Saudi Arabia Seeks Development of Vegetation by Planting 10 Million Trees in 2020

The Saudi Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture launched several initiatives to develop vegetation in the Kingdom. (SPA)
The Saudi Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture launched several initiatives to develop vegetation in the Kingdom. (SPA)
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Saudi Arabia Seeks Development of Vegetation by Planting 10 Million Trees in 2020

The Saudi Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture launched several initiatives to develop vegetation in the Kingdom. (SPA)
The Saudi Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture launched several initiatives to develop vegetation in the Kingdom. (SPA)

The Saudi Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture launched on Monday several initiatives to develop vegetation in the Kingdom, including a project to develop tree locations and grow forests.

The aim is to plant 10 million trees and improve vegetation in 60,000 hectares by the end of 2020, said the Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture Abdulrahman Al-Fadle.

This initiative will use local plants and renewable water sources.

Fadle, meanwhile, revealed that the ministry has completed preparations for the national strategy on water, which includes a comprehensive assessment of environment components, such as forests, marine life, air quality and waste management.

The strategy was prepared by following global practices adopted by several developed countries, said the minister.

He made his remarks during the inauguration of a workshop on fighting deforestation and reaching innovative means to manage dry regions in Riyadh.

Fadle continued that the ministry prepared the “green kingdom program” that aims at building the required cognitive foundation and executive framework to develop vegetation and combat deforestation.

The minister said that his ministry completed a strategy on pastures, which aims at achieving sustainable management of pastoral resources. This includes introducing modern patterns in livestock breeding.



Starbucks Strike to Expand to over 300 US Stores on Christmas Eve, Union Says

Starbucks employees, union members and supporters strike outside of a Starbucks store which is closed down due to the strike on December 23, 2024 in New York City. (Getty Images/AFP)
Starbucks employees, union members and supporters strike outside of a Starbucks store which is closed down due to the strike on December 23, 2024 in New York City. (Getty Images/AFP)
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Starbucks Strike to Expand to over 300 US Stores on Christmas Eve, Union Says

Starbucks employees, union members and supporters strike outside of a Starbucks store which is closed down due to the strike on December 23, 2024 in New York City. (Getty Images/AFP)
Starbucks employees, union members and supporters strike outside of a Starbucks store which is closed down due to the strike on December 23, 2024 in New York City. (Getty Images/AFP)

A strike at Starbucks' US stores will expand to over 300 stores on Tuesday, with more than 5,000 workers expected to walk off the job, before the five-day work stoppage ends later on Christmas Eve, the workers' union said.

Starbucks Workers United, representing employees at 525 stores nationwide, said more than 60 US stores across 12 major cities, including New York, Los Angeles, Boston and Seattle, were shut on Monday.

Talks between Starbucks and the union had hit an impasse with unresolved issues over wages, staffing and schedules, leading to the strike.

The Christmas Eve strike on Tuesday was projected to be the largest ever at the coffee chain, the union added. "These strikes are an initial show of strength, and we're just getting started," an Oregon barista said in a union statement.

When asked for a response, a Starbucks spokesperson referred to a company statement it released on Monday.

It said that the vast majority of Starbucks stores will continue to operate and serve customers, adding that it expects a "very limited impact" to overall operations. Starbucks has over 10,000 company-operated stores across the US.

"We are ready to continue negotiations when the union comes back to the bargaining table", the company said.

The Seattle-headquartered firm had previously claimed that the union delegates prematurely ended the bargaining session.

Earlier this month, the workers' group rejected an offer of no immediate wage hike and a guarantee of a 1.5% pay increase in future years.

The union also said that Starbucks has yet to present its workers with "a serious economic proposal."