Current Affairs Quiz - November, 2023

Notes:
China has the highest weighting on the globally tracked gauge, the MSCI Emerging Market Index (Emerging Markets) around 30%.
India is placed at the second position now has a weighting of 15.5% on the Index, compared with 15.11% for Taiwan. India’s weighting has climbed from 12.97% end-January. If South Korea were to transition from the emerging market to the developed market category, India’s weight could potentially rise to about 18.5%.

Notes:
Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) released its flagship report, the State of Food and Agriculture (SOFA). Although current agrifood systems provide nourishment and sustain economies, they also impose huge hidden costs on health and the environment – the equivalent of at least $10 trillion annually.
The figure represents nearly 10 per cent of global Gross Domestic Product (GDP), according to the 2023 edition of the report which covers 154 countries.

Notes:
Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) manufactures the Light Combat Aircraft-Tejas for Indian Air Force and Indian Navy.
Recently, HAL has recently entered into a Transfer of Technology (ToT) agreement with CSIR-National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL). This agreement is aimed at facilitating the manufacturing of BMI Engine Bay Doors for the mass production of the LCA – Tejas Mk1A aircraft.

Notes:
As nations convene for the COP28 climate summit scheduled for late November in Dubai, their objective of expediting the transition away from fossil fuels is likely to bring about discussions centering around an ill-defined term: “unabated”
“Unabated” emissions occur when fossil fuels are burned, and the resulting emissions are released into the atmosphere, contributing to the ongoing acceleration of global warming.

Notes:
InterGlobe Enterprises, a major stakeholder in IndiGo, has unveiled a collaboration with Archer Aviation Inc, a major US-based company specializing in electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft.
This strategic partnership aims to pioneer and operate an innovative all-electric air taxi service across India by 2026.

Notes:
“Panda diplomacy” is a phrase commonly used in international relations to describe China’s strategy of loaning giant pandas to zoos in other countries as a gesture of goodwill and to strengthen diplomatic ties.
Recently, three giant pandas that resided at the National Zoo in Washington DC have been sent back to China after a 23-year stay.

Notes:
Saturn’s rings, in 2025, will appear to vanish from sight from the Earth. This temporary vanishing act is attributed to Saturn’s tilt and an optical illusion.
Astronomers discovered at least 13 moons of Saturn during ring plane crossings in history, including the well-known Titan, Enceladus and Mimas.

Notes:
The share of India’s foreign currency assets deployed in overseas securities rose to 81.43 per cent by September from 80.76 per cent in March, according to the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) Report on Management of Foreign Exchange Reserves.
The share of money kept in deposits with other central banks and the Bank for International Settlement (BIS) declined to 13.49 per cent at the end of September from 14.82 per cent at the end of March 2023.

Notes:
India is set to host the 33rd Conference of the WOAH Regional Commission for Asia and the Pacific, scheduled from November 13 to 16, 2023 at New Delhi.
Union Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Parshottam Rupala will inaugurate and conclude the ceremonies. The decision to host this event was made during the 90th General Session of the World Assembly of Delegates of the WOAH in Paris in May 2023.

Notes:
The Anticipatory Action and Response Plan was launched recently by the Food and Agricultural Organisation.
According to the plan, there is an immediate requirement for approximately USD 160 million to provide assistance to more than 4.8 million individuals until March 2024.