Malaysian gynaecologist creates 'world's first unisex condom'

Founder and inventor of Wondaleaf Unisex Condom John Tang Ing Ching inspects the unisex condom at his factory in Sibu, Malaysia
 

A Malaysian gynaecologist has created what he says is the world's first unisex condom that can be worn by females or males and is made from a medical grade material usually used as a dressing for injuries and wounds.

Its inventor hopes the Wondaleaf Unisex Condom will empower people to take better control of their sexual health regardless of their sex or sexual orientation.

 

"It's basically a regular condom with an adhesive covering," said John Tang Ing Chinh, a gynaecologist at medical supplies firm Twin Catalyst.

"It's a condom with an adhesive covering that attaches to the vagina or penis, as well as covering the adjacent area for extra protection," Tang said.

The adhesive is only applied to one side of the condom, he added, meaning it can be reversed and used by either sex.

Each box of Wondaleaf contains two condoms, and will cost 14.99 ringgit ($3.61). The average price for a dozen condoms in Malaysia is 20-40 ringgit.

Tang makes the condoms using polyurethane, a material used in transparent wound dressings that is thin and flexible yet strong and waterproof. 

Tang said the Wondaleaf had gone through several rounds of clinical research and testing and would be available commercially via the firm's website this December . Source : Reuters .

 

 

 

Pakistani girl Noor Mukadam was raped and beheaded by Pakistani-American .

Noor Mukadam

The brutal murder of Noor Mukadam, 27, sparked protests across the country and calls for reform to Pakistan's gender violence laws.

Zahir Jaffer, 30, from a wealthy industrialist family, has denied killing Mukadam.

The 27-year-old Noor Mukadam was attacked after refusing a marriage proposal, attempting repeatedly to escape Jaffer's sprawling mansion in an upscale neighbourhood in Islamabad but blocked each time by his staff, a police report said.  

Above : Policemen escort Zahir Jaffer, a Pakistani-American man who went on trial accused of raping and beheading his girlfriend . Down : Women protesting on the street of Islamabad .

 

Jaffer raped and tortured her with a knuckle duster before beheading her with a "sharp-edged weapon", it added.

Eleven others have also been charged in connection to the murder, including some of Jaffer's household staff, his parents, and others who were allegedly asked to conceal evidence.

The murder of Mukadam, whose father served as Pakistan's ambassador to South Korea and Kazakhstan, is one of the most high-profile cases of violence against women since the government introduced new legislation designed to speed up justice for rape victims.  

Prime Minister Imran Khan has pledged that the accused would not escape justice for being part of the Pakistani elite and a dual national.

Spanish PM Pedro Sanchez vows to abolish prostitution .

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, on Sunday, pledged to outlaw prostitution- an act that one in every three Spanish men admitted to paying for.

While sexual exploitation and pimping are illegal in Spain, prostitution was decriminalised in 1995 and is unregulated.

Prostitution was decriminalised in Spain in 1995 and in 2016 the UN estimated the country's sex industry was worth €3.7bn (£3.1bn, $4.2bn).

A 2009 survey found that up to one in three Spanish men had paid for sex. 

However, another report published in 2009 suggested that the figure may be as high as 39% and a 2011 UN study cited Spain as the third biggest centre for prostitution in the world, behind Thailand and Puerto Rico.

Prostitution is currently unregulated in Spain, and there is no punishment for those who offer paid sexual services of their own will, as long as it does not take place in public spaces. However, pimping or acting as a proxy between a sex worker and a potential client is illegal .

Prostitution is legal in many European countries, including Germany, Switzerland, Austria and Greece. Supporters of decriminalization say it brings huge benefits to the women working in the trade and makes life safer for them. But  critics say countries that have legalized or decriminalized commercial sex often experience a surge in human trafficking, pimping and other related crimes.

The industry has boomed since its decriminalisation and it is commonly estimated that around 300,000 women work as prostitutes in Spain. 

In the 1980s, most sex workers in Spain were of Spanish origin. But by the early 2000s, the majority were migrants  from poor European countries, Latin America and Africa, making them vulnerable to exploitation. The issue has become a thorny political topic, partly because it is tied to concerns about illegal migration.

Prostitution is largely unregulated in Spain, and there is no punishment for those who offer paid sexual services of their own will as long as it does not take place in public spaces. But pimping or acting as a proxy between a sex worker and a potential client is illegal. That has created a legal loophole where businesses are able to obtain a license to establish clubs that may function as brothels but can’t hire sex workers directly; the sex workers are made to “rent” the rooms they work in — a situation that means they don’t have the legal benefits and protections of other workers.

 

 

Students Aged 12 to 17 years trial run for covid vaccine from today in Bangladesh

File Photo

 The Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) will conduct a test run for Covid-19 vaccination for school students at the Colonel Malek Medical College Hospital in Manikganj district in Bangladesh .

As more and more countries around the world are beginning to roll out Covid vaccines to children aged over 12, Bangladesh will also join the list through today's vaccination.

According to DGHS officials, a total of 100 children will be inoculated as part of the test run.

After this test run, the vaccination campaign for school students will be launched in Dhaka on a broader scale, added the DGHS DG .

"We will inoculate a group of students, aged 12-17, from two schools with Pfizer vaccine. We will observe them for 10-14 days to see whether there is any side effect," DG added .

The DGHS has around 60 lakh doses of Pfizer vaccines in stock with which around 30 lakh schoolchildren will be vaccinated, Health Minister Zahid Maleque said at a press conference.

Sydney Lifted Covid-19 Restrictions After 106 Days .

 

Sydney exits lockdown .

 

Sydney has reopened after four months in lockdown, with people celebrating the lifting of restriction measures on 11th Oct. 

The city's five million residents have been subjected to a 106-day lockdown, designed to limit the spread of the highly transmissible Delta variant.

With new infections now falling – New South Wales state recorded 479 cases on Monday – the city is now reopening and businesses are set to welcome those who are vaccinated against the virus.

Measures are being lifted after New South Wales reached its milestone of fully vaccinating 70% of the over-16s last week.

Cafés, shops, and restaurants reopened their doors to anyone who could prove they were vaccinated, after being closed for non-essential workers since June.

 

Australia is one of the few countries that has taken such an extreme approach to managing the coronavirus, with unprecedented restrictions on personal freedom, including travelling more than five kilometres from home, visiting family, browsing in supermarkets, and attending funerals.

Some restrictions on mass gatherings, international borders closures, and schools will remain in force. Schools will not fully reopen for a few weeks .

The Australian Medical Association (AMA) is concerned that reopening will lead to a surge in cases and urged the authorities to keep a close eye on developments.

"The AMA supports gradual opening up of the economy and the loosening of restrictions, but it is critical to observe the impact of each step on transmission and case numbers," the doctors' body said. Source : euronews .