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Nobel Prize in Medicine goes to scientists who developed mRNA Covid vaccines

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The Nobel Prize in Medicine has been awarded to Professors Katalin Kariko and Drew Weissman for their groundbreaking work in developing the mRNA COVID-19 vaccines.

This technology, which was experimental prior to the pandemic, has since been administered to millions worldwide, providing protection against severe COVID-19 cases. The Nobel Prize committee recognised their contributions to the rapid development of vaccines during a time of unprecedented global health crisis.

Traditional vaccines have historically used weakened or inactivated forms of the virus or bacterium they target. In contrast, mRNA vaccines take a novel approach. They contain genetic instructions for producing a specific viral protein, which, when injected into the body, prompts our cells to generate this protein.

The immune system identifies these foreign proteins, launching an attack and acquiring the knowledge to combat the actual virus in future encounters. This technology’s remarkable flexibility enables the swift development of vaccines for various diseases, including cancer, as long as the correct genetic instructions are known.

Professors Kariko and Weissman played pivotal roles in advancing mRNA vaccine technology. Their work harnessed the natural function of RNA in converting genetic instructions from DNA into the proteins essential for our bodies.

Overcoming challenges, they refined the technology to produce significant amounts of the target protein without causing excessive inflammation, a critical step in transitioning from animal experiments to human vaccine development.

The mRNA vaccines developed during the Covid-19 pandemic, such as Moderna and Pfizer/BioNTech, represent a triumph of scientific innovation. These vaccines have been a crucial tool in combating the virus’s spread, demonstrating the potential of mRNA technology to revolutionise vaccine development.

Beyond COVID-19, mRNA technology holds promise for addressing other diseases, including cancer. Researchers are exploring methods to instruct a patient’s immune system to combat their specific cancer by analyzing tumour proteins unique to malignant cells and creating vaccines that target these abnormalities.

Professors Kariko and Weissman’s pioneering work not only contributed to one of the most significant scientific breakthroughs of our time but also exemplified the potential of mRNA technology to transform medicine. Today, they stand as laureates of the Nobel Prize in Medicine, recognised for their outstanding achievements in advancing human health.

Both laureates, now in their respective academic roles, have left an indelible mark on the field of mRNA research and vaccine development, shaping the future of healthcare.

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Google Makes The Decision To Boost Investments And Back The Government’s Youth Skills Training Initiative

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 Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif was visited in Islamabad by a four-person Google delegation led by Mr. Scott Beaumont, President of the APAC area.

Pakistan’s digital economy is about to undergo a revolutionary change, according to the prime minister, who greeted the team. Speaking on the government’s intentions to reach the goal of US$ 25 billion in exports over the next five years, the prime minister revealed that funding will be used for youth training, IT infrastructure upgrades, and regulatory environment enhancements. Pakistan’s economy is being fully digitalised, he remarked. In his attempts, he stressed the need of working together with a tech behemoth like Google.

The Prime Minister praised Google for pioneering projects that have dramatically enhanced the lives of thousands of Pakistanis in recent years, as well as for its involvement in propelling the country’s digital economy closer to reality. Noting with satisfaction that Google has helped Pakistani young land about a million jobs in 2023 alone, the Prime Minister emphasised that this is a testament to both Google’s dedication to upskilling and empowering Pakistan’s youth and Pakistan’s potential in the digital marketplace.

Informing the Prime Minister of its future involvement intentions, Mr. Scott stated that Google has made the decision to support the government’s youth skill-training initiatives and to expand its investment footprint in Pakistan. He went on to say that for a values-driven digital firm like Google, the growing economy and the sizeable youth population are crucial for optimising the economic benefits of technology. He restated that Pakistan’s IT industry will undergo a revolution when five lac Chromebooks are produced there by 2026.

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Google launches the ability to install multiple apps at once through the Play Store.

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Android users now have the ability to install or update many apps or games at once in the Play Store thanks to a feature introduced by tech giant Google.

Even if Android users downloaded or tried to update several apps or games at once, the prior capability would only process one app at a time.

In the Google Play Store, users can now download or manually update up to three apps or games at once, according to a GSMArena report.

with order to assist Android users with updating or installing multiple apps at once, Google is reportedly already starting to roll out the new feature in a few select locations, including India.

The feature will process three apps at once while sending the fourth to pending when customers install or manually update programs.

When configuring new phones or recovering from a backup, this feature is said to save a tonne of time.

It should be mentioned that Apple has long since permitted customers to download and install up to three iOS apps at once from the App Store.

According to GSMArena, the function is really available on a few cell phones in some regions, even though Google has not formally confirmed when it will appear or whether it will work with any particular handset.

Google started releasing a new AI-powered feature for Android phones a few weeks ago that locks users out of their data to prevent hackers from accessing it.

According to a Forbes story, cellphones running Android 10 or later will soon be able to use the function, which incorporates artificial intelligence.

The anti-theft feature known as “theft detection lock” is currently being rolled out to certain users, according to Mishaal Rahman, who frequently updates his followers on the most recent OS changes on X.

A restricted group of customers who registered for the beta program in Brazil are now receiving theft detection locks, according to Rahman’s post.

Rehman claims that Google Play Services will be used to provide the AI-powered feature to all Android 10 devices.

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Encouraging the IT Sector: Federal Government To Create Nationwide Network Of IT Parks

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Modern Information Technology Parks will be dotted around the nation by a network established by the federal government.

The goal of the program is to give young professionals a springboard to carry out their creative ideas and support the economy of the country.

The Ministry of Information Technology claims that these parks will increase exports and the IT industry while creating jobs for IT specialists.

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