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NASA and CSA to assign astronauts for Artemis II
- 30/05/2025 » 16:47 by cronywell
NASA and CSA to assign astronauts for Artemis II
NASA and the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) will announce the four astronauts who will venture to the Moon's surroundings. The announcement will be made during an event to be held at 11 a.m. EDT (10 a.m. CDT) on Monday, April 3, at NASA's Johnson Space Center's Ellington Field in Houston.
Artemis II is the first crewed flight test in the Agency's plan to establish a long-term scientific and human presence on the lunar surface.
NASA and the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) will announce the four astronauts who will venture to the Moon's surroundings. The announcement will be made during an event to be held at 11 a.m. EDT (10 a.m. CDT) on Monday, April 3, at NASA's Johnson Space Center's Ellington Field in Houston. The astronauts will travel aboard NASA's Orion spacecraft during the Artemis II mission, the first crewed flight test in the agency's plan to establish both a long-term scientific and human presence on the lunar surface.
The event will air on NASA Television, the NASA app, and the agency's website.
Media are invited to attend the event and talk to astronauts about their assignments. Other experts working on Artemis missions, including Spanish speakers, will also be available. On Tuesday, April 4, there will be more opportunities to remotely interview crew and other experts.
International media wishing to attend should contact NASA by 5 p.m. CDT on Friday, March 17. U.S. media should contact NASA by 5 p.m. CDT on Monday, March 27. Media can RSVP to the Johnson Center Newsroom by calling +1 281-483-5111 or emailing: jsccommu@mail.nasa.gov.
Artemis II is the first crewed mission aboard NASA's critical infrastructure for deep space exploration with humans: the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket, the Orion spacecraft and the ground systems needed for its launch. The mission, which lasts approximately 10 days, will test the life support systems of the Orion spacecraft to demonstrate the capabilities and techniques necessary to live and work in deep space in a way that only humans can.
The crew will include three NASA astronauts and one CSA astronaut, highlighting the agency's strong international partnerships and global alliance exploring deep space for the benefit of humanity under Artemis. Artemis II builds on the successful Artemis I flight test, which launched an uncrewed Orion spacecraft, mounted on the SLS rocket, on a journey of about 2.25 million kilometers (1.4 million miles) beyond the Moon to test the systems before astronauts fly aboard the systems on a mission to the Moon.
Trump's visit to the Persian Gulf
- 17/05/2025 » 21:19 by cronywell
Trump's visit to the Persian Gulf signals a possible shift in Middle East politics
United Arab Emirates (UAE) President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan (right) meets with U.S. President Donald Trump on a visit to Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, May 15, 2025. (Emirates News Agency)
U.S. President Donald Trump departed the United Arab Emirates on Friday, concluding a four-day tour of the Persian Gulf that analysts say "is about money."
Despite hopes that Washington will promote a ceasefire and ease tensions, Trump's visit saw continued Israeli airstrikes and an escalation of regional conflicts.
Trump's trip not only glossed over the concerns of the Arab world, but also appeared to sideline Israel's sensitivities.
U.S. President Donald Trump departed the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Friday afternoon, concluding a lucrative four-day tour of the Gulf, which also took him to Saudi Arabia and Qatar.
Despite expectations that Trump's visit could help defuse the conflict in Gaza and ease regional tensions, the U.S. president focused his visit to the Middle East primarily on economic gains, securing multibillion-dollar investment commitments from the three Gulf countries.
Analysts believe that by bypassing the region's conflict zones and prioritizing trade deals, Trump's tour signals a potential shift in U.S. policy in the Middle East.
COST-EFFECTIVE TRAVEL
Huge trade deals defined Trump's Middle East tour.
From the beginning of his second term, Trump signaled that his first major foreign trip would emphasize advancing U.S. economic interests. On his inauguration day in January, Trump declared that he would choose Saudi Arabia as his first destination "if Saudi Arabia wanted to buy another $450 or $500 billion (of U.S.) goods."
Upon his arrival in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, Trump secured an investment deal with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, securing $600 billion in U.S. investments.
Among the agreements signed is "the largest defense sales deal in history: nearly $142 billion," according to a White House statement. Under this agreement, the United States will supply Saudi Arabia with "state-of-the-art war equipment and services from more than a dozen U.S. defense companies."
In Qatar, Trump reached an agreement with the Gulf nation to generate "an economic exchange worth at least 1.2 trillion dollars." He also secured commercial deals worth more than $243.5 billion, including the sale of 210 U.S.-made Boeing 787 Dreamliner and 777X jets to Qatar Airways, valued at $96 billion.
Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani (2nd right) and U.S. President Donald Trump (2nd left) witness the signing of a series of agreements at the Amiri Diwan in Doha, Qatar, on May 14, 2025. (Amiri Diwan/Qatar News Agency)
In the United Arab Emirates, the last stop on the trip, Trump announced $200 billion in bilateral trade deals, bringing "the total investment deals in the Gulf region to more than $2 trillion," the White House said.
Trump's trip to the Middle East "is all about money," said Rodger Shanahan, a Middle East analyst at the Lowy Institute. "The Gulf states are a source of foreign investment for the United States of a size that makes for good announcements."
"IMPRECISE ROLE" IN EASING TENSIONS
Despite hopes that Washington would leverage its special ties with Israel to promote a ceasefire and reduce regional tensions, the United States has yet to take meaningful steps to resolve Middle East conflicts.
During Trump's visit, Israel continued large-scale airstrikes on Gaza, killing dozens of people daily. In Yemen, Houthi forces and Israel launched continuous retaliatory attacks, while frequent Israeli military attacks on Lebanon caused casualties.
Smoke rises after Israeli strikes in the Gaza Strip, as seen from Israel's southern border with the Gaza Strip, on May 16, 2025. (Photo by Jamal Awad)
Although the U.S. claims to seek peace in the Middle East, "the reality on the ground contradicts the stated goals of the United States," said Mostafa Amin, an Egyptian researcher on Arab and international affairs. "The murders (...) on the part of Israel during Trump's visit raise serious questions about the sincerity of any U.S. peace effort."
The disappointment among Arab nations came from Trump's incendiary comments about the occupation of Gaza. At a roundtable discussion with Qatari officials in Doha, he suggested that the United States should "take" Gaza and reshape its future.
"I think I would be proud that the United States has it, takes it, makes it a freedom zone," he told reporters. "Let good things happen, let people be in homes where they can be safe, and Hamas is going to have to be dealt with."
"He referred to peace only in the context of the release of hostages," said Amjad Abu al-Ezz, a political science professor at the Arab American University in the West Bank. "There was no mention of a ceasefire, de-escalation or even basic humanitarian corridors (in Gaza)."
Trump did not hesitate to criticize Iran during his trip, calling it "the most destructive force" in the Middle East and accusing it of fueling regional instability. His comments drew sharp rebukes from Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, further escalating already strained U.S.-Iran relations.
"Although Trump's visit produced some economic benefits, the United States has yet to present clear solutions to the underlying regional tensions," said Ali Johar, a political analyst in the United Arab Emirates.
By focusing solely on its economic interests and ignoring the concerns of regional populations, Washington appears to be drifting toward a "lazy role" in resolving conflicts in the region, Johar said.
POSSIBLE POLICY CHANGE
Not only did Trump's trip overlook the concerns of the Arab world, but it also seemed to sideline Israel's sensitivities.
Unlike his first presidential trip to the Middle East in 2017, Trump's last visit excluded Israel from his itinerary. On the eve of his arrival, reports emerged that the United States had even held direct talks with Hamas, culminating in the release of American-Israeli hostage Edan Alexander.
People watch a live broadcast of the release of Israeli-American hostage Edan Alexander in a square in Tel Aviv, Israel, on May 12, 2025. (Photo by Jamal Awad)
"Skipping Israel was seen as a reflection of the deterioration of ties between the US administration and the government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu," said an Al Jazeera analysis.
While in the United Arab Emirates, Trump acknowledged that "a lot of people are starving in Gaza," an unusual statement interpreted as a sign of his growing frustration over Israel's protracted military campaign.
Analysts suggest that Trump, known for his pragmatic "America First" stance, is losing patience with Israel.
"For decades, Israel has leveraged its special relationship with the United States to serve as Washington's gatekeeper," the Times of Israel wrote in an op-ed, noting that many in Israel "were concerned that the best partner they had ever had in the White House had lost interest."
This concern is not unfounded. Frederick Kempe, president and CEO of the Atlantic Council, said the Trump administration would rather "swim in a stream of investment in the Gulf than get bogged down in the region's persistent problems."
The United States appears to be shifting its focus and policy priorities to the Gulf region and the economic field, said Kheir Diabat, a professor at Qatar University's Department of International Affairs.
"While economic cooperation is certainly beneficial to the region," Diabat added, "what the United States should prioritize now is to shoulder its responsibility and help restore stability in the Middle East."
Thousands of Faithful Bid Farewell to Pope Francis
- 25/04/2025 » 10:19 by cronywell
Thousands of Faithful Bid Farewell to Pope Francis
Pope Francis, who died on Monday at the age of 88, is being held in St. Peter's Basilica where thousands of faithful come to pay their respects before his funeral, scheduled for Saturday.
The pontiff's body was transferred from Casa Santa Marta to the Basilica in a solemn procession led by the College of Cardinals. More than 20,000 people gathered in St. Peter's Square received the coffin with applause as it was carried down the steps of the Basilica.
During the opening ceremony, Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church, led a brief prayer thanking "the innumerable gifts he bestowed on the Christian people through his servant, Pope Francis" during his 12-year pontificate.
The funeral Mass will take place on Saturday, April 26 at 10:00 a.m. in St. Peter's Square, presided over by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, dean of the College of Cardinals. Some 200,000 faithful and more than 150 international delegations are expected to attend, including numerous heads of state and government.
Although Pope Francis introduced some changes to traditional funeral protocol, mainly related to the coffin, the ceremony will maintain the characteristic solemnity with strict diplomatic and liturgical protocol.
After Mass, the late Pope's body will be transferred from St. Peter's Basilica to the Basilica of St. Mary Major for burial.
Jorge Mario Bergoglio, born in Buenos Aires in 1936, was elected pope on March 13, 2013, becoming the first Latin American pontiff in history.
La deuda externa argentina ha experimentado un crecimiento sin precedentes desde la época de la dictadura militar, sin que este endeudamiento haya generado beneficios tangibles para su población. Este fenómeno está estrechamente relacionado con el modelo extractivista que los sucesivos gobiernos han impulsado con el objetivo de obtener las divisas necesarias para cumplir con los compromisos financieros internacionales.
Expertos advierten que contraer nuevos compromisos con el Fondo Monetario Internacional (FMI) profundizaría la entrega de bienes estratégicos y perpetuaría un ciclo de extractivismo, deterioro social y pérdida de soberanía nacional.
Intereses internacionales en recursos estratégicos
El interés de potencias como Francia en Argentina se centra principalmente en oportunidades de negocio vinculadas a la aprobación de acuerdos con el FMI, particularmente en sectores relacionados con los denominados "metales críticos". Esta aproximación se alinea con un modelo económico que prioriza la mercantilización, financiarización y extranjerización de recursos naturales como el litio y el uranio, bajo el discurso de la "transición energética".
Analistas comparan este mecanismo con una forma de extorsión, similar a las recientes exigencias internacionales de compensar ayuda militar con acceso a recursos minerales. La explotación de estos recursos en territorio argentino ha generado denuncias por violaciones de derechos y falta de participación democrática, como ocurre con la extracción de litio por empresas extranjeras en territorios de comunidades indígenas.
Un legado histórico cuestionado
Los conflictos actuales tienen raíces históricas que se remontan a la época colonial, cuando se estableció un patrón de deuda que fue posteriormente profundizado por los estados independientes. Figuras históricas como el General San Martín cuestionaron la legitimidad de las deudas coloniales, aunque la historia posterior muestra la imposición continua de nuevos compromisos financieros.
Durante el siglo XIX, los intereses de potencias como Gran Bretaña consolidaron un modelo económico dependiente de la exportación de productos primarios, incrementando simultáneamente las deudas históricas con los pueblos originarios y el medio ambiente.
El punto de inflexión de la dictadura
La dictadura militar instaurada en 1976 marcó un momento decisivo al insertar a Argentina en el sistema financiero global, estableciendo una conexión directa entre especulación financiera, endeudamiento y reprimarización económica. La rápida aprobación de un crédito del FMI tras el golpe de Estado fue interpretada como una señal de respaldo para la banca internacional.
El programa económico implementado durante este período, denunciado por periodistas como Rodolfo Walsh, resultó en lo que algunos economistas denominan "miseria planificada", caracterizada por cierre de industrias y aumento del desempleo. La deuda pública aumentó exponencialmente, incluyendo operaciones cuestionadas como el endeudamiento de empresas públicas y la posterior estatización de deudas privadas.
Crisis recurrentes y nuevo ciclo de endeudamiento
Tras el colapso económico de 2001, el modelo de especulación, extracción y endeudamiento ha persistido con la incorporación de nuevos actores financieros globales. Las consecuencias incluyen devastación ambiental, incremento de la pobreza y crecimiento sostenido de la deuda pública.
Críticos del sistema señalan como particularmente grave la operación financiera de 50.000 millones de dólares durante el gobierno de Mauricio Macri y las condiciones impuestas por el FMI, que según diversos análisis, perpetúan este ciclo. Alternativas como el canje de deuda por conservación ambiental son consideradas por muchos expertos como soluciones inadecuadas.
Ante el nuevo acuerdo con el FMI, economistas prevén un escenario de menor producción local, mayor pobreza y mayor presión sobre los recursos naturales. El objetivo primordial, según estas voces críticas, parece ser la obtención de divisas para mantener el ciclo de endeudamiento, aun a costa de mayor extranjerización y ajuste económico.
Los especialistas en economía y derechos humanos advierten sobre la urgencia de revisar la política de endeudamiento nacional para evitar lo que algunos analistas describen como un "sacrificio" de activos reales y recursos naturales en beneficio de acreedores externos.