Current Affairs Quiz - November, 2020

Notes:
The U.N. children’s agency UNICEF announced that around 2 billion doses of Covid-19 vaccines will be sent to developing countries next year.
UNICEF has partnered with 350 airlines and freight companies to deliver vaccines and 1 billion syringes to poor countries, as part of COVAX initiative. Under the initiative led by GAVI vaccine group and WHO among others aims to deter hoarding Covid-19 vaccines.

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:
The Asian Development Bank has approved a USD 50 million loan to improve resource planning and operational efficiencies in West Bengal.
This loan will be supplemented by a USD 350,000 technical assistance grant for other reforms including monitoring of IFMS (Integrated Financial Management System) reforms.

Notes:
As per a recent survey conducted by Confederation of Indian Industries (CII) and Ernst & Young, Multi-national Companies regard India as their first option, in terms of investments across the globe.
Out of the total key decision makers of those MNCs, 82 per cent of them said that they have plans to expand their business in the next 2 to 3 years. After India, the second most favourable place is North America followed by the rest of Asia-Pacific.

Notes:
According to the IMD, Cyclone Nivar is estimated to cross Tamil Nadu and Puducherry coasts and make landfalls in the evening on November 25.
The IMD also highlighted that the cyclone will cross as a severe cyclonic storm with a wind speed of 120-130 kmph strengthening up to 145 kmph. Over 1000 National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) rescue personnel have been deployed in the state of Tamil Nadu and its neighbouring coastal areas.

Notes:
China has removed the last remaining counties (regions) from a list of 832 extremely poor regions, drawn up in the year 2014.
China also announced that it has lifted 93 million people out of poverty since 2013. China sets its own national standard of extreme poverty, based on a per capita income threshold of 4,000 yuan per year, or around USD 1.52 per day, and other social factors.

Notes:
The Union Cabinet recently approved Rs 6,000 crore equity infusion in National Infrastructure Investment Fund’s (NIIF’s) debt platform.
The fresh capital would be infused over the current and the next fiscal, to fast-track infrastructure development in the country. Out of this, Rs 2,000 crore is expected to be utilised in the current fiscal, while the remaining will be deployed in 2021-22.

Notes:
The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has recently launched a portal that will enable transgender persons to apply online for certification of their self-perceived gender identity.
Transgender persons can upload declaration of their gender identity, which will be the basis for their identity certificates to be issued by the district magistrate. The Minister opened ‘Garima Greh: A Shelter Home for Transgender Persons’ in Gujarat. The Ministry will open such homes in all states.

Notes:
The Fit India School week program was launched in November last year, to inculcate the awareness of physical activity and sports to school children.
The schools, after registering themselves on the Fit India website, will select a week in the month of December. It will then make the children follow the activities listed by the Sports Ministry for the program. Last year, over 15000 schools participated in the program.

Notes:
Mizoram has debarred its Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) and retired IPS officer Lalduhoma from the state assembly. He was in charge of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi’s security.
In 1988, he was the first Member of Parliament to have been disqualified from the Lok Sabha, under the Anti-Defection Law. At present, the charge on him is despite being elected as an independent candidate, he declared himself as a representative of ZPM.