Current Affairs for BANK, IBPS Exams - 27 August 2022

::National::

Odisha: NHRC issues notice after alleged detention of 34 students inside school

Four days after 34 students of a private English medium school in Bhubaneswar were allegedly detained in the school library over non-payment of school fees, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) asked for a report on the incident.
Last week, 34 students of Apeejay School in Bhubaneshwar that is run by Apeejay Education Trust, a welfare Trust of the ApeejaySurrendra Group, were confined to the library for five hours over alleged non-payment of fees.
Bhubaneswar police registered a case under sections 342 and 34 of IPC and Section 75 of Juvenile Justice Act against the CEO, vice-principal and administrative manager of the school over the issue.
In their complaint before the police, parents of the 34 students of the school between class 3 and 9 alleged that their wards were detained in a room between 9:30am and 2:30pm by their respective class teachers over non-payment of fees.
The NHRC asked Khordha district collector, secretary of school & mass education department, and Bhubaneswar-Cuttack police commissioner to submit the report within four weeks.
The commission had received a complaint in this connection from human rights activist Bhajaman Biswal.
The Khurda district administration has already issued a show cause to the school about the incident.

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::International::

Taliban accuses Pakistan of allowing US drones to use its airspace

The Taliban's acting defence minister on Sunday said Pakistan had allowed American drones to use its airspace to access Afghanistan, a charge Pakistan has recently denied following a U.S. air strike in Kabul.
Acting Minister of Defence Mullah Mohammad Yaqoob told reporters at a news conference in Kabul that American drones have been entering Afghanistan via Pakistan.
"According to our information the drones are entering through Pakistan to Afghanistan, they use Pakistan's airspace, we ask Pakistan, don't use your airspace against us," he said.
Pakistan's foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Pakistani authorities have denied involvement in or advanced knowledge of a drone strike the United States said it carried out in Kabul in July that killed al Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri.
Yaqoob's comments could exacerbate tension between the neighbouring nations at a time when the Afghan Taliban is mediating talks between Pakistan and a Pakistani Taliban militant group. Afghanistan also relies heavily on trade with Pakistan as the country experiences an economic crisis.
The Taliban said it is investigating the July air strike and that it has not found the Al Qaeda leader's body.

::Economy::

States peg kharif rice procurement at last year level despite output worry

The state governments have pegged the rice procurement target for the 2022 Kharif marketing season at around 506 lakh tonnes, the same as the last year's level, notwithstanding the likely marginal drop in the output, according to sources.
However, the procurement estimates would be firmed up by the Union Food Ministry next week after deliberations with the state government officials, the sources added.
The government procures paddy and converts it into the rice at mills. The procurement of paddy grown in the Kharif season starts in October. The procurement is undertaken at MSP by the state-owned Food Corporation of India (FCI) and state organisations.
The government has fixed the minimum support price (MSP) of 'common' grade paddy at Rs 2,040 per quintal and 'grade A' at 2,060 per quintal for the 2022-23 marketing year.
According to sources, the state governments have made a preliminary assessment of the Kharif paddy crop and come out with their estimate of production and procurement.
As per the state governments' estimate, the country's total Kharif production is likely to decline due to sowing lag especially in Jharkhand, West Bengal,Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, but it may hardly impact the government's procurement quantity, sources said.
The state governments have pegged total rice procurement at 506 lakh tonnes during the Kharif season. However, this estimate will be finalised by the central government next week after discussion with the state chief secretaries, the sources said.

::Science and tech::

Artemis I launch: All eyes on NASA's mega-moon mission

The liftoff of US space agency NASA's uncrewed next-generation Artemis I moon mission rocket - slated for Monday - has grabbed wide attention amid massive anticipation. Launch teams reached the Kennedy Space Center in Florida and spent a final full day of preparations ahead of the much-awaited launch of the debut test flight, kicking off the first Moon-to-Mars program, 50 years after the end of the Apollo mission.
Weather forecasters have sounded 80 per cent chances of favourable conditions for the rocket launch. "Everything to date looks good from a vehicle perspective," said Jeff Spaulding, senior NASA test director for the landmark uncrewed Artemis mission. "We are excited, the vehicle is ready, it looks great." The Artemis I launch is set for 8:33am EDT (6:03pm IST).
Just two days before the launch, on Saturday, lightning rods at the launch site were struck during a storm, Spaulding told Reuters, adding he had not "seen anything on the ground systems that give us any concerns."
Later NASA said there was no damage caused to the spacecraft or launch facilities in the incident.
The Space Launch System (SLS) rocket is set to propel an uncrewed capsule named Orion around the moon and back on a six-week test flight designed to put both vehicles through their paces before flying astronauts in a subsequent mission targeted for 2024.
The SLS-Orion combo, standing 322 feet (98 meters) tall, form the centerpiece of the US space agency's successor to the Apollo moon program of the 1960s and 1970s.
Between 100,000 and 200,000 visitors are expected to attend the launch of Artemis 1, the first test for future crewed flights, in Florida. "The plan is to drive very early in the morning and get a spot" on Cocoa Beach, said a tourist, speaking to AFP. “I know it's going to be from a far distance, but I still think it's going to be a sight to behold.”
The SLS for Artemis program has been under development for more than a decade due to delays and cost overturns. It has, however, generated tens of thousands of jobs and billions of dollars in commerce under the primary contractors Boeing Co for SLS and Lockheed Martin Corp for Orion.
This is the first humans-on-moon mission since Apollo 17, the two-man descent team of 1972.

::Sports::

Cristiano Ronaldo proves snub of Carragher was ‘personal’, pranks Rio Ferdinand

Having recently snubbed Jamie Carragher, Cristiano Ronaldo proved that it was personal ahead of Manchester United's Premier League match vs Southampton on Saturday. Ahead of United's win against Liverpool, Ronaldo totally ignored the Liverpool legend, but greeted former teammates Gary Neville and Roy Keane.
Fans pointed out that the snub could be due to Carragher being a former Liverpool player, but then on Saturday, the Portugal striker proved it wasn't an anti-Liverpool gesture when he greeted Peter Crouch, who represented the Anfield outfit during his playing career.