Royal Commission for Riyadh City Launches Stage 4 of Bus Service

The Royal Commission for Riyadh City has announced the launch of Stage 4 of the “riyadh bus” service. SPA
The Royal Commission for Riyadh City has announced the launch of Stage 4 of the “riyadh bus” service. SPA
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Royal Commission for Riyadh City Launches Stage 4 of Bus Service

The Royal Commission for Riyadh City has announced the launch of Stage 4 of the “riyadh bus” service. SPA
The Royal Commission for Riyadh City has announced the launch of Stage 4 of the “riyadh bus” service. SPA

The Royal Commission for Riyadh City has announced the launch of Stage 4 of the “riyadh bus” service, part of the King Abdulaziz Project for Riyadh Public Transport (KAPT) network, which aims to provide world-class public transportation options to the residents and visitors of Riyadh and connect the capital’s neighborhoods and commercial clusters.

The service has operated approximately 631,000 trips transporting over 6 million passengers since its launch earlier this year.

Stage 4 of “riyadh bus” will expand the service to reach 40 routes covered by 614 buses that serve 1,632 bus stations and stops, covering 70% of the 1,900 kilometers length of the network.

Connecting new localities and neighborhoods in the city of Riyadh, seven new routes have been added in stage 4.

The "riyadh bus" service is supported by an online portal -- www.riyadhbus.sa -- offering a variety of options for passengers to learn more about the service, the bus routes, and ticket options.

Passengers can also access services, including trip planning, through the "choose your destination" feature, track the trip through the interactive map, and buy tickets through the “riyadh bus” app that can be downloaded from Apple and Google stores.



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.