Katalin Kariko from Hungary and American-born Drew Weissman have won the 2023 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for their research that paved the way for the first mRNA vaccines against COVID-19, made by Pfizer and Moderna.
The Nobel Prize committee announced the winners in Sweden on Monday.
“The laureates contributed to the unprecedented rate of vaccine development during one of the greatest threats to human health in modern times,” the jury said in Sweden’s capital Stockholm on Monday.
Professor at Sagan’s University in Hungary and an adjunct professor at the University of Pennsylvania, Katalin Kariko researched mRNA along with Drew Weissman at the University of Pennsylvania.
Their prize will include a diploma, a gold medal and a $1 million cheque on December 10 in Stockholm. That day will also mark the death anniversary of Alfred Nobel, the scientist who created the prize in his last will and testament.
Actor Syeda Tuba Anwar recently spoke out against violence against women and has admitted that she has been the target of rape and murder threats.
In a podcast teaser, Tuba discussed her ordeal and the threats she received from zealots. The late televangelist and politician Aamir Liaquat’s ex-wife recalled feeling vulnerable in the face of such campaigns.
She mentioned having to cope with nasty online and offline trolling, labeling her as naive to handle the humiliating trends. According to Tuba, she never considered how the general public would respond before starting the connection.
In response to scandalous efforts, she stated that it was acceptable to utilize another person as a stepping stone to stardom. In order to shed light on her divorce, Tuba stated she had to go through a lot. She also noted that divorce is still stigmatized in society, and she had no idea she would have to go through such anguish.
Social media users criticized Tuba for being a “house wrecker” of the well-known politician who passed away last year after she was linked to one of them.
Last year she discussed the problematic culture of victim blaming in an interview with BBC Urdu. The former wife of late televangelist Aamir Liaquat Hussain, has been quite vocal about how violence against women often ends up in harsh victim blaming instead of a strong judicial support system in the country.
The starlet started campaigning for awareness regarding Noor Mukadam’s case especially because she could “relate” to the experience.
While opening up about supporting the late Noor Mukadam , the Bichoo star said, “Noor Mukadam’s incident was one such incident which came at the point when I was going through a lot in my life, I could connect to Noor on another level, I had never met Noor but I felt very deeply for her, because there were a lot of things which I faced, probably, I can’t tell all things, I don’t know why people victim blame in our society.”
Syeda added, “I believe I should raise my voice to educate people and I will keep on doing that”.
“There’s a norm of victim blaming in our society. I don’t understand why it happens, to be honest, maybe it’s a lack of education or perhaps awareness, but I feel like it is my responsibility as a public figure to aware people of what’s happening around them. If around such sensitive topics, even if one person learns or unlearns their toxic behaviours from me, then I feel like my purpose is complete,” she added about the need to make people aware of how blaming the victim only makes the problem worse.
Tuba also addressed cyber trolling on social media. She is often trending on social media for various reasons, mostly connected to her ex-husband and her negative roles on television. Speaking about how she deals with the heavy doses of negative trolling from social media, she said, “When this all started, I’d get very emotional and I couldn’t process why people were doing that to me. It still happens sometimes but you know, I often think about how all of us in our lives dislike people around us but for people to actually open their social media and type out curses for me, I can only imagine how much negativity they store within them. I think all of us should think 100 times before writing anything about how our words can impact someone.”
She further emphasised that it’s not just her who faces negative trolling, no other celebrity is spared. “It’s not just me. I’ll open any celebrity’s page, and there will be at least one comment that spews hate for them and has a curse word in it. Some people just have it worse.”
Tuba’s comment garnered backlash from fellow actor Mathira.
Mathira grilled the newbie and said that Aamir helped her in creating a name in the entertainment industry and hence Tuba should be thankful to him rather than “seeking attention.” She said the Bisaat actress should learn to respect and forgive the deceased.
In response to the Blind Love diva’s remarks, Anwar clapped back at Mathira on Instagram for making false assumptions. Anwar said that Mathira should check the complete interview and she should think before meddling in others’ personal lives. Tuba also revealed that she called Mathira to clarify things but the host didn’t take up her call.
Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif has tested positive for the coronavirus for the third time, Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb confirmed on Tuesday.
In a tweet, the minister said that the Premier was feeling unwell for the past two days and took a Covid-19 test today as per the doctor’s advice.
وزیراعظم شہباز شریف کورونا پازیٹو ہوگئے ہیں۔ دو روز سے طبیعت ناساز تھی۔ ڈاکٹر کے مشورے سے آج کرونا ٹیسٹ کروایا گیا عوام اور کارکنان سے وزیراعظم کی جلد صحت یابی کی دعا کی اپیل ہے۔
She appealed to the nation and to PML-N workers to pray for Shehbaz Sharif’s speedy recovery.
This is the third time the prime minister has tested positive for the virus. He had previously contracted Covid-19 earlier this year in January and once before in June 2020.
Shehbaz Sharif landed back in Pakistan on Monday after a brief but busy trip to London. However, he had reportedly not been feeling well. It was also reported that while the Prime Minister was in London, he felt unwell and delayed his departure to Pakistan by a day.
According to the National Institute of Health (NIH), the Covid-19 positivity rate in Pakistan has reached 2.48 per cent and three people have lost their lives to the deadly virus in the last 24 hours.
In addition, 416 cases of Covid-19 were reported in Pakistan on August 21. A total of 16,764 tests were conducted in the past 24 hours.
According to the NIH data, 152 Covid-19 patients are in critical care.
COVID-19 Statistics 22 August 2022 Total Tests in Last 24 Hours: 16,764 Positive Cases: 416 Positivity %: 2.48% Deaths: 03 Patients on Critical Care: 152
In March this year, the government announced the closure of the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC). The body was set up in March 2020 to deal with Covid-19.
According to the National Institute of Health (NIH), the Covid-19 positivity rate in Pakistan has reached 3.85 per cent.
In addition, 806 cases of Covid-19 were reported in Pakistan on August 2 and nine people have lost their lives to the deadly virus. A total of 20,949 tests were conducted in the past 24 hours.
According to the NIH data, 160 Covid-19 patients are in critical care.
COVID-19 Statistics 03 August 2022 Total Tests in Last 24 Hours: 20,949 Positive Cases: 806 Positivity %: 3.85% Deaths: 09 Patients on Critical Care: 160
In March this year, the government announced the closure of the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC). The body was set up in March 2020 to deal with Covid-19.
Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif in June urged Pakistanis to follow Covid-related standard operating procedures (SOPs) amid a surge in coronavirus cases.
The largest sustained decline in childhood vaccinations in approximately 30 years has been recorded in official data published by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF).
According to WHO, 18 million children did not receive a single vaccine in 2021, which is the largest decline in 29 years, due to Covid-related disruptions, emergencies and misinformation. Around 25 million children around the world missed out on routine vaccinations in 2021, which is two million more than those who missed out in 2020 and six million more than in 2019, highlighting the growing number of children at risk from devastating but preventable diseases. The percentage of children who received three doses of the vaccine against diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (DTP3) – a marker for immunisation coverage within and across countries – fell 5 percentage points between 2019 and 2021 to 81 per cent.
The decline was due to many factors including an increased number of children living in conflict and fragile settings, increased misinformation and Covid-related issues such as service and supply chain disruptions.
However, Pakistan returned to pre-pandemic levels of vaccination coverage due to high-level government commitment and significant catch-up immunisation efforts. WHO and UNICEF applauded Pakistan’s efforts to achieve this in the midst of a pandemic, when healthcare systems and health workers were under significant strain.
1⃣8⃣ million children did not receive a single vaccine in 2021 – the largest ↘️ in 29 years, due to:
— World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) July 14, 2022
“This is a red alert for child health. We are witnessing the largest sustained drop in childhood immunisation in a generation. The consequences will be measured in lives,” said Catherine Russell, UNICEF Executive Director.
“While a pandemic hangover was expected last year as a result of Covid-19 disruptions and lockdowns, what we are seeing now is a continued decline. Covid-19 is not an excuse. We need immunisation catch-ups for the missing millions or we will inevitably witness more outbreaks, more sick children and greater pressure on already strained health systems,” added Russell.
Bollywood actors Shah Rukh Khan Kartik Aaryan, Katrina Kaif, and Aditya Roy Kapur have tested positive for Covid’19 virus.
Kaif also tested positive in April 2021. This time she had to skip the IIFA 2022 ceremony on Saturday, where her husband, actor Vicky Kaushal, was awarded the Best Actor Male for Sardar UdhamSingh. Katrina and Vicky were spotted together at filmmaker Karan Johar’s birthday party on May 25 alongside Shah Rukh and Gauri Khan at Mumbai’s Yash Raj Films studio.
With the rising number of COVID-19 cases in Mumbai, the BMC has issued fresh alerts instructing film studios in K-West ward to not organise parties.
West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee tweeted about it. “Just came to know that our Brand Ambassador Shahrukh Khan has been detected covid positive. Pray fastest recovery for the superstar. Get well Shahrukh! Spring back asap!
According to News18, the Dhoom 3 diva has completed her quarantine period. When Vicky was asked about Katrina not being with him in Abu Dhabi for the IIFA Awards, he said, “Even I am missing us together as well”.
Meanwhile, on Saturday Shah Rukh revealed the first poster of his upcoming film Jawan, and said ‘inevitable issues’ led to its delay. He had announced the film with a teaser on Friday.
The news of Shah Rukh and Katrina testing positive for the virus, comes a day after actor Kartik Aaryan confirmed he had Covid-19. Actor Aditya Roy Kapur also tested positive for Covid-19, according to reports.
In May, actor Akshay Kumar could not travel to Cannes Film Festival 2022, after he tested positive for Covid-19.
Director and actor Yasir Nawaz is currently riding high on the success of his Eid release, Chakkar. The veteran filmmaker indulged in an exclusive conversation with The Current.
On being asked the first thing that comes to his mind when he hears Maryam Nawaz’s name, the Nadaaniyaan star mentioned that “Maryam looks very young, MashaAllah, she is a very intelligent politician.”
Yasir also added that he finds her to be extremely graceful.
Yasir recently addressed the Prime Minister and urged him to look into the matter of their distress. “I’ve a small request for the prime minister to help save the Pakistani film industry from drowning. Our content is very strong and the revenue will come in Pakistan only.”
The number of Japanese women who committed suicide continued to rise for a second year in Japan. However, the overall suicide rate has decreased since 2021, said the Japanese police on Tuesday.
According to data from the National Police Agency, the number of women who took their own lives increased by 42 to 7,068 in the second year, 2022. While the number of men who killed themselves was decreased by 116 to 13,939.
According to some media reports, coronavirus is one of the major reasons for the cause in increasing suicide rate of women.
The pandemic has put up more distress and pressure on women after losing jobs in those sectors where Japanese women tend to work such as services and retail sectors.
According to the Japanese Health Ministry, the country has a long history of suicide culture where people died by suicide for avoiding the shame of dishonour. Japan has the highest suicide rate among the group of seven nations(G-7).
Although in 15 years, the suicide rate was dropped by 40% by national effort, the pandemic has risen suicide rate among people due to mental health problems.
Legendary Indian singer, Lata Mangeshkar has moved to a ventilator and doctors confirmed that her health has deteriorated. She was hospitalised last month in Mumbai hospital, Breach Candy Hospital when she had contracted coronavirus.
She was also diagnosed with pneumonia while in hospital. She has been in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) since then.
Veteran singer Lata Mangeshkar’s health condition has deteriorated again, she is critical. She is on a ventilator. She is still in ICU and will remain under the observation of doctors: Dr Pratit Samdani, Breach Candy Hospital
While talking to Indian news outlet ANI, Dr Pratit Samdani from Breach Candy Hospital stated, “Veteran singer Lata Mangeshkar’s health condition has deteriorated again, she is critical. She is on a ventilator. She is still in ICU and will remain under the observation of doctors.”
Previously, she has shown improvements in her health confirmed by her close friend, Anusha Srinivasan. Last week, the ventilator was removed from her and was in a conscious state which doctors had confirmed earlier.
Fans from both sides of the border are praying for her speedy recovery including sports personalities.
Prayers for #LataMangeshkar ji for her speedy recovery. There’s magic in her voice.We find solace, romance,cheer, joy,happiness, consolation,bhakti, courage through her singing. We relate to her immortal songs.We are lucky to be living in her times. #latamangeshkarhealthupdatepic.twitter.com/d8smgOYE98
