Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
SCIO briefs media on promoting green development in Zhejiang
China SCIO | June 13, 2025
The State Council Information Office (SCIO) organized a media trip to eastern China’s Zhejiang province from June 11 to 13, bringing together over 40 journalists – including foreign correspondents from the United States, the United Kingdom, Spain, Singapore, Indonesia, Turkey, South Korea, Japan and Brazil – to observe the progress of green development in the province.
A press briefing was held Thursday in Zhejiang’s capital city Hangzhou, where Xu Wenguang, executive vice governor of Zhejiang province, briefed the media and answered questions.
On June 12, 2025, the State Council Information Office (SCIO) holds a press briefing in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province. [Photo by Luan Haijun/China SCIO]
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday visited the site of the Air India crash in Ahmedabad, where the London-bound flight carrying 242 people went down a day earlier.
The aircraft crashed minutes after takeoff from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, killing 241 people. Only one passenger – a British national of Indian origin – survived.
“The scene of devastation is saddening,” PM Modi said in a post on X after reviewing the wreckage. “Met officials and teams working tirelessly in the aftermath. Our thoughts remain with those who lost their loved ones in this unimaginable tragedy.”
He was accompanied by Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu, Gujarat State Home Minister Harsh Sanghavi, and other senior officials during the site inspection.
Flight AI-171, headed to London Gatwick, crashed into the hostel complex of BJ Medical College at 1:38 p.m. IST on Thursday, triggering a massive blaze and a large-scale emergency response.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah visited the crash site on Thursday and later chaired a high-level meeting with Civil Aviation Minister Naidu, Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, and senior officials to review relief and rescue measures.
Shah said DNA testing was underway to confirm the identities of the victims and assured that results would be delivered at the earliest by Gujarat’s Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) and the National Forensic Sciences University (NFSU). DNA samples of family members arriving from abroad would be collected on arrival, he added.
A formal investigation into the crash has been launched by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) in accordance with international protocols under the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), said Civil Aviation Minister Naidu. A high-level expert committee is also being formed to examine the incident and suggest safety improvements to prevent future tragedies.
The United States National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) announced it would send a team of investigators to India to assist the AAIB.
“The NTSB will be leading a team of US investigators travelling to India to assist the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau with its investigation into the crash of an Air India Boeing 787 in Ahmedabad, India, Thursday,” the agency said, noting that all official updates would come from the Indian government under ICAO’s Annex 13 protocols.
Rescue and Relief Operations Continue
Rescue operations continued through the night as teams sifted through debris for missing aircraft parts.
Parts of the plane’s fuselage were scattered around the smouldering building into which it crashed. The tail of the plane was stuck on top of the building.
Air India CEO Campbell Wilson reached Ahmedabad early Friday. The airline said it had set up Friends & Relatives Assistance Centres at Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Delhi, and Gatwick airports to support the families of those on board.
“These centres are facilitating the travel of family members to Ahmedabad,” Air India posted on X. Emergency contact numbers were also issued for those seeking information: 1800 5691 444 for calls from within India, and +91 8062779200 for international callers.
The Tata Group, which took over Air India in 2022, announced a compensation of Rs 1 crore for the family of each deceased passenger.
“Tata Group will provide Rs 1 crore to the families of each person who has lost their life in this tragedy. We will also cover the medical expenses of those injured and ensure that they receive all necessary care and support. Additionally, we will provide support in the building up of the B J Medical’s hostel,” Tata Sons Chairman N Chandrasekaran said on X.
Earlier, Air India released a breakdown of the nationalities of those on board: 169 were Indian nationals, 53 British, seven Portuguese, and one Canadian.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Hakeem Jeffries (8th District of New York)
Tonight, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries appeared on MSNBC’s The Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell to discuss the Trump administration’s unprecedented assault of Senator Alex Padilla:
LAWRENCE O’DONNELL: Leading off our breaking news coverage tonight is House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries. Mr. Jeffries, thank you very much for joining us tonight. There is so much for you to consider for us. First of all, let’s begin with Governor Newsom and his big victory in court tonight. This decision that I’ve read by the judge just finds in the governor’s favor all the way through ordering the California National Guard back under the command of Gavin Newsom.
LEADER JEFFRIES: It’s a big victory for the people of California, for the governor, for the rule of law and for democracy itself. Donald Trump had engaged in aggressive overreach. That was never a need for this deployment. Things were being managed by the LAPD, the California Highway Patrol, as well as local Los Angeles County sheriffs. We all object and reject any efforts to assault police officers, to be disruptive, to engage in unlawful and unruly behavior. That was not the issue here. The issue is, how do we make sure that we can continue to protect the peaceful assembly that is guaranteed by the United States Constitution as part of the right of every American to petition their government to try to get grievances redressed.
LAWRENCE O’DONNELL: Judge Breyer, Charles Breyer, very carefully reviewed every single event that has happened there that could be called in any way close to violent, every single thing, every mango that was thrown, every bottle that was thrown, every fire in a dumpster that happened. The fires of those driverless cars that happened over the weekend. And he concluded that none of that was beyond the control of LAPD, and in fact, described exactly how local officials, local law enforcement, brought all of those situations under control relatively quickly, thereby proving just in terms of what actually has been happening in Los Angeles, that it was completely under control and no federal support was needed. So he has that finding, in addition to Donald Trump illegally ordered those troops to move into Los Angeles.
LEADER JEFFRIES: It was an extremely meticulous decision, and this was all about political theater for Donald Trump. He doesn’t want the American people to lock in on the fact that he’s collapsing the economy. He’s failed to lower costs. The GOP Tax Scam is going to rip away healthcare for more than 16 million people, snatch food out of the mouths of children and seniors and veterans, all in service of giving their billionaire donors massive tax breaks. These are all deeply unpopular things. And so, Donald Trump wanted to create a massive distraction in this particular instance. If Donald Trump really believed that we were on the verge of insurrection, then he wouldn’t have attended a Broadway play last evening at the Kennedy Center. It would have been in the Situation Room. Instead, he was out on a night on the town. So this was a fraudulent thing that Donald Trump and his minions at the Department of Homeland Security had engaged in, and it’s now all been exposed in a meticulous decision by Judge Breyer.
LAWRENCE O’DONNELL: I mean, you know, I said at the outset, when Donald Trump first sent the troops to Los Angeles, that this was specifically, specifically to try to get us to turn our cameras to Los Angeles and away from those senators walking down the halls in Washington who have not been able to come to an agreement on how to do the Trump budget bill in the Senate and to take the focus away from that bill. What are we going to find? What are voters going to find when they put their focus back on this bill and what this bill is trying to do to voters?
LEADER JEFFRIES: You know, Brendan Boyle, the top Democrat in the House on the Budget Committee, has done a tremendous job of pointing out, one, this is the largest cut to Medicaid in American history, on top of the largest cut to nutritional assistance in American history, all in service of trying to bring about the largest set of tax breaks for billionaires in American history. It’s extraordinary. And they are going to increase the debt and the deficit by trillions of dollars, force our children and grandchildren to pay for it. And as a result of this one big ugly bill, hospitals will close, nursing homes will shut down, community based health clinics are not going to be able to operate. People are going to die because of the lack of being able to receive the medical service that they need. And so Trump is certainly trying to hide the ball from the American people. But this is a disgusting abomination. And the more the American people learn about the GOP Tax Scam, the worse it gets for them.
LAWRENCE O’DONNELL: Senator Alex Padilla obviously became the news of the day in Washington when that video spread of him being attacked like that in a federal building, a completely secure federal building, that you have to go through metal detectors and have an appointment to get into. Here’s the United States Senator in a federal building being attacked by federal agents, with a Cabinet Secretary looking on, lying about California while that was happening. Where were you when you first saw that video and what was your reaction, maybe holding your phone in your hand looking at that video?
LEADER JEFFRIES: It was disgusting when the news broke. I was on the Hill, we were preparing for a series of votes on the Floor of the House. And when you looked at the video, first of all, to know Senator Padilla, he is just a kind and decent person, a salt-of-the-earth type of individual. He has an extraordinary story, humble beginnings, eventually became an engineer at MIT, educated, and then walked away from what could have been a very lucrative career in order to serve his community and ultimately his state. And to see him assaulted in this fashion, manhandled, and then for the Secretary to lie about it, and the Department of Homeland Security, these people have zero credibility. And so the California Delegation, the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, every single part of the House Democratic Caucus stands in solidarity with Senator Padilla. If they can attack a sitting Senator in his home state in this fashion, just imagine what they have in store for the American people. That’s why all of us should be concerned. All of us need to push back, and all of us need to stand up for the principle that in the United States of America, there are no kings.
LAWRENCE O’DONNELL: Senator Padilla has insisted that this story is not about him, it’s what it means to the rest of us. It’s what it means about the people who the ICE agents and the federal agents are going after every day. Let’s listen to what Senator Padilla said when he came out of that federal building after being the– becoming the first United States Senator in history to be manhandled, pushed by federal agents, thrown to the ground and handcuffed for speaking. That has never happened before in American history. Let’s listen to what Senator Padilla said when he emerged from the federal building today.
SENATOR PADILLA (VIDEO): I came to the press conference to hear what she had to say, to see if I could learn any new additional information. And at one point, I had a question. And let me emphasize, the right for people to peacefully protest and to stand up for their First Amendment rights, for our fundamental rights. I was there peacefully. At one point I had a question and so I began to ask a question. I was almost immediately forcibly removed from the room. I was forced to the ground and I was handcuffed. I was not arrested. I was not detained. I will say this, if this is how this administration responds to a Senator with a question, if this is how the Department of Homeland Security responds to a Senator with a question, you can only imagine what they’re doing to farmworkers, to cooks, to day laborers out in the Los Angeles community and throughout California and throughout the country. Pero una gran pregunta es esta: si esta es la reacción a un senador con una pregunta, imagínense lo que están haciendo con cocineros, jornaleros, campesinos y otros inmigrantes no violentos en la comunidad de Los Ángeles, en otras áreas de el estado de California y en el país.
LAWRENCE O’DONNELL: Leader Jeffries that statement about imagine, just imagine what they’re doing to other people if this is what they do to the United States senators does seem to be the lesson of the day.
LEADER JEFFRIES: It’s incredibly powerful words from Senator Padilla. I think it’s one of the reasons why there was such a visceral reaction on the Hill both because we know him to be such a good man and this is just an example of how out of control the Trump administration is at this point. We’ve seen an unprecedented assault on the economy, on healthcare, on Social Security and of course, on the rule of law, on the American way of life, on democracy itself. But that’s why it’s going to be important for all of us to continue to show up and speak up and stand up, push back aggressively against the Trump administration, their extremism against Donald Trump and his minions in Congress who are nothing more than a Reckless Rubber Stamp for his extreme agenda. And we’ll continue to do that in the Congress, in the courts, and in communities all across the country.
LAWRENCE O’DONNELL: In any other presidency, I would expect you to be getting briefed very soon, if not already, about what has happened on Israel’s strike against Iran tonight. Have you been briefed in any way by the intelligence services about what is happening tonight?
LEADER JEFFRIES: I have not received an extensive briefing. There was minimal outreach from the administration, but I do expect sooner rather than later that we will receive a more comprehensive briefing about the state of affairs and the situation that exists. I mean, one of the things that Donald Trump, of course, promised on day one of his presidency, in addition to lowering the cost of living that, of course, has not happened. He talked about ending the war in Ukraine. That hasn’t happened. Talked about restoring peace to the Middle East. That has not happened. And so the whole Trump presidency has been a complete failure characterized by chaos, cruelty and corruption. And, you know, I’m hopeful that cooler heads will prevail in the Middle East and the situation is de-escalated. We certainly believe that Iran should never be allowed to become nuclear capable. They are an enemy not just to Israel, but to the United States and to the free world. But we also want to see a reduction in hostilities.
LAWRENCE O’DONNELL: House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, thank you very much for joining us in our breaking news coverage tonight on this important night.
Source: United States Senator for Texas John Cornyn
U.S. Senators John Cornyn (R-TX) and Ted Cruz (R-TX) today introduced a Senate resolution honoring the life, achievements, and public service of former First Lady Barbara Pierce Bush on the week of her 100th birthday. Text is below, and you can view the full resolution here.
“Whereas, on June 8, 1925, Barbara Pierce Bush (referred to in this preamble as ‘Barbara Bush’) was born in New York City, New York;
Whereas Barbara Bush attended Ashley Hall and Smith College;
Whereas Barbara Bush worked a factory job to support the United States war effort during World War II in 1943;
Whereas, on January 6, 1945, Barbara Bush married George Herbert Walker Bush after he returned from serving in World War II;
Whereas, in 1948, Barbara Bush and George Herbert Walker Bush moved to Odessa, Texas, and had 6 children, George W., Robin, Jeb, Neil, Marvin, and Dorothy;
Whereas Barbara Bush supported the early business ventures of her husband in oil, which would later evolve into the Pennzoil Corporation;
Whereas Barbara Bush supported the first forays of her husband in politics during his 1963 Harris County Republican Party chairmanship and 1966 election to the House of Representatives in the 7th Congressional District of Texas;
Whereas Barbara Bush kept the constituents in Houston informed of happenings in Washington, DC, by writing frequent newspaper columns during the time George Herbert Walker Bush served in the House of Representatives;
Whereas, during the career of George Herbert Walker Bush before becoming President of the United States, Barbara Bush orchestrated cross-country moves for her family 29 times in 44 years;
Whereas Barbara Bush supported the political ascension of George Herbert Walker Bush during his appointments as the United States Ambassador to the United Nations in 1970, the Chair of the Republican National Committee in 1972, and the Director of Central Intelligence in 1976;
Whereas Barbara Bush became Second Lady of the United States when George Herbert Walker Bush was sworn in as the 43rd Vice President of the United States in 1981, and again in 1985 after the 1984 re-election of the Reagan-Bush Administration;
Whereas, as Second Lady of the United States, Barbara Bush revitalized the vice presidential residence at 1 Observatory Circle with extensive renovations and the hosting of more than 1,000 social events;
Whereas, as Second Lady of the United States, Barbara Bush used her platform in the Reagan-Bush administration to champion public literacy to combat the cycle of poverty in the United States;
Whereas, as Second Lady of the United States, Barbara Bush played a significant role in the successful presidential campaign of George Herbert Walker Bush, which saw him win the 1988 Presidential election with 426 electoral votes, a feat which has not been matched since;
Whereas, as First Lady of the United States, Barbara Bush continued to champion public literacy by establishing the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy in 1989, and played a significant role in the passage of the National Literacy Act of 1991 (Public Law 102–73; 105 Stat. 333);
Whereas, as First Lady of the United States, Barbara Bush showed immense compassion to AIDS patients at a time when public opinion was still hostile towards their plight;
Whereas, after leaving the White House, Barbara Bush published her bestselling book, ‘Barbara Bush: A Memoir’;
Whereas, after the victory of her son George W. Bush in the 2000 Presidential election, Barbara Bush became the second woman in the history of the United States to have been both married to a President of the United States and the mother of a President of the United States;
Whereas Barbara Bush showed unwavering support for the presidential campaigns of her sons, George W. Bush in 2000 and 2004, and Jeb Bush in 2016; and
Whereas, on her passing at her Houston home on April 17, 2018, Barbara Bush was survived by her husband of 73 years, George Herbert Walker Bush, 5 children and their spouses, 17 grandchildren, and 8 great-grandchildren: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives concurring), That Congress—
(1) honors the life, achievements, and distinguished public service of Barbara Pierce Bush (referred to in this resolution as ‘Barbara Bush’); (2) recognizes Barbara Bush on the occasion of her 100th birthday and expresses thanks and commendations to her and her family; (3) acknowledges the positive impact that Barbara Bush contributed to the United States through her tireless dedication to promoting literacy and uplifting her fellow citizens; and (4) celebrates the legacy of Barbara Bush as a model citizen and public servant of the United States.”
Airlines cleared out of the airspace over Israel, Iran and Iraq and Jordan on Friday after Israel launched attacks on targets in Iran, Flightradar24 data showed, with carriers scrambling to divert and cancel flights to keep passengers and crew safe.
Proliferating conflict zones around the world are becoming an increasing burden on airline operations and profitability, and more of a safety concern.
Six commercial aircraft have been shot down unintentionally and three nearly missed since 2001, according to aviation risk consultancy Osprey Flight Solutions.
Israel on Friday said it targeted Iran’s nuclear facilities, ballistic missile factories and military commanders at the start of what it warned would be a prolonged operation to prevent Tehran from building an atomic weapon.
Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport was closed until further notice, and Israel’s air defence units stood at high alert for possible retaliatory strikes from Iran.
Israeli flag carrier El Al Airlines said it had suspended flights to and from Israel.
Iranian airspace has been closed until further notice, according to state media and notices to pilots.
As reports of strikes on Iran emerged, a number of commercial flights by airlines including Dubai’s Emirates, Lufthansa and Air India were flying over Iran.
Air India, which overflies Iran for its Europe and North American flights, said several flights were being diverted or returned to their origin, including ones from New York, Vancouver, Chicago and London.
Emirates and Lufthansa did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Iraq early on Friday closed its airspace and suspended all traffic at its airports, Iraqi state media reported.
Eastern Iraq near the border with Iran contains one of the world’s busiest air corridors, with dozens of flights crossing between Europe and the Gulf, many on routes from Asia to Europe, at any one moment.
Flights steadily diverted over Central Asia or Saudi Arabia, flight tracking data showed.
Jordan, which sits between Israel and Iraq, closed its airspace several hours after the Israeli campaign began.
“The situation is still emerging – operators should use a high degree of caution in the region at this time,” according to Safe Airspace, a website run by OPSGROUP, a membership-based organisation that shares flight risk information.
Several flights due to land in Dubai were diverted early on Friday. An Emirates flight from Manchester to Dubai was diverted to Istanbul and a flydubai flight from Belgrade diverted to Yerevan, Armenia.
Budget carrier flydubai said it had suspended flights to Amman, Beirut, Damascus, Iran and Israel and a number of other flights had been cancelled, rerouted or returned to their departure airports.
Qatar Airways cancelled its two scheduled flights to Damascus on Friday, Flightradar24 data shows.
The Israeli-Palestinian conflict in the Middle East since October 2023 led to commercial aviation sharing the skies with short-notice barrages of drones and missiles across major flight paths – some of which were reportedly close enough to be seen by pilots and passengers.
Airspace in the Middle East last year was crossed daily by 1,400 flights to and from Europe, Eurocontrol data show.
Last year, planes were shot down by weaponry in Kazakhstan and in Sudan. These incidents followed the high-profile downing of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 over eastern Ukraine in 2014 and of Ukraine International Airlines flight PS752 en route from Tehran in 2020.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Marc Veasey (33rd District of Texas)
Headline: Statement from Congressman Marc Veasey on the Crash of Air India Flight 171
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congressman Marc Veasey (TX-33), a member of the Congressional Caucus on India and Indian Americans, issued the following statement in response to the tragic crash of Air India Flight 171, which departed from Ahmedabad International Airport and claimed the lives of 290 passengers and crew:
“I am heartbroken by the devastating crash of Air India Flight 171. My deepest prayers are with the families and loved ones of all those affected by this unspeakable tragedy. As we mourn the loss of 290 souls, we stand in solidarity with the people of India during this painful time.
As a proud member of the Congressional Caucus on India and Indian Americans, I know how deeply connected our communities are. This tragedy is not just India’s loss — it is a shared loss felt across continents and cultures. The United States grieves with India today.”
In addition to being a member of the Congressional Caucus on India and Indian Americans, Congressman Veasey co-chairs the Congressional Aviation Safety Caucus.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Marc Veasey (33rd District of Texas)
Headline: ICYMI: Congressman Veasey Blasts Republican Hypocrisy for Badly Plagiarizing Democratic Policies, Argues Democrats Have Winning Agenda
ICYMI: Congressman Veasey Blasts Republican Hypocrisy for Badly Plagiarizing Democratic Policies, Argues Democrats Have Winning Agenda
Washington, D.C. – Congressman Marc Veasey (TX-33) is pulling no punches in his NBC op-ed, “If Republicans Are Copying Democrats, We Must Be Doing Something Right,” where he torches Republican lawmakers for publicly parroting Democratic policies while dismantling the very programs that make those policies work.
Congressman Veasey lays out how Trump and his allies are pushing legislation that loots the American safety net — all while pretending to champion working people.
“Republicans are copying our policies like knock-off brands — slapping on new labels while gutting the real product,” said Veasey. “They’re plagiarizing our ideas while sabotaging working families in the same breath.”
“We don’t resent success. We resent selfishness. We don’t loathe ambition. We oppose a rigged game. What we reject is a system in which a handful of billionaires guard the gates of opportunity, locking others out to keep the wealth all to themselves. Because the American Dream was never meant to be a gated community.”
Please attribute to Assistant Commissioner Mike Johnson:
Police acknowledge the findings by the coroner into the tragic death of three-year-old Lachie Jones who was found deceased in a Gore oxidation pond in January 2019.
Police will now need to consider the findings and the direction by the coroner for Police to undertake a third investigation. We will work diligently on all aspects we need to undertake to progress that with the appropriate resources and urgency to complete this direction as is required.
Police want to acknowledge Lachie’s family and the impact his death and the subsequent processes have had on them.
Police would also like to take this opportunity to recognise members of the public who came out on the evening Lachie was reported missing and searched for hours. We know that Lachie’s death has also had an impact on them and the wider Gore community.
Police have previously acknowledged but reiterate again today that our initial action following Lachie’s death fell short of the high expectations we set for ourselves. As a result of Lachie’s death, Police have implemented a national policy change which requires that CIB must be consulted for any death of a baby, child, or young person and where possible attend all scenes. The CIB will also be required to oversee or lead any investigation into the death of an infant or child under 10.
Our deepest thoughts and sympathies continue to be with Lachie’s family.
The Government announced today that the Chief Executive has appointed a chairman and members to the Hong Kong Maritime & Port Development Board (HKMPDB) for a term of three years, effective from July 1.
Moses Cheng has been named chairman, while the board’s other members are Angad Banga, Sabrina Chao, Bjorn Hojgaard, Wellington Koo, Timothy Lee, Edward Liu, Billy Mak, Alan Tung and Frankie Yick.
The board also includes a number of ex-officio members, namely the Secretary for Transport & Logistics or an assigned representative, the Commissioner for Maritime & Port Development, the Director of Marine, the Director-General of Investment Promotion, and the Executive Director of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council.
The Chief Executive announced in the 2024 Policy Address that the existing Hong Kong Maritime & Port Board would be reconstituted as the HKMPDB. Chaired by a non-official member and with other members largely coming from the maritime sector, this high-level advisory body is expected to assist the Government in formulating policies and long-term development strategies.
The HKMPDB will be supported by dedicated staff and provided with additional funding to enhance its research capabilities, strengthen its Mainland and overseas promotional work, and step up manpower training, with a view to supporting the Government in policy implementation and promoting the sustainable development of Hong Kong’s maritime industry.
Secretary for Transport & Logistics Mable Chan stressed that consolidating and enhancing Hong Kong’s status as an international maritime centre is a top priority for the Government, a strategic objective of the country, and particular importance for the city’s economic development.
“The establishment of the HKMPDB is a key step in this institutional reform. It is hoped that the new board will adopt an innovative and change-embracing spirit in supporting the Government to lead the maritime and port industry to further leverage Hong Kong’s unique advantages and enhance the industry’s global competitiveness in the midst of geopolitical challenges.
“Under the leadership of Mr Cheng, I am confident that board members will make valuable contributions to the work of the HKMPDB with their respective expertise and experience, and continue to advance side by side with the industry.”
The Government added that four committees, namely the Port Development Committee, the Maritime Services Development Committee, the Promotion & External Relations Committee and the Manpower Development Committee will be formed under the HKMPDB to focus on specific areas of work. Appointments to these committees will be announced later this month.
The International Atomic Energy Agency on Friday said there was no increase in radiation levels at the Natanz nuclear site that was targeted during an Israeli attack, citing information given to them by Iranian authorities.
The international atomic energy watchdog also added that the Bushehr nuclear power plant was not targeted during the attack.
Australia will look to add 20 to 30 more runs to their second innings total when the third day of the World Test Championship final against South Africa resumes at Lord’s on Friday, said captain Pat Cummins.
Australia will resume on 144-8 in the second innings, a total of 218 runs ahead as they seek to set an imposing target for South Africa to chase to win the match.
“Initially, we felt anything over 200 was good but you just want to get as many runs as you can,” Cummins told a press conference at the end of Thursday’s play.
“Hopefully we’ll get another 20 or 30 in the morning. That’d be good. I think that would give us a few more options to bowl at, allow a few more aggressive fields and those kind of things.”
Mitchell Starc was unbeaten on 16 and Nathan Lyon had one run at stumps on Thursday.
In test history at Lord’s there have only been three higher targets successfully chased down, so Australia look to be in the driving seat in a match dominated by high-quality bowling.
The pick of the bunch was Cummins, who produced the best bowling figures by a test captain at Lord’s as his 6-28 gave Australia a 74-run first-innings lead.
He also brought up 300 test wickets when Kagiso Rabada was the last wicket in South Africa’s first innings to fall.
“That’s something I always kind of thought about as a pretty good sign of durability, resilience and longevity. So, I feel pretty proud to join that group,” he added.
The first test wicket for the 32-year-old was against South Africa in Johannesburg in late 2011.
“I’ve had a really good run the last half a dozen years or so of not missing too many games. You know for the first few years I didn’t know where my second test match was coming.
“I feel like I’ve got lots of miles in the legs and don’t feel like I’m going to end any anytime soon.
“I really need to thank the medical staff, the way they looked after me in the early years to get through test matches,” he added.
Twenty-five Congolese prison administration officers from the Beni region in North Kivu, including four women, took part in a training session on June 10, 2025, focused on preventing radicalization and violent extremism of detainees. Organized at Kangbayi Urban Prison by MONUSCO’s Prison Administration Support Unit in Beni, the training aimed to strengthen prison staff capacity in managing inmates at risk of radicalization.
The session covered the definitions of radicalization and violent extremism, identification of risk factors, indicators of prison radicalization, and best practices for prevention, management, and reintegration of affected detainees. Particular emphasis was placed on the need for an approach that respects the rights and dignity of incarcerated individuals.
Like many penitentiary facilities in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kangbayi Prison houses a diverse inmate population. Located in a conflict-affected area, it holds a significant number of armed group members, including elements of the ADF, Maï-Maï militias, and more recently, the AFC/M23. Around 400 individuals are currently detained for offenses related to armed activity.
The prison director, Tsongo Makelele, highlighted the challenges: “It has been observed at the national level that some inmates become radicalized within prison walls. Beni prison houses individuals from armed groups, especially the ADF, and others involved in the eastern DRC conflicts. With only two cells, it’s difficult to ensure proper separation between different categories of inmates.”
In light of the risk of extremist ideologies spreading, he welcomed the training: “Our staff now have tools to prevent radicalization. It’s a critical issue for the security of the facility. When a radicalized inmate adopts a violent or extremist posture, it poses a real threat. Equipping our personnel with the skills to anticipate and manage this phenomenon is essential.”
This training is part of MONUSCO’s broader efforts to strengthen the resilience of penitentiary institutions in eastern DRC.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Mission de l’Organisation des Nations unies en République démocratique du Congo (MONUSCO).
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
BEIJING, June 13 (Xinhua) — China has fully implemented the voluntary blood donation system and taken a series of measures to safely provide blood in clinical settings, Gao Guangming, an official with the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), said Thursday.
China has expanded blood screening programs and improved testing technology, effectively preventing the transmission of highly infectious diseases through blood transfusions, he said at a press conference.
According to Gao Guangming, China currently ranks first in the world in terms of overall blood safety.
The country is strengthening its national blood emergency response system to enable targeted cross-regional distribution of blood resources to ensure adequate supplies in key areas and during peak periods, the official said.
Gao Guangming further noted that in order to raise public awareness of blood donation, the NCRR, in partnership with China State Railway Corporation (CSRC), has posted motivational videos and posters on 260,000 screens at more than 3,000 railway stations and more than 4,200 high-speed trains across the country.
At the same time, party and government bodies, universities, enterprises and state institutions are encouraged to participate in corporate voluntary blood donation and create an exemplary example for the formation of healthy social behavior, he added.
Gao Guangming said at a press conference that there are about 11.4 blood donors for every 1,000 people in China. -0-
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
UNITED NATIONS, June 13 (Xinhua) — China’s permanent representative to the United Nations Fu Cong welcomed the UN General Assembly resolution adopted on Thursday calling for an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and access to large-scale humanitarian aid.
According to Fu Tsung, this document reflects the call of the international community, is a powerful political signal and embodies solidarity and consensus among the vast majority of UN member states.
The Chinese envoy expressed regret that the UN Security Council failed to adopt a similar resolution last week due to a US veto. He also called on Israel to stop its military operation in the Gaza Strip.
“Israel continues to escalate its military offensive on Gaza, and every day a large number of innocent people are killed,” he said.
An immediate and permanent ceasefire is the surest way to save lives and bring the hostages home. China calls on Israel to immediately stop all military operations in the enclave. The Chinese diplomat said the country, which wields considerable influence, should take an impartial and responsible stance and take effective and decisive action.
He said China opposes the use of humanitarian aid as a weapon.
The UN and humanitarian organizations have warned that Gazans are facing imminent large-scale famine. Meanwhile, huge amounts of food have accumulated in warehouses on Gaza’s borders and cannot be delivered to starving civilians, Fu Cong emphasized.
“Such forced deprivation of people’s right to food is a violation of international law. It is cruel and unacceptable,” said China’s permanent representative to the UN.
“China firmly opposes the use of humanitarian aid as a weapon and urges Israel to fulfill its obligations as an occupying power by immediately lifting the blockade on Gaza, fully restoring access to humanitarian supplies, and supporting the United Nations and other humanitarian organizations in carrying out their work.” –0–
In the underwriting auction conducted on June 13, 2025, for Additional Competitive Underwriting (ACU) of the undernoted Government securities, the Reserve Bank of India has set the cut-off rates for underwriting commission payable to Primary Dealers as given below:
Headline: LEXUS Signs Athlete Partnership Agreements with Japanese National Football Team Player Wataru Endo and Professional Surfer Kanoa Igarashi
LEXUS has signed athlete sponsorship agreements with Wataru Endo, a member of SAMURAI BLUE (the Japan National Football Team), and professional surfer Kanoa Igarashi. This partnership was inspired by the bold ambition and dreams of both athletes as they pursue excellence on the global stage. Looking ahead, LEXUS will continue to support them through a wide range of initiatives.
Attributable to Detective Senior Sergeant Greg Baird,
Ten people have been arrested and are facing over 70 drug charges following a series of search warrants in Southland and Otago this week.
Police seized approximately $16,000, ammunition, drugs, and other drug paraphernalia.
The Southland and Otago Coastal Organised Crime teams executed the warrants as part of Operation Strata, targeting drug dealers with gang connections.
There were 15 warrants in total, in Invercargill, Dunedin, Gore, Mataura, and other rural properties.
The 10 people arrested face numerous serious charges, from supplying methamphetamine, MDMA, cocaine, LSD and cannabis, to possession of restricted weapons and ammunition.
Investigations are ongoing and we expect to make more arrests, and file further charges, in coming days.
Our message is clear – drug dealers are not welcome in our communities, and neither is the harm that comes with them.
Police will continue our focus on disrupting the supply of drugs to our communities, and holding to account those suppliers who make money through the harm and suffering of others.
Operation Strata involved over 30 staff from a number of Police groups across the Southern District and South Island, including the Te Waipounamu Gang Disruption Unit based in Christchurch.
If you have any information about the supply of illicit drugs, please contact us through 105, either online or via phone.
Information can also be reported to your local Police station, or anonymously through Crime Stoppers at 0800 555 111.
We encourage anyone affected by drug addiction to seek help through Alcohol and Drug helpline on 0800 787 797, or free text 8681.
PSNA is calling on the government to immediately expel the Israeli ambassador from New Zealand.
PSNA Co-Chair, John Minto says Israel’s strikes on Iran are “unprovoked, unilateral and a massive threat to humanity everywhere.”
“This is such a dangerous action, that diplomatic weasel words about Israel are not acceptable. Israel is an out-of-control rogue state playing with the future of humanity. We must send it the strongest possible message.”
“Israel’s using its often repeated lies and misinformation to attempt to justify it’s unconscionable violence and aggression.”
Minto points to Iran’s right to enrich uranium for civilian purposes.
“Even US intelligence officials have made it clear very recently that Iran is NOT on the way to produce a nuclear weapon.”
“And neither is Iran committed to the “annihilation” of Israel. Iran does not support Israel as a racist, apartheid state and wants to see liberation for Palestine. In this, Iran has, along with the overwhelming majority of countries in the world, called for an end to Israel’s military occupation of Palestine, the end of its apartheid policies directed against Palestinians and the return of Palestinian refugees.”
New Zealand has the same policies.
Minto says our government must shoulder some of the blame for Israel feeling it can safely launch attacks on Iran.
“Appeasement of this apartheid state, as our government and other western countries have done over 20 months, has led Israel to believe it can get away within mass murder forced expulsions and managed starvation in Gaza, so that whatever it does it will be never be held to account”
“Only sanctions count – and just the first one must be the expulsion of the Israel ambassador with only giving him enough time to pack his bags.
Source: US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
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Jun 13, 2025 0100 UTC Day 1 Convective Outlook
Updated: Fri Jun 13 00:33:01 UTC 2025 (Print Version | | )
Probabilistic to Categorical Outlook Conversion Table
Forecast Discussion
SPC AC 130033
Day 1 Convective Outlook NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK 0733 PM CDT Thu Jun 12 2025
Valid 130100Z – 131200Z
…THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS PORTIONS OF THE CENTRAL AND NORTHERN PLAINS…
…SUMMARY… Scattered thunderstorms, a few severe, will spread across portions of the central and northern Plains this evening. Hail and wind are the primary risks.
…01z Update…
Low-amplitude short-wave trough is ejecting across the northern High Plains of eastern MT/northeast WY early this evening. Scattered strong-severe thunderstorms have developed along the southern influence of this feature, particularly from southeast WY into north central NE, along a synoptic boundary draped across this region. While LLJ is not forecast to be particularly strong overnight, some increase is possible into this boundary over the next few hours and this could encourage additional storms as well as support ongoing activity. Latest radar data suggests large hail is occurring with the strongest updrafts, perhaps as many as half a dozen storms along the frontal zone. As heights are suppressed across the northern Plains tonight, low-level warm advection will likely support at least one or more MCS-type clusters to evolve and propagate toward the upper MS Valley by daybreak.
..Darrow.. 06/13/2025
CLICK TO GET WUUS01 PTSDY1 PRODUCT
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Source: US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Current Mesoscale DiscussionsUpdated: Fri Jun 13 04:46:02 UTC 2025 No Mesoscale Discussions are currently in effect.
Notice: The responsibility for Heavy Rain Mesoscale Discussions has been transferred to the Weather Prediction Center (WPC) on April 9, 2013. Click here for the Service Change Notice. Archived Convective ProductsTo view convective products for a previous day, type in the date you wish to retrieve (e.g. 20040529 for May 29, 2004). Data available since January 1, 2004.
Source: US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Current Convective Watches (View What is a Watch? clip)Updated: Fri Jun 13 04:44:08 UTC 2025 No watches are currently valid
Archived Convective ProductsTo view convective products for a previous day, type in the date you wish to retrieve (e.g. 20040529 for May 29, 2004). Data available since January 1, 2004.
Source: Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe – OSCE
Headline: Support for strategic planning and sustainable water resources management: meeting of the Tobol-Torgay Basin Council in Kostanay
Support for strategic planning and sustainable water resources management: meeting of the Tobol-Torgay Basin Council in Kostanay | OSCE
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Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
Kevin De Bruyne has ended his 10-year spell at Manchester City and joined Napoli as a free agent, the Serie A club confirmed on Thursday.
Kevin De Bruyne of Manchester City (R) vies with Vitinha of Paris Saint-Germain during the UEFA Champions League football match in Paris, France, Jan. 22, 2025. (Photo by Glenn Gervot/Xinhua)
De Bruyne arrived at Manchester City from German side Wolfsburg in the summer of 2015. Over 10 seasons, the Belgian midfielder helped the club win six Premier League titles, five League Cups, two FA Cups, and a UEFA Champions League trophy. He made 422 appearances for City, scoring 108 goals and providing 170 assists.
The 33-year-old’s contract with City was set to expire this summer. Although he received lucrative offers from Saudi Arabia and Major League Soccer, he opted to stay in Europe to continue playing at a high competitive level.
Napoli edged out Inter Milan to claim its fourth Serie A title in the 2024-25 season. At Napoli, De Bruyne will reunite with his Belgium national teammate Romelu Lukaku.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
Shanghai will host the FIBA 3×3 Women’s Series Final from 2025 to 2028, the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) announced on Thursday.
Yang Shuyu (L) of China competes during the women’s 3×3 basketball pool round match between China and Italy at the Aomi Urban Sports Park in Tokyo, Japan, July 25, 2021. (Xinhua/Zhang Xiaoyu)
“Shanghai will create a festival-like atmosphere for the next four editions of the FIBA 3×3 Women’s Series Final. The city’s energetic atmosphere will provide a perfect backdrop for both players and fans, transforming the event into a true celebration of the world’s most thrilling urban team sport,” FIBA said in a statement.
The 2025 edition is scheduled for September 13-14, with the exact location to be confirmed. Seven top teams from the regular season will join host nation China in competing for the title.
“We are very excited that the vibrant metropolis of Shanghai will host the FIBA 3×3 Women’s Series Final for the next four years,” said FIBA 3×3 Managing Director Alex Sanchez. “A modern and innovative city with a fantastic track record in hosting major international sports events, Shanghai will be an amazing host for the world’s best 3×3 women’s basketball players.”
The FIBA 3×3 Women’s Series was established in 2019 and is recognized as the premier global professional competition for women’s 3×3 basketball.
Indian benchmark indices opened sharply lower on Friday as escalating tensions between Israel and Iran rattled investor sentiment. Heavy selling pressure was witnessed in auto, IT, financial services, and PSU bank stocks during early trade.
At around 9:33 a.m., the Sensex was trading 896.50 points, or 1.10 per cent, lower at 80,795.44, while the Nifty fell 278.50 points, or 1.12 per cent, to 24,609.70.
The Nifty Bank index dropped 633.80 points, or 1.13 per cent, to 55,448.75. The Nifty Midcap 100 declined by 603.90 points, or 1.03 per cent, to trade at 57,836.95, while the Nifty Smallcap 100 was down 192.75 points, or 1.04 per cent, at 18,272.30.
Analysts warned that the economic fallout from Israel’s military action could be severe if hostilities with Iran persist. Israel has already declared that its operation could last several days.
“The market impact will depend on the duration of the conflict. In the near term, investors are likely to adopt a risk-off approach. Sectors dependent on oil derivatives—such as aviation, paints, adhesives, and tyres—may face pressure. In contrast, oil producers like ONGC and Oil India could prove more resilient,” said Dr. V.K. Vijayakumar, Chief Investment Strategist at Geojit Financial Services.
The Nifty had already closed over one per cent lower in the previous session amid signs of rising geopolitical tension in the Middle East. As of this morning, Israel has launched pre-emptive strikes on Iran, prompting a broad-based risk-off sentiment across global markets.
“Technically, Wednesday’s ‘buyer rejection’ candle, which followed the bearish ‘upside gap two crows’ pattern earlier in the week, was a clear warning of caution building in the market,” noted Akshay Chinchalkar, Head of Research at Axis Securities.
Among the top laggards in the Sensex pack were Tata Motors, L&T, PowerGrid, Kotak Mahindra Bank, SBI, Titan, and Infosys.
Across Asian markets, indices in Hong Kong, Bangkok, Jakarta, Japan, Seoul, and China were all trading in the red.
In the previous U.S. trading session, the Dow Jones closed at 42,967.62, up 101.85 points or 0.24 per cent. The S&P 500 gained 23.02 points or 0.38 per cent to end at 6,045.26, while the Nasdaq rose by 46.61 points or 0.24 per cent to close at 19,662.49.
On the institutional front, Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) extended their selling for the second consecutive day, offloading equities worth ₹3,831.42 crore on June 12. Meanwhile, Domestic Institutional Investors (DIIs) bought equities worth ₹9,393.85 crore on the same day.
Israel launched widescale strikes against Iran on Friday, saying it targeted nuclear facilities, ballistic missile factories and military commanders and that this was start of a prolonged operation to prevent Tehran from building an atomic weapon.
Iranian media and witnesses reported explosions including at the country’s main uranium enrichment facility at Natanz, while Israel declared a state of emergency in anticipation of retaliatory missile and drone strikes.
Iran’s elite Revolutionary Guards corps said its top commander, Hossein Salami, was killed and state media reported the unit’s headquarters in Tehran had been hit. Several children had been killed in a strike on a residential area in the capital, it said.
“We are at a decisive moment in Israel’s history,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a recorded video message.
“Moments ago Israel launched Operation Rising Lion, a targeted military operation to roll back the Iranian threat to Israel’s very survival. This operation will continue for as many days as it takes to remove this threat.”
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said in a statement that Israel had “unleashed its wicked and bloody” hand in a crime against Iran and that it would receive “a bitter fate for itself”.
An Israeli military official said Israel was striking “dozens” of nuclear and military targets including the facility at Natanz in central Iran. The official said Iran had enough material to make 15 nuclear bombs within days.
The United States said it had no part in the operation, which raises the risk of a fresh escalation in tensions in the Middle East, a major oil producing region.
Alongside extensive air strikes, Israel’s Mossad spy agency led a series of covert sabotage operations inside Iran, Axios reported, citing a senior Israeli official. These operations were aimed at damaging Iran’s strategic missile sites and its air defence capabilities.
Iranian state media reported that at least two nuclear scientists, Fereydoun Abbasi and Mohammad Mehdi Tehranchi were killed in Israeli strikes in Tehran.
Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport was closed until further notice, and Israel’s air defence units stood at high alert for possible retaliatory strikes from Iran.
“Following the pre-emptive strike by the State of Israel against Iran, a missile and UAV (drone) attack against the State of Israel and its civilian population is expected in the immediate time frame,” Defence Minister Israel Katz said in a statement.
Israeli military Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir said tens of thousands of soldiers had been called up and “prepared across all borders”.
“We are amidst a historic campaign unlike any other. This is a critical operation to prevent an existential threat, by an enemy who is intent on destroying us,” he said.
Israeli Minister Gideon Saar was holding “marathon of calls” with counterparts around the world regarding Israel’s attack on Iran, the foreign ministry said in a statement.
U.S. “NOT INVOLVED”
U.S. President Donald Trump said that Iran cannot have a nuclear bomb and that the United States was hoping to get back to the negotiating table, in an interview with Fox News after the start of the Israeli air strikes on Iran.
“We will see,” Fox News reporter Jennifer Griffin quoted Trump as saying in a post on X.
Trump would convene a meeting of the National Security Council on Friday morning, the White House said. He had said on Thursday an Israeli strike on Iran “could very well happen” but reiterated his hopes for a peaceful resolution.
The U.S. military is planning for the full range of contingencies in the Middle East, including the possibility that it might have to help evacuate American civilians, a U.S. official told Reuters.
Iran’s armed forces spokesperson said Israel and its chief ally the United States would pay a “heavy price” for the attack, accusing Washington of providing support for the operation.
While the U.S. tried to distance itself from Israel’s military operation, an Israeli official told public broadcaster Kan that Israel had coordinated with Washington on Iran.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the United States was not involved in the strikes and Tel Aviv had acted unilaterally for self-defence.
“We are not involved in strikes against Iran and our top priority is protecting American forces in the region,” Rubio said in a statement.
“Let me be clear: Iran should not target U.S. interests or personnel,” he added.
The State Department issued an advisory saying that all U.S. government employees in Israel and their family members should “shelter in place until further notice”.
The attacks triggered sharp falls in stock prices in Asian trade on Friday, led by a selloff in U.S. futures, while oil prices jumped as investors scurried to safe havens such as gold and the Swiss franc.
U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned any military escalation in the Middle East, said deputy U.N. spokesperson Farhan Haq.
“The Secretary-General asks both sides to show maximum restraint, avoiding at all costs a descent into deeper conflict, a situation that the region can hardly afford,” Haq said.
NUCLEAR TALKS
U.S. and Iranian officials were scheduled to hold a sixth round of talks on Tehran’s escalating uranium enrichment programme in Oman on Sunday, according to officials from both countries and their Omani mediators.
A U.S. official said those talks were still scheduled to proceed despite the Israeli attack.
The Israeli military said on Friday that it was forced to act based on new intelligence information showing that Iran was “approaching the point of no return” in the development of a nuclear weapon.
“In recent months, this program has accelerated significantly, bringing the regime significantly closer to obtaining a nuclear weapon,” it said in a statement, without disclosing the purported evidence.
A source familiar with U.S. intelligence reports said there had been no recent change in the U.S. intelligence assessment that Iran was not building a nuclear weapon and that Khamenei had not authorised the restarting of the nuclear weapons programme that was shuttered in 2003.
As a gleaming clock began ticking towards the 2026 World Cup, Miami officials launched the city’s one-year countdown seeking to allay fears that America’s stricter immigration stance could deter the overseas fans that it hopes to attract.
The celebratory unveiling on Wednesday, featuring singer Marc Anthony, came just days after unrest in Los Angeles and amid the implementation of stricter border controls under President Donald Trump’s administration.
“I don’t think anybody has anything to be afraid of. Miami is an incredibly welcoming place, and we’re very excited to welcome the world,” Alina T. Hudak, president of the 2026 Miami Host Committee, said at the countdown event.
The digital clock, soon to greet travellers at Miami International Airport, marks 365 days until the start of the biggest World Cup in history — 48 teams playing 104 matches across three North American nations.
However, security arrangements have drawn particular scrutiny, especially regarding the involvement of immigration enforcement agencies.
Marcio Carvalho Da Silva Correia, a Brazilian visitor to Miami, told Reuters he had heard people talking about concerns they had about the World Cup.
“They’re scared they’ll show up and get deported,” he said.
“But I think, given how beautiful the party is going to be, nothing like that is going to happen.”
Rodney Barreto, co-chair of the Miami Host Committee, confirmed that Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents will be involved in security operations.
“They will be there to support us with security, but not to capture people,” he said.
At Fiorito, an Argentine restaurant in Miami’s Little Haiti neighbourhood, fans of the South American nation’s defending champions expressed confidence that their countrymen would travel regardless.
“Wherever the World Cup is, it’s great … we’re excited about being world champions and we can do much more,” Argentina supporter Nicolas Lomazzi.
For Miami, a city shaped by successive waves of immigration, hosting the tournament represents a delicate balancing act — showcasing its multicultural identity while navigating an increasingly complex immigration landscape.
Brazilian-born Miami resident Pedro Lub said the city’s Latino population was really excited about soccer’s biggest tournament coming to town and he hoped the immigration authorities did not use it as an excuse for a crackdown.
“I have a lot of friends that are in weird situations without status or something like that and yeah, everybody’s worried,” he told Reuters.
“People are just trying to watch a soccer match. It’d be pretty bad if they got caught just trying to have fun.
“I think people are expecting it to be a great tournament.”
NASA indefinitely delayed a four-person crew’s mission to the International Space Station on Thursday over an escalating probe into air leaks aboard the orbiting laboratory’s Russian segment.
The U.S. space agency said it was working with Roscosmos, Russia’s space agency, to “understand a new pressure signature” detected by cosmonauts in the Zvezda Service Module, a more than 2-decade-old core compartment that for months has sprung small leaks.
“Cosmonauts aboard the space station recently performed inspections of the pressurized module’s interior surfaces, sealed some additional areas of interest, and measured the current leak rate,” NASA said in a statement. “Following this effort, the segment now is holding pressure.”
The agency did not immediately respond to questions on what the leak rate was.
Small cracks on the ISS in recent years, particularly on the aging Russian segment, have contributed to the international partnership’s decision to retire the ISS by 2030.
Leaks of air from the cracks have been minor and posed no immediate safety threats to the station‘s astronauts but are increasingly worrisome signs of aging that NASA and Roscosmos have been investigating, while having crew members patch the leaks with tape, glue and other solutions.
Scheduled to be aboard the Axiom Mission 4 is Shubhanshu Shukla, an Indian Air Force pilot and one of four astronauts-in-training picked by the Indian Space Research Organization to fly on India’s own debut crewed mission, the Gaganyaan mission planned for 2027.
Shukla, 39, will be the first astronaut to go to the ISS from India’s astronaut corps.