Current Affairs Quiz - November, 2020

Notes:
The US and Taiwan signed an agreement to establish annual economic talks for five years. The agreement can be extended another five years once the current pact is over.
This pact has been signed amidst the objections expressed by China to the support of the US for Taipei. ‘Economic Prosperity Partnership Dialogue with Taiwan’ was also launched, to promote cooperation.

Notes:
The Union Government has recently approved 28 Food Processing Projects worth more than 320 crore rupees. They are supported with a grant of over Rs 107 crore by the Ministry of Food Processing Industries.
They are approved under the Scheme for Creation and Expansion of Food Processing and Preservation Capacities (CEFPPC). The aim of the scheme is to create processing and preservation capacities and expansion of existing food processing units.

Notes:
The 49-year-old billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk has become the world’s second-richest person, after passing Bill Gates.
The CEO of SpaceX recorded a net worth of USD 127.9 billion, by adding USD 100.3 billion to his net worth this year, which is the highest addition by anyone on the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. His increase in wealth is largely driven by Tesla, whose market value is approaching USD 500 billion.

Notes:
Veteran Congress leader and eight-time parliamentarian Ahmed Patel recently passed way due to Covid related complications, at the age of 71.
He had been the political adviser of Congress chief Sonia Gandhi and is known for driving the party out of difficult situations. He was serving as the Congress treasurer. At a very young age, he was selected by the then PM Rajiv Gandhi to lead the Gujarat Congress.

Notes:
The Uttar Pradesh government has approved the 594-km Ganga Expressway project worth Rs 36,402 crore.
The project will have Expressway running along the river Ganga from Haridwar to Allahabad. The state Cabinet also approved a district-wise alignment of the Expressway. The Uttar Pradesh Expressways Industrial Development Authority will implement the project.

Notes:
India and Finland recently signed an MoU for developing cooperation in the field of Environment protection and biodiversity conservation.
The MoU also seeks to exchange best practices in areas like prevention of air and water pollution, waste management, and promotion of circular economy. Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar signed the MoU virtually with his Finnish counterpart.

Notes:
Several groups of farmers from Punjab, Haryana and other parts of the country, demanding the repeal of the new agriculture reform laws passed by the Union Government, are holding protests under the name of ‘Delhi Chalo’.
The farmers were granted permission to hold peaceful protests at Nirankari Ground in North west Delhi. As per the farmers, the new agriculture laws will dismantle the minimum support price (MSP) system.

Notes:
The Cabinet of Pakistan has approved two anti-rape ordinances which includes chemical castration of rapists, with the consent of the convict.
The ordinance also envisages setting up of Special Courts for rape trials and appointing Special prosecutors. The proposed laws include in-camera trials, witness protection, legal assistance to victims and speedy trials of rape cases. It also prohibits unscientific examination of survivors.

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.

Notes:
Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) had organised a virtual meeting with importers of Germany to promote export of fresh fruits and vegetables from India. The event was organised in collaboration with Indian Embassy in Germany and German Agribusiness Alliance.
APEDA is an apex body under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry which regulates export of agricultural products in India.