NASA’s High-Resolution Air Quality Control Instrument Launches
A substantial advancement has been made in the monitoring of the main air pollutants with the successful launch of NASA`s Tropospheric Emissions: Monitoring of Pollution (TEMPO) instrument. Scientists will be able to measure air quality accurately down to four square miles from space thanks to the instrument`s unmatched resolution. The TEMPO mission is to transform air quality monitoring in order to enhance human life on Earth.
Key Points
- The instrument was launched from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida onboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. The Intelsat 40E satellite carried the payload, which separated from the rocket around 32 minutes after launch. Signal acquisition occurred at 1:14 a.m. TEMPO commissioning activities will begin in late May or early June.
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EAMS Jaishankar launches ‘Tulsi Ghat Restoration Project’ in Uganda
The "Tulsi Ghat Restoration Initiative" was introduced in Varanasi by Foreign Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar during his three-day trip to Kampala, Uganda. He praised the Foreign Friends of BJP-Uganda for their initiatives to improve the visual appeal of the world`s oldest continuously inhabited metropolis. Uganda has been chosen to lead the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) on behalf of Africa from 2022 to 2025. The movement`s chairmanship alternates every three years during summit conferences, and the outgoing and incoming chairmen, who represent the movement`s past, present, and future, provide support. During his visit to Uganda, S. Jaishankar will hold delegation-level discussions with his Ugandan counterpart to explore opportunities for strengthening bilateral relations between the two nations. Additionally, he is expected to meet with other Ministers and call on the country’s leadership.
Jaishankar will be in Mozambique from April 13 to 15. “This will be the first visit by an Indian External Affairs Minister to the Republic of Mozambique,” according to the MEA announcement. During his visit, he will meet with Mozambique’s top officials and co-chair the Joint Commission Meeting’s 5th Session alongside Mozambican Foreign Minister Veronica Macamo. The EAM is anticipated to meet with numerous other Ministers and Assembly representatives from Mozambique.
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Ghana becomes first country to approve Oxford malaria vaccine for children
By being the first nation to approve a highly efficient malaria vaccine created by researchers at the University of Oxford in the UK, Ghana has made medical history. The World Health Organization`s aim of 75% efficiency has been surpassed by the vaccine, known as R21/Matrix-M, marking a significant advancement in the fight against malaria.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), an estimated 619,000 people died from malaria in 2021, with the vast majority of the deaths being children in sub-Saharan Africa.
In Ghana, where malaria is endemic and perennial, an estimated 5.3 million cases and 12,500 deaths were recorded in 2021. The R21/Matrix-M vaccine, which has shown promising results in clinical trials, could be a game-changer in reducing the burden of malaria in Ghana and other sub-Saharan African countries.
However, the WHO has yet to recommend the R21 vaccine for widespread use, and until it does, there is a question mark over the amount of international funding available for it. The vaccine’s phase 3 trial is ongoing, but earlier trials have shown efficacy levels of 77%, a level that was maintained after a single booster dose given a year later.
In contrast, the RTS,S vaccine, which the WHO recommended for use in a landmark move in 2021, has more modest efficacy levels. The approval of the R21/Matrix-M vaccine in Ghana is an important step in the fight against malaria, but its impact will depend on its approval and implementation in other sub-Saharan African countries.
The Serum Institute of India, the biotechnology giant that is manufacturing the R21 vaccine, has the potential to manufacture more than 200 million doses annually. This offers hope that the vaccine could be made widely available in sub-Saharan Africa, where it is needed the most.