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Royal Commission for AlUla Says Old Town's Artworks Being Studied

Studies included the discovery of murals with geometric ornaments. Asharq Al-Awsat
Studies included the discovery of murals with geometric ornaments. Asharq Al-Awsat
    AlUla (Saudi Arabia) - Asharq Al-Awsat
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Royal Commission for AlUla Says Old Town's Artworks Being Studied

Studies included the discovery of murals with geometric ornaments. Asharq Al-Awsat
Studies included the discovery of murals with geometric ornaments. Asharq Al-Awsat

The Royal Commission for AlUla has announced that it started studying and reviewing artworks in the Old City, which was selected as one of the best tourist villages in the world for 2022.

RCU said it is conducting a study and restoration work with a group of experts, intending to reveal the details and architecture of the town.

Studies included the discovery of murals with geometric ornaments and other images highlighting various elements of everyday life, such as mosques, houses, markets, and many material elements that reflect the cultural value embedded in these images and drawings.

The old town contains various inscriptions and designs engraved on the walls of the houses, as well as colors of various connotations. This research was conducted by the Royal Commission of AlUla with emphasis on the elements and details of folklore in the AlUla community.

The results of these studies show that the houses were characterized by sophisticated inscriptions, including the houses of the AlUla Cultural Oasis built by the citizens, and are now within the scope of excellence, making the old town one of the best tourist villages in the world.

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Latest Tests Show Seine Water Quality Was Substandard When Paris Mayor Took a Dip

Boats carrying members of delegations sail along the Seine during the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games on July 26, 2024. (AFP)
Boats carrying members of delegations sail along the Seine during the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games on July 26, 2024. (AFP)
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Latest Tests Show Seine Water Quality Was Substandard When Paris Mayor Took a Dip

Boats carrying members of delegations sail along the Seine during the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games on July 26, 2024. (AFP)
Boats carrying members of delegations sail along the Seine during the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games on July 26, 2024. (AFP)

Tests results released Friday showed the water quality in the River Seine was slightly below the standards needed to authorize swimming — just as the Paris Olympics start.

Heavy rain during the opening ceremony revived concerns over whether the long-polluted waterway will be clean enough to host swimming competitions, since water quality is deeply linked with the weather in the French capital.

Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo took a highly publicized dip last week in a bid to ease fears. The Seine will be used for marathon swimming and triathlon.

Daily water quality tests measure levels of fecal bacteria known as E. coli.

Tests by monitoring group Eau de Paris show that at the Bras Marie, E. coli levels were then above the safe limit of 900 colony-forming units per 100 milliliters determined by European rules on June 17, when the mayor took a dip.

The site reached a value of 985 on the day the mayor swam with Paris 2024 chief Tony Estanguet and the top government official for the Paris region, Marc Guillaume, joined her, along with swimmers from local swimming clubs.

At two other measuring points further downstream, the results were below the threshold.

The statement by Paris City Hall and the prefecture of the Paris region noted that water quality last week was in line with European rules six days out of seven on the site which is to host the Olympic swimming competitions.

It noted that "the flow of the Seine is highly unstable due to regular rainfall episodes and remains more than twice the usual flow in summer," explaining fluctuating test results.

Swimming in the Seine has been banned for over a century. Since 2015, organizers have invested $1.5 billion to prepare the Seine for the Olympics and to ensure Parisians have a cleaner river after the Games. The plan included constructing a giant underground water storage basin in central Paris, renovating sewer infrastructure, and upgrading wastewater treatment plants.