Current Affairs Quiz - September, 2023

Notes:
Mastercard, technology company in the payments industry, has launched ALT ID solution for guest checkout transactions.
ALT ID is a custom-made capability to create an alternate identifier for the real card numbers provided by cardholders during guest checkout transactions on e-commerce platforms.

Notes:
India emerged champions in the Men’s Hockey5s Asia Cup, beating arch-rivals Pakistan 2-0 in a shootout after both teams were locked at 4-4 in regulation time.
With the win, India have booked their place in the FIH Men’s Hockey5s World Cup 2024.

Notes:
The Maharashtra Government has proposed to transform Gilbert Hill, a 200-foot monolithic column of black basalt rock in Mumbai, into a tourist attraction similar to Dubai’s Burj Khalifa. This geological wonder, formed around 66 million years ago during the Mesozoic Era, stands as a unique heritage site. Declared a National Park in 1952 and categorized as a Grade II heritage structure by the Brihan Mumbai Municipal Corporation in 2007, Gilbert Hill is one of only three volcanic rock outcrops globally. The site features temples and a small garden atop the rock, accessible via a steep carved staircase. This project aims to boost tourism and conservation efforts, preserving this ancient relic for future generations. The Mesozoic Era, during which Gilbert Hill was formed, spans from 252 million to 66 million years ago. It’s known as the “Age of Dinosaurs,” characterized by the emergence and domination of various dinosaur species across three periods: Triassic, Jurassic, and Cretaceous. The era ended with a mass extinction event, marking a critical transition in Earth’s history.

Notes:
Meghalaya government has adopted AI-enabled robotic technology to safeguard Umiam Lake, a prominent tourist attraction. Umiam Lake, also known as Barapani Lake, is located 15 km north of Meghalaya’s capital, Shillong, surrounded by lush East Khasi hills. Formed in 1965 for hydroelectric power generation, it resulted from the Umiam Umtru Hydroelectric Power Project. The lake primarily draws water from the confluence of Umkhrah and Umshvrpi streams, forming the Wah Ro-ro stream. With a catchment area spanning 220 square km, including Shillong, it offers water sports and adventure activities, making it a favored destination in Meghalaya.

Notes:
The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) has launched a set of innovative digital payment products during the Global Fintech Fest 2023 in Mumbai.
‘Credit Line on UPI’ enables pre-sanctioned credit lines from banks via the Unified Payments Interface (UPI), providing users with access to instant credit. ‘UPI LITE X’ facilitates offline payments, while ‘UPI Tap & Pay’ enhances digital payments through Near Field Communication (NFC) technology for QR code-based transactions. ‘Hello! UPI – Conversational Payments on UPI’ allows voice-enabled UPI payments in Hindi and English through UPI apps, telecom calls, and IoT devices.

Notes:
The Zhen Hua 15, a project cargo vessel flying the Hong Kong flag, has commenced its maiden voyage from the East China Sea to the coast of Kerala.
This vessel carries one quay crane and two-yard cranes is destined for the Vizhinjam international seaport in Kerala. Port authorities in Kerala ordered eight quay cranes and 24-yard cranes from Zhenhua Port Machinery Company in Shanghai, China.

Notes:
The Government of India’s patent office has granted a patent to the Botanical Survey of India (BSI) for the creation and manufacturing of a “reusable straw.”
This straw is developed from the endemic bamboo species known as Schizostachyum andamanicum, which is native to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The bamboo’s economic potential has received a significant boost with the patent issuance.

Notes:
Mexico’s ruling party, the leftist National Regeneration Movement (MORENA), has named former Mexico City Mayor Claudia Sheinbaum as its candidate for the next year’s presidential election. Sheinbaum, a close ally of the President, is now positioned to become Mexico’s first female leader.
Sheinbaum secured her nomination after winning each of five nationwide polls, averaging about 39% of the vote.

Notes:
The US Space agency NASA has announced that its Mars Oxygen In-Situ Resource Utilization Experiment (MOXIE) which is on board the Perseverance Mars Rover has been successful in generating oxygen in Mars. The equipment demonstrated its ability to convert Martian carbon dioxide (CO2) into oxygen.
This technology breakthrough could play a crucial role in future human missions to Mars, providing a sustainable source of breathable air and rocket propellant.

Notes:
The USA has abruptly terminated funding for its DEEP VZN program, which is a research initiative designed to discover and study thousands of exotic pathogens worldwide. The program aimed to collect over half a million samples from across the globe and analyze around 12,000 viruses found within these samples.
This decision comes as the U.S. government reevaluated the relative risks and impacts of the research program.