Send-off ceremony held for Shenzhou-19 astronauts before launch

A send-off ceremony for the three astronauts of the Shenzhou-19 crewed spaceflight mission was held on Wednesday at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China.

The Shenzhou-19 crewed spaceship is scheduled to blast off at 04:27 Wednesday (Beijing Time) from the launch site to China's Tiangong space station.

Astronauts Cai Xuzhe, Song Lingdong and Wang Haoze, reported to the commander-in-chief of China's manned space program Xu Xueqiang that they were ready to undertake their mission.

After receiving an order from the commander-in-chief, the astronauts boarded a vehicle and departed for the launch site amid cheers from a crowd of well-wishers.

The three astronauts will take over the command of the Tiangong space station after completing an in-orbit handover with their colleagues of the Shenzhou-18 mission.

The trio is expected to stay in orbit for around six months.

Send-off ceremony held for Shenzhou-19 astronauts before launch

Send-off ceremony held for Shenzhou-19 astronauts before launch

Send-off ceremony held for Shenzhou-19 astronauts before launch

Send-off ceremony held for Shenzhou-19 astronauts before launch

Send-off ceremony held for Shenzhou-19 astronauts before launch

Send-off ceremony held for Shenzhou-19 astronauts before launch

Send-off ceremony held for Shenzhou-19 astronauts before launch

Nicaragua's co-foreign minister Valdrack Jaentschke has warned that militarism must never be allowed to rise again, as Japan's recent moves to lift its arms export ban and revise the pacifist Constitution continue to draw international concern.

This year marks the 80th anniversary of the opening of the Tokyo Trials, where Japan's Class-A war criminals from World War II were brought to justice.

In an interview with China Global Television Network (CGTN), Valdrack Jaentschke voiced his concern that today's world order is being undermined by interventionism and other challenges.

"It is necessary for us to remember that after the end of World War II, countries worked hard to build a new international order based on international law. However, regrettably, more than 80 years later, we are seeing that this once explored and attempted order is being challenged by interventionism, a confrontational mindset, and tendencies like 'might makes right.' These are precisely the conditions that gave rise to fascism and militarism in the past, which ultimately led to the tragedy of World War II," he said.

He said the international community has a responsibility to pursue a new international order -- one fundamentally grounded in peace.

"Looking back at the history more than eight decades ago and comparing it with today's reality, it is our responsibility to recognize that the world should, and must, build a new international order that is more just, fairer, rooted in international law, based on a logic of mutual benefit and shared success, and fundamentally grounded in peace," said the minister.

"Today, as we revisit the Tokyo Trials, it is meant to remind the world that such a tragedy must never be repeated -- and that we must do everything in our power to prevent it from happening again. We must stop that dark world -- born from militarism, interventionism, and fascism -- from ever returning," he said.

Nicaraguan FM warns of militarism revival