Current Affairs Quiz - May, 2021

Notes:
Manoj Das, a famous 20th century Odia and English writer has recently passed away recently. Many of his short stories were translated into major Indian and foreign languages.
He received several national awards, including the Padma Bhushan award last year. He was also awarded with several other awards including Kendriya Sahitya Akademi Award, Odisha Sahitya Akademi Award, Sarala Award and Sahitya Bharati Award.

Notes:
Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) has become the third strongest and the tenth most valuable insurance brand globally.
According to a report by Brand Finance Insurance 100 2021, LIC’s brand value increased by almost 7 per cent to $8.65 billion. There are 5 Chinese Insurance companies in the top 10 with Ping An Insurance at the top place.

Notes:
Lag B’Omer, an annual religious holiday celebrated with all-night bonfires, prayer and dancing, at Mount Meron, Northern Israel.
Recently, around 40 people were killed and over 100 were injured in a stampede that broke out during the religious gathering attended by tens of thousands of people. Mount Meron is considered to be one of the holiest sites in the Jewish world.

Notes:
The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), has recently announced that 20% of the salary of top executives must be paid in the form of units of mutual fund schemes they oversee.
This decision has been taken to align the interests of the key employees of the asset management companies (AMCs) with the unitholders of the schemes.

Notes:
Australian ace tennis player Ashleigh Barty has won the single title of Porsche Tennis Grand Prix 2021 held at Stuttgart (Germany).
She became the first Australian to win the tournament’s singles title. She has also won the doubles title immediately after the singles tournament, together with Jennifer Brady of USA.

Notes:
Tuna and tuna-like species is a significant source of food, due to their nutritional properties, in both developed and developing countries.
Their meat is rich in Omega-3 and it also contains minerals, proteins, and vitamin B12. In 2016, the United Nations General Assembly declared to officially observe World Tuna Day on May 2 every year. Sustainable Development Goal 14 aims to conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources – applies to the global tuna market.

Notes:
The Government of Turkey’s official gazette recently added the firms involved in Cryptocurrency Trading, into the ambit of anti-money laundering and terrorism financing regulation.
This amendment has come into force with immediate effect. This regulation includes all crypto asset service providers operating the country. German’s central bank has banned the use of cryptocurrency for payments and settlements.

Notes:
The United States’ National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has released the new climate normal. The data reveal that weather across the US is getting warmer.
NOAA releases the climate normals every 10 years and they reflect the data from the past 30 years. The recently released data set comprises of the average temperature, precipitation and rainfall from 1991 to 2020.

Notes:
The RBI Governor announced certain measures to address the liquidity challenges posed by the pandemic.
Small Finance Banks are now permitted to lend smaller Micro-Finance Institutions (MFIs) (with asset size of up to ₹500 crore) for on-lending to individual borrowers as Priority sector lending. This facility will be available up to March 31, 2022. At present, this lending process is not considered as PSL.

Notes:
The United States commemorates the month of May as the ‘Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month’.
It recognizes the contributions of Asian Americans and Pacific Islander Americans to the history, culture, and achievements of the United States. Large organisations including NASA and Google celebrate the heritage month.