Current Affairs Quiz - April, 2021

Notes:
The Benin Bronzes are a group of over a thousand metal plaques and sculptures located in the royal palace of the Kingdom of Benin.
The Benin city is situated in modern-day southern Nigeria. It was famous for its skilled artisans that produced works of huge historic and cultural importance. In 1897, the British soldiers plundered Benin City, stealing a set of metal sculptures. Recently, UK accepted that the objects will be supplied by their current European custodians, initially on loan for three years.

Notes:
The Union Ministry of Earth Sciences has hosted the 40th Scientific Expedition to Antarctica (40-ISEA). The expedition has successfully returned to Cape Town on April 10, 2021.
The team returned after completing a journey of about 12 thousand nautical miles in just 94 days. The 40-ISEA was onboard the chartered ice-class vessel ‘MV Vasiliy Golovnin’. This achievement concludes four successful decades of India’s scientific endeavour in Antarctica.

Notes:
A massive fire, which has been burning along the Table Mountain National Park, South Africa, is said to be damaging buildings.
Around 200 firefighters along with four helicopters have been dispatched to put off the massive blaze. Mostert’s Mill, a historic windmill near the University of Cape Town built around 1796, has also been damaged by the fire.

Notes:
Israel and Greece have signed their biggest ever defence procurement deal. It includes a USD 1.65bn contract for establishment and operation of a training centre for the Hellenic Air Force (Greece) by Israeli defence contractor.
This deal is expected to strengthen political and economic ties between the countries. The Air Forces of the two countries also launched a joint exercise.

Notes:
The International Energy Agency, which is headquartered in Paris (France) has recently released a report, which states that energy related carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions across the globe have risen by about 1.5 billion tonnes in the year 2021.
This is considered to be the largest increase in carbon emission since the year 2010.

Notes:
The High Commissioner of Australia to India has launched the Australia-India Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative Partnership (AIIPOIP) grant program.
This AUD 1.4 million (INR 8.12 crore) grant program aims to support a free, open Indo-Pacific region The programme would encourage exchange of expertise and resources between Australian and Indian stakeholders that complements regional mechanisms such as ASEAN, the Indian Ocean Rim Association, Pacific Islands Forum etc.

Notes:
The country’s very first ‘Oxygen Express’ departed from Andhra Pradesh to supply oxygen to the state of Maharashtra.
The Ro-Ro (roll-on, roll-off) service operated by Central Railways is ferrying oxygen from Vishakhapatnam steel plant to meet the sudden surge in oxygen demand in Maharashtra due to COVID 19 pandemic.

Notes:
The S&P Global Ratings in its report on Asia-Pacific Financial Institutions, highlighted that the Indian economy is projected to grow at 11 per cent in the current fiscal year.
The agency also revealed that some more targeted lockdowns will likely be needed and the impact of broader lockdowns on the economy could be substantial. As per official estimates, the Indian economy contracted 8 per cent in 2020-21 fiscal.

Notes:
The World Creativity and Innovation Day is celebrated on April 21 every year by the United Nations.
This day aims to raise awareness on the importance of creativity and innovation in problem solving with respect to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals to be achieve by the year 2030. This day was first observed in the year 2021.

Notes:
As per a recent study by Confederation of Indian Industries (CII), Clean Air Fund and consulting firm Dalberg, air pollution in India is expected to cost 95 billion every year, or 3% of the country’s Gross Domestic Product on Indian businesses.
It has also stated that New Delhi is the world’s most polluted capital and that India is home to 35 of the world’s 50 most polluted cities.