The worst locust invasion in 70 years currently ravaging Kenya is set to spread across most of east Africa and cause 'massive devastation', the UN warns

• Swarms have already devastated farmland in Kenya, Somalia and Ethiopia


• They are now threatening to spread to South Sudan, Uganda and Eritrea


• Tens of thousands of acres of crops destroyed putting food supplies at risk

Swarms of desert locusts could ravage more countries in eastern Africa and threaten the livelihood of many more people, the United Nations' Food and Agricultural Organization said on Monday.

The swarms, first sighted in December, have already destroyed tens of thousands of hectares of farmland in Kenya, Somalia and Ethiopia, threatening food supplies in many areas.

In Kenya, it's the worst locust invasion in 70 years.

The swarms are now threatening to spread to South Sudan, Uganda and Eritrea, said Bukar Tijani, assistant director-general of the FAO's agriculture and consumer protection department.

Read more - https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-7965835/The-worst-locust-invasion-70-years-set-ravage-east-Africa-cause-massive-devastation.html

The worst locust invasion in 70 years currently ravaging Kenya is set to spread across most of east Africa and cause 'massive devastation', the UN warns

• Swarms have already devastated farmland in Kenya, Somalia and Ethiopia
• They are now threatening to spread to South Sudan, Uganda and Eritrea
• Tens of thousands of acres of crops destroyed putting food supplies at risk

Swarms of desert locusts could ravage more countries in eastern Africa and threaten the livelihood of many more people, the United Nations' Food and Agricultural Organization said on Monday.

The swarms, first sighted in December, have already destroyed tens of thousands of hectares of farmland in Kenya, Somalia and Ethiopia, threatening food supplies in many areas.

In Kenya, it's the worst locust invasion in 70 years.

The swarms are now threatening to spread to South Sudan, Uganda and Eritrea, said Bukar Tijani, assistant director-general of the FAO's agriculture and consumer protection department.

Read more - https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-7965835/The-worst-locust-invasion-70-years-set-ravage-east-Africa-cause-massive-devastation.html

Cyclone Damien expected to strike Western Australia with winds up to 230km/h

Severe tropical cyclone causing gales over WA’s central Pilbara coast ahead of forecast destructive winds and heavy rain

Very destructive winds, with gusts to 230km/h, are expected to hit Western Australia’s northern coast when a severe tropical cyclone pounds the state on Saturday afternoon.

Severe Tropical Cyclone Damien is estimated to be 135km north of Karratha and moving south, and is expected to worsen to a category four storm by the time it makes landfall.

Damien is forecast to hit De Grey to Onslow, including Port Hedland, Karratha, Dampier, Pannawonica, Barrow Island and extend to Tom Price and Paraburdoo.

Flash floods, high winds and six-metre waves forecast to batter NSW coast

 

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Residents between Dampier and Pardoo Roadhouse have been warned of the potential for a very dangerous storm tide.

Heavy rain is expected to cause flooding in the Pilbara and Gascoyne regions.

People in or near Whim Creek to Mardie and south to Millstream are being told to seek shelter immediately.

The category three cyclone currently has winds of 140km/h near its centre, with gusts up to 195km/h, the Bureau of Meteorology says.

This is the third cyclone of the season off the WA coast.

Read more - https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2020/feb/08/cyclone-damien-western-australia-landfall-winds-storm-gale

VIDEO: Large Sinkhole Spews Fire and Extreme Heat Out of The Ground, Terrifying...

VIDEO: Large Sinkhole Spews Fire and Extreme Heat Out of The Ground, Terrifying...

Suspected terror attack in central Jerusalem targets soldiers

Israeli troops were the target of a car-ramming that wounded 14 people in central Jerusalem on Thursday, the army said, adding that 12 of the casualties were soldiers.

"During the incident, a terrorist sped his car towards (Israeli) soldiers who marched adjacent to the First Station in Jerusalem as part of a military activity," the army statement said.

The driver "fled the scene" following the early morning attack at Jerusalem's First Station, an historic rail stop that now hosts bars, shops and restaurants, police spokesman Micky Rosenfled said.

"Police are searching for the vehicle," he added. "The incident is being investigated as a terror attack."

One of the victims was left in a critical condition, another had "moderate" injuries, while 12 others were wounded lightly, Israel's Magen David emergency medical service said on Twitter.

The United Hatzalah medical emergency volunteers said in a statement that due to the nature of the incident, some at the scene "were suffering from emotional or psychological shock".

There was no immediate indication as to the motivation of the possible attack, but Palestinians have carried out sporadic car-rammings on Israeli targets.

The incident also comes amid heightened tension between Israel and the Palestinians following the release of US President Donald Trump's controversial Middle East Plan.

Mr Trump's peace proposals, which he unveiled in Washington last month alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with no Palestinian representatives present, have sparked anger among Palestinians.

There have been protests and isolated clashes with Israeli forces across the occupied West Bank since the plan was released.

A 17-year-old Palestinian protester was shot dead by Israeli troops in the city of Hebron on Wednesday.

Israel's military described him as a "violent rioter" armed with a Molotov cocktail.

Mr Trump's initiative gives Israel the green light to annex Jewish settlements and other key territory in the West Bank.

It also calls for Jerusalem to be entrenched as Israel's "undivided capital".

Those terms have been rejected by all Palestinian leaders, including the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas which controls Gaza.

Source - https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2020/02/06/suspected-terror-attack-central-jerusalem-targets-soldiers/

Suspected terror attack in central Jerusalem targets soldiers

Israeli troops were the target of a car-ramming that wounded 14 people in central Jerusalem on Thursday, the army said, adding that 12 of the casualties were soldiers.

"During the incident, a terrorist sped his car towards (Israeli) soldiers who marched adjacent to the First Station in Jerusalem as part of a military activity," the army statement said.

The driver "fled the scene" following the early morning attack at Jerusalem's First Station, an historic rail stop that now hosts bars, shops and restaurants, police spokesman Micky Rosenfled said.

"Police are searching for the vehicle," he added. "The incident is being investigated as a terror attack."

One of the victims was left in a critical condition, another had "moderate" injuries, while 12 others were wounded lightly, Israel's Magen David emergency medical service said on Twitter.

The United Hatzalah medical emergency volunteers said in a statement that due to the nature of the incident, some at the scene "were suffering from emotional or psychological shock".

There was no immediate indication as to the motivation of the possible attack, but Palestinians have carried out sporadic car-rammings on Israeli targets.

The incident also comes amid heightened tension between Israel and the Palestinians following the release of US President Donald Trump's controversial Middle East Plan.

Mr Trump's peace proposals, which he unveiled in Washington last month alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with no Palestinian representatives present, have sparked anger among Palestinians.

There have been protests and isolated clashes with Israeli forces across the occupied West Bank since the plan was released.

A 17-year-old Palestinian protester was shot dead by Israeli troops in the city of Hebron on Wednesday.

Israel's military described him as a "violent rioter" armed with a Molotov cocktail.

Mr Trump's initiative gives Israel the green light to annex Jewish settlements and other key territory in the West Bank.

It also calls for Jerusalem to be entrenched as Israel's "undivided capital".

Those terms have been rejected by all Palestinian leaders, including the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas which controls Gaza.

Source - https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2020/02/06/suspected-terror-attack-central-jerusalem-targets-soldiers/