North Korea announced the failure of a spy satellite launch after South Korean military officials reported on Monday (27.05.2024) that Pyongyang had launched a projectile and “fragments” were detected in the sea. The state news agency KCNA quoted the deputy director of the National Aerospace Technology Administration (NATA) as saying that “the new rocket carrying the satellite exploded in mid-flight during the combustion of the first stage, resulting in a failed launch.” According to the South Korean military, it took North Korea just over 90 minutes to report the failure of the space rocket, which was launched at around 10:44 PM local time (15:44 CET) on Monday. Only two minutes after detecting the launch, South Korean radars again detected the projectile “as a large group of fragments over North Korean waters,” indicating that the rocket failed in mid-flight. Japanese alert systems also momentarily activated in Okinawa. Pyongyang has experienced yet another failure in its space program, following two unsuccessful launches of the Chollima-1 rocket in the spring and summer of 2023. However, in November, they finally succeeded in launching the projectile and placing their first spy satellite, the Malligyong-1, into low Earth orbit. North Korea has announced plans to launch three more “Malligyong” spy satellites in 2024, and they have already successfully placed a second satellite into orbit last month.
While North Korea claims that the Malligyong-1 satellite launched in November is functioning successfully, this assertion has been called into question by South Korean intelligence. The South Korean National Intelligence Service collected and analyzed the remnants of one of Pyongyang’s failed launches from early last year, and determined that they had no military utility. It is believed that the key to the success of the November launch was the involvement of Russia, which has greatly strengthened its ties with North Korea after a summit between North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and Russian President Vladimir Putin in September 2023. Multiple United Nations resolutions prohibit North Korea, which possesses nuclear weapons, from conducting ballistic missile tests. In a statement from the US Indo-Pacific Command, the US military called the launch a “blatant violation” of these resolutions and stated that it escalates tensions.
xAI, a company led by Elon Musk, has secured $6 billion in funding from a group of investors. The Series B funding will be used to bring xAI’s first products to market and accelerate research efforts. Over the past year, xAI has made significant progress in developing artificial intelligence technology, and this momentum will continue in the coming months. Investors in this round include Andreessen Horowitz, Sequoia Capital, Fidelity Management & Research, Valor Equity Partners, Vy Capital, Saudi Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal, and Kingdom Holding. Prior to this investment, xAI had a valuation of $18 billion, according to Musk. This funding will enable xAI to compete with Microsoft and Open AI in the race to develop artificial intelligence, with the latter having created Chat GPT. In July of the previous year, Musk made the announcement about the establishment of the company and followed up with the release of its artificial intelligence chatbot, Grok, in November.
The test flight of India’s Agnikul Cosmos’ first rocket was canceled just moments before its scheduled launch on Tuesday. This marks the fourth cancellation in the past three months. The previous three cancellations were due to technical issues, with one being called off only 90 seconds before takeoff. The launch was initially delayed due to a technical glitch in the countdown activities and a new lift-off time was set. However, just five seconds before the new launch time, it was put on hold to check the igniter performance and ultimately called off. The objective of the mission was to test the new “semi-cryogenic” engine and 3D-printed parts within a two-minute timeframe. If successful, it would have been a significant advancement for India, as the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has yet to achieve a successful flight using a semi-cryogenic engine, which combines liquid and gas propellants.
Agnikul Cosmos’ Agnibaan rocket is a customizable two-stage launch vehicle capable of carrying payloads weighing up to 300 kg (approximately 660 lb) to orbits at an altitude of around 700 km (435 miles), as stated by the company. In comparison, SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy can transport payloads of up to 63,500 kg to low Earth orbit.
In 2022, Skyroot, a private Indian company, successfully launched India’s first privately developed rocket from ISRO’s launch site.
Established in 2017, Agnikul, named after the Hindi and Sanskrit word for fire, is the first private space company in India.
On Wednesday, June 5, SpaceX plans to conduct the fourth test flight of its Starship rocket. However, the specific launch time is contingent upon receiving a launch license from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) before that date. Despite this, SpaceX is confident in its ability to launch the rocket on short notice, making June 5 a feasible option. The Starship rocket, standing at an impressive height of 120 meters, is the most powerful vehicle ever to take flight. It consists of the Super Heavy booster and the upper-stage Starship spacecraft. The initial test flight of the Starship occurred last year but ended prematurely due to an anomaly shortly after liftoff. The second flight achieved stage separation, and the third test, which took place two months ago, successfully accomplished many of its mission objectives, making it the most successful of the three attempts. Engineers are currently working on making the Starship system fully reusable. Unlike SpaceX’s current practice of only recovering the first stage of its Falcon 9 rocket, the goal is to land and reuse both stages of the Starship. However, this capability will not be demonstrated in the upcoming tests.
Once the Starship is fully certified, it will be used for missions involving crew and cargo transport to the moon and potentially Mars. SpaceX has also mentioned the possibility of using the spacecraft for high-speed transportation, which could enable travel to any destination on Earth in one hour or less.
The fourth test flight of the Starship will take place at SpaceX’s Starbase facility in Boca Chica, Texas. Pending approval from the FAA, the mission team aims to launch the rocket on Wednesday, June 5, at 7 a.m. CT (8 a.m. ET). The buildup and launch of SpaceX’s Super Heavy rocket, powered by 33 Raptor engines, will be live-streamed on their X account. Viewers will have the opportunity to witness an awe-inspiring event as the massive rocket propels into the sky. The live stream will feature multiple camera angles, some of which will be attached to the two rocket stages, capturing the different stages of the mission. This includes the thrilling launch, stage separation, and the insertion of the Starship spacecraft into orbit.
In the event of any changes to the schedule, we will provide updates here. However, you can also stay updated by monitoring SpaceX’s X account for the most recent information.
The latest application of robotics in the military has a striking resemblance to the fictional world of the TV show “Black Mirror”. During recent military exercises with Cambodia, China showcased a robot dog equipped with an automatic rifle, effectively transforming a friendly electronic companion into a lethal weapon.
In a video released by state broadcaster CCTV, a soldier named Chen Wei explains that the robot dog can now be deployed in urban combat operations, taking over tasks such as reconnaissance, enemy identification, and target striking previously carried out by human soldiers.
The two-minute video from the China-Cambodia “Golden Dragon 2024” exercise demonstrates the robot dog’s capabilities, including walking, hopping, lying down, and moving backwards, all controlled remotely by an operator.
In one particular drill, the rifle-wielding robot dog leads an infantry unit through a simulated building, showcasing its potential in combat scenarios. The latter part of the video showcases China’s “variety of intelligent unmanned equipment,” including an automatic rifle mounted on a six-rotor aerial drone. This demonstrates the military’s utilization of robot dogs and small aerial drones, which is not a new concept. In fact, a CCTV video from last year showcased China’s rifle-armed electronic canines during a joint exercise involving several Asian countries.
In 2020, the US Air Force demonstrated its use of robotic dogs as part of the Advanced Battle Management System (ABMS), which employs artificial intelligence and rapid data analytics to detect and counter threats to US military assets.
Furthermore, since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, drones have become increasingly prevalent on the battlefield, across land, sea, and air. These affordable remotely controlled vehicles have the capability to neutralize sophisticated military machinery such as tanks and warships. The use of drones in the Ukraine battlefields has demonstrated their ability to level the playing field, allowing military forces with limited defense budgets to effectively compete against better equipped and funded adversaries.
China, a major exporter of drones, implemented export controls on drone technology last year, citing the need to protect national security and interests.
Despite this, the robotic dogs used by the People’s Liberation Army have garnered significant attention and publicity.
These robotic dogs have been featured on China’s tightly regulated social media platforms for at least a year.
The presence of these robotic dogs in joint exercises with foreign militaries, as reported by the state-run Global Times, indicates an advanced stage of development. An unnamed expert cited by Global Times stated that typically, new equipment is not introduced during joint exercises with other countries. Therefore, the robot dogs must have achieved a certain level of technical maturity.
As more individuals begin to utilize GLP-1 weight-loss medications, the US economy may experience a significant boost in growth, according to a report by Goldman Sachs. The investment bank predicts that if 60 million Americans were to take a GLP-1 drug, the country’s GDP could increase by 1%. In addition, Goldman Sachs highlights the economic costs associated with poor health. In a recent note, a Goldman Sachs analyst stated that the more people who take these weight-loss drugs, the faster the US economy could grow. Jan Hatzius, the chief economist at Goldman Sachs, further explained that if 60 million Americans were to utilize GLP-1 drugs by 2028, the US GDP could potentially grow by an additional 1%. Hatzius emphasized that health-related issues hinder individuals from participating in the workforce and ultimately impede economic growth. Obesity, in particular, increases the risk of severe health conditions such as heart attacks, strokes, and diabetes. According to Hatzius, if poor health outcomes did not limit labor supply in the US, GDP could potentially be over 10% higher. This means that medications that have shown promise in improving patient health outcomes could have a significant impact on the overall economy. Hatzius explains that poor health imposes significant economic costs and that improving health outcomes could diminish the negative effects on economic activity. Some examples of such medications include GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic, Mounjaro, Wegovy, and Zepbound, which are used to treat type 2 diabetes and obesity and are manufactured by Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly and Company. Sales of these drugs have skyrocketed, with some users experiencing significant weight loss of up to 20%. A recent study revealed that patients who took Wegovy for weight loss reduced their risk of heart attacks, strokes, and cardiovascular death by 20%.
Considering that the obesity rate in the US stands at approximately 40%, it is estimated that tens of millions of Americans could be prescribed GLP-1 drugs in the coming years. However, the extent of prescription will depend on the outcomes of ongoing clinical trials and the coverage provided by health insurers.
“If the usage of GLP-1 drugs increases to this extent and leads to a decrease in obesity rates, we can expect significant positive impacts on the overall economy,” stated Hatzius.
One potential spillover effect could be an increase in productivity. Hatzius referred to academic studies that have shown a correlation between obesity and decreased work participation and productivity levels. According to Hatzius, these estimates indicate that the health complications caused by obesity reduce per-capita output by more than 3%, resulting in a decrease of over 1% in total output when combined with the high incidence of obesity in the US population, which is over 40%.
Additionally, if there are further productivity gains through improved health outcomes, the impact on GDP growth could range from 0.6% to 3.2%.
Hatzius also noted that historically, advancements in health have reduced the number of years lost to disease and disability by 10% per decade in developed market economies. Based on this trend, a 10-year leap in health progress beyond current expectations could increase the US GDP by 1%.
Uganda has implemented a nationwide yellow fever vaccination campaign to protect its population from the mosquito-borne disease that has been a longstanding threat. As of the end of April, 12.2 million out of the targeted 14 million people have been vaccinated, according to Dr. Michael Baganizi, an official in charge of immunization at the health ministry. To adhere to international health regulations, Uganda will now require individuals traveling to and from the country to have a yellow fever vaccination card. This requirement aims to encourage more people to get vaccinated, addressing concerns about vaccine hesitancy in the country. The free single-dose vaccine has been made available to Ugandans aged 1 to 60, with vaccination centers set up in various locations, including schools, universities, hospitals, and local government units in the capital city of Kampala and other areas. Previously, Ugandans had to pay $27 at private clinics to receive the yellow fever shot. Uganda, a country with a population of 45 million, is classified as high risk for yellow fever outbreaks along with 26 other African countries. The World Health Organization reports that there are approximately 200,000 cases and 30,000 deaths globally each year from the disease. Earlier this year, Uganda experienced an outbreak in the central districts of Buikwe and Buvuma. Yellow fever is caused by a virus transmitted through mosquito bites, with the majority of infections being asymptomatic. Symptoms can include fever, muscle pain, headache, loss of appetite, and nausea or vomiting. Uganda’s vaccination initiative is part of a global strategy launched in 2017 by the WHO and partners to eliminate yellow fever by 2026, aiming to protect nearly one billion people in Africa and the Americas. According to a midterm evaluation conducted last year, the strategy to combat yellow fever in Africa has been successful, with 185 million people in high-risk countries receiving vaccinations by August 2022.
In Uganda, the yellow fever shot is commonly administered to individuals traveling to countries like South Africa, where proof of vaccination is required upon arrival.
James Odite, a nurse at a designated vaccination center in Kampala, reported that there were hundreds of unused doses of the yellow fever vaccine after the vaccination campaign ended. However, these doses will be utilized in a future mass campaign.
One concern expressed by vaccine-hesitant individuals was whether the government was distributing expired vaccines. In response, Baganizi, an immunization official, stated that the government has invested in community “sensitization” sessions to educate people about the life-saving benefits of vaccines.
It was supposed to be an exciting time. The new mother had just given birth at age 42, after a much-desired pregnancy. But within a week, she developed postpartum depression.
The medical condition — characterized by extreme sadness, anxiety or despair following childbirth — affects up to 1 in 5 women.
At five months postpartum, the woman was stuck in a haze, said Dr. Misty Richards, medical director of perinatal psychiatry at the Maternal Outpatient Mental Health Services Clinic at UCLA Health, who treated the patient and described her experience to NBC News.
“She wasn’t taking showers. She wasn’t eating,” Richards said, adding that the woman’s husband had taken a leave of absence from work to care for his wife and new baby.
Richards’ clinic has treated hundreds of these patients. At first, she connected the woman to an intensive outpatient program, but even while attending, the patient was actively suicidal, Richards said.
The Food and Drug Administration approved the drug in August, but it took months for supply to become available. Several psychiatrists said they’re just starting to write their first prescriptions, since it has taken time to find good candidates for the drug who are willing to take it. They hope it will be a game changer because it’s fast-acting and can be taken at home.
Richards said the woman who took zuranolone, the first of her patients so far, saw her depression symptoms start to resolve around three days in. The patient was seeing dramatic results as of day eight and didn’t experience any side effects.
“She tells me she feels like she just woke up,” Richards said, adding: “I truly feel like I’m meeting her for the first time. Her husband was in tears, super grateful. Just a major, grand slam success story — which, by the way, we don’t tend to see in psychiatry.”
Before zuranolone, the only available treatment was an intravenous injection approved in 2019. But it comes with a risk of excessive sedation and sudden loss of consciousness, so only certain treatment centers are allowed to administer it and patients must stay in the hospital for 2 1/2 days. Other women with the condition are given standard antidepressants, but those usually take weeks to start working. (Zuranolone can be taken alongside widely used antidepressants).
The FDA fast-tracked zuranolone in 2017 — a step taken for drugs that could treat serious conditions and fill an unmet medical need. In a pair of clinical trials, it was shown to improve symptoms of severe postpartum depression — such as anxiety, difficulty sleeping, loss of pleasure, low energy, guilt or social withdrawal — as early as three days in. The pills are taken daily for two weeks, in the evening with a fatty meal.
The medication isn’t ideal for mild postpartum depression, or the “baby blues,” doctors said. Instead, they’re considering it for patients who have a hard time caring for themselves or their babies — in other words, those for whom medical intervention could be lifesaving.
Challenges in prescribing the new pill
Despite the potential benefits of zurnalone, psychiatrists said some patients are hesitant to take a drug that’s new to the market, wary of side effects or concerned about practical barriers.
Zuranolone can cause drowsiness, dizziness, diarrhea, fatigue and urinary tract infections. So far, doctors said they’ve heard of patients experiencing drowsiness or dizziness, but not to an extreme degree.
Because of this effect, however, the medication comes with a warning not to drive or operate heavy machinery for at least 12 hours after taking it.
Dr. Uruj Haider, medical director of consultation services at the Massachusetts Child Psychiatry Access Program for Moms, said some patients have expressed concern that they’ll be too tired to feed their babies at night. She recommends that patients have another caretaker in the house overnight.
“If they have toddlers and they don’t have someone at home to watch the baby or other children at night, that can be very challenging to be on a medication that can make you feel very drowsy,” she said.
Other patients have declined the medication due to a lack of safety data on breastfeeding, Haider added. A small amount of zuranolone can pass from mother to child through breast milk, but studies haven’t evaluated if it poses any harm.
Richards said she recommends that new moms discard their breast milk while taking zuranolone.
But Dr. Julia Frew, a psychiatrist at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, said she suspects that the benefits of breastfeeding outweigh the risk of medication exposure, particularly since the transfer of other antidepressants through breast milk hasn’t been shown to pose a significant risk.
“I think it could be a very reasonable choice for someone to continue breastfeeding while they’re taking it,” she said. “Some people may be uncomfortable with that, and they may want to choose to pump and dump.”
Additionally, zuranolone is classified as a Schedule IV controlled substance — in the same class as Xanax — meaning there’s a low risk of addiction.
“I don’t think we really know the addictive potential. There’s hope that it’s not addictive,” said Dr. Katrina Furey, a clinical instructor in the Yale School of Medicine’s psychiatry department.
Patients report improvements
Haider said one of her patients has completed a 14-day course of zuranolone, and the woman’s symptoms started to improve by day four.
“The only side effect was the drowsiness at night, and that was gone by the morning,” she said. The woman welcomed the drowsiness, Haider added, since it helped her sleep.
Frew similarly said she has had one patient finish zuranolone this year. The woman had chronic depression before her pregnancy, which got significantly worse postpartum. Other medications had failed to treat her symptoms, but zuranolone offered some relief, she said.
But it’s not yet known whether zuranolone has a lasting effect. In trials, patients saw a benefit for up to four weeks, but the studies didn’t follow people for longer than that.
“We don’t know yet if people are going to need booster doses down the road,” Furey said.
A ‘cumbersome, clunky’ insurance process
Some psychiatrists said they’ve struggled with the process of getting zuranolone approved by insurance companies.
The medication must go through one of five specialty pharmacies and be delivered to patients by mail.
“You cannot pick up zuranolone from your local CVS,” Haider said.
Insurance companies also have varying requirements about how severe patients’ symptoms need to be to get zuranolone covered. Some insurers require people to have tried and failed a standard antidepressant first.
“It’s a cumbersome, clunky process,” Richards said, adding that many patients don’t have time to wait for the kinks to iron out or actively manage their deliveries.
“If someone is severely depressed — and that is the reason you would be prescribing zuranolone instead of anything else — asking them to kind of wait for this process and then to engage in this process, it is hard,” she added.
Nevertheless, psychiatrists said they’re eager to recommend the drug to patients.
“I’ve started telling all my patients about it,” Furey said. “Just so they know it’s available and they know that there is this new option.”
