Emirati astronaut Sultan al-Neyadi, who is set to become the first Arab astronaut to spend six months in space, said Wednesday that he won't need to fast during Ramadan while in space.&nbsp;The 41-year-old will blast off for the International Space Station (ISS) next month aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.

Neyadi, NASA's Stephen Bowen and Warren Hoburg and Russia's Andrey Fedyaev are scheduled to fly to the ISS on February 26 as members of SpaceX Dragon Crew-6.

When a reporter asked Sultan al-Neyadi how does he plan to observe the holy month of Ramadan in space, he said fasting won't be compulsory for him since his situation falls under an exception.

"I'm in... the definition of a traveler, and we can actually break fast," Neyadi said. "It's not compulsory."

"Actually fasting is not compulsory if you're... feeling not well," he said.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/a-tiny-meteorite-probably-struck-soyuz-causing-a-coolant-leak-russian-official-says-543545">A tiny meteorite probably struck Soyuz causing a coolant leak, Russian official says</a>

"So in that regard, anything that can jeopardize the mission, or maybe put the crew members in a risk, we're actually allowed to eat sufficient food."

While Neyadi is the first astronaut from UAE to spend six months in space, he is actually the second national from there to go to space.

In September 2019, Hazzaa al-Mansoori spent eight days on the ISS.

Meanwhile, the American astronauts and the Russian cosmonaut mentioned how tensions between the two countries on Earth never affect their camaraderie in space.

"I've been working and training with cosmonauts for over 20 years now and it's always been amazing," said NASA's Bowen, a veteran of three space shuttle missions.

"Once you get to space, it's just one crew, one vehicle and we all have the same goal."

Fedyaev said that the two countries have a "very long history" of space cooperation.

"The life of people in space on the International Space Station is really setting a very good example for how people should be living on Earth," the Russian cosmonaut said.

Meanwhile, three astronauts whose return vehicle, a Soyuz crew capsule, was damaged by a tiny meteoroid in December, will be returning on a Russian spacecraft that it plans to send to ISS on February 20.

Their Soyuz MS-22 crew capsule sprang a radiator coolant leak after the meteoroid strike. 
 
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Emirati astronaut Sultan al-Neyadi, who is set to become the first Arab astronaut to spend six months in space, said Wednesday that he won't need to fast during Ramadan while in space.

Emirati astronaut Sultan al-Neyadi, who is set to become the first Arab astronaut to spend six months in space, said Wednesday that he won't need to fast during Ramadan while in space. The 41-year-old will blast off for the International Space Station (ISS) next month aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. Neyadi, NASA's Stephen Bowen and Warren Hoburg and Russia's Andrey Fedyaev are scheduled to fly to the ISS on February 26 as members of SpaceX Dragon Crew-6. When a reporter asked Sultan al-Neyadi how does he plan to observe the holy month of Ramadan in space, he said fasting won't be compulsory for him since his situation falls under an exception. "I'm in... the definition of a traveler, and we can actually break fast," Neyadi said. "It's not compulsory." "Actually fasting is not compulsory if you're... feeling not well," he said. Also Read | A tiny meteorite probably struck Soyuz causing a coolant leak, Russian official says "So in that regard, anything that can jeopardize the mission, or maybe put the crew members in a risk, we're actually allowed to eat sufficient food." While Neyadi is the first astronaut from UAE to spend six months in space, he is actually the second national from there to go to space. In September 2019, Hazzaa al-Mansoori spent eight days on the ISS. Meanwhile, the American astronauts and the Russian cosmonaut mentioned how tensions between the two countries on Earth never affect their camaraderie in space. "I've been working and training with cosmonauts for over 20 years now and it's always been amazing," said NASA's Bowen, a veteran of three space shuttle missions. "Once you get to space, it's just one crew, one vehicle and we all have the same goal." Fedyaev said that the two countries have a "very long history" of space cooperation. "The life of people in space on the International Space Station is really setting a very good example for how people should be living on Earth," the Russian cosmonaut said. Meanwhile, three astronauts whose return vehicle, a Soyuz crew capsule, was damaged by a tiny meteoroid in December, will be returning on a Russian spacecraft that it plans to send to ISS on February 20. Their Soyuz MS-22 crew capsule sprang a radiator coolant leak after the meteoroid strike. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Emirati astronaut Sultan al-Neyadi says he can skip fasting during Ramadan when on ISS

Gunmen opened fire in a mosque in central Afghanistan on Tuesday evening, killing eight worshippers breaking their Ramzan fast and wounding five others, officials said.

"Unknown gunmen fired on people praying inside a mosque during iftar time," said Wahida Shahkar, spokeswoman for the governor of Parwan province, referring to the meal eaten to break daytime fasting during the Islamic holy month.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/rise-in-civilian-deaths-by-taliban-and-afghan-forces-says-un-299642" hreflang="en">Rise in civilian deaths by Taliban and Afghan forces, says UN</a>

The Ministry of Interior confirmed the attack in Parwan's provincial capital Charekar, blaming it on the insurgent Taliban. The Taliban denied responsibility and said Afghan security forces were to blame.

The United Nations has warned of an alarming uptick in violence against civilians in Afghanistan. A shocking attack on a Kabul maternity ward last week killed 24 people, including newborn babies.

Violence increased around the country even after a February&nbsp;29 US-Taliban pact on the withdrawal of US.-led foreign forces in exchange for Taliban security guarantees.

Afghan security forces on Tuesday clashed with Taliban fighters around the city of Kunduz, a strategically important centre that has been one of the Taliban`s main targets and which the group has briefly captured twice in recent years.

Security forces largely repelled the Taliban offensive with the help of air support and Assadullah Khalid, acting minister of defence, said during a visit to the city that more than 50 insurgents and eight security force members had been killed.

The Taliban have rejected repeated calls for a ceasefire by the Afghan government. They deny any involvement in the maternity ward attack and the United States believes the Islamic State was responsible.

The United States has sent special envoy Zalmay Khalilzad to Doha and Kabul to press the Afghan government and the Taliban to start stalled peace talks. Khalilzad has said he will push for a reduction in violence during the trip.

Gunmen opened fire in a mosque in central Afghanistan on Tuesday evening, killing eight worshippers breaking their Ramzan fast and wounding five others, officials said.

Gunmen opened fire in a mosque in central Afghanistan on Tuesday evening, killing eight worshippers breaking their Ramzan fast and wounding five others, officials said. "Unknown gunmen fired on people praying inside a mosque during iftar time," said Wahida Shahkar, spokeswoman for the governor of Parwan province, referring to the meal eaten to break daytime fasting during the Islamic holy month. Also read: Rise in civilian deaths by Taliban and Afghan forces, says UN The Ministry of Interior confirmed the attack in Parwan's provincial capital Charekar, blaming it on the insurgent Taliban. The Taliban denied responsibility and said Afghan security forces were to blame. The United Nations has warned of an alarming uptick in violence against civilians in Afghanistan. A shocking attack on a Kabul maternity ward last week killed 24 people, including newborn babies. Violence increased around the country even after a February 29 US-Taliban pact on the withdrawal of US.-led foreign forces in exchange for Taliban security guarantees. Afghan security forces on Tuesday clashed with Taliban fighters around the city of Kunduz, a strategically important centre that has been one of the Taliban`s main targets and which the group has briefly captured twice in recent years. Security forces largely repelled the Taliban offensive with the help of air support and Assadullah Khalid, acting minister of defence, said during a visit to the city that more than 50 insurgents and eight security force members had been killed. The Taliban have rejected repeated calls for a ceasefire by the Afghan government. They deny any involvement in the maternity ward attack and the United States believes the Islamic State was responsible. The United States has sent special envoy Zalmay Khalilzad to Doha and Kabul to press the Afghan government and the Taliban to start stalled peace talks. Khalilzad has said he will push for a reduction in violence during the trip.

Afghan mosque attack kills eight worshippers breaking Ramzan fast

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Emirati astronaut Sultan al-Neyadi says he can skip fasting during Ramadan when on ISS

Afghan mosque attack kills eight worshippers breaking Ramzan fast