The location is Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in China. On Thursday, China successfully deployed a three-member crew to its orbiting space station as part of its ambitious initiative to send astronauts to the moon by 2030.

The Shenzhou-18 spacecraft launched from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, located on the periphery of the Gobi Desert in northern China. It was propelled by a Long March 2-F rocket at precisely 8:59 p.m. (1259 GMT).

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China Launches 3-Member Crew To Its Space Station As It Seeks To Put Astronauts On The Moon By 2030

The spacecraft’s three-member crew will replace the Shenzhou-17 team, which has been working aboard China’s Tiangong space station since October last year.

The China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) organized a send-off ceremony for the Shenzhou-18 crew on Thursday. The ceremony included flag-waving youngsters and patriotic music. The three astronauts were getting ready to board the spacecraft.

The trio consists of Commander Ye Guangfu, a seasoned astronaut who participated in the Shenzhou-13 mission in 2021, and two novice spaceflight pilots, Li Cong and Li Guangsu, who are 34 and 36 years old.

Their arrival at the space station is anticipated approximately six-and-a-half hours after the launch.

China constructed its own space station after being denied participation in the International Space Station, primarily due to the United States’ apprehensions regarding the Chinese military’s role in the project. For the current year, the Chinese space station has planned two missions for cargo ships and two for manned spaceflights.

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China Launches 3-Member Crew To Its Space Station As It Seeks To Put Astronauts On The Moon By 2030

The Shenzhou-18 mission will last approximately six months on the space station. According to Lin Xiqiang, deputy director of the CMSA, the crew will conduct scientific testing, install equipment to protect against space debris, undertake payload experiments, and promote science education, among other activities.

In addition, Lin stated that China is actively striving to eventually grant foreign astronauts and space tourists access to its space station.

“During a press conference on Wednesday, he stated that we will expedite the research and promotion of involving foreign astronauts and space tourists in flights on China’s space station.”

The nation is strategizing a mission to retrieve samples from Mars by approximately 2030, along with three lunar probe missions in the upcoming four years. Additionally, it aims to deploy astronauts on the moon by 2030.

In 2003, China successfully carried out its inaugural crewed space mission, making it the third nation, following the former Soviet Union and the United States, to independently send an astronaut into space.

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China Launches 3-Member Crew To Its Space Station As It Seeks To Put Astronauts On The Moon By 2030

Due to its expenditures, supply networks, and capabilities, the U.S. space program will likely maintain a substantial advantage over China’s. Nevertheless, China has made significant advancements in space exploration by successfully retrieving lunar samples after several decades and landing a rover on the relatively unexplored far side of the moon.

The United States has set a goal to return a crew to the moon’s surface by the conclusion of 2025 due to a renewed dedication to manned missions. Private companies like SpaceX and Blue Origin will support this endeavor.

SOURCE – (AP)

 The construction of a new port in the Gaza Strip, in preparation for a U.S. military-led operation to deliver essential food and relief to the besieged enclave during Israel’s ongoing conflict with Hamas, is currently under progress. This information is based on the analysis of satellite pictures conducted by The Associated Press on Thursday.

Based on the photographs, it is evident that the construction has been progressing rapidly in the past two weeks. According to certain officials, the port may be ready for use within a week.

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Satellite Photos Show New Port Construction In Gaza Strip For US-Led Aid Operation

The port is located in the southwestern part of Gaza City, which used to be the most densely populated sector in the territory. However, due to the Israeli ground offensive, over 1 million Palestinians were displaced and moved south towards the town of Rafah, which is situated on the Egyptian border. The development of the project occurs while Israel is being heavily criticized internationally for the sluggish distribution of aid in the region. According to the United Nations, a minimum of 25% of the population is in imminent danger of hunger.

Nevertheless, the Israeli military has reported that the facility has already been subjected to a militant mortar bombardment. A representative from the Hamas militant organization, which has governed Gaza since 2007, has cautioned that any foreign military presence at the dock would be susceptible to attack. This may potentially create additional challenges for the relief operations.

The satellite imagery captured by Planet Labs PBC reveals that significant construction activity commenced at the location more than a fortnight ago. The location is located to the north of a road that divides Gaza, which was constructed by the Israeli forces during the conflict.

An anonymous U.N. official stated that the port is located precisely at the terminus of the newly constructed road by the IDF. The official employed an initialism for the Israeli military.

A photograph captured by Planet Labs a week ago revealed the presence of substantial vehicles and machinery, while a more recent image obtained on Wednesday showed that the cleared area had expanded further. A soil embankment acts as a barrier between the area and the adjacent buildings. Additional information corresponds to a visual representation of the help pier observed by the AP.

According to the U.N. official, the port is expected to be divided into three zones. The first zone will be under Israeli control and will be used for dropping off aid from the pier. The second zone will be designated for transferring the aid. The third zone will be where Palestinian drivers, contracted by the U.N., will wait to collect the aid and transport it to distribution points.

However, the official stated that there are still some unresolved issues about the Israeli approach to the security of the port. According to reports, the military is actively pursuing the installation of remotely controllable gun positions, a move that the United Nations is opposing.

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Satellite Photos Show New Port Construction In Gaza Strip For US-Led Aid Operation

According to Israeli officials, Israel will be involved in ensuring the security of the pier and transferring a portion of the supplies from the pier to the coast. However, the exact level of Israel’s intended participation is yet uncertain. Several Israeli government departments failed to provide comments in response to questions regarding the port.

By the end of next week, the pier’s construction will be complete, and as a result, the shipments of aid will resume, according to an anonymous high-ranking official from the Cyprus government who spoke to the AP. The official did not provide a specific timeframe for the commencement of shipments.

Navy personnel have verified, by vessel tracking systems, that the USNS Benavidez, an American cargo ship transporting a significant amount of the heavier equipment required for pier construction, is currently located off the coast of Gaza. Additional naval vessels are present or currently en route to that location.

The dock was subjected to an attack on Wednesday, while four senior U.N. officials were present at the location, causing significant concerns, according to the U.N. official. The military reported that the mortar bombardment initiated by Gaza terrorists compelled the authorities to seek refuge. Nevertheless, no casualties or injuries were incurred.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility from any militant group for the attack.

Nevertheless, Khalil al-Hayya, a prominent Hamas political figure, has stated that if Israeli soldiers or forces from any other nation were deployed at the pier to provide security, Hamas would perceive them as an invading force and an act of aggression.

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Satellite Photos Show New Port Construction In Gaza Strip For US-Led Aid Operation

The port has the potential to significantly impact the situation, as increasing the flow of supplies into Gaza through land crossings has been difficult due to the lengthy queues of vehicles awaiting Israeli inspections. Previous attempts to acquire land via maritime routes were unsuccessful following an assault on a World Central Kitchen convoy transporting aid from a port to a warehouse in central Gaza, resulting in the tragic deaths of seven humanitarian workers.

Nations have resorted to employing the technique of airdropping assistance from the atmosphere, a measure that humanitarian organizations consider as a final option due to its limitations in delivering substantial amounts of relief and its association with fatalities.

SOURCE – (AP)

The location is Cape Town, South Africa. The Congolese government is interrogating Apple on the tech company’s awareness of “blood minerals” originating from a conflict zone in the African nation. These minerals have the potential to be illicitly incorporated into Apple’s supply chains. The government has set a deadline of three weeks for Apple to provide satisfactory responses.

A consortium of global legal practitioners representing the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has recently dispatched correspondences to Apple’s Chief Executive Officer, Tim Cook, and its French subsidiary. The purpose of these letters is to express apprehensions regarding the infringement of human rights associated with the extraction of minerals from the volatile eastern region of the DRC, which could potentially find their way into Apple’s merchandise.

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Congo Questions Apple Over Knowledge Of Conflict Minerals In Its Supply Chain

The list of questions demanded that Apple demonstrate its monitoring practices in a territory where over 100 armed rebel factions are active, some of whom have been accused of committing large-scale massacres of people.

In their correspondence to Cook, the attorneys assert that Apple has consistently marketed and sold technological products that are manufactured using minerals obtained from a location where the local population is enduring severe human rights abuses, a fact that has become evident over time.

The lawyers stated that the supply networks used by Apple to sell iPhones, Mac computers, and accessories to clients worldwide are too opaque and contaminated with the blood of the Congolese people.

Eastern Congo is renowned for its abundant mineral resources, making it one of the most geologically prosperous areas globally. However, it is also plagued by a colossal humanitarian catastrophe. Armed factions have been engaged in prolonged conflicts to dominate the mines and exploit the lucrative minerals within. Consequently, millions of individuals have been uprooted and adversely impacted by the escalating violence. The situation has significantly worsened in recent months.

With a market capitalization of over $2.6 trillion, Apple has refuted allegations of sourcing minerals from mines and locations associated with human rights abuses. The company asserts that it runs its business ethically and responsibly and procures minerals from Congo and surrounding nations.

According to the company, the minerals it purchases do not provide financial support to conflict or armed groups. The attorneys for the Congo government stated that the assertions do not seem to be grounded in tangible, corroborated proof.

The Congolese government has expressed concerns regarding the potential smuggling of tin, tungsten, tantalum, and gold, collectively referred to as the 3TG essential minerals, sourced by Apple from vendors. It is suspected that these minerals may be illicitly transported from Congo to Rwanda and thereafter integrated into the global supply chain. 3TG minerals play a crucial role in the composition of electronic devices.

Apple referred to a specific part in their business filing on conflict minerals when asked for a remark.

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Congo Questions Apple Over Knowledge Of Conflict Minerals In Its Supply Chain

The report said that after doing a lot of research, looking at data from third-party audit programs, upstream traceability programs, and our suppliers, we have found no proof that any of the 3TG smelters or refiners in our supply chain as of December 31, 2023, helped armed groups in the Democratic Republic of the Congo or any neighboring country by giving them money or other things of value.

“Illegal mining in Congo has caused fatalities for three decades,” stated Patrick Muyaya, spokesperson for the Congolese government. “We seek clarification regarding the supply sources of major technology companies, specifically Apple, to ascertain whether they are obtaining minerals that are produced under entirely illegal conditions.”

According to him, Rwanda is portrayed as the primary source of several minerals, although having little reserves of its own.

The Democratic Republic of Congo has alleged that Rwanda is providing financial support and strategic guidance to the infamous armed rebel faction known as M23 in the eastern region of Congo, with the aim of facilitating the illicit extraction of minerals. The United Nations has also asserted that M23 receives support from Rwanda.

Rwanda refutes these claims. Nonetheless, there is a growing escalation of hostilities between the countries. Human Rights Watch has accused M23 and other factions of frequently perpetrating attacks, which involve the murder and sexual assault of people.

The attorneys representing the government of Congo cited a 2022 study from the nonprofit organization Global Witness, which alleged that Apple had implemented insufficient controls to prevent the use of illicitly obtained minerals.

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Congo Questions Apple Over Knowledge Of Conflict Minerals In Its Supply Chain

The lawyers stated that the Congo government is currently pursuing “effective redress” against individuals or entities who exploit blood minerals worldwide.

The request was made to Apple to provide a response to inquiries regarding its supply chain controls within a period of three weeks. Additionally, it was mentioned that a report on the illicit trade of minerals from Congo by Rwanda and private entities has been compiled and will be released to the public this month.

The letter stated that they will also consult the Congo government for guidance on the legal actions they are contemplating against Apple.

SOURCE – (AP)