Two mRNA Researchers Win Nobel Prize in Medicine
Two University of Pennsylvania scientists, Katalin Karikó and Drew Weissman, have won the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for research that directly led to the first mRNA COVID vaccines.
Karikó — an adjunct professor at UPenn's Perelman School of Medicine — was a Senior Vice President at BioNTech RNA Pharmaceuticals, which helped produce the vaccines. Meanwhile, Weissman is the director of the Penn Institute for RNA Innovation.
The pair's first seminal work, published in 2005, described how they overcame obstacles to using in vitro synthetic mRNA technology, such as an inflammatory response by the body that involves the production of harmful cytokines.
Narrative A
After 30 years of research and almost two decades since their breakthrough on mRNA, Karikó and Weissman deserve the celebration and recognition brought by a Nobel Prize. Without their research, billions of life-saving vaccines wouldn't have existed, and the pandemic may have been far worse than it was. Their mRNA-based invention has already been applied to other vaccines and therapeutics, so we can rest assured the applications of their work won't stop at COVID.
Narrative B
The Nobel Prize is an outdated mode of scientific recognition that was historically, and still remains, biased towards men and those working in the Western world. Additionally, rather than encouraging competition between researchers, the Nobel should be replaced with an award that incentivizes cooperation and values other sciences like mathematics and artificial intelligence as well as medicine and physics.
Nerd narrative
There's a 50% chance that a Nobel Prize will be awarded for COVID-related accomplishments in 2028, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
1K Dead in Bangladesh's Worst Dengue Outbreak on Record
On Monday, Bangladesh's health authorities announced that dengue has killed 1,017 people in the country since January. This includes more than 100 children aged under 15, while the number of infections has risen to more than 208K.
The figures for 2023 are Bangladesh’s worst recorded for the mosquito-borne disease since it was first documented in 2000. The death toll this year currently sits at nearly four times more than that of 2022.
In a recent 24-hour period, nearly 3K patients were hospitalized. All efforts to control the mosquito population have been ineffective, according to a consultant with Bangladesh’s Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research.
Narrative A
South Asia is a frontline region in the global climate change war. Bangladesh, a riverine-delta country, is bearing the full force of climate-related impacts. Longer-than-usual rainy seasons, high temperatures, and high humidity have led to an explosion of mosquito populations that are exacerbating this dengue crisis.
Narrative B
An overlooked factor in the dengue crisis is demography. South Asia, especially Bangladesh, is one of the world's most densely populated regions. This puts immense pressure on its public health system, especially due to unplanned urbanization. In addition, 1.2M Rohingya refugees from neighboring Myanmar have particular health vulnerabilities. Bangladesh's healthcare system is not able to keep up with these population patterns.
Nerd narrative
There's a 90% chance that there will be at least 2˚C of global warming by 2100, according the to Metaculus prediction community.
Report: India Asks Canada to Withdraw 41 Diplomats
India has asked Canada to withdraw 41 of its 62 diplomats in India by Oct. 10, the Financial Times reported on Tuesday.
Though both countries are yet to make an official announcement, the report claims New Delhi has threatened to revoke the immunity of diplomats who remain after the deadline.
New Delhi had previously sought "parity in diplomatic presence," stating that the number of Canadian diplomats in the country is "larger than what India has."
Narrative A
Ottawa has long indulged its radical Sikh community, which is accused of keeping the members of Sikh separatism alive in India — though the idea of Khalistan, the imagined independent Sikh homeland, is a dead horse even in India. Canada should know that showing little concern for a fellow democracy's worries is hardly a sign of good ties.
Narrative B
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, battling multiple crises at home, will face a tough national election in a few months and is using the bite-less Khalistan narrative as an easy prop to shore up his strong-man image. Any involvement in the murder of a Canadian citizen on Canadian soil would be a gross violation of the nation's sovereignty. Ottawa must get to the bottom of the matter.
Nerd narrative
There's a 50% chance that there will be a non-BJP Prime Minister of India before 2030, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
UN Approves Sending Kenya-led Force to Haiti
The UN Security Council voted Monday to send a Kenya-led multinational armed force to Haiti to help suppress violent gangs. It would mark the first time a force is deployed to the Caribbean nation in nearly 20 years.
The US-drafted resolution was adopted under Chapter 7 of the UN Charter, which illustrates that the situation in Haiti poses a significant threat to international peace and security.
According to the resolution — passed with 13 votes in favor with China and Russia abstaining — the force will be on the ground for one year, with a review slated to take place after nine months.
Pro-establishment narrative
The UN's decision to send an armed force to Haiti is much welcomed by the Haitians, who have long suffered from rampant gang violence. The move comes after many citizens have left their homes in search of a better life in the US. All eyes are now on the Kenyan-led mission to restore order and bring back hope and stability to an impoverished nation.
Establishment-critical narrative
Deploying a multinational force in Haiti would legitimize the unelected leaders of Port-au-Prince. Moreover, the Caribbean nation has had bad experiences with past UN missions — including a year mission that was maligned by allegations of sexual abuse. There's much at stake here and the international community can't afford another failure.
Nerd narrative
There's a 50% chance that Haiti will become an upper-middle-income country before January 2050, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
Historic Vote Removes Kevin McCarthy as US House Speaker
In a dramatic vote Tuesday, the US House of Representatives voted to remove Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) as House Speaker. The final totals were 216 to 210, with House Democrats largely joining in the call for McCarthy to vacate his position; this is the first time the Speaker of the House has been vacated through this process in American history.
The move capped a day of intrigue on Capitol Hill with McCarthy receiving a standing ovation from most Republicans after a speech from his ally, Rep. Tom Cole (R-Okla.) before the final tally took place.
Earlier in the day, Rep. Matt Gaetz (R–Fla.) formally introduced a "motion to vacate" against House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), claiming that the decision was made due to a "repeated breach of the agreement that he made in January."
Right narrative
It's clear that McCarthy had not come close to holding up his end of the bargain following his ascension to Speaker of the House. Gaetz's message is not just about fiscal responsibility, Ukraine, or the border, but rather the problem of power. To have continued to endorse McCarthy and the Biden administration's form of governance would be to sustain the shadow oligarchy that continues to benefit from America's political norms.
Republican narrative
Despite Gaetz's insistence, the problem within the House is not simply McCarthy but rather an ideological divide within the Republican membership. While Gaetz and his supporters view the GOP as a revolutionary force, the majority of the party understands the importance of gaining small wins against the Democrat-held Senate and White House. Gaetz must work to heal the divides within the GOP now that this vote is over.
Democratic narrative
The civil war between House Republicans highlights the wider dysfunction of the GOP. Self-styled House rebels are purposefully attempting to undermine their party's own tiny majority, while Gaetz's attempt to remove McCarthy ironically required more Democratic support than the conduct he has blasted the Speaker for engaging in. The Republican Party must solve its internal issues and focus on governing and policy-making on behalf of the American people.
Ukraine: EU Proposes €5B in Military Aid After 'Historic' Meeting
Ukraine is set to receive an additional €5B ($5.24B) in military aid from the EU, the bloc's high representative for foreign affairs Josep Borrell said on Monday.
The announcement came amid an EU foreign ministers' meeting in the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv. Outside of talks at the UN, it was the first time that they had gathered outside the bloc's 27 countries or within a war zone, Borrell said, describing the meeting as "historic."
Borrell also sought to dispel notions that EU support for Ukraine had diminished — namely after the election of a pro-Russia government in Slovakia and amid Poland's dispute with Ukraine over grain.
Narrative A
The additional military aid for Ukraine is a clear message from the EU that it will continue to support the country in the face of its struggle against Russia. Although minor cracks have shown, Europe understands that its security lies in Ukraine defeating Russia on the battlefield.
Narrative B
Despite the EU's affirmations, it's clear that Western support for Ukraine is slipping — underlined by events in the US where Ukraine aid was dropped in order to avoid a government shutdown. As next year's US election approaches, it is apparent that the cracks in the West's support of Ukraine are only going to deepen.
Nerd narrative
There is a 0.2% chance that Ukraine will join the European Union before 2024, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
Hunter Biden Pleads Not Guilty to Gun Charges
Hunter Biden, the son of US Pres. Joe Biden, pleaded not guilty Tuesday to three gun-related charges, including possession of a firearm by a person who is an unlawful user of or addicted to a controlled substance, making a false statement in the purchase of a firearm, and making a false statement to the gun shop where he bought the firearm.
The indictment, which came last month after a plea agreement over tax and gun charges fell apart, claims Hunter falsified a federal form by claiming he wasn't "an unlawful user of" nor was he "addicted to any stimulant narcotic drug" when he purchased a revolver in October 2018.
In contrast to the fiery disagreements reported during the original plea bargain, Hunter spent roughly 30 minutes in the courtroom speaking quietly with his lawyers before answering "Yes, your honor" when asked if he understood the nature of the charges. This came after the Biden son's request to appear virtually was denied.
Republican narrative
Between Hunter's failed plea bargain, subsequent prosecution, and evidence showing he used his father's influence to pocket hundreds of thousands of dollars from a Chinese firm, the Biden family is drowning in scandals. Though he's trying to hide behind his son now, Pres. Biden is being exposed for the corrupt man he is — and his legacy will be tarnished for it.
Democratic narrative
Though Republicans are strategically using the phrase "Biden family" when talking about Hunter Biden's legal troubles, the reality is that not even the GOP impeachment inquirers have found evidence linking the president to his son. Joe Biden has been a family man from his earliest days as a county councilman in Delaware, so it's no surprise that he's chosen to back his son while he endures legal accusations. Hunter is innocent until proven guilty, and Joe has always been innocent.
Nerd narrative
There's a 58% chance that Joe Biden will be re-elected President of the United States in 2024, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
WHO Approves 2nd Malaria Vaccine
On Monday, the World Health Organization (WHO) authorized a second malaria vaccine to help control the spread of the life-threatening parasitic disease that reportedly kills around 500K children in Africa annually.
According to WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the approval was granted following advice from two expert groups that endorsed its use in reducing the risk of the disease in children.
The R21/Matrix-M authorization comes after the WHO approved the RTS,S/AS01 vaccine to help contain malaria in 2021.
Narrative A
This cheaper and more effective malaria vaccine is pushing the world one step closer to a malaria-free future. Many more children will be protected from this life-threatening disease due to this vaccine. This could be a massive breakthrough in providing relief across malaria hot spots.
Narrative B
While this new vaccine is promising, it doesn't prevent transmission of the disease, so it will not be able to stop epidemics. Stopping the spread of malaria is going to require much more than vaccines alone, especially with the spread of invasive mosquito species and the increase in resistance to malaria treatment drugs.
Nerd narrative
There's a 41% chance that global malaria mortality rates will be reduced by 90% compared to 2015 rates by 2030, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
Texas, Yelp Sue Each Other Over Pregnancy Crisis Center Description
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and Yelp are suing each other over the online review company’s description of some crisis pregnancy centers in the state, which Yelp claimed on its website "typically provide limited medical services and may not have licensed medical professionals onsite."
Paxton’s lawsuit, filed on Sept. 28, claims that the California-based business review giant engaged in deceptive business practices harming crisis pregnancy centers. He called Yelp’s notice about the centers not having medical professionals "inaccurate and misleading."
A day earlier, Yelp preemptively sued Paxton in San Francisco federal court, claiming that its notices about the pregnancy crisis center were true and protected free speech under the First Amendment.
Right narrative
Yelp, just like all other big tech companies, is discriminating against businesses and services that don’t align with its viewpoint on abortion by putting false disclaimers on the pages of crisis pregnancy centers. Paxton is rightfully standing up to this clear violation of the state’s Deceptive Trade Practices Act and suing Yelp for its intentional deception.
Left narrative
Paxton is showing the extreme measures Republicans will go to in order to ban women's right to choose, as he now resorts to suing a company over a factually correct notice. Yelp has the right under the First Amendment to put any notice it wants about a company on its website, and Republicans cannot prevent this free speech in order to push their anti-choice agenda.
US Issues First-Ever Space Junk Violation
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced a “breakthrough settlement” with Dish Network Monday as it imposed its first penalty related to space debris. As part of the agreement, Dish admitted liability for failing to properly dispose of its EchoStar-7 broadcast communications satellite.
The Colorado-based television company had to pay a $150K fine for leaving one of its retired satellites floating too low in space. NASA recommends disposing of so-called “space junk” by either letting a craft run out of fuel and fall back to Earth or pushing it further into space.
However, Dish disposed of its satellite at an orbit “well below the elevation required by the terms of its license,” according to the FCC. Dish first launched the EchoStar-7 into geostationary orbit — which begins 22K miles above the Earth's equator — in 2002.
Narrative A
The FCC has taken bold action and is at the forefront of space protection and regulation. While pieces of garbage in space don’t seem as pressing of a threat as climate change and garbage on Earth’s surface, space junk could have serious repercussions in the future, and the FCC has taken strong leadership to regulate this problem before it gets out of hand.
Narrative B
The FCC’s rules regarding the disposal of defunct satellites may have come too late, and it's clear the toothless regulator waited too long to act. Space exploration started nearly seven decades ago, yet it took until 2022 for the government agency to step into this wild, wild west, as companies were able to leave their old and useless satellites floating in space without any repercussions for years.