
A global vaccination initiative, the Big Catch-Up program, has reached 18.3 million children across 36 countries, delivering over 100 million doses of vaccines between 2023 and 2025. The program, a collaboration between Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, the World Health Organization, and UNICEF, aimed to close immunization gaps and restore routine health services disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Approximately 12.3 million of the children reached were "zero-dose" children, who had never received any vaccine, and about 15 million had not been vaccinated against measles. The initiative also administered 23 million doses of inactivated polio vaccine. The 36 participating countries, primarily in Africa and Asia, account for about 60 percent of the world's zero-dose children. The program expanded its focus to include older children aged one to five, strengthening health systems, training workers, and updating eligibility policies. Ethiopia vaccinated over 2.5 million previously zero-dose children, and Nigeria reached around two million. Despite these gains, the agencies stressed that strengthening routine immunization systems is crucial, as 14.3 million infants in 2024 did not receive a single routine vaccine, leading to a sharp rise in measles outbreaks. Tedros Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization, noted the program helped reverse a major negative consequence of the pandemic. Catherine Russell, Executive Director of UNICEF, and Sania Nishtar, Chief Executive
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Punch Nigeria.
Must ReadTesla CEO Elon Musk announced on Friday that the company's autonomous "robotaxi," the Cybercab, has begun production. This announcement followed Tesla's report of first-quarter profits that exceeded expectations. Musk shared a promotional video on X, showing the Cybercab driving off the factory floor and onto streets. He also posted a video of multiple gold-colored Cybercabs driving in formation. Tesla had previously stated on Wednesday that it was on track for "volume production" of both the Cybercab and the Tesla Semi this year, after reporting first-quarter profits of $477 million. The Cybercab, described as a self-driving robotaxi without a steering wheel or pedals, was first unveiled in the fall of 2024, with Musk anticipating its availability in 2027. Tesla initiated invitation-only robotaxi services for "early access" users in Austin, Texas, last June. In February, the company shared a photo of employees with a Cybercab, captioned "First Cybercab off the production line at Giga Texas."

The Federal Government of Nigeria has approved significant increases in peculiar allowances and other welfare benefits for civil servants, aiming to improve take-home pay and boost morale. Didi Walson-Jack, Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, announced the reforms, which affect workers under both the Consolidated Public Service Salary Structure and the Consolidated Research and Allied Institutions Salary Structure. The revised peculiar allowances will impact all grade levels, increasing earnings for both junior and senior officers. Key allowances such as duty tour allowance, estacode, and book allowance have been reviewed upwards, with virtually all allowances under the Public Service Rules now revised. A notable reform includes 100 percent Duty Tour Allowance for civil servants attending approved training programs, even if travel is not involved. Additionally, a new exit benefit scheme for retiring civil servants under the Contributory Pension Scheme will provide 100 percent of a retiree’s total annual emoluments as an exit package, effective January 1, 2026. The government also confirmed the operationalisation of the Employee Compensation Scheme for job-related injuries or death. These reforms address calls from labor unions for improved welfare amidst rising living costs.
Must ReadMeta is set to reduce its workforce by approximately 10%, laying off about 8,000 employees and leaving thousands of other positions unfilled, as it seeks productivity gains while investing heavily in artificial intelligence. This move aligns with co-founder and chief executive Mark Zuckerberg's focus on delivering "superintelligence" in the competitive AI landscape. The company's capital expenses, including infrastructure for AI, reached $22.14 billion in the last quarter, with anticipated capital expenditures for the current fiscal year ranging from $115 billion to $135 billion, driven by increased investment in Meta Superintelligence Labs and its core business. Zuckerberg expressed anticipation for advancing personal superintelligence by 2026. Analysts believe Meta's AI investments will enhance advertising efficiency and create new opportunities, such as with smart glasses. Wedbush analyst Dan Ives suggests further layoffs may occur as Meta uses AI to automate tasks and streamline operations.
Must ReadNorway announced it will present a bill this year to ban social networks for individuals under 16, making it the latest country to implement such a measure. Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store stated the legislation aims to ensure children's childhoods are not dominated by algorithms and screens, emphasizing the importance of safeguarding their digital lives. The bill will hold technology companies responsible for verifying user ages. Minister of Digitalisation and Public Governance Karianne Tung stressed that companies providing these services must implement effective age verification and comply with the law, rather than placing the responsibility on children. Other European countries like France, Spain, and Denmark have also indicated plans for a digital age of majority for social networks, while Australia and Turkey have already enacted similar bans. The European Commission is also working on protecting children and adolescents online, having unveiled an age-verification app. The Norwegian government noted that previous measures, such as national screen-time guidelines and recommendations for mobile-free schools, have already led to a decrease in children's social media use.