Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla made history on Wednesday as the much-delayed Axiom-4 mission blasted off from the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida. Shukla became the second Indian astronaut — 41 years after Rakesh Sharma’s journey into space.
Commercial mission by Axiom
On this mission to the International Space Station, Shukla is accompanied by three other astronauts — one each from the United States, Poland, and Hungary. The Axiom-4 mission is a commercial initiative by American space infrastructure developer, Axiom Space.
Shubhanshu Shukla’s message
In his message from the space flight, Lucknow-born Shubhanshu Shukla called his journey to the ISS "the beginning of India's Human Space Programme." He added that he wanted all Indians to be part of the journey and said, "Your chest, too, should swell with pride."
President, PM congratulate Shukla
Now, congratulatory messages are pouring in for Group Captain Shukla. In a post on X, President Droupadi Murmu said the whole nation was excited and proud of an Indian’s journey into the stars.Prime Minister Narendra Modi underlined that the Indian Air Force officer is on his way to becoming the first Indian to go to the International Space Station. PM Modi added that the Indian astronaut carries with him the wishes, hopes, and aspirations of 1.4 billion Indians.
50th anniversary of Emergency
It’s the fiftieth anniversary of the imposition of the Emergency in India by the Indira Gandhi-led Congress government in 1975. Sharing his views on the occasion, Prime Minister Narendra Modi wrote that no Indian will ever forget the manner in which the spirit of the Constitution was violated during the Emergency. Recalling his participation in the anti-Emergency movement, the PM added it was a learning experience for him and reaffirmed the importance of preserving India’s democratic framework.
Mamdani wins Democratic primary
Indian-American lawmaker Zohran Mamdani has won the Democratic primary race for the New York City mayoral elections. A member of the Democratic Party and the Democratic Socialists of America, Mamdani has served as a member of the New York State Assembly from Queens since 2021.He is the son of renowned Indian filmmaker Mira Nair. While his father, Mahmood Mamdani, is a Ugandan author of Indian ancestry. Zohran Mamdani was born in Uganda in 1991 and moved to New York with his parents when he was seven.
ALSO: Zohran Mamdani: New York City’s Democratic mayoral candidate who beat Cuomo
Market up on Israel-Iran ceasefire
Indian equities rallied on Wednesday as tensions eased in the Middle East, with Israel and Iran holding the ceasefire. The Sensex gained around one per cent, inching closer to 83,000. The Nifty also rose by nearly one per cent, adding 200 points.
