Time Zone |
Asia/Jerusalem |
Standard Time GMT / UTC |
UTC+2 |
Daylight Saving Time |
UTC+3 |
Time Zone |
Africa/Niamey |
Standard Time GMT / UTC |
UTC+1 |
Daylight Saving Time |
Daylight saving time is not observed in the current region. |
Arad is a modern city in the Negev Desert in southern Israel, located about 103 kilometers east of Jerusalem and about 50 kilometers north of the Dead Sea, where the desert meets the oasis, making it one of the transportation and economic hubs of southern Israel. Founded in the 1960s to receive immigrants, the city has grown into a multicultural city with a population of about 24,000 and is known for its inclusiveness and innovative spirit. Arad is surrounded by a wealth of natural and historical resources: with Masada National Park (a World Heritage Site) to the west, and the Dead Sea and the Ngodi Desert to the east, it is an ideal base for exploring the desert landscape, floating in the Dead Sea and hiking. The city's internationally acclaimed Arad Music Festival attracts visitors from all over the world. With its pleasant desert climate, clean air and unique location, Arad has become an important center of tourism, science and technology, and agricultural innovation in Israel, blending the energy of a modern city with the charm of the natural wilderness.
Diffa, the capital of the Diffa region in southeastern Niger, is located on the southern edge of the Sahara Desert and shares a border with Nigeria, making it one of the most important border cities in Niger. The city is located in the lower Niger River basin around the climate of the tropical desert climate, hot and dry throughout the year, the average annual precipitation is less than 300 millimeters. The economy is based on agriculture and animal husbandry, and the surrounding areas are rich in millet, sorghum and livestock. Diffa, as a regional trade center, undertakes the function of cross-border trade with neighboring countries, such as Nigeria, and is especially famous for the trade of livestock, agricultural products and handicrafts. The city is culturally diverse, with Hausa, Tuareg and Kanuri ethnic groups living in the area, and is unique in its crafts such as traditional leather weaving and silversmithing. Despite infrastructural challenges, Diffa remains an important economic and cultural node in the south-east of the Niger, thanks to its strategic location and rich cultural heritage.