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‘Bi Nos Aley’ Puts the Bride of Lebanon Back on the Artistic Map

A previous concert in Aley (Aley Municipality)
A previous concert in Aley (Aley Municipality)
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‘Bi Nos Aley’ Puts the Bride of Lebanon Back on the Artistic Map

A previous concert in Aley (Aley Municipality)
A previous concert in Aley (Aley Municipality)

Aley, dubbed the “bride of summer getaways” for its cool climate, draws Lebanese citizens, residents, expats, and tourists, especially from the Arab world.

For many years, it was a seasonal hub for those seeking entertainment and art. Casino Piscine Aley was among the major concert venues in the city hosting Arab stars in the sixties, and it continued to be until the 2000s.

Legendary singers performed there in the sixties and seventies, including Umm Kulthum, Farid Al-Atrash, Abdel Halim Hafez, Warda, and Gulf stars.

In 2000, it hosted its last major concert, with Hani Shaker, George Wassouf, and Kadim Al Sahir taking part. And while this golden era will never be forgotten, the bride of summer getaways is back on the artistic map after three long years of absence.

Child Smile Lebanon and Smile Way sports have joined forces to host the Bi Nos Aley (In the Middle of Aley) music and dance festival. It will be held in Aley Square from September 9 to 11, and is open to all ages.

In an interview with Asharq Al-Awsat, Child Smile founder Antoinette Karam, who organized the festival, stressed that it is high time for the city of Aley to take back its place on the artistic map after the pandemic and successive crises took it off.

“The need to bring back happiness to this city whose people, like all Lebanese, long for hope and joy, was obvious to us. And so, we decided to organize the festival in cooperation with the Municipality of Aley. It will allow the bride of Lebanon to make a strong comeback after a long period of absence.”

Several music and dance events, as well as entertaining activities, feature in the festival’s program. Commenting on their choice for the guest of honor, Mayez Al Bayaa, Karam said: “We contacted several Lebanese recording artists, and Al Bayaa is a dear guest. His presence will draw many attendees because he has a large audience in the region. The revival of this festival will serve as a prelude for other events in the future.”

Bi Nos Aley also includes dance and folkloric performances, with the Lebanese Dabkeh on the lineup. The festival will also host stars from the Voice Kids and rap bands, Karam added.

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KAUST: Unexpected Ecosystem Found Deep Below Red Sea Coral Reef

Located in Difat Farasan, also known as the Farasan Bank near the border between Saudi Arabia and Yemen, the deep waters were found to be inhabited by corals, fish, and other marine life not typically expected to survive in environments with such low oxygen and high acidity. (SPA)
Located in Difat Farasan, also known as the Farasan Bank near the border between Saudi Arabia and Yemen, the deep waters were found to be inhabited by corals, fish, and other marine life not typically expected to survive in environments with such low oxygen and high acidity. (SPA)
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KAUST: Unexpected Ecosystem Found Deep Below Red Sea Coral Reef

Located in Difat Farasan, also known as the Farasan Bank near the border between Saudi Arabia and Yemen, the deep waters were found to be inhabited by corals, fish, and other marine life not typically expected to survive in environments with such low oxygen and high acidity. (SPA)
Located in Difat Farasan, also known as the Farasan Bank near the border between Saudi Arabia and Yemen, the deep waters were found to be inhabited by corals, fish, and other marine life not typically expected to survive in environments with such low oxygen and high acidity. (SPA)

Scientists from Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) and the National Center for Wildlife (NCW) have reported the discovery of an unusual ecosystem beneath the world’s third-largest coral reef system—and the largest in the Red Sea.

Located in Difat Farasan, also known as the Farasan Bank near the border between Saudi Arabia and Yemen, the deep waters were found to be inhabited by corals, fish, and other marine life not typically expected to survive in environments with such low oxygen and high acidity.

According to a statement by KAUST, several of the species displayed unexpected coping strategies in the extreme conditions. Fish exhibited slower swimming patterns, and corals remained healthy despite environmental factors that would normally inhibit the calcification process essential for coral growth and survival.

KAUST Research Scientist Dr. Shannon Klein, who led the study, said: “The ability for these animals to live in warm, oxygen-depleted zones suggests they have an unusual ability to reduce how much oxygen they use to sustain life. This discovery highlights the need for greater marine exploration of deeper layers in tropical coastal areas, as they may hold unexpected ecosystems.”

“Although underwater, fish, corals, and many other sea creatures need oxygen to survive. While their bodies have evolved differently from land animals to metabolize oxygen, they too asphyxiate if oxygen levels drop dangerously low. However, in the Red Sea, there are resistant ecosystems,” Klein added.

“Considering that oxygen depletion in the sea is one consequence of rising temperatures, greater study of how these creatures exist there may help us understand how marine life can withstand the challenges of climate change. Coral reefs usually exist in shallow waters. But the study found depressions that went more than 200 meters deep throughout the Farasan Bank coral reef system,” she said.

CEO of the National Center for Wildlife and contributor to the study Dr. Mohammad Qurban stated: “This research highlights the significance of the Red Sea as a natural laboratory for studying marine resilience. Discovering ecosystems that thrive in extreme conditions expands our understanding of how marine life adapts and reinforces the need for continued exploration and conservation of these unique habitats.”