Current Affairs May 2020 - Persons in NEWS
1 - Russian PM Mikhail Mishustin tests positive for Coronavirus
Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin tested positive for the coronavirus. Mishustin has played a leading role in Russia's response to the coronavirus pandemic. He was named prime minister in January.
President Vladimir Putin signed a decree appointing First Deputy Prime Minister Andrei Belousov as a temporary replacement. In Russia, the prime minister oversees the economy and answers to the president. President Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov has been hospitalised with coronavirus.
2 - Indian-Origin Girl Vaneeza Rupani Names NASA’s First Mars Helicopter
Indian-origin girl Vaneeza Rupani has earned the honour of naming NASA’s first Mars helicopter. The helicopter has been officially named Ingenuity. It will be the first aircraft to attempt powered flight on another planet.
NASA's Perseverance rover and Ingenuity helicopter are currently undergoing final assembly and checkout at the agency's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. They will launch on a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket from Space Launch Complex 41 at nearby Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in July and land at Mars' Jezero Crater on February 18, 2021.
3 - Actress Dia Mirza’s term as UN goodwill ambassador extended till 2022
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) extended the term of Bollywood actress and environmentalist Dia Mirza as the Goodwill Ambassador of India till 2022. She has contributed to UNEP campaigns and initiatives such as #BeatPlasticPollution and Circular Fashion. She is also considered as United Nations Sustainability Development Goal Advocate.
The United Nations Environment Programme is responsible for co-ordinating the UN's environmental activities focusing on sustainable development, climate, biodiversity and more. UNEP is the leading environmental authority in the United Nations system.
4 - Health Minister Harsh Vardhan took charge as Chairman of WHO Executive Board
Union Health Minister Dr. Harsh Vardhan took over as the chairman of the World Health Organisation (WHO) Executive Board. He took charge at a time of global crisis on account of this pandemic. India has a mortality of 3% only. In a country of 1.35 billion, there are only 0.1 million cases of COVID19. The recovery rate is above 40% and doubling rate is 13 days.
WHO’s Executive Board comprises of 34 members elected for three-year terms. The Chair of the Executive Board is elected by its members on being nominated by the Regional Committees of the six WHO Regions, by rotation.
