Current Affairs for SSC CGL Exams - 29 April 2022

SSC CGL Current Affairs

Current Affairs for SSC CGL Exams - 29 April 2022

::NATIONAL::

Telangana, Google sign pact for skill training of youth and women

The Telangana government on Thursday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with technology giant Google to extend the benefits of a digital economy to youth and women entrepreneurs in the state.
The MoU was signed by country head of Google India Sanjay Gupta and Telangana IT secretary JayeshRanjan, in the presence of state IT minister K T Rama Rao.
As per the MoU, Google will collaborate with the Telangana government to provide Google Career Certificate Scholarships to youth so as to make them “job-ready” for the demand for digital talent. The scholarships are routed through the Telangana Academy for Skill and Knowledge and training would be focused in high-demand fields like IT Support, IT Automation, UX Design, Data Analytics, and Project Management.
Similarly, Google will roll out a “WomenWill” programme to equip women with training and deliver digital, business and financial skills to nano, micro and small women-led businesses and entrepreneurs across Telangana.
Another aspect of the MoU is that Google will partner in Telangana’s education modernisation efforts through needs assessment, impact demonstrations, and student and educator training on the use of e-Learning technologies for improved learning outcomes.
As part of the joint effort, Google will also support the Telangana government’s efforts to improve public transportation and use of digital technologies in agriculture.
Speaking on the occasion, Gupta said the MoU would support and accelerate the efforts of the Telangana government to help youth learn the right skills for employment, support women entrepreneurs with digital skills, and modernise schools for children.
On this occasion, Google also unveiled the design of its ground-up development at the 7.3-acre site it acquired in Gachibowli in 2019. “The three million sft building will offer a highly skilled tech workforce a healthy, collaborative workplace,” Gupta said.

::INTERNATIONAL::

Chinese strategic choke-points impact QUAD security

With the QUAD summit scheduled to take place in Tokyo on May 24, the Chinese strategy to create choke points in the Indo-Pacific is certainly going to come up for discussion as these steps will have long term effects on the free and open seas. The issue assumes alarming dimensions if the Communist Party of China decides to militarily subsume Republic of Taiwan with its sea-based forces particularly the nuclear submarines crossing the first Island chain encircling mainland China.
On April 22, a high-power delegation led by US National Security Council Indo-Pacific Coordinator Kurt Campbell with Deputy INDOPACOM Commander read the riot act to Solomon Islands Prime Minister over its security pact with Communist China. The message was simple and blunt: if Solomon Islands allow China to establish a Chinese military post or base in far Pacific, then the US would respond in kind.
With the QUAD summit scheduled to take place in Tokyo on May 24, the Chinese strategy to create choke points in the Indo-Pacific is certainly going to come up for discussion as these steps will have long term effects on the free and open seas. The issue assumes alarming dimensions if the Communist Party of China decides to militarily subsume Republic of Taiwan with its sea-based forces particularly the nuclear submarines crossing the first Island chain encircling mainland China.
While the Solomon Islands PM tried to assuage the American officials by saying that Chinese will not be allowed any base in the far Pacific, fact is that under the guise of Belt Road Initiative (BRI) and bilateral cooperation China has been able to acquire strategic chokepoints all over the Indo-Pacific and poses direct threat to democratic QUAD.
The situation is quite similar in the Indian Ocean with China establishing a base in Hambantota in Sri Lanka, Gwadar in Pakistan and in Djibouti. With South Africa already under huge Chinese debt, the Chinese have leverage in Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman with Gwadar, Red Sea with Djibouti, and the key trade route to South and North Asia with Hambantota in Sri Lanka.

::ECONOMY::

Indian Rupee settles 4 paise higher at 76.53 against US dollar

The rupee pared initial losses to settle 4 paise higher at 76.53 (provisional) against the US dollar on Thursday, tracking positive domestic equities.
The appreciation bias in the local unit is likely to be capped in the near term amid strong American currency, inflationary concerns and fears about an aggressive pace of the US rate hikes, traders said.
At the interbank forex market, the rupee opened at 76.60 against the greenback and moved in a range of 76.43 to 76.71 in the day trade. It finally closed at 76.53, registering a rise of just 4 paise over its previous close of 76.57.
On Wednesday, the rupee had settled almost flat at 76.57 against the US dollar.
"Rupee weakened in the first half of the session but rose in the latter half despite broader gains in the dollar. The dollar has been rising on the expectation that the Fed could raise rates at the next week's meeting," said GaurangSomaiya, Forex& Bullion Analyst, MotilalOswal Financial Services.
Inflation remains a concern for the central bank and it could continue to hold a hawkish stance.
"Major crosses Euro and Pound continued to remain under pressure against the US dollar. Today's focus will be on the advance GDP number from the US and weaker-than-estimated data could keep gains capped for the dollar," Somaiya said.

Science and tech

SpaceX launches 4 astronauts for NASA after private flight

It’s the first NASA crew comprised equally men and women, including the first Black woman making a long-term spaceflight, Jessica Watkins. “This is one of the most diversified, I think, crews that we’ve had in a really, really long time," said NASA's space operations mission chief Kathy Lueders.
SpaceX launched four astronauts to the International Space Station for NASA on , less than two days after completing a flight chartered by millionaires.
It’s the first NASA crew comprised equally men and women, including the first Black woman making a long-term spaceflight, Jessica Watkins.
“This is one of the most diversified, I think, crews that we’ve had in a really, really long time," said NASA's space operations mission chief Kathy Lueders.
The astronauts arrived at the space station Wednesday night, just 16 hours after a predawn liftoff from Kennedy Space Center that thrilled spectators.
“Anyone who saw it realized what a beautiful launch it was,” Lueders told reporters. After an express flight comparable to traveling from New York to Singapore, the crew will move in for a five-month stay.
SpaceX has now launched five crews for NASA and two private trips in just under two years. Elon Musk's company is having an especially busy few weeks: It just finished taking three businessmen to and from the space station as NASA’s first private guests.
Both SpaceX and NASA officials stressed they're taking it one step at a time to ensure safety. The private mission that concluded Monday encountered no major problems, they said, although high wind delayed the splashdown for a week.
SpaceX Launch Control wished the astronauts good luck and Godspeed moments before the Falcon rocket blasted off with the capsule, named Freedom by its crew.
“Our heartfelt thank you to every one of you that made this possible. Now let Falcon roar and Freedom ring,” radioed NASA astronaut Kjell Lindgren, the commander. Minutes later, their recycled booster had landed on an ocean platform and their capsule was safely orbiting Earth. “It was a great ride,” he said.

::Sports::

Liverpool boss Klopp signs new contract until 2026

Liverpool manager JuergenKlopp has signed a two-year contract extension that will keep him at Anfield until 2026, the Premier League club said.
Klopp, whose previous contract was due to expire in 2024, has helped Liverpool win the Champions League and Premier League titles since arriving on Merseyside in 2015.
"There is a freshness about us as a club still and this energises me," Klopp said in a statement. "There are so many words I could use to describe how I am feeling about this news… delighted, humbled, blessed, privileged and excited would be a start.
"For as long as I have been here, our owners have been unbelievably committed and energetic about this club and it is clear that right now this applies to our future as much as I’ve ever known.
"There is just so much to love about this place. I knew that before I came here, I got to know it even better after I arrived and now I know it more than ever before."