WASHINGTON, April 19, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — NASA astronaut Don Pettit returned to Earth Saturday, accompanied by Roscosmos cosmonauts Alexey Ovchinin and Ivan Vagner, concluding a seven-month science mission aboard the International Space Station.

The trio departed the space station at 5:57 p.m. EDT aboard the Soyuz MS-26 spacecraft before making a safe, parachute-assisted landing at 9:20 p.m. (6:20 a.m. on Sunday, April 20, Kazakhstan time), southeast of Dzhezkazgan, Kazakhstan. Pettit also celebrates his 70th birthday on Sunday, April 20.

Spanning 220 days in space, Pettit and his crewmates orbited the Earth 3,520 times, completing a journey of 93.3 million miles. Pettit, Ovchinin, and Vagner launched and docked to the orbiting laboratory on Sept. 11, 2024.

During his time aboard the space station, Pettit conducted research to enhance in-orbit metal 3D printing capabilities, advance water sanitization technologies, explore plant growth under varying water conditions, and investigate fire behavior in microgravity, all contributing to future space missions. He also used his surroundings aboard station to conduct unique experiments in his spare time and captivate the public with his photography.

This was Pettit’s fourth spaceflight, where he served as a flight engineer for Expeditions 71 and 72. He has logged 590 days in orbit throughout his career. Ovchinin completed his fourth flight, totaling 595 days, and Vagner has earned an overall total of 416 days in space during two spaceflights.

NASA is following its routine postlanding medical checks, the crew will return to the recovery staging area in Karaganda, Kazakhstan. Pettit will then board a NASA plane bound for the agency’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. According to NASA officials at the landing site, Pettit is doing well and in the range of what is expected for him following return to Earth.

For more than two decades, people have lived and worked continuously aboard the International Space Station, advancing scientific knowledge and making research breakthroughs that are not possible on Earth. The station is a critical testbed for NASA to understand and overcome the challenges of long-duration spaceflight and to expand commercial opportunities in low Earth orbit. As commercial companies focus on providing human space transportation services and destinations as part of a strong low Earth orbit economy, NASA is focusing more resources on deep space missions to the Moon as part of Artemis in preparation for future astronaut missions to Mars.

Learn more about International Space Station research and operations at:
https://www.nasa.gov/station 

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SOURCE NASA

BRISBANE, Australia, April 19, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — The Institute of Information Management (IIM) Australia is pleased to announce the successful conclusion of its 2025 Annual Conference, Induction, and Investiture Ceremony, held on Saturday, April 12, 2025, at Mantra on Queen, Brisbane.

With the theme “Navigating Data Integrity and Compliance in the Australian Digital Landscape,” the event brought together distinguished professionals, industry leaders, inductees, and guests from both the public and private sectors. Participants joined both in person and virtually to explore emerging challenges and opportunities in data governance.

The conference began with an opening address by IIM International President, Amb. (Dr.) Oyedokun Ayodeji Oyewole, CCDOA, FIIM. In his remarks, Dr. Oyewole emphasized the growing significance of data integrity and compliance in an era of rapid technological change and increasing regulatory demands.

A key highlight of the day was the keynote presentation delivered by Ms. Kate Carruthers (FGIA, MAICD), Director of Info Sphere Education Pty Ltd, Sydney. Her address, titled “The New Rules of Data: Compliance, Conflict, and Competitive Advantage,” offered attendees a compelling exploration of the evolving regulatory environment in Australia and beyond. Ms. Carruthers examined global data management trends, the human dimension of data, and practical strategies for organizations navigating new compliance frameworks.

She shed light on critical developments such as the Privacy and Other Legislation Amendment Act (December 2024), the Cyber Security Act 2024, and updated standards impacting critical infrastructure and financial institutions. Emphasizing integrated federal legislation, mandatory ransomware reporting, and enhanced protections for vulnerable groups—including children and victims of doxing—Ms. Carruthers underscored the imperative for organizations to embed data integrity, trust, and transparency into their core operations.

The event also featured the formal induction of new members into the IIM Australia community across various categories, including Honorary Fellow, Professional Fellow, and Associate Member. The investiture ceremony recognized these individuals’ outstanding contributions to the field of information management and their dedication to upholding professional excellence.

The 2025 Annual Conference reaffirmed IIM Australia’s unwavering commitment to promoting thought leadership, regulatory awareness, and excellence in data governance amid the ongoing digital transformation.

For further information about IIM Australia and upcoming events, please contact:

Institute of Information Management (IIM) Australia
Hillcrest, Queensland Australia
Email: info@iim-africa.org

Celestine Achi
Cell: +234-08099997175
Email: Celestine.achi@gmail.com

Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2668645/IIM.jpg

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Digital Empowerment of “She Power” Paints a New Chapter in Global Commerce

YIWU, China, April 19, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Yiwugo.com, the official website of the Yiwu Commodity Market, is the largest commodity wholesale market in the world. Amid the vibrant breath of spring, the 2025 Yiwugo Top Boss Ladies’ Party, now in its 10th edition, was grandly held on April 18. Leaders from various industry associations in the Yiwu market, media guests, and representative merchants from multiple sectors gathered to witness the glorious moment as ten Top Boss Ladies and twenty nominees were honored.

Technology Illuminates the Fashion Extravaganza, New and Familiar Faces Shine Together

After a month of fierce competition, this year’s event crowned its winners:

Fu Jiangyan from Zhangweichao Socks Firm
Wang Chunxing from Butterfly Fly Lace Firm
Sun Lifang from Julia’s Bag
Wang Xiaohong from Yiwu Aishang Daily Necessities Factory
Li Hong from Yiwu Hanbang Daily Necessities Firm
Li Chuanzhi from Chengfa Tableware Firm
Bao Qiaoli from Bole Plush Pendant Toy
Hu Bin from Mechen Cup Industry
Jin Chengfeng from Yiwu Lanmo Textiles Co., Ltd.,
Yu Wenxian from Yiwu Gaoshuai Commodity House

Notably, Fu Jiangyan, Wang Chunxing, Sun Lifang have made repeated appearances on the list, showcasing the thriving diversity of Yiwugo merchants across industries and highlighting the healthy, coordinated development of multiple business models, injecting innovative vitality into both the Yiwu market and the event.

On the day of the event, the award-winning businesswomen dazzled in a variety of elegant dresses, embodying the perfect blend of decisive business acumen and graceful fashion sense. During the ceremony, the top ten winners further captivated the audience with a runway show, displaying the spirit of female entrepreneurs and drawing significant attention from buyers and media alike.

“She Power” Connects the Globe, Digital Empowerment Drives Growth

“Through the Yiwugo platform, our socks are being seen by more and more customers worldwide!” said Fu Jiangyan, a repeat winner of the title. As a traditional foreign trade business, Zhangweichao Socks Firm, a 30-year-old family enterprise spanning two generations, has strengthened its risk resilience and diversified its client base by leveraging Yiwugo’s digital management solutions and cost-effective e-commerce traffic, unlocking new growth opportunities amid complex global economic conditions.

Similarly, shop owners from Butterfly Fly Lace Firm, Julia’s Bag, and Chengfa Tableware Firm noted that connecting with global clients via Yiwugo has become a shared habit for both buyers and sellers. The platform’s strong traffic conversion and rapid new customer acquisition have prompted significant shifts in their global business strategies and production models.

Wang Xiaohong from Yiwu Aishang Daily Necessities Factory and Li Hong from Yiwu Hanbang Daily Necessities Firm added that Yiwugo attracts clients with diverse needs, driving continuous optimization of production processes and enhancing competitiveness, thereby invigorating their businesses. Bao Qiaoli of Bole Plush Pendant Toy shared that client demands for plush toy designs have grown more specific, prompting the adoption of AI design tools to expand product variety. Collaborations with design firms have also strengthened, fostering joint success in domestic and international markets while boosting market share.

Brand-building through Decades of Efforts, Diverse Ecosystems Foster Prosperity

Since its inception in 2016, the Yiwugo “Outstanding Women in Business” awards have celebrated ten years of recognizing excellence, honoring over 200 outstanding female entrepreneurs and significantly increasing the proportion of women-led businesses in the Yiwu market. In 2025, Yiwugo further upgraded its “She Power” initiative, offering female entrepreneurs cross-border training, traffic support, and supply chain resources.

“In the digital economy era, female entrepreneurs are not just “half of the pillars” of the market—they are a vital engine of global trade innovation,” emphasized Wang Jianjun, General Manager of Yiwugo, in his speech. “Moving forward, we will foster a more open ecosystem and smarter tools to empower ‘She Power’ on the international stage.”

A decade of perseverance, an unwavering mission; riding the digital wave, women are making remarkable strides. The 2025 Yiwugo Top Boss Ladies awards are not just a gathering of business elites—they are a powerful anthem of female empowerment and global integration in this era.

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SOURCE Yiwugo.com