Current Affairs for SSC CGL Exams - 18 December 2021

SSC CGL Current Affairs

Current Affairs for SSC CGL Exams - 18 December 2021

::NATIONAL::

Hundreds join public rally in Nagaland’s Kohima, demand removal of AFSPA

Nagaland’s capital city Kohima came to a standstill on Friday as hundreds of people, most of them young students, took to the streets to demonstrate against the controversial Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act 1958 (AFSPA) and demand for its withdrawal.
Protests have grown across the north-eastern states for the removal of AFSPA which protects armed forces from prosecution for killings in “disturbed areas”, notably in the backdrop of the killing of 13 civilians at Oting village in Nagaland’s Mon district on December 4 by security forces in a botched military operation.
“Black, savage law”, “Repressive Act”, “Draconian”, and “Horrible Law” were some of the terms used to describe AFSPA at Friday’s public rally, organized by Naga Students’ Federation (NSF). The rally was joined by various Naga civil bodies including the Naga Mothers’ Association (NMA), Naga People’s Movement for Human Rights, Global Naga Forum, and Forum for Naga Reconciliation, the North East Students Organisation (NESO) and several officials of the All Assam Students’ Union to show their solidarity.
“Today, we are gathered here utterly shocked, angered, in grief and in disbelief beyond words at the extra-judicial and mindless act of terrorism committed by the armed forces of the Government of India upon peaceful civilians in our Naga Homeland. So long as AFSPA continues to exist, our lives, our land and our people will always be tormented by fear and uncertainty. We demand that this draconian law is repealed once and for all and that human rights are restored in the homeland of the Nagas,” NSF president KegwayhunTep said at the rally.
Dzuvichu pointed out that Naga men, women, the youth and the children cannot afford to continue to be maimed, threatened and killed by the Indian armed forces with impunity granted by AFSPA, and expressed that it was time the government of India listened to the voices of the people.
He highlighted how the Eastern Nagaland People’s Organization (ENPO) the apex body of six Naga tribes in five districts- Mon, Tuensang, Longleng, Kiphire, and Noklak- have declared non-cooperation with the armed forces until justice was delivered to Oting victims and AFSPA repealed from Nagaland.

::INTERNATIONAL::

Google, Meta win US security agency support for undersea fiber optic cable

US security officials recommended approval for Alphabet Inc.’s Google and Facebook Inc. parent Meta Platforms Inc. to build an undersea fiber optic cable linking the US to Taiwan and the Philippines.
The companies agreed to restrict access to equipment and information for Hong Kong-based partner Pacific Light Data Communication Co., which earlier withdrew its application for a link to Hong Kong, the Justice Department said in a news release Friday.
“These agreements enable Google and Meta to take advantage of critical, additional cable capacity while protecting US persons’ privacy and security through terms that reflect the current threat environment,” said Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division.
The companies proposed the Pacific Light Cable Network project in 2017, listing all three trans-Pacific destinations. American security agencies in 2020 asked the FCC to deny the link to Hong Kong, saying it would give China a way to acquire Americans’ personal data. The agencies called Pacific Light Data a subsidiary of mainland China’s Dr. Peng Telecom & Media Group Co.
The security agencies on Friday recommended that the Federal Communications Commission approve the cable, which now lacks a Hong Kong link.
The companies’ agreements were made with the departments of Justice, Defense and Homeland Security in their roles as members of the committee for the Assessment of Foreign Participation in the U.S. Telecommunications and Services Sector, known informally as Team Telecom.
“We are encouraged by the administration’s recommendation,” a Meta spokesperson said in an email. “This cable system increases internet capacity between the two countries to help people stay connected and share content, like photos and videos” via cables that feature advanced encryption.

::ECONOMY::

9 startups chosen at KSUM event to boost entrepreneurship among women

A two-day event organised by Kerala Start-up Mission, selected nine startups for funding aimed at boosting core female participation in various businesses.
Women Startup Summit 3.0, organised by Kerala Startup Mission (KSUM), announced a grant of Rs five lakh each to Beena P S (OmicsGenLifeSciences), Sonia Mohandas (Waterchips Techno Solutions), MariyamVidhuVijayan (Crink), SunithaFaizal (Celebees Technologies), Nimisha J Vadakkan (Acemoney), Nisary Mahesh (Hubwords), AshwathyVenugopal (Avasarshala), JeeshVenmarath (C-DISC Technologies) and Silpa P A (Nanograph).
The hybrid meet was inaugurated on Wednesday by Additional Skill Acquisition Programme CMD DrUsha Titus, IAS (retd).
"Women should not wait for concessions; instead they must propose quality entrepreneurial projects that can provide immense service to customers," she had said.
Subsequent speakers, overall, noted that the present digital age heralds increased opportunities to women entrepreneurs. A Women Entrepreneurs Networking Meet was addressed, among others, by SheelaKochouseph of V-Star Creations and Deputy Commissioner of Police AishwaryaDongre.
The summit, with Rise to Equal Post-Pandemic Era' as the title, chiefly held an Innovation Challenge section.
Addressed by around 40 experts, including SrimathiShivashankar (HCL Technologies) and former Dutch hockey player-coach SjoerdMarijne, from within the country and abroad, the meet featured seven panel discussions on domains such as entrepreneurship, economy and technology.
KSUM is the nodal agency of the Kerala government for entrepreneurship development and incubation activities in the state.

::SPORTS::

Andy Murray downs rusty Rafael Nadal in Abu Dhabi exhibition event

Andy Murray defeated Rafael Nadal 6-3 7-5 in the Spaniard's comeback game during the World Tennis Championship exhibition tournament in Abu Dhabi.
Former world number one Andy Murray eased past RafaNadal 6-3 7-5 in the Spaniard's comeback match at the World Tennis Championship exhibition tournament in Abu Dhabi on Friday to set up a summit clash with Russia's AndreyRublev.
More than five years on from their last meeting, both players made impressive starts but Scot's superior match practice told as he saved a break point in the third game of the match and then broke himself to easily claim the first set.
"Me and Rafa have played so many tough matches over the years... both of us have gone through injury troubles and it's just great to have the opportunity to be with him on court again," said Murray.