Current Affairs for SSC CGL Exams - 18 April 2022

SSC CGL Current Affairs

Current Affairs for SSC CGL Exams - 18 April 2022

::NATIONAL::

Heatwave likely to grip Delhi and northwest India, mercury set to soar: IMD

Heatwave conditions are likely to impact some parts of Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, south Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Bihar and Jharkhand till April 20, India Meteorological Department warned.
The maximum temperatures were above normal by 3-5 degree Celsius in many parts over Jammu, Punjab, West Rajasthan, Bihar, Jharkhand; in some parts over east Uttar Pradesh, Gangetic West Bengal and in isolated pockets over Haryana, Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, east Rajasthan, Saurashtra and Kutch.
Maximum temperatures are likely to rise by 2-3 degrees over northwest India in the next three days and fall by 2-3 degree after that. Heatwave conditions are also likely over Madhya Pradesh and Vidarbha till April 20.
There is a 90% rainfall deficiency over northwest India during the pre-monsoon season so far which started on March 1. East Uttar Pradesh has received no rain during the period while west Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh and Delhi subdivisions recorded 99% rain deficiency. Himachal Pradesh recorded 94% rain deficiency; Jammu and Kashmir 90%; West Rajasthan 81% and east Rajasthan recorded 44% rain deficiency.
Though a western disturbance affected western Himalayas and adjoining plains of northwest India on April 12, which caused scattered rainfall on April 12 and 13, major parts of northwest India continued to remain dry. Clouding and light winds, however, managed to relieve heatwave conditions in parts of northwest India.
“We are expecting heatwave conditions to impact isolated areas of Delhi, Haryana, Chandigarh and Punjab from today. But there is a light wind so severe heat wave is unlikely,” said RK Jenamani, senior scientist, national weather forecasting centre, IMD.
“The fuel load is high. This means there is combustible biomass on the forest floor. Prolonged dry conditions are also leading to early leaves shedding. This in combination with excessive heat early in the season makes favourable conditions for spread of forest fires,” said Sunil Chandra, deputy director at the Forest Survey of India. “But most forest fires are man-made. The weather conditions are causing them to spread and flare up.”

::INTERNATIONAL::

Pakistan extends time for transportation of Indian humanitarian aid to Afghanistan

Pakistan said it will extend by two months the time for India to transport 50,000 tonnes of wheat and life-saving medicines to Afghanistan via the Wagah-Attari land border crossing.
The Pakistan government had, as a special gesture towards the Afghan people, approved the transportation of the wheat and life-saving medicines from India to Afghanistan via the Wagah border crossing on “exceptional basis for humanitarian purposes”, the Foreign Office in Islamabad said in a statement.
After the time period for transporting the humanitarian assistance expired on March 21, the Indian side recently requested an extension of the time to complete the transportation process, the statement added.
“As a manifestation of our sincere efforts towards addressing the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan, it has been decided to grant two months’ extension to facilitate completion of the transportation. All the modalities shall remain the same as earlier communicated to the Indian side,” the statement said.
The Indian government has signed agreements with the World Food Programme (WFP) for the delivery and distribution of the wheat in Afghanistan. The humanitarian assistance is being transported in Afghan trucks via the Wagah land border crossing. The first convoy of 50 trucks carrying wheat had been flagged off by foreign secretary Harsh Shringla in February.
The Indian side has also supplied 500,000 doses of the Covid-19 vaccine Covaxin, 13 tonnes of life-saving medicines and 500 units of winter clothing. These relief materials were handed over to the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Indira Gandhi Hospital in Kabul.
India first made the offer to send 50,000 tonnes of wheat via Pakistani land routes on October 7 last year, and the matter was held up for more than four months because of negotiations with the Pakistani side to finalise modalities.

::ECONOMY::

Aviation turbine fuel price raises marginally, rates at record high

Jet fuel prices on Saturday were hiked by a marginal 0.2 per cent -- the eighth straight increase this year -- to an all-time high, reflecting a surge in global energy prices.
The price of aviation turbine fuel (ATF) -- the fuel that helps aeroplanes fly -- was hiked by Rs 277.5 per kilolitre, or 0.2 per cent, to Rs 1,13,202.33 per kl (Rs 113.2 per litre) in the national capital, according to a price notification of state-owned fuel retailers.
Meanwhile, petrol and diesel prices remained unchanged for the 10th straight day after rising by a record Rs 10 per litre each.
While jet fuel prices are revised on the 1st and 16th of every month, petrol and diesel rates are revised daily based on equivalent rates in the international market.
The increase in ATF price comes on back of the steepest ever hike of 18.3 per cent (Rs 17,135.63 per kl) effected on March 16 and a 2 per cent (Rs 2,258.54 per kl) increase on April 1.
ATF in Mumbai now costs Rs 111,981.99 per kl, while it is priced at Rs 117,753.60 in Kolkata and Rs 116.933.49 in Chennai.

::Sports::

Man City fends off Atltico, reaches Champions League semis

Manchester City held Atltico Madrid to a 0-0 draw to return to the Champions League semifinals and keep alive its hopes of winning Europe's top club competition for the first time.
City advanced thanks to its 1-0 win in the first leg last week.
In the end, it was Pep Guardiola getting the best of Diego Simeone in the battle of styles between City's offensive-minded tactics and Atltico's more cautious approach.
Atltico's attack struggled to find the net again and the Spanish club managed only three attempts on target after having none in the first leg.