Salsola tetrandra shrub reappears in Northern Borders after decades-long absence

RIYADH: The crescent moon signaling the start of Ramadan on Saturday has been sighted in Saudi Arabia, the moon sighting committee has announced.
Following the sighting of the crescent moon on Friday evening, the holy month of Ramadan, the 9th month of the Islamic Hijri calendar, will begin on March 1, Saturday, the Supreme Court announced.
The crescent sighting was observed across the Kingdom in observatories including Sudair and Tumair.
The Supreme Court on Thursday called on all Muslims in Saudi Arabia to sight the Ramadan crescent on Friday evening.
The court has said anyone who sights the Ramadan crescent with their eyes or through binoculars should notify the nearest court to their location and record their testimony there, or contact the nearest center so that they can be directed to the nearest court.
Saudi Arabia’s moon sighting committee usually observes the moon in the days leading up to the expected start date of Ramadan, but they have encouraged other Muslims who wish to sight the moon to do so as well.
During Ramadan, Muslims refrain from eating and drinking from sunrise to sunset as part of the Islamic ritual that aims to encourage patience, charity, and community welfare.
It is the month of blessing in which the Holy Qur’an was revealed to Prophet Muhammad. Month-long fasting, from dawn to dusk, is one of the five pillars of Islam.
On the auspicious occasion of Ramadan, Muslims mark a turning point of their life where they aim to improve their spirituality, break bad habits instead of putting them on pause, supplicate, heal, give charity, sleep less, pray more and increase imaan – or faith – during this month of forgiveness.

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia on Friday rejected any unilateral steps taken outside Sudan’s official institutions that could threaten the country’s unity, including recent calls to establish a parallel government.

In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasized that such actions do not reflect the will of the Sudanese people and could further destabilize the war-torn nation.

The Kingdom reaffirmed its unwavering support for Sudan’s security, stability, and territorial integrity.

Saudi Arabia urged all Sudanese parties to prioritize the national interest over factional divisions and to work toward preventing further fragmentation and chaos. The Kingdom also reiterated its commitment to diplomatic efforts aimed at ending the conflict and achieving peace in Sudan, in line with the Jeddah Declaration signed on May 11, 2023.

The statement comes as several members of the UN Security Council voiced concern over the Sudanese paramilitary Rapid Support Forces’ decision to declare a parallel government.

The move, announced Sunday by RSF rebels and their allies, has sparked diplomatic tensions between Sudan and Kenya, where the agreement was reportedly signed behind closed doors.

US Representative John Kelley warned during a Security Council meeting on Wednesday that the formation of a rival administration in RSF-controlled areas risks deepening the conflict and could lead to the de facto partition of Sudan.

Kenya, which has been accused of recognizing the RSF’s proposed government, has denied any such endorsement.

The ongoing war between Sudan’s Armed Forces and the RSF has led to a humanitarian crisis, with thousands killed and millions displaced. Saudi Arabia has been actively engaged in mediation efforts alongside international partners to facilitate a peaceful resolution to the crisis.