Schools in several areas of Saudi Arabia switched to online classes on Monday after authorities warned of heavy rain and possible floods this week.
The Ministry of Education said in-person classes would be suspended at all schools in Jeddah, Madinah, Rabigh and Khulais, with lessons to be held through the Madrasati remote-learning platform.
The University of Jeddah, King Abdul Aziz University and Umm Al Qura University have postponed scheduled exams until further notice and asked students to remain at home.
The General Directorate of Civil Defence said most parts of the kingdom would experience moderate to torrential thundershowers, accompanied by strong winds, until Friday. Affected areas include Asir, Baha, Makkah and Madinah, Jazan, Qassim, Jawf, Hail, Tabuk, Northern Borders, Riyadh and the Eastern Province.
The National Centre for Meteorology forecast rainfall of between 10mm and 50mm during the week and issued weather alerts for several areas. Spokesman Hussein Al Qahtani advised people to avoid travel by land unless necessary and called for greater caution due to expected poor visibility, hail and flash floods.
Stormy weather is expected across the Arabian Peninsula his week, with Oman reporting heavy rainfall accompanied by strong winds, hail and flooding on Monday. Heavy rain, thunder and lightning have also been forecast for parts of the UAE this week.
Twenty people died in Oman and four were killed in the Emirates when a series of storms battered the Gulf nations earlier this month. The emirates of Dubai and Sharjah were struck by four waves of rainstorms that caused widespread flooding and disrupted daily life.
Employment lawyer Meriel Schindler of Withers Worldwide shares her tips on achieving equal pay
Do your homework
Make sure that you are being offered a fair salary. There is lots of industry data available, and you can always talk to people who have come out of the organisation. Where I see people coming a cropper is where they haven’t done their homework.
Don’t be afraid to negotiate
It’s quite standard to negotiate if you think an offer is on the low side. The job is unlikely to be withdrawn if you ask for money, and if that did happen I’d question whether you want to work for an employer who is so hypersensitive.
Know your worth
Women tend to be a bit more reticent to talk about their achievements. In my experience they need to have more confidence in their own abilities – men will big up what they’ve done to get a pay rise, and to compete women need to turn up the volume.
Work together
If you suspect men in your organisation are being paid more, look your boss in the eye and say, “I want you to assure me that I’m paid equivalent to my peers”. If you’re not getting a straight answer, talk to your peer group and consider taking direct action to fix inequality.
Crops that could be introduced to the UAE
1: Quinoa
2. Bathua
3. Amaranth
4. Pearl and finger millet
5. Sorghum
THE SPECS
GMC Sierra Denali 1500
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Price: Dh232,500
Jebel Ali results
2pm: Handicap (PA) Dh 50,000 (Dirt) 1,400m
Winner: AF Al Moreeb, Antonio Fresu (jockey), Ernst Oertel (trainer)
2.30pm: Maiden (TB) Dh 60,000 (D) 1,400m
Winner: Shamikh, Ryan Curatolo, Nicholas Bachalard
3pm: Handicap (TB) Dh 64,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner: One Vision, Connor Beasley, Ali Rashid Al Raihe
3.30pm: Conditions (TB) Dh 100,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner: Gabr, Sam Hitchcott, Doug Watson
4pm: Handicap (TB) Dh 96,000 (D) 1,800m
Winner: Just A Penny, Sam Hitchcock, Doug Watson
4.30pm: Maiden (TB) Dh 60,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner: Torno Subito, Sam Hitchcock, Doug Watson
5pm: Handicap (TB) Dh 76,000 (D) 1,950m
Winner: Untold Secret, Jose Santiago, Salem bin Ghadayer
Wicked: For Good
Director: Jon M Chu
Starring: Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Jonathan Bailey, Jeff Goldblum, Michelle Yeoh, Ethan Slater
Rating: 4/5
