Table of Contents
Here is the Daily GK Update of 09th and 10th May 2021 covering the following news headlines: International Day of Argania, Permanent Structured Cooperation, Kami Rita, Himanta Biswa Sarma, DRDO’s anti-Covid drug 2-DG.
Daily GK updates are incorporated with the important news that made the current affairs headlines for banking or other competitive exams. Daily GK Update is the complete bag of the important news that held all day long. One should have complete knowledge about banking terms, current affairs news, etc. So, here is the GK update of 09th and 10th May 2021 to help you prepare the Current affairs part. After reading this section, you can successfully attempt Current Affairs Quiz.
International News
1. PESCO: EU approves US participation for the first time
- The European Union recently approved the requests of Norway, Canada and the United States to participate in the Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO) defence initiative.
- This is the first time, the European bloc has allowed a third state to participate in the PESCO project. The countries will now participate in the Military Mobility Project in Europe.
- It is a part of the European Union security and defence policy. It was introduced based on the Treaty of the European Union introduced by the Treaty of Lisbon in 2009. Around four-fifths of the PESCO members are also NATO members. NATO is North Atlantic Treaty Organisation.
- In November 2020, the European Union allowed non-EU members to participate in PESCO. Following this, Canada, the US and Norway had requested to participate in PESCO.
- Four of the states in the European Union declare themselves as neutral. They are Austria, Ireland, Finland and Sweden.
2. Nepal’s Kami Rita scales Everest for record 25th time
- Nepalese climber, Kami Rita has scaled Mount Everest for the 25th time, breaking his own record for the most ascents of the world’s highest peak. Rita, 51, first scaled Everest in 1994 and has been making the trip nearly every year since then.
- He is one of many Sherpa guides whose expertise and skills are vital to the safety and success of the hundreds of climbers.
Important takeaways for all competitive exams:
- Nepali name of Mt. Everest: Sagarmatha;
- Tibetan name: Chomolungma.
State News
3. Himanta Biswa Sarma chosen Assam’s new chief minister
- Himanta Biswa Sarma has been named as the 15th Chief Minister of Assam on May 08, 2021. He will replace incumbent Sarbananda Sonowal. He will take the charge of the office with effect from May 10, 2021.
- The BJP party won a second straight term in the 2021 assembly polls in the state. The party won 60 seats in the 126-member Assam assembly. Mr Sarma joined the BJP six years ago in 2015, after quitting the Congress.
Important takeaways for all competitive exams:
- Assam Governor: Jagdish Mukhi.
Defence News
4. Indian Army sets up Covid Management Cell for real-time response
- The Indian Army has set up a Covid Management Cell to bring greater efficiency in coordinating real-time responses to address the exponential rise in Covid cases across the country.
- It helps in assistance to civil administration in the form of testing, admissions in military hospitals, and transportation of critical medical equipment.
- The Army has deployed additional doctors, including specialists, super specialists and paramedics, at various hospitals.
- The Defence Ministry has granted an extension to Short Service Commissioned doctors of the Armed Forces Medical Services till December 31, 2021, which has augmented the strength of AFMS by 238 more doctors.
- The army has also mobilised its resources to assist the civil administration to tide over the current Covid-19 situation in the country.
- Army has provided 100 beds each at Lucknow and Prayagrajto cater to the surge in cases.
- A total of 200 drivers have been kept on standby for driving oxygen transporters to various parts of the country and 10 TATRA and 15 ALS vehicles are on standby to tranship medical supplies arriving at Palam airport.
5. DRDO’s anti-Covid drug 2-DG receives DCGI approval for emergency use
- An anti-COVID-19 therapeutic drug developed by DRDO called drug2-deoxy-D-glucose (2-DG) has been given emergency approval by the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) for Coronavirus patients in the country.
- The Institute of Nuclear Medicine and Allied Sciences (INMAS), a lab of Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), has developed the drug, in collaboration with Dr Reddy’s Laboratories, Hyderabad.
- In 2-DG arm, significantly higher proportion of patients improved symptomatically and became free from supplemental oxygen dependence (42% vs 31%) by day-3 in comparison to SOC, indicating an early relief from oxygen therapy/dependence.
- The drug comes in the form of a powder in a sachet & is supposed to be dissolved in water.
Important takeaways for all competitive exams:
- Chairman DRDO: Dr G Satheesh Reddy.
- DRDO Headquarters: New Delhi.
- DRDO Established: 1958.
Summits and Conferences News
6. PM Modi Participates in Virtual India-EU Leaders’ Meeting
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi participated in the India-EU Leaders’ Meeting, held in a hybrid format. The India-European Union Leaders’ Meeting is hosted by Portugal. Portugal currently holds the chair of the grouping. PM Modi attended the event at the invitation of the President of the European Council Mr Charles Michel.
- The leaders of all the 27 EU Member States, as well as the President of the European Council and the European Commission, participated in the meeting. This is the first time that the EU hosted a meeting with India in the EU+27 format.
Important takeaways for all competitive exams:
- European Council Founded: 9 December 1974;
- European Union Headquarters location: Brussels, Belgium;
- European Union Founded: 1 November 1993.
Ranks and Reports News
7. New Delhi ranks 32nd in Global Prime Residential Index by Knight Frank
- London-based property consultant Knight Frank has ranked New Delhi and Mumbai in 32nd and 36th positions respectively in the Global Prime Residential Index.
- While Bengaluru moved down by four places in Q1 2021 and is ranked 40; Delhi and Mumbai dipped one place each in the same period.
- Three Chinese cities – Shenzhen, Shanghai and Guangzhou lead the index this quarter. Shenzhen recorded the strongest performing world region with a growth of 18.9%, while New York was the weakest performing market with negative 5.8% growth.
Important takeaways for all competitive exams:
- Chairman and Managing Director at Knight Frank India: Shishir Baijal.
- Knight Frank Headquarters: London, United Kingdom;
- Knight Frank Founded: 1896;
- Knight Frank Founders: Howard Frank, John Knight, William Rutley.
Awards News
8. Naomi Osaka wins top title at 2021 Laureus World Sports Awards
- World number two tennis player Naomi Osaka of Japan has been named “Sportswoman of the Year” at the 2021 Laureus World Sports Awards. This is Osaka’s second Laureus Sports Awards. In 2019, she won the “Breakthrough of the Year” award.
- In the men’s category, World number two Rafael Nadal of Spain won the 2021 “Laureus Sportsman of the Year” title. This is the second title for Nadal, who also claimed the prestigious award in 2011.
Here is the complete list of Winners:
- Sportsman of the Year Award: Rafael Nadal
- Sportswoman of the Year Award: Naomi Osaka
- Team of the Year Award: Bayern Munich
- Breakthrough of the Year Award: Patrick Mahomes
- The comeback of the Year Award: Max Parrot
- Sport for Good Award: KICKFORMORE by KICKFAIR
- Lifetime Achievement Award: Billie Jean King
- Athlete Advocate of the Year Award: Lewis Hamilton
- Sporting Inspiration Award: Mohamed Salah
- Sporting Moment of the Year Award: Chris Nikic
9. Anupam Kher wins best actor award at New York City International Film Festival
- Anupam Kher won the Best Actor award for his performance in the short film Happy Birthday at the New York City International Film Festival.
- The film has been directed by Prasad Kadam and produced by FNP Media. Besides Anupam, Happy Birthday stars Aahana Kumra. The film also won the Best Short Film award at the festival.
Sports News
10. Lewis Hamilton clinches his fifth successive Spanish Grand Prix
- Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes-Great Britain) won the 2021 Spanish Grand Prix, held on 09 May 2021. This win is the fifth successive Spanish Grand Prix title of Lewis Hamilton and the third win of this season.
- Max Verstappen (Red Bull Racing-Netherlands) came second followed by Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes-Finland) at third position. The race was the fourth round of the 2021 Formula One World Championship.
11. Aryna Sabalenka wins her Maiden Madrid Open Women’s singles title
- In tennis, the world number seven, Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus, defeated world number one Ashleigh Barty of Australia to win the 2021 Madrid Open women’s singles title.
- This Sabalenka’s 10th career WTA singles title, second WTA title of the season and first on clay court. Madrid Open is a professional WTA tennis tournament played on outdoor clay courts. Sabalenka beat Australian player Barty with 6-0, 3-6, 6-4.
- In the women’s doubles final, Barbora Krejcikova and Katerina Siniakova, from the Czech Republic, defeated Gabriela Dabrowski of Canada and Demi Schuurs of France 6-4, 6-3.
12. Alexander Zverev beats Matteo Berrettini to win his 2nd Madrid title
- German Alexander Zverev earned his second Mutua Madrid Open title 2021 when he defeated Matteo Berrettini 6-7(8), 6-4, 6-3 to lift his fourth ATP Masters 1000 trophy. He won his first Madrid title in 2018 in a final against Thiem.
- The win gave him his fourth Masters 1000 title, and first in three years. He will be trying to improve from his fourth-round exit last year at the French Open.
Books and authors News
13. Kalki Koechlin Authors her Debut Book Titled ‘Elephant In The Womb’
- Bollywood actress Kalki Koechlin is making her debut as an author, with her first book titled “Elephant In The Womb”. The book, which is yet to be released, is an illustrated non-fiction book on motherhood.
- It is illustrated by Valeriya Polyanychko and published by Penguin Random House India (PRHI). The book narrates about pregnancy and parenting for mothers, expectant mothers, and “anyone even thinking about motherhood”.
Important Days
14. International Day of Argania: 10 May
- In 2021, the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed 10 May the International Day of Argania. The resolution, submitted by Morocco, was co-sponsored by 113 member states of the United Nations and adopted by consensus.
- The argan tree (Argania Spinosa) is a native species of the sub-Saharan region of Morocco, in the southwest of the country, which grows in arid and semiarid areas.
Obituaries News
15. Renowned Sculptor and Rajya Sabha MP Raghunath Mohapatra Passes Away
- Eminent sculptor, architect, and Rajya Sabha member, Raghunath Mohapatra has passed away while undergoing treatment for COVID-19.
- Hailing from Odisha, Mohapatra was awarded Padma Shri in 1975, Padma Bhushan in 2001 and Padma Vibhushan in 2013 for his pioneering contributions to the world of art, architecture and culture.
Miscellaneous News
16. Arzan Nagwaswalla: 1st Parsi on Indian cricket team since 1975
- Arzan Nagwaswalla, a 23-year-old left-arm seamer from Gujarat, has been picked as a reserve player in the Indian Test squad named for the World Test Championship final against New Zealand in Southampton.
- Arzan Rohinton Nagwaswalla, hailing from a Parsi community in a village near the Maharashtra border, is the first Parsi cricketer to break into the national team since 1975 and the only active Parsi cricketer.
- Farokh Engineer played his final Test for India in 1975, while Diana Edulji’s last game in the women’s team came in July 1993.
- The youngest member of a Parsi community from the village of Nargol, Nagwaswalla is the first Parsi cricketer to break into the Indian men’s team since 1975.
Check More GK Updates Here
09th-10th May Current Affairs 2021 | Current Affairs Today | Daily Current Affairs 2021
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