SpaceX founder Elon Musk revealed on Saturday that the company’s colossal Starship rocket is slated to embark on a mission to Mars by the end of 2026, with Tesla’s humanoid robot, Optimus, on board. Musk also expressed optimism about human landings on the Red Planet, suggesting they could begin as early as 2029, though he acknowledged 2031 as a more likely timeframe.

“Starship will depart for Mars at the end of next year, carrying Optimus. If these landings go well, human landings could start as soon as 2029, although 2031 is more probable,” Musk stated in a post on his social media platform, X.

Starship, the largest and most powerful rocket ever built, is central to Musk’s ambitious vision of establishing a human colony on Mars. The spacecraft is also a critical component of NASA’s Artemis program, which aims to return astronauts to the Moon this decade. A modified version of Starship is expected to serve as a lunar lander for the Artemis missions.

However, before SpaceX can realize these interplanetary ambitions, it must demonstrate that Starship is reliable, safe for crewed missions, and capable of complex in-orbit refueling—a necessity for deep-space exploration.

The company recently faced a setback during its latest Starship test flight, which ended in a fiery explosion. While the booster was successfully caught during its orbital test, the upper stage of the rocket tumbled uncontrollably minutes after liftoff and booster separation. The live video feed of the event abruptly cut off, marking a near-repeat of a previous test flight failure.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has mandated that SpaceX conduct a thorough investigation into the incident before it can proceed with further test flights.

Despite these challenges, Musk remains steadfast in his commitment to advancing space exploration. The successful development and deployment of Starship could revolutionize humanity’s ability to travel beyond Earth, paving the way for unprecedented missions to the Moon, Mars, and beyond.

U.S. President Donald Trump has announced a comprehensive cleanup initiative for Washington D.C., aiming to ensure the nation’s capital reflects its global stature. Speaking at the Department of Justice, Trump emphasized his desire to present a pristine and crime-free city to visiting world leaders, including Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

“We’re cleaning up our city. We’re cleaning up this great capital, and we’re not going to have crime, and we’re not going to stand for crime. We’re going to take the graffiti down, and we’re already taking the tents down. We’re working with the administration to make this happen,” Trump stated.

The President highlighted the presence of tents and graffiti near federal buildings, particularly opposite the State Department, as issues that needed immediate attention. He praised Washington D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser for her efforts in addressing these concerns. “We said there are tents galore right opposite the State Department. They have to come down. And they took them down right away. So far, so good. We want to have a capital that can be the talk of the world,” Trump remarked.

Trump’s comments came in the context of recent visits by several world leaders, including Prime Minister Modi, French President Emmanuel Macron, and U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer. The President expressed his determination to ensure that foreign dignitaries are greeted by a city that reflects the grandeur and safety befitting the U.S. capital.

“When Prime Minister Modi of India, the President of France, and all of these people… the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, they all came to see me over the last week and a half. I had the route run. I didn’t want them to see tents. I didn’t want them to see graffiti. I didn’t want them to see broken barriers or potholes in the roads. We had it looking beautiful,” Trump said.

He further outlined his vision for a safer and cleaner Washington D.C., vowing to transform it into a crime-free city. “We’re going to do that for the city, and we’re going to have a crime-free capital. When people come here, they’re not going to be mugged or shot or raped. They’re going to have a crime-free capital. It’s going to be cleaner, better, and safer than it ever was, and it’s not going to take us too long,” he asserted.

Prime Minister Modi’s visit to the White House on February 13 marked the fourth meeting between the two leaders since Trump’s inauguration for his second term in January 2025. In less than a month, Trump has hosted several high-profile leaders, including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, and Jordan’s King Abdullah II.

In a strongly worded statement issued on Thursday, the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) dismissed the Pakistan Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR)’s announcement of concluding military operations in Bolan, Balochistan, as a “lie.” The militant group asserted that the operation is ongoing and accused the Pakistani Army of suppressing the true casualty figures to maintain troop morale.

The BLA called on international media to conduct independent investigations into the situation, urging them to move beyond the narrative propagated by the Pakistani state and its media. “Pakistan ISPR’s claim of ending the operation at Bolan is false, and the battle continues. The Pakistani Army has not yet publicly shared the names and photographs of over 100 soldiers killed. Similarly, no names or photos of the 33 Baloch fighters have been released,” the BLA stated.

The controversy stems from a recent train hijacking incident involving the Jaffar Express, which was traveling from Quetta to Peshawar with 440 passengers on board. Militants derailed the train using explosives and hijacked it near the mountainous terrain of Gudalar and Piru Kunri, approximately 160 kilometers from Quetta. The BLA claimed responsibility for the attack, which led to a two-day rescue operation by Pakistani security forces.

According to the Pakistani Army, more than 340 passengers were rescued, and the bodies of at least 25 people, including 21 hostages, were recovered from the site. The army also confirmed the deaths of 28 soldiers, 27 of whom were reportedly off-duty. However, the BLA countered these claims, asserting that over 100 Pakistani soldiers had been killed in the operation.

Balochistan, Pakistan’s largest province by area, has been a hotspot for insurgent activities for years. The region has witnessed a surge in terrorist attacks over the past year, with Baloch militants frequently targeting railway tracks using rockets or remote-controlled explosives. The BLA has claimed responsibility for most of these attacks.

In October 2023, Pakistan Railways resumed train services between Quetta and Peshawar after a suspension of more than six weeks. However, just a month later, a suicide blast at Quetta Railway Station killed at least 26 people and injured 62 others, further highlighting the volatile security situation in the region.

The BLA’s latest statement underscores the ongoing tensions between Baloch separatists and the Pakistani state. The group’s allegations of concealed casualties and its call for independent media investigations reflect its efforts to challenge the official narrative and draw international attention to the conflict in Balochistan.