WHO suspended Hydroxycloroquine trials

1.Myanmar to seek 700 million dollar IMF loan for COVID-19 spending

The parliament of Myanmar approved the proposal to seek 700-million-dollar loan from IMF to finance its spending on fighting COVID-19 in the country.Myanmar has sought the loan from IMF under its Rapid Credit Facility (RCF) and Rapid Financing Instrument (RFI) which offers quick loan facility at concessional rates for Low Income Countries.The loan will be used to cover deficit incurred by the government due to increased spending on social security, health services and economic assistance in the wake of Corona pandemic outbreak.Myanmar has decided to allocate up to 10 percent of its current budget to fight COVID-19.

2.22nd Financial Stability and Development Council meeting chaired by Finance Minister

On May 28, 2020, the Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitaraman chaired Financial Stability and Development Council meet.The meeting reviewed current domestic and global economic situation, financial vulnerabilities issues, liquidity of Micro financial institutions, Non- Banking Financial corporations, regulatory responses, etc.The financial stability and development council is an apex body constituted by GoI.The Council was set up in 2010 by the then Finance Minister Pranab Mukerjee.The Council deals with issues such as financial sector development, financial stability, inter-regulatory coordination, financial inclusion, financial literacy.

3.May 29: International Day of UN Peacekeepers

Every year, the United Nations celebrates International Day of UN Peacekeepers on May 29. This year the day is being celebrated under the theme Women in Peacekeeping: A key to Peace.The International Day of UN Peacekeepers is celebrated to honour more than 3,900 peacekeepers that lost their lives serving under the United Nations.The first UN Peace Keeping mission was established on May 29, 1948. The Peace keeping mission was established to monitor the Armistice Agreement that was signed between Israel and Arab.

4.First of its Kind State Health Register to be launched by Karnataka Government

The Karnataka State Government announced that it will launch a “State Health Register” to collect data of all its citizens.The register is first of its kind in the country.The register will hold names of all the citizens of the state.The need to maintain such a register has been raised by COVID-19.The project is to be launched from Chikkaballapur district in Karnataka.The survey is to be conducted through ASHA workers, educational department staffs, staffs in primary health centre and revenue officials.

5.WHO suspended Hydroxycloroquine trials

The World Health Organization recently suspended its trials on the efficacy of the drug Hydroxychloroquine in treating COVID-19. The HCQ trial is one of the four mega trials initiated by the organization.The four mega trials include HCQ, Lopinavir and Ritonavir, Lopinavir and Ritonavir along with Interferon and Remdesivir.In India the drug is mainly recommended for asymptomatic health care workers. It is not used to treat COVID-19 patients.

6.New Fresh water fish “Punitus Sanctus” found

A new fresh water fish called Punitus Sanctus was found in Velankanni, Tamil Nadu. The fish was found in a small water body.Sanctus means ‘holy’ in Latin. Punitus is a species of fish that are commonly found in the drains of western and eastern ghats and also in Eastern Himalayas.The Genus Punitus is locally known as Kende in Tamil Nadu and Paral in Kerala.The Punitus belongs to the family of Cyprindae.Cyprindae is a family of fresh water fish. They are collectively called Cyprinids.The family includes barbs, goldfish, bitterlings and carps.