Current Affairs Daily Digest – May 04 & 05 2020
1. eCovSens developed by National Institute of Animal Biotechnology
The scientists in National Institute of Animal Biotechnology (NIAB), Hyderabad have developed a biosensor called the eCovSens. The sensor is used to detect COVID-19 virus in saliva samples. The researchers from NIAB have developed non-invasive bio-sensor testing device called eCovSens to detect COVID-19. The lens can help detect COVID-19 virus within 10 to 30 seconds of testing.
2. PM Narendra Modi to participate in NAM virtual summit on coronavirus
Prime Minister Narendra Modi would participate in the virtual summit of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) to be held on Monday to enhance coordination of the member states in their fight against the coronavirus pandemic.
The meeting is being convened at the initiative of President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan, in his capacity as the current chair of the movement. This would be the first time that the Indian Prime Minister would be attending a NAM summit-level meeting after taking office in 2014.
3. India Qualifies to Become Permanent Member of UNSC, Says Syed Akbaruddin
India is qualified to become a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, said country’s Permanent Representative at the United Nations Syed Akbaruddin, according to reports.
“One of India’s aspirational goals was, is and will remain permanent membership of the Security Council, because we feel by any present-day calculus, we would qualify for the status,” he told The Hindu.
4. Maharashtra becomes first state in India to provide free & cashless insurance cover to its people
Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope announced that all citizens will be covered under the state government’s health scheme, and Maharashtra will be the first state to provide free and cashless insurance protection to its people.
Speaking to reporters after a Maharashtra Day event in Jalna, Tope said 85 per cent of the state’s population was covered under the Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Jan Arogya Yojana (MJPJAY) at present and the cover will be extended to the remining 15 per cent.
5. ACC Okays Appointment of PK Das as CMD, IREDA
The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has provided its consent for the appointment of Pradip Kumar Das as new Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency (IREDA), a central power financial institution, as per the sources.
Pradip Kumar Das is currently handling the post of Director (Finance) at India Tourism Development Corporation Ltd (ITDC). He was recommended, earlier, by the Public Enterprises Selection Board (PESB) after interviewing many candidates.
6. Ramesh Babu appointed as NTPC dir operations
NTPC announced that it has appointed Ramesh Babu V as Director (Operations). Babu graduated as a Mechanical Engineer from NIT Srinagar and completed his Masters in Thermal Engineering from IIT Delhi, an official statement said.
He joined NTPC as Executive Trainee in 1987 and has more than 32 years’ experience in managing large Power Stations in the areas of operations & maintenance, renovation & modernisation of old units as well as in the domains of efficiency & systems improvement of thermal plants.
7. Russia to launch the first Arktika-M satellite in 2020 December
Russia announced that it is to launch the country’s first Arktika-M satellite from the Baikonur space center on 9 December 2020. at the end of 2020. The announcement was made by the General Director of the Lavochkin aerospace company Vladimir Kolmykov.
8. May 5: World Asthma Day
Every year, on May 5, World Asthma Day is organized by Global Initiative for Asthma. It aims to increase awareness about asthma. The day is observed on first Tuesday of May every year. The World Asthma Day is observed under the theme –
Theme: Enough Asthma Deaths
9. Global Report on Food Crisis, 2020
The Global Report on Food Crisis, 2020 was released by the Global Network against Food Crisis. The report says that around 135 million people are living under food crisis.
According to the report, the numbers have increased. In 2019, the number of people living under food crisis were 113 million. Yemen was the at the top, with 15.9 million people under food crisis. This was 53% of population of the country.
10. Flipkart appoints Sriram Venkataraman as Flipkart Commerce CFO
Flipkart has appointed Sriram Venkataraman as Chief Financial Officer for Flipkart Commerce. Venkataraman will be responsible for key finance operations and functions at Flipkart and Myntra, including tax, risk management and treasury. He will be reporting to Chris Nicholas, Executive VP and CFO, Walmart International. Venkataraman has previously worked with Hindustan Unilever for over 11 years.
11. Indian American appointed as US representative to IBRD
The US President Donald Trump had nominated Indian American Ashok Michael Pinto as the US representative to IBRD (International Bank of Reconstruction and Development). Mr Pinto replaced Erik Bethel. Mr Bethel resigned from the post. Pinto was serving the Counselor to Under Secretary for International Affairs in the department of treasury of the US. It is to be noted that Mr Pinto was a special assistant to President George W Bush.
12. National sports awards nominations invited through e-mail
The sports ministry on May 5 invited the nominations for the national sports awards of 2020 through e-mail. The ministry adopted this procedure due to the ongoing COVID-19 lockdown.
The sports ministry has started the process of nominations for multiple honors, including Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna.
