Current Affairs Quiz - August, 2023

Notes:
Conjunctivitis, commonly known as pink eye, is the condition characterized by the inflammation and swelling of the conjunctiva, a thin, transparent tissue layer that covers the inner surface of the eyelid and the white part of the eye.
The continuous rainfall has led to an increase in instances of conjunctivitis, also known as ‘pink eye,’ in various regions of the country, such as New Delhi, Chandigarh, and Gujarat.

Notes:
NASA is using rocks from Scotland’s Isle of Rum to practice testing methods for examining Martian rocks, as they share similarities in geological, mineral, and chemical content.
The igneous rocks from the Isle of Rum exhibit comparable geological, mineral, and chemical characteristics to those discovered on Mars.

Notes:
China and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) will hold their first joint air force training, called FALCON Shield-2023, in Xinjiang, China, in August.
The training seeks to strengthen practical exchanges and cooperation between the two air forces, fostering mutual understanding and trust.

Notes:
In 2018, the Indian government introduced the Fugitive Economic Offenders Act (FEOA) as a measure to take action against individuals accused of committing significant economic frauds and fleeing the country to escape prosecution.
Under this act, 10 people have been declared as fugitive economic offenders by various courts, from 19 people booked by the Enforcement Directorate. These economic offenders were involved in fraud of over Rs 40,000 crores.

Notes:
The Swiss settlement of Mörigen, which flourished during the Bronze Age approximately between 800 to 900 BCE, provided a favorable site for such findings.
It is situated near the Twannberg field, renowned for containing meteoritic iron fragments from a prehistoric impact predating the last ice age. Here, an ancient Bronze Age arrowhead was found in the 19th century made from a meteorite.

Notes:
Asia’s oldest football tournament Durand Cup has commenced in India. A total of 43 matches will be played across four venues in Assam and West Bengal, which include Guwahati, Kokrajhar and Kolkata.
The Durand Cup will feature 24 teams. The roster includes teams from the Indian Super League, I-League and the Armed Forces. Army teams from Nepal and Bangladesh have also been included this season.

Notes:
Researchers have recorded the first instance of captive breeding of the Himalayan vulture (Gyps himalayensis) in India at the Assam State Zoo, Guwahati.
Categorised as ‘Near Threatened’ on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of threatened species, the Himalayan vulture is a winter migrant to the Indian plains, and a resident of the high Himalayas.

Notes:
India has handed over ₹45 crore in advance to Sri Lanka to fund its unique digital identity project.
It constitutes 15 per cent of the total funds required for the successful implementation of the project as an advance payment. The project aims to collect biographic and biometric information, including facial, iris, and fingerprint data, which will be stored in a centralised system.

Notes:
The Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) revealed its introduction of initial guidelines designed to oversee security measures pertaining to facial recognition technology within the nation.
The CAC emphasized the necessity for restricted and essential use of facial recognition technology, highlighting that its deployment should strictly follow stringent protective measures.

Notes:
China has objected to the incorporation of the Sanskrit phrase ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ and chosen as the Indian presidency’s G20 theme, in various G20 documents, including the G20 Energy Ministers’ Outcome document and Chair’s Summary on Energy Transitions, released last month.
China’s contention was that the term ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ could not be used in official G20 texts since it is in Sanskrit, a language not among the United Nations’ six recognized official languages.