The World Health Organization(WHO) has officially announced COVID-19 as a pandemic as it spread freely to more than 100 countries around the world. A pandemic is declared when a new disease for which people do not have immunity spreads around the world beyond expectations. COVID-19 is a disease caused by the novel coronavirus which started in China.
The High Court of Bangladesh has announced ‘Joy Bangla’ as the national slogan of Bangladesh. The court has directed the authorities to ensure that teachers and students use the slogan after assembly. The two-judge bench of High Court asked the authorities to take mandatory steps so that all the people holding constitutional posts and state officials use ‘Joy Bangla’ after their speeches on national days and other appropriate occasions.
“COVID-19 Therapeutics Accelerator” is a new fund which has been released by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Wellcome and Mastercard. The $125 Million fund has been launched to upgrade technologies to fight against the COVID-19 epidemic and has been designed to identify, assess, develop and scale treatments to the COVID-19 disease outbreak. The fund targets to assess new and repurposed drugs and biologics to cure patients suffering from COVID-19 in the immediate term, and also capable of curing other viral pathogens in the future.
Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani was sworn in for a second term as his rival Abdullah Abdullah organized a parallel inauguration that could plunge the country deeper into crisis ahead of peace talks with the Taliban.
The annual festival of St Antony’s Shrine starts in Katchatheevu Island of Sri Lanka. The festival started with the traditional flag hoisting ceremonies. St Antony is being prayed by the devotees as the patron saint of sea farers. The festival celebrations also featured the participation of more than 3,000 devotees from India. As per an agreement between the two governments, Indians are not required to possess an Indian passport or Sri Lankan visa for visiting Kachchatheevu.