Thousands gather across India to watch eclipse

TAREGNA, India – The longest solar eclipse of the 21st century created near darkness soon after dawn in a swath of India stretching from the west coast to the northern plains where millions gathered in the open to watch.
But millions more shuttered themselves in, gripped by fearful myths in a country that abounds in Hindu mythology-based superstitions and fables, one of which says an eclipse is caused when a dragon-demon swallows the sun.
A thick cloud cover over India that had obscured the sun when the eclipse began at dawn parted in several cities, minutes before the total eclipse — caused when the moon covers the sun completely to cast a shadow on earth — at 6.24 a.m. (0054 GMT). Read more.........

Mysterious, Glowing Clouds Appear Across America’s Night Skies

Mysterious, glowing clouds previously seen almost exclusively in Earth’s polar regions have appeared in the skies over the United States and Europe over the past several days.
Photographers and other sky watchers in Omaha, Paris, Seattle, and other locations have run outside to capture images of what scientists call noctilucent (”night shining”) clouds. Formed by ice literally at the boundary where the earth’s atmosphere meets space 50 miles up, they shine because they are so high that they remain lit by the sun even after our star is below the horizon. Read more.........

ASEAN RIGHTS BODY - Fears it might be a 'toothless tiger'

Phuket - Advocates voice concerns that the commission will not be able to control abuse in member countries like Burma.

Phuket - Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said yesterday that in the initial stages, the Asean human-rights commission will focus on promotion rather than protection of rights."Progress will first be made on the front of promotion, but the protection side will not be ignored. It is better to make a start than to leave it hanging with no progress at all," Abhisit explained. Protection would be achieved through a roadmap and an evolutionary process among the member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, he said.In response to concerns about it "lacking teeth" to protect Asean citizens against human-rights violations in their countries, Abhisit said: "We want to establish a body that promotes the issue. Once that is put into place, there will be more teeth for the body in terms of protection." Human-rights advocates have expressed concerns that the new body will fall short of international standards and lack the power to deal with problematic Asean countries like military-ruled Burma. In addition, civil society groups campaigning in Phuket during the regional meetings say they don't want an Asean human-rights body that is a "toothless paper tiger"."The body has two purposes - promotion and protection - and three principles: credibility, realistic and evolutionary," Abhisit said, referring to possible obstacles posed by undemocratic governments of certain member countries, particularly Burma.The prime minister was speaking at the Sheraton Grande Laguna hotel in the resort island of Phuket following the opening ceremony of the 42nd Asean Foreign Ministers Meeting yesterday morning.Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya, as chair of the Asean meetings, said on Sunday night that more effort would be made to promote and protect human rights in the region. Asean foreign ministers met with the High-Level Panel, which presented them with draft terms of reference on the body's establishment. The body, expected to be officially called the Asean Inter-Governmental Commission on Human Rights, as suggested by the panel, is required under the Asean Charter, which came into effect last December.When the terms of reference are finalised by the foreign ministers in Phuket, the rights body will be set up at the summit of Asean leaders in October, again in Phuket. Thailand is actively pushing for the body to be created during its rotating chairmanship, which expires at the end of this year.

Source: The Nation

TYPE A (H1N1) - Virus attacks lungs

The type-A (H1N1) virus directly attacks the lung, developing severe symptoms that can lead to death, the Public Health Ministry said yesterday. "We found that most patients with severe influenza symptoms also had pneumonia," said Dr Rewat Wisarutwej, director-general of the Medical Service Department. The finding was revealed by health experts meeting to examine the characteristics of the virus and its severity when infecting humans, based on patient's medical records, laboratory tests, and x-ray results."The virus has been found in the bottom of the lungs," Rewat said, adding that most patients developed the symptoms after contracting the virus from other infected patients. The Public Health Ministry will reveal details from its first autopsy on a swine-flu patient today. Rewat has urged patients with mild flu symptoms to not do any exercise, as heavy breathing would help the virus attack the lungs.According to the Public Health Ministry, the new strain of flu has claimed 24 lives in Thailand and infected more than 4,469. Most patients make a full recovery within two or three days - and most fatalities were among people who had gone to hospital too late.However, Public Health Minister Witthaya Kaewparadai said the number of patients admitted to Bangkok hospitals with the virus had dropped as people were no longer panicking."The situation will normalise as people understand and follow ministry's recommendations that anyone with mild flu symptoms should stay home - or see the doctor when their condition worsens - helping reduce the spread of the disease," he said. Rajavithi Hospital's director, Dr Varunee Jinarat, reported that the number of patients seeking treatment for flu had dropped from 500 cases a day to 150; and admissions were down to four or five a day. Total patients seeking hospital treatment for flu symptoms over the past three months was over 7,000. However, Varunee remained concerned about the spread of the disease in public spaces and in hospitals, infecting people with underlying diseases. She said the hospital urged all admitted patients to wear face masks, but some were reluctant to do so. "Even though the number of patients with flu-like symptoms has decreased, we are not confident [in controlling the situation] as many infected people still don't wear masks," she said. Rewat said the number of suspected flu patients had also dropped at the Nopparat and Bangkok Children's hospitals. "I think patient admissions will drop by 50 per cent if we send out clear messages," he said.Witthaya said the Health Ministry had distributed 4 million name-card-sized manuals with information about self-care for people with flu-like symptoms. It has also distributed 60,000 clinical practice guidelines for medical workers on the appropriate approach to treating flu patients.

Source: The Nation

Cambodia welcomes ASEAN single visa

Cambodia welcomes the creation of ASEAN single visa to attract more tourists and facilitate other travelers to visit the region, government officials said on Monday."When we exercise this plan, it also affect to the national revenue because we lost money on visa. But we hoped that tourists also expand their expenditure when they visit and stay here and that is our earning," Koy Khoung, spokesman and undersecretary of state for Foreign Ministry, told Xinhua."Local people will benefit from the tourists directly and it also helps to reduce the poverty in the country and other travelers feel good because they could access for many countries in the region by one single visa. It is a good idea," he said.The proposal was put forward by Thai Prime Minister at the opening ceremony of the ASEAN Foreign Ministers Meeting in Phuket. He said that Cambodia and Thailand already agreed to use one single visa."We, all private sector, also welcome the idea of one visa in ASEAN," Ang Kim Eang, president of Cambodian Association of Travel Agencies. "We all will follow the Cambodian government."The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) must be visa-free within the region and offer an ASEAN Single Visa for those outside the region, Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said on Monday in his opening remarks at the 42nd ASEAN Foreign Ministers Meeting in Phuket."ASEAN must be able to act decisively and in a timely manner to address both internal and external threats and challenges to the security and welfare of its member states and peoples," said Abhisit.

Source: Xinhua

Type-A (H1N1) virus zeroes in on lungs

The type-A (H1N1) influenza virus directly attacks the human lung, developing severe symptoms that can lead to death, the Public Health Ministry said Monday. " We found that most patients with severe type-A (H1N1) influenza symptoms also suffered severe pneumonia," said the director-general of the Medical Service Department, Dr Rewat Wisarutwej. The finding was revealed by health experts meeting at the department to examine the character of the new influenza virus and its severity when infecting humans - based on patient's medical records, laboratory tests, and x-ray results." The virus has been found deep in the bottom of the lungs," Rawat said, adding that most patients developed the symptoms after contracting the virus in large amounts from other infected patients. The Public Health Ministry will reveal details from its first autopsy on a swine flu patient this Wednesday.
The Nation

Cambodia Awards Total Oil Search Rights in Gulf of Thailand

PHNOM PENH (AFP), Jul. 20, 2009
Cambodia has granted French company Total S.A. oil exploration rights in one of its offshore blocks in the Gulf of Thailand, a senior government official said Monday.
Prime Minister Hun Sen told French leaders of the decision to allow Total to drill "block III" during a visit to Paris earlier this month, said Prak Sokhon, secretary of state for the Council of Ministers.
"The government decided to grant Total the rights after lengthy consideration of requests from four big companies," Prak Sokhon said after he accompanied the Cambodian premier to the French capital.
He said Prime Minister Francois Fillon had thanked his Cambodian counterpart for the award.
Cambodia expects to begin oil production in 2011, a senior energy official has said.
Oil was discovered in 2005 by U.S. energy giant Chevron Corp., the most active of several firms exploring in six blocks off the country's coast.
But Prime Minister Hun Sen warned that it was "highly premature" to estimate how much oil Cambodia might hold in undersea reserves.

Solar eclipse pits superstition against science

MUMBAI (AFP) – Indian astrologers are predicting violence and turmoil across the world as a result of this week's total solar eclipse, which the superstitious and religious view as a sign of potential doom.
But astronomers, scientists and secularists are trying to play down claims of evil portent in connection with Wednesday's natural spectacle, when the moon will come between the Earth and the sun, completely obscuring the sun.
In Hindu mythology, the two demons Rahu and Ketu are said to "swallow" the sun during eclipses, snuffing out its life-giving light and causing food to become inedible and water undrinkable.
Pregnant women are advised to stay indoors to prevent their babies developing birth defects, while prayers, fasting and ritual bathing, particularly in holy rivers, are encouraged. Read more