WASHINGTON, JUNE 10 — Italian astronaut Luca Parmitano is hoping to bring a taste of his homeland to the Artemis III mission he will pilot near Earth in 2027 to test two lunar modules.

The menu for the Artemis II mission in April featured Texas brisket and tortillas for the Orion spacecraft’s crew—and a jar of Italian sweet treat Nutella was also seen floating by during a live broadcast from space.

“I do expect something Italian to show up on the menu, and I don’t even have to bring it up because Italian food is a treasure of UNESCO,” Parmitano told AFP yesterday, adding “everybody wants some Italian food.”

That’s not all the former Italian Air Force colonel brings to the table.

Selected as an astronaut by the European Space Agency (ESA) in 2009, Parmitano has completed two missions aboard the International Space Station, where he completed complex spacewalks—including a near-fatal incident when his helmet began filling with water due to a failure in the suit’s cooling system.

Responsibility and humility 

As the mission’s lead pilot, Parmitano will share responsibility with commander Randy Bresnik.

“We are both test pilots, and the spacecraft needs a crew of 2 to fly it, so we share the responsibilities,” Parmitano said.

“I feel honored that I was chosen for this role,” he said. “It was unexpected because I didn’t know that it was in the run for that position.”

Parmitano, a 49-year-old father of two daughters, added that he is “also very humbled by the task in front of us. It’s a very complex mission.”

He proudly wears a uniform adorned with the Italian flag and the ESA’s patch, whom he calls “strong partners.”

“ When NASA chooses a European astronaut to be a pilot, (it) is sending a strong message that our leadership is understood, that our cooperation is valued, and that our technical expertise, both in our constructions, because Europe builds part of the spacecraft, but also our personnel, is solid,” he said.

Multicultural crew 

The crew will be rounded out by African American Andre Douglas and US astronaut of Salvadoran descent Frank Rubio.

Parmitano said he has known the mission’s commander “for my entire career,” but noted that for Douglas the mission will mark his first space flight.

“We immediately bonded as soon as we found out that we were assigned to this mission,” Parmitano said.

He welcomes the diversity in ages and backgrounds, saying it “just enriches the crew in general.” — AFP

SINGAPORE, June 2 — Singapore and the United Kingdom (UK) inked a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to cooperate in nuclear safety regulation, including the exchange of information and expertise, and the training of scientific and technical personnel. 

Singapore National Environment Agency (NEA) said the agreement was signed with the UK’s Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) to support an overarching effort to build capabilities in nuclear safety and to study the feasibility of the safe deployment of nuclear energy in Singapore. 

NEA deputy chief executive officer Koh Li-Na said the collaboration will strengthen Singapore’s capabilities in radiation protection, nuclear safety, and assessment. 

“Through partnerships with well-established regulators like ONR, NEA will deepen its technical expertise to understand new reactor technologies and build the institutional capabilities needed to rigorously assess nuclear safety,” she said in a statement on Tuesday. 

According to NEA, this collaboration will also enhance its regulatory knowledge as Singapore continues to study the potential role of nuclear energy in its energy future. 

NEA has also been developing Singapore’s nuclear safety and regulatory capabilities through close partnerships with established regulators in Finland, France, and the United States, as well as Asean partners. — Bernama

JAKARTA, June 4 — Indonesia’s anti-graft agency has arrested the country’s deputy minister for immigration affairs, ‌a spokesman said today, making him the second high-profile government official in two days to face corruption charges.

The arrest came a day after Indonesia’s Attorney ‌General’s Office (AGO) detained Dadan Hindayana, the former head of an agency which oversees President Prabowo Subianto’s flagship free meals programme. Dadan was named as a suspect in a corruption case linked to the programme’s governance and procurement.

The two alleged corruption cases are unconnected.

Silmy Karim, Deputy Minister for Immigration and Correctional Affairs, was arrested on charges of corrupt practices in the administration of immigration documents, Budi Prasetyo, spokesperson with anti-graft agency KPK, told Reuters in a text message.

He did not elaborate further.

Silmy ‌had been questioned at the KPK’s office since last night and ⁠emerged around 10 hours later this morning in handcuffs and wearing an orange ⁠jacket, indicating that he has ⁠been named as ⁠a suspect. He was then transported to a detention house.

The alleged corruption took place in 2023 to 2024, Budi said. Silmy served as ⁠director general for immigration affairs under Prabowo’s predecessor Joko Widodo during the period.

The agency has also identified seven other suspects related to this case, he added.

Further details are expected to be released later on Thursday afternoon, the agency said.

Prabowo took office in 2024 pledging to ⁠eradicate corruption and crack down on the illegal exploitation of Indonesia’s vast natural resources.

In April, the country’s chief ombudsman was arrested just six ⁠days after his appointment for allegedly taking a bribe from a local ⁠nickel company.

“Honestly, ⁠we have been deeply concerned over the past two days by the repeated events which we clearly did not expect,” State Secretariat Minister Prasetyo Hadi ‌said today.

He said the government respects the legal proceedings being conducted by the anti-graft agency and the AGO. — Reuters

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This story is part of a series by Public Health Watch and MyRGV.com. Puente News Collaborative is a partner in this collaboration.

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Help for Parkinson’s patients in the Rio Grande Valley

Seek appropriate care. Dr. CJ Martínez-Menéndez, a neurologist at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, emphasizes that Parkinson’s treatment is a team effort. Finding a neurologist is the first step; ask for a referral to a movement disorders specialist, physical therapists and occupational therapists, and possibly a psychiatrist or psychologist for emotional support.

Join a support group. Two hospital systems — South Texas Health System and DHR Health System — hold monthly meetings. Another group meets at Siesta Retirement Village in Weslaco, Texas. Myla Garza, a Parkinson’s patient, encourages people not to be “afraid” of the diagnosis. “There are many things that can improve your quality of life,” she says.

Explore online resources. The Michael J. Fox Foundation and the Parkinson’s Foundation offer free, reliable information to help patients and families understand and cope with the disease. The Parkinson’s Foundation also operates a toll-free helpline (1-800-473-4636) available in English and Spanish.

Participate in Parkinson’s research projects. Contact brain@utrgv.edu for information about Dr. Kelsey Baker’s study at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. You can also email genetics@parkinson.org or call the Parkinson’s Foundation helpline (1-800-473-4636) to enroll in the foundation’s national genetic study, which offers free genetic testing to all participants.

WASHINGTON, June 6 — Actor James Handy, known for his role in Top Gun: Maverick, was fatally stabbed at his home in Los Angeles, German Press Agency (dpa) reported.

Trade publication Variety reported on Thursday, citing police, that emergency responders were called to the northwest of the city on Wednesday morning, where police confirmed in a statement that they found the 81-year-old unconscious in the front garden of his property with a stab wound to the chest.

He was taken to hospital by paramedics and later pronounced dead. A suspect turned himself in to police at the scene. He is said to be the son of the victim’s girlfriend.

Police said they received an emergency call from a man who said: “I am the son of man, I just killed the man of sin.” A spokesman for the actor confirmed Handy’s death to Variety.

Handy played the bartender Jimmy in the action film sequel Top Gun: Maverick (2022). He also had a role in the adventure film Jumanji (1995). — Bernama-dpa