Espanyol (7pm)
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Conflict, drought, famine
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It has been claimed that the policies of the Ethiopian government, which took control after deposing Emperor Haile Selassie in a military-led revolution in 1974, contributed to the scale of the famine.
Dr Miriam Bradley, senior lecturer in humanitarian studies at the University of Manchester, has argued that, by the early 1980s, “several government policies combined to cause, rather than prevent, a famine which lasted from 1983 to 1985. Mengistu’s government imposed Stalinist-model agricultural policies involving forced collectivisation and villagisation [relocation of communities into planned villages].
The West became aware of the catastrophe through a series of BBC News reports by journalist Michael Buerk in October 1984 describing a “biblical famine” and containing graphic images of thousands of people, including children, facing starvation.
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Bob Geldof, singer with the Irish rock group The Boomtown Rats, formed Band Aid in response to the horrific images shown in the news broadcasts.
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Following the single’s success, the idea to stage a rock concert evolved.
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Results
Stage 7:
1. Caleb Ewan (AUS) Lotto Soudal - 3:18:29
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General Classification:
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