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France 24
France 24
World
Monte FRANCIS

ISS welcomes Saudi astronauts: Rayyanah Barnawi becomes first Saudi woman in space

MIDDLE EAST MATTERS © FRANCE 24

The International Space Station has rolled out the welcome mat for two Saudi visitors, including the kingdom's first woman in space. The pair is among a group of four that will spend about a week in space before returning to Earth. We take a closer look and speak to expert Jane Kinninmont about the political significance of the move.

Elsewhere, the man who came third in the first round of Turkey's presidential election, Sinan Ogan, has thrown his support behind the incumbent, Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The Turkish president is facing a challenge from opposition candidate Kemal Kilicdaroglu, whose party is calling on the country's Kurdish voters for support.

Finally, a filmmaker from Jordan is among those competing at the Cannes Film Festival this year. "Inshallah a Boy" is the country's first ever film to compete in the festival and is showing in the Critics' Week sidebar. The film tells the story of a woman whose husband dies suddenly. It's an examination of the fairness of the country's inheritance laws. 

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