Media Minister: Saudi History Exhibition Establishes Relationship between Saudi Media, National History

Minister of Media Salman bin Yousef Al-Dosari at the exhibition. SPA
Minister of Media Salman bin Yousef Al-Dosari at the exhibition. SPA
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Media Minister: Saudi History Exhibition Establishes Relationship between Saudi Media, National History

Minister of Media Salman bin Yousef Al-Dosari at the exhibition. SPA
Minister of Media Salman bin Yousef Al-Dosari at the exhibition. SPA

The Minister of Media and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), Salman bin Yousef Al-Dosari, expressed the Saudi media’s pride in its national message and its responsibility to consolidate the historical depth of the Saudi state by introducing its achievements, nobility, and cultural and social heritage, and promoting its civilizational achievement and regional and global status so that the progress march continues towards a promising future for the nation and the citizens under the Saudi Vision 2030.

He made his remarks following the opening on Wednesday of “Saudi Arabia's History Exhibition” at the headquarters of SPA in Riyadh. He noted that this documentary initiative aims to enrich historical knowledge and highlights the prosperous present of the country, within a framework that reflects the image of the Kingdom on the world stage.

He added that SPA’s holding of an exhibition on Saudi Arabia's history comes in the context of its national media role and to enrich its educational and knowledgeable message through an interactive media presentation, in a new experience for visitors from inside and outside the Kingdom, applying an innovative method that establishes a relationship between the media institution and the Kingdom's history.

The minister of media reiterated that the exhibition embodies the depth of the media’s connection with Saudi Arabia's history.

Nearly a century ago, the Kingdom witnessed the publication of Umm Al-Qura newspaper in 1924, in which it documented events and the reality of the national scene in its various aspects then. The issue of September 23, 1932 announced the declaration of all parts of the Kingdom united, under the name "Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,” marking a new era of development and modernization of the media sector, the diversity of its mass-media organizations, and the breadth of its message, keeping pace with the latest technologies across various media platforms.

After his statement, the minister of media extended his thanks and appreciation to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, for their support to Saudi media, and their continued interest in developing it, to enhance its role in highlighting the Kingdom's movement, under the goals of Saudi Vision 2030.



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)
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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.