RIYADH: The first Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Summit in Astana, Kazakhstan, from Sept. 7 to 11 will discuss scientific and technical issues and strategies in the next 10 years. The event comes as the organization strives to focus on promoting scientific and technical industries.
Naim Khan, OIC assistant secretary-general for science and technology, said the focus will be on strategies that can be achieved over a timetable spanning a decade. “This is the first summit in a Central Asian country in the presence of kings, princes and heads of Islamic states,” he said.
“The leaders at the upcoming summit will confirm their support for including these priorities in their national policies and development strategies.”
Meanwhile, the OIC General Secretariat condemned a terrorist attack that killed four soldiers in northern Sinai, Egypt, on Wednesday.
Secretary-General Yousef bin Ahmed Al-Othaimeen expressed his condolences to the families of the victims and to the Egyptian government.
He stressed the OIC’s solidarity with Egypt against terrorism and extremism.
First OIC meeting in Astana to discuss science, technology
First OIC meeting in Astana to discuss science, technology
Families in Taif embrace Ramadan customs early
TAIF: Residents of Taif are engaging in early preparations for the holy month of Ramadan, upholding deeply rooted customs that blend religious devotion with social tradition.
Families are meticulously organizing their homes and stocking up on supplies in anticipation of the communal meals and gatherings that define the month’s spirit of kinship, the Saudi Press Agency reports.
The city’s neighborhoods have taken on a festive character, adorned with traditional lanterns, crescent-shaped lights and star-shaped illuminations.
Historian Dhaifallah Al-Radwani said that these preparations — primarily led by women and children — include the use of traditional fabrics, incense burners and henna.
These rituals serve as a vital link to Saudi cultural heritage, ensuring that authentic community values and aesthetic traditions are passed down to new generations.
On Sunday, the last quarter moon of Shaban was visible across the Kingdom. Half of the moon was illuminated, while the other half remained in shadow, completing roughly three-quarters of its orbit around the Earth.
The last quarter moon draws the attention of amateur astronomers and astrophotographers, offering an ideal angle to observe surface features such as craters, volcanic plains and mountains, with shadows along the terminator enhancing their detail.
Jeddah Astronomy Society Director Majed Abu Zahra said that the last quarter moon marks a key transitional phase. Its visible light gradually decreases, becoming a waning crescent before sunrise, until the new moon on Feb. 17 signals the upcoming sighting of Ramadan’s crescent.
