Kyrgyzstan’s GDP grows 11.7% in first half of 2025
Kyrgyzstan's GDP surged 11.7 percent year on year in the first half of 2025, driven by gains in services, construction and production, despite a decli...
NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams have returned to Earth after a nine-month mission on the International Space Station (ISS), landing in a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule on Tuesday following prolonged delays due to technical failures on Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft.
The pair, who launched in June aboard Starliner for what was meant to be an eight-day test mission, became stranded on the ISS after propulsion issues grounded their return. NASA ultimately decided they would return as part of the agency’s routine crew rotation schedule, using SpaceX’s capsule instead of the troubled Boeing craft.
On Tuesday morning, Wilmore and Williams undocked from the ISS at 1:05 a.m. ET (0505 GMT) alongside two other astronauts. Their spacecraft, part of NASA’s Crew-9 mission, re-entered Earth's atmosphere around 5:45 p.m. ET before safely splashing down off Florida’s Gulf Coast ten minutes later.
"What a ride," Crew-9 commander Nick Hague said upon landing. "I see a capsule full of grins, ear to ear."
NASA’s recovery team hoisted the spacecraft out of the water and transported the astronauts to shore, where they will undergo medical evaluations at Johnson Space Center in Houston before reuniting with their families.
The extended mission caught the attention of U.S. President Donald Trump, who called for an earlier return and accused the previous administration of "abandoning" the astronauts in space—claims made without evidence. SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, a close ally of Trump, echoed the call for their return.
Boeing’s Starliner, originally designed to compete with SpaceX’s Crew Dragon, now faces an uncertain future after the spacecraft’s technical issues forced NASA to rely solely on SpaceX for human spaceflight missions.
During their 286 days in orbit—far longer than the average six-month ISS mission—Wilmore and Williams conducted scientific research, station maintenance, and spacewalks. Williams, marking her third spaceflight, has now spent 608 days in space, the second most for any U.S. astronaut after Peggy Whitson’s 675 days.
NASA delayed their return to Earth until their replacements from Crew-10 arrived last Friday to maintain station staffing levels.
Williams, speaking before departure, said she was eager to return home. "It's been a roller coaster for [my family], probably more so than for us," she said, looking forward to reuniting with her two dogs.
A series of earthquakes have struck Guatemala on Tuesday afternoon, leading authorities to advise residents to evacuate from buildings as a precaution against possible aftershocks.
Authorities in North Carolina are investigating three potential storm-related deaths linked to severe flooding from the remnants of Tropical Storm Chantal, officials said Tuesday.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for 10th July, covering the latest developments you need to know.
China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations will send an upgraded ‘version 3.0’ free-trade agreement to their heads of government for approval in October, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Saturday after regional talks in Kuala Lumpur.
Two student pilots were killed when two single-engine training aircraft collided mid-air in southern Manitoba, Canadian authorities confirmed on Tuesday.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte is warning that major economies like Brazil, China, and India could face serious consequences if they continue trading with Russia, as the U.S. steps up pressure with fresh sanctions and weapons support for Ukraine.
The American leader stated that if an agreement between Russia and Ukraine is not achieved within that timeframe, "it will be very bad."
The European Union did not reach agreement on its 18th sanctions package against Russia on Tuesday, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas confirmed following a meeting of foreign ministers in Brussels.
Russia, Iran, and China are increasingly involved in life-threatening activities on British soil—including attacks and kidnappings—often carried out by criminal networks or, in some cases, by children, according to two senior UK counterterrorism officials.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese met with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing, affirming that both countries will keep communication channels open and explore cooperation opportunities despite ongoing strategic rivalry in the Indo-Pacific region.
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