1. WHO warns countries for reopening of their economies without setting up strong contact tracing

• WHO has warned that countries are essentially driving blind in reopening their economies without setting up strong contact tracing to beat back flare-ups of the coronavirus. The warning came as France and Belgium emerged from lockdowns, the Netherlands sent children back to school, and several US states continued to lift their business restrictions.
• Robust contact tracing measures adopted by Germany and South Korea provide hope that those countries can detect and stop virus clusters before they get out of control.

Foot Notes: About WHO
Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland
Founded: 7 April 1948
Director-General: Tedros Adhanom

2. AIFF nominates Sandesh Jhingan, Bala Devi for Arjuna Award

• The All India Football Federation (AIFF) has nominated Sandesh Jhingan and N Bala Devi for this year's Arjuna Award. Arjuna Award is an honour bestowed by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports to recognize the achievement of athletes.
• In January this year, Bala became the Indian woman professional footballer to play in Europe. She was signed by Scottish club Rangers for an 18-month deal.
• Also, Bala is the top scorer for the Indian women's team, netting 52 goals in 58 appearances since 2010. Jhingan, who made his international debut in football in 2015 and is a regular in the national team.

3. GoI extends lockdown with an economic package of Rs.20 lakh crores

• The government of India announced an Rs.20 lakh crore stimulus package, equivalent to about 10% of India's Gross domestic product (GDP). It aimed at making the country self-reliant and reviving the stalled economy. Atma Nirbhar Bharat Abhiyaan or Details of the plan unveiled by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.
• The announcement comes after the Government of India extended the lockdown from 18 May (Lockdown 4.0). The reforms announced by PM Narendra Modi include supply chain reforms for agriculture, rational tax system, simple and clear laws, capable human resources, and a strong financial system.

4. IAS Officer “Manoj Ahuja” appointed as the new CBSE chairman

• Odisha cadre IAS Manoj Ahuja has been appointed the new chairman of the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE). 
• Ahuja is currently working as Special Director, Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration, Department of Personnel and Training.
• Ahuja will replace Anita Karwal as the chairman of the CBSE.

5. UP Postal department creates a record of reaching the maximum number of persons in a single day to provide cash at doorstep

• The postal department in Uttar Pradesh has made a record of reaching the maximum number of persons in a single day to provide cash at their doorstep. The UP circle of the Postal department made a transaction of 30 crore rupees to 2.74 persons in the state through Aadhaar Enabled Payment System (AEPS). This is the cash transaction for the highest number of persons in a day.
• A mega drive to provide money to the needy persons at their doorstep was launched by the UP Circle of the postal department. A total of 2.74 lakh persons in the state benefited from it which was the highest number of beneficiaries in a single day in the country.

Foot Notes: About Uttar Pradesh
Capital: Lucknow
Governor: Anandiben Patel
Chief Minister: Yogi Adityanath

6. China launches two satellites to test space-based communication technology

• China launches two satellites Xingyun-2 01 and 02 into the orbit by Kuaizhou-1A(KZ-1A) carrier rocket from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China at 9.16 am (Beijing Time), to test the space-based Internet of Things(IoT) communication technology.
• The Satellite was developed by Xingyun Satellite Co. to conduct tests on technologies including space-based IoT communications, inter-satellite laser communications, and a low-cost commercial satellite platform.
• Kuaizhou(KZ-1A) is a low-cost, solid-fuel carrier rocket featuring high orbit precision and a short preparation period. The Rocket is developed by an affiliated company of Sanjiang Group under the China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation (CASIC) used to launch low-orbit small satellites.
• The satellites will also carry out initial pilot IoT applications. This was the ninth mission of the KZ-1A carrier rocket.

Foot Notes: About CASIC
Chairman- Gao Hongwei
Headquarters location: Beijing, China
Founded: 1 July 1999 

7. Ministry of Tourism organises 18th webinar titled ‘Odisha-India’s Best kept secret’ under"Dekho Apna Desh" series

• The Ministry of Tourism’s Dekho Apna Desh webinar series on 12th May 2020, titled, ‘Odisha-India’s Best kept secret’ took the participants on a virtual journey into Odisha. The webinar was the 18th webinar under Dekho Apna Desh Webinar Series.
• Shri Vishal Dev, Secretary (Tourism), Government of Odisha, set the tone for the presentation with his introductory remarks giving a brief introduction to the State of Odisha and highlighting on the key selling proposition of Odisha such as its ancient civilization, famous temples with Kalinga style of architecture, long coastline endowed with beautiful beaches, arts and handicrafts, culture, popular dance forms such as Odissi, Gotipua, forests. He also informed about the State initiative in promoting Eco-Tourism sites.
• The virtual journey covered places like BhitarkanikaWildlife Sanctuary, Udaipur Beach, Manglajodi – unique wetland, Satpada, Chilika lake known for sighing of unique Irrawaddy dolphins, Simlipal National Park, Debrigarh National Park –Ecotourism site at Hirakud reservoir, waterfall, Silent Valley – Gorge, Daringbadi nature Camp, Mahanadi Gorge, Bhetnoi, Beach Locations, Tribal heritage, arts and crafts, textiles, dance forms, festivals, cuisine.

• French cyclist Rémy Di Gregorio has been banned for four years after the conclusion of a doping case which began in 2018. Di Gregorio was provisionally suspended after testing positive for darbepoetin, a form of the blood-booster erythropoietin (EPO).
• The substance is often known under the brand name Aranesp.
• Di Gregorio, now 34, was arrested by French police at the 2012 Tour de France, leading to his then team Cofidis suspending and withdrawing him from the race.

Foot Notes: About International Cycling Union (UCI)
Headquarters– Aigle, Switzerland
President– David Lappartient

9. FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup in India to begin in 2021 February

• The FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup has been rescheduled between 17 February and 7 March 2021. The recommendations were made by the FIFA-Confederations COVID-19 Working Group, the Bureau of the FIFA Council.
• FIFA announced that the tournament will keep original eligibility criteria which are the players born on or after 1 January 2003 and on or before 31 December 2005 are eligible to participate in the Tournament.

Foot Notes: About FIFA
President: Gianni Infantino
Headquarters: Zürich, Switzerland
Founded: 21 May 1904, Paris, France

10.    Actor Shafique Ansari Passes Away at 52 in Mumbai

• Actor Shafique Ansari, who starred in Sony TV’s show Crime Patrol, has died.
• He was suffering from stomach cancer for a few years and he lost the battle to the deadly disease.
• Ansari also worked as an assistant director and writer.
• He was among the screenwriters for 2003’s Baghban, starring Amitabh Bachchan and Hema Malini.