Nigeria has achieved a significant milestone in global health by becoming the first country to implement the Men5CV vaccine against meningitis. The news was announced by the World Health Organization (WHO). Meningitis poses a severe threat in Nigeria, which is recognized as one of the hotspots for the disease in Africa. The WHO reported a troubling 50% increase in annual cases across 26 African nations designated as meningitis hyperendemic countries just last year. WHO Director-General Tedros Ghebreyesus stated that the rollout of the Men5CV vaccine in Nigeria marks a crucial adva
India's Chandrayaan-3 mission team was honoured with the 2024 John L. 'Jack' Swigert Jr. Award for Space Exploration, recognising their groundbreaking efforts. India became the first country to accomplish this remarkable feat in lunar exploration when the mission touched down on the moon's south pole in August of last year. This achievement, which was created by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), was praised for deepening human knowledge of space. At the Space Symposium in Colorado, DC Manjunath, the consul general of India in Houston, accepted the prize on behalf of ISRO. On A
The United States expressed support for constructing the first high-speed rail in the country. Japan also expressed support, following discussions between their leaders in Washington. President Joe Biden aims to revive interest in the project connecting Dallas and Houston. The U.S. Department of Transportation and the Japanese Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism agreed to support Amtrak's initiative in the Texas Central High-Speed Rail Project, which makes use of Shinkansen technologies, according to a White House fact sheet. Potential financing sources may arise if de
Global attention has been drawn to a scientific breakthrough that has revealed the presence of an enormous ocean hidden far below the surface of the planet. This massive water body is larger than all surface oceans combined and is located around 700 kilometres below the surface in a mineral known as ringwoodite. Ringwoodite's extraordinary ability to absorb water was revealed by scientists in 2014 research titled 'Dehydration Melting at the Top of the Lower Mantle', comparing it to a sponge. Geophysicist Steve Jacobsen highlighted its ability to draw in hydrogen and hold onto water, i
On Monday, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) announced that its staff had reached an agreement with authorities from Ivory Coast regarding a review of two lending programmes. This agreement sets the stage for the disbursement of $574 million, pending approval by the IMF’s executive board. According to the IMF, Ivory Coast has performed satisfactorily under its $3.5 billion Extended Fund Facility (EFF) and Extended Credit Facility (ECF) programme, as well as the $1.3 billion Resilience and Sustainability Facility (RSF) programme. IMF Mission Chief Olaf Unteroberdoerster stated in a
On Monday, the American region witnessed a total solar eclipse, which started in western Mexico and proceeded through the United States and into Canada. The event lasted more than four minutes in some places and attracted observers such as Lourdes Corro and expert eclipse hunter Michael Zeiler, who went to Mazatlan to witness the phenomenon. Enthusiasts came together along the eclipse's path, including in upstate New York and tiny towns like Advance, Missouri, despite the potential for cloud cover in some viewing locations. For safe viewing, specialists strongly recommend wearing protec
Brazil anticipates that hosting the COP30 climate summit in Belem next year will redefine its global image, shifting away from the stereotype of being a beachy tourist spot to emphasise environmental sustainability and combat deforestation in the Amazon rainforest. Celso Sabino, the minister of tourism, seeks to take advantage of this chance and foresees a rise in ecotourism, which already accounts for just 9% of all traveller visits to Brazil. Sabino highlights the necessity to diversify Brazil's tourist industry and stresses the critical role that tourism plays in both economic developme
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari aims to transform India into a green economy by reducing GST on hybrid vehicles and eliminating over 36 crore petrol and diesel vehicles. He asserts that achieving this vision is challenging yet feasible. Gadkari emphasises the potential benefits: redirecting the Rs 16 lakh crore spent on fuel imports towards improving farmers' lives, boosting rural prosperity, and creating employment opportunities for youth. While he doesn't specify a timeline, he remains optimistic about the goal. The Finance Ministry has yet to consider a proposal to reduce the GST on hybrid
The Indian Navy successfully rescued 23 Pakistani fishermen from Somali pirates in a 12-hour operation in the Arabian Sea. Utilising coercive tactics, Indian warships intercepted the hijacked vessel FV Al-Kambar, with INS Sumedha and INS Trishul leading the mission. The Indian Navy has shown its dedication to maritime security by forcing pirates to surrender without causing any bloodshed in its second operation. About 90 nautical miles southwest of Socotra, in response to a distress call, the Navy caught an Iranian fishing vessel that had been taken over by nine armed pirates. On March 29,
In a historic first for Saudi Arabia, it will be competing in this year's Miss Universe pageant, marking a significant milestone for the nation. On Monday, Rumy Alqahtani, a beauty pageant contestant and well-known influencer, announced the news on social media, expressing her honour at being selected. This move reflects Saudi Arabia's recent efforts to modernise its economy and promote tourism, aligning with broader social reforms aimed at advancing gender equality and women's empowerment. The decision to participate in Miss Universe follows the lifting of the ban on women driving in