The Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB) and the Institute of Genetics and Integrated Biology (IGIB), along with a few other institutions is currently developing digital and molecular surveillance of the spread of novel coronavirus to understand the biology, epidemiology and disease impact.   Highlights:♦ The surveillance centre would be established at IGIB where all the labs, […]

The US space agency NASA engineers have developed “VITAL”, a new high-pressure ventilator tailored specifically to treat COVID-19 patients. The ventilator can be easily built. VITAL:♦ VITAL (Ventilator Intervention Technology Accessible Locally) ventilator has passed a critical test at the Icahn School of Medicine in New York.♦ VITAL has been designed to treat COVID-19 patients with milder symptoms.

The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) has cancelled over $1 trillion debt owed by developing countries amid the COVID-19 pandemic. It aims to help them overcome the impact of the coronavirus pandemic. Highlights:♦ UNCTAD report stated that over 64 low-income countries currently spend more on debt service than their health systems. For developing countries debt has

The Fifteenth Finance Commission (XVFC) had online meetings with its Advisory Council on 23-24 April 2020. The meeting was chaired by N. K. Singh, Chairman XVFC, and was attended by all members and senior officials of the Commission.  Highlights:♦ The Members of the Advisory Council discussed the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the national lockdown on the Indian economy. ♦ The officials discussed