Current Affairs Quiz - November, 2020

Notes:
Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin hosted the Leaders’ summit of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) 2020.
During the Papua New Guinea summit in 2018, APEC leaders did not issue a joint statement for the first time. Last year’s host Chile cancelled the annual summit due to violent domestic protests. This year, the APEC leaders issued a joint statement, pledging to work toward open trade and investment

Notes:
Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy has recently launched ‘Abhayam’ mobile phone application.
The app has bene launched with an aim to help women and children to raise alarm in case of any emergency, while travelling in taxis and auto-rickshaws. As a pilot project, as many as 1000 auto-rickshaws fitted with Internet-of -Things (IoT)-enabled GPS devices will be launched.

Notes:
Union Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ inaugurated 46 online AICTE Training and Learning (ATAL) Academy Faculty Development Programmes (FDPs), organised by AICTE.
The programmes would be conducted in 22 Indian states, to train teachers of higher education institutions. Book of World Records, London has acknowledged the training of over one lakh people in 1000 programs under ‘FDP’, as a world record.

Notes:
The National Stock Exchange (NSE) has declared the Indian Financial services company Karvy Stock Broking Ltd as a defaulter.
The membership of Karvy was also terminated by NSE under NSEIL Rules. In November 2019, Karvy had transferred securities worth Rs 2,300 crore into its account by misusing power of attorney given by its clients. SEBI has also found that Karvy indulged in trades that were not authorized by clients.

Notes:
The United Nations Humanitarian Chief has released 25 million US dollars from its emergency fund to support women-led organisations fighting gender-based violence.
United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) will receive USD 17 million and UN Women will get USD 8 million. The funding was announced at the beginning of the ‘16 Days of Activism Against Gender-based Violence’, from November 25 to December 10.

Notes:
Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports has restored the government recognition to Archery Association of India as a National Sports Federation.
In the year 2012, the Government recognition of AAI was withdrawn, on failure to conduct its elections in accordance with the National Sports Code. In 2020, AAI conducted elections again and elected Tribal Affairs Minister Arjun Munda as President. AAI now has the recognition of Indian Olympic Association and the World Archery.

Notes:
The Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 has been amended by the Motor Vehicles Amendment Act, 2019 to include the definition of the term ‘Aggregator’.
The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has issued the Motor Vehicle Aggregator Guidelines 2020, to regulate shared mobility services. The ride hailing services require permission from the state governments to start operations, and states will follow the norms specified by the Centre.

Notes:
The United Kingdom is set to impose a new competition regime next year to prevent Google and Facebook from using their dominance on smaller firms.
The regime is set to be enforced by a unit within the Britain’s competition regulator, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA). Google and Facebook accounted for around 80% of 14 billion pounds spent in the country in 2019.

Notes:
Odisha is set to celebrate International Sand Art Festival, at its Chandrabhaga Beach starting from December 1, 2020.
The five-day Sand Art Festival festival also coincides with the Konark Festival that is held in the backdrop of the Sun temple in Konark. On account of Covid-19 restrictions, only Indian sand artists will showcase their art using sand, bronze or wood.

Notes:
As per the recent study conducted by the Central Pollution control board and IIT- Delhi, Indo-Gangetic plains continue to be the most polluted region in the country, in terms of PM 2.5 levels.
The study also revealed that the rate of increase in pollution levels southern and eastern India is greater than the Indo-Gangetic plains, between 2000 and 2019. It also found that air pollution in rural areas of the country increased similar to that of urban areas.