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Cave Resorts in Saudi Arabia Offer Unique Tourism Experience

Cave resorts in Saudi Arabia offer unique tourism experience. (SPA)
Cave resorts in Saudi Arabia offer unique tourism experience. (SPA)
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Cave Resorts in Saudi Arabia Offer Unique Tourism Experience

Cave resorts in Saudi Arabia offer unique tourism experience. (SPA)
Cave resorts in Saudi Arabia offer unique tourism experience. (SPA)

Nestled amidst the mountains and valleys of Saudi Arabia's southwestern Al-Baha Region, a unique form of tourism is taking shape: cave resorts.
These creative accommodations, carved into the mountainside by local residents, offer visitors a chance to experience living in nature and the beauty of the region, SPA said on Sunday.
Shada Al-Asfal Mountain, where the cave resorts are located, is a geological marvel. At over 1,700 meters high, the mountain is one of the oldest geological formations on the planet, dating back 763 million years.
The mountain is home to a variety of natural wonders, including ancient caves that were once inhabited by indigenous people, fascinating rock formations, and stunning waterfalls.
The cave resorts offer guests a chance to explore these natural wonders while enjoying all the comforts of modern living. The caves house bedrooms, kitchens, living areas, and balconies with breathtaking views.
In addition to the stunning scenery, visitors can enjoy a variety of activities, such as hiking, climbing, and biking.
The cave resorts are also a sustainable source of income for the local community. These resorts showcase the beauty of this region, without encroaching on its natural resources.

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Japan Startup Seeks Approval of Cat Kidney Disease Treatment

A girl holds her pet cat while waiting for treatment on World Veterinary Day at the Central Veterinary Hospital in Srinagar, 25 April 2026. (EPA)
A girl holds her pet cat while waiting for treatment on World Veterinary Day at the Central Veterinary Hospital in Srinagar, 25 April 2026. (EPA)
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Japan Startup Seeks Approval of Cat Kidney Disease Treatment

A girl holds her pet cat while waiting for treatment on World Veterinary Day at the Central Veterinary Hospital in Srinagar, 25 April 2026. (EPA)
A girl holds her pet cat while waiting for treatment on World Veterinary Day at the Central Veterinary Hospital in Srinagar, 25 April 2026. (EPA)

A Japanese startup has filed for approval of a new drug to treat chronic kidney disease in cats, the founder said on Monday, offering hope for a common affliction that currently has no definitive cure.

The Tokyo-based Institute for AIM Medicine filed the treatment with the agriculture ministry on Friday, researcher Toru Miyazaki said, after a trial showed the drug significantly extended the life of afflicted cats.

"Most cats suffer from chronic kidney disease, and many die from end-stage renal failure or uraemia," Miyazaki, a former professor of the University of Tokyo, told AFP.

"We undertook drug development with the aim of overcoming this situation and alleviating the financial and physical burden on both cats and their owners," he said.

Miyazaki's research came under spotlight five years ago when he had to halt the development of the drug due to a shortage of research funding during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Following media reports, he received a flood of donations from cat lovers and owners totaling nearly 300 million yen ($2 million) between 2021 and 2022.

Chronic kidney disease is common among older cats, affecting up to 40 percent of felines aged more than 10, and 80 percent of those over 15, according to Cornell Feline Health Center in the US.

It is "a progressive disease with no definitive cure", the center said.

Miyazaki's study, published in the Veterinary Journal in February, tracked 11 cats that received the treatment and 15 non-treated cats for a year.

The cumulative survival rate for the treated cats was between 80 and 83 percent, while it was 20 percent for the non-treated cats.

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Camilla Takes Missing ‘Winnie-the-Pooh' Stuffed Toy to New York to Complete Set

Winnie-the-Pooh, Tigger, Piglet, Kanga, and Eeyore are currently on display at the library. (New York Public Library)
Winnie-the-Pooh, Tigger, Piglet, Kanga, and Eeyore are currently on display at the library. (New York Public Library)
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Camilla Takes Missing ‘Winnie-the-Pooh' Stuffed Toy to New York to Complete Set

Winnie-the-Pooh, Tigger, Piglet, Kanga, and Eeyore are currently on display at the library. (New York Public Library)
Winnie-the-Pooh, Tigger, Piglet, Kanga, and Eeyore are currently on display at the library. (New York Public Library)

A missing stuffed toy from the collection that inspired the "Winnie-the-Pooh" stories is to be replaced by Queen Camilla, when she visits New York on this week's state visit to the US.

On public display at New York Public Library are the original stuffed toys from the 1920s - Pooh, Eeyore, Piglet, Kanga, and Tigger - that were owned by AA Milne's son and inspired the famous book characters, according to BBC.

But missing from the lineup is the original figure of the young kangaroo, called Roo, which the library says was lost in the 1930s.

The Queen is bringing a specially-made Roo to complete the collection, which will travel on the royal flight to the US on Monday.

Queen Camilla will give the library a toy Roo, made by the same firm, Merrythought, that made the original toys in the 1920s.

Royal sources describe the gift as “royal soft (toy) power.”

The Queen's visit to the library, and its Treasures collection, will also mark the centenary of the first Winnie-the-Pooh book being published.

AA Milne created the much-loved bedtime stories - which were later made into a Disney cartoon - based on the collection of stuffed toys belonging to his son, Christopher Robin Milne.

The toy animals already have a track record as transatlantic cultural ambassadors.

They had been in the Sussex home of author AA Milne, before touring the US in 1947, going on display in New York in 1956 and then becoming permanent residents at the library in 1987, after being donated by a US publisher.

But according to the New York Public Library, the kangaroo toy that inspired Roo "was lost in an apple orchard during the 1930s".

The famous toy bear Winnie took its name from a black bear in London Zoo, that was particularly popular with children, including the son of AA Milne.

While the New York library has the stuffed toys, London has the skull of the original Winnie, kept by the Royal College of Surgeons after the bear's death in 1934.

The Queen's visit to the library will be part of her campaign to promote reading and literacy.

Varieties

Tsunami Survivor Battles Wildfire to Protect Hometown in Japan’s Northeast

Volunteer firefighter Ryota Haga carries a fire hose to battle a wildfire in Otsuchi, Iwate Prefecture, Japan, April 26, 2026. (Reuters)
Volunteer firefighter Ryota Haga carries a fire hose to battle a wildfire in Otsuchi, Iwate Prefecture, Japan, April 26, 2026. (Reuters)
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Tsunami Survivor Battles Wildfire to Protect Hometown in Japan’s Northeast

Volunteer firefighter Ryota Haga carries a fire hose to battle a wildfire in Otsuchi, Iwate Prefecture, Japan, April 26, 2026. (Reuters)
Volunteer firefighter Ryota Haga carries a fire hose to battle a wildfire in Otsuchi, Iwate Prefecture, Japan, April 26, 2026. (Reuters)

Ryota Haga was in high school when the biggest earthquake ever recorded in Japan triggered a deadly tsunami and swept away his family home in the quiet northeastern town of Otsuchi in March 2011.

Now 31 with a wife and toddler, the volunteer firefighter faces another natural disaster: this time a wildfire raging for a sixth day and threatening his community after burning through more than 1,600 hectares of forest as of Monday morning.

"It's been 15 ‌years since the (Great ‌East Japan) Earthquake, and our lives were finally beginning ‌to ⁠settle down," Haga ⁠said at the end of another draining day battling the blaze on Sunday.

"We can't let people lose what is precious to them all over again. The fire is spreading and our exhaustion is at a limit, but it's our hometown. We will protect it at all costs, even if it feels like we're running on empty."

Otsuchi was among the hardest-hit coastal towns in 2011, when ⁠a tsunami estimated around 10 meters (33 ft) high swept through ‌the small fishing town. Nearly 1,300 ‌residents, or about a tenth of its population, perished, including its mayor.

The scale of ‌the current fire is nothing that Haga has ever experienced, he said. Some ‌1,400 firefighters and dozens of Self-Defense Force personnel have been deployed so far, with no prospects yet of bringing the blaze under control despite some scattered rain forecast on Monday.

While Japan has experienced relatively few large-scale wildfires compared with other parts of the ‌world, climate change has increased their frequency, especially as the early spring months before the humid rainy season have been ⁠hot, dry and ⁠with winds that can whip up flames. On Sunday, another wildfire started in Fukushima, also in Japan's northeastern region.

For Haga, the increasing instances of wildfires have added to a longer-term concern over the acute shortage of firefighters as the population declines and ages. Already, the fire brigade he belongs to is below the staffing level set by authorities, he says.

"If a forest fire breaks out when I'm in my 50s or 60s, and I'm the one gasping for breath while trying to fight it, I don't think we'll be able to stop it," he said.

Still, Haga grasps onto the hope that the firefighters' single-minded determination to save the community will not be wasted.

"The next generation might be inspired to join the volunteer fire brigade."