Current Affairs Quiz - August, 2023

Notes:
Archaeologists excavating in Keeladi site situated 12 km southeast of Madurai in Tamil Nadu, have discovered a crystal quartz weighing unit from the Sangam period.
Located 175 cm below the surface, this is the first such find since the start of the Keeladi excavations in 2014. The crystal artifact, distinctively designed, boasts a roughly spherical form.

Notes:
The Indian Himalayan Council of Nalanda Buddhist Tradition (IHCNBT) hosted the National Conference on Nalanda Buddhism in Leh, Ladakh.
The conference covers three main topics: first, exploring the origins of Nalanda Buddhism by following the paths of the Nalanda Masters/; second, delving into the history and philosophy of the four prominent traditions: Nyingma, Sakya, Kagyud, and Geluk; and third, addressing the challenges and responses of Nalanda Buddhism in the 21st century.

Notes:
The ‘Icon of the Seas’, set to be the world’s largest cruise ship, is nearing completion at a Finnish shipyard in Turku.
This grand vessel, owned by Royal Caribbean, is scheduled for its maiden voyage in January 2024. The passenger volume is expected to surpass pre-pandemic levels with 31.5 million passengers in 2023.

Notes:
The bilateral naval exercise ‘Zayed Talwar’ aims to enhance the interoperability and synergy between the Indian Navy and UAE Navy.
INS Visakhapatnam and INS Trikand have reached Dubai in the UAE to participate in the ‘Zayed Talwar’ bilateral drill with the UAE Navy.

Notes:
Maui is the second largest Hawaiian island, located in the US. In the recent natural disaster in the US, numerous wildfires are sweeping across Hawaii, notably Maui Island, resulting in 55 deaths, significant displacement, and destruction of structures and businesses.
The fires, ongoing for over 48 hours, are still not fully contained, with Lahaina, a coastal town on Maui, reported to have been extensively destroyed.

Notes:
Diksha Dagar produced best ever-show by Indian woman golfer in Majors, as she ended the Women’s Open at Tied-21st.
Her compatriot Aditi Ashok signed off at T-40 position, who was at T-22 at the 2018 Women’s Open. Diksha, a two-time LET winner, made her first cut in a Major two days earlier.

Notes:
The National Medical Commission (NMC) has issued guidelines for registered modern medicine doctors, stating that they can reject treatment for aggressive patients, must prescribe generic drugs, and should use social media solely for educational purposes, not patient solicitation.
The comprehensive guidelines, spanning over 60 pages, cover aspects like prescription mentions, permissible advertisements, record-keeping, teleconsultation practices, and caution against receiving commissions or pharmaceutical-sponsored conference participation.

Notes:
A recent report detailing the initial stage of the Inclusive Conservation Initiative (ICI), approved in January 2022, underscores the growing evidence of the role Indigenous Peoples and local communities play in conservation.
However, less than 1% of funding for climate change mitigation and adaptation has been allocated to them. Released on the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples on August 9, 2023, the report emphasizes the need for considerable expansion to truly address the rights and concerns of IPs and LCs.

Notes:
Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS), under the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), released a new mobile application ‘SAMUDRA’ – Smart Access to Marine Users for Ocean Data Resources and Advisories.
It aims to offer comprehensive information on all ocean related services, useful for seafarers and the fishing community.

Notes:
In an effort to boost bilateral trade and reduce reliance on the US dollar, India has settled its first-ever crude oil payment to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in local currency.
The deal was facilitated under the ‘local currency settlement’ (LCS) system between state-owned Abu Dhabi National Oil Company and the Indian Oil Corporation. The deal is the second transaction under the LCS. The first deal took place in July, and involved the sale of 25kg of gold from a leading UAE gold exporter to a buyer in India.