1. Russian President Vladimir Putin awards commemorative World War II medal to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un

• The Russian embassy in Pyongyang, North Korea announced that the Russian President Vladimir Putin has awarded North Korean Leader Kim Jong-un a commemorative war medal marking the 75th anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany.
• The medal was awarded to the North Korean leader for his role in preserving the memory of Soviet soldiers who died on North Korean territory.
• Russia’s ambassador in North Korea, Alexander Matsegora, presented the award to the country’s Foreign Minister Ri Son-Gwon.

Foot Notes: About Russia
Capital: Moscow.
Currency: Russian ruble.
About North Korea:
Capital: Pyongyang.
Currency: North Korean won.

2. DRDO Develops Ultraviolet Disinfection Tower “UV blaster” for sanitization of  Coronavirus prone areas

• The Laser Science & Technology Centre(LASTEC), Delhi-based, laboratory of the  Defence Research and Development Organisation(DRDO), Defence ministry with the assistance of New Age Instruments and Material Private Ltd., Gurugram developed “UV blaster” an ultraviolet(UV) disinfection tower for a quick and chemical-free sanitization of areas that are highly prone to the infection of a novel coronavirus in method.
• The UV Blaster consists of six lamps of 43 watts of UVC power at a 254-nanometre wavelength for 360-degree illumination and it can be accessed remotely through laptop or mobile phone with a WIFI link.

Foot Notes: About DRDO
Defence Minister: Rajnath Singh
Chairman: G. Satheesh Reddy
CEO & MD: Sudhir Mishra
Founded: 1958
Headquarters: New Delhi

3. NITI Aayog starts “Surakshit Dada-Dadi & Nana-Nani Abhiyan” to protect senior citizens during COVID-19

• Government think tank NITI Aayog in association with Piramal Foundation launched a campaign ''Surakshit Dada-Dadi & Nana-Nani Abhiyan'' focussed on ensuring well being of senior citizens during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• The campaign will reach over 2.9 million senior citizens in 25 districts across Assam, Bihar, Jharkhand, MP, Maharashtra, Rajasthan & UP.
• The campaign is aimed at creating awareness about various aspects of senior citizens' health and lifestyle including preventive measures and requisite behavioral changes in view of COVID-19 pandemic.

Foot Notes: About NITI Aayog
Founded: 01 Jan 2015
Headquarters: New Delhi, India
CEO: Amitabh Kant 
Chairman: Narendra Modi

4. Jharkhand launches three schemes for rural job creation

• In Ranchi, Chief Minister Hemant Soren launches three schemes, Birsa Harit Gram Yojana(BHGY), Neelambar Pitambar JAL Sammridhi Yojana(NPJSY) and Veer Sahid Poto Ho Khel Vikas Scheme (VSPHKVS) to prove wage employment for the workers in the rural area devised in convergence with the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme(MNREGA) in the presence of rural development minister Alamgir Alam, water resources minister Mithilesh Thankur and other administrative officials.
• These schemes are made to keep the long term goals for sustainable development and creating new assets for the state.

Foot Notes: About Jharkhand
Capital: Ranchi
Chief Minister: Hemant Soren
Governor: Shyam Charan Murmu

5. West Bengal govt launches exit app for stranded people of other states

• The West Bengal government launched an app for people from other states who are stranded in West Bengal due to the lockdown and want to return to their native place, state.  
• A large number of people from other states are stuck in West Bengal due to the lockdown, they can access the app for online permission to leave the state.
• Persons willing to go back to their native states can apply online through this ''Exit app''.

Foot Notes: About West Bengal
Capital: Kolkata
Chief Minister:  Mamata Banerjee
Governor: Jagdeep Dhankhar

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6. Krishnan Ramachandran appointed as MD & CEO of Max Bupa Health Insurance

• Max Bupa Health Insurance appointed Krishnan Ramachandran as its new managing director(MD) and Chief Executive Officer(CEO). He succeeds Ashish Mehrotra, after almost 5 years of service in company.
• Before this appointment, he served as the CEO of Apollo Munich Health Insurance. Prior to Apollo Munich served in various capacities as practice head healthcare and experience manager at Deloitte Consulting, in India and the United States(US).
•  He Has over 23 years of experience in health insurance, healthcare, and life sciences segments.

Foot Notes: About Max Bupa Health Insurance
It is a joint venture between Max India Limited and Bupa, a British healthcare provisioning and multi-insurance company. 
Headquarters– New Delhi, India
Founded: 2008

7. Deepak Kumar appointed as the new CRO of RBL 

• Ratnakar Bank Limited (RBL) has named Deepak Kumar as its new Chief Risk Officer (CRO) for a tenure of two years. 
• He will be replacing Ramnath Krishnan as the lender’s CRO as decided in its Board of Directors meeting.
• Deepak Kumar has over 37 years of experience. 
• He was a part of the Reserve Bank of India’s resolution committee for the PMC crisis and also has experience as Chief General Manager of the State Bank of India.

Foot Notes: About RBL 
CEO:  Vishwavir Ahuja
Headquarters: Mumbai

8. Uttar Pradesh Government launches “AyushKavach” application

• Uttar Pradesh Government launched AyushKavach application to help people access prescriptions. These prescriptions will help the people to strengthen their resistance through ancient practices Ayurveda and Yoga. The application aims to boost the immunity of the people through Ayurveda medicines.
• The AyushKavach application is to provide health-related information and also tips about using ayurvedic medicines. The application was launched by the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Yogi Adityanath.

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

9. Telangana government extends lockdown till 29th May.

• Telangana government has extended the lockdown till 29th of this month. Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao announced this after a Cabinet meeting in Hyderabad last evening. 
• He said the night curfew will also continue between 7 PM and 6 AM. Only shops selling essential commodities will open in red zones while all shops will remain open in Green and orange zones in villages and at the Block level. 
• In municipal towns, 50 percent of shops will be allowed every day and they will be selected by way of lottery. Shops will open between 10 AM and 6 PM. Hyderabad, Medchal-Malkajgiri, Rangareddy, Warangal urban, Vikarabad and Suryapet are in red zone. 
• The State cabinet will review the situation on the 15th of this month again.
• Telangana has registered 1096 Coronavirus cases till now. 11 fresh cases were reported yesterday. Currently, 439 patients are undergoing treatment.

Foot notes: About Telangana:
Chief Minister: K. Chandrashekar Rao 
Capital: Hyderabad
Governor: Tamilisai Soundararajan

10. Former Union Minister Dalit Ezhilamalai passed away at 74 in Chennai.

• According to sources, the 74-year-old Dalit Ezhilamalai died after suffering a massive cardiac arrest.
• Ezhilamalai was a leader of the Pattali Makkal Katchi, and was Union Minister of State, Health and Family Welfare (Independent Charge) during the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government in 1998–99.
• He was elected to the 12th Lok Sabha from Chidambaram. 
• As an army officer he took part in the 1971 Indo-Pak war. He was a recipient of the Sainik Seva Medal from the President for meritorious service in the Army.