TODAY’S TOP NEWS: 15 AUGUST, 2020 (GPN)

*HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY*

NATIONAL NEWS:

1. *PM Modi will lead the nation in celebrating the 74th Independence Day* at the majestic Red Fort in Delhi today (on August 15).PM Modi will unfurl the National Flag and deliver the customary address to the Nation.

2. *PM Modi is slated to arrive at Lahore Gate of Red Fort at 7:18 am.* He will be received by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Defence Secretary Dr Ajay Kumar. The Guard of Honour contingent for the Prime Minister will consist of one officer and 24 men each from the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Delhi Police.

3. Major Shweta Pandey will assist the Prime Minister in unfurling the National Flag. The unfurling of the tri-colour will synchronise with the 21 Gun Salute fired by the valiant gunners of the elite 2233 Field Battery (Ceremonial). The ceremonial battery will be commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Jitendra Singh Mehta and the Gun Position Officer will be Naib Subedar (AIG), Anil Chand.

4. In *Rajasthan* , amid the ongoing *political crisis* , the state assembly session is set to begin from yesterday. Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot chaired the Congress Legislature Party meeting at his residence. The meeting was also attended by Congress leader Sachin Pilot along with 18 other party who had rebelled against Chief Minister Gehlot last month.

5. *Pune-based Defence Institute of Advanced Technology (DIAT) developed a biodegradable face mask* named “Pavitrapati” which acts a virus neutraliser and an anti-microbial body suit named “Aushada tara”. Both were manufactured by Kolhapur-based textile company M/s Siddheshwar Techtessile Pvt. Ltd., Maharashtra.

6. A constable was killed and his colleague injured in a *Naxal attack in Gadchiroli district of Maharashtra* on Friday morning

7. *On August 17, 2020, the Assam Government is to identify beneficiaries of new scheme called “* *ORUNODOI* ”. The scheme is being launched to help in women financial empowerment.

8. The State Government of Assam has allocated Rs 280 crores for the new scheme. Under the scheme, Rs 830 per month is to be provided to poor households. This is in addition to an annual income of Rs 10,000 that will be provided. The scheme will give priority to households that are run by divorced women, widows, separated women and unmarried women. The only condition is that their composite income should be less than Rs 2 lakhs per annum.

9. The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways announced that the *Electric Vehicles shall be sold and registered without pre-fitted batteries.* This will reduce cost of Electric Vehicles by 50%.

10. *Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday launched a portal for ‘Opportunities For Make In India In Defence’* via video conferencing facility as part of ‘ *Atmanirbharta Saptah’.* Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat also attended the valedictory session.

11. *An Indian Army convoy in Jammu & Kashmir’s Baramulla district came under heavy attack* after militants fired indiscriminately, injuring a soldier. He is out of danger now. The convoy of three Army vehicles was moving from Baramulla to Gulmarg and when it reached Pattan area, terrorists hiding in a built-up area.

12. *President Ram Nath Kovind approves gallantry award for defence personnel, 4 get Shaurya Chakra* to three from the Army for counter-terrorist operations in Jammu and Kashmir and Wing Commander Vishak Nair from the Indian Air Force was also awarded the Shaurya Chakra.
Lt Col Krishan Singh Rawat from the elite Special Forces, Major Anil Urs and Havildar Alok Kumar Dubey. The Shaurya Chakra is awarded for “gallantry otherwise than in the face of the enemy”. It is the third-highest gallantry award in peacetime.

13. The President also approved the Sena Medal (gallantry) to 60 Army personnel, Nao Sena Medal (gallantry) to four from the Navy and five Vayu Sena Medal (gallantry) for the Air Force. Bar to Sena Medal has been approved for five Army personnel. The President has also approved 19 Mention-in-Despatches to the Army personnel for their significant contributions in different military operations, which include eight posthumous for ‘Operation Meghdoot’ and ‘Operation Rakshak’.

14. In a massive setback to the Nitish Kumar-led Bihar government, *NDA ally LJP chief Chirag Paswan, on Friday is mulling on withdrawing support from the NDA government.* While LJP has only 2 seats and won’t affect the NDA government’s majority, this move is significant as Bihar goes to polls in November. Paswan has opposed holding the Bihar assembly polls amid a spread of COVID-19 cases. *LJP has also slammed Nitish Kumar for his indifference in the Sushant Singh Rajput’s death* , before the CM finally recommended a CBI probe into the case.

15. *UGC Final year Examination Hearing:*
The ongoing tug-of-war over the holding of the final year examination entered a new day on Friday with the Supreme Court hearing the ongoing case. The UGC had directed all universities to conduct final year examinations by September 30 through methods ranging from online, offline, or a combination of both. The UGC directive also accommodated those who won’t be able to appear in the examinations before September 30 for natural calamities or health reasons. The colleges will hold separate examinations for them later.

16. *Tamil actor Nikki Galrani tests positive for COVID-19,* urges fans to take precautions.

17. *SP Balasubrahmanyam in ICU on ventilation,* : Famous singer SP Balasubrahmanyam’s son S P Charan on Friday gave a clarification on his health stating that the singer is currently in Intensive Care Unit (ICU) under ventilation but his condition is stable. He also asked Balasubrahmanyam’s fans not to believe in rumours. He was admitted to the hospital after testing positive for the deadly novel coronavirus COVID-19 on August 5, 2020.

18. *Pilgrimage to Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine near Katra will start from Sunday (August 16).* The shrine board has allowed the Yatra with 2,000 pilgrims during the first week. Only 100 people from outside Jammu and Kashmir will be allowed to participate in a day.

19. Union Health Ministry Joint Secretary Lav Agarwal on Friday tested positive for coronavirus COVID-19.

20. The Central Railway (CR) and Western Railway (WR) on Friday announced that they will operate *special trains from Mumbai to Konkan in Maharashtra* for the coming Ganesh Chaturthi festival.

21. *COVID-19 IN INDIA*
TOTAL CASES 2461190
ACTIVE 66159
RECOVERED 1751555
TOTAL DEATHS 48040

*✈INTERNATIONAL NEWS*

1. *India announces USD 500 million help in Maldives Connectivity project* : Maldivian president Ibrahim Mohammad Solih said that, A landmark moment in Maldives-India cooperation as they receive Indian assistance of USD250 million as budget support and USD500 million for the Greater Malé Connectivity Project. He also thank PM Narendra Modi and the Indian people for generosity and friendship.

2. India has also decided to start air travel bubble between with Maldives to facilitate movement of people from both sides for employment, tourism, medical emergencies. Maldives is the first neighboring country with which an air bubble is being operationalized. The first flight under the Air Bubble is expected to commence on August 18.

3. During COVID-19 pandemic, when supply chains got disrupted, India continued to support the supply of essential food and construction materials to Maldives. In May 2020, India had also gifted 580 tons of essential food items through Mission SAGAR.

4. The Ministry of Commerce announced that *China is extending anti-dumping tariff on fibre optic products made in India.* It is a protectionist tariff that is imposed by domestic government on foreign imports. These products have potential to cut the local businesses. *Dumping is the process of unloading goods into a foreign market at lower market value.*

5. The tariff is to take effect on august 14, 2020 and is to last for five years. The tariffs are to range between 7.4% and 30.6%. Earlier china had slapped anti-dumping tariff on Indian products five years till August 2019 and had then reviewed. *Two days earlier, India imposed anti dumping duties on imports of black toner powder originating from China and Malaysia.*

6. *The United States Senate on Thursday introduced a bipartisan resolution criticising China’s military aggression to change the Line of Actual Control with India* : The resolution by Senators John Cornyn and Mark Warner, both co-chairs of the Senate India Caucus, also sought the two neighbouring countries to find a diplomatic solution to restore the status quo at the LAC.

7. *India on Friday criticised Pakistan for giving a platform to former UN-designated terrorist Gulbuddin Hekmatyar* and former Malaysian premier Mahathir Mohamad to speak on the Kashmir issue through events organised by that country’s missions.

8. *India on Friday sent 58 mt relief to Lebanon in the aftermath of Beirut explosions that killed more than 150 people* and rendered several homeless. In a special Indian Air Force’s C17 aircraft India sent the emergency humanitarian aid, including crucial medical and food supplies.

*WORLD NEWS*

1. *Flood situation in Bangladesh:* With most of the rivers showing a declining trend, people of the flood affected areas in Bangladesh have started returning back home gradually.

2. *Trump announces historic peace deal between UAE, Israel* : the UAE and Israel plan to exchange embassies and ambassadors and begin cooperation on a broad range of areas including tourism, education, healthcare, trade and security. President Trump also tweeted a joint statement between the US, UAE and Israel which said, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan have agreed to the full normalisation of relations. The statement called the peace agreement, a historic diplomatic breakthrough that will advance peace in the Middle East region.

3. China has officially launched a new version of “ *Clean Your Plate Campaign* ” flagged by Chinese President Xi Jinping. “Different from the previous campaign, which was aimed at putting an end to officials’ extravagant feasts and receptions, the 2.0 version calls for the public to stop wasting food,”

4. *Israel successfully tested the advanced missile defence system Arrow-2.* The missile was developed to defend against the short- and mid- range rockets that are fired from Lebanon and Gaza and also long-range missiles fired from Iran.

5. *WORLD COVID CASES*
CONFIRMED 2,06,92,320
DEATHS 7,50,744

* SPORTS:*

1. *Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Kiren Rijiju launched the Fit India Freedom Run through an online* programme on Friday. The country-wide run promises to become a fitness phenomenon with a host of government and private organizations joining in to participate in it.

2. Participants can run at their own place (wherever they are) and at their own pace (at a time convenient to them) between August 15, the 74th Independence Day and October 2, the 151st Birth Anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. Director General of BSF said, the BSF jawans and the people around the border areas will be running holding up flags in the early morning and there cannot be a better boost to your patriotism.

3. *The INOX group will be the official sponsor of the Indian team for the rescheduled Tokyo Olympics (July 23-August 8, 2021)* , the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) announced.

4. Punjab Cricket Association has requested former India all-rounder Yuvraj Singh to come out of retirement and become a player-cum-mentor of the state team but he is yet to respond. The left-handed batsman, a key member of the India’s 2011 World Cup-winning team, played 40 Tests and 304 ODIs between 2003 and 2017.

*USD 74.91 GBP 98.16*
_In Lucknow (UP)_
*Gold ₹55,100@10 gm 24 (Krt)*
*Silver ₹66,950@ Kg*
⛽ *Petrol ₹ 81.04*
⛽ *Diesel ₹ 73.77*

* FACTS ABOUT INDIA*

National Flag – 3:2 ratio (Designed by P Venkaiah)

Safforn colour represents- *Power & Unity*

White – *Peace & Truth*

Green – *Culture & Charms*

24 spokes Ashoka Chakra- *Working Power and energy*

* THOUGHT OF THE DAY*

A PAPER FLYING IN AIR IS DUE TO LUCK

BUT A KITE FLYING IS DUE TO EFFORTS

SO DON’T WORRY IF LUCK DOESN’T SUPPORT

EFFORTS R ALWAYS URS.

*JOKES OF THE DAY*

*Pappu* : Aaj men ne 1 jan bachai
*Frnd* : Woh Kaisay?
*Pappu* : Vo aise k ek Faqir ko pucha
2000 ka note dun to kya karega Wo Bola; Khushi se mar jaunga; Me ne kaha ja nahi deta….

राहुल: मम्मी, बेवकूफ़ किसे कहते है  ?

सोनिया: बेवकूफ एक ऐसा व्यक्ति है जो अपने
विचारों को इतने अजीब और लंबे तरीके से समझाने
की कोशिश करता है कि एक और व्यक्ति जो उसे
सुन रहा है वह उसे समझ नहीं पा रहा है। क्या
आप मुझे समझते हैं?

राहुल: नही|

Rahul: Mummy, what is an idiot?

Sonia: idiot is a person who tries to explain his ideas in such a strange and long way that another person who is listening to him can’t understand him.do you understand me?

Rahul: No

________________________________

A sweet demand by a kid:
A kid was beaten by his mom.
dad came n asked- what happen son?
kid said-i cant adjust with your wife anymore,
i want my own…..!

_________________________________

राहुल: क्या तुम तैरना जानते हो?

नमो: नहीं ...

राहुल: तो मेरा कुत्ता तुमसे बेहतर है, वह जानता है

नमो: क्या आप जानते हैं कि कैसे तैरना है?

राहुल: हाँ

नमो: फिर कुत्ते और तुम में क्या अंतर है ...।

Pappu in hotel: main 
yaha nahi rahunga 
mere paise wapas karo 
itna chotta room ? na he 
koi khidki na he koi 
balkoni ? 
mujhe jaanwar samjha h 
kya ? 
waiter: mere baap, upar 
chal, yeh lift hai....
----------------------------
pappu college mein ek ladki se bola 
. 
. 
pappu: “tum nahati nahi ho kya\?” 
. 
. 
ladki: “main to roz nahati hoon,but tumne aisa kyun pucha\? 
. 
. 
. 
. 
. 
. 
pappu huste hue: “kabhi dekha nahi 
na isliye pucha....
_________________________
Gujrati student : Sir humara poty aaya hai. 
math teacher : to main kya karu? 

Maths Teacher: Murkh tera poty aaya hai toh mein kya karu, dhulwau..toilet chala jaa.. Bewakoof

Gujrati student : Aap galat samajh rahe ho sir, 
humara answer poty (40) aaya hai. 
.....Gujaratis can't pronounce F....eg.

They Say.... 
Piece for Fish
Plate for Flat
Plague for Flag and so on.

*TELL ME WHY❓❓❓*

*why india pakistan partition happend*

During the British regime in India, the Muslims comprised of approximately 25% of the total population of the country. However, the racial discrimination between the Hindus and Muslims were getting more pronounced. The Muslims, though differing in ethnic traits and language were spread across the country, especially in the erstwhile Bengal and Punjab regions where they had formed a majority of the population. The Muslims also varied in their societal and economic status ranging from solvent businessmen to urban and the rural poor class.

The British leaders finally agreed that the partition was the best way to limit bloodshed between Hindus and Muslims within India. It was decided that India would be split into two independent nations. Pakistan would contain the mainly Muslim regions of India, and India would retain the regions of Hindu majority.

*LEARN SANSKRIT*

*ध्वज* : Flag

*HOW IT WORKS* ⁉

*How rubber is prepared*

Natural rubber is made by extracting a liquid sap, called *latex* , from certain types of tree. There are over 2,500 types of tree that produce this sap, but the overwhelming majority of latex for rubber production stems from the Hevea brasiliensis tree,

Latex is gathered from the trees by making a cut in the bark and collecting the runny sap in cups. This process is called *tapping* .

In order to prevent the sap from *solidifying,* *ammonia is added* . Acid is then added to the mix to extract the rubber, in a process called *coagulation* . This can take about 12 hours.

The mixture is then passed through rollers to remove excess water. Once this is complete, the layers of rubber are hung over racks in smokehouses or are left to air dry. Several days later they will then be folded into bales ready for processing.

Firstly, chemicals are added to the rubber to make it stable. Without this, the rubber would get brittle if it got cold or become sticky during high temperatures. Commonly, a carbon black filler is added to the rubber mix, to improve its strength and durability.The rubber is then carefully mixed together and allowed to cool, before being shaped. It can be shaped by pushing it into rollers, called calendering, or by squeezing it through holes to make hollow tubes, known as extrusion. In 18th century rubber making was introduced.

‍♂️ GK TODAY:

National language *-Hindi*

National game Hockey

National flower – *Lotus*

National animal – *Tiger*

National anthem – *Jana gana mana adhinayaka……..* (written by Rabindranath Tagore)

National song ; *Vandhe Matharum* ………(written by Bunkim chand Chatterjee})

VEDIK GYAN:

*Why Indra is not worshipped? Why there are no temples of Indra? Why Hindus do not worship Indra?*

In the Vedas, Indra is considered to be the King of Devas and the one who lives in Swarga (heaven). The word Indra comes from ‘Indriyan’, the senses.It is said that Indra is not the name of a person, but a position, a chair.

*Devas* referred to the external world of nature and culture (Prakriti and Sanskriti).Like: Vayu, Varuna, Surya, Sagara, Bhoomi, etc.. *God* referred to the internal world of Atma, mind, and soul.

This indicates that during those times, there is a shift from the outer world of Vedic tradition (Devas) to the inner world of Puranic tradition (God). To protect his seat at heaven, he use to disturb yagnas and tapasyas of sages and other people. (Eg: Vishwamitra), he was also got curse from Gautam Rishi for committing adultery with Rishi wife Ahaliya. That’s the reason he has not given the importance and ignored him from pujas.

He has married to Shachi, also known as Indrani or Pulomaja. Indra and Shachi have a son, Jayanta, and daughters called Jayanti and Devasena. Goddess Jayanti is the spouse of Shukracharya, while goddess Devasena marries the war-god Kartikeya. He is also depicted as the father of Vali in the Ramayana and Arjuna in the Mahabharata respectively.

These stories are not to judge anyone, but to learn us from their mistakes.

HEALTH CARE: HOME REMEDIES:
( *Note* : These home tips followed in villages/ancient traditions, it is up to you to use it or not)

*Health Benefits of Black Pepper*

Black pepper is one of the most commonly used spices worldwide

Its extract may improve blood sugar control.

Lower cholesterol levels
High blood cholesterol is associated with an increased risk of heart disease.

It minimises cold and cough when we consume it with milk mixed with tumeric powder.

In South India RASAM is made using Pepper as it’s main indigrent in Lunch/dinner. It is believed that it removes all the ailments related to cold and keeps healthy.

PLZ FOLLOW GOVT. NORMS, MAINT SOCIAL DISTANCE, KEEP YOURSELF & YOUR FAMILY SAFE ENDS