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www.desitalkchicago.com – that’s all you need to know 6 NATIONAL AFFAIRS July 4, 2025 Disclaimer:The views and opinions expressed on this page are those of the authors and Parikh Worldwide Media does not officially endorse, and is not responsible or liable for them. - Continued From Page 4 Axiom Mission 4 Astronauts, Including Shubhanshu Shukla, Enter Space Station, Begin Research Mission A t 8:14 a.m. EDT on Thursday, June 26, 2025, the hatch opened be- tween the SpaceX Dragon space- craft and the International Space Station following the arrival of xiomMission 4. The spacecraft docked at 6:31 a.m. to the space-facing port of the space station’s Harmony module. The four astronauts aboard included one from Indian Space Research Organiza- tion (ISRO), a NASA update said. Former NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson, ISRO astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla, ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Sławosz Uznaski-Winiewski of Poland, and Tibor Kapu of Hungary now are aboard the space station after launching at 2:31 a.m. on June 25, on the company’s Falcon 9 rocket from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida for the fourth private astronaut mission to the orbiting labora- tory, AxiomMission 4. The private astronauts plan to spend about two weeks aboard the orbiting labo- ratory, conducting microgravity research, educational outreach, and commercial activities for about two weeks before a return to Earth and splashdown off the coast of California. “Congratulations to Axiom Space and SpaceX on a successful launch,” said NASA acting Administrator Janet Petro as the astronauts lifted off on 25th. She also said, “America has expanded inter- national participation and commercial capabilities in low Earth orbit. U.S. in- dustry is enabling astronauts from India, Poland, and Hungary to return to space for the first time in over forty years.” A collaboration between NASA and ISRO allowed AxiomMission 4 to deliver on a commitment highlighted by Presi- dent Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to send the first ISRO astronaut to the station, NASA said. The space agencies are participating in five joint science investigations and two in- orbit science, technology, engineering, and mathematics demonstrations. “ NASA and ISRO have a long-standing relationship built on a shared vision to advance scientific knowledge and expand space collaboration,” the agency added. By a StaffWriter Immigrants, Especially Asians And Hispanics, Drive Population Growth In AGraying America, Census Shows older adults than children in 2024. In 2020, there were only three such states. The pattern is particularly strong in sparsely populated areas, the Census Bureau said in a statement. Last year, Maine’s population was the oldest and Utah’s the young- est. By region, theWest and South had the lowest median ages, at 38.4 and 38.8, respectively, while the Northeast had the highest (40.6), followed by the Midwest (39.3). The Census Bureau’s report also found that women outnumbered men by 3.4 million, making up 50.5 percent of the U.S. population in 2024. Racial distribution also varied heavily by region, ac- cording to the report. While the percent of Latinos in the total population climbed to 20 percent for the first time, only nine states in the country were at least 20 percent Hispanic. The Asian population saw the largest percent change in growth across racial demographics, rising by 4.2 percent between 2023 and 2024, followed by Hispanics, who saw a 2.9 percent rise. The Asian population saw the largest gains in California, followed by Texas. -TheWashington Post PHOTO:SpaceXvia NASA.gov The Axiom Mission 4 crew gathers inside the International Space Station’s Harmony module shortly after docking aboard the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft. From left are, Mission Specialist Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski, Commander Peggy Whitson, Pilot Shubhanshu Shukla, and Mission Specialist Tibor Kapu. Democratic Lt. Governor’s Association Announces $1 Million Investment In Virginia Candidate Ghazala Hashmi’s Race T he Democratic Lieutenant Governors Associa- tion (DLGA) announced June 27, 2025, that it will make an initial investment of $1 million to support Indian American Ghazala Hashmi’s campaign for lieutenant governor. This investment marks the largest investment in a Virginia lieutenant governor’s campaign to date, and is also double the size of invest- ment the Republican Governors Association is making in Virginia. “The DLGA is proud to make this historic $1 million investment in support of Ghazala Hashmi’s campaign for Lieutenant Governor—the largest ever made to a lieutenant governor candidate in Virginia,” said DLGA Chair and Pennsylvania Lt. Governor Austin Davis, in the press release. “As a State Senator, Ghazala has been a tire- less champion for Virginians – leading efforts to protect Medicaid, safeguard access to reproductive healthcare, and strengthen Virginia’s public schools. The ongoing chaos of the Trump administration, the rising cost of living, and the Trump-ordered layoffs of Virginia’s federal workforce raise the stakes of this critical race, and the DLGA is proud to work alongside Ghazala to make history this November.” This investment comes a week after Hashmi secured the nomination in a competitive Democratic primary. Hashmi’s opponent in the run to the November general elections, is Republican John Reid. Senator Hashmi is the first Muslim and the first Indian American to serve in the Virginia Senate. She came to the US as a four year-old with her mother and older brother from India to the United States where they joined her father in Georgia as he was completing his PhD in inter- national relations and beginning his university teaching career. She grew up in the small college town as public schools were being desegregated. After graduating as valedicto- rian of her high school class and receiving multiple full scholarships and fellowships, Hashmi earned a BA with honors from Georgia Southern University and her PhD in American literature from Emory University in Atlanta. If elected in November, as Virginia’s next Lt. Gover- nor, Hashmi will be the country’s first female statewide elected Muslim American. By a StaffWriter PHOTO:@GhazalaforVirginia Virginia Senator Ghazala Hashmi, candidate for Lt. Governor of Virginia. COMMENTARY