West Africa including Chad, Mali, Gambia, Niger and Mauritania are suffering the worst Plague of Locusts in 40 years. The locusts are clearing hundreds of thousands of acres of the meagre crops these countries can produce and because the numbers of swarms are so high pesticide control is unable to keep up. Most of these countries have suffered from droughts in recent years and if the locusts continue famine on a massive scale will occur once again.

King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia announced that women would be given the right to vote and run in municipal elections in the country amid calls for greater women's rights. He also announced that women could now be appointed to the Shura Council, a consultative body.