TODAY’S TOP NEWS: 28 AUGUST, 2020 (GPN)

NATIONAL NEWS:

1. *PRATHEEKSHA* : First Marine Ambulance launched by Kerala Government. The Marine Ambulance specializes in providing first aid and also rescue operations. The ambulance is capable of providing critical care to up to five people simultaneously. The ambulances run on Scania engines and can run at maximum speed of 14 knots.

2. *The finance Minister Nirmala Sitaraman chaired the 41st GST Council meet.* The council discussed states’ compensation and revenue losses.In the fiscal year 2020-21, the GST shortfall is Rs 2.35 lakh crores.

3. *The hunger strike started by the National Student Union of India (NSUI)* members demanding postponement of NEET and JEE exams entered Day 2 yesterday. NSUI the student body of the Indian National Congress (INC) began an indefinite hunger strike at the youth Congress office.

4. *India Component of the National Determined Contributions – Transport Initiative for Asia (NDC-TIA) is to be virtually launched by NITI Aayog.* The NDC-TIA India Component will establish a multi-stakeholder dialogue platform for promoting green transport in the country and provide technical assistance in reducing GHG emissions.

5. In order to meet its energy requirements of over 33 billion units by 2030, *the Indian Railways is mulling to set up 20 GW (gigawatts) solar power plants on its surplus land.* Union Commerce, Industry and Railways Minister Piyush Goyal said,

6. The Department of Pensions and Pensioners’ Welfare ( *DoPPW) has integrated electronic Pension Payment Order (e-PPO) generated via PFMS application of Controller General of Accounts with Digi Locker* to enhance Ease of Living of Central Government Civil Pensioners. This is to enable pensioners to obtain latest hard copy of their PPO from their Digital Locker account.

7. Heavy rain wreaks havoc in Odisha, 7 dead, 2 missing

8. *Ministry of Culture announced 7 new circles of Archaeological Survey of India (ASI)* in Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, West Bengal and Gujarat. The new circles are Trichy, Raiganj, Rajkot, Jabalpur, Jhansi and Meerut. These add to the earlier 29 ASI circles in the country.

9. *The Directorate of Enforcement (ED) has filed a prosecution complaint under Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 against Brajesh Thakur,* and his family members and others at PMLA special court in Patna in connection with a case relating to misappropriation of government funds.
Brajesh Thakur is currently serving a life sentence in Muzaffarpur shelter home sexual assault case.

10. *ICRA estimates almost a 10% drop in execution of road projects because of pandemic* , as they are likely to range between 9,000 and 9,200 km. The rating firm noted that January-March, the key working season for road contractors, saw a little progress because of the lockdown.

11. *Congress president Sonia Gandhi forms 5-member panel in Rajya Sabha,* elevates 2 young MPs in Lok Sabha. Ahmed Patel, KC Venugopal and Jairam Ramesh will be part of the Rajya Sabha Committee, which will also include Leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad and party’s deputy leader Anand Sharma.

12. *The Supreme Court denied permission for carrying out Muharram procession across the country* and asked the petitioner to move before the Allahabad High Court with his plea.

13. *In Andhra Pradesh* : 3 million women to get house sites worth Rs 22,000 crores.

14. The weather department predicted *heavy rains till August 28 evening in Jammu and Kashmir* after heavy downpour lashed the union territory in the last 48 hours

15. *In Assam* : India’s ‘longest’ (1.82 km) passenger ropeway across a river unveiled in Guwahati.

16. *Gujarat tops Export Preparedness Index compiled by NITI Aayog* & the Institute of Competitiveness; Maharashtra 2nd.

17. J&K: NHIDCL ( *National Highways and Infrastructure development Corporation) awards* 14.2 km-long Zojila Tunnel project to Hyderabad-based Megha Engineering.

18. *National E-Governance Division and the Common Service Centres (CSC) signed a pact to facilitate the delivery of UMANG application services through CSCs.* UMANG is *Unified Mobile Application for New Age Governance.* The mobile application was launched by PM Modi to provide secure access to the citizens at multiple government services. UMANG is a key component of Digital India initiative. The agreement will help to benefit people who do not have access to smart phones or those who are not comfortable in accessing application based e-services on their own.

19. *PM Modi reiterated that the government is committed to boost defence manufacturing* in the country. He highlighted a decision to permit up to 74% FDI in the defence manufacturing through automatic route.

20. *After the deadly Pulwama attack on February 14 last year, Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) wanted to release an audio-video recording of suicide bomber Adil Ahmad Dar (21) in Kashmiri language to instigate Kashmiri youths,* the National Investigation Agency (NIA) said in its charge-sheet. However, the plan was shelved following India’s air strike in Balakot in Pakistan.

21. The Army organised ‘ *Northern Command Equipment Display 2020’* in Udhampur district of Jammu and Kashmir in its effort to promote Make-in-India initiative in defence technology. Chief of Staff, Northern Command, Lieutenant General C Bansi Ponnappa inaugurated the event which was attended by defence industry experts from different parts of the country.

22. Union Defence Rajnath Singh on Thursday asserted that in the coming time, defence equipment worth Rs 1.40 lakh crore will be purchased domestically.

23. *Indian Army gets ready for a long winter deployment along the 826-km Line of Actual Control in Ladakh and has plans of sending in additional troops.* The Indian Army is already in the process of procuring gloves, sleeping bags, special world class boots as well as layered jackets which would help the troops to deal with the extreme cold. Besides the need additional habitat for more troops being deployed,

24. *The Indian Navy will carry out firing drills of the coastal defence weapons on September 10* and has warned shipping and fishing vessels to stay clear of the area. The Navy will test fire the 105mm light field gun and the 40/60 anti-aircraft guns between 9am and 1pm on September 10 from Mormugao.

25. *COVID Status* : INDIA
CONFIRMED 33,10,234
DEATHS 60,472

*✈INTERNATIONAL NEWS*

1. Ministry of External Affairs says, *India and China continue to be engaged both at the diplomatic and military levels to ease out the tension along the LAC* in the western sector.

2. *BRICS foreign ministers are going to meet virtually on the 4th of September.* Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will chair the large-format meeting of BRICS foreign ministers during which they will exchange views on topical international matters.

3. Industry Ministers of *BRICS countries met virtually to discuss ways to enhance cooperation in the areas of 5G,* Artificial Intelligence and industrial internet. This meeting comes ahead of the proposed foreign ministers’ meet in the early September this year.

4. Indian Ambassador to Russia Venkatesh Varma said that *India hopes to ink a deal for manufacturing Russia’s Kamov Ka-226 helicopters* in the country next year.

5. *The Joint Commission meeting between India and Vietnam was recently held virtually* . It was chaired by the External Affairs Minister of India Dr S Jai Shankar and his counter part Mr Pham Binh Minh, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Vietnam.

6. The countries discussed on closer cooperation in the areas of space, marine, nuclear energy and technologies. Also, they shared their views on global and regional issues to coordinate closely in international platforms such as United Nations Security Council, ASEAN. It is to be noted that both India and Vietnam are the current non-permanent members of the UNSC. They will serve till 2021.

7. *India has gifted 36 vehicles, including 10 buses,10 troop carriers, 2 ambulances and 14 motorcycles to Uganda* for civilian use and for Uganda’s defence force. It may be recalled that during his visit to Uganda in July 2018, PM Narendra Modi had announced to gift vehicles to Ugandan government.

*WORLD NEWS*

1. The Government of *Bangladesh has decided to extend the ongoing closure of the educational institutions* in the country till October 3.The decision has been taken to ensure the safety of students in view of the continuing Corona pandemic.

2. *Russia released a 40-minute video of detonation of the world’s most powerful hydrogen bomb.* The bomb was called the Tsar Bomb. It is believed to be 3,333 times more destructive than that of the Hiroshima Nagasaki Atom bombs Little Boy and Fat Man.

3. The Hydrogen bomb was first tested over Novaya Zemlya, an archipelago in the Arctic Ocean. The video released was titled “Top Secret: Test of a clean hydrogen bomb with a yield of 50 mega tonnes.” The video shows how the bomb was built and carried to testing centre.
.
4. *Africa declared free of the wild polio virus by WHO* with no new cases reported in the last 4 years

5. *COVID CASES : WORLD*
CONFIRMED
2,32,60,775
DEATHS
8,05,765

* SPORTS:*

1. *Delhi Capitals on Thursday announced the signing of 27-year-old Australian bowling all-rounder Daniel Sams as replacement for Englishman Jason Roy,* who will not be a part of the upcoming season of the Indian Premier League due to personal reasons.

2. England’s James Anderson becomes *first fast bowler to reach 600 test wickets* in his 156th test.

3. *Naomi Osaka withdrew from the Western & Southern Open on Wednesday in protest against racial injustice* hours after the two-times Grand Slam champion had booked her spot in the semi-finals of the U.S. Open tune-up event.

4. The 22-year-old Japanese joins similar protests by athletes in the National Basketball Association and Major League Baseball following the police shooting of Jacob Blake, a Black man, on Sunday (August 23) in Wisconsin.”Before I am an athlete, I am a Black woman,” she said on Twitter.

*USD 73.98 GBP 97.46*
_In Hyderabad_(Tlng)
*Gold ₹53,660@10 gm 24 (Krt)*
*Silver ₹65,500@ Kg*
⛽ *Petrol ₹ 85.04*
⛽ *Diesel ₹ 80.17*

* FACTS ABOUT INDIA*

*why india is called bharat*

The name India is derived from the river Sindhu which flows in the north west of the country. The Greeks used to call us Indoi meaning the people of the Indus. BHARAT etymology: The name Bharat is derived from the legendary king Bharat who was ancestor of kauravas and pandavas; According to the Vayu Purana, about 22 million years ago, in the beginning of the Treta Yuga, the grandson of Swayambhuva Manu and son of Priyabrata settled this Bharata Khanda. Since Maharaj Priyabrata had no son, he adopted his daughter’s son Agnindhra, whose boy was Navel.

The son born to Meru Devi, a wife of Navel, was named Rishabh and, the son of this same Rishabh was Bharata and after this Bharata, this country was named “Bharatavarsha”.

*India is also called as Jambu Deewpa.* which means the whole island. That is why our ancient religious texts and various incarnations mention only “Jambudweep” because at that time there was only one island.

*THOUGHT OF THE DAY*

You cannot change the circumstances, the seasons, or the wind, but you can change yourself

JOKES OF THE DAY:

1)Ek baar Santa Gangubai k ghar jata hai aur darwaza knock karta hai.
Gangubai: Kaun ?
Santa: Mai !
Gangubai: Main kaun?
Santa: Tu Gangubai

2) Rahul in theater while watching a movie suddenly hides beneath his seat when a ferocious looking Tiger appears on the Screen.

Public and Sonia to Rahul: Bhahar nikal tujhe pata hai na yeh sirf film hai?

Rahul: Mujhe pata hai, Par woh toh Sher hai usse thodi pata hai kabhi bhi hamla karenga.

In Serious film thus Rahul adds one Laughter Scene.

3) Rahul dates Alia.

Rahul: pata hai aaj maine 10 Rupaya bachaya, bus rukhi nahi toh mein bus ke peeche peeche bhagta hua yaha tak paucha. Chal tujhe chocolate khilata hu.

Alia: Pagal, Taxi ke peeche bhagta toh 100 rupaye bachata usme Ice-cream bhi aati.

Rahul: Thankyou Alia, mein Mummy ko bataunga ki woh videsh jate waqt Plane ke peeche bhage..

4) Chhote: Akshay Kumar bahut bada star hai na? Bade: Haan hai toh Chhote: But uski wife itni badi star nahi hai jyada chali nahin Bade: Nahin yaar chali hai wo bhi but uski shaadi ho gayi na Chhote: Nahin wo baat nahin hai sabko pata hai Bade: Kisko pata hai? Chhote: Bachhe bachhe tak ko pata hai ki wo nahi chali wo ek choti star hai Bade: Wo kaise? Chhote: Abe tune wo poem nahi suni? Twinkle-Twinkle little star

5) Boy: Mom Aaj Khaane Mein Kya Banaya Hai Mom: Baigan Ki Sabji Boy: Kya Mom Phir Baigan Ki Sabji? Aapko Toh Pata Hai Ki Mujhe Baigan Bilkul Achche Nahin Lagte Mom: Ye Sab Nakhre Apni Bivi Ke Samne Karna Tab Toh Munh Se Ek Shabad Nahin Niklega Jo Vo Banaygi Chup Chaap Kha Loge Boy: Ok Lao Baigan Hi Khata Hu ..

After his Marriage…

Boy: Aaj Khane Mein Kya Bana Hai Darling? Wife: Baigan Ki Sabzi Boy: Kya??? Baigan Ki Sabzi Wife: Ye Nakhre Na Apni Maa Ke Saamne Kiya Karo Tab Toh Kuch Bola Nahi Jaata tumse Boy: Achcha Lao De Do Baigan Ki Sabzi ….

Bechare Ladke.

6) MODI to Rahul:

Gadha jo khaye wo Ghas ho tum,
Buddhe ka Chyawanprash ho tum,
Congress ke bakwas ho tum, Sardaron ke Sarkar ho tum..Par jo bhi ho yaar (Pappu), Dost Jhakaas ho tum.

Rahul to Modi: Mein bhi karuga Shayari tum pe…Modi interrupt and says

Mere Dost Tum Bhi Likha Karo Shayari; Tumhara Bhi Meri Tarah Naam Ho Jayega; Jab Tum Par Padenge Ande Aur Tamatar; To Sonia ki Shaam Ki Sabji Ka Intajaam Ho Jayega.

7) Rahul to Sonia ( about Alia):

Humne bhi kabhi pyar kiya tha,thoda nai besumar kiya tha,dil tut kar reh gaya,jab usne kaha,aree Maine to Majak kiya tha..Chandni raat sahil ko diwana bana deti hai…
shamma parwane ko jala deti hai..
Ishaq aisi chiiz hai…
jo achcho achcho ko roola deti hai…!

*TELL ME WHY❓❓*

*What does 786 mean in Islam?* ☪️

Especially among the Muslims living in the South East Asia like Pakistan, India and Myanmar, there is a common practice of writing ‘786’ while starting anything in written. They too mention this number in their sign boards and other documents. It is believed that this number depicts the total numerological value of the Quranic expression ” *Bismillah al-Rahman al-Rahim* “. 786 is basically driven from the series of Arabic Numerology called “ *Abjad* “. The total value of the letters of Bismillah al-Rahman al-Rahim, according to the standard Abjadi system of numerology, is *786* . This number has therefore acquired a significance in folk Islam *but this number has not been mentioned anywhere in Holy Quran.*

LEARN SANSKRIT

*मन्थर* slow

HOW IT WORKS⁉

*HOW PAINT IS MADE*

The Ingredients in Paint.
There are four main components in paint, they are resin, additives, solvent, and pigment.
The resin and pigments fuse, forming a tough, solid that is known as paint film.

Enamel paint is made from an alkyd resin that is dissolved in a solvent. As the solvent evaporates in the first stage, it forms a tacky lacquer. The resin reacts with the oxygen in the air and forms a hard coating. Coating paints have two components that are unreactive alone. However, when they are placed together, they undergo a chemical reaction. The reaction may take some time, depending on the room’s temperature. The final result is a hard, tough coating that has great adhesion.

‍♂️ GK TODAY

Antarctica is continent not a country: it has no government and no indigenous population. Instead, the entire continent is set aside as a scientific preserve. The Antarctic Treaty, which came into force in 1961, enshrines an ideal of intellectual exchange.

VEDIK GYAN

*How did Indra get Vajrayudham?*

Vajrayudham means a weapon equivalent to that of a thunderbolt in swiftness and the destruction it can cause. Indra is the lone bearer of this weapon among all the devas in Hindu mythology. There are various stories prevailing regarding the making and introduction of Vajrayudham.

Earliest mention of Vajrayudham is in Rig Veda, it mentions as Indra bears the Vajrayudham made by Tvastar, weapon maker of devas. Puranic references yield a different story related to sage Dadhichi. Once Indra was thrown out of his Indraloka by an asura named Vritra. He has sought a boon that he would not be killed by any weapon made out of wood or metal. Unable to defeat Vritra, Indra sought the help of Vishnu along with Brahma and Shiva. Vishnu advised Indra to seek the help of sage Dadhichi as a weapon made out of his backbone only could slay Vritra. Indra appeals sage Dadhichi and in turn gives up his life through yoga. Devas make a weapon out of sage Dadhichi’s backbone called Vajrayudham and Indra slays Vritra and saves Indraloka.

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 Papaya*

*Papayas* are loaded with Vitamin A an antioxidants, which helps in improving eye health. Vitamin A protects the corneas whereas the antioxidants reduce the degeneration of the retina.

The papaya is a tropical fruit high in vitamins C and A, as well as fiber and healthy plant compounds. It also contains an enzyme called papain, used to tenderize meat.

The powerful antioxidants in papaya can help your skin recover from sun damage and may defend against wrinkling.

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