TODAY’S TOP NEWS: 16 AUGUST, 2020 (GPN):

NATIONAL NEWS:

1. *PM Modi hoisted the national flag from the ramparts of the historic Red Fort in Delhi and addressed the nation on Saturday.* Prime Minister Modi was received by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh at the Red Fort. Prime Minister greeted the nation and said that “In this extraordinary time of Corona, Corona warriors have lived the mantra of ‘Seva Parmo Dharma.’ Our doctors, nurses, paramedical staff, ambulance personnel, safai karmacharis, policemen, service personnel and many people are working round the clock continuously.” Check full report in website.

2. *A woman Indian Army officer, Major Shweta Pandey, assisted Prime Minister Narendra Modi in unfurling the national flag atop the ramparts of the Red Fort* during the 74th Independence Day celebrations on Saturday. Hailing from Lucknow, Major Pandey was commissioned in the Army in March 2012 from the Officers Training Academy, Chennai.

3. *PM Modi has announced the launching of the Project Lion,* that will involve conservation of the Asiatic Lion and its landscape in a holistic manner.

4. During his address from the ramparts of the Red Fort, *PM Modi underlined that his government has managed to provide sanitary napkins to poor women through Jan Aushadhi centres* for just one rupee each. PM touched on the topic of menstruation, which is still considered a taboo subject in the country, and received plaudits online that *There was a time Sanitary Napkins were not spoken about even within four walls of homes in India & today Prime Minister Modi spoke about it from Red Fort on Independence Day. That is true Independence of breaking old shackles.*

5. *PM Modi announced the Optic Fibre Linking of Lakshadweep Islands* with the mainland during his address at the 74th celebrations of Independence Day. The Lakshadweep Undersea project is to be completed in 1,000 days. It will help to boost communication between India and Lakshadweep. The Department of Telecommunications is to implement the project. The cable will boost internet speed up to 400 Giga Bytes per second.

6. *PM Modi unveiled an ambitious National Digital Health Mission under which every Indian will get a health ID* that will ease access to medical services and also announced that the country has made plans for mass-producing COVID-19 vaccine once scientists give a green signal.

7. *The soldiers of Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) celebrated the country’s Independence Day on the banks of Pangong Tso lake in Ladakh* at 14,000 feet. The soldiers carried the tricolour of ITBP flags part of the celebrations.

8. *Kashmir celebrates 74th Independence Day* : The aura around the celebrations was filled with great enthusiasm and vigour, as not only the youth but, elderlies also participated with absolute aplomb. Locals unfurled the National Flag and all present in the occasion joined in a chorus to sing the National Anthem. The area reverberated with repeated chants of ” *Bharat Mata ki Jai* “.

9. *On August 14, 2020, the 74th Naga Independence Day was celebrated in the states of Nagaland and Manipur.* Nagaland celebrates its Statehood Day on December 1. It was a nine-point agreement that was signed in Kohima in June 1947. Sir Akbar Hydari was the then Governor of Assam. The agreement was signed between him and the Nagas.

10. The state was carved out of Assam in 1963 as the 16th state of the country. When India became independent from the British rule, the Nagas under the Naga National Council wished to remain free. It conducted a Plebiscite in 1951 where 99.9% voted for Naga independence.

11. *Defence Minister Raj Nath Singh launched “SRIJAN”,* an online portal to promote indigenization of Defence production. The portal is to display those items that are currently being imported by Indian Defence Industry. This will help domestic industries of the country to learn and focus more on these specific items.

12. *Goa Shipyard Limited signed an MoU with IIT, Goa* on areas such as artificial intelligence, internet of things and computational field dynamics.

13. An *MoU on development of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) or drones was signed* between Bengaluru-headquartered BEML and IIT Kanpur.

14. *Indian Navy inks deal with Uttar Pradesh Expressway Industrial Development Authority* for setting up centre of excellence in UP defence corridor.

15. *President approved 84 awards and decorations to the Armed Forces personnel and members of the Paramilitary Forces.* The awards include one Kirti Chakra, nine Shaurya Chakras, five Bar to Sena Medals (Gallantry), 60 Sena Medals (Gallantry), four Nao Sena Medals (Gallantry)and five Vayu Sena Medals (Gallantry).

16. *Jharkhand* : CM Hemant Soren unveils *new State logo* displaying national emblem and ‘Palash flower’ (Butea monosperma).

17. *Rajasthan:* Ashok-Gehlot led *Congress govt. wins trust vote* in the Legislative Assembly.

18. Supreme Court holds lawyer Prashant Bhushan guilty of contempt for tweets against judiciary

19. *Actor Sonu Sood announced he will arrange for the travel of 39 children from the Philippines to New Delhi* for their liver transplant surgery. The actor, who has catapulted to the national spotlight for his work in helping migrants reach their homes amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

20. *COVID-19 IN INDIA*
TOTAL CASES 2526192
TOTAL ACTIVE 668220
RECOVERED 1808936
TOTAL DEATHS 49036

*✈INTERNATIONAL NEWS*

1. *US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo extends Independence Day greetings* to India on behalf of the government of the United States of America and the American people.

2. *The Government of India has sent 58 tonnes of emergency humanitarian aid to the people affected by Beirut Explosion in Lebanon.* This includes Personal Protective Equipment, surgical gowns, surgical gloves as well. India dispatched the aid through C-17 heavy lift aircrafts. It included wheat flour, pulses, sugar, blankets, sleeping mats, dignity kits, medical supplies, etc.

3. India’s Ambassador to China Vikram Misri meets PLA Major General Ci Guowei in Beijing

*WORLD NEWS*

1. *US Democratic Vice Presidential candidate Kamala Harris has become the talk of the town* following her pick by Joe Biden to take on Donald Trump-Mike Pence in the forthcoming presidential elections. As much as there is a buzz on the Indian-Jamaican origin US Senator, her husband Doug Emhoff has got attention too.

2. Kamala Harris, 55, whose father is an African from Jamaica and mother an Indian, is currently the US Senator from California and often has been described as a trailblazer by former president Barack Obama. She was born in Oakland and grew up in Berkeley. She is known for many firsts.

3. Harris became the first Indian-origin and second African-American woman to join the Senate, winning the California seat vacated by Senator Barbara Boxer, who retired after 24 years. She held the first event of her 2020 presidential campaign in Washington on the landmark campus of Howard University, from which Harris earned an undergraduate degree in 1986

4. *Bangladesh has observed the National Mourning Day* marked the 45th anniversary of the brutal assasination of its founder President Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on 15th August 1975.

5. *Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani said that releasing the Taliban terrorists* by the government might pose *a serious threat to the world* but their release was necessary for peace in the region.

6. *Anti-govt protest in Seoul amid heightening virus risk* : Thousands of anti-government protesters, armed with umbrellas and raincoats, marched through the soggy streets of South Korea’s capital Saturday, ignoring official pleas to stay home amid a surge in coronavirus infections.

7. *The United States said that it had seized four Iranian fuel shipments.* Reports suggest that the shipments were on their route to Venezuela. The US had also confiscated the cargoes with the aim of disrupting a key supply line for both Tehran and Caracas. This was done in retaliation to the defiance of sanctions imposed by the US on both countries to choke oil exports.

8. *United Nations defeated the US demand of extending arms embargo on Iran indefinitely.* Embargo is an official ban on trade and other commercial activity on a country. The United Nations Security council voted against extension of arms embargo on Iran. Of the 15 members, two voted in favor and two voted against and 11 abstained. Israel and six other Gulf countries supported the extension.

9. Sri Lanka: Former Navy Chief Admiral Jayanath Colombage appointed new Foreign Secretary

10. *WORLD COVID CASES*
CONFIRMED 21,380,892 on Sunday
DEATHS 7,69,757 (Johns Hopkins University- USA and Reuters)

* SPORTS:*

1. *Indian Olympic Association on Saturday launched its ‘Ek India Team India’* digital campaign on the occasion of the country’s 74th Independence Day.

2. *Union sports Minister Kiren Rijiju launched yet another nation-wide initiative, the Fit India Youth Club,* on the occasion of the 74th Independence Day of the country.

3. *MS Dhoni announced his retirement from international cricket on Saturday,* as he brought the curtain down on his illustrious 15-year career as an India cricketer.

4. MS Dhoni, who had announced his retirement from Tests in 2014, has played 350 One-day Internationals (ODIs) and 98 T20 Internationals (T20Is). In 350 ODIs, Dhoni had scored 10773 runs at an average of 50.57. He has 10 centuries and 73 fifties to his name.Dhoni amassed 1617 runs in 98 T20Is at an average of 37.60, including two half-centuries.

5. Following MS Dhoni, Team India batsman *Suresh Raina has also announced his retirement from international cricket.* Raina, who made his debut for the Men in Blue in 2005, announced his retirement just moments after MS Dhoni announced his. Both the players are currently in Chennai for a training camp ahead of the IPL 2020 which has been moved to the UAE.

6. Raina, who was a part of India’s 2011 World Cup-winning squad, has scored over 5,600 ODI runs and 1,605 T20 runs for the Men in Blue. The left-handed batsman was regarded as Team India’s permanent number 4, a position following his snub created a void. The 33-year-old mostly played under MS Dhoni and also accompanied his skipper in IPL as he played for the CSK. Raina is also the first batsman to have 5000 runs in the IPL.

7. *Former India opener Chetan Chauhan critical, on life support* : Veteran cricketer played 40 Tests and seven ODIs for India between September 1969 and March 1981. The 73-year-old Chauhan, who is also a Cabinet Minister in Uttar Pradesh Government, was admitted to the Sanjay Gandhi PGI Hospital in Lucknow after testing COVID-19 positive on July 12.

*USD 74.85 GBP 97.96*
_In Itanagar (Arunachal)_
*Gold ₹52,490@10 gm 24 (Krt)*
*Silver ₹73,250@ Kg*
⛽ *Petrol ₹ 74.59*
⛽ *Diesel ₹ 70.90*

* FACTS ABOUT INDIA*

Redfort Constructed in 1639 by the fifth Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan as the palace of his fortified capital Shahjahanabad, the Red Fort is named for its massive enclosing walls of red sandstone and is adjacent to the older Salimgarh Fort. Red Fort, also called Lal Qalʿah.

The structure is a world heritage site which is located inside the Red Fort. The Khas-Mahal means ‘private house’ which was built by shah jahan for private residense of their daughter. Today, this structure houses quite a few museums which records and narrates the historical events of the past and exhibits interesting artefacts of that era.

* THOUGHT OF THE DAY

Every successful person shows a great deal of patience. It is this quality that controls a person’s reaction to every situation; be it positive or negative.

JOKES OF THE DAY:

1)*Teacher* – Agar sachche dil se prarthnaa kee jaae to vo jaroor safal hote hai.
*Pappu* rahane do Sir, agar aisaa hota to aap mere Sir naheen Sasur hote.

2)teacher: who was akbar ?
boy: akbar was gay.

teacher:- what, are you mad ? why did you say that?

boy:- we have heard laila – majnu, romeo-juliet
but only
akbar – birbal !
teacher in Shock

3) Rahul to his teacher begging to take her classes at Night

At night 2am…

Rahul: hey teacher, can you please repeat what you taught today in class.

I want to take your class at Night or else I will join Night School as well

Teacher: was it that interesting? Do you like my teaching so much.

Rahul: no i just can’t asleep

Teacher in comma.

4) Once there was heavy rain and thunder

Rahul Gandhi got out of his car and stood smiling in the heavy rains.

Sonia: Get back in the car what made you stand outside like this??

Rahul: Mummy I am posing for Photo Session So many Paparazzi in sky taking pics.

Sonia fainted.

5) Inspector 2 santa:
phansi se pehle, bata teri aakhri
khwahish kia ha\?
Santa:mere pair uper or sir neechy kr
k phansi de do-:\)

6) Santa waiting at bus stop in uk along with 3 women.
when bus arrived, conductor picked the women & said to Santa no more, no more.

Other person Banta on street saw this and asked Santa why he did not scold the conductor

Santa:Usi paagal Che, Saaleya ladki nu morni samjawah aur morniya teen laiyan, meri wari use Hu more laga mainu kaisi  no more , no more Paagal !

Banta! Dhat Teri , inni si baat mein kal paagal nu khali peeli gaaliyan bakiya.

7) Rahul in part office:  while filling up a form: what should i write against mother tongue.?
Member: very long…!

Manmohan mumbled: Tell him to write My tounge if there is substitute.

8)In a grammar class:
teacher: ‘he’ does not like girls. what is ‘he’ in this sentence?
pappu: gay.

 

 

TELL ME WHY..* ❓❓
*What was the real reason behind Jinnah’s demand for Pakistan?*

He never fought the British. In 1937, Jinnah fought elections as the president of Muslim League on the plank of “Muslims in Danger”. He lost badly. Muslims across the Indian rejected Muslim League. Congress won he changed his narrative from “Muslims in Danger” to “Islam in Danger” and aroused rabid religious passions, he warned that “India will either be divided or destroyed.”

Earlier he was in favour of Hindu-Muslim unity but when Gandhi entered politics, and he came to know that he would not get the top position in an Indian government as there were much better leaders like Nehru and Gandhi, he gave the call for a separate nation.

*LEARN SANSKRIT*

Dog ; *श्वन्* (śvan), *शुनक* (śunaka)

*HOW IT WORKS* ⁉

*HOW OUR NOSE WORKS*

Humans detect smells by inhaling air that contains odor molecules, which then bind to receptors inside the nose, relaying messages to the brain. Most scents are composed of many odorants;

The external part of the nasal structure protrudes out through a hole between the cheek bones and consists of two nostrils divided by a barrier called the septum. Behind the exterior part of the nose is a nasal cavity that is lined with mucous membranes and has the olfactory hairs responsible for the sense of smell at the top.

helps protect the respiratory system and can deliver important sensory signals. These can be warnings about dangerous or unpleasant situations, or they can be positive experiences accompanied by pleasant odors. When the nose is not working the way it should, such as during a cold, the loss of the sense of smell and the reduction of the air filtering and moistening functions serve to emphasize their importance.

‍♂️ *GK TODAY*

*Sangai Festival,* the biggest annual cultural festival organized by Department of Tourism, Manipur is celebrated for 10 days every year in the fall of November in Imphal

VEDIK GYAN

*Story of Kalpavriksha*

As per our puranas, when the milky ocean was churned, many things came out including Kama Dhenu and Kalpa Vriksha… The Kalpavriksha originated during the *Samudra manthan* The king of the gods, Indra, returned with this tree to his paradise.

Kalpvriksha as the name indicates( kalpa — *imaginary* ;,vriksha —- *tree* ) it exists in imagination only. It can be hard work , because you get every thing through hard work only.
Kalpavriksha, the “wish-fulfilling tree” is just your ideas! Yours, and that of all humans, put together.

In Indra’s “Devaloka” it is said that there are five Kalpavrikshas, which are called Mandana, Parijata, Santana, Kalpavriksha and Harichandana, all of which fulfill various wishes. Kalpavriksha, in particular, is said to be planted at Mt. Meru peak in the middle of Indra’s five paradise gardens. It is on account of these wish-granting trees that the asuras waged a perpetual war with the devas as the heavenly gods who exclusively benefited freely from the “divine flowers and fruits”

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

*Lemons are high in vitamin C* , fiber, and various beneficial plant compounds.

Lemons are often promoted as a weight loss food, and there are a few theories as to why this is. One common theory is that the soluble pectin fiber in them expands in your stomach, helping you feel full for longer.

Another theory suggests that drinking hot water with lemon will help you lose weight.

*Prevent Kidney Stones*
Citric acid contains in Lemon may help prevent kidney stones by increasing urine volume and increasing urine pH, creating a less favorable environment for kidney stone formation.

Lemons are made up of about 10% carbs, mostly in the form of soluble fiber and simple sugars. Soluble fiber can improve gut health and slow the digestion of sugars and starches. These effects may result in reduced blood sugar levels.

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