October 3, Tuesday, 2023 　　　　　　

1. Two scientists whose “groundbreaking findings” transformed the threat of the pandemic have been awarded the Nobel Prize in medicine. Katalin Kariko and Drew Weissman were recognized on Monday for laying the groundwork for COVID-19 vaccines. Members of the Nobel panel say the laureates contributed to the unprecedented rate of vaccine development during “one of the greatest threats to human health” in history. “They have saved millions of lives, prevented severe COVID-19, reduced the overall disease burden and enabled societies to open up again,” said Richard Sandberg, a member of the Nobel Assembly at the Karolinska Institute near Stockholm.
2. A bipartisan group of US Senators, including Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, are reportedly planning to visit China next week with hopes of meeting President Xi Jinping.
3. Japanese opposition lawmaker Suzuki Muneo has defied a government advisory against travel to Russia and has held talks with Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko. Russia’s Foreign Ministry says Suzuki, an Upper House lawmaker with Nippon Ishin Japan Innovation Party, met Rudenko on Monday.