Current Affairs Daily Digest – May 11 & 12 2020
1. Centre launched Mission Sagar for assistance to Indian Ocean nations amid COVID-19 crisis
Government of India launched “Mission Sagar” on 10 May. The aim is to provide assistance to Indian Ocean Region Nations amid the coronavirus crisis. The operation is being progressed in coordination with the Ministry of Defence (MoD) and the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). The mission is in line with the Prime Minister’s vision of SAGAR.
2. May 11: National Technology Day
Every year, National Technology Day is observed on May 11, 1974 in order to remind India’s technological advancements. This year the day is being observed under the theme Theme: Focusing on Rebooting the economy through Science and Technology.
3. Chess | China wins Online Nations Cup
China won the inaugural $180,000 FIDE Chess.com Online Nations Cup following a 2-2 draw against USA. China, which lost to USA in the concluding league match, was declared the winner on the basis of topping the points table in the round-robin stage. India concluded its campaign by playing to its seeding and finished fifth, ahead of sixth seed Rest of the World (RoW).
4. Eminent historian Hari Shankar Vasudevan dies of Covid-19 in Kolkata
Eminent historian Hari Shankar Vasudevan died at a private hospital. He was 68.
Vasudevan had tested positive for novel coronavirus on May 6 after being admitted with high fever and breathing difficulty symptoms on May 4, but had other chronic ailments also, his family said.
5. UP govt launched ‘Pravasi Rahat Mitra’ app for migrant workers
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on May 8 launched the ‘Pravasi Rahat Mitra’ app for the migrant workers of the state who have been returning from other states amid the lockdown.
‘Pravasi Rahat Mitra’ app has been developed by the State Revenue Department in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme.
6. Indu Shekhar Chaturvedi assumes charge as Secretary, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy
Indu Shekhar Chaturvedi assumed charge as new Secretary, Ministry of New & Renewable Energy on 11 May 2020. Chaturvedi met senior officers of the Ministry and took stock of the work and issues before the Ministry. Chaturvedi succeeded Anand Kumar in the Mi0nistry who earlier took charge as Secretary, Ministry of Culture.
7. May 12: International Nurse Day
Every year, May 12 is commemorated as International Nurse Day. The birth anniversary of Florence Nightingale is celebrated as the International Nurse Day. This year the day is celebrated under the theme –
Theme: Nurses: A Voice to lead-Nursing the World to Health
8. Sania Mirza first Indian to win Fed Cup Heart Award
Tennis player Sania Mirza became the first Indian to win the Fed Cup Heart Award for her successful return to the court post motherhood. Sania won the award for Asia/Oceania zone after securing a whopping 10,000 plus votes out of the total 16,985 cast for this year’s three regional Group I nominees.
9. Bengaluru airport voted as best regional airport in India & Central Asia
The Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru has won this year’s SKYTRAX Award for Best Regional Airport in India and Central Asia, said Bangalore International Airport Ltd (BIAL).
In a statement, BIAL said that the airport was voted by customers as the Best Regional Airport in India & Central Asia for the third time in four years at the 2020 World Airport Awards. “For an 11-year old airport to be named Best Regional Airport in India & Central Asia for the third time is a remarkable achievement for Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru.
10. The World’s Best Airports of 2020 are announced
Singapore Changi Airport has been named as the World’s Best Airport in 2020, ahead of Tokyo Haneda Airport in 2nd place and Hamad International Airport Doha rising to No 3 in the world. Over 500 airports were featured in the 2019-2020 awards customer survey.
11. International tourism to fall 60-80%: UNWTO
International tourism could shrink by a whopping 60-80 per cent in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, resulting in the revenue loss of $910 billion to $1.2 trillion and placing livelihoods at risk, as per the World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO).
12. Actor And Comedian Jerry Stiller Dies At 92
Veteran actor and comedian Jerry Stiller, who found fame on Broadway and later in the smash US show “Seinfeld” has died from natural causes aged 92, his son, the Hollywood star Ben Stiller.
Stiller and his wife Anne Meara starred on the stage and TV in the 1960s, writing and performing comedy sketches and routines together.
