1. When will be the United Nations COP 26 climate change summit held?
a. 2021
b. 2022
c. 2020
d. 2023
S-a
EXPLANATION-
• The COVID-19 spread has forced the UN body to postpone its flagship annual climate change conference which was scheduled to be held at Glasgow in United Kingdom (UK) in November. This crucial meet will now be held in 2021 -- the first year of the operationalisation of the the Paris Agreement.
• Though the postponement is welcomed by experts and civil societies across the globe, they insist that the postponing COP26 (26th session of the conference) does not mean postponing climate action which is a non-negotiable global priority.
• It will be hosted in Glasgow by the UK in partnership with Italy in 2021.
• Under the Paris Agreement, which is to be operationalised from January 1 next year, countries including India are expected to take climate actions as per their respective commitments to keep the average global temperature rise within 2 degree Celsius by 2100 from the pre-industrial (1850-1900) level.
2. Edgbaston stadium has become COVID-19 testing centre. Where is this stadium situated?
a. United Kingdom
b. Australia
c. South Africa
d. Sri Lanka
S-a
EXPLANATION-
• Edgbaston Cricket Ground, also known as the County Ground or Edgbaston Stadium, is a cricket ground in the Edgbaston area of Birmingham, England.
• The Warwickshire County Cricket Club (WCCC) announced that it is handing over the Edgbaston stadium to the government to create a drive-through COVID-19 testing station for the National Health Services (NHS) staff battling the pandemic.
• The stadium's main on-site car park will be used to regularly test the medical staff who are working in Birmingham and the wider West Midlands region.
• Earlier this week, the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) has announced that they would be providing the parking and storage spaces available at the iconic Lord's cricket ground to the NHS staff.
3. Which of the following countries have received the largest chunk of the emergency financial assistance?
a. India
b. United Kingdom
c. Sri Lanka
d. Bangladesh
S-a
EXPLANATION-
• The World Bank approved USD 1-billion emergency financing for India to tackle the coronavirus outbreak. The World Bank's first set of aid projects, amounting to $1.9 billion, will assist 25 countries, and new operations are moving forward in over 40 nations using the fast-track process.
• The largest chunk of the emergency financial assistance has gone to India -- $1 billion.
• In India, $1 billion emergency financing will support better screening, contact tracing, and laboratory diagnostics; procure personal protective equipment; and set up new isolation wards.
• In South Asia, the World Bank also approved $200 million for Pakistan, $100 million for Afghanistan, $7.3 million for Maldives and $128.6 million for Sri Lanka.
4. Which country will utilize Artificial Intelligence (AI) for the management of Corona virus spread in the country?
a. India
b. Bangladesh
c. Italy
d. Russia
S-b
EXPLANATION-
• The government of Bangladesh will utilize Artificial Intelligence (AI) for the management of Corona virus spread in the country.
• The ICT division of government of Bangladesh under its Access to Information (a2i) programme and the Ministry of Health collaborated with the largest mobile service provider of Bangladesh Robi to conduct a survey on Corona.
• More than 7 lakh people responded to the bulk SMS sent by the government to garner information about Corona. The national call centre and the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) received about 5 lakh 70 thousand calls under this programme.
• The outcome of the survey along with extensive data garnered by Robi from multiple sources will utilise AI analytics to provide insights for accurate prediction of Corona threat.
• The AI powered insights will help the government to set its next course of action to fight Corona virus.
5. Giuseppe Conte is the Prime Minister of which country?
a. Israel
b. Italy
c. Germany
d. France
S-b
