Current Affairs for SSC CGL Exams - 10 January 2021

SSC CGL Current Affairs

Current Affairs for SSC CGL Exams - 10 January 2021

::NATIONAL::

Supreme court's initiative on agricultural bill

A three-judge bench, headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sharad Arvind Bobde, is hearing a batch of petitions against the constitutional validity of the three farm laws, along with the plea to remove protesting farmers.
The top court also asked the Centre to make a statement on putting the laws on hold that can give way to the court forming a committee of independent experts to go through the laws threadbare.
"Our intention is to see if we can bring about an amicable resolution of the problem. Why don't you (Centre) put your laws on hold? If there is some sense of responsibility now, you can say we will not implement our laws. We will have a committee of distinguished officers... Withhold the implementation of laws till there is a discussion by the proposed committee.
The Supreme Court said it feels someday some intended or unintended incident may happen that can breach the peace. "We don't want blood on our hands. There should be no bloodshed or violence," it said. It said that if the three laws are put on hold, the negotiations will be much better.
“We (farmer unions) will not do that,” Dave replied. “The farmers have their family members in the security forces. They will not do that. I will not make a statement. There are 400 unions at the protest site. There are 150,000 farmers there.”
Farmers have been protesting at different borders of the national capital since November 26 last year against the Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020, the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020, and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020.

::ECONOMY::

Union Education Minister inaugurates two-day Virtual International Akhand Conference ‘EDUCON-2020’

Union Education Minister Shri Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ today inaugurated the two-day Virtual International Akhand Conference ‘EDUCON 2020’ through video conferencing.
This two-day International Conference is being organized by Central University of Punjab, Bathinda (CUPB) in collaboration with the Global Educational Research Association (GERA) under the patronage of Prof. (Dr.) Raghavendra P. Tiwari, Vice Chancellor, CUPB & Padma Shri Dr. MahendraSodha (Patron, GERA). The focal theme of EDUCON-2020 is Envisioning Education for Transforming Youth to Restore Global Peace.
Union Education Minister Shri Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ appreciated CUPB for choosing the appropriate and relevant theme for the conference.
He stated that this two-day Akhand Conference will pass on the message to the researchers and students across the globe that the research is a 24X7 exercise and requires strong perseverance.
He opined that this international conference will help the prospective teachers to become familiar with different technologies and their functioning to bring transformational change in the field of education.
He expressed hope that deliberations made during EDUCON2020 by internationally-acclaimed speakers & young researchers will certainly prove to be significant in preparing a roadmap for effective implementation of NEP-2020 and developing necessary skill-set among youngsters to enable them to contribute towards building an AtmaNirbhar Bharat.

::INTERNATIONAL::

Taiwan Rolls Out New Passport to 'Avoid Confusion With China' Amid Beijing's Efforts to Assert Dominance

Taiwan rolled out a newly redesigned passport on Monday that gives greater prominence to the island's day-to-day name, aiming to avoid confusion with China amid the COVID-19 pandemic and Beijing's stepped-up efforts to assert sovereignty.
Existing Taiwanese passports have "Republic of China", its formal name, written in large English font at the top, with "Taiwan" printed at the bottom, creating confusion internationally according to the government.
During the early days of the pandemic Taiwan says some of its citizens were confused with Chinese nationals and on occasion unfairly subject to the same COVID-19-related entry bans when the disease was well under control in Taiwan though not in China. The new passport enlarges the word "Taiwan" in English and removes "Republic of China", though that name in Chinese and in small English font around the national emblem remains.
Bureau of Consular Affairs Director General Phoebe Yeh told Reuters that as of mid-morning Monday, they had received more than 700 applications for the new passport, compared with a daily average of 1,000 typically.
China, referring to the new passports, has said it does not matter what "petty moves" Taiwan made, it would not change the fact that Taiwan was an inseparable part of China. China claims democratic Taiwan as its sovereign territory, and says only it has the right to speak for the island internationally, a position it has pushed strongly during the pandemic, especially at the World Health Organization (WHO).

Sports

Set poor example with my use of language, admits Australia captain Tim Paine

Tim Paine, who was heard on the stump mic going on a rant against Ravichandran Ashwin during Day 5 of the SCG Test, said that he had let himself down with his use of language during the Test.
Speaking after the SCG Test, which was a draw after a 259-ball block-athon by Hanuma Vihari and Ravichandran Ashwin the Australian captain said, “I probably set a pretty poor example with my use of language. Certainly disappointed with myself… I know the stump ‘mics’ are on and there’s a lot of kids watching and I need to set a better example.”
Paine was heard saying from behind the stumps as Ashwin and Vihari frustrated the hosts: “Even your teammates think you’re a goose. Don’t they? Every one of them. How many IPL teams wanted you, when you asked every single one of them to have you?”