Latest news with #IndianOcean
Khaleej Times
4 hours ago
- Business
- Khaleej Times
UAE, WHO launch joint effort to cut child mortality from malnutrition by 20% in Yemen
The UAE and the World Health Organisation launched a joint initiative to reduce mortality rate caused by poor health and malnutrition among children in Yemen by 20 per cent. The global body said on Sunday that the project aims to enhance maternal and child health services — targeting 80 per cent across health facilities within the next 24 months. The initiative is led by the Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan Foundation for Humanitarian Work, and in close coordination with Yemen's Ministry of Public Health and Population (MoPHP). The focus of the programme is Socotra, a Yemeni island in the Indian Ocean, where malnutrition and disease outbreaks continue to pose a serious threat. Socotra is grappling with severe food insecurity and repeated outbreaks of cholera, measles, and dengue fever. The island's under-resourced health and nutrition services leave children under five, along with pregnant and lactating women, at especially high risk of preventable diseases and death. With a population of over 83,000, Socotra is served by just 32 strained health facilities. It currently lacks essential infrastructure such as a central public health laboratory, a functional drug warehouse, and a system for pre-positioning medical supplies — all critical for timely emergency response and sustainable healthcare delivery. The healthcare system faces chronic shortages of skilled personnel, essential medicines, and emergency preparedness mechanisms. Maternal health indicators are particularly concerning: over 92 per cent of pregnant women suffer from anaemia, and antenatal care remains minimal. Additionally, nearly 37 per cent of children have not received any vaccinations. Malnutrition levels are also alarming, with the global acute malnutrition (GAM) rate at 10.9 per cent and the severe acute malnutrition (SAM) rate at 1.6 per cent — figures that reflect a serious public health emergency. As part of the programme, WHO and the UAE will focus on enhancing epidemic preparedness and disaster risk reduction. This includes equipping healthcare facilities, training staff to better respond to disease outbreaks and cyclone-related emergencies, and creating a multisectoral coordination platform. Quarterly strategic planning meetings will bring together WHO, UAE, MoPHP, and other partners to ensure ongoing collaboration and effective implementation. 'We are determined to effectively address food and health challenges faced by women and children in Socotra, in collaboration with the WHO,' said Mohamed Haji Al Khouri, director-general of the Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Foundation for Humanitarian Work. Al Khouri explained that the Khalifa Foundation, an affiliate of Erth Zayed Philanthropies, would work with the WHO to develop appropriate solutions to nutritional and health challenges using a new survey based on current data. 'The joint initiative aims to reduce maternal and child mortality caused by malnutrition through a comprehensive plan of action. This will enhance maternal, infant, and child care services, and improve emergency preparedness and response to epidemics,' he added.' 'This programme reflects a joint commitment by WHO and the UAE to improving the health and well-being of vulnerable populations, particularly mothers and children, while reinforcing healthcare systems in crisis-affected areas," said Dr Ferima Coulibaly-Zerbo, acting representative of WHO in Yemen. "We are working to create more resilient, equitable, and responsive health services for the people of Socotra, establishing a foundation for long-term health security on the island and contributing to a stronger and healthier Yemen,' she added.
Yahoo
21 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Elon Musk says SpaceX will launch its biggest Starship yet this year, but Mars in 2026 is '50/50'
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. SpaceX is still shooting for Mars next year with its giant Starship vehicle, despite some recent explosive hiccups with the megarocket. That was one of the takeaways from a new update that Elon Musk just gave about SpaceX's plans to help humanity settle the Red Planet — an ambitious goal that has driven the billionaire for decades. "Progress is measured by the timeline to establishing a self-sustaining civilization on Mars," Musk said in the 42-minute presentation, which SpaceX posted on X on Thursday (May 29), referring to the ongoing work with Starship. The huge rocket consists of two elements, both of which are designed to be fully and rapidly reusable: a booster called Super Heavy and a 171-foot-tall (52 meters) upper stage known as Starship, or simply Ship. Starship has nine test flights under its belt, the most recent of which launched on Tuesday (May 27). Ship reached space on that mission but experienced an anomaly shortly thereafter, apparently due to a propellant leak; SpaceX lost control of the vehicle, and it fell back to Earth in an uncontrolled reentry over the Indian Ocean. Ship also had issues — more serious ones, in fact — on Flight 7 and Flight 8, which launched in January and March of this year, respectively. On both occasions, Ship exploded less than 10 minutes into flight, raining debris down on the Atlantic. Musk seemed undaunted after Flight 9 on Tuesday, noting Ship's improved performance compared to the two previous liftoffs and stressing that the company has a wealth of data to analyze going forward. He struck a similar tone during the video update, which was filmed at Starbase, the newly incorporated South Texas city that serves as Starship's manufacturing and launch hub. "So with each launch — especially in the early days of Starship — each launch is about learning more and more about what's needed to make life multiplanetary and to improve Starship to the point where it can be taking, ultimately, hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of people to Mars," he added. Starship is the biggest and most powerful rocket ever built; the current version stands about 397 feet (121 m) tall. But it will get even larger in the coming years, if all goes according to plan. The next iteration of the vehicle, known as Version 3, will be 408 feet (124.4 m) tall when fully stacked, Musk said during the presentation. This is the variant that is expected to be capable of flying to, and helping to populate, Mars. Musk said it will be reliably and rapidly reusable, and the upper stage will be refueled in Earth orbit — a necessary ability for deep-space travel, as launching with all the necessary fuel onboard would leave little available mass for payload (such as people and habitat modules). Version 3 should fly soon: "We're aiming to launch for the first time at the end of this year," Musk said. If everything works out, Starship could be headed for Mars just a year or so later, he added. The Red Planet and Earth align properly for interplanetary missions just once every 26 months. The next such opportunity comes in 2026, in November and December, and SpaceX will try to hit it; the goal is to send five Starship Version 3 vehicles to the Red Planet to prove out the vehicle and its associated tech, Musk said. These first Mars Ships — and it will be just Ships, as Super Heavy will come back down to Earth shortly after liftoff for inspection and reflight — will be uncrewed. But they will carry some Optimus humanoid robots, which are built by Tesla, the car company that Musk leads. "That would be an epic picture — to see Optimus walking around on the surface of Mars," he said. It's unclear when we'll be getting those photos, however, because hitting the 2026 launch target will be tough. The biggest hurdle, according to Musk, will be mastering off-Earth refueling of Ship. "We'll try to make that opportunity, if we get lucky," Musk said. "I think we probably have a 50/50 chance right now." Related stories: — SpaceX likely to get FAA approval for 25 Starship launches in 2025 — SpaceX reached space with Starship Flight 9 launch, then lost control of its giant spaceship (video) — Starship and Super Heavy explained If Starship does indeed fly to Mars in 2026, SpaceX will ramp up the ambition and the activity, sending about 20 Ships to the Red Planet between 2028 and 2029. And there could be people on those flights. "Assuming the first missions are successful and they land successfully, we'd send humans on the next mission, and we really start building the infrastructure for Mars," Musk said. Or, "maybe, just to be safe, we might just do two landing episodes with Optimus and do the third one with humans," he added. "We'll see." SpaceX has already been scouting out possible sites for the Mars city. The right place will be relatively far from Mars' frigid poles, have accessible water ice and be relatively flat, to facilitate safe rocket landings and liftoffs. The leading candidate right now, according to Musk, is Arcadia Planitia, a volcanic plain in the Red Planet's northern hemisphere. One hundred Ships could fly to Mars during the third launch window from now (in 2030-2031), and 500 or so in the one after that (in 2033), according to one of the slides in Musk's presentation. The end goal is a self-sufficient city on Mars, which will be able to survive even if it somehow becomes cut off from our civilization on Earth. Such a city will likely consist of more than a million people, and require the transport of millions of tons of cargo across deep space. Such a city would, in Musk's view, be built and serviced with the aid of Starship — perhaps most efficiently by a future version that stands 466 feet (142 m) tall when fully stacked. When this city is mature, several thousand Ship upper stages could be arriving and leaving during each Earth-Mars launch window, he said. "This is, like, an incredible thing to have — this amazing city on Mars, the first city on another planet and a new world. And it's also an opportunity, I think, for the Martians to rethink how they want civilization to be," Musk said. "All right, let's get it done!"
Asharq Al-Awsat
a day ago
- Business
- Asharq Al-Awsat
FAA Demands Accident Probe into SpaceX's Latest Out-of-control Starship Flight
The Federal Aviation Administration is demanding an accident investigation into this week's out-of-control Starship flight by SpaceX. Tuesday's test flight from Texas lasted longer than the previous two failed demos of the world's biggest and most powerful rocket, which ended in flames over the Atlantic. The latest spacecraft made it halfway around the world to the Indian Ocean, but not before going into a spin and breaking apart. According to The Associated Press, the FAA said Friday that no injuries or public damage were reported. The first-stage booster — recycled from an earlier flight — also burst apart while descending over the Gulf of Mexico. But that was the result of deliberately extreme testing approved by the FAA in advance. All wreckage from both sections of the 403-foot (123-meter) rocket came down within the designated hazard zones, according to the FAA. The FAA will oversee SpaceX's investigation, which is required before another Starship can launch. CEO Elon Musk said he wants to pick up the pace of Starship test flights, with the ultimate goal of launching them to Mars. NASA needs Starship as the means of landing astronauts on the moon in the next few years.
The National
2 days ago
- Business
- The National
Madagascar looks to deepen investment ties with the UAE, says country's top diplomat
Madagascar is seeking to deepen investment co-operation and strengthen ties with the UAE, the country's top diplomat said during a visit as part of a high-level delegation to take part in a two-day business forum. The Madagascar Business Forum was held in Dubai this week. It brought together more than 60 Malagasy business owners and entrepreneurs to connect with Emirati counterparts. 'This forum is part of our efforts to reinforce both economic and diplomatic ties between our two nations,' Madagascar's Foreign Minister, Rafaravavitafika Rasata, told The National. 'These two days are dedicated to expanding our economic partnership with the UAE.' Over the past nine years, Madagascar and the UAE have cultivated a growing relationship marked by strategic co-operation across various sectors, including infrastructure development, humanitarian aid, economic investment and digital innovation. Madagascar views the Emirates as a strategic partner for economic recovery and development, while the UAE sees the island nation as a gateway to African markets and a partner in advancing sustainable development initiatives in the Indian Ocean region. Emirates Airline launched direct flights from Dubai to Antananarivo last year and increased its services from four weekly flights to six as of April, responding to demand for both passenger and cargo transport. 'This demonstrates growing confidence in our market,' said Ms Rasata. 'It is a huge opportunity to position Madagascar not only as a tourist destination but also as a land of opportunity for investors.' Untapped potential Situated in the western Indian Ocean, Madagascar is the fourth-largest island in the world – larger in land mass than Germany and Spain combined. Despite its size and natural wealth, the country remains relatively undiscovered by international travellers. Surrounded by well-known Indian Ocean holiday destinations like the Maldives, Seychelles and Mauritius, Madagascar stands out for its biodiversity and eco-tourism appeal. 'Our country has won the Indian Ocean's Leading Green Destination award seven times,' noted the minister. 'We're prioritising sustainable and community-based tourism that highlights local culture and biodiversity.' She also pointed to agriculture as a key area for potential Emirati investment, particularly in the context of food security. 'Madagascar is a vast country – I would even call it a quasi-continent,' she said. 'With nearly 600,000 square kilometres of land, and 36 million hectares of arable land, there is immense potential for agribusiness and agricultural transformation.' Regional engagement Madagascar sits at a strategic location along key Indian Ocean shipping lanes, serving as a maritime crossroads between Africa, Asia and the Middle East. Its position near major east-west trade routes makes it a potential hub for maritime commerce, naval logistics and regional connectivity. 'We're extending our main port in Toamasina, and this expansion, expected to be completed by 2026, will further cement our role as a trade hub,' Ms Rasata said. She added that the country's natural assets, including housing 5 per cent of the world's biodiversity, position it uniquely on both the economic and ecological fronts. 'Madagascar has a major role to play – not only as a strategically located country but also as a dynamic market with investment opportunities in agriculture, tourism and renewable energy for Gulf countries and other partners.' Challenges at home Despite these ambitions, Madagascar faces domestic hurdles. A February 2025 World Bank report said that Madagascar's economy is recovering, but growth remains insufficient and too uneven to significantly improve living standards. 'Economic growth remained at 4.2 per cent in 2024. Growth is expected to gradually pick up this year, with projections averaging 4.7 per cent over 2025–2027,' the report said. Ms Rasata emphasised the need to tackle rural poverty, noting that around 80 per cent of the Malagasy population lives in rural areas and depends on agriculture for survival. 'Our focus is on transforming the agricultural sector to support food security, create jobs and add value,' she said. 'Madagascar is already Africa's third-largest rice producer after Nigeria and Egypt. Our goal is to become the first, and to meet local demand, which still requires importing 500,000 tons annually.' She also underscored the importance of attracting both foreign and domestic investment to support this transformation. The World Bank has stressed the urgency of accelerating structural reforms in energy, digital infrastructure and mining to sustain higher growth. Among the most pressing concerns is Madagascar's struggling energy sector. Only about one third of the country's 30 million people have access to electricity, according to the IMF. Critics cite mismanagement, poor governance, and corruption at the state utility Jirama as core obstacles. 'Our energy challenge is existential and we're treating it as such,' said Ms Rasata. 'There is strong political will to ensure our national utility can meet local demand and expand investment in renewable energy.' She outlined the government's target to double the country's energy generation capacity by 2030, with 70 per cent coming from green sources. 'All our efforts are aligned with this goal,' she added.
The Independent
2 days ago
- General
- The Independent
Royal Navy warship seizes £30m of drugs in Middle East
A Royal Navy frigate has seized drugs worth £30 million after stalking the drug-runner's boat for more than 24 hours in the Arabian Sea after the illegal operations were spotted by the warship's drones. HMS Lancaster deployed its Wildcat helicopter to oversee the operation involving a boarding team from 42 Commando which seized 80 packages of narcotics. A Royal Navy spokesman said the haul was made up of 1,000kg of heroin, 660kg of hashish, and 6kg of amphetamine, worth an estimated £30 million on UK streets. He said: 'It's the second bust in three months for the British warship, which is based in Bahrain and is attached to a New Zealand-led international task spread across the Indian Ocean hunting down illegal activity. 'And it's the second time the Royal Navy's new Peregrine drones – mini-helicopters which conduct reconnaissance sorties for hours on end and feed live information back to Lancaster's operations room – have played a vital part in the success.' Lancaster's commanding officer, Commander Chris Chew, said: 'This is another example of where Lancaster has delivered at range, in isolation, utilising her own organic assets. 'Whether they come in the form of her Wildcat, our uncrewed air system Peregrine, embarked intelligence team or her Royal Marine boarding team, they delivered on operations in support of the Combined Maritime Forces and New Zealand-led Combined Task Force 150.' Armed forces minister Luke Pollard said: 'I congratulate the crew of HMS Lancaster on this significant seizure, which is keeping dangerous and illegal drugs off our streets. 'This operation highlights the unique role our Royal Navy contributes, working to disrupt criminal operations around the world, keeping us secure at home and strong abroad.'
