One of two cosmonauts working outside the International Space Station on Wednesday safely returned to the laboratory’s airlock after an electrical issue on his spacesuit forced Moscow’s ground control to end the routine spacewalk early, US and Russian officials said.
Oleg Artemyev was nearly three hours into a six-hour spacewalk when voltage levels in his spacesuit’s battery began to drop, prompting flight controllers in Moscow to order the cosmonaut’s immediate return to the space station’s airlock.
“Oleg, drop everything and go back,” a flight controller urged Artemyev from mission control in Moscow, as heard on a live feed of space-to-ground audio. “Drop everything and start going back right away… Go back and connect to station power.”
Artemyev returned to the airlock and connected his suit to the space station’s power.
Russian flight controllers opted to terminate the spacewalk early once Denis Matveev, the other cosmonaut performing the spacewalk, positioned the robotic arm they had been upgrading back into its proper position.
Artemyev “was never in any danger,” NASA spokesman Rob Navias said.
The space station, a football field-sized research laboratory in low-Earth orbit, has housed international crews of astronauts for more than two decades, with Russia, the United States, Japan, Canada and the European Space Agency counted as the laboratory’s primary users.
Myanmar’s military leadership on Wednesday lashed out at the Asean grouping of Southeast Asian countries for excluding its generals from regional gatherings, accusing it of caving to “external pressure.”
Members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations have heaped condemnation on Myanmar’s junta, which they say has failed to make concrete progress on a peace plan agreed with the 10-nation bloc last year, including engaging with opponents and a cessation of hostilities.
Myanmar’s military seized power from an elected government in a coup last year and has since then crushed dissent with lethal force. Most recently, the junta has been criticized for executing political activists and imprisoning Aung San Suu Kyi, the symbol of Myanmar’s opposition and democracy movement.
Asean has barred Myanmar’s generals from attending regional meetings, and some members said last month it would be forced to rethink the way forward unless the junta demonstrates progress on the peace plan.
The junta has declined offers to send non-political representatives instead to Asean meetings.
“If a seat representing a country is vacant, then it should not be labelled an Asean summit,” junta spokesperson Zaw Min Tun said at a routine news conference on Wednesday, adding that Myanmar was working on implementing the peace plan.
“What they want is for us to meet and talk with the terrorists,” he said, using the junta’s label for pro-democracy movements that have taken up arms against the military.
He said Asean was violating its own policy of non-interference in a country’s sovereign affairs while facing “external pressure,” but did not elaborate.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Cambodia, which is currently chairing Asean, did not immediately respond to Reuters’ request for comment.
Several western countries including the United States and Britain have imposed sanctions on Myanmar’s junta over the coup.
Meanwhile, a senior UN official met with the Myanmar junta leader on Wednesday on a rare visit while asking to meet with Suu Kyi and call for political prisoners’ release, said a United Nations statement.
Noeleen Heyzer, the UN secretary-general’s special envoy to Myanmar stated in the media advisory that she expressed her concern about the situation in the country to Junta leader, Min Aung Hlaing during her visit, parts of which were shown on military-controlled media.
Referring to the recent execution of four pro-democracy activists, the United Nations said Heyzer had directly urged the junta to impose a moratorium on all future executions.
Ominous warnings carved on usually submerged boulders along the River Rhine in Germany are peaking out of the water, as a result of the drought currently affecting large parts of Europe.
The reappearance of the so-called ‘hunger stones’ is seen as a warning and reminder of the hardships people faced during former droughts. The stones are also used to indicate bad harvests, interrupted river navigation and consequent famine.
Many such stones can be found along the river banks, with people’s names engraved next to the date of the drought.
Weeks of baking temperatures and scant rainfall have drained water levels in Germany’s largest river, Germany’s commercial artery, causing delays to shipping and pushing freight costs up.
Water levels at the Kaub reference point for the river near Koblenz were at 34 centimetres on Wednesday, close to the record lows during the last comparable drought in 2018.
A satellite image released on Wednesday of the drought-hit Rhine River illustrated the result of weeks of baking temperatures and scant rainfall in Germany.
In the image, taken on Saturday near the city of Dusseldorf, several parched areas and kilometres of exposed riverbank were noticeable around a bend in the commercial artery.
A comparison image taken around the same period in 2021 showed verdant vegetation and higher water levels in the corresponding areas.
Rhine shipping authorities said they expect the situation to improve in the coming days as rain is forecast for the region and water levels could rise “by 50 centimetres or more” by the end of the next week.
Ukraine has urged leaders of South and Southeast Asian countries not to be afraid of Russia and to stop being neutral on the war.
The plea came courtesy of Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba at a virtual press conference attended by reporters in the two regions.
A host of countries in South and Southeast Asia have maintained a neutral stance on the war and steered clear of saying anything that would upset Russia since the conflict began.
But Kuleba asked how could any nation remain neutral when “war crimes have been committed” and when one country “invades the sovereignty” of another.
He insisted the war in Ukraine is not a local conflict as many have tried to suggest.
The foreign minister said plainly that if Russia succeeded in Ukraine, it would set an example for other countries to follow a similar pattern of invasion and this would pose a “great threat to world order”.
He therefore pleaded for support in term of weapons and other aid so Ukraine could defend itself.
In replying to a question about when the war would end, Kuleba said it could end only with the total withdrawal of Russian troops.
At the same time, Ukraine is open to a diplomatic solution with Russia, he added.
Thailand welcomed more than four million foreign tourists from January 1 to August 16, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) reported on Wednesday.
TAT governor Yuthasak Supasorn said 4,015,504 foreign tourists visited the country in the seven-and-a-half-month period, while the first half of August saw an average of 42,000 international arrivals per day.
He said the tourism sector has recovered to a great extent after the government eased several Covid-19 prevention measures, including removing the Thailand Pass entry system from July 1.
TAT expects the number of foreign tourists to reach 4.5 million on August 31, Yuthasak said.
It aims to attract an overall 10 million tourists this year, with more than 1 million per month in August and September and 1.5 million per month in the fourth quarter.
Yuthasak expects foreign tourists to generate 625.8 billion baht in revenue for the country this year, while another 656 billion baht is likely to come from 160 million domestic trips by Thai travellers.
The top five countries from which the most tourists arrived from January 1 to August 16 were:
Malaysia – 526,051
India – 395,025
Laos – 218,043
Singapore – 213,523
UK -193,003.
And the top five entry points were Suvarnabhumi Airport, Phuket International Airport, Don Mueang International Airport, the Sadao border crossing in Songkhla, and the Nong Khai border crossing, TAT added.
The Tourism Council of Thailand (TCT) is confident that more than 12 million foreigners will visit the country this year.
TCT president Chamnan Srisawat said the tourism sector needs to welcome 12 million to 16 million foreign tourists to survive.
This number, he pointed out, is 30 to 40 per cent of total visitors before the Covid pandemic or 40 million in 2019.
Chamnan said he was confident Thailand would see more than 12 million foreign tourists this year, while the government sector has a set a target of attracting 10 million.
The country saw only 2 million international arrivals in the first half but more than 1 million came in July, Chamnan noted, adding that he expected the number of tourists to shoot past the 1-million mark both in August and September.
As for the high season from October to December, he expected more than 2 million foreigners to visit the country each month.
Chamnan said the tourism sector is waiting for a 1.03-billion-baht budget from the government in the form of a “booster shot” to help the industry recover.
Tourism and Sports Minister Pipat Ratchakitprakarn said his ministry is requesting the government to provide 2 billion baht, with 1 billion being used to stimulate the sector while another 1 billion will be used to support sport tourism.
Pipat said Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan told him he is waiting for the National Sports Development Fund manager to answer whether there is enough money to boost the tourism industry.
The tourism minister said he believed that budget is enough and is waiting for money which he hopes will be available from October 1.
As for the so-called “booster”, he said the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has sent a plan to the Office of the National Economic and Social Development Council and is awaiting approval from the Centre for Economic Situation Administration.
The budget will be used to attract 10 million foreign visitors this year and boost the number of domestic trips to 160 million to generate 1.2 trillion baht in income.
TAT governor Yuthasak Supasorn said 3,977,631 foreign tourists visited Thailand from January 1 to August 15, with the daily number of tourists being around 35,000 to 40,000 on average. He expected the figure to reach 4.5 million by August 31.
Meanwhile, the number of domestic trips is increasing, touching 60 million in the first six months.
He said TAT had asked the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration to approve visa extensions for foreign travellers:
From 30 days to 45 for visas for visitors from 56 countries.
From 15 days to 30 for those entering with a Visa on Arrival.
TAT wants arrival cards scrapped for visitors coming through land borders with Laos and Malaysia as a lot of tourists are arriving via the two countries.
Yuthasak said TAT also expects Chinese tourists to be allowed to visit Thailand at the end of the year as the government there has eased several anti-Covid measures.
Moreover, the Chinese government is allowing local organisations to consider whether people can travel out of their provinces.
TAT speculated that increasing interest rates will not affect tourists’ decision to travel and the authority will not adjust its goal of foreign and domestic travellers because it believes they would still travel but cut down on expenses.
Yuthasak added that TAT is more worried about the increasing fuel prices.
Thaicom, announced today the signing of a partnership agreement with US-based Orbital Insight Inc., to enable Thaicom to deliver world-class data insights and intelligence services with Orbital Insight’s geospatial analytics platform to its customers in Thailand and the region.
The Orbital Insight Platform can transform multiple geospatial data sources from spaced-based technology and other world sensors from a wide range of service providers around the world such as satellite images, anonymized location data, vessel automatic identification system (AIS) data, and other IoT data—combined with AI and Machine Learning to analyze data.
The platform provides insights to benefit governments and the private sector and enables the management of a variety of sectors, including natural resource management, transportation, and public utility management.
According to the agreement, Thaicom will initially offer a different model of services via the AI-powered Orbital Insight Platform.
The services include the provision of data insights to customers, licensing to access the platform, and customized platforms designed to meet customer needs.
Patompob (Nile) Suwansiri, Thaicom’s Chief Executive Officer, stated that ” This collaboration marks an important milestone in our global partnership strategy for our future growth. As a regional space tech company, we will leverage this data-driven technology from the Orbital Insight Platform to embrace our new business opportunities in the new space economy domain. Applying insights from this trusted geospatial data will help our customers in government and private sectors, including the military, financial institutions, energy and industrial sectors, as well as corporate and consumer goods, make better-informed decisions and enhance the country’s development in the digital era.
Kevin O’Brien, Chief Executive Officer, commented, ” Orbital Insight’s geospatial intelligence platform enables customers to discover, measure, and monitor activity anywhere in the world and get visibility into what they cannot see. We are excited to help Thaicom uncover insights and understand trends, patterns, and social-economic changes to make better, more data-driven decisions.”
Chanthaburi residents aged 30 and above can register for a free blood test via LINE starting July 22 onwards. The project aims to raise awareness about liver disease, reduce the incidence of liver cancer, and improve the survival rate.
Bangkok, July 27, 2022 – The Center of Excellence in Cancer at Prapokklao Hospital in Chanthaburi Province held a press conference titled “Mission to Conquer Liver Disease” to raise Thais’ awareness about the incidence, risks, prevention, screening, and treatment of liver disease. As part of the mission to conquer liver diseases, the center also launched a pilot program called “EZ Liver Clinic (Easy Liver Clinic) to increase access to timely treatment and to help the Thai public better understand the risk factors of liver disease and improve their participation in screening programs and on-time treatments.
This pilot project was initiated by both the public and private sectors that are involved and responsible for health promotion and education for the Thai people under a collaborative program called “LEAP (Liver Ecosystem Advancement Program)”. They include the National Health Security Office (NHSO), medical experts, and a multidisciplinary care team that comprises gastroenterologists; hepatologists; oncologists; liver, pancreas, and biliary tract surgeons; vascular and interventional radiologists; as well as Roche Diagnostics (Thailand) and Roche Thailand. LEAP shows the commitment on working together to help Thai people access effective screening and treatments on time, leading to a better quality of life and a higher chance of patients’ survival.
LEAP’s commitment is in line with the World Hepatitis Alliance’s campaign on World Hepatitis Day, which is observed every July 28. The campaign goes with the concept of “Hepatitis Can’t Wait” for hepatitis B and C patients worldwide, including in Thailand. It urges patients to not refrain from the screening process or prolong the time until the symptoms progress and the condition becomes cirrhosis or liver cancer. If the patient is diagnosed and treated effectively, they will have greater chances of cure and survival.
It is estimated that 2.2 million Thais are carriers of hepatitis B, while another 300,000 to 800,000 are carriers of hepatitis C , which often do not show any symptoms but can still be transmitted to others through blood, sexual contact and mother-to-child during birth. When the hepatitis virus enters the body for a while, the body begins to build up immunity to fight infection, causing liver inflammation. Therefore, blood tests to detect the surface antigen (HBsAg) allow physicians to determine the stage of the disease and prescribe oral medications to treat viral hepatitis. In addition, some patients may develop liver fibrosis or cirrhosis. This is where examination by ultrasound, along with a blood test to measure the biomarker, once every 6 months becomes very important.
This picture shows the development of live cancer from chronic hepatitis and cirrhosis
Recognizing the importance of screening and early access to treatment for liver cancers, the EZ Liver Clinic pilot project at the Center of Excellence in Cancer at Prapokklao Hospital is now encouraging people aged 30 and above in Chanthaburi to add friends to its LINE Official Account @ppkezliverclinic and register for a free blood test.
– Chanthaburi residents living in the Muang district can get a free blood test at the Center of Excellence in Cancer Building, 2nd Floor, Prapokklao Hospital, which occurs on Fridays from 8.30 – 16.00 hrs. from July 22 to September 30, 2022. This targets to benefit about 2,000 people. – Those who live in other districts in Chanthaburi can get a free new fingertip blood test for hepatitis B, at the Sub-district Health Promoting Hospitals (SHPH) starting August 1 onwards or while supplies last. This targets to benefit about 10,000 people.
Prof. Pisit Tangkijvanich, MD, President of the Thai Association for the Study of the Liver (THASL), said, “Hepatitis B and C infection is a leading cause of Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) in Thais. Multi-stakeholders’ collaboration in initiating projects related to prevention, screening, diagnosis, and treatment to cover the population thoroughly and equitably should become an important agenda. It is also very beneficial to the development of the healthcare system of Thailand.”
Teerapong Tunak, MD, Director of Prapokklao Hospital, said, “In the past, we have detected approximately 100 new liver cancer cases in Chanthaburi each year caused by hepatitis B or C infection. More than 75% of the new cases were in metastatic stage which cannot be cured. If the high risk groups, especially those aged 30 or above, join the screening process to identify whether they are infected, they are able to receive faster treatment and increase their chances of cure right from the early stage. The EZ Liver Clinic project also aims to shorten the diagnosis process of chronic hepatitis B and cirrhosis from four months to four weeks, and reduce the diagnosis process of liver cancer from six months to only six weeks. Timely treatment is instrumental in increasing the survival rate.”
Apirak Pisutaporn, MD, Chief of Chanthaburi Provincial Health Office, thanks to all parties involved, including the public and private sectors that join hands in this project: “Since 1992, Thailand has started a national policy of vaccinating people against hepatitis. However, the most concerning group is people aged 30 and above who may have latent hepatitis infection in their blood at birth. In Chanthaburi, there are 344,038 people who may not have been vaccinated and are at risk. It is estimated that the chance of infection could be as high as 15 percent, or 51,605 people. In the first phase, the project provided 12,000 test kits in the EZ Liver Clinic project (comprising 10,000 from the Center of Excellence in Hepatitis and Liver Cancer, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University and 2,000 from Roche Diagnostics (Thailand)). This serves as a starting point to support the work of medical personnel to discover about 1,800 patients with hepatitis and allow these patients to access treatments. We would also like to invite 12,000 people in Chanthaburi aged 30 and above to get a free blood test at the Sub-district Health Promoting Hospital (SHPH) or local hospitals nearby. They are also encouraged to add friends to our LINE Official Account @ppkezliverclinic for risk assessment and locate the closest hospital where screening can be performed.”
The EZ Liver Clinic pilot project was supported by the private sector, including Roche Diagnostics (Thailand) and Roche Thailand, to help medical personnel screen for risks and monitor liver cancer, in line with LEAP’s effort to increase the chance of cure and survival rate for patients.
Mr. Pichetpong Srisuwankul, Managing Director, Roche Diagnostics (Thailand), said, “Roche is very pleased to be a part of this pilot project to start the screening for risk and high-risk groups for hepatitis B and C, which is the main cause of liver cancer. It is undeniable that diagnosis in patients with liver disease is extremely important. The more accessible to diagnostics, the earlier patients can start their treatment journey; and thus improves their quality of lives.”
“Roche is committed to working with muti-stakeholders in the LEAP collaborative program to drive and improve the treatment outcomes for patients with liver disease and liver cancer. Participating in the EZ Liver Clinic pilot project, we feel very proud to help patients who may still lack disease awareness to get checked and treated in a timely manner. We hope that in the future the incidence of liver disease in Thailand will significantly decrease, and that liver cancer patients will survive longer with better quality of lives,” said Mr. Farid Bidgoli, General Manager, Roche Thailand, Myanmar, Cambodia and Laos.
Marc Cucurella may have found himself on the Stamford Bridge turf after a painful tug of his hair by Tottenham Hotspur’s Cristian Romero over the weekend but the Chelsea defender said on Wednesday (August 17) that he has no plans to get a haircut.
Cucurella had his long locks pulled by Romero shortly before Harry Kane levelled the Premier League match in stoppage time, leading to a furious Thomas Tuchel saying referee Anthony Taylor should not officiate Chelsea’s matches in the future.
When asked if he would ever get a haircut to avoid a similar fate in the future, Cucurella grinned and told reporters: “No, no, never! This is my style.”
Cucurella, however, said that Romero’s pull was a clear red card.
“For me it was clear and the video was clear, sometimes referees make good decisions and sometimes they don’t, but this is not my problem, I am focused on the game,” he added.
“I saw in the stadium they were checking for a red card and for me it was very clear, but this is football. In this game it was an error, in another game the referee would take a good decision.
“I have no problem with him (Romero), it was only one action in the game. But maybe it was an important action because it’s possible to change the final result.”
Cucurella signed for Chelsea in a reported 62 million pounds ($74.67 million) deal in the close season from Brighton & Hove Albion and the Spaniard conceded it was “a lot of money and a big responsibility” for him.
“I’m very happy to be here,” he said. “(Chelsea owner) Todd (Boehly) and the gaffer were so interested in me coming here. I need to work hard, adapt to the team and have this will to win and play good for the club.”
Manchester United forward Cristiano Ronaldo received a police caution for smashing a 14-year-old boy’s phone to the ground following a defeat at Everton last season.
The 37-year-old apologised via social media to the young fan after the incident which happened in April.
“We can confirm that a 37-year-old man voluntarily attended and was interviewed under caution in relation to an allegation of assault and criminal damage,” a police statement said on Wednesday.
“The allegation relates to an incident following the Everton v Manchester United football match at Goodison Park on Saturday 9 April. The matter has been dealt with by way of conditional caution. The matter has now concluded.”
Video footage appeared to show Ronaldo angrily slapping the phone out of the boys’ hand as he walked down the tunnel.
The boy’s mother said he had been left with a bruised hand and that his phone screen had been smashed.
Ronaldo is reported to be seeking a move away from Old Trafford, having returned to the club a year ago from Juventus.
This picture shows the development of live cancer from chronic hepatitis and cirrhosis
