Current Affairs for SSC CGL Exams - 04 January 2022

SSC CGL Current Affairs

Current Affairs for SSC CGL Exams - 04 January 2022

::NATIONAL::

Pakistan urges India to join Saarc summit virtually

Pakistan reiterated its offer to host the long-pending summit of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc), with foreign minister Shah MahmoodQureshi saying India could attend the meet virtually if it does not wish to participate in-person.
Qureshi made the remarks while addressing a news conference in Islamabad, where he presented a review of Pakistan’s foreign policy during 2021. He reiterated Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan’s remarks that the onus is on India to take steps to create an environment conducive to dialogue between the two sides.
The 19th Saarc Summit was to have been held in Islamabad in November 2016 but it was called off after New Delhi pulled out over the Uri terror attack that was blamed on Pakistan-based terrorists. There is also uncertainty about the status of Afghanistan, one of the eight members of the grouping, following the Taliban takeover of the country last year.
Qureshi, who was speaking in Urdu, described Saarc as an “important forum” and said: “Unfortunately, India has made this forum dysfunctional because of its stubbornness. They are not ready to come to Islamabad, they are hesitant.”
Qureshi further said, “If they (India) have problems coming here physically, they can attend virtually but they shouldn’t stop others. They should let others come and not affect this forum.”
There was no immediate response by Indian officials to Qureshi’s comments.
Saarc operates on the principle of consensus and the summit cannot be held if even one member decides not to attend. With India-Pakistan relations at an all-time low following a string of terror attacks blamed on Pakistan-based groups, New Delhi has said there cannot be any dialogue between the two sides if Islamabad does not act against terrorist groups operating from its soil.

::INTERNATIONAL::

China, Russia, Britain, US and France say no one can win nuclear war

China, Russia, Britain, the United States and France have agreed that a further spread of nuclear arms and a nuclear war should be avoided, according to a joint statement by the five nuclear powers published by the Kremlin.
It said that the five countries - who are the permanent members of the United Nations Security Council - consider it their primary responsibility to avoid war between the nuclear states and to reduce strategic risks, while aiming to work with all countries to create an atmosphere of security.
"We declare there could be no winners in a nuclear war, it should never be started," the Russian-language version of the statement read.
"As the use of nuclear arms would have far-reaching consequences, we also confirm that nuclear arms - as long as they exist - should serve defensive aims, deterrence against aggression and prevention of war."
France also released the statement, underscoring that the five powers reiterated their determination for nuclear arms control and disarmament. They would continue bilateral and multilateral approaches to nuclear arms control, it said.

::ECONOMY::

Vice President Naidu calls for improving financial literacy in India

Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu stressed the need to improve financial literacy among the masses and urged the professionals like Chartered Accounts to work in this direction by explaining financial rules and regulations in simple and easy language for the larger benefit of the public.
Addressing the gathering at the foundation stone laying ceremony of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) Bhawan, Ernakulam in Kerala, the Vice President said that one has to deal with many complex rules and regulations while dealing with subjects like accountancy and finance in day to day life.
"There is a need to improve financial literacy among the masses and I urge the professionals like Chartered Accounts (CA) to work in this direction by explaining financial rules and regulations in simple and easy language for the larger benefit of the public.
In this regard, he appreciated the government's efforts for easing the business environment through reforms such as GST and urged the CA professionals to play a proactive role in this regulatory transformation, right from the policymaking process to its grass root implementation.

::SCIENCE AND TECH::

Isro chief talks about 2022 plans, Gaganyaan, Venus mission

Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) chairman K Sivan has acknowledged there is a feeling that very little happened in the space agency in 2021 "primarily due to less number of launches". But he highlighted that Isro undertook many technology development initiatives, and planned for the next decade of space activities during the "lull period".
“India's flagship Gaganyaan project has completed the design phase and has entered into the testing phase,” Sivan said.
“Tests are in progress for human rated Ll 10 Vikas engine, Cryogenic stage, Crew escape system motors and service module propulsion system,” he added.
Gaganyaan is India’s first human space mission and was announced by Prime Minister NarendraModi in 2018 and was expected to take off on the Independence Day this year. But the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic led to a delay.
However, Sivan said that efforts are on to meet the schedule.
"There is a directive to launch the first unmanned mission before the 75th anniversary of India's independence (August 15, 2022) and all the stake-holders are putting their best effort to meet the schedule. I am sure that we will be able to meet this target," Sivan said in his message.

::SPORTS::

Mbappe hits hat-trick as PSG stroll into French Cup last 16

Holders Paris St Germain eased into the French Cup last 16 after a second-half hat-trick from KylianMbappe following PresnelKimpembe's opener gave them a 4-0 win at fourth-tier Vannes.
With several regular starters absent, PSG manager Mauricio Pochettino fielded a makeshift side which dominated throughout, although they played at walking pace for much of the contest.
Home goalkeeper Clement Petrel denied Ander Herrera and GeorginioWijnaldum with fine saves before central defender Kimpembe fired the visitors ahead with a diving header from close range in the 28th minute.
Mbappe, who had a quiet first half, doubled the lead in the 59th after he raced clear of his markers from Kimpembe's pass and beat Petrel, with the keeper unlucky not to keep the ball out after getting his body to it.