Today in History
On 24th March, 1999, fire broke out in the Mount Blanc Tunnel which claimed 39 lives. The Mount Blanc Tunnel is a highway tunnel which passes under the Mount Blanc in Alps, linking Italy with France.
World Tuberculosis Day
The World Tuberculosis Day is observed annually on 24th March to commemorate the discovery of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, a bacillus bacterium that causes tuberculosis (TB), by Dr. Robert Koch. As per the Global TB report, 2022, India reported 28% of world TB cases, which is highest in the world. India aims to eliminate TB by 2025.
India rejects J&J’s attempt to extend patent on TB drug
The Indian Patent Office rejected the U.S. pharmaceutical company Johnson & Johnson’s attempt to extend its monopoly on manufacturing the anti-tuberculosis drug, Bedaquiline, in India beyond July, 2023. It will enable the generic drug manufacturers in India to produce the drug at cheaper rates. Bedaquiline is an important drug to treat multi-drug resistance TB.
Vedic Heritage Portal
The Vedic Heritage Portal provides information regarding oral traditions, textual tradition in form of published books or manuscripts to users and researchers. It was developed by the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA), an autonomous body under the Union Ministry of Culture.
Turkey approves Finland’s bid to join NATO
The Foreign Affairs Commission of the Parliament of Turkey approved a bill ratifying Finland’s bid to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO.) Earlier, Turkey had demanded that Finland and Sweden should stop supporting the Kurdish armed groups, and lift the ban on sales of arms to Turkey, as a condition for getting Turkish support for their NATO membership.
Tamil Nadu Assembly re-adopts Bill against online gaming
The Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly re-adopted the Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Online Gaming and Regulation of Online Games Bill, 2022, after it was returned by the Governor R.N. Ravi for reconsideration by the Legislative Assembly. The bill aims to ban online gaming and online games of chance. It also provides for three months imprisonment and fine upto Rs. 5,000, for contravening the ban.
