Chinese astronauts celebrate Dragon Boat Festival aboard space station

The three Chinese astronauts aboard the Tiangong Space Station have celebrated in space their first traditional holiday -- the Dragon Boat Festival -- on Saturday.

The crew, made up of Chinese astronauts Chen Dong, Chen Zhongrui, and Wang Jie, sent heartwarming wishes sent Chinese on the Dragon Boat Festival, which is celebrated on the fifth day of the fifth month on the Chinese lunar calender.

"Dear fellow countrymen, from the Chinese space station we send our distant blessings. On this Dragon Boat Festival, may the fragrance of Zongzi (sticky rice dumplings) fill the air over the land of our country. May our great motherland continue to thrive, and may all our fellow countrymen live in happiness and peace. Wish everyone good health during the festival," said the Shenzhou-20 crew in a collective message.

Over the past month, the three astronauts have worked hand in hand, successfully completing their first spacewalk with close coordination of the ground-based staff. A variety of scientific experiments and technological tests are steadily progressing on schedule.

According to the mission plan, the Shenzhou-20 crew will continue to carry out in-orbit research, operate equipment for scientific and technical experiments, and conduct further extravehicular activities and cargo transfer tasks, maximizing the utility of the space station platform.

"As the commander of the Shenzhou-20 crew, I'm pleased to share updates on our mission progress. So far, all activities are proceeding in an orderly manner. We completed the crew handover with the Shenzhou-19 mission, performed our first spacewalk, and have been conducting various experiments in biotechnology and life sciences," said Chen Dong.

"It has been over a month since we arrived at the space station. At first, the floating sensation brought on by the weightless environment was both exciting and a bit disorienting. But over time, I've learned how to move effectively in microgravity. The experience is incredible and watching the Earth from the vastness of space truly deepens my appreciation for the significance of human space exploration," said Chen Zhongrui.

"How time flies! It's already more than a month since we arrived at the space station. Everything here is filled with mystery and challenge. Applying the skills we trained so hard for on the Earth, and seeing them come to life in space give me a profound sense of accomplishment. The completion of every task feels like a personal breakthrough," said Wang Jie.

The Shenzhou-20 manned spacecraft was successfully launched into orbit on April 24, 2025.

Chinese astronauts celebrate Dragon Boat Festival aboard space station

Chinese astronauts celebrate Dragon Boat Festival aboard space station

Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said on Monday that Iran has obtained extensive documents and evidence linking the recent unrest across the country to the U.S. and Israel, noting that Mossad agents attempted to direct such "terrorist acts."

Araghchi said at a press conference in Tehran that since Dec 28, 2025, Iran had seen peaceful demonstrations organized by industry associations and economic professional. In the following days, more participants joined, and the situation gradually escalated from peaceful rallies into violent clashes.

Beginning on Jan 8, terrorists and armed groups carrying weapons entered protest sites and opened fire on police and civilians, with the aim of steering demonstrations toward violence, bloodshed and chaos, he said.

"Israeli media reports are rife with claims that Israel has designed and conducted operations in Iran. Mr. [Mike] Pompeo, who was Trump's CIA director, said on his X that 'Happy New Year to every Iranian in the streets. Also to every Mossad agent walking beside them.' This clearly shows that Mossad agents attempted to direct such terrorist acts," the minister said. Addressing military threats from the U.S. and Israel, Araghchi said Iran does not seek war but is fully prepared to face up to war. He added that Iran is ready for serious and pragmatic negotiations with the U.S., but the talks must be based on fairness, equality and mutual respect, rather than unilateral pressure or directives from Washington.

On the same day, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei condemned the U.S. and Israel at a regular press briefing in Tehran. He said the two countries have made "extensive interventionist remarks" regarding Iran's situation, saying such statements are intended to foment chaos, violence and instability.

The spokesman said Iran is closely monitoring the development of the situation and remains fully prepared, warning that Iran's armed forces will respond to any act of aggression by its enemies.

Mossad agents attempt to direct terrorist acts: Iranian FM