Current Affairs Quiz - May, 2021

Notes:
May 22 is marked every year as the International Day for Biological Diversity (IDB) globally, to celebrate natural diversity and spread awareness on conservation.
Earlier, December 29 was designated as the International Day for Biological Diversity but after 2000, the UN General Assembly chose May 22 to mark the day. The Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) announced the theme of this year as “We’re part of the solution”.

Notes:
Iran has agreed to extend an agreement allowing the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to keep surveillance cameras at nuclear sites, by one month.
As per the IAEA chief Rafael Grossi, the deal would end on 24 June. In February, Iran reduced its co-operation with IAEA in retaliation for sanctions imposed by the US when it abandoned a nuclear deal in 2018.

Notes:
The National Green Tribunal has set up a committee to submit a report on alleged violation of norms in the construction of a dam across the Cauvery river at Mekedatu, in Karnataka.
Karnataka earlier proposed to construct the dam in the area and the proposal was deferred by the Cauvery Water Management Authority twice. Tamil Nadu Government had expressed its strong opposition citing the pendency of case before the Supreme Court.

Notes:
The American space agency NASA has proposed an Earth System Observatory, which would provide key information regarding climate change, disaster mitigation, fighting forest fires, and improving real-time agricultural processes.
The design involves a constellation of satellites, which would develop a holistic 3D model of the earth from bedrock to atmosphere.

Notes:
WHO, along with FAO, UNEP and the World Organization for Animal Health formed a panel of experts to develop a global plan, to prevent the spread of diseases from animals to humans.
Named the One Health High-Level Expert Panel, it was an initiative launched by France and Germany. It will advise the UN bodies to develop risk assessment and establish good practices to prevent zoonotic outbreaks.

Notes:
The Ministry of Women and Child Development (WCD) announced that it will set up One-Stop Centres (OSC).
This scheme aims to support women affected by violence in public and private spaces, within the family, community and at the workplace. OSCs will be first introduced in 10 foreign missions in collaboration with the Ministry of External Affairs

Notes:
The Union Cabinet has approved the opening of a new Consulate General of India in Addu City, Maldives in 2021.
Maldives has an important place in the Neighbourhood First Policy and the SAGAR- Security and Growth for All in the Region- initiative of the Government of India. This opening of a Consulate General in Addu City will help promote India’s diplomatic presence in Maldives.

Notes:
The Government of Kerala has established a 3 membered Secretary level committee, to draft the operational guidelines for the Smart Kitchen scheme.
The scheme aims to reduce the work load of women in kitchen, by providing them financial assistance in the form of loans to modernize and refurbish their kitchens.

Notes:
Viruses have either RNA or DNA as their genetic material. The nucleic acid may be single- or double-stranded. The SARS-CoV-2 virus has RNA as its genetic material.
Recently, Scientists in Taiwan have developed a new DNA-based COVID-19 vaccine that successfully induced antibodies against novel coronavirus in mice and hamsters. Currently available COVID-19 vaccines use messenger RNA (mRNA) to teach human immune system to recognise the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

Notes:
Hong Kong mountaineer Tsang Yin-hung has recorded the world’s fastest ascent of Everest by a woman.
The 44-year-old mountaineer scaled the summit in a record time of 25 hours and 50 minutes. Another mountaineer, the 75-year-old Arthur Muir, became the oldest American to climb the world’s highest peak at 8,848.86-metres.