Current Affairs for SSC CGL Exams - 16 January 2022

SSC CGL Current Affairs

Current Affairs for SSC CGL Exams - 16 January 2022

::NATIONAL::

No person can be vaccinated without prior consent: Centre tells Supreme Court

The Centre has told the Supreme Court that COVID-19 inoculation guidelines issued by the Union health ministry do not envisage forcible vaccination without obtaining the consent of an individual.
On the issue of exempting persons with disabilities from producing vaccination certificates, the Centre told the apex court that it has not issued any SOP that makes it mandatory to carry the vaccination certificate for any purpose.
The Centre said this in its affidavit filed in response to a plea by NGO Evara Foundation seeking door-to-door, priority COVID-19 vaccination for persons with disabilities.
"It is submitted that the direction and guidelines released by Government of India and Ministry of Health and Family Welfare do not envisage any forcible vaccination without obtaining consent of the concerned individual.
"It is submitted that vaccination for COVID-19 is of larger public interest in view of the ongoing pandemic situation," the affidavit filed by the Union health ministry said.
The ministry said that "it is duly advised, advertised and communicated through various print and social media platforms that all citizens should get vaccinated and systems and processes have been designed to facilitate the same."

Andhra to build energy-efficient houses for weaker sections

The Andhra Pradesh government has proposed to provide energy-efficient power infrastructure to its mega project of weaker sections housing for 30.76 lakh beneficiaries with financial assistance from KfW, German government-owned bank, officials said.
The housing programme, named as Jagananna Colonies, was launched by chief minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy on June 3 last year as part of his pre-election promise of “Navaratnalu-Pedalandirki Illu (nine promises-housing for all the poor). In the first phase, 1.56 million houses are being constructed at a cost of ₹28,034 crore in around 17,000 colonies.
An official spokesman of the state energy conservation mission (APSEM) A Chandrasekhar Reddy said as many as 1.07 million houses have been grounded as on January 8 this year of which 6,901 houses were already completed and another 38,688 houses were completed up to roof level. Construction of another 9.6 lakh houses has been completed up to basement level, he said.
The spokesman said the state government has proposed to provide energy efficient infrastructure in these housing colonies – right from electricity distribution infrastructure to provision of energy-efficient electric appliances to each house such as LED bulbs, tube lights and wiring.
Reddy said KfW has come forward to extend financial and technical cooperation for this housing project. “The proposal came up for discussion at a virtual meeting held on Saturday, in which officials of the KfW, AP housing department and APSEM participated,” he said.
KfW’s head of energy efficiency Dr. Martin Lux proposed to extend financial assistance of Euros 150 million for construction of energy efficient houses and Euro 2 million for technical assistance after successful appraisal of project. Besides, the bank would also extend additional financing support for electricity distribution infrastructure and strengthening the distribution network for supply of power to these Jagananna colonies.
The housing department has proposed to supply four LED bulbs, two LED tube lights, two energy-efficient fans to each household that helps in saving energy bills, contribute to energy conservation and environmental protection. Besides, energy efficient street lights and energy efficiency pump sets for drinking water will be arranged in the 17000 Jagannna colonies.

::INTERNATIONAL::

China's global trade surplus reaches a record $676.4 billion in 2021

China’s politically volatile global trade surplus surged to $676.4 billion in 2021, likely the highest ever recorded by any country, as exports jumped 29.9% over a year earlier despite semiconductor shortages that disrupted manufacturing.
The country’s trade surplus in December swelled 20.8% over a year earlier to a monthly record of $94.4 billion, customs data showed Friday.
China piled up a series of monthly export surpluses in 2021 but they prompted less criticism from the United States and other trading partners than in earlier years while they focused on containing coronavirus infections.
Exports rose to $3.3 trillion in 2021 despite shortages of processor chips for smartphones and other products as global demand rebounded from the pandemic. Manufacturers also were hampered by power rationing imposed in some areas.
The surplus with the United States, one of the irritants behind a lingering U.S.-Chinese trade war, rose 25.1% in 2021 over a year earlier to $396.6 billion. Trade envoys have talked since President Joe Biden took office in January but have yet to announce a date to resume face-to-face negotiations.

::ECONOMY::

SBI raised $ 300 million through Formosa bonds

State Bank of India (SBI) has raised $300 million through “Regulation S” Formosa Bonds for five years at a coupon rate of 2.49%, the lender has said in a release.
The bonds have been benchmarked against five-year US Treasury notes and priced at a spread of 100 basis points over the benchmark. The lender has completed its issuance through its London branch.
The first-ever public Formosa USD bonds issued by an Indian scheduled commercial bank have received strong demand from investors, which helped SBI tighten pricing by 30 basis points. The initial guidance was T+130 basis points area and heavy demand lead to finalizing pricing at T+100 basis points.
“This is an indication of confidence global investors have in the Indian banking sector generally, and in SBI in particular and is also a testament to the exceptional access that SBI enjoys in the global capital markets,” Ashwini Kumar Tewari, managing director, SBI, said.
Formosa bonds have received strong investment from various investors, including supranational agencies, assets managers, private bankers and financial institutions. The bonds will be listed on Taipei Exchange (TPEx), Singapore Exchange Securities Trading (“SGX-ST”) and India International Exchange IFSC (“India INX”).
Citigroup, HSBC, Credit Agricole and Standard Chartered Bank were the Joint Bookrunners for this offering and KGI Securities Taipei, SinoPac Securities Corporation Taipai, Taishin International Bank, Taipei, acted as co-managers for the issue, the release said.

::SCIENCE AND TECH::

Philippines becomes first country to buy India's BrahMos supersonic cruise missile system for $374.96 million

BrahMos, the supersonic cruise missile system jointly made by India and Russia, has been selected by the Philippines under a $374.96 million deal, making it the first export order for the missile.
The contract is for purchase of shore-based anti-ship variant of the missile from India. Indonesia, Vietnam and Thailand are other South-East Asian countries that have shown interest in the system. BrahMos is capable of being launched from land, sea, undersea and air against surface and sea-based targets.
The range of the missile was capped at 290 km as per Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) regulations. India entered the MTCR regime in June 2016 allowing extension in range beyond 300 km. India has already deployed a sizeable number of the BrahMos missiles in several strategic locations along the Line of Actual Control in Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh.

::SPORTS::

South Africa beat India by 7 wickets in third Test to win series 2-1

South Africa beat India by seven wickets to win the third Test and secure the series 2-1.
Resuming the day 101 for two, South Africa go the job done in 63.3 overs with major contributions coming from Keegan Petersen (82), Rassie van der Dussen (41 not out) and Temba Bavuma (32 not out).
Petersen was the only one dismissed on the day as he played one on to his stumps off Shardul Thakur.
India had won the opening Test in Centurion by 113 runs before the hosts bounceptd back in Johannesburg with a seven wicket victory.