Current Affairs for SSC CGL Exams - 06 April 2021

SSC CGL Current Affairs

Current Affairs for SSC CGL Exams - 06 April 2021

::NATIONAL::

Arch of world's tallest railway bridge over Chenab river in Jammu and Kashmir completed

The construction of the arch of the world’s highest railway bridge that soars 359 metres above the bed of the Chenab river in Jammu and Kashmir was completed .
The Railways joined the two arms of the arch that currently stretch towards each other from both banks of the river.
The 1.3km-long bridge aims to boost connectivity to the Valley and is being built at a cost of ₹1,486 crore as a part of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Railway Link (USBRL) project.
The bridge, which is 35 metres higher than the Eiffel Tower, is expected to be completed within a year, said Northern Railway general manager AshutoshGangal.
“It is a historic day for the Northern Railways,” he added.
Railways minister PiyushGoyal watched the lowering of the closure segment of the arch by a cable crane through a video link from Delhi.
This bridge is 1,315 metres long.

::INTERNATIONAL::

US, Iran begin indirect talks in Vienna to revive 2015 nuclear deal

Iran and the United States will begin indirect talks in Vienna on Tuesday aimed at bringing both countries back into full compliance with the 2015 nuclear deal that Washington abandoned three years ago.
Iran has steadily overstepped the accord's limits on its nuclear programme in response to Washington's withdrawal from the accord in 2018 and its reimposition of sanctions that have crippled the Islamic Republic's economy.
While Tehran has repeatedly rebuffed "direct and indirect negotiations" with its old foe, Washington said on Monday it expected the talks to be difficult. Both Tehran and Washington did not foresee any early breakthrough.
"We are not optimistic nor pessimistic about the outcome of this meeting now, but we are confident that we are on the right track, and if America's will, seriousness and honesty is proven, it could be a good sign for a better future for this agreement and ultimately its full implementation," Iranian government spokesman Ali Rabiei told reporters.
A Western diplomat told Reuters on Friday that a shuttle-diplomacy approach would be adopted. The diplomat said France would be the main interlocutor for both sides.
According to diplomats, the remaining parties to the deal will first meet at a Viennese hotel for preparatory talks. The US delegation, headed by special envoy Rob Malley, will be based in a nearby hotel.

::ECONOMY::

Wall Street bets Moderna, Novavax will finally fall in 2021

Moderna Inc. and Novavax Inc. shares have run their course in the eyes of some Wall Street investors and are prime candidates for bets that they will fall this year.
The pair of vaccine makers made it to the top of a JPMorgan Chase & Co. survey of 80 hedge fund and specialist investors looking for biotech stocks to short in 2021.
Moderna has been a short target since last year when it became a household name and daytrader favorite as it pursued a Covid-19 vaccine. Its shot became the second to secure an emergency authorization in the US while Novavax is still working toward regulatory approval.
Other top short picks in JPMorgan’s survey included Beam Therapeutics Inc., which is backed by Cathie Wood’s Ark Investments, and Biogen Inc., which has been whiplashed ahead of an upcoming regulatory decision on its controversial Alzheimer’s drug.
Despite runups last year of 2,700% for Novavax and 434% for Moderna, many short sellers have stuck by the biotech targets. A recent slowdown in the retail trading frenzy could mean that hedge fund players betting against the pair may finally reap a reward.
The biotech sector is being hit by a risk-off sentiment and a rotation away from riskier growth stocks, according to Jefferies analyst Michael Yee.

::SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY::

Kota farmer develops mango variety that bears fruits round the year

55 year old ShrikishanSuman, a farmer from Kota, Rajasthan, has developed an innovative mango variety which is a regular and round-the-year dwarf variety of mango called Sadabahar, which is resistant to most major diseases and common mango disorders.
The fruit is sweeter in taste, comparable to langra and being a dwarf variety, is suitable for kitchen gardening, high-density plantation, and can be grown in pots for some years too. Besides, the flesh of the fruits, which is bourn round the year, is deep orange with sweet taste, and the pulp has very less fiber content which differentiates it from other varieties. The bountiful of nutrients packed in mango are immensely good for health.
Poverty led Shrikishan, the brain behind this mango variety, to drop out of school after class two and take up the family profession of gardening (Mali). He had an interest in floriculture and orchard management while the family was focused on growing wheat and paddy. He realised that the success of crops like wheat and paddy was dependent on external factors like rainfall, animal attack, and so on, limiting their profits.
ShrikishanSuman received over 8000 orders of Sadabahar gratings from India and abroad during 2017- 2020. He supplied over 6000 plants to different farmers spread across the states of Andhra Pradesh, Goa, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Kerala, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Punjab, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, West Bengal, Delhi and Chandigarh during 2018-2020. Over 500 plants were transplanted at KrishiVigyanKendras, and research institutes in the states of Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh by the innovator himself, and over 400 grafted plants were provided at different research institutes in Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Gujarat.

::SPORTS::

Former Gujarat DGP Shabbir Hussain Shekhamand Khandwala appointed as head of anti-corruption unit of BCCI

Former Gujarat DGP Shabbir HussainShekhamand Khandwala has taken over from Ajit Singh as the head of the BCCI’s anti-corruption unit. Former Rajasthan DGP Ajit Singh joined in April 2018 and his term ended on 31 March.
He confirmed to PTI that he would be around for some time to help him play the role of his successor. Khandavwala, a 1973 batch IPS officer, has been appointed ahead of IPL 2021 starting on 9 April.
“It is a great honor that I am part of the BCCI, the best run-scorer in the world. Also on security matters, what should help me in this role is my love for the game.