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Dwarf Bees Spotted in Saudi Arabia's Northern Borders Region

Dwarf bees are known for their remarkable ability to withstand extreme heat. SPA
Dwarf bees are known for their remarkable ability to withstand extreme heat. SPA
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Dwarf Bees Spotted in Saudi Arabia's Northern Borders Region

Dwarf bees are known for their remarkable ability to withstand extreme heat. SPA
Dwarf bees are known for their remarkable ability to withstand extreme heat. SPA

The Northern Borders region of Saudi Arabia has witnessed the emergence of the dwarf honey bee (Apis florea) in several locations in the city of Arar, with experts attributing it to the growing number of nature reserves and the resurgence of diverse native flora in the region, The Saudi Press Agency reported Sunday.

The dwarf bee, typically found alongside larger bee species like the giant honey bee and the eastern honey bee, constructs small, open-air combs no larger than a human palm. These combs yield a modest amount of honey, usually less than 500 grams, SPA said.
Despite their diminutive size, dwarf bees are known for their remarkable ability to withstand extreme heat, often thriving in temperatures exceeding 50 degrees Celsius. This unique characteristic sets them apart from other bee species and makes them well-suited to low-lying areas, the news agency added.

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Pakistan Shuts Primary Schools for a Week in Lahore Due to Dangerous Air Quality

A vehicle of the Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) sprays water using an anti-smog gun to curb air pollution amid smoggy conditions in Lahore on November 4, 2024. (AFP)
A vehicle of the Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) sprays water using an anti-smog gun to curb air pollution amid smoggy conditions in Lahore on November 4, 2024. (AFP)
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Pakistan Shuts Primary Schools for a Week in Lahore Due to Dangerous Air Quality

A vehicle of the Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) sprays water using an anti-smog gun to curb air pollution amid smoggy conditions in Lahore on November 4, 2024. (AFP)
A vehicle of the Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) sprays water using an anti-smog gun to curb air pollution amid smoggy conditions in Lahore on November 4, 2024. (AFP)

Dangerously poor air quality on Monday forced Pakistani authorities in the cultural capital of Lahore to close primary schools for a week, government officials said, after the air-quality index hit a record high over the weekend.

The measures in Lahore were part of a larger effort to protect children from respiratory-related and other diseases in the city of 14 million people. The government said everyone in Lahore was required to wear a face mask.

Fifty percent of employees must also work from home as part of a “green lockdown” in the city, the government said, adding that barbecuing food without filters was banned and motorized rickshaws restricted. Wedding halls must close at 10 p.m. and artificial rain is likely to be used to combat the pollution.

The air-quality index in Lahore exceeded 1,000 over the weekend, a record high in Pakistan.

Toxic gray smog has sickened tens of thousands of people, mainly children and elderly people, since last month when the air quality started worsening in Lahore, the capital of eastern Punjab province bordering India.

The government has also banned construction work in certain areas and fined owners of smoke-emitting vehicles. Schools will remain closed for a week because of the pollution, according to a government notification.

The concentration of PM 2.5, or tiny particulate matter, in the air approached 450, considered hazardous, the Punjab Environment Protection Department said.

Lahore was once known as a city of gardens, which were ubiquitous during the Mughal era from the 16th to 19th centuries. But rapid urbanization and surging population growth have left little room for greenery.