Today, however, ‘Rhea’ is the only news India’s big media houses want to talk about. Not COVID,-19 which is killing a thousand Indians a day, not the unresolved standoff with China, not the horrendous state of the economy, not even the plight of lakhs of students who are being forced to take their engineering and medical entrance exams in the midst of the pandemic.

TODAY’S TOP NEWS: 30 AUGUST, 2020 (GPN)

NATIONAL NEWS:

1. PM Narendra Modi to address the nation on ‘ *Mann Ki Baat’ at 11 AM* on Sunday. This will be the 68th edition of PM’s extremely popular monthly radio programme.

2. *Centre’s financial inclusion programme, Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) completed 6 years* . It was launched on 28th August 2014 in order to provide universal access to banking facility in the country.

3. *The Assam Cabinet approved the Assam Skill Development University Bill to establish Skill University at Mangoldoi at the cost of Rs.900 crore.* It also decided to increase upper age limit for state government jobs for group III and IV for two years to enable youth to apply for jobs up to 40 years.

4. *Banks Board Bureau recommends Dinesh Khara for SBI chairman post:* SBI chief Rajnish Kumar won’t get extension as Banks Board Bureau pushes for Dinesh Khara as chairman. The incumbent SBI chairman Rajnish Kumar will demit office on October 7.

5. *IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad launches “* *Chunauti* ” – Next Generation Start-up Challenge Contest. (CHUNAUTI – Challenge Hunt Under NGIS for Advanced Uninhibited Technology Intervention) is an online Challenge under NGIS to find the products &solutions to address the issues/challenges faced during and post-pandemic situation.

6. *Onam is the major harvest festival in Kerala which falls on the 22nd Nakshatra Thiruvonam in the Malayalam calendar month of Chingam. According to the ancient legends* , celebrations began on August 22 and will culminate on *September 2.* the Malayalam festival marks the annual trip of King Mahabali to the state he once ruled.

7. *Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPR&D) celebrates its Golden Jubilee Anniversary.* The Bureau of Police Research and Development, was set up on 28 August 1970 in furtherance of the objective of the Government of India for the modernisation of police forces. It has evolved as a multifaceted, consultancy organisation

8. *H. Vasanthakumar, Congress MP from Kanyakumari constituency in Tamil Nadu, dies at 70* in Chennai due to COVID. Vasanthakumar, a two-time MLA (2006-11 and 2016 -19) was elected to the Lok Sabha last year.

9. PM Modi inaugurates College and Administration Buildings of Rani Lakshmi Bai Central Agricultural University in Jhansi. PM has said that self-sufficiency in agriculture is not limited to food only, rather it is a matter of self-sufficiency of the entire economy of the village.

10. *The Supreme Court will pronounce on Monday its order on the point of sentence against senior lawyer Prashant Bhushan* in connection with the suo motu criminal contempt case over his tweets accusing former Chief Justices of India of corruption.

11. *Pandemic management module to be part of MBBS course* : Medical Council of India has introduced module on pandemic management along with its social, legal and other aspects in the MBBS course. This is to prepare doctors for future challenges similar to the COVID-19.

12. *Three terrorists belonging to the proscribed terror outfit Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) were gunned down* by the security forces in an encounter in the Zadoora village of Pulwama district early on Saturday (August 29, 2020).

13. *The recovery rate among COVID-19 patients* has further improved and now it has reached *76.47 %*

14. *As India’s COVID-19 cases soar, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), on Saturday, extended the current lockdown limited to containment zones till 30 September.* The MHA released the detailed guidelines under *’Unlock 4’* allowing resumption of Metro Rail services, social gatherings upto 100 people with social distancing, open-air theatres. Schools, colleges and other institutions, cinema halls, swimming pools, theatres, and similar places will remain shut.

15. The Union home ministry on Saturday issued the Unlock 4 guidelines under which metro trains will be allowed to resume services from September 7 in a graded manner, while political, social and religious congregations of up to 100 people will be permitted from September 21.

16. *COVID-19 IN INDIA*
TOTAL CASES 3463972
TOTAL ACTIVE 752424
RECOVERED 2648998
DEATHS 62550

*✈INTERNATIONAL NEWS*

1. *BSF detects tunnel on International border* : a vigilant BSF patrol party during an anti tunneling drive, while carrying out in-depth scanning of area, suspected a place at International Border in Distt Samba and detected a tunnel of appx 25 feet deep and about 3-4 feet in diameter in Indian territory near border fencing in Galar area. The Pakistan made sand bags with marking of Shakargarh/Karachi factories were also found at the mouth of the tunnel to hide it.

2. *The place of opening of tunnel is around 170 Mtrs from IB towards Indian side in the field of a local farmer* .With this detection, the alert BSF troops foiled the nefarious design of Pakistan to infiltrate terrorists into Indian territory.

3. *Indian naval ship INS Nireekshak assisting in salvage operations in Mauritius:* Indian naval ship, INS Nireekshak, which reached Mauritius few days ago is assisting in oil spill containment and salvage operations

4. *India on Saturday said that it will not take part in the multinational military exercise Kavkaz-2020 in Russia.* New Delhi has conveyed to Russia that its troops would not be participating in the multinational military exercise Kavkaz-2020 in which the Chinese and Pakistani troops will also participate.

5. *China to unveil bronze statue of Indian doctor Dr Dwarkanath Kotnis for his medical contributions during 1938-1942.* Dwarkanath Shantaram Kotnis, also known by his Chinese name Ke Dihua, was one of the five Indian physicians dispatched to China to provide medical assistance during the Second Sino-Japanese War in 1938. Known for his dedication and perseverance, he has been regarded as an example for Sino-Indian friendship and collaboration.

6. Dwarkanath Kotnis was born to a middle class Marathi Deshastha Rigvedi Brahmin family in Solapur, Maharashtra, he had two brothers and five sisters. He studied medicine at the Seth G.S. Medical College of the University of Bombay.Both China (1982 and 1992) and India (1993) have honoured him with stamps.

7. *UN Secretary-General Guterres, virtually delivered the 19th Darbari Seth Memorial Lecture by The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI),* he said that clean energy and closing the energy access gap are good business. Antonio Guterres has delivered the 19th Darbari Seth Memorial lecture on August 28 organised by TERI, a global think-tank focusing on a broad range of sustainable development and climate-related issues.

*WORLD NEWS*

1. Lebanon: *UNESCO launches “Beirut” initiative to attract funds for rehabilitating heritage buildings damaged in capital Beirut* by the explosions at the city’s port on August 4.

2. *Hurricane Laura makes landfall in Louisiana* ; kills 6 and causes widespread destruction in US.

3. *Republican Party re-nominates Donald Trump and Mike Pence as its presidential and vice-presidential candidates respectively* .The 2020 United States presidential election is scheduled for Tuesday, November 3, 2020. It will be the 59th quadrennial presidential election.

4. Japan: *PM Shinzo Abe steps down citing chronic illness as reason;* Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) is the ruling party.

5. Shinzo Abe and his *cabinet would continue to run the government until a new premier is elected* but could not adopt new policies. The winner of the party election would then hold the post until the end of Abe’s LDP term in September 2021. The new party president is virtually assured the premiership, since the party has a majority in parliament’s lower house.

6. *Greece ratifies accord on maritime boundaries with Egypt In response to Turkey’s extension of operation by seismic survey vessel in the Eastern Mediterranean sea* and its intention to conduct firing exercise in region, Greece ratified an accord on maritime boundaries with Egypt. This agreement is in response to a Turkish-Libyan accord signed last year to allow Turkey the access to Eastern Mediterranean Sea.

7. *First commercial flight between Israel, UAE :* El Al flight is to take off for Abu Dhabi on 31st August , making it Israel’s first commercial passenger flight to the UAE. This is the latest of the concrete signs of implementation of the peace deal between the two countries.

8. *A protest was held in the Dhaka University area, Bangladesh* against the repression reportedly carried out by the Chinese government on Uighur Muslims. The Xinjiang province situated in the northwestern region of China is home to the Turkic speaking ethnic group ‘Uighur’ who are mostly Muslims.

9. *56-year-old NASA satellite expected to fall to Earth this weekend* : The Orbiting Geophysics Observatory 1 spacecraft, or OGO-1, launched in September 1964 to study Earth’s magnetic environment and how our planet interacts with the sun. The satellite gathered data until 1969, was officially decommissioned in 1971 and has been zooming silently around Earth on a highly elliptical two-day orbit ever since.

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

* SPORTS:*

1. *The prize money for the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award has been increased* to 25 lakh rupees from the previous amount of 7.5 lakh rupees

2. *Arjuna Award has been enhanced to 15 lakh rupees from 5 lakh.* The Dhronacharya (Lifetime) awardees, who were earlier given 5 lakh rupees will now be given 15 lakh rupees as cash prize, while Dhronacharya (Regular) will be given 10 lakh instead of 5 lakh rupees per awardee. Dhyanchand Awardees will be given 10 lakh rupees instead of 5 lakh rupees.

3. Youth Affairs and Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju announced the enhancement on the occasion of the National Sports Day. The Minister was talking to the media after paying floral tributes to hockey wizard Major Dhyanchand at his statue in Dhyan Chand Stadium in Delhi .

*USD 73.13 GBP 97.63*
_In Darjeeling_(WB)
*Gold ₹51,440@10 gm 24 (Krt)*
*Silver ₹66,350@ Kg*
⛽ *Petrol ₹ 86.13*
⛽ *Diesel ₹ 79.53*

* FACTS ABOUT INDIA*

*Major Dhyan Chand* (29 August 1905 – 3 December 1979) was an Indian field hockey player widely regarded as the greatest in the history of the sport. He was known for his extraordinary goal-scoring feats, in addition to earning three Olympic gold medals, in 1928, 1932 and 1936, during an era where India dominated field hockey. His influence extended beyond these victories,5555 as India won the field hockey event in seven out of eight Olympics from 1928 to 1964. Nickname(s)
The Wizard, The Magician. The Government of India awarded Chand India’s third highest civilian honour of Padma Bhushan in 1956. His birthday, 29 August, is celebrated as National Sports Day in India every year

* THOUGHT OF THE DAY*

If you have nothing but a caring family, believe me, you are rich.
Good Morning.
Happy Sunday
Ganpati Bappa Morya

*JOKES OF THE DAY*

1) English Teacher: Wo Larki Sab Larkon Se Hans Kar Bat Krti Hai. Batao Is Sentence Mein Larki Kya Hai ? Pappu: Sir! Larki Chaalu Hai…!!!

2) A stammering man came to a bookstore asking for a job.

संता ने यह सुनकर 50 का नोट दे दिया
फिर वह गरीब रोने बैठ गया और रोते हुए कहा:-  “साहब अंधे आदमी की कोई नहीं सुनता”
यह सुनकर संता ने और 50 का नोट दे दिया
फिर सत्ता ने पूछा ” अरे, यहां खाने के लिए अच्छा ढाबा कहां है”
यह सुन उस गरीब ने कहा:- “देखो साहब वह लाल कलर की इनोवा देख रहे हो, उसी के पास वाली गली के  अंदर एक बहुत ही अच्छा ढाबा है वहां पर आलू के पराठे  बहुत अच्छे बनते हैं,  मैंने भी अभी वहां से आलू के पराठे खाए थे”

……ही ही ही ही इसकी क्या ज़रूरत थी

*TELL ME WHY❓❓*

*why mosquito bites itch*

Their saliva contains an anticoagulant and proteins. The proteins are foreign substances that trigger the body’s immune system. To fight them the body’s immune system releases histamine, a compound that helps white blood cells get to the affected area. Histamine is what causes the itchiness, inflammation, and swelling.

*LEARN SANSKRIT*

*आयास* : Effort/stress

*HOW IT WORKS* ⁉

*How a laser beam is produced*

“Laser” is an acronym for light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation. A laser is created when the electrons in atoms in special glasses, crystals, or gases absorb energy from an electrical current or another laser and become “excited.” The excited electrons move from a lower-energy orbit to a higher-energy orbit around the atom’s nucleus. When they return to their normal or “ground” state, the electrons emit photons (particles of light).

These photons are all at the same wavelength and are “coherent,” meaning the crests and troughs of the light waves are all in lockstep. In contrast, ordinary visible light comprises multiple wavelengths and is not coherent.

‍♂️ *GK TODAY*

The largest desert on earth is the Antarctic desert, covering the continent of Antarctica with a size of around 5.5 million square miles

*VEDIK GYAN*

*Suvarchala Devi. Lord Hanuman’s wife.* Lord surya was Anjaneya’s guru and as a gesture for the knowledge and humility that lord Anjaneya exihibited Suryadev offered his daughters hand to Lord Anjaneya.

Hanuman was not eligible to study the Nava Vyakarnas. In order to facilitate the completion of his education, the Trimurthis approached Surya Dev and created a beautiful Kanya, Suvarchala Devi, an Aajanma Brahmacharini, from the Sun’s Kiranas (rays) and arranged a marriage with Hanuman to make him a Gruhasth without Brahmacharya being affected.

Whereby he learnt and became a genius in the Nine Vyakarnas. But after marriage, he spent all the life serving Lord Rama….so on the other hand he is Brahmachari too…in this way Hanuman got married with Lord Surya’s Daughter.

*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 pomegranate:*

The pomegranate is a fruit that contains hundreds of edible seeds called arils. They are rich in fiber, vitamins, minerals and bioactive plant compounds, but they also contain some sugar.

Eating pomegranates as a whole can have anti-inflammatory effects and can protect a human body from various diseases like type-2 diabetes, and obesity. 2. Regular consumption of pomegranate helps in improving gut health, digestion, and keep bowel diseases at bay.

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