Daily Current Affairs Quiz : December 26, 2023

Notes:
After an absence of 42 years, the Namdapha flying squirrel (Biswamoyopterus biswasi) has been rediscovered in Arunachal Pradesh. It is endemic to Arunachal Pradesh. Last described in 1981, the species was thought to be extinct or confused with a similar species.
It is classified as Critically Endangered (CR) by the IUCN and is listed under Schedule II of the Wildlife Protection Act. It was one of the 25 “most wanted lost” species targeted by the Global Wildlife Conservation’s “Search for Lost Species” initiative.

Notes:
The Terminal 2 (T2) at Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru received recognition at UNESCO’s 2023 Prix Versailles. T2 earned a special prize for its interiors and was acknowledged as one of the world’s most aesthetically pleasing airports.
Prix Versailles underscores values such as intelligent sustainability, innovation, reflection of local heritage, ecological efficiency, and social interaction. T2 is aptly named “Terminal in a Garden.”

Notes:
On December 21, 2023, Angola announced it was leaving the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) after 16 years of membership. The move will reduce the number of OPEC members to 12. OPEC was established in 1960 by the five founding members Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and Venezuela. Currently, it has 13 members, including Algeria, Angola, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Libya, Nigeria, and the United Arab Emirates. It is headquartered in Vienna, Austria. Qatar terminated its membership in 2019.
Qatar was once a member of OPEC but decided to leave the organization. The country announced its decision to withdraw from OPEC effective January 2019. This decision was made to focus more on its natural gas production, for which Qatar is one of the world’s leading producers.

Notes:
Three heritage projects from Punjab and Haryana, namely the Rambagh Gate & Ramparts in Amritsar, Pipal Haveli in Gurdaspur, and Church of Epiphany in Gurugram, have secured prestigious spots among the UNESCO Asia-Pacific Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation.
While the Rambagh Gate in Amritsar received the Award of Excellence, the Church of Epiphany in Gurugram, Haryana, earned the Award of Merit. Additionally, three projects received the Award of Distinction, including the Fanling Golf Course in Hong Kong SAR, China; Dongguan Garden Residences in Yangzhou, China; and Karnikara Mandapam at Kunnamangalam Bhagawati Temple in Kerala, India.

Notes:
Wheebox, in collaboration with several entities including the All India Council for Technical Education, Confederation of Indian Industry, and Association of Indian Universities, has unveiled the India Skills Report. As indicated by the India Skills Report 2024, employability in India has shown improvement, with 51.25% of evaluated young individuals deemed employable possessing the necessary skills.
Kerala has emerged as the top choice among states for employment, securing the second position in overall employability within the 18-21 age group, reaffirming its position as a robust talent pool in India.