A preponderance of evidence proves the virus that caused the COVID-19 pandemic leaked from a Chinese research facility, said a report by US Republicans released on Monday, a conclusion that US intelligence agencies have not reached.

A latest study finds that 11 percent of unvaccinated Covid patients suffered from breathing difficulties whereas the rate was four percent among those vaccinated.

Restaurants, ride-hailing apps and food delivery services are backing Britain’s COVID-19 vaccination drive, offering discounts and even free slices of pizza to persuade young people to roll up their sleeves and get the shot.

Fifteen people – nine male and six female -- died at the Covid unit of Rajshahi Medical College Hospital (RMCH) in 24 hours till 8am today.

Seven Covid-19 patients and two others with symptoms died in Kushtia in 24 hours (till 8am today).

Australia's Queensland state on Monday extended a COVID-19 lockdown in Brisbane, while soldiers began patrolling Sydney to enforce stay-at-home rules as Australia struggles to stop the highly contagious Delta variant of the coronavirus spreading.

Ain O Salish Kendra, a leading rights organisation, yesterday filed a writ petition with the High Court seeking directives on the government to immediately increase the number of beds for Covid-19 patients at all hospitals.

The government has made a complete mess of the reopening of export-oriented factories amid “strict lockdown” enforced to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus.

As export-oriented factories reopened yesterday with less than a 48-hour notice, workers had to traversed miles on foot to reach Dhaka for a second consecutive day.

With the health directorate reporting 14,844 new cases of Covid-19 yesterday, Health Minister Zahid Maleque said the infections will spread even more as garment factory workers rush to the capital from across the country.

The government will resume administering the AstraZeneca vaccine against Covid-19 in Dhaka division from today to those who have been waiting for their second dose of the vaccine.

Stressing on the need for specific instructions for joint efforts to tackle the Covid-19 pandemic, eminent citizens have called upon the government to formulate policies to fight it collectively.

BNP yesterday termed the government decision to allow export-oriented factories to resume operation amid the ongoing strict lockdown “suicidal”.

With crowds of factory workers thronging the city, Dhaka wore almost a normal look yesterday as public buses, private cars, CNG-run auto-rickshaws and motorcycles all rolled out on the streets.

President Joe Biden's chief medical adviser Dr. Anthony Fauci said on Sunday he does not expect the United States will return to lockdowns, despite the growing risks of COVID-19 infections posed by the Delta variant.

The fourth Oxygen Express of the Indian Railways reached Bangladesh today with 200 MT of liquid medical oxygen.

Two hundred and thirty-one people died from Covid-19 in 24 hours till 8am today, said a press release issued by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).

Two rare Sumatran tigers at the zoo in the Indonesian capital are recovering after being infected with COVID-19.

The government will resume administering the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine to those who failed to take the second dose after getting the first jab, in Dhaka division including the capital from tomorrow.

Export-oriented factories and industries resumed operation today amid continued sharp rise in Covid-19 infections, but many workers have not been following health guidelines properly.