Photo: DICSON/Unsplash (CC0)
In today’s edition: India sees its infant mortality rate drop to its lowest level on record, Greece launches the world’s first-ever national satellite system that exclusively detects and tracks wildfires, and fast-acting endometriosis tests are to be made available on the NHS in England and Wales.
Infant deaths have declined across the country, down from 30 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2019 to 24 in 2024. This decrease has been attributed to a big increase in institutional deliveries alongside better and more expanded maternal and child healthcare services across the region.
Source: Times of India
The Hellenic Fire System is a four-satellite constellation that exclusively detects and tracks wildfires and will ultimately give real-time monitoring across the entirety of Greece. The nanosatellites are now fully operational, sending instant alerts to firefighters who can in turn respond accordingly.
Source: Euronews
Two tests that can dramatically speed up diagnosis of endometriosis are to be made available on the NHS in England and Wales, in a move hailed as a “gamechanger” for millions of women. Current tests include ultrasound scans, MRI or a laparoscopy. But despite the devastating effect it can have on a woman’s physical and mental health, getting a diagnosis can take years.
Source: The Guardian
According to new data from the first-ever detailed analysis of immunisation targets on the continent, nearly 20 million measles-related deaths have been avoided thanks to increasing vaccination coverage. Since 2000, 44 African countries have introduced a second dose of measles-containing vaccine into routine immunisation, increasing coverage rates from 5% in 2000 to 55% in 2024.
Source: GAVI
State officials have approved the transfer of Blues Beach and the surrounding bluffs to Kai Poma, a nonprofit founded by representatives of the Sherwood Valley Band of Pomo Indians, Round Valley Indian Tribes and Coyote Valley Band of Pomo Indians. The move marks the first time Caltrans-managed land has been returned to Indigenous tribes.
Source: LA Times
The eight gigawatts of installed solar supported by community solar programmes and the NY-Sun scheme is enough to power more than 1.3 million homes and businesses. This includes those in disadvantaged communities. More than 276,000 projects are currently operating statewide, with another 2.7 gigawatts in development.
Source: WWNYTV
In 2025, Switzerland-based start-up Sun-Ways unveiled the world’s first-ever solar railway after rolling out 100 metres of photovoltaic panels in between active tracks in Buttes, a village in the Val-de-Travers district. The positive results yielded just one year into the trial mean the installation of a permanent system along the railroad track is now likely.
Source: Euronews
Even as the country sees a huge boom in construction projects, the multi-billion dollar industry is still largely male-dominated. Buildher, a Nairobi-based nonprofit, is trying to change that. The organisation runs year-long training and internship schemes in carpentry, tiling, painting and other finishing trades, helping women access steadier, better-paid work in the sector.
Source: NPR
Funded by membership dues, these female-run groups carry out patrols, investigate wildlife crimes, and work alongside traditional leadership structures to censure violators and protect the animals living in the sanctuaries.
Source: Mongabay
