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Luc Montagnier, credited with discovering HIV, dies aged 89

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Luc Montagnier, credited with discovering HIV, dies aged 89

French researcher Luc Montagnier, who won a Nobel Prize in 2008 for discovering the HIV virus and more recently spread false claims about the coronavirus, has died at age 89, according to local government officials in France.

Montagnier died Tuesday at the American Hospital of Paris in Neuilly-sur-Seine, a western suburb of the capital, the area’s city hall said. No other details have been released.

Montagnier, a virologist, led the team that in 1983 identified the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) which causes AIDS, leading him to share the 2008 Nobel Prize in medicine with colleague Francoise Barré-Sinoussi.

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He was born in 1932 in the village of Chabris in central France.

According to his autobiography on the Nobel Prize website, Montagnier studied medicine in Poitiers and Paris. He said recent scientific discoveries in 1957 and inspired him to become a virologist in the rapidly advancing field of molecular biology.

He joined the National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS) in 1960 and became head of the Pasteur Institute’s virology department in 1972.

“My involvement in AIDS began in 1982, when the information circulated that a transmissible agent – possibly a virus – could be at the origin of this new mysterious disease,” Montagnier said in his autobiography.

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In 1983, a working group led by him and Barré-Sinoussi at the Pasteur Institute isolated the virus that would later become known as HIV and was able to explain how it caused AIDS.

American scientist Robert Gallo claimed to have found the same virus at almost exactly the same time, sparking a disagreement over which man should get the credit. The United States and France settled a dispute over the patent for an AIDS test in 1987. Montagnier was later credited as the discoverer of the virus, Mr Gallo as the creator of the first test.

Since the end of the 2000s, Montagnier started expressing views devoid of a scientific basis. His opinions led him to be shunned by much of the international scientific community.

Views on coronavirus
As the COVID-19 spread across the globe and conspiracy theories flourished, Montagnier was among those behind some of the misinformation about the origins of the coronavirus.

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During a 2020 interview with French news broadcaster CNews, he claimed that the coronavirus did not originate in nature and was manipulated. Experts who have looked at the genome sequence of the virus have said Montagnier’s statement was incorrect.

At the time, AP made multiple unsuccessful attempts to contact Montagnier.

Last year, he claimed in a French documentary that COVID-19 vaccines led to the creation of coronavirus variants.

Experts contacted by The Associated Press explained that variants found across the globe began emerging long before vaccines were widely available. They said the evidence suggests new variants evolved as a result of prolonged viral infections in the population and not vaccines, which are designed to prevent such infections.

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Earlier this year, Montagnier delivered a speech at a protest against vaccine certificates in Milan, Italy.

Montagnier was emeritus professor at the Pasteur Institute and emeritus research director at the CNRS. He won multiple awards, including France’s highest decoration, the Legion of Honor.

Complete News Source : The Hindu

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Bollywood

Kareena Kapoor chuckles at Jeh’s antics while sharing pictures of Taimur during a skiing trip in Switzerland.

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Kareena Kapoor chuckles at Jeh’s antics while sharing pictures of Taimur during a skiing trip in Switzerland.

Kareena Kapoor is enjoying her vacation in Switzerland with her husband, Saif Ali Khan, sons Taimur and Jeh, sharing photos from their skiing session on Instagram. Taimur, dressed in a red and green outfit, stands outdoors wearing ski gear, captioned by Kareena with a red heart and laughing emojis and a star emoji.

Kareena and Saif Ali Khan surprised their sons with special gifts during Christmas, sharing a glimpse of her international celebrations on Instagram. Kareena and Saif, who worked together in LOC Kargil and Omkara, fell in love on the 2008 film Tashan. They have two sons, Tamir and Jeh, and two children.

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Kareena appeared in Rohit Shetty’s action film, Singham Again, alongside Ajay Devgn, Akshay Kumar, Ranveer Singh, Tiger Shroff, Deepika Padukone, Arjun Kapoor, and Jackie Shroff.

Kareena Kapoor, the Bollywood actress known for her charismatic presence both on and off the screen, recently shared a heartwarming glimpse into her family vacation with her sons Taimur and Jeh during their skiing trip to Switzerland. Kareena, who frequently delights her fans with pictures of her family, posted some adorable snapshots that captured her son Taimur’s fun-filled moments on the snowy slopes.

The pictures, which were shared on her social media, show Taimur happily skiing and enjoying his time in the picturesque Swiss Alps. Fans were quick to notice his growing sense of independence and adventure as he took on the slopes with enthusiasm. As the firstborn of Kareena and Saif Ali Khan, Taimur has often been in the public eye since his birth, and his fans love to keep up with his activities and milestones.

However, it wasn’t just Taimur who stole the spotlight in Kareena’s recent post. The actress also shared a few candid moments featuring her younger son, Jeh. In one of the photos, Jeh is seen playfully enjoying his time in the snow, and Kareena can be heard chuckling in the background at his antics.

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The playful interactions between mother and son were endearing, and Kareena’s affectionate laughter resonated with her followers, who were quick to comment on how sweet it was to see such a joyful family moment.

Kareena’s captions further added to the charm of the post, as she wrote about how skiing was not just an adventure for Taimur but also a bonding experience for the entire family. While Taimur was embracing the thrill of skiing,

Jeh was content with his little snow games, and Kareena couldn’t help but laugh at the amusing and often unpredictable nature of family vacations with young children. Her playful comments Taimur and Jeh away from the hustle andabout Jeh’s quirky behavior added a light-hearted touch to the post, making her followers feel connected to her and her family.

The scenic backdrop of Switzerland added an enchanting layer to the beautiful pictures. With snow-capped mountains and picturesque landscapes, the family seemed to be having the perfect winter getaway. Kareena, known for her love for travel, has often shared snippets of her vacations with her followers, and this trip to Switzerland was no different. Fans were overjoyed to see the Kapoor family creating new memories together.

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Beyond just a fun-filled family vacation, the skiing trip also highlighted Kareena’s bond with her children. As a busy actress who juggles her career and family life, Kareena has always emphasized the importance of spending quality time with her loved ones. This trip was no exception, as she used the opportunity to bond with Taimur and Jeh away from the hustle and bustle of their daily lives.

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