Article 1

Perfect storm for plague of locusts in Africa

Is climate change to blame for the
swarm of locusts? The UK warns
of famine in east Africa as wet
weather and civil war contribute to
the largest infestation of locusts in
decades.
It is a Kenyan farmer’s worst nightmare.
A dark cloud on the horizon. One billion locusts; a
flying grasshopper from the Arabian deserts, swarming
over your fields.
Covering an area the size of a city and eating every green thing in their path, within hours they’re
gone. And so is your way of life. Without help, you will starve.
The UN warns millions will face this fate if the desert locusts are not stopped.
The worst plague since the 1980s has now reached Uganda and Tanzania, after devastating Kenya,
Somalia and Ethiopia.Keith Cressman at the UN says there is only a “small window” of time to prevent
catastrophe.
They have plagued farmers for thousands of years and are mentioned in the Bible, but it is only
recently that scientists have begun to understand the strange behaviour of locusts.
Most of the time, the insect avoids its own species. But very occasionally, something triggers
a dramatic change in its behaviour. Heavy rain in the desert brings them together to feed on fresh green
shoots. They reproduce, change colour, and begin to migrate in enormous numbers.
The last two years have seen an above-average number of cyclones in the Indian Ocean. These storms
have brought heavy rain and the perfect conditions for locust swarms.
With further rain predicted, the UN warns that the population of locusts could skyrocket to 400 times
its current size in the next few months. At its peak, it could cover 10% of the total land surface of the world
and affect 20% of humanity.
The fear is that the climate crisis will make these outbreaks more likely. As sea temperatures rise,
storms will become more frequent. “If we see this continued increase in the frequency of cyclones,” says
Keith Cressman, “I think we can assume there will be more locust outbreaks.”
But there are many other factors at play. Civil wars in Yemen and Somalia have made it difficult to
spray pesticides in those countries, allowing the swarms to grow out of control.
The many years since the last plague has also not helped. In a region with limited resources and plenty
of problems, the money for preparation and prevention dried up when the locusts didn’t return. But now
they’re back.
So, is the climate crisis to blame for the locust swarms?

Global swarming
The evidence is clear, say some. Instead of one cyclone every few years flooding deserts where locusts
breed, we are seeing multiple storms in each season. This doesn’t just mean more frequent swarms, but
bigger swarms lasting for longer. Instead of dying out, the year-on-year wet conditions are helping this
plague grow further. Global warming is creating a perfect habitat for a permanent plague.
Not every natural disaster is the result of the climate crisis, say others. Major locust swarms are rare events
that happen once in a generation, and there are billions of people alive today who will not remember the last
one. This makes it appear new and strange, but it is as old as human civilisation. There were six major locust
plagues in the last century, and swarming insects have been damaging crops as long as people have been
farming.

Q&A
What do we know?
In May and October 2018, storms created lakes in the Arabian desert and a population explosion of
locusts. Over the summer last year, the swarms crossed the Red Sea into Africa. Further wet weather
in the autumn helped the plague to spread across the continent. The locusts bred over winter, and the
population will rise dramatically as the juveniles take flight in search of food.
What do we not know?
The process by which locusts change from being solitary to swarm insects is not fully understood.
External factors speed up, slow down, and reverse the transformation between the two versions of
the species. Given that climate science is also very complex, the relationship between this process
and climate change still requires further research.

Article 2
Dust storm across Qatar; visibility to improve by afternoon
26 Feb 2020 - 8:17

The Peninsula Online

"Sandstorm, Drive Carefully" caution all

the traffic signboards across Qatar.
Dusty and partly cloudy skies were
visible over the country accompanied
with northerly fresh to strong wind said
Qatar Meteorology Department on its
social media.
Visibility in certain parts of the country were less than 1 km as a result of the dust mass due to strong north-
westerly winds. Offshore, it will be partly cloudy with a chance of scattered rain to the north at first,
becoming slight dust to dusty later, the report added, warning of expected strong wind and high sea. Wind
inshore will be north-westerly 14 to 24 knot gusting to 30 knot at places at times decreases to 04 to 14 knot
by night. Offshore, it will be south-easterly at first, becoming north-westerly 20 to 30 knot, gusting to 40
knot at times.
In a previous report the department had said that this wind will be accompanied with a drop in temperature
from Wednesday evening until Saturday, February 29 which will cause cold weather at night and mild
temperature ranging between 19 to 25 degree Celsius. The department urged all residents to be cautious,
avoid marine activities until Friday, February 28 and to follow updates only through official channels.
FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 countdown reaches 1,000 days
Article 3
Qatar on track to welcome the world
The Peninsula Online
26 Feb 2020 - 0:02

Yesterday marked the 1,000-day

countdown to the FIFA World Cup –
which will kick off in Qatar on 21
November 2022.

As the first tournament in the Middle

East and Arab world edges nearer, FIFA
yesterday praised the significant
progress of Qatar’s preparations, while
officials from the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC) – the organisation responsible for
delivering tournament infrastructure and legacy projects – said they are determined to utilise the power of
hosting world football’s premier international event by leaving a lasting legacy which benefits the country,
the region and the world. Since winning the hosting rights in 2010, Qatar has overseen significant
infrastructure development, including the completion of two stadiums: Khalifa International and Al Janoub.

“With 1,000 days to go, Qatar stands where no other host did before. Qatar wants to amaze the world and is
on track to achieve it,” said FIFA President Gianni Infantino.

“The FIFA World Cup 2022 will be a breakthrough from a social and cultural perspective. It will open the
doors of this football-mad region, offering a new perspective to locals and foreigners, bringing people
together and serving as a tool for common understanding.”

Hassan Al Thawadi, Secretary General of the SC, said: “Ten years of our lives, day in, day out, have been
dedicated to this tournament. Personally, I can only look forward with excitement, as well as some nerves,
but more importantly, conviction that this will be – without a doubt – the best tournament. We are
determined to ensure that the first World Cup in the Middle East and Arab world will set a benchmark in the
history of hosting major sporting events.”

Qatar is set to host the most compact FIFA World Cup in modern times – one where fans, players and
officials will remain in the thick of the action, never too far from a stadium, training site or fan zone. The
longest distance between tournament venues will be just 55km, meaning fans may attend two games a day
during the early stages of the tournament.

Nasser Al Khater, Chief Executive Officer, FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 LLC, said: “With all our
infrastructure projects on track, one of our key priorities now is to shape the fan experience in 2022. We are
determined to host a tournament which is welcoming to all and family-friendly.”