Cool weather expected to offer fasting Muslims some respite this Ramadan

Cool weather expected to offer fasting Muslims some respite this Ramadan
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The early-spring weather during the holy month will be a relief after more than a decade of fasting during long, hot days. (AFP)
Cool weather expected to offer fasting Muslims some respite this Ramadan
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The early-spring weather during the holy month will be a relief after more than a decade of fasting during long, hot days. (Reuters)
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Updated 22 March 2023

Cool weather expected to offer fasting Muslims some respite this Ramadan

Cool weather expected to offer fasting Muslims some respite this Ramadan
  • The early-spring weather during the holy month will be a relief after more than a decade of fasting during long, hot days 

RIYADH: Residents of the Kingdom can look forward to a more comfortable, cooler Ramadan this year, compared with the long hours of fasting in the hot and humid weather of the past decade.

The Islamic calendar is based on the lunar cycle, with the start of each month determined by the sighting of the new moon. The effect of this is that Ramadan arrives about a week-and-a-half earlier in the Gregorian calendar each year compared with the year before.

“The month of Ramadan moves between the four seasons every 33 years because the Hijri calendar is 11 days shorter than the Gregorian calendar,” said Abdulaziz Al-Hussaini, a Saudi weather and climate researcher.

“Ramadan this year is expected to have a higher rate of precipitation than normal in most regions, particularly during the first half of Ramadan. In the event of rainfall, the weather typically changes: The weather becomes cold, even during the day, with a cold breeze at night and in the early-morning hours.

“Since Ramadan falls in the spring season this year, some of the winter characteristics will be dominating the weather of Ramadan this year.”

After several years of marking Ramadan, and fasting, during the long, hot summer days, Saudis are looking forward to the more pleasant weather that is forecast for this year, and they reminisced about the years in which Ramadan fell during the winter.

“I always recall fasting during Ramadan in winter; the hours of fasting were short and we barely felt thirsty or hungry as the weather back then made fasting easier,” said Shamma Abdul Aziz, a retired history teacher from Riyadh.

Hadi Saud, a chemical engineer from Al Qassim, said: “I was 15 in 1997 and I remember breaking our fast outside, in the backyard, for the whole month. We rarely had our breakfast inside because of how good the weather was — we didn’t want to miss it.”

Al-Hussaini pointed out that Ramadan will once again be observed during the winter season “in about seven years from now.”

In fact, in 2030 Ramadan will take place twice, according to Khaled Al-Zaaq, a Saudi astronomer. This is a phenomenon that happens every 33 years, and the last time was in 1997.

In a message posted on Twitter, Al-Zaaq wrote: “In 2030, Ramadan is expected to begin on Jan. 5, 2030, and the second Ramadan of 2030 is expected to begin on Dec. 26, meaning we will fast 36 days in 2030.”

He added: “With Ramadan going around the four seasons every 33 years, in 2028 Ramadan is expected to occur at the height of winter, and in 2044 Ramadan is expected to occur at the height of summer.”


KAUST signs MoU with nonprofit global health group to develop healthcare services 

KAUST signs MoU with nonprofit global health group to develop healthcare services 
Updated 01 June 2023

KAUST signs MoU with nonprofit global health group to develop healthcare services 

KAUST signs MoU with nonprofit global health group to develop healthcare services 
  • The two will boost cooperation in the public health sector

RIYADH: King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) signed a memorandum of understanding with PATH, a nonprofit global health organization, to develop healthcare services in Saudi Arabia.

The MoU aims to boost cooperation between the two institutions in the public health sector by utilizing digital services and sharing expertise

Under the agreement,  PATH will provide expertise to assist KAUST in manufacturing vaccines, developing digital health systems and running a research center at the university. 

 

 
 


Saudi Islamic affairs minister and Azerbaijan’s SCWRA sign agreement

Saudi Islamic affairs minister and Azerbaijan’s SCWRA sign agreement
Updated 01 June 2023

Saudi Islamic affairs minister and Azerbaijan’s SCWRA sign agreement

Saudi Islamic affairs minister and Azerbaijan’s SCWRA sign agreement
  • The agreement aims to enhance cooperation between the two countries in boosting Islamic moderation

JEDDAH: Saudi Minister of Islamic Affairs, Call and Guidance Abdullatif Al-Asheikh signed an agreement on Thursday in the field of Islamic affairs with Mubariz Gurbanli, Azerbaijan’s head of the State Committee for Work with Religious Associations.

The agreement aims to enhance cooperation between the two brotherly countries in boosting Islamic moderation, and tolerance and confronting extremist ideology and terrorism.

According to the agreement, the two countries will exchange information and expertise in Islamic affairs within the regulations and systems in force.
 


Saudi, Malaysian Red Crescent launches training courses for visually impaired

Saudi, Malaysian Red Crescent launches training courses for visually impaired
Updated 01 June 2023

Saudi, Malaysian Red Crescent launches training courses for visually impaired

Saudi, Malaysian Red Crescent launches training courses for visually impaired
  • Over 500 trainees took part in a week-long series of courses

RIYADH: The Saudi Red Crescent, in cooperation with the Malaysian Red Crescent, organized an “Ambassador of Life” course for visually impaired beneficiaries and a training course for teachers at the Saudi Schools in Kuala Lumpur. 

Over 500 trainees took part in a week-long series of courses. 

The Saudi Red Crescent has recently implemented a number of local and international programs aimed at strengthening the Kingdom’s worldwide humanitarian standing and promoting human dignity.
 


Eleventh Saudi relief plane lands in Sudan

Eleventh Saudi relief plane lands in Sudan
Updated 02 June 2023

Eleventh Saudi relief plane lands in Sudan

Eleventh Saudi relief plane lands in Sudan

PORT SUDAN: An 11th Saudi relief plane on Thursday landed at Port Sudan New International Airport carrying 30 tons of food baskets and medical supplies.

The latest aid flight is part of the Kingdom’s air bridge initiative, operated by the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center, to help the people of Sudan.

Khartoum and other parts of Sudan have been gripped by warfare between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces.

Meanwhile, the UN said on Thursday more than 100,000 Sudanese refugees had fled to neighboring Chad since the conflict in Sudan broke out over six weeks ago, bringing the tally to more than half a million.

“The number of new refugees has passed the 100,000 mark” since fighting broke out on April 15, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees said, as it appealed for emergency support.

Up to 200,000 others could be forced to flee to Chad in the next three months, the agency’s representative in Chad, Laura Lo Castro, said in a statement.

With the rainy season approaching, UNHCR said it needed “massive logistical support” to move refugees from border areas for their safety.


Saudi foreign minister participates in BRICS Friends meeting 

Saudi foreign minister participates in BRICS Friends meeting 
Updated 01 June 2023

Saudi foreign minister participates in BRICS Friends meeting 

Saudi foreign minister participates in BRICS Friends meeting 

RIYADH: Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan is participating in the ministerial meeting of BRICS Friends, which is called “Partnership for Mutually Accelerated Growth, Sustainable Development and Inclusive Multilateralism.”

The meeting, which is being attended by foreign ministers of several countries, is taking place on June 1-2, in Cape Town, South Africa.

Prince Faisal will highlight key issues and latest developments in the international arena, and aim to boost multilateral action to achieve global prosperity, in addition to holding a number of bilateral meetings with his counterparts.