TODAY’S TOP NEWS: 17 SEPTEMBER, 2020 (GPN):

Today PM Narendra Modi’s 70th Birthday Born – 17th September 1950

1. *J&K: Lt Governor visits Khanmoh, takes part in the ongoing ‘Awami Muhim’* : The Lt Governor made an impromptu visit to block Khanmoh of the district in connection with the 21-days long Jan Abhiyan/ Awami Muhim, which is being held as a prelude to the flagship Back to Village-3 programme throughout Jammu & Kashmir

2. *37 Mega Food Parks in 23 States/UTs Approved* : Mega Food Park Scheme (MFPS) is being implemented by the Ministry of Food Processing Industries. The scheme has been creating modern infrastructure for the food processing industries since 2008. A Total of 42 food parks have been planned, and 37 Mega Food Parks have recently been approved out of which 19 are already operational.

3. *The Aircraft (Amendment) Bill, 2020 was passed by Parliament* . Earlier, it was passed in the Lok Sabha on March 17, 2020. The Bill was passed by a voice vote.

4. The Bill provides statutory status to regulatory institutions like the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) and the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB).The Bill proposed to increase the fine for violations of rules from ₹10 lakh to ₹1 crore for aviation industry players.

5. *Tata Projects Limited on Wednesday won the bid to construct a new parliament building* at a cost of Rs 861.90 crore. The new building will be constructed close to the existing one under the Central Vista redevelopment project. It is expected to be completed in 21 months from the start of construction work.Project cost estimate by CPWD : Rs. 941 cr
Tata Projects Ltd : Rs. 861.9 cr
L&T : Rs. 865 cr

6. *PM Modi shall dedicate to the nation the historic Kosi Rail Mahasetu (mega bridge) to the Nation* through video-conference on 18th September 2020. The dedication of the Kosi Rail Mahasetu is a watershed moment in the history of Bihar and the entire region connecting to the North East.

7. Apart from this the Prime Minister shall also inaugurate 12 rail projects related to passenger facilities for the benefit of the Bihar State. These include a new railway bridge on the Kiul River, two new railway lines, 5 Electrification projects, one Electric Locomotive Shed and 3rd Line Project between Barh-Bakhtiyarpur.

8. *ex-Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis demands restoration of Maratha quota,* asks MVA govt to take urgent steps, After participating in an all-party meeting chaired by Uddhav Thackeray on Wednesday,.

9. *Opposition parties in Rajya Sabha on Wednesday questioned the PM Modi government’s claim that the lockdown helped prevent over 29 lakh COVID-19 cases* and thousands of deaths, and said it should have ensured better coordination with the states. Members of the Upper House were participating in a discussion on ‘COVID-19 pandemic and steps taken by the Government of India’.

10. *The verdict in the Babri Masjid demolition case will be delivered on September 30 by a special court*. BJP veterans L K Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi, who are among the accused in the case will be present in the court to hear the verdict.

11. 10 farmer organisations in Punjab have announced *‘Punjab Bandh’ on September 25,* in protest against, what they allege, anti-farmer Bills being enacted by the Parliament.

12. *Tamil Nadu to continue two-language policy* (Tamil & English )only, says CM Palanisamy

13. *Domestic workers and their unions in Telangana have called for a protest on September 24 in response to the nationwide protest call to highlight their problems* during the ongoing Parliament session. Domestic workers will also try to meet Members of Parliament and urge them to enact comprehensive legislation for them. As per Telangana Domestic Workers Union data, there are around 10 to 12 lakh domestic workers in Telangana of which five to six lakh are based in Hyderabad.

14. *The Border Security Force (BSF) has foiled an infiltration bid by five terrorists* from the Pakistan side in Jammu and Kashmir’s Samba on the intervening night of September 14-15.

15. *The 73rd Raising Day of the Western Command, the frontline operational command of the Indian Army, was celebrated on Tuesday.* To commemorate the occasion, Lt Gen RP Singh, Army Commander, Western Command laid wreath at the ‘Veer Smriti’, Chandimandir, to pay homage to the gallant heroes of the Western Command. This command, initially named Delhi and East Punjab Command was raised in Delhi on 14 September 1947 with Lt Gen Sir Dudley Russell, KBE, CB, DSO, MC as the first commander.

16. The Indian Army said that, It is fully prepared and more than capable of fighting a full-fledged war even in winters in Eastern Ladakh.

17. *Fan requests Bollywood actor Sonu Sood for a BJP ticket to contest Bihar elections;* actor reacts and Responding to this, Sood wrote, “Apart from the bus, train and plane tickets, I do not know how to get any tickets my brother.” [sic] Sood’s reply left his fans laughing and attracted over 18,000 likes.

18. *The Maharashtra State Human Rights Commission has given a clean chit to the city-based Cooper Hospital and police over Rhea Chakraborty’s alleged visit to the hospital’s mortuary where actor Sushant Singh Rajput’s body had been kept.* After going through the reports submitted by the city police as well as the hospital, it found that no “third party” had entered the prohibited area of the mortuary,.

19. *Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will make a statement in the Rajya Sabha on Thursday on the border row with China in eastern Ladakh* ,

20. *Union* Road Transport & Highways *Minister Nitin Gadkari tested positive* for the novel coronavirus.

21. *COVID-19 IN INDIA*
TOTAL CASES 5020359
TOTAL ACTIVE 995933
RECOVERED 3942360
TOTAL DEATHS 82066

*✈INTERNATIONAL NEWS*

1. *From deploying mules to large transport aircraft, India’s military has activated its entire logistics network to transport supplies to thousands of troops for a harsh winter* along a bitterly disputed Himalayan border with China.

2. *In an attempt to distract Indian troops along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), China has put up loudspeakers at Finger 4 area of Pangong Lake in eastern Ladakh* and belted out Punjabi songs. The China forces have resorted to this old propaganda to mislead the troops.

3. *India and United States defence officials held a virtual meeting to discuss defence industrial cooperation* , including co-production and co-development of defence equipment.

4. *Tenth Defence Technology and Trade Initiative (DTTI) Group meeting was held virtually yesterday* , September 16, 2020. The meeting between India-US is held twice a year usually. This year, the group meeting was held virtually amid the COVID- 19 Pandemic.

5. *The tripartite Forum of India, Brazil, South Africa seek Comprehensive reform of the UN Security Council* . The representation, in both the permanent and non-permanent categories, should be for achieving a representative, inclusive, equitable, responsive, and effective UN Security Council said the joint statement.

6. *Russia agrees to sell 100 million doses of Sputnik-V COVID-19 vaccine to India* drug company Dr Reddy`s Laboratories,

*WORLD NEWS*

1. *Yoshihide Suga* becomes Japan’s new Prime Minister

2. *Smoke from wildfires in western US reaches Europe* : Atmosphere Monitoring Services revealed that the smoke from wildfires in California, Oregon and Washington state has travelled 8,000 kilometres through the atmosphere to Britain and other parts of northern Europe. These fires have emitted 33.4 million tonnes of carbon.

3. *World Ozone Day observed on September 16* : The day is annually celebrated to spread awareness about the Ozone layer depletion. This year marks 35 years of Vienna Convention to Protect the Ozone Layer and its Montreal Protocol, which urged the world to reduce gases contributing to holes in ozone layer.

4. *China on September 16 defended the military exercises it conducted near the Taiwan strait last week* as “necessary action” to defend the country’s sovereignty. Beijing carried out large-scale naval and air exercises between mainland Taiwan and Taiwan-controlled Pratas Islands, which was strongly opposed by the Republic of China (Taiwan) as it accused the People Liberation Army (PLA) of violating its air defence identification zone (ADIZ).

5. *A “crane collision” Wednesday injured nearly two dozen people in Austin* , Texas.

6. *WORLD COVID NEWS*
CONFIRMED 2,32,60,775
DEATHS 8,05,765

* SPORTS:*

1. *First 8 Khelo India State Centre of Excellence to get financial support of Rs. 95.19 cr in 4 years* : Sports Ministry has identified sports facilities in 8 states to be upgraded to Khelo India State Centre of Excellence. The identified facilities, to be upgraded with an effort to identify and groom Olympic level talent, will be upgraded at a cost of Rs 95.19 crores.

2. *SAI releases upgraded SOP for resumption of sports activities:* the Sports Authority of India has released a Standard Operating Procedure for resumption of sporting activities in all its centers, with emphasis on it being followed at the National Camps at SAI’s various National Centre of Excellence, where Olympic probable athletes are training.

*USD 73.93 GBP 95.43*
_In Ranchi_(JRKND)
*Gold ₹53,285@10 gm 24 (Krt)*
*Silver ₹69,040@ Kg*
⛽ *Petrol ₹ 81.11*
⛽ *Diesel ₹ 76.89*

* FACTS ABOUT INDIA*

*Pune* is the 9th most populous city in India and the second-largest in the state of Maharashtra, after the state capital Mumbai. The first reference to Pune region is found in two copper plates dated to 758 and 768 A.D., issued by Rashtrakuta ruler Krishna I. The plates are known as “Puny Vishaya” and “Punaka Vishaya” respectively. The original name was Punyeshwar.(God of Punya)There is one temple on the river Mutha at Kasba Peth.The mandir was found by historian Pandurang Balkavde.

The original area called Punyeswar was around Kasba Peth.There are references in history about Punesar,that means Punyeshar. Later it was called Puniawadi, but after long times when British entered in the Inda they changed the name of Punwadi to Poona. But in current day’s the name is Pune.

* THOUGHT OF THE DAY*

Everything has beauty, but not everyone can see

JOKES OF THE DAY
1) SANTA:  U cheated me.
Shopkeeper: No, I sold a good radio to u.
Santa: Radio label shows Made in Japan but radio says this is ‘All India Radio! ‘

2) One Sunday, in counting the money in the weekly offering, the Pastor of the Granville Christian Church found a pink envelope containing $1,000. It happened again the next week. The following Sunday, he watched as the offering was collected and saw a little old lady put the distinctive pink envelope in the plate. This went on for weeks until the pastor, overcome by curiosity, approached her.

“Ma’am, I couldn’t help but notice that you put $1,000 a week in the collection plate,” he stated.

“Why yes,” she replied, “Every week my son sends me money, and I give some of it to the church.”

The pastor replied, “That’s wonderful, how much does he send you?”

The old lady said, “$10,000 a week.”

The pastor was amazed. “Your son is very successful; What does he do for a living?”

“He is a veterinarian,” she answered.

“That is an honorable profession,” the pastor said.

“Where does he practice?”

The old lady said proudly, “In Nevada. He has two cat-houses in Las Vegas and one in Reno.”

3) Staff-Management Relationship:

king had 10 wild dogs. He used them to torture and kill any minister that misguided him.

A minister once gave an opinion which was wrong and which the king didn’t like at all… So he ordered that the minister to be thrown to the dogs.

The minister said, “I served you loyally 10 years and you do this…?”

The king was unrelenting.

Minister pleaded, “Please give me 10 days before you throw me to the dogs.”

The king agreed. In those 10 days the minister went to the keeper of the dogs and told him he wanted to serve the dogs for the next 10 days.

The guard was baffled… But he agreed. So the minister started feeding the dogs, caring for them, washing them, providing all sorts of comfort for them.

So when the 10 days were up. The king ordered that the minister be thrown to the dogs as sentenced.

When he was thrown in, everyone was amazed at what they saw. The dogs were wagging their tails playing with the condemned minister, licking his feet.

The king was baffled at what he saw. “What happened to the dogs? !!!” He growled.

The minister then said, “I served the dogs for only 10 days and they didn’t forget my service. I served you for 10 years and you forgot all at the first mistake!”

The King realised his mistake and Replaced the dogs with crocodiles.

Moral: Once Management has targeted you, that’s final.

4) Common Sense is Dead

An Obituary printed in the London Times…Absolutely ‘dead’ brilliant.

Today we mourn the passing of a beloved old friend, Common Sense, who has been with us for many years. No one knows for sure how old he was, since his birth records were long ago lost in bureaucratic red tape. He will be remembered as having cultivated such valuable lessons as:

Knowing when to come in out of the rain;
Why the early bird gets the worm;
Life isn’t always fair;
And maybe it was my fault.

Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies (don’t spend more than you can earn) and reliable strategies (adults, not children, are in charge).

His health began to deteriorate rapidly when well-intentioned but overbearing regulations were set in place. Reports of a 6-year-old boy charged with sexual harassment for kissing a classmate; teens suspended from school for using mouthwash after lunch; and a teacher fired for reprimanding an unruly student, only worsened his condition.

Common Sense lost ground when parents attacked teachers for doing the job that they themselves had failed to do in disciplining their unruly children.

It declined even further when colleges were required to get parental consent to administer sun lotion or an aspirin to a student; but could not inform parents when a student became drug addict and attend rave party’s or became pregnant and had an abortion.

Common Sense lost the will to live as the churches became businesses; and criminals received better treatment than their victims. Why murderers and terrorist were investigated by Narcotics and not the Police. The highly influential targeted the less influential and the 4th Pillar has lost it’s wisdom to the bureaucracy

Common Sense took a beating when you couldn’t defend yourself from a burglar in your own home and the burglar could sue you for assault.

Common Sense finally gave up the will to live, after a woman failed to realize that a steaming cup of coffee was hot. She spilled a little in her lap, and was promptly awarded a huge settlement.

Common Sense was preceded in death,
by his parents, Truth and Trust,
by his wife, Discretion,
by his daughter, Responsibility,
and by his son, Reason.

He is survived by his 5 stepbrothers;
I Know My Rights
I Want It Now
Someone Else Is To Blame
I’m A Victim
Pay me for Doing Nothing

Not many attended his funeral because so few realized he was gone.

5) Santa comes walking into a bar with a turtle in his hand.

The turtle’s one eye is black and blue, two of his legs are bandaged, and his whole shell is taped together with duct tape.

The bartender looks at Santa and asks, “What’s wrong with your turtle?”

“Not a thing,” Santa responds, this beat up turtle is faster than your dog!”

“Not a chance!” replies the barkeeper.

“Okay then, says Santa. You take your dog and let him stand at one end of the bar. Then go and stand at the other end of the room and call your dog. I’ll bet you $500 that before your dog reaches you, my turtle will be there.”

So, the bartender, thinking it’s an easy $500, agrees. He goes to the other side of the bar, and on the count of three, calls his dog.

Suddenly Santa picks up his turtle and throws it across the room, narrowly missing the bartender head, and right on the foot of the Bartender and says, “I win!”

*GK TODAY*

*What is the difference between signature and autograph…*

The majority of people assume an autograph is the same as a signature. There are some very important differences. A legal signature can be anything at all and does not have to be legible. … An autograph on the other hand, must be legible enough to satisfy your fans and it should not be confused with your signature.

*TELL ME WHY ❓❓*

*What causes hiccups?*

A hiccup is a sudden, involuntary contraction (spasm) of the diaphragm muscle. Common causes of hiccups include eating too quickly, eating or drinking too much. Home remedies for hiccups include: holding your breath, drinking a glass of water quickly, pulling hard on your tongue, biting on a lemon, gargling with water, and using smelling salts

*LEARN SANSKRIT*

*मन्द* : Lazy

*HOW IT WORKS* ⁉

*How a chicken hatching machine works*

Fertile eggs can be hatched by using an egg incubator. An incubator is an enclosed structure with a fan and heater to keep eggs warm during the 21-day incubation period. … Once the incubator is clean and dry, turn it on and check to be sure a constant temperature and humidity level will be maintained.

Fertile chicken eggs take around 21 days to hatch. Some breeds take a little less and some a little longer. If the egg has not hatched after 25 days, it should be removed from the broody hen or incubator. Eggs need constant heat during the full incubation period for the embryo to develop into a chick.

*VEDIK GYAN*

Once, Kshema and Labha born to Ganesha’s wives – Riddhi and Siddhi saw their aunt Jyoti tying a thread to their father’s right wrist and in return, she got a number of gifts. On seeing their aunt getting showered with gifts for a mere piece of thread, the curious brother duo asked their father why he did so.

Ganesha explained that it was no piece of thread but a bond that strengthens the relationship between a brother and his sister. Now, since they knew the significance of the sacred thread, Kshema and Labha wished to have a sister.

To fulfill his sons’ desire, Ganesha decided to produce a girl child with his special powers. He emitted bright light that merged with the radiance of Riddhi and Siddhi. This divine light took the form of a young girl. To make her brother’s happy, the little girl tied the sacred thread around their wrists and in return got chickpeas and jaggery.
She is venerated as “the Mother of Satisfaction”.

Santoshi Mata is particularly worshipped by women of North India. A vrata (ritual fast) called the Santoshi Maa vrata performed by women on 16 consecutive Fridays wins the goddess’ favour.

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

*Bay leaves*
A rich source of vitamin A and C along with folic acid and minerals.

Bay leaf is said to have strong effects on the gastrointestinal system.

A glass of tejpatta water helps to get rid of pains caused by rheumatism arthritis, migraine, headache and sprains.

Tejpatta is useful in diabetes due to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Tejpatta prevents the damage of pancreatic beta cells and enhances insulin secretion

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