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Malaria Vaccine Breakthrough, Modi's Temple Triumph, Google's Satellite Rival
Just reporting the facts.
Centrist Chronicle
January 24, 2024
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Yesterday, Cameroon launched the world's inaugural routine vaccination program against malaria for children, responding to a recent upsurge in cases of the disease transmitted by mosquitoes. The program aims to administer the four-dose vaccine to more than 250,000 children aged 5 months and older this year, with 19 other African nations preparing to implement similar initiatives.
Malaria, a disease caused by the microscopic Plasmodium parasite, leads to the infection and destruction of red blood cells. Annually, over 200 million people are diagnosed with malaria, resulting in approximately 600,000 deaths, of which nearly 80% are children. The majority of malaria cases occur in sub-Saharan Africa, although the United States reported its first local cases in many years last year.
The vaccines, developed over three decades and first authorized in 2021, have demonstrated an efficacy of about 30% in reducing or preventing symptoms, as seen in Phase 3 clinical trials. Health officials assert that employing a combination of antimalarial drugs, vaccines, and mosquito nets represents the most effective strategy against the disease.
Yesterday, the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, officially opened a new Hindu temple in Ayodhya, an event that also informally signified the start of his campaign for reelection in the upcoming national elections.
Occupying an area of 70 acres, the temple is believed by numerous Hindus to be located at the birthplace of Lord Ram. The construction, which is thought to have cost approximately $217 million, was financed largely through private donations. Historically, the site was the location of the 16th-century Babri Mosque until its demolition in 1992 by Hindu groups, an act that sparked intense communal violence resulting in the loss of over 2,000 lives. In 2019, India's Supreme Court authorized the building of a new Hindu temple on this site, while also allocating 5 acres of land nearby for the construction of a new mosque. Muslims make up about 204 million of India's 1.4 billion population.
The inauguration ceremony was met with boycotts from various opposition parties, who raised concerns about the event's adherence to the country's secular values.
Google, AT&T, and Vodafone have collectively committed $206.5 million to AST SpaceMobile, a company competing with Starlink that aims to provide mobile phone services via satellites in low-Earth orbit.
This marks the inaugural investment in AST SpaceMobile by both Google and AT&T, whereas Vodafone had previously invested in the satellite firm. AST SpaceMobile disclosed this financing in a press release on Thursday, and on the same day, they also announced a public offering of their stock valued at $100 million.