Current Affairs Quiz - September, 2023

Notes:
The President of India, Droupadi Murmu released a postage stamp in memory of Dadi Prakashmani, former chief of Brahma Kumaris at Rashtrapati Bhavan Cultural Centre.
This stamp was released under the ‘My Stamp’ initiative of the Department of Posts, Ministry of Communications to mark the 16th death anniversary of Dadi Prakashmani.

Notes:
Terry Gou, who founded Apple supplier Foxconn, has announced that he will run as an independent candidate in Taiwan’s presidential election.
The country’s Presidential elections are scheduled to take place in September this year. Foxconn, formally known as Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., is a major supplier to Apple and has many factories in China that manufacture iPhones.

Notes:
Rebel soldiers in Central African nation Gabon claim to have ousted their President Ali Bongo Ondimba.
Rebel officers in the oil-rich central African state of Gabon announced they had seized power following disputed elections in which President Ali Bongo Ondimba, in power since 2009, had been declared victorious.

Notes:
Japan’s average temperature in 2023 summer was the highest since records began 125 years ago, according to the country’s weather agency.
The average temperature from June to August was 1.76 degrees Celsius higher than the 30-year average. Earlier in August, Japan recorded the hottest day of the year as temperatures hit 40C in the Fukushima Prefecture.

Notes:
Vijayawada Railway Station achieved the prestigious ‘Green Railway Station’ certification, receiving the highest Platinum rating from the Indian Green Building Council (IGBC), a division of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) founded in 2001. IGBC serves as India’s foremost certification body, offering services such as green building rating programs, certification, and training. They host the annual Green Building Congress and actively participate in global discussions on environmental issues. The station’s rating considers six key environmental categories: sustainable facilities, health and sanitation, energy and water efficiency, smart and green initiatives, and innovation. IGBC’s headquarters are located in Hyderabad.

Notes:
Eight stump-tailed macaques were recently relocated to the Delhi Zoo from Aizawl Zoological Park in Mizoram. Also known as bear macaques, these monkeys belong to the Old-World monkey species, Macaca arctoides. They are primarily found in the tropical and subtropical evergreen forests of South Asia.
Their natural habitat spans Cambodia, southwest China, northeast India, Laos, Myanmar, northwest Peninsular Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam. In India, they inhabit regions south of the Brahmaputra River, including Assam, Meghalaya, eastern Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, and Tripura. Stump-tailed macaques sport thick, dark brown fur, short tails (3.2-69 mm), and distinctive pink or red faces that darken as they age. Males are larger than females, with longer canine teeth used for social dominance. Their diet comprises fruits, leaves, seeds, insects, and small animals, often stored in cheek pouches. They move primarily on the ground due to limited tree agility. These macaques are classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and are protected under India’s Wildlife (Protection) Act of 1972 (Schedule II). Conservation efforts are crucial to safeguard their population.

Notes:
Russia has announced plans to finalize the route for the “Power of Siberia 2” pipeline, a major project.
The project is aimed at increasing natural gas exports to China. This move comes as Russia seeks to diversify its energy markets in response to its military actions in Ukraine, shifting its focus towards Asian buyers. The construction of the pipeline is scheduled to begin next year.

Notes:
During the annual ASEAN-India summit in Jakarta, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced India’s decision to establish an embassy in Timor-Leste.
Timor-Leste, having joined ASEAN as an Observer in 2022 before becoming a full member, has gained importance in regional diplomacy. The move to open an embassy in Timor-Leste signifies India’s strategic engagement in Southeast Asia, strengthening ties in line with its ‘Act East’ policy.

Notes:
The United Nations has released a report stating that the goal of achieving gender equality by 2030, as set by the U.N., is unlikely to be realized due to deeply ingrained biases against women in various sectors such as health, education, employment, and politics.
The report, titled “The Gender Snapshot 2023,” by UN Women and the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs, highlights that active resistance to gender equality and chronic underinvestment are key factors slowing progress and even leading to reversals in some cases.

Notes:
The Indian Army’s elite Brahmastra Corps in the Northeastern states recently conducted a joint training exercise called ‘Nabh Shakti,’ with participation from both the Indian Army and the Indian Air Force.
The Brahmastra Corps, also known as the 17 Mountain Strike Corps, has been established to carry out strike operations in enemy territory during conflicts in the eastern regions of India.