Former Russian spy Sergei Skripal is no longer in critical condition and is "improving rapidly" after being poisoned with a toxic nerve agent last month in southern England, the hospital treating him said on Friday.
"He is responding well to treatment, improving rapidly and is no longer in a critical condition," Christine Blanshard, medical director at Salisbury District Hospital, said.
Last week, the hospital said that the condition of Mr Skripal's daughter Yulia, who was also poisoned in the attack in Salisbury, had improved to stable.
The pair were found critically ill on a public bench on March 4, and a policeman who attended the scene was also taken to hospital.
Britain has said it is "highly likely" that Russia was behind the attack, which has caused increased tensions between the Kremlin and the West. Moscow has angrily denied all involvement.
The attack has had major diplomatic ramifications, with mass expulsions of Russian and Western diplomats.
On Friday, a spokesperson from the UK's foreign office said the government is "very pleased" that the Skripals are improving, although he warned that both father and daughter "are likely to have ongoing medical needs".
"Let us be clear, this was attempted murder using an illegal chemical weapon that we know Russia possesses," the spokesperson added.
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Read more:
[ ‘You’ll be sorry’ over Skripal accusations, Russia tells Britain ]
[ Russian spy poisoning: Yulia Skripal says her strength is 'growing daily' ]
[ Russian offer for joint investigation into spy poisoning rebuffed ]
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On Thursday, Ms Skripal, 33, released a statement through UK police saying her strength was improving.
“I woke up over a week ago now and am glad to say my strength is growing daily. I am grateful for the interest in me and for the many messages of goodwill that I have received," the statement issued on behalf of Ms Skripal reads.
“I have many people to thank for my recovery and would especially like to mention the people of Salisbury that came to my aid when my father and I were incapacitated. Further than that, I would like to thank the staff at Salisbury District Hospital for their care and professionalism.
“I am sure you appreciate that the entire episode is somewhat disorientating, and I hope that you’ll respect my privacy and that of my family during the period of my convalescence.”
It came just hours after Russian state TV aired an alleged phone conversation between Ms Skripal and a relative, in which she apparently said she and her father were both on the mend, and that she expects to be discharged from hospital soon.
"Everything is fine [with my father]. He is resting now, he is sleeping. Everyone's health is fine. There is nothing that is irreversible. That's it, I'll be discharged soon. Everything is OK," she said.
Dr Blanshard said that she was providing the update in response to "intense media coverage yesterday".
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Name: Xpanceo
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What is graphene?
Graphene is a single layer of carbon atoms arranged like honeycomb.
It was discovered in 2004, when Russian-born Manchester scientists Andrei Geim and Kostya Novoselov were "playing about" with sticky tape and graphite - the material used as "lead" in pencils.
Placing the tape on the graphite and peeling it, they managed to rip off thin flakes of carbon. In the beginning they got flakes consisting of many layers of graphene. But as they repeated the process many times, the flakes got thinner.
By separating the graphite fragments repeatedly, they managed to create flakes that were just one atom thick. Their experiment had led to graphene being isolated for the very first time.
At the time, many believed it was impossible for such thin crystalline materials to be stable. But examined under a microscope, the material remained stable, and when tested was found to have incredible properties.
It is many times times stronger than steel, yet incredibly lightweight and flexible. It is electrically and thermally conductive but also transparent. The world's first 2D material, it is one million times thinner than the diameter of a single human hair.
But the 'sticky tape' method would not work on an industrial scale. Since then, scientists have been working on manufacturing graphene, to make use of its incredible properties.
In 2010, Geim and Novoselov were awarded the Nobel Prize for Physics. Their discovery meant physicists could study a new class of two-dimensional materials with unique properties.
How the UAE gratuity payment is calculated now
Employees leaving an organisation are entitled to an end-of-service gratuity after completing at least one year of service.
The tenure is calculated on the number of days worked and does not include lengthy leave periods, such as a sabbatical. If you have worked for a company between one and five years, you are paid 21 days of pay based on your final basic salary. After five years, however, you are entitled to 30 days of pay. The total lump sum you receive is based on the duration of your employment.
1. For those who have worked between one and five years, on a basic salary of Dh10,000 (calculation based on 30 days):
a. Dh10,000 ÷ 30 = Dh333.33. Your daily wage is Dh333.33
b. Dh333.33 x 21 = Dh7,000. So 21 days salary equates to Dh7,000 in gratuity entitlement for each year of service. Multiply this figure for every year of service up to five years.
2. For those who have worked more than five years
c. 333.33 x 30 = Dh10,000. So 30 days’ salary is Dh10,000 in gratuity entitlement for each year of service.
Note: The maximum figure cannot exceed two years total salary figure.
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