Current Affairs Quiz - December, 2021

Notes:
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) announced its new working week of 4.5 days, with Friday afternoon, Saturday and Sunday forming the new weekend for government employees.
The UAE currently has a Friday-Saturday weekend, which corresponds with other countries in the region.  The new plan will align the working with Western schedules. The UAE is the first nation in the world to introduce a national working week shorter than the global five-day week.

Notes:
The “International Anti-Corruption Day” is observed on December 9 every year, across the world. It is organised by the United Nations Development Program.
The Day aims to raise awareness on the importance of getting rid of corruption, which prevents the progress towards sustainable development goals. The UNCAC United Nations Convention Against Corruption was drafted in 2003.

Notes:
Olaf Scholz has been sworn in as Germany’s new chancellor, officially taking over from Angela Merkel, who served historic 16 years as the Chancellor.
The 63-year old leader steered the Social Democrats to election victory in September. He has played a key role in the Merkel government as vice-chancellor. All 16 ministers took the oath of office, becoming Germany’s first cabinet to include as many women as men.

Notes:
Assamese poet Nilmani Phookan Jr has won the 56th Jnanpith Award.  He was awarded the Padma Shri in 1990 and received the Sahitya Akademi Fellowship in 2002.
Konkani novelist Damodar Mauzo has won the 57th Jnanpith Award. He won the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1983 for his novel Karmelin. He worked towards the inclusion of Konkani as a language in the 8th Schedule of the Constitution of India, in a movement called Konkani Porjecho Avaz.

Notes:
Asian Development Bank has approved a Rs 2,644.85 crore (USD 350 million) loan for India to help improve its urban services.
The loan supports the policies set up by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs to provide universal coverage of piped water supply and improved sanitation. This is part of the recently launched Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) 2.0

Notes:
Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), Department of Space, and the government of India signed an MoU with smartphone maker OPPO to strengthen research and development of NavIC messaging service.
NavIC messaging service is the domestic satellite navigation system of India. They will develop indigenous solutions by incorporating the NavIC short messaging feature in the smartphones released by OPPO.

Notes:
Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP) is a US government program, launched in 2019, under former President Donald Trump. It is also dubbed as “Remain in Mexico” policy.
It mandates that certain citizens and nationals of countries other than Mexico be returned to Mexico while their American removal proceedings are pending. UNICEF has expressed concern about the re-implementation of the program.

Notes:
India voted against a UN Security Council (UNSC) draft resolution that linked climate change with global security challenges.
Moved jointly by Niger and Ireland, the draft resolution called on “integrate climate-related security risk as a central component into comprehensive conflict-prevention strategies.”India argued that this resolution would only create friction among the UN membership.

Notes:
National Conclave on Natural Farming is being hosted in Anand, Gujarat. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the farmers during the valedictory session of the National Conclave.
Farmers will be provided with all requisite information detailing the benefits of adopting natural farming methods. The three day Summit is being attended by over 5000 farmers, and other farmers connecting Live through Central Institutes of ICAR, Krishi Vigyan Kendras and ATMA (Agricultural Technology Management Agency) network in the States.

Notes:
An internet-based platform called ‘VIHANGAM’ integrated with a Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS) was inaugurated at Mahanadi Coalfields Limited (MCL).
The system enables real-time transmission of aerial video of mining activities from mines to the platform which can be accessed through VIHANGAM portal by authorized personnel.