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Saudi Arabia’s Bernawi, Al-Qarni Rocket towards ISS

Saudi Arabia’s first astronauts in decades, Rayana Bernawi, and Ali Al-Qarni, rocketed toward the International Space Station on Sunday. (SPA)
Saudi Arabia’s first astronauts in decades, Rayana Bernawi, and Ali Al-Qarni, rocketed toward the International Space Station on Sunday. (SPA)
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Saudi Arabia’s Bernawi, Al-Qarni Rocket towards ISS

Saudi Arabia’s first astronauts in decades, Rayana Bernawi, and Ali Al-Qarni, rocketed toward the International Space Station on Sunday. (SPA)
Saudi Arabia’s first astronauts in decades, Rayana Bernawi, and Ali Al-Qarni, rocketed toward the International Space Station on Sunday. (SPA)

Saudi Arabia’s first astronauts in decades, Rayana Bernawi, and Ali Al-Qarni, rocketed toward the International Space Station on Sunday.

SpaceX launched the crew, led by a retired NASA astronaut now working for the company that arranged the trip from Kennedy Space Center. Also on board: a US businessman who now owns a sports car racing team.

They should reach the space station in their capsule Monday morning; they’ll spend just over a week there before returning home with a splashdown off the Florida coast.

Bernawi, a stem cell researcher, became the first woman from the Kingdom to go to space. Al-Qarni is a fighter pilot with the Royal Saudi Air Force.

They’re the first from their country to ride a rocket since a Saudi prince launched aboard shuttle Discovery in 1985. In a quirk of timing, they’ll be greeted at the station by an astronaut from the United Arab Emirates.

“Hello from outer space! It feels amazing to be viewing Earth from this capsule,” Bernawi said after settling into orbit.

Added al-Qarni: “As I look outside into space, I can't help but think this is just the beginning of a great journey for all of us.”

Rounding out the visiting crew: Knoxville, Tennessee’s John Shoffner, former driver and owner of a sports car racing team that competes in Europe, and chaperone Peggy Whitson, the station’s first female commander who holds the US record for most accumulated time in space: 665 days and counting.

The mission aims to conduct scientific and research experiments that can help strengthen the Kingdom's global position in the field of space exploration, serve humanity and highlight the role of Saudi research centers.

During their trip, the two Saudi astronauts will carry out 14 research and scientific experiments in a microgravity environment, including three educational awareness experiments on the ISS. The experiments will focus on human research, cell sciences, and artificial cloud seeding.

King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center (KFSH&RC), headed by Dr. Khalid Abu Khabar, Dr. Wejdan Al-Ahmadi and Dr. Edward Hitti and the Saudi Space Commission (SSC) will supervise the cell sciences experiment. They will monitor how the inflammatory response changes in space and the resulting changes in the lifespan of the messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) between space and Earth.

The King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, headed by Dr. Ashraf Farahat, and in cooperation with the SSC, will supervise the cloud seeding experiment, which aims at simulating the process used in the Kingdom and many countries to increase rates of precipitation.

The experiment will help scientists and researchers come up with new methods to provide suitable conditions for humans to live in space colonies on the surface of the Moon and Mars. The experiment will help improve researchers' understanding of cloud seeding technology that helps increase rainfall in several countries.

Saudi Arabia’s Nebula Research and Development, led by Dr. Bader Shirah, in cooperation with the SSC, will conduct six experiments in the field of human research to learn about human adaptation to spaceflight, its safety on the brain and to understand the effects that occur on human health while in space.

During these experiments, the functions of human organs and vital systems will be tested in microgravity, such as measuring blood flow to the brain, assessing intracranial pressure and electrical activity of the brain, and monitoring changes in the optic nerve.

Moreover, experiments will include taking blood and biological samples to examine the vital signs associated with spaceflights, and mapping changes in the length, structure, and epigenetics of genes.

The Kingdom's male and female students will participate in scientific experiments aboard the ISS, to enhance cognitive awareness of space science and its contribution to improving the quality of life on Earth.

Students will be able to communicate with the Saudi astronauts directly by conducting their experiments together. The process will be held in cooperation with the Ministry of Education, King Abdulaziz and his Companions Foundation for Giftedness and Creativity "Mawhiba", Riyadh schools, and Misk schools.

The mission is part of the Kingdom's astronauts’ program, which is one of the programs that aims, in its first phase, to send two Saudi astronauts, a male and female, on a manned spaceflight to the ISS.

The program is expected to consolidate the Kingdom's position and place it among leading countries, inspiring future generations in space technologies, promoting scientific research in various fields of space, and strengthening national partnerships and cooperation with relevant authorities.

The program bears special significance in achieving the Kingdom's aspirations and goals of its Vision 2030.

The program aims to activate scientific innovations in space sciences. This will reflect positively on the future of the industry and the country. It focuses on the importance of developing skills, such as increasing national interest in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) graduates and scaling-up investment in their potentials and developing human capital in accordance with the objectives of Vision 2030 by attracting talents and developing the necessary skills.

The launch of this program will pave the way for the Kingdom's ambitions in the field of space exploration, especially since it is able to conduct its own research independently.

This ambition is reinforced by the Kingdom’s previous achievements in space flight. Through the program, it aspires to enable more distinguished and talented citizens to unleash their capabilities and compete on the local and global levels.

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Varieties

Sherlock Holmes Fans Recreate Fateful Duel at Swiss Falls

British motoring author Philip Porter, dressed as Sherlock Holmes poses during a visit by members of the Sherlock Holmes Society of London to the Reichenbach Falls near Meiringen on May 3, 2026. (AFP)
British motoring author Philip Porter, dressed as Sherlock Holmes poses during a visit by members of the Sherlock Holmes Society of London to the Reichenbach Falls near Meiringen on May 3, 2026. (AFP)
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Sherlock Holmes Fans Recreate Fateful Duel at Swiss Falls

British motoring author Philip Porter, dressed as Sherlock Holmes poses during a visit by members of the Sherlock Holmes Society of London to the Reichenbach Falls near Meiringen on May 3, 2026. (AFP)
British motoring author Philip Porter, dressed as Sherlock Holmes poses during a visit by members of the Sherlock Holmes Society of London to the Reichenbach Falls near Meiringen on May 3, 2026. (AFP)

Immaculately dressed in Victorian costume, Sherlock Holmes devotees gathered at the Reichenbach Falls in Switzerland to recreate the intrepid detective's fateful duel with his nemesis Professor Moriarty, 135 years on.

Captivated by British writer Arthur Conan Doyle's evocative world of villains, sleuths, fog, gas lamps and tweed, around 60 members of the Sherlock Holmes Society of London made the pilgrimage to the hallowed destination.

The spectacular scene is where Holmes and Moriarty clashed on a precarious high ledge, apparently falling to their deaths on May 4, 1891.

The group's three-day journey through Holmes-related sites in Switzerland wound up at Meiringen in the Bernese Oberland, for a funicular ride on Sunday up to the thundering Reichenbach Falls, which tumble 120 meters (400 feet) into a pool below.

Hats of all varieties, twirled moustaches, lavish dresses and walking canes abounded, as each came dressed as an individual character from the stories, including the missing rugby player, the king of Bohemia, and Mrs. Hudson, Holmes's landlady at 221B Baker Street, London.

"It does transform you, just wearing the clothes, and hunching a bit," said British lawyer Peter Horrocks, top-hatted and clad in black as the sinister crime lord Moriarty.

"This is so atmospheric," he said amid the roar and spray, insisting it "absolutely" brings Sherlockians closer to the story.

Doyle killed off his beloved detective at this spot in his 1893 short story "The Adventure of the Final Problem".

But such was the public outcry, Doyle was forced to resurrect him -- and the affection for Holmes endures to this day.

- 'Tears in my eyes' -

With a magnifying glass in one hand and a pipe in the other, motoring author Philip Porter played Holmes.

He hailed the "unique appeal" of Doyle's stories, "full of Victorian atmosphere, the triumph of good over evil, and some wonderful characters" to draw in devotees.

"We have very little in common in real life, but we are brought together by the Sherlock Holmes canon," he told AFP.

Recreating the duel, Holmes and Moriarty grappled, finally holding the stance depicted in Sidney Paget's 1893 illustration as the pair seemingly tumbled.

Doctor Watson then walked by, his shouts of "Holmes!" echoing off the rocks, before discovering the letter the detective left for him to find -- and realizing his dear friend had plummeted to his doom.

"When Watson found the note, frankly I had tears in my eyes. I found that really moving," said Helene Vrot, from near Paris, who dressed in the 1895 "very short-lived fashion for huge sleeves".

"It's an opportunity to make memories with people who have the same kind of mind," she told AFP of the trip.

For JeanMarie Zubia, from the US state of Washington, "it's a total immersion" into the Victorian era.

Her character was Laura Lyons from "The Hound of the Baskervilles", and she reveled in the collective for the detective.

"It's amazing to be surrounded by all the other Sherlockians here, because they get to talk non-stop about what I'm so passionate about... the minutiae that goes into every single story," she said.

- 'My dream place' -

One sweat-soaked trail runner did a double-take as he dashed straight into the costumed throng, while Chinese first-time visitor Kitty -- making her own solo anniversary pilgrimage -- could not believe her eyes.

Wearing a Holmes-style deerstalker hat, the 24-year-old Sherlock fanatic suddenly walked right into beloved characters come to life.

"Wow! It's very lucky of me to meet Mr. Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Watson and Professor Moriarty and Colonel Moran!" the enthralled Manchester University robotics student said.

"This is my dream place. It's beautiful -- just like Watson wrote in his diary."

The organized visit was celebrating the more than 1,000-strong London society's 75th anniversary.

The trip's coordinator Markus Geisser told AFP nearly half the visitors were on their first Holmes trip, showing "travelling to Switzerland in a Victorian costume is still something that people actually like to do".

Dressed as the devil-may-care German spy Von Bork, he said the multinational society and its events were a chance to meet like-minded people, adding: "in my case, I met my wife."

Varieties

A Taiwanese Town Embraces a Slow Pace of Life Through a Snail Race

An owner decorates the snail racers with flowers during a snail race in Fenglin town, Hualien County, eastern of Taiwan, Saturday, May 2, 2026. (AP)
An owner decorates the snail racers with flowers during a snail race in Fenglin town, Hualien County, eastern of Taiwan, Saturday, May 2, 2026. (AP)
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A Taiwanese Town Embraces a Slow Pace of Life Through a Snail Race

An owner decorates the snail racers with flowers during a snail race in Fenglin town, Hualien County, eastern of Taiwan, Saturday, May 2, 2026. (AP)
An owner decorates the snail racers with flowers during a snail race in Fenglin town, Hualien County, eastern of Taiwan, Saturday, May 2, 2026. (AP)

The Taiwanese town of Fenglin has grown a reputation as a place where life moves slowly and people can catch their breath.

Rather than push against this rhythm, the town of around 10,000 has chosen to embrace it and make it part of its identity. Enter the snails.

Fenglin has been putting on snail races as a way to celebrate its focus on a slower, sustainable lifestyle that values healthcare, longevity and community connections while bringing in more tourists in the wake of a strong earthquake in 2024 that dampened travel in surrounding areas.

“The earthquake two years ago had a relatively big impact on tourism because people are worried an earthquake may happen again,” said Hsu Lu, a 32-year-old resident. “Many people have left Hualien because of earthquakes,” Hsu said, referring to the surrounding county and the site of frequent quakes.

Snails are one way to bring tourists back, even if slowly.

Fenglin has associated itself with snails since 2014, when it joined the Cittaslow international network of small cities focused on quality of life and locally sourced foods. Cittaslow's symbol is a snail carrying an assortment of buildings on its back.

The designation of a slow city seemed to fit Fenglin, whose population has shrunk threefold over the past few decades. Today, it is also an example of Taiwan's “super-aged” society, with more than 20% of its residents older than 65.

To help reinvigorate local tourism after the April 2024 earthquake, which killed 19 people and injured more than 1,100, Fenglin residents decided to host a snail race the following month, said organizer Cheng Jen-shou.

“We thought that our event could attract people, and that would be a small help,” he said.

This year, the town held the third edition of the race over the May Day holiday.

Several dozen enthusiastic residents and tourists attended the event, which featured six snail races spaced out over two days. The winners from each race competed in the final, but not before posing in front of their audiences while slowly being pulled on a piece of plywood across a green carpet as their fans cheered them on.

Snail race attracts dozens from near and far

Li Cheng-wen, a 70-year-old retiree from Fenglin, brought several snails to the race. He caught them in his vegetable garden snacking on his leafy greens, and instead of killing them as some farmers do, he decided to raise them as pets, he said. He feeds them slices of bananas, papaya and vegetable leaves and showers them daily.

“As to the criteria for choosing snails for the race, I usually select those that are very active and pleasing to the eye,” Li said.

Kelvin Hong and Tiara Lin also brought a sightly snail to the race. The couple traveled all the way from the southern city of Kaohsiung, about a five-hour drive away, together with their 2-year-old daughter, Murphy, and their giant African snail, Aquaman.

The couple had signed up Aquaman for a previous race in 2024, but just as they were headed for Fenglin, Lin went into labor. Now the whole family returned to cheer on Aquaman.

Despite being larger than most of its homegrown competitors — which had been picked out from local gardens or the side of the road — Aquaman was rather slow.

Once the race started, it and nine other snails were placed near the center of a round table covered with a thin vinyl sheet. The first to reach the edge of the table was crowned the winner.

The absolute champion was Guage, or Brother Snail. Its owner, 39-year-old Tanya Lin from Hualien, had been raising the snail since 2024, when it also won one race.

This year, Brother Snail crossed the 33-centimeter (13-inch) tablecloth in 3 minutes and 3 seconds. That performance earned it the top spot on a tiny stadium and a prize of organic sweet potato leaves.

Besides the snail race, the local government has been trying to attract tourism by offering guided e-bike tours with stops at historic tobacco barns, Japanese colonial-era buildings and a Hakka-minority museum.

The idea of a slower pace of life was compelling enough to attract university students Annette Lin and Tanya Liu, who rode the train for about 30 minutes from Hualien on Saturday to check out the snail race and Fenglin’s slow vibes.

The friends found the competition unique and enjoyed Fenglin’s leisurely pace — but only as a respite from the busy city life.

“I think for travel or a trip, it’s a great choice,” Liu said. “But maybe living here would not really be my dream choice.”

Varieties

LinkedIn Faces Complaint over Its Selling of User Data

LinkedIn platform logo (Reuters)
LinkedIn platform logo (Reuters)
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LinkedIn Faces Complaint over Its Selling of User Data

LinkedIn platform logo (Reuters)
LinkedIn platform logo (Reuters)

A prominent data protection group on Tuesday filed a complaint in Austria against LinkedIn over the professional networking platform's selling of user data.

Vienna-based Noyb -- which stands for "None of Your Business" -- said it filed a complaint with the Austrian Data Protection Authority on behalf of a LinkedIn user wanting access to his data, said AFP.

The user is demanding a "full response to his access request", the group said, adding it was also asking for a fine to be imposed on LinkedIn.

According to Noyb, the Microsoft-owned platform cites data protection concerns for not complying with access requests.

At the same time, the company asks users to sign up for its paid premium membership if they want to see who has visited their profile pages, Noyb said.

"People have the right to receive their own data free of charge," Noyb data protection lawyer Martin Baumann said.

It was "unclear" whether the tracking of visitors is legal, as the company does not ask for active consent, Noyb said.

Noyb has launched hundreds of legal cases that often prompt action from regulatory authorities against tech giants.

The group began working in 2018 with the advent of the European Union's landmark General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), which aims to make it easier for people to control how companies use their personal information.