Current Affairs Quiz - February, 2021

Notes:
50-year-old British human rights lawyer Karim Khan has been elected as the new chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court by its member countries.
He is set to commence his 9-year term from June this year. He is very much known for the UN investigations made into the crimes by the Islamic State.

Notes:
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) announced that it will provide Rs 100 crore loan to Gurgaon-based hospital chain Medanta.
The financial assistance would aid the multi-speciality hospital chain in enhancing healthcare services and medical equipment to fight the COVID-19 pandemic. It also includes staff training programmes on infection control.

Notes:
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh launched e-Chhawani portal, which aims to provide online municipal services to citizens across 62 Cantonment Boards.
Through the portal, application for renewal of leases, online registration of births and deaths and online application for water and sewerage connection can be made easier. Residents of the cantonment areas can also lodge complaints on civic issues online.

Notes:
The Union Ministry of Minority Affairs is to organise a ‘Mushaira’ event, in which renowned poets from across the country will recite their poems.
The event is to be conducted on February 20, 2021, on the theme ‘Ek Bharat, Shrestha Bharat’. Mushaira, which is regarded as a poetic symposium is part of the Culture of India and Pakistan. It aims to make younger generation aware of the country’s art and culture.

Notes:
Twitter has started rolling out the voice messages feature, under which recorded voice message can be sent via Direct Message in India.
This new voice message feature is being launched in select countries in a phased manner. The voice message feature is already present in various instant messaging apps like WhatsApp, Messenger, Telegram, and others.

Notes:
Iran and Russia are organising a two-day navy exercise called “Iran-Russia Maritime Security Belt 2021” in the northern part of the Indian Ocean.
India has joined the exercise with a select group of vessels and forces. The drill will cover an area of 17,000 square kilometres and will include shooting at sea and air targets and liberating hijacked ships, as well as search and rescue and anti-piracy operations.

Notes:
India is set to host a virtual South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) meet to discuss on management and response of Covid-19 pandemic.
This health secretary-level meet virtually with other SAARC countries, will be conducted as a virtual workshop to exchange best practices amid the pandemic. In 2014, Nepal hosted a SAARC leaders’ summit, which was the most recent meeting of the countries.

Notes:
Tamilisai Soundararajan has been sworn in recently as the Lt Governor of the Union Territory of Pondicherry. Her oath was administered by the Chief Justice of Madras High Court Sanjib Banerjee.
She becomes the 5th women Governor of the UT of Pondicherry. She has replaced Kiran Bedi as the Governor.

Notes:
The resolution plan for the dent ridden Dewan Housing Finance Ltd (DHFL), submitted by Piramal Capital and Housing Finance has been recently approved by the Reserve Bank of India.
In 2019, RBI referred the case of DHFL to National Companies Law Tribunal (NCLT). The committee of creditors (CoC) had earlier in January approved the plan submitted by Piramal Capital.

Notes:
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced that the United States would pay the World Health Organization (WHO) USD 200 million.
The U.S. is the largest funder of the World Health Organisation, contributing over 15% of its total funds. Former U.S. President Donald Trump had begun the process of withdrawing from the WHO, which has been stopped now by the incumbent President.