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NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore have safely returned to Earth after spending over nine months aboard the International Space Station (ISS), fulfilling a promise made by former President Donald Trump. The astronauts splashed down in the Gulf of Mexico at 3:27 am IST, with the White House celebrating the event on social media as a successful rescue mission, crediting SpaceX and Elon Musk for their safe return. The duo initially launched on a Boeing Crew Flight Test mission in June 2024, but complications with the Starliner spacecraft led to their extended stay. In January 2025, Trump urged Musk to facilitate their return, criticizing the Biden administration for leaving the astronauts in space. Musk later claimed that SpaceX had offered to retrieve them earlier, but their proposal was rejected for political reasons. NASA has consistently maintained that the astronauts were not in danger during their time in orbit. 
Published: Mar 19 2025, 9 ameznews.inMahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian graduate student at Columbia University facing deportation under the Trump administration, has described himself as a "political prisoner" following his detention. The 30-year-old, a lawful permanent resident, has drawn condemnation from human rights groups and over 100 Democratic lawmakers who question the legality of his arrest, which they view as an infringement on free speech and due process. The Justice Department claims Khalil's deportation is warranted due to potential "adverse foreign policy consequences," as determined by Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Khalil's arrest, which coincided with renewed Israeli strikes on Gaza, has sparked protests across the U.S., including a significant demonstration in New York City. Advocates argue that criticism of Israel is being mischaracterized as antisemitism, while Khalil maintains that his activism for Palestinian rights is being unjustly conflated with support for Hamas, a link his legal team denies.
Published: Mar 19 2025, 11 ameznews.inRussia and Ukraine exchanged accusations of air attacks on Wednesday, igniting fires and damaging infrastructure shortly after their leaders agreed to a limited ceasefire aimed at protecting energy facilities. Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed to halt strikes on Ukrainian energy targets but rejected a broader 30-day ceasefire proposed by US President Donald Trump. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had initially accepted the 30-day ceasefire but later backed the limited agreement. Following Russian drone strikes that damaged hospitals in northeastern Ukraine and injured a man in the Kyiv region, Zelensky called for global action to prevent Russia from prolonging the conflict. Meanwhile, Russia's defense ministry claimed to have destroyed 57 Ukrainian drones overnight, while Ukrainian attacks reportedly caused a fire at an oil depot in Krasnodar, prompting evacuations but no injuries. Flight operations were briefly suspended at several Russian airports amid heightened tensions.
Published: Mar 19 2025, 11 ameznews.inNASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams returned to Earth on Tuesday after an unexpected nine-month mission aboard the International Space Station (ISS), concluding a journey that had garnered significant public interest and political controversy. The SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft, named Freedom, safely splashed down off the Florida coast at 5:57 PM (2157 GMT) after enduring extreme re-entry temperatures. Ground teams celebrated as the astronauts emerged, with plans to transport them to Houston for family reunions and rehabilitation. Initially intended as a short mission to test Boeing's Starliner, the pair became "stranded" due to propulsion issues, leading to their reassignment to NASA's Crew-9 mission. Their extended stay raised health concerns but was deemed manageable. The mission also became a political flashpoint, with accusations from former President Trump suggesting that the Biden administration delayed their return, a claim NASA officials have refuted.
Published: Mar 19 2025, 11 ameznews.inTesla has taken a significant step towards launching its long-promised robotaxi service in California, receiving initial approval from the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) for a transportation charter-party carrier permit (TCP). This permit allows Tesla to own and manage a fleet of vehicles for pre-arranged trips, although it does not yet authorize the company to provide rides in autonomous vehicles or operate a public ride-hailing service. The move comes as CEO Elon Musk shifts focus to robotaxis amid slowing sales growth, with plans for driverless ride-hailing services in California and Texas this year. Tesla's TCP application was submitted in November 2024, but the company still requires additional permits from the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to operate a fully autonomous service. Currently, Tesla holds only a DMV permit for testing autonomous vehicles with a safety driver.
Published: Mar 19 2025, 11 ameznews.inPrime Minister Narendra Modi warmly welcomed NASA astronaut Sunita Williams and her Crew-9 colleagues back to Earth after a remarkable 286-day mission aboard the International Space Station (ISS). The astronauts returned early Wednesday in SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft, splashing down off the Florida coast at 3:27 am IST. Modi praised their journey as a "test of grit, courage, and the boundless human spirit," highlighting their perseverance amid challenges. He expressed pride in Williams' achievements, noting her status as a trailblazer and an icon, and emphasized the importance of space exploration in pushing human potential. Modi also acknowledged the dedicated teams that ensured the astronauts' safe return. In a letter to Williams, he reflected on their previous encounters and the collective pride of 1.4 billion Indians in her accomplishments, expressing eagerness to host her in India.
Published: Mar 19 2025, 12 pmeznews.inNASA astronaut Sunita Williams has returned to Earth after an extended nine-month mission aboard the International Space Station (ISS), a duration significantly longer than initially planned due to delays with Boeing's Starliner spacecraft. Her cousin, Dinesh Rawal, expressed immense joy upon her return, stating, "Sunita is not an ordinary person... She will change the world." The Crew-9 mission, which included astronauts Nick Hague, Butch Wilmore, and Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov, concluded with a successful splashdown off the coast of Tallahassee, Florida. Following their return, the astronauts were retrieved on stretchers as a precaution, a standard procedure for long-duration missions. NASA's acting Administrator Janet Petro welcomed their homecoming, highlighting the vital work they conducted in space. The Dragon spacecraft, known as Freedom, will now undergo refurbishment for future missions.
Published: Mar 19 2025, 9 ameznews.inNASA astronaut Sunita Williams' sister-in-law, Falguni Pandya, recently revealed that Williams shared a photo of the Maha Kumbh festival taken from the International Space Station (ISS) during a conversation before Pandya's trip to the event. In an exclusive interview with _NDTV_, Pandya highlighted the advancements in communication since Williams' previous mission in 2007, noting that they now communicate easily rather than relying on lengthy satellite video messages. Born on September 19, 1965, to a Gujarati father and Slovenian mother, Williams has celebrated her multicultural heritage by taking items like samosas and a Ganesha idol into space. Williams' latest mission, originally planned for eight days, extended to nine months due to issues with Boeing's Starliner. Following their return to Earth, the extended mission sparked political controversy, with claims from former US President Donald Trump and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk suggesting that the astronauts could have returned sooner if not for alleged administrative delays.
Published: Mar 19 2025, 10 ameznews.inIsraeli airstrikes on Gaza on March 19, 2025, resulted in the deaths of over 400 individuals, marking the most intense military action since a ceasefire began in January. The Gaza Health Ministry reported that 413 bodies were received by hospitals, which are now overwhelmed, with many victims still trapped under rubble. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that the assault was "only the beginning," reaffirming Israel's commitment to intensify its military operations against Hamas, which he accused of jeopardizing ceasefire negotiations. In response, Hamas criticized Israel for violating the ceasefire agreement and urged international allies to pressure the U.S. to halt the strikes. The White House stated that Israel had consulted with President Donald Trump's administration prior to the attacks, emphasizing that Hamas bears full responsibility for the renewed hostilities. Meanwhile, discussions regarding hostage releases and the terms of the ceasefire remain stalled amid escalating tensions.
Published: Mar 19 2025, 10 ameznews.inBillionaire Elon Musk has named three tech leaders he regards as the smartest individuals he has encountered: Jeff Bezos, Larry Ellison, and Larry Page. During an appearance on the "Verdict with Ted Cruz" podcast, Musk lauded Bezos for his significant contributions, despite their long-standing rivalry over space ventures with Musk's SpaceX and Bezos' Blue Origin. The relationship between the two has shown signs of thawing, with Musk sharing humorous memes suggesting a reconciliation. Musk also praised Oracle co-founder Ellison, highlighting their close friendship and Ellison's financial support during Musk's Twitter acquisition. Additionally, he acknowledged Google co-founder Page, emphasizing that achievements can reflect intelligence. Despite a recent decline in his fortune, Musk remains the wealthiest individual on Bloomberg's Billionaires Index, while Bezos, Ellison, and Page are valued at $218 billion, $169 billion, and $149 billion, respectively.
Published: Mar 19 2025, 10 ameznews.inFormer ISRO Chief Dr. G Madhavan Nair hailed the safe return of NASA astronaut Sunita Williams and her Crew-9 colleagues from the International Space Station, calling it a "proud moment" for the space community. After a nine-month mission, Dr. Nair praised the meticulous planning of the operation and congratulated NASA and SpaceX for their achievement, highlighting Williams' Indian roots and her reported good health post-mission. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also commended the astronauts’ resilience, noting their journey as a significant milestone in human space exploration. He expressed that Williams' dedication and spirit would inspire millions globally. The Crew-9 mission, which utilized the Dragon spacecraft named Freedom, concluded with the astronauts returning to Earth at 5:57 PM EDT, where they were retrieved by SpaceX recovery teams. Following their return, the astronauts will reunite with their families at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston.
Published: Mar 19 2025, 10 am
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