thanks for the bake
Polish ‘astronaut health researcher’ investigates ways to prevent bone loss in space
14.06.2025, 04:19
Astronauts on long-duration missions aboard the International Space Station (ISS) have been observed to lose about 1 to 1.5% of their bone mineral density per month due to the effects of microgravity.
Currently, astronauts rely mainly on rigorous physical training for up to two hours daily, balanced nutrition and in some cases, bisphosphonate medications to counteract bone loss.
But now Kacper Odziomek from the Krakow University of Technology, who describes himself as an “Astronaut Health and Performance Researcher” is collaborating with researchers from Canada, the U.S. and Austria to develop new therapies to combat bone demineralization.
Their work aims to complement existing methods by applying advances in biology, genetics, biotechnology and bioinformatics.
Odziomek said: “The project we are working on is theoretical and analytical in nature.
I collect and analyze available medical research results, perform calculations or computer simulations and then propose conclusions and solutions in the area of bioregenerative therapies, including pharmacotherapy.”
He added that prolonged exposure to microgravity can have severe effects on astronauts’ musculoskeletal systems, often leading to the loss of bone mass and minerals, premature osteoporosis and an increased risk of fractures after missions.
Additionally, the altered calcium balance raises the likelihood of kidney stones, which can pose serious health risks to the entire crew, he said.
“These changes mainly result from the lack of mechanical load, reduced muscle performance, altered fluid dynamics and loss of hydrostatic pressure gradients. Genetic predispositions also play a key role,” Odziomek said.
The initiative is run by the Deep Space Initiative, a non-profit international organization dedicated to advancing space technologies and promoting knowledge about space exploration.
https://tvpworld.com/87275271/polish-astronaut-health-researcher-investigates-ways-to-prevent-bone-loss-in-space
Space lasers, AI used by geospatial scientist to measure forest biomass
June 14, 2025
Satellite data used by archaeologists to find traces of ancient ruins hidden under dense forest canopies can also be used to improve the speed and accuracy to measure how much carbon is retained and released in forests.
Understanding this carbon cycle is key to climate change research, according to Hamdi Zurqani, an assistant professor of geospatial science for the Arkansas Forest Resources Center and the College of Forestry, Agriculture and Natural Resources at the University of Arkansas at Monticello.
The center is headquartered at UAM and conducts research and extension activities through the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station and the Cooperative Extension Service, the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture's research and outreach arms.
"Forests are often called the lungs of our planet, and for good reason," Zurqani said. "They store roughly 80% of the world's terrestrial carbon and play a critical role in regulating Earth's climate."
To measure a forest's carbon cycle, a calculation of forest aboveground biomass is needed.
Though effective, traditional ground-based methods for estimating forest aboveground biomass are labor-intensive, time-consuming and limited in spatial coverage abilities, Zurqani said.
In a study recently published in Ecological Informatics, Zurqani shows how information from open-access satellites can be integrated on Google Earth Engine with artificial intelligence algorithms to quickly and accurately map large-scale forest aboveground biomass, even in remote areas where accessibility is often an issue.
Zurqani's novel approach uses data from NASA's Global Ecosystem Dynamics Investigation LiDAR, also known as GEDI LiDAR, which includes three lasers installed on the International Space Station.
The system can precisely measure three-dimensional forest canopy height, canopy vertical structure and surface elevation. LiDAR stands for "light detection and ranging" and uses light pulses to measure distance and create 3D models.
Zurqani also used imagery data from the European Space Agency's collection of Earth observation Copernicus Sentinel satellites—Sentinel-1 and Sentinel-2.
Combining the 3D imagery from GEDI and the optical imagery from the Sentinels, Zurqani improved the accuracy of biomass estimations.
The study tested four machine learning algorithms to analyze the data: Gradient tree boosting, random forest, classification and regression trees, or CART, and support vector machine.
Gradient tree boosting achieved the highest accuracy score and the lowest error rates. Random forest came in second, proving reliable but slightly less precise.
CART provided reasonable estimates but tended to focus on a smaller subset. The support vector machine algorithm struggled, Zurqani said, highlighting that not all AI models are equally suited for estimating aboveground forest biomass in this study.
The most accurate predictions, Zurqani said, came from combining Sentinel-2 optical data, vegetation indices, topographic features, and canopy height with the GEDI LiDAR dataset serving as the reference input for both training and testing the machine learning models, showing that multi-source data integration is critical for reliable biomass mapping.
Why it matters
Zurqani said that accurate forest biomass mapping has real-world implications for better accounting of carbon and improved forest management on a global scale.
With more accurate assessments, governments and organizations can more precisely track carbon sequestration and emissions from deforestation to inform policy decisions.
The road ahead
While the study marks a leap forward in measuring aboveground forest biomass, Zurqani said the challenges remaining include the impact weather can have on satellite data.
Some regions still lack high-resolution LiDAR coverage. He added that future research may explore deeper AI models, such as neural networks, to refine predictions further.
"One thing is clear," Zurqani said. "As climate change intensifies, technology like this will be indispensable in safeguarding our forests and the planet."
https://phys.org/news/2025-06-space-lasers-ai-geospatial-scientist.html
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1574954125000615?via%3Dihub
Blue Origin reveals passengers for 13th space tourism launch
June 14, 2025
Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin has revealed who will fly on its next space tourism mission.
That six-passenger suborbital flight will lift off from the company's West Texas launch site, on a date that hasn't been announced yet.
The upcoming mission is known as NS-33, because it will be the 33rd overall launch of Blue Origin's reusable, autonomous New Shepard vehicle. It will be the company's 13th human spaceflight mission.
Here's a brief rundown of the six NS-33 passengers, using information provided by Blue Origin.
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Allie Kuehner, an environmentalist, adventurer and explorer who serves on the board of the conservation nonprofit Nature is Nonpartisan.
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Carl Kuehner, Allie's husband and a conservationist as well. He serves as chairman of Building and Land Technology, a real estate firm "dedicated to building communities and ecosystems that promote long-term growth and sustainability," according to Blue Origin.
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Leland Larson, a philanthropist, gardener and beekeeper who previously led School Bus Services, Inc. and Larson Transportation Services, both of them family-owned Oregon businesses.
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Freddie Rescigno, Jr., the founder, president and CEO of the wire and cable company Commodity Cables. He's also a competitive golfer.
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Owolabi Salis, a financial consultant and lawyer who wrote the book "Equitocracy." Salis "is also a key member of The Soul Maker Ministry, which preaches diversity given the diverse nature of the universe," Blue Origin wrote. "He is dedicating this mission to victims of discrimination and civil rights violations."
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Jim Sitkin, a retired attorney and lifelong adventurer who currently volunteers for a non-governmental organization that works with government and community leaders in Central Europe and sub-Saharan Africa.
New Shepard flights last 10 to 12 minutes from liftoff to the touchdown of the vehicle's crew capsule. (New Shepard's first-stage booster also comes back to Earth for a safe landing and eventual reuse).
During this brief time, New Shepard passengers get to experience a few minutes of weightlessness and see the curve of Earth against the blackness of space.
Blue Origin's first crewed mission was in July 2021, a flight that included Bezos and his brother Mark. NS-33 will be the company's fourth human spaceflight of 2025.
https://www.space.com/space-exploration/private-spaceflight/blue-origin-reveals-passengers-for-13th-space-tourism-launch
https://www.blueorigin.com/news/new-shepard-ns-33-mission
'Star Trek' actor William Shatner and astrophysicist Neil deGrasse team up in new space bromance show 'The Universe Is Absurd'
June 14, 2025
Seattle space fans are in for a cosmic treat as two cultural icons — astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson and "Star Trek" actor William Shatner — team up for the live event "The Universe is Absurd," hosted by media company Future of Space.
"It’s raw, it’s wry, and it’s surprisingly human — a glimpse into what happens when two brilliant minds forget the audience is listening," the company said in an advertisement.
Scheduled to hit Seattle as a one-night-only event, the online bromance between Shatner and Tyson in McCaw Hall promises an evening of big questions, bold ideas, and plenty of laughter, all centered around our place within the universe.
“Expect 90 minutes of cosmic banter, sharp left turns and unexpected truths, as Tyson and Shatner debate, challenge and interrupt each other at every opportunity,” Future of Space states in the ad.
The topics the discussion will cover include black holes, mortality and time, cosmic perspectives, science vs. science fiction and personal stories from the two celebrities.
According to the show’s official website, the event is “part comedy, part conversation, part confrontation,” and is expected to gain traction with space fans eager to see the real-life Captain Kirk go head to head with America’s favorite science communicator.
The duo’s banter was highlighted in their recent appearances on "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert," where Shatner and Tyson discussed everything from wormholes to warp drives.
As Tyson joked with Colbert before the show in the green room, Shatner is "still curious about the universe. He never stops… Face gets wet and there's a vein popping out of his head and I gotta rescue him.”
While their personalities may seem opposite in nature, with Tyson bringing the facts and Shatner bringing the stories, the chemistry between them suggests that the "Universe is Absurd" show will have more collaboration than confrontation.
“Neil and I were on a voyage to Antarctica ….we were hired to amuse and amaze,” Shatner told Co'bert. “We found ourselves on stage together and having great fun … and we got really popular … So we decided to do a show.”
From their reception on “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert,” audiences seem to enjoy the budding bromance between the 94-year-old actor and the 66-year-old astrophysicist.
One audience member of the Colbert show told Future of Space that “the chemistry between these two [can be] cut with a KNIFE! It's giving Martin Short+Steve Martin vibes. The world needed this duo years ago.”
https://www.space.com/entertainment/star-trek-actor-william-shatner-and-astrophysicist-neil-degrasse-team-up-in-new-space-bromance-show-the-universe-is-absurd
https://rockingwithbillandneil.com/
https://www.space.com/space-exploration/international-space-station/space-humbles-the-seal-doctor-astronaut-on-the-iss-this-week-june-9-13-2025
Space humbles the SEAL-doctor-astronaut | On the ISS this week June 9-13, 2025
June 14, 2025
With this week's (June 9 through June 13) expected arrival of a visiting crew delayed just before their launch, science and maintenance work on board the International Space Station was lighter than usual.
The Expedition 73 crew had time to reflect on their maintenance work and mark personal and national milestones during their seventh week in orbit.
Orbital observation
"Space is one of the most humbling environments I’ve operated in," said Expedition 73 flight engineer Jonny Kim, who before becoming a NASA astronaut was a U.S. Navy SEAL and a medical doctor.
Kim on Thursday (June 12) wrote on social media about his experience working behind the International Space Station's refrigerator-size science racks to clean air filters, examine seals and swap out chipsets for the laboratory's network servers.
Even with the help of Mission Control keeping an eye on his work through live video views, it can be difficult to keep track of all of the parts, Kim found.
"One thing I’ve come to appreciate with maintenance in space is how much gravity helps keep things where they belong.
For example, on the ground, I can simply set my pliers down and I know they won’t disappear. But in space, we have to think before every action, because setting pliers down is a recipe for losing them," he wrote.
Science status
Among the research that was conducted aboard the space station this week was:
Ultrasound 2 — Anne McClain and Nichole Myers with NASA joined Expedition 73 commander Takuya Onishi of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) to use this biomedical device to undergo their first set of eye exams.
Working with a doctor on the ground, the scans were to determine if the astronauts' time in space has affected the structure of their eyes.
Solid Combustion Experiment Module — Onishi also replaced the sample cartridges for an ongoing fire experiment in Japan's Kibo laboratory, which is aimed at improving the safety of spacecraft and anywhere else astronauts may live when off Earth.
Flight engineer Kirill Peskov of the Russian space agency Roscosmos continued setting up cameras to capture landmarks across Asia and Europe while fellow cosmonaut Alexey Zubritskiy set up equipment to measure neutron radiation caused by solar flares and gamma-ray bursts in an effort to learn if there is an affect on spacecraft.
Station keeping
In addition to Kim's work on swapping out air filters and chipsets, the crew also devoted time to maintaining the space station's systems, including:
Enhanced European Exploration Exercise Device (E4D) — Onishi and Kim added grease to the apparatus that is being assessed for its possible use on future missions to the moon.
The E4D provides crew members with the same type of exercises as if they were bicycling, rowing and using resistive devices, such as rope pulling and climbing.
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Waste and Hygiene Compartment — Working in the Tranquility Node 3 module, McClain drained the tanks for the U.S. segment's bathroom.
Extravehicular Mobility Unit (EMU) — Inside the Quest airlock, Ayers serviced one of the U.S. spacesuits.
She then cleaned and documented the metal oxide containers that are used to scrub carbon dioxide from the extravehicular mobility unit (EMU) during spacewalks.
Other work included monitoring the station's decibel levels, checking the station's water quality and clearing the vents of floating debris.
Astronaut activity
Expedition 73 flight engineer and NASA astronaut Anne McClain marked two birthdays this week.
First, on Saturday (June 7) she celebrated her own 46th revolution around the sun. Here she displays cards, gifts and a cake presented to her by her crewmates. Happy birthday, Anne!
Then on Thursday (June 12), she spoke with Dan Driscoll. Secretary of the U.S. Army, to mark the 250th anniversary of the Army's founding. McClain is an active colonel in the service.
"Thank you for your service to the Army and for all our soldiers out there celebrating our 250th birthday of our incredible United States Army, thank you for your service," she said.
"I am proud to represent the Army, which is really an army of innovators, leaders and problem solvers."
Waylaid visitors
Ryzhikov began the week inspecting hatch seals in the space station’s Russian segment. That work further informed an ongoing concern about air leaks emanating from Roscosmos' Zvezda service module.
While the leak has been halted, NASA and Axiom Space decided on Thursday (June 12) to stand down from the launch of the Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4) crew to give more time to consider additional fixes aboard the station.
A new launch date for former astronaut Peggy Whitson with a crew of three astronauts from India, Hungary and Poland is still to be determined.
By the numbers
As of Friday (June 13), there are 7 people aboard the International Space Station: commander Takuya Onishi of JAXA, Anne McClain, Nichole Ayers and Jonny Kim of NASA and Kirill Peskov, Sergey Ryzhikov and Alexey Zubritsky of Roscosmos, all flight engineers.
There are two docked crew spacecraft: SpaceX's Dragon "Endurance" attached to the forward port of the Harmony module, and Roscosmos' Soyuz MS-27 attached to the Earth-facing port of the Prichal node.
There are also two docked cargo spacecraft: Roscosmos' Progess MS-29 (90P) attached to the space-facing port of the Poisk module and Progress MS-30 (91P) attached to the aft port of the Zvezda service module.
As of Friday, the space station has been continuously crewed for 24 years, 7 months and 12 days.
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https://www.space.com/astronomy/earth/mars-settlement-and-more-global-space-leaders-will-tackle-big-ideas-next-week-at-isdc-2025
https://isdc.nss.org/
Mars settlement and more: Global space leaders will tackle big ideas next week at ISDC 2025
June 13, 2025
Space visionaries, scientists, entrepreneurs and students from around the world will gather in Florida next week for this year's International Space Development Conference.
The conference — ISDC 2025 — will be held from June 19 to June 22 at the Rosen Centre Hotel in Orlando, Florida.
Organized by the National Space Society (NSS), this year's conference promises to be a pivotal gathering for those passionate about accelerating humanity's future in space.
ISDC 2025 will explore cutting-edge innovations, ambitious missions and collaborative strategies that aim to make space settlement and exploration a reality.
The theme for this year's conference — "Together, Beyond!" — reflects collaboration across sectors and borders as humanity pushes further into the final frontier.
Among the award recipients is Space.com editor-in-chief Tariq Malik, who will be receiving the NSS Space Pioneer Award, which recognizes individuals who have helped open the space frontier.
"Tariq is one of a kind — truly an ace space reporter who gets it right every time without bias or an agenda," Rod Pyle, editor-in-chief of the National Space Society's quarterly print magazine Ad Astra, said in a statement announcing Malik as this year's award recipient.
"His passion for space is unmatched, and his expertise is as broad and deep as anyone I've met. Being in charge of a 24-hour specialty news outlet is no easy task, but he makes it seem so."
ISDC 2025 speakers will tackle critical topics, including expanding global collaboration and access to space, developing spacefaring communities, space health, sustainability and the reality of settling on the moon, Mars and beyond.
Sessions will also address the need for planetary defense strategies for protecting Earth against dangerous asteroids.
Notable speakers include:
Pascal Lee, planetary scientist and Mars exploration expert: Lee works with the SETI (Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence) Institute, the Mars Institute and NASA's Ames Research Center as a planetary scientist.
He is also vice president of planetary development at NSS and chief scientist at Ceres Robotics, a NASA Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) industry provider.
At the conference, Lee will participate in a panel focused on space settlement ideas and will also lead the Mars session.
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Gretchen Green, physician, educator, and commercial astronaut: Green flew aboard Blue Origin's NS-32 suborital mission on May 31, making history as the first woman physician commercial astronaut.
A radiologist with over 20 years of experience, she brings a unique perspective to spaceflight, combining medical expertise with a passion for exploration.
At the conference, she will be a speaker at the Many Roads to Space session, dedicated to human settlement of the final frontier.
Jared Isaacman, mission commander, Polaris Dawn & Inspiration4: Isaacman is a pioneering astronaut and pilot with over 7,000 flight hours.
He commanded Inspiration4 — the first all-civilian space mission — and the Polaris Dawn mission, on which he completed the first private astronaut spacewalk.
He was also President Trump's selection to be NASA administrator until May 31, when the White House withdrew his nomination. Isaacman will speak during Saturday's dinner reception.
Susan Kilrain, former NASA astronaut: Kilrain is a former NASA astronaut, navy test pilot and one of only three women to pilot the space shuttle.
An aerospace engineer and recipient of the Defense Superior Service Medal, Kilrain now serves as a motivational speaker, STEM advocate, and author of the children's book "An Unlikely Astronaut."
She will speak during multiple sessions, including an astronaut panel and NextGen session on Saturday afternoon.
Robert "Hoot" Gibson, former NASA chief astronaut: Gibson is a former Navy fighter pilot, test pilot and NASA astronaut.
Selected as an astronaut in 1978, he flew five space shuttle missions — four as mission commander — including the first U.S. docking with Russia's Mir space station in 1995.
Gibson's career spans over 60 years, with more than 14,000 flight hours in more than 160 aircraft. He brings deep operational knowledge and mentorship in crewed spaceflight, and will speak in multiple sessions during the conference.
Shawna Pandya, Director of Medical Research Orbital Assembly Corporation: Pandya is set to become the first named female commercial Canadian astronaut, with a planned Virgin Galactic flight as early as 2026.
She is an emergency physician, aquanaut and expert in space medicine. She has led or contributed to numerous spaceflight and analog missions, including underwater aquanaut expeditions and commercial spacesuit testing in zero gravity.
She will be leading the Launchpad Talks session, which aims to discuss some of the newest and most exciting ideas in space exploration, development and settlement.
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Superman battles Lex Luthor and holds a weird little green alien baby in the epic final trailer for James Gunn's 'Superman'
June 13, 2025
Hype for director James Gunn's "Superman" is rocketing into the stratosphere, especially with all the awesome footage revealed in DC Studios' new final release trailer.
If you've been on the fence at all regarding actor David Corenswet's latest incarnation of the noble Man of Steel, it's time to hop off and join the mounting glee over this highly stylized superhero-palooza that often seems to channel the flair of illustrator Alex Ross' most dramatic comic artworks.
This latest preview is fully loaded with pure geeky joy. We get to see Superman going scorched Earth with his crimson-colored heat ray, Nathan Filion's cocky Guy Gardner/Green Lantern challenging the Last Son of Krypton, Mr. Terrific tossing out sly one-liners, Nicholas Hoult delivering Lex Luthor's hateful 9th-level intellect, Lois Lane piloting a cool T-Craft ship, and even Superman in a cosmic netherworld holding Metamorpho's weird green-skinned son Baby Joey!
We’re also treated to more of Maxwell Lord's Justice Gang, interdimensional portals, and mysterious shots of what might be Ultraman, Big Blue's demented Earth 3 evil counterpart.
It's overwhelming and a lot to unpack, but we’re loving every frame of it.
Sure, it's getting a bit crowded as James Gunn is populating his vibrant-hued comic book film with a menacing menagerie of supervillains, prehistoric fire-belching monsters, henchmen with saw blade hands and jet packs, Kryptonian robots, the obligatory love interest with Lois Lane, and plenty of Krypto tossed in for good measure.
And we haven’t even seen Supergirl yet!
Alongside the trailer, we also recently received the IMAX poster for 'Superman', which shows the Man of Steel and his faithful pooch Krypto sitting on a rock in Earth's orbit, looking down on his adopted home.
DC Studios' "Superman" lands in theaters July 11 and co-stars Edi Gathegi (Mr. Terrific), Anthony Carrigan (Metamorpho), Isabela Merced (Hawkgirl), Wendell Pierce (Perry White), Pruitt Taylor Vince (Pa Kent), Neva Howell (Ma Kent), Rachel Brosnahan (Lois Lane), Frank Grillo (Rick Flag Sr.), and Milly Alcock (Supergirl), who'll star in 2026's "Woman of Tomorrow" movie.
https://www.space.com/entertainment/superman-battles-lex-luthor-and-holds-a-weird-little-green-alien-baby-in-the-epic-final-trailer-for-james-gunns-superman-video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nZTgJy8ym34
Russia and Ukraine hold another POW exchange
14 Jun, 2025 14:14
Russia and Ukraine have conducted a new prisoner swap, both nations have confirmed. The exchange on Saturday is the latest in a series that have been held since the start of the week.
During the latest round of direct talks in Istanbul on June 2, Moscow and Kiev agreed to carry out a series of exchanges, focusing primarily on seriously injured, ill, and younger captives.
Russia also unilaterally decided to repatriate the bodies of more than 6,000 fallen Ukrainian troops on humanitarian grounds.
In a statement on Saturday, the Defense Ministry in Moscow said that earlier in the day, “another group of Russian service members was returned from the territories controlled by the Kiev regime.”
Russian military officials added that Ukraine similarly received an undisclosed number of its soldiers who had been held in Russian captivity.
The ministry accompanied its message with a short video showing the released Russian troops, saying they were currently receiving psychological and medical assistance in Belarus, before being transferred to Russian military hospitals for treatment and rehabilitation.
In a post on Telegram on Saturday, Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky confirmed the “fourth [POW] exchange in a week.”
Earlier in the day, Ukraine’s Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War reported that Moscow handed over another 1,200 bodies of fallen Ukrainian troops to Kiev, as quoted by local media.
Similar POW exchanges took place on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday, with neither Moscow nor Kiev disclosing the number of captives they handed over and received.
Russia’s top negotiator in Istanbul, Vladimir Medinsky, previously said around 1,200 prisoners each were expected to be handed over by Moscow and Kiev respectively.
On Wednesday and Friday, Russia handed over the remains of 1,200 fallen Ukrainian soldiers on each occasion.
https://www.rt.com/russia/619291-russia-ukraine-another-pow-exchange/
Vietnam becomes BRICS’ tenth partner country
14 Jun, 2025 15:21
Vietnam has joined BRICS as its tenth partner country, marking a significant step in the bloc’s expansion, Brazil’s foreign ministry announced on Saturday. BRICS was established in 2009 by Brazil, Russia, India, and China, with South Africa joining in 2010.
The bloc later expanded to include Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Ethiopia, Indonesia, and Iran. BRICS accounts for around 40% of global GDP in terms of purchasing power parity — surpassing the combined economic weight of the G7, according to Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.
“With a population of almost 100 million and a dynamic economy deeply integrated into global value chains, Vietnam stands out as a relevant actor in Asia,” Brazil’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.
The ministry added that Hanoi “shares with the BRICS members and partners a commitment to a more inclusive and representative international order.”
The group’s other nine partner countries are Belarus, Bolivia, Kazakhstan, Cuba, Malaysia, Nigeria, Thailand, Uganda, and Uzbekistan.
Hanoi’s inclusion as a partner country grants it access to key economic initiatives without formal voting rights.
Earlier in June, Russian President Vladimir Putin hailed the group for “dictate-free” cooperation between its members, adding that Moscow intends to “continue working to build an effective system of equal and mutually beneficial international cooperation.”
Last year, speaking at a meeting of BRICS security representatives in St. Petersburg, Putin noted that 34 nations had expressed an interest in joining or cooperating with the group in one form or another.
https://www.rt.com/news/619303-vietnam-brics-tenth-partner-country/
Israeli airstrike claims 60 lives in Tehran apartment block – media
14 Jun, 2025 11:26
At least 60 people, including 20 children, have been killed in an Israeli strike on an apartment block in the Iranian capital Tehran, according to local broadcaster IRIB News.
The IDF hit multiple targets across Iran on Friday, including uranium enrichment sites, while also killing several senior military commanders and scientists in targeted assassinations.
West Jerusalem described the attack as a preemptive measure aimed at stopping Tehran from acquiring a nuclear bomb.
Iran, which has repeatedly denied pursuing a military nuclear program, responded by launching multiple volleys of ballistic missiles at targets in Israel, killing at least three people and injuring over 150, according to the Jerusalem Post.
IRIB News reported on Saturday that a 14-story residential building in Tehran had been hit by an Israeli missile on Friday morning.
The strike took the lives of at least 60 residents of the apartment bloc, which partially collapsed as a result of the strike, have been killed, including 20 children as young as nine months old, the broadcaster said.
A total of 38 bodies had been recovered from the rubble so far and search operations are continuing, according to the broadcaster.
The IRIB News footage showed heavy machinery being used at the site to clear debris.
Iran’s ambassador to the UN Amir Iravani told the Security Council that “78 people, including senior military officials, have been martyred and over 320 other injured” in the Israeli strikes on Friday.
It is not entirely clear if the fatalities mentioned in the IRIB News report were part of the figure announced by Iravani or if they were additional casualties.
Israel resumed its attacks on Iran on Saturday, with Fars news agency reporting explosions in the cities of Khorramabad and Kermanshah in western Iran as well as in the country’s East Azerbaijan Province.
https://www.rt.com/news/619284-iran-israel-tehran-nuclear/
>Man of Steel
Israel Iran War News Live Updates: 'Massive explosion' after Israeli drone strike on oil refinery, report Iran media
14 Jun 2025 | 10:30:21 PM IST
Israel Iran War News Live Updates: On 13 June 2025, Israel launched Operation Rising Lion, a series of coordinated airstrikes and drone attacks on over 100 Iranian military and nuclear sites, including locations in Fordow, Natanz, Isfahan and Tehran.
The operation resulted in the deaths of top Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) commanders, senior officials, and six nuclear scientists.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the strikes were necessary to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons.
“Israel will strike every site and every target of the Ayatollahs’ regime,” he said, adding that the Iranian people were not the enemy. “I believe that the day of your liberation is near.”
Hours later, Iran launched a counterattack with drones and ballistic missiles targeting Israeli cities, including Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.
Most were intercepted, with assistance from the United States, but at least three people were killed and dozens injured. Air-raid sirens were activated across multiple urban centres.
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz issued a warning to Tehran, saying: “If … Khamenei continues to fire missiles … Tehran will burn.”
The United Nations held an emergency Security Council session as international concern mounted. Western countries urged restraint and called for de-escalation.
Former US President Donald Trump remarked that the crisis might lead to renewed talks, saying Iran had a “60-day deadline” to return to the negotiating table.
In Iran, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei promised a “bitter and painful fate” for Israel and pulled out of the upcoming nuclear negotiations in Oman.
State-organised rallies were held in support of the regime, though some Iranian citizens reportedly voiced quiet support for the Israeli strikes and called for political change.
This marks the most direct and large-scale confrontation between Israel and Iran to date, breaking years of indirect warfare and covert sabotage.
https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/newsblogs/israel-iran-war-news-live-updates-tehran-nuclear-program-sites-middle-east-conflict-us-donald-trump-benjamin-netanyahu/liveblog/121817612.cms?from=mdr
Fiery tanker crash collapses bridge, shutting down I-20 for miles in Aiken County
Jun. 14, 2025 at 4:01 AM PDT
GRANITEVILLE, S.C. (WRDW/WAGT) - A fuel truck crashed under a bridge and erupted into flames on Interstate 20 in Aiken County, bringing down the Old Vaucluse Road overpass and closing the interstate for miles.
Firefighters said the gasoline truck was traveling east when the crash happened around 4 a.m., sending huge flames into the sky.
Amazingly, injuries were only minor.
The Old Vaucluse Road overpass was already compromised, authorities said, and this crash and fire were too much for it to handle.
First one side came down and then the other.
I-20 had to be shut down in both directions between Bettis Academy Road and Edgefield Highway.
It’s likely to stay that way for the foreseeable future.
Eastbound traffic is being detoured at Exit 6 to Interstate 520 westbound, where they will continue to U.S. 1, Exit 17.
They will take a left on U.S. 1 to S.C. 118. Then they will go north on S.C. 19 until they reach the Exit 18 entrance ramp to eastbound I-20.
The westbound detour will be the exact reverse of that. The stretch of I-20 will be closed for an “extended period,” the South Carolina Highway Patrol said, so officials ask that you avoid the area.
The South Carolina Department of Transportation will hold a news conference at 1 p.m. to offer an update.
By 9 a.m., traffic was already getting out of hand in Graniteville, where I-20 vehicles were being detoured.
The whole episode is reminiscent of what happened just over a month ago at I-20 and Columbia Highway in Aiken County.
A tanker carrying a highly flammable liquid crashed under a bridge, and although no fire erupted, the chemical spill shut down I-20 for hours.
The GVW, Sage Mill, Center, Langley, Eureka, Trenton, Merriwether and Belvedere fire departments, as well as the South Carolina Highway Patrol, Aiken County Sheriff’s Office, Aiken County EMA, Aiken County EMS and Aiken County dispatch all assisted in this incident.
https://www.wrdw.com/2025/06/14/fiery-tanker-crash-collapses-bridge-shutting-down-i-20-miles-aiken-county/
Israel's Rishon Lezion reels after Iran's retaliatory strikes; drone images reveal widespread destruction
Updated: Jun 14, 2025, 18:36 IST
Founded in 1882 by Russian-Jewish immigrants, Rishon Lezion is one of the largest cities in Israel and lies on the Judaean Plain southeast of Tel Aviv–Yafo.
Three killed in Iran's retaliatory strikes
As per the latest reports, Iranian missiles targeted several sites across Israel. These strikes have killed at least three people and injured dozens.
Israeli residents recall horrific scenes following Iranian strikes
Devastating scenes unfolded in Tel Aviv as residents grappled with the aftermath of Iran's retaliatory strikes, which pummeled the city on Friday.
Residents described the scene as ‘horrific — shattered glass, and darkness everywhere’.
‘Life will become bitter’: Iranian supreme leader's warning
Following retaliatory strikes against Israel, Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, vowed severe consequences for Israel, saying that, “The Zionist regime will not escape safely from the heinous crime they’ve committed."
https://www.wionews.com/photos/israel-s-rishon-lezion-reels-after-iran-s-retaliatory-strikes-see-drone-images-1749899975205/1749899975209
Its a classic theme.
I respect them and their work and contributions to modern music as a whole, and all like them, but personally I get a little bored of the orchestral soundtracks.
I hope he mixes it up a bit, but thats just me.
Iran shoots down Israeli drone near Tabriz
14 June 2025 13:56 BST
An Israeli drone has been shot down near Iran's northwestern city of Tabriz, the Islamic republic announced.
Amid Israeli strikes on Iran, the head of the crisis management department for Iran’s East Azerbaijan province, Majid Farshi, said an Israeli drone was detected and shot down in Tabriz.
The pilot was reported to have been ejected from the jet, however, his current whereabouts are unknown.
https://www.middleeasteye.net/live-blog/live-blog-update/iran-shoots-down-israeli-drone-near-tabriz