Current Affairs Quiz - February 2022

Notes:
Masada Fortress, which is located in Israel, is a symbol of Jewish Heroism. Israel’s Ambassador to India Naor Gilon shared a video that showed the Masada Fortress in Israel illuminated with lights.
It commemorates the India-Israel Ties, as the two countries celebrate 30 years of diplomatic relations. Earlier both the countries unveiled a commemorative logo.

Notes:
Italian President Sergio Mattarella has been elected to a second term in the recent round of elections.
Mattarella was reconfirmed with a broad majority, in the voting done by lawmakers and regional representatives. The 80-year old Jurist-Academic has been serving as the country’s President since 2015.

Notes:
Moderna’s Covid-19 vaccine named ‘Spikevax’ has received full approval from the US Food and Drug Administration, for use in people ages 18 and older.
This is the second Covid-19 vaccine to receive full approval from the FDA after Pfizer’s Covid-19 vaccine, Comirnaty, which was approved in August. This is also the first product of Moderna to receive licensure in the U.S.

Notes:
The United Arab Emirates has announced to introduce a ‘Federal Corporate Tax’ from mid-2023, as per its Finance Ministry.
UAE will tax business profits over 375,000 AED (USD 102,000) at 9.0 percent from June next year.  There are no plans to introduce personal income tax or capital gains tax from real estate or other investments. It also announced that the Tax incentives in the UAE’s free-trade zones will continue.

Notes:
As per the latest data from National Leprosy Eradication Programme (NLEP), a total of 65,147 new leprosy cases were detected during the year 2020-21 in India.
Leprosy, caused by the bacteria Mycobacterium leprae, affects the peripheral nervous system causing skin lesions, numbness, and other deformities. India accounts for over half of the world’s new leprosy patients. According to NLEP’s 2020-2021 report, 94.75% of patients in India were cured.

Notes:
Two Oil Giants- France’s TotalEnergies and the China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) signed a USD 10 million deal to develop Uganda’s energy resources and build a Regional oil pipeline.
The project aims to exploit the crude oil reserves at Lake Albert, a 160-kilometre natural border between Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Notes:
The Union Budget has announced a new scheme called ‘Vibrant Villages programme’, which aims to boost the infrastructure of the villages along India’s border, especially with China.
Under the programme, additional funding will be provided, existing schemes will be converged. Activities include housing, tourist centres, road connectivity, provisioning of decentralised renewable energy, DTH access for Doordarshan and educational channels, and livelihood support.

Notes:
Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma recently inaugurated the ‘Shillong Technology Park’. Several companies have submitted their assent to open their branches.
At present, Meghalaya has 70% population below the age of 35 years. The first phase building of the Technology Park will create employment for more than 1,500 people directly, will generate more jobs indirectly.

Notes:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi dedicated to the nation 216-feet tall ‘Statue of Equality’ in Hyderabad to commemorate the 11th-century Bhakti saint Ramanujacharya.
Ramanuja or Ramanujacharya was a famous Indian philosopher, Hindu theologian and an influential saint of Bhakti Movement. He promoted the idea of equality in all aspects of life including faith, caste and creed.

Notes:
The Scheme of Assistance to NSFs is a Central Sector Scheme and the main source of funding for preparation of national teams for all major national and international competitions.
The Union Government has approved continuation of Scheme of Assistance to National Sports Federations (NSFs) with an outlay of Rs. 1575 crore for XV Finance Commission Cycle (2021-22 to 2025-26).