عربي English Türkçe اردو فارسى
Logo
Latest News
Varieties

Saudi Arabia’s Diriyah Named Capital of Arab Culture for 2030

The selection means that Diriyah will become the second Saudi city to be named as the capital of Arab culture after Riyadh
The selection means that Diriyah will become the second Saudi city to be named as the capital of Arab culture after Riyadh
TT
TT

Saudi Arabia’s Diriyah Named Capital of Arab Culture for 2030

The selection means that Diriyah will become the second Saudi city to be named as the capital of Arab culture after Riyadh
The selection means that Diriyah will become the second Saudi city to be named as the capital of Arab culture after Riyadh

Saudi Arabia’s Diriyah has been named as the capital of Arab culture for 2030.

The city was selected by the Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization (ALECSO) due to its remarkable history and cultural symbolism, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported.

The selection means that Diriyah will become the second Saudi city to be named as the capital of Arab culture after Riyadh, which held the title in 2000, it said.

The announcement came after the endorsement of Arab ministers of culture at an annual ALECSO meeting held in Dubai on December 19-20, SPA added.

Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan, the Minister of Culture and Chairman of the National Committee for Education, Science and Culture, expressed his appreciation to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz, and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz for the great support that the Saudi culture receives in all its fields, which resulted in naming Diriyah to be a sign of Arab culture.

ALECSO Chairman Hani Al-Muqbil congratulated King Salman and the Crown Prince on the occasion.

Al-Muqbil said choosing Diriyah as capital of Arab culture for 2030 reflects the cultural standing that the city enjoys.

Most Viewed

 
 
Varieties

Drought Has Dried Major Amazon River Tributary to Lowest Level in over 122 Years

A part of the Negro River is dry at the port in Manaus, Amazonas state, Brazil, Friday, Oct. 4, 2024, amid severe drought. (AP)
A part of the Negro River is dry at the port in Manaus, Amazonas state, Brazil, Friday, Oct. 4, 2024, amid severe drought. (AP)
TT
TT

Drought Has Dried Major Amazon River Tributary to Lowest Level in over 122 Years

A part of the Negro River is dry at the port in Manaus, Amazonas state, Brazil, Friday, Oct. 4, 2024, amid severe drought. (AP)
A part of the Negro River is dry at the port in Manaus, Amazonas state, Brazil, Friday, Oct. 4, 2024, amid severe drought. (AP)

One of the Amazon River's main tributaries has dropped to its lowest level ever recorded, Brazil's geological service said Friday, reflecting a severe drought that has devastated the Amazon rainforest and other parts of the country.

The level of the Negro River at the port of Manaus was at 12.66 meters on Friday, as compared with a normal level of about 21 meters. It is the lowest since measurements started 122 years ago.

The previous record low level was recorded last year, but toward the end of October.

The Negro River's water level might drop even more in coming weeks based on forecasts for low rainfall in upstream regions, according to the geological service's predictions.

Andre Martinelli, the agency's hydrology manager in Manaus, was quoted as saying the river was expected to continue receding until the end of the month.

Water levels in Brazil's Amazon always rise and fall with its rainy and dry seasons, but the dry portion of this year has been much worse than usual.

All of the major rivers in the Amazon basin are at critical levels, including the Madeira River, the Amazon River's longest tributary.

The Negro River drains about 10% of the Amazon basin and is the world's sixth-largest by water volume. Manaus, the biggest city in the rainforest, is where the Negro joins the Amazon River.

For locals, the drought has made basic daily activities impossible. Gracita Barbosa, 28, works as a cashier on a floating shop on the Negro River.

She's out of work because boats that once stopped there can no longer navigate the river due to the low water levels.

Barbosa can no longer bathe in the river and now has to travel longer distances to collect drinking water.