Current Affairs Quiz - April, 2021

Notes:
As per a recent study, MK-4482, an experimental antiviral drug, is said to have decreased levels of virus in the lungs of hamsters treated for SARS-CoV-2 infection.
The scientists from the US National Institutes of Health (NIH) published the study in the journal Nature Communications. MK-4482 is now in human clinical trials, and is delivered orally. These data suggest that MK-4482 treatment could mitigate high-risk exposures to the coronavirus.

Notes:
The National Assembly of France has recently approved the creation of an “ecocide” offence, which seeks to punish acts of environmental damage.
The bill will be applied to the most serious cases of environmental damage at national level, such as the pollution of a river. An offence of endangering the environment is punishable on the lines of endangering life.

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:
The Ministry of Energy, Israel has announced a National plan which includes the main target of reducing 80 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
The plan aims to shut down all coal-fired power plants by 2025, reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the electricity sector by 75 to 85 per cent by 2050, increase electricity generation from renewable energy among others.

Notes:
The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA), Government of India and GIZ GmbH India on behalf of the German Ministry of Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety signed an agreement on Technical Cooperation titled ‘Cities Combating Plastic Entering the Marine Environment’.
The project’s outcomes are completely in line with the objectives of Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban focusing on sustainable solid waste management and the target to phase out single use plastic by 2022”.

Notes:
The Health Ministry announced that 162 Pressure Swing Adsorption, PSA oxygen plants have been sanctioned by the Government of India for installation in public health facilities in all States.
This step would enhance the local oxygen capacity by over 154 Metric Tonnes. Out of 162 PSA Oxygen plants, 33 have been installed. States have also requested the Centre to provide additional 100 oxygen plants.

Notes:
The Ministry of Railways has decided to map local festivals celebrated near railway tracks across the country. It would issue advisory to loco pilots on speed restrictions and other safety aspects to be followed.
There are several local festivals celebrated in India during which the people gather near railway premises and cross the track in groups as part of the event. Two years ago, 61 people who were a part of Dussehra celebrations near Amritsar, were run over by train.

Notes:
The Startup India Seed Fund has been officially unveiled by the Union Minister for commerce Piyush Goyal.
A sum of Rs.945 crore is allocated for the fund and is expected to benefit more than 3600 startups in the country. Also, it is expected to boost the start-up ecosystem in tier-2 and 3 cities.

Notes:
“Global youth mobilization” aims to fund young people’s ideas to combat the impact of COVID-19 pandemic, in various communities. This is supported by the World Health Organization and United Nations Foundation.
It is also backed by UNICEF, USAID, UNFPA, European Commission, Salesforce, FIFA and Heads of State and Governments from around the world.

Notes:
The American Space Agency – NASA has recently launched a mission named – SHIELDS (Spatial Heterodyne Interferometric Emission Line Dynamics Spectrometer).
This mission aims to study light from interstellar particles which have drifted into the solar system to learn about the closest reaches of interstellar space. The mission was launched using a NASA black Brant IX sounding rocket from Mexico.