May 31 Weekly News Quiz: Where Does India’s Modi Claim He Gets His Energy?

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi claimed that his energy source is not biological but divine. In an interview in May 2024, Modi declared that God sent him and that his mission is to transform India into a “Viksit Bharat” (developed India) by 2047. This statement stirred significant reactions from both supporters and critics. Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah mocked Modi’s divine claims, questioning whether Modi considered himself a divine incarnation and accusing him of exploiting religious sentiments for political gain. Amidst the controversy, Modi emphasized his divine mission publicly.

On May 25, 2024, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced that a future Conservative government would bring back mandatory national service for 18-year-olds. The proposed service includes joining the military or participating in community service activities. For example, working with the St John’s Ambulance or building flood defenses. The first pilot is planned to open for applications by September 2025, with the goal of making the service compulsory by the end of the next Parliament.

Fun fact: The National Service Act of 1948 required young men to serve in the armed forces for 18 months. However, the requirement was phased out, with the last draftees serving in 1963.

In the 2024 Joe Biden campaign ad “Snapped,” Robert De Niro lent his distinctive voice to narrate a clip of Donald Trump declaring, “If I don’t get elected, it’s gonna be a bloodbath.” De Niro warned viewers, “Trump wants revenge. And he’ll stop at nothing to get it.” The ad aired on May 24, 2024.

On May 30, 2024, Tatler magazine unveiled a new portrait of the Princess of Wales, Catherine Middleton, for their July 2024 issue. The picture, painted by British-Zambian artist Hannah Uzor, shows Kate in a regal white evening dress and tiara from a state banquet in November 2022. The painting drew inspiration from Kate’s recent public address about her cancer diagnosis, symbolizing her courage and dignity. While some praised the artistic style, the portrait was criticized for its lack of likeness.

Caravaggio, the renowned Italian Baroque painter, created the painting “Ecce Homo” in the early 17th century. This masterpiece, depicting Christ crowned with thorns, was rediscovered in a private collection in Madrid. Initially misattributed to the circle of José de Ribera, it was set to be auctioned in April 2021 for a modest €1,500. However, the Prado Museum’s experts quickly identified its origins, leading to government intervention to protect the painting. On May 27, 2024, the Prado Museum confirmed its authenticity and began an exclusive exhibition until October 2024.

In May 2024, Guinness World Records recognized Ace-Liam Nana Sam Ankrah from Ghana as the world’s youngest male artist at 1 year and 152 days. His mother, Chantelle, discovered his talent when he was just six months old. Ace-Liam’s early interest in painting led to his participation in The Soundout Premium Exhibition at the Museum of Science and Technology in Ghana, where he successfully sold nine of his ten displayed artworks.

Fun fact: The youngest female artist was recognized in 2007. Arushi Bhatnagar was less than one year old when her paintings were sold at a public gallery in India in 2003.

In May 2024, Spanish police successfully recovered a painting by the late artist Francis Bacon. The painting, valued at €5 million (approximately $5.4 million), was stolen from a banker’s home in Madrid in 2015. The recovery came after the arrest of two individuals in February 2024 linked to the theft.

On May 23, 2024, Sean Kingston (perhaps best known for his 2007 hit Beautiful Girls) and his mother, Janice Turner, were arrested for a large-scale fraud scheme. Through various fraudulent activities, they allegedly stole more than $1 million. Turner, who has a history of bank fraud convictions since 2006, has faced numerous charges related to fraud and theft.

On May 24, 2024, Dutch authorities detained Nicki Minaj at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol for allegedly carrying marijuana. This incident led to postponing her Manchester concert scheduled for the following night. Despite the hiccup, Minaj was released a few hours later and publicly apologized to her fans, explaining the unfortunate delay and expressing her regrets. Busted in a city famous for its liberal cannabis laws—go figure!

The world’s rarest album, “Once Upon a Time in Shaolin” by Wu-Tang Clan, holds a unique place in music history. Recorded in secret for over six years and completed in 2014, this one-of-a-kind album was sold to “Pharma Bro” Martin Shkreli in 2015 for $2 million, making it the most expensive album ever sold. Following Shkreli’s legal troubles, the US government seized and auctioned the album in 2021 to an anonymous buyer. The album made headlines again when the Museum of Old and New Art (Mona) in Hobart, Tasmania, announced that it would be played publicly for the first time as part of an exhibition starting in May 2024.

In his groundbreaking documentary “Super Size Me,” released in 2004, Morgan Spurlock ate only McDonald’s food for an entire month to examine the effects of fast food on his health. The experiment led to significant weight gain, health issues, and a general sense of malaise, providing a stark visual representation of the dangers of excessive fast-food consumption. This eye-opening film earned Spurlock an Oscar nomination and sparked widespread conversation about diet and corporate responsibility in the food industry. Spurlock died on May 23, 2024, at 53, from cancer complications.

On May 24, 2024, South Park aired a special episode titled The End of Obesity. In this episode, Sharon Marsh, unable to afford weight-loss drugs like Ozempic, is offered an alternative: listening to Lizzo’s music and watching her videos. This satirical solution is based on Lizzo’s real-life advocacy for body positivity and self-love. The episode parodies pharmaceutical industry marketing tactics by presenting Lizzo as an alternative to expensive medication. Lizzo watched the episode and expressed pride in her body positivity influence.