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China launches key module of space station planned for 2022

China launched an unmanned module on Thursday containing what will become living quarters for three crew on a permanent space station that it plans to complete by the end of 2022, state media reported.
The module, named “Tianhe”, or “Harmony of the Heavens”, was launched on the Long March 5B, China‘s largest carrier rocket, at 11:23 a.m. (0323 GMT) from the Wenchang Space Launch Centre on the southern island of Hainan.
Tianhe is one of three main components of what would be China‘s first self-developed space station, rivaling the only other station in service – the International Space Station (ISS).
The ISS is backed by the United States, Russia, Europe, Japan, and Canada. China was barred from participating by the United States.
“(Tianhe) is an important pilot project in the building of a powerful nation in both technology and in space,” state media quoted President Xi Jinping as saying in a congratulatory speech.
Tianhe forms the main living quarters for three crew members in the Chinese space station, which will have a life span of at least 10 years.
The Tianhe launch was the first of 11 missions needed to complete the space station, which will orbit Earth at an altitude of 340 to 450 km (211-280 miles).
In the later missions, China will launch the two other core modules, four manned spacecraft and four cargo spacecraft.
Work on the space station program began a decade ago with the launch of a space lab Tiangong-1 in 2011, and later, Tiangong-2 in 2016.
Both helped China test the program’s space rendezvous and docking capabilities.
China aims to become a major space power by 2030. It has ramped up its space program with visits to the moon, the launch of an uncrewed probe to Mars, and the construction of its own space station.
In contrast, the fate of the ageing ISS – in orbit for more than two decades – remains uncertain.
The project is set to expire in 2024, barring funding from its partners. Russia said this month that it would quit the project from 2025.
Russia is deepening ties with China in space as tensions with Washington rise.
Moscow has slammed the U.S.-led Artemis moon exploration program and instead chosen to join Beijing in setting up a lunar research outpost in the coming years.
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645 families across seven Afghan provinces affected by rains, floods: OCHA

Heavy rains and flash flooding have affected some 645 families across seven provinces in Afghanistan, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said on Tuesday.
OCHA said on Twitter that aid agencies are assessing the impact and providing aid where needed, but limited funding is constraining their ability to scale up assistance.
Meanwhile, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said on Tuesday its team continues to provide shelter assistance to people affected by natural disasters.
The UN agency said that in Khulm, Sholgara and Mazar-e-Sharif in Balkh, they provided cash for transnational shelter construction to 223 families, and cash for shelter repair to 272 families.
Some of the victims in Sholgara district of Balkh province expressed concern that the level of aid is not enough.
“If aid is not provided seriously in the district, it will have bad consequences for the people in the future,” said Sultan Ali, a resident of Sholgara district.
“The flood filled our wells with dirt. We don’t have clean water at all,” said Qadir Khan, another resident of the district.
The State Ministry for Disaster Management said that they have provided some aid to flood victims in different provinces, but more aid is needed.
According to the ministry, 10 people have died, 76 people have been injured, 1,779 homes have been damaged and 22,000 acres of agricultural land have been destroyed in 23 provinces of the country since the start of spring due to floods and earthquakes.
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UNSC condemns continued ‘terrorist attacks’ against civilians in Afghanistan

The members of the Security Council have condemned in the strongest terms the continued “heinous terrorist attacks” targeting civilians in Afghanistan, including the attack near the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Afghanistan on 27 March, which was claimed by IS-K (Daesh) and resulted in at least six people killed and several wounded.
The members of the Security Council expressed their deepest sympathy and condolences to the families of the victims, and they wished a speedy and full recovery to those who were injured.
The members of the Security Council reaffirmed that terrorism in all its forms and manifestations constitutes one of the most serious threats to peace and security in Afghanistan, as well as in the world.
The members of the Security Council underlined the need to hold perpetrators, organizers, financiers and sponsors of these reprehensible acts of terrorism accountable and bring them to justice. They urged all States, in accordance with their obligations under international law and relevant Security Council resolutions, to cooperate actively with all relevant authorities in this regard.
The members of the Security Council reiterated that any acts of terrorism are criminal and unjustifiable, regardless of their motivation, wherever, whenever and by whomsoever committed.
They reaffirmed the need for all States to combat by all means, in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations and other obligations under international law, including international human rights law, international refugee law and international humanitarian law, threats to international peace and security caused by terrorist acts.
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Stanikzai urges US to reopen its embassy in Kabul

Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanikzai, deputy foreign minister for political affairs, has called on the United States to reopen its embassy in Kabul.
“Let us fulfill our responsibilities. Come and open your embassy. We take care of your security. When you come, other countries will do the same. Now, many countries are saying in private meetings with us that if America restores its relations with you, we will come immediately,” Stanikzai said while visiting the Afghan Consulate in Dubai.
While the Islamic Emirate seeks to create positive interaction with the world in light of Islamic Sharia and national interests, the US says that no country is going to recognize the Islamic Emirate.
US charge d’affaires said in a virtual meeting with a number of Afghan women journalists that although some diplomatic missions of Afghanistan have been handed over to the Islamic Emirate, no country has any plans to recognize the Islamic Emirate.
Karen Decker said that if the Islamic Emirate wants good relations with other countries, they should have good relations with men and women in their country.
Deputy Spokesperson of US State Department, Vedant Patel, also said that to the extent that the IEA is looking for more normal relations with countries around the world, “that will not happen in a long time, so [long] as they continue to advance these repressive edicts against women and girls.”
At the same time, the US Ministry of Foreign Affairs has said that the continuation of restrictions on women will prevent the establishment of normal relations between the Islamic Emirate and countries around the world for a long time.
“We hope that they understand the implications of some of these disastrous decisions, like banning women from schools and things of that sort,” Patel said.
The Islamic Emirate has repeatedly stated that the policy of pressure in Afghanistan does not work and that countries should engage with Afghanistan as Kabul wants to establish relations with all countries, including the United States.
“Political issues or external issues of the country should not be dependent on Afghanistan’s internal issues. Afghanistan’s internal issues are related to the people of Afghanistan. The people of Afghanistan make independent decisions about the country’s internal issues,” said Bilal Karimi, IEA’s deputy spokesperson.
In recent months, the Afghan embassy in Tehran, the Afghan consulate in Dubai, and the Afghan consulate in Istanbul have been handed over to the Islamic Emirate.
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