Daily Current affairs for May 9, 2020

Candidates aspiring to crack bank exams, SSC exams or UPSC exams know very well, the importance of preparing for current affairs section. It consists of atleast 15-20 questions.

The easiest way to scoop up full marks in this section, is to keep a track of the important daily events.With vast information available in newspapers, it will be really tough for you to follow everything at one go.

To help you in preparations, here are the top latest current affairs for May 9, 2020

India, AIIB sign USD 500 million “COVID-19 Emergency Response and Health Systems Preparedness Project”

The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) has approved US$ 500 million for ‘Covid-19 Emergency Response and Health Systems Preparedness Project’ initiated by India.

• The funds will be useful to cover the needs of covid19 infected people, medical and emergency personnel, service providers, medical and testing facilities, and national and animal health agencies.
• It will cover all States and Union Territories across the country
• Will enhance the resilience of India’s health system to provide core public health prevention and patient care to better manage COVID-19 and future disease outbreaks.

It is also expected to strengthen the nation`s Integrated Disease Surveillance Program, revamp infectious disease and medical college hospitals.

Vande Bharat Mission – 2nd phase with 106 flights to start soon

Vande Bharat Mission is the biggest evacuation exercise taken by the Indian government, to bring back Indian citizens who couldn’t return home & are currently stuck in various countries due to covid19 travel restrictions.

• The 1st phase of Vande Bharat will take place from May 7- 13
• 64 flights are expected to bring 15,000 Indian citizens home from 12 countries – United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Bangladesh, Philippines, Singapore, Malaysia, United Kingdom and United States.
• The second phase shall start from May 16 onwards

The second week of evacuation starts from may 16 to bring back 25,000 people.Around 106 flights to countries such as Canada, Russia, Europe, Australia, US and Gulf are planned.

Maharana Pratap Singh I birth anniversary celebrated on 9 May

The birth anniversary of Maharana Pratap Jayanti is observed on May 9 every year. celebrates the. Pratap Singh I, who was popularly known as Maharana Pratap, was born on May 9, 1540.

• This year marks the 479th birth anniversary of Maharana Pratap.
• Maharana Pratap was born to King Udai Singh II and Queen Jaiwanta Bai.He became 13th Rajput king of Mewar in 1572 after the death of his father.

At the age of 56, he died in a hunting accident on 19 January 1597. Maharana Pratap was succeeded by his eldest son, Amar Singh I.

New road to Kailash Mansarovar opened by Rajnath Singh

A new 80-km road in uttarakhand which connects close to the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and opens a new route for Kailash Mansarovar yatra via Lipulekh Pass,  was inaugurated by the Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.

• The road will significantly reducing the travel time for yatris visiting Mansarovar yatra
• Lipulekh pass at 17,000 feet is close to the tri-junction of India, China and Nepal.

 The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) achieved road connectivity from Dharchula to Lipulekh (China Border) known as Kailash-Mansarovar Yatra Route.

SBI reduces benchmark lending rate by 15 basis points

State Bank of India has announced a cut in their lending rates. The MCLR (Marginal Cost of Funds based Lending Rate) was reduced to 7.25%, from 7.40% with effect from 10 of May.

ICMR teams up with Bharat Biotech to develop Covid-19 vaccine

The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), has approved a project towards the development of human monoclonal antibodies (hmAbs) that can neutralize SARS-CoV-2 in covi19 infected patients, through the New Millennium Indian Technology Leadership Initiative (NMITLI)

• The project aims to generate hmAbs to SARS-CoV-2 from the convalescent phase of COVID-19 patients and select high affinity and neutralizing antibodies.

Bharat Biotech International Limited (BBIL) will be the commercial partner of the project and is responsible for subsequent development and commercialization of the hmAbs generated.

World Migratory Bird Day (WMBD) observed on 9 May.

The day is globally observed on the second saturday in may and october.The day aims to bring attention to the threats faced by migratory birds, their ecological importance and raise awareness about the increasing need for international cooperation to conserve them.

• The theme of 2020 World Migratory Bird Day is “Birds Connect Our World.”
• The theme emphasizes the need of conserving and restoring the ecological connectivity and integrity of ecosystems that support the natural movements of migratory birds which are essential for their survival and well-being.

The World Migratory Bird Day is celebrated by a collaborative partnership between two UN treaties – the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS) and the African Eurasian Migratory Waterbird Agreement (AEWA) – and the Colorado-based non-profit organisation Environment for the Americas (EFTA).

Mustafa al-Kadhimi is Iraq`s new prime minister

Iraq’s new Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi assumed office on 6 May after the country’s parliament approved a new government. Mustafa replaced Adel Abdul Mahdi.

China launches Long March-5B rocket as part of sending astronauts to moon

China successfully launched its most powerful rocket “Long March-5B” into orbit on 5 May, from the Wenchang Space Launch Center in Hainan, China.

• Long March-5B or Chang Zheng 5 is a 176-foot-long rocket and was carrying a special prototype spacecraft that could transport people to space
• China hopes the craft will transport astronauts to a space station by 2022— and eventually to the Moon.

It is designed to increase China’s human spaceflight capabilities, both to low Earth orbit but also for deep space exploration.

Coir Board to establish a Centre of Excellence for Coir Applications with IIT Madras

Coir Board has signed a MoU with the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT)-Madras, to setup a Centre of Excellence for Coir Applications.

The centre of Excellence (CoE) will also support the development of relevant technology and evolve standards for production and processing through specific projects.

Tiger population in Sunderbans rises to 96

According to the West Bengal Forest Department, the tiger count for the year 2019-20 rose to 96, from 88 in 2018-19.It is the biggest annual jump recorded in the Sunderbans delta.

The Sunderbans delta, spread over India and Bangladesh, is the only mangrove forest in the world inhabited by tigers.

Facebook’s Oversight Board inducts an Sudhir Krishnaswamy

Facebook has induced Sudhir Krishnaswamy to its newly formed independent oversight board for content moderation in a transparent manner.

• Sudhir Krishnaswamy is the vice-chancellor of National Law School of India University, Bengaluru, and has co-founded the Centre for Law and Policy Research.
• The board comprises of 20 independent Members from over 27 countries which includes former heads of state, judges, journalists, human rights rapporteurs etc.

The primary role of this board will be to make final and binding decisions on what content should be allowed or removed from Facebook and Instagram, based on respect for freedom of expression and human rights.

Hockey legend Balbir Singh Sr. admitted to hospital in critical condition

Balbir Singh Sr., the 3-time olympic gold medalist hockey player was admitted to the Fortis Hospital in Mohali after his health deteriorated.

Balbir played an important role in winning gold medals for India, at the London (1948), Helsinki (1952) and Melbourne (1956) Olympics. His record of scoring five goals in the 6–1 win against the Netherlands at the Helsinki Olympics remains unbeaten.