Daily Top-10 Current Affairs MCQs / News (May 22, 2021) for CSS, PMS

WELCOME TO CSS TIMES DAY BY DAY CURRENT AFFAIRS, YOUR BEST SOURCE FOR UP-TO-DATE AND DAILY TOP CURRENT AFFAIRS 2021 FOR PREPARATION OF CSS, PMS, BANKING, NTS, RAILWAYS AND ALL COMPETITIVE EXAMS. “DAY TO DAY CURRENT AFFAIRS” BASICALLY IS TOP 10 NEWS SUMMARY ON CURRENT HAPPENINGS OF NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL IMPORTANCE FOR ALL EXAMINATIONS

May 22, 2021: National / International Current Affairs

1. Three JF-17 Thunder jets inducted into Nigerian force

• The Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC), Kamra, formally handed over three JF-17 Thunder aircraft to the Nigerian Air Force at a graceful ceremony held at the Nigerian Air Force Base, Makudri, on May 21, 2021.
• The ceremony was organised to mark the 57th anniversary of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF), according to information reaching here.
• Nigerian Minister of Defence retired Maj Gen Bashir Magashi was the guest of honour on the occasion, representing the president, whereas Air Marshal Syed Noman Ali, Vice Chief of the Air Staff, Pakistan Air Force was invited to attend the ceremony as a special guest of the Nigerian Air Force

2. Economic growth rate projected at 3.94pc

• Pakistan`s economy performed beyond expectations with all major macroeconomic indicators showing positive trend amid the Covid-19 pandemic, resulting in a 3.94 per cent economic growth rate this fiscal year, compared to a revised negative 0.47pc in 2019-20.
• The growth figures came as a surprise as the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) had estimated GDP growth at 3pc, while the finance ministry`s projection was slightly on the lower side. The growth projection of multilateral donors the International Monetary Fund and World Bank was between 1.3pc and 1.5pc for the fiscal year 2020-21.
• For a number of years, the services sector was a major reason for economic growth in the country and it has witnessed a growth of 4.43pc this year. The services sector has been impacted this year too partially by the Covid-related shrinkage in service delivery in major sectors

3. Vaccination for people over 30 begins today

• Inoculation against Covid-19 of people aged 30 years and above is set to start from May 22, 2021 (today) as the National Assembly was informed that local production of the anti-coronavirus vaccine has begun.
• In a tweet, Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Asad Umar, who also heads the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC), said: `In today`s (Friday) NCOC meeting it has been decided to open up vaccination for 30 years and older starting tomorrow. The messages for those who are being scheduled will go out today.
• So far, 1,193,441 people have been vaccinated across the country

4. Pakistan officially added to Amazon sellers list

• Amazon formally added Pakistan to its sellers list on May 21, 2021.
• `We are excited to announce that as of today, Pakistani entrepreneurs are eligible to sell on Amazon. We are eager to work with Pakistan`s dynamic business community, including small and medium-sized sellers, and help connect them with customers around the globe,` a message from Amazon International Seller Services Vice President Eric Broussard said. The message was released to the media and on social media by the Ministry of Commerce.
• On May 6, the commerce ministry had unofficially announced that Amazon has agreed in principle to add Pakistan to its sellers` list after completing formalities. In South Asia, Pakistan is the last country to be placed on the sellers list of the e-commerce giant. The platform offers retailers the opportunity to sell their products directly to buyers and mass production opportunities

5. Minister resigns from Balochistan cabinet

• Sardar Mohammad Saleh Bhootani has resigned from the cabinet as a minister and apologised to the people for having been unable to serve them because, according to him, release of funds for his department was stopped by the chief minister.
• Chief Minister Jam Kamal Alyani had withdrawn the portfolio of local bodies and rural development from Mr Bhootani two weeks ago alleging that the department had failed to deliver.

6. Foreign direct investment falls by 32.5pc in 10MFY21

• Foreign direct investment (FDI) fell by over 32 per cent during the 10 months of the current fiscal year compared to the same period in the previous financial year.
• However, data released by the State Bank of Pakistan on Friday showed that the inflow during April 2021 increased compared to the same month of last fiscal year.
• The country has been struggling for the last several years to attract foreign investment but the latest figures suggested that the efforts by relevant quarters could not bring about positive results

7. Seven killed in Chaman motorcycle bomb blast

• Seven people, including three leaders of the Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (Nazaryati), were killed and 14 others injured in a bomb attack in the border town of Chaman, Qila Abdullah district, on May 21, 2021.
• JUI-N`s naib emir Maulana Abdul Qadir Luni, who according to officials was the target of the attackers, suffered injuries in the bombing.
• Officials said the blast occurred at Boghara Chowk soon after a rally staged by the JUI-N to condemn Israeli aggression and genocide of the oppressed Palestinians in Gaza had concluded

8. Pharma firms, G20 pledge 3.6bn doses for poor nations

• Coronavirus vaccine producers promised billions of doses for poor countries at a G20 health summit on May 21, 2021, where leaders vowed to expand access to jabs as the only way to end the pandemic.
• The bosses of Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson announced they would supply around 3.5 billion vaccine doses at cost or discount to low and middle income countries this year and next.
• The European Union pledged to donate 100 million doses and invest in regional manufacturing hubs in Africa to reduce the continent`s reliance on imports.

9. Nigeria`s army chief dies in plane crash

• Nigeria`s army chief Lt Gen Ibrahim Attahiru died in a plane crash on May 21, 2021 on an official visit to the northern state of Kaduna, which has had security challenges in recent months.
• The air force said in a statement that its plane crashed near Kaduna airport and that it was investigating the immediate cause.
• The crash comes three months after a small Nigerian air force passenger plane crashed just outside Abuja airport following engine failure, killing all seven people on board

10. Israelis open fire on worshippers at Al Aqsa

• Israeli police fired stun grenades at Palestinian worshippers in Jerusalem`s Al-Aqsa mosque compound on May 21, 2021, two weeks after similar violence at the sensitive religious site triggered Israeli atrocities in Gaza.
• Reporters said Israeli forces fired rubber-coated bullets and stun grenades at unarmed Palestinians, including into a group of men standing around talking, one with a prayer mat slung over his shoulder.
• Some youths responded by lobbing stones.

Check our daily updated ‘s Complete Day by Day Current Affairs Notes

May 2021:
[catlist name=”May 2021″]

April 2021:
[catlist name=”April 2021″]

March 2021:
[catlist name=”March 2021″]

February 2021:
[catlist name=”February 2021″]

January 2021:
[catlist name=”January 2021″]