ICYMI: a Nobel for journalists, Pfizer for younger children, and more

Nobel Peace prize recognizes independent journalism

Maria Ressa of the Philippines and Dmitry Muratov of Russia won the Nobel Peace Prize on Friday, underscoring the importance the committee gave to independent journalism. Ressa’s publication called Rappler continuously faced harassment that was widely perceived to be motivated by President Rodrigo Duterte’s administration. Muratov, on the other hand, is the editor-in-chief of Novaya Gazeta, during a time when journalists have been assassinated and persecuted under President Vladimir Putin’s rule. 

Bomb blast at Kunduz mosque kills almost 50 people

Nearly 50 people were killed in a bomb blast at a mosque in Kunduz, Afghanistan, on Friday. The attacker was a suicide bomber from the Islamic State. The attack was seen as a challenge to the Taliban’s authority over the country.

FDA to consider Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine authorization for young children

Pfizer and its partner BioNTech request the Food and Drug Administration to authorize their vaccine for children aged five to 11. The FDA will discuss the matter with the companies on Oct. 26. If approved, officials said the authorization could take place any time between Halloween and Thanksgiving. Roughly 26 million children in the United States would become eligible for it.

Czech PM loses parliamentary majority amidst Pandora trouble

Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis lost to his opposition alliances in the parliamentary election on Saturday. Babis’s election campaign was rocked because he was named in the Pandora Papers – an investigation that uncovered how the rich and powerful hide their wealth.