Current Affairs Daily Digest – May 21 2020
1. May 21: International Tea Day
The United Nations observes International Tea Day. The resolution to celebrate International Tea Day was adopted in 2019 by the United Nations food and Agriculture Organization.
India is the second largest tea producing country after China. Also, India is the largest consumer of tea in the world. India consumes around 30% of global tea output.
2. Cabinet meets to approve several initiatives under Atma Nirbhar Bharat Abhiyan
The union cabinet approved several initiatives under Atma Nirbhar Bharat Abhiyan that was launched by PM Modi recently. The Union Cabinet has approved allocation of food grains, adoption of auction methodology for coal, issuance of second order to Reorganisation of Jammu and Kashmir, Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Vaya Vandana Yojana, Scheme to formalize Micro Food Processing Enterprises and Partial Credit Guarantee Scheme
3. Dr Harsh Vardhan to take charge as WHO Executive Board chairman
India would now be playing a more prominent role at the World Health Organisation (WHO), with Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan reportedly set to take charge as chairman of the WHO Executive Board at its 147th session. Vardhan would succeed Dr Hiroki Nakatani of Japan, currently the Chairman of the 34-member WHO Executive Board.
4. 2020 Webby Award Winners Include Jimmy Fallon, Tom Hanks, John Krasinski & Greta Thunberg
Jimmy Fallon, Greta Thunberg, Malala Yousafzai, Tom Hanks, and Game of Thrones are among the winners of The 24th annual Webby Awards, newly-dubbed WFH: Webby From Home. Hosted by Patton Oswalt, the Webby Awards’ Internet ceremony is set for today at 3 PM ET at the Webby’s website.
5. Anil Kumble-led ICC committee recommends ban on saliva due to COVID-19 pandemic, wants non-neutral umpires
Cricket is set to do away with one of its oldest practices the use of saliva to shine the ball as an Anil Kumble-led ICC committee recommended banning it owing to the COVID-19 pandemic.
However, the ICC Cricket Committee saw no health hazard in continuing with the use of sweat.
6. Ravi Zacharias dead at 74
Indian-born Canadian-American Christian apologist Ravi Zacharias died at the age of 74. After 48 years of teaching and commending Christianity, Zacharias passed away at his Atlanta home.
7. Ayush Secretary Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha gets two years extension
Ayurveda expert Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha has got two years extension as the secretary, Ministry of Ayush, according to an official order issued.
The move assumes significance as the Ayush Ministry has been recommending traditional medical system and prescriptions based on it to boost immunity in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
8. World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development 21 May
The day provides us with an opportunity to deepen our understanding of the values of cultural diversity and to advance the four goals of the UNESCO Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions adopted on 20 October 2005:
9. National Anti-Terrorism Day is observed on 21 May
National Anti-Terrorism Day is observed on 21 May every year in India. The day aims to raise awareness about the anti-social act of terrorism and its impact on human suffering and lives. The day marks the death anniversary of the Former Prime Minister of India. The day also aims to spread the message of peace and humanity and to promote unity among people. The seventh Prime Minister of India Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated on 21 May 1991.
10. US Senate passes bill to delist Chinese firms from stock exchanges
The US Senate passed legislation on May 20, 2020 that seeks to delist Chinese firms from US securities exchanges unless they follow US standards of audits and regulations.
The bill, jointly tabled by Republican Senator John Kennedy and Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen, was passed in the Senate with unanimous support. The bill will now go to the House of Representatives.
11. Khadi Masks goes global, KVIC plans to hit foreign markets
The Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) has decided to explore the possibility of exporting the khadi cotton and silk face masks to the foreign countries. This step will launch the widely popular khadi masks in the global market.
The decision came after the Ministry of Commerce and Industries had decided to lift the ban on the export of non-surgical/non-medical masks of all types. The notification of the same was issued by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) on May 16, 2020.
