TODAY’S TOP NEWS: 20 SEPTEMBER, 2020 (GPN):

NATIONAL NEWS:

1. *Epidemic Disease (Amendment) Bill, 2020 passed in Rajya Sabha*
The amendment Bill makes changes to the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897 to include protections for healthcare workers combating epidemic diseases. It also expands the Centre’s powers to prevent the spread of the infectious diseases.

2. *West Bengal to map lesser known religious institutions for conservation purposes*
The information and cultural affairs department’s decision to conserve all lesser known and forgotten religious institutions comes under two programmes – ‘Maha Tirtha Bhumi’ (Great Pilgrimage Land) and ‘Maha Punnya Bhumi’ (Great Sacred Land).

3. *8 advanced technology centres set up for research on futuristic military applications*
The DRDO has established 8 advanced technology centres for researching identified futuristic or new technology areas. Currently, the organisation has 50 labs across the country for defence sector’s technological development.

4. *The PM Modi is to inaugurate VAIBHAV Summit on October 2,* 2020. VAIBHAV is Vaishwik Bharatiya Vaigyanik Summit.

5. *Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday defended ordinance to amend the tax laws* saying it was needed to provide immediate relief to taxpayers from statutory compliances in wake of Covid19 pandemic.

6. *Taxation and Other Laws (Relaxation and Amendment of Certain Provisions) Bill, 2020 introduced in LS*
The proposed taxation Bill intends to replace the ordinance that provided relaxations related to compliance with certain Acts to mitigate COVID-19 led economic crisis. These laws include the IT Act, 1961, some finance Acts, the Central Excise Act, 1944, the Customs Act, 1962 and the Prohibition of Benami Property Transactions Act, 1988.

7. Under the influence of low pressure area over Northeast Bay of Bengal along the West Coast including Kerala, *heavy to Very heavy rainfall is very likely to occur at a few places with extremely heavy at one or two places in Kerala* on 19th & 20th September.

8. *Biodiversity index map prepared for Kochi*
This is the first for a city in Kerala and the second in the country. 18 biodiversity indicators were taken into consideration for measuring the city’s native biodiversity, the ecosystem services provided and the biodiversity governance.

9. *Over ten years after UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi laid its foundation stone in Solang Valley near Manali on June 28, 2010, construction of the Rohtang Tunnel is now finally complete* with PM Modi expected to participate in its inauguration in the coming weeks.

10. Named the *”Atal Tunnel’,’* as a tribute to the late Atal Bihari Vajpayee, it is reported to *be the world’s longest motorable tunnel, at an altitude of over 3,000 metres.* Costing Rs, 3,200 crores, the *9.02 km-long tunnel passes under the Rohtang Pass in the eastern Pir Panjal range on the Leh-Manali highway.* It is believed to cut the distance between Manali and Leh by 46 km. *Previously, a journey between Manali Valley to Lahaul and Spiti Valley would take around five hours,* but with the tunnel’s completion and imminent opening, *this time will be cut short to just over ten minutes.*

11. *National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Saturday (September 19, 2020) arrested nine Al Qaeda operatives from West Bengal and Kerala* Raids were conducted at West Bengal’s Murshidabad district and Kerala’s Ernakulam district in connection with the Pakistan-sponsored terror module.

12. Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal on Saturday said there can be no talks with the Centre until agriculture bills are taken back.

13. Twelve parties — Congress, Trinamool Congress, Samajwadi Party, Telangana Rashtriya Samithi, DMK, AAP, RJD, CPM, CPI, Shiv Sena, NCP, IUML — had signed a joint resolution two days ago and submitted it to Rajya Sabha chairman M Venkaiah Naidu asking for the bills to be sent to the Select Committee. They all will obviously be opposing the legislations cleared by the Lok Sabha on Friday, when it comes up in the Upper House.

14. *Aam Aadmi Party leader Sanjay Singh is scheduled to appear before the Uttar Pradesh Police on Sunday in connection with a sedition case* filed against the Rajya Sabha member

15. *Veteran communist leader and former Lok Sabha member Roza Deshpande(91 yrs) died* at her residence in Mumbai on Saturday afternoon due to old age.

16. Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi headed All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul-Muslimeen on Saturday tied up with the party of former Union minister Devendra Prasad Yadav for fighting upcoming Bihar Assembly elections and attacked Rashtriya Janata Dal & BJP.

17. *National Conference patron Farooq Abdullah favours talks with Pakistan for peace at borders* He attended the Monsoon Session of Parliament on Saturday (September 19), During his address in Lok Sabha, Farooq advocated talks with Pakistan, saying if India can hold talks with China to resolve border skirmish issues on the Line of Actual Control (LAC), it can also speak to its other neighbour to deal with the situation at Jammu and Kashmir border.

18. *Delhi Police arrested freelance journalist* along with a Chinese woman Qing Shi and her Nepali associate Sher Singh (aka Raj Bohra) on Saturday (September 19, 2020) *in connection with sharing sensitive data to China from 2016-18* . Delhi Police said that freelance journalist Rajeev Sharma has disclosed his involvement in the procurement of secret information and further conveying the same to his Chinese handlers namely Michael and George, based in Kunming, China, through different digital channels.

19. *Indian surveillance and anti-submarine capabilities over the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean region will get stronger when the second batch of the Indian Navy’s Boeing P-8I maritime surveillance aircraft will land at INS Hansa in October.* The arrival of the multi-role aircraft from the US will enhance the aerial balance and sub-surface surveillance in India’s favour.

20. *The defence ministry has not taken any decision on selling only ‘Made in India’ products in military canteens* run by it across the country, the government said on Saturday

21. *Indian Army says troops violated powers under the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) during an encounter in Shopian district of Jammu and Kashmir in which three men were killed in July this year, will face action*.the Army initiated an inquiry after social media reports indicated the three men hailed from Rajouri district of Jammu region and had gone missing at Amshipura.

22. *The Indian Army on Friday busted a terror hideout along the Line of Control (LoC) in Kupwara district of Jammu and Kashmir.* A cordon and search operation was launched in Chak Kigam village of the district. The search party recovered one AK- 47 rifle, UBGL and some grenades.

23. *The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation filed a reply in the Bombay high court on actor Kangana Ranaut’s plea seeking Rs 2 crore as damages for demolition at her bungalow.* The civic body also urged the court to dismiss Kangana Ranaut’s petition and impose a cost on her for filing such a plea. The next hearing in the case is slated for September 22.

24. On September 9, the BMC demolished a part of Kangana Ranaut’s Pali Hill bungalow here, claiming that she had made substantial structural alterations without due permission.
After she moved the HC on the same day, a bench led by Justice SJ Kathawalla stayed the demolition. On September 15, Kangana Ranaut amended her plea, seeking a compensation of Rs 2 crore from the BMC.

25. *PM Modi likely to discuss coronavirus situation with CMs* of 7 states on Sep 23

26. *COVID-19 IN INDIA*
TOTAL CASES 5308014
TOTAL ACTIVE 1013964
RECOVERED 4208431
TOTAL DEATHS 85619

*✈INTERNATIONAL NEWS*

1. *India, Bangladesh to resume joint patrolling to curb border crime*
During the 50th DG level conference of the border guarding forces of India and Bangladesh, both sides agreed to resume the joint coordinated border patrolling to reduce smuggling of cattle, weapons and narcotics.

2. *Directorate General of Foreign Trade lifted the ban on export of onions to other countries* including Bangladesh. The decision was made after a long meeting with the Ministry of External Affairs and Commerce.

3. *The elite National Security Group (NSG) and the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) have come out with open tenders for 7.62x51mm sniper rifles that allow foreign purchases* , despite the item figuring in the negative import list sets December 2020 as the cut-off date for the rifle, which means its foreign-manufactured versions should not be bought after that date.

4. *India will give greater direct access to foreign investors in its defence sector* as the nation seeks to lure more capital to an economy ravaged by the coronavirus pandemic. *Foreigners can now invest up to 74% in defence manufacturing under the automatic route, up from 49% previously,*

5. *External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar suggested an expansion of India-Japan partnership in third countries, including Russian Far East* . This is the first time India is formally expressing an interest to work with Japan in the region.

*WORLD NEWS*

1. *US President Donald Trump said that his administration expects to have enough doses of coronavirus vaccines* for every American citizen by April 2021.

2. *Mass shooting in New York’s Rochester* kills two people, over a dozen sustain gunshot injuries near Goodman Street and Pennsylvania Avenue;

3. *WORLD COVID CASES*
CONFIRMED 2,32,60,775
DEATHS 8,05,76

* SPORTS:*

*IPL 2020 SCORES*
MI – 162/9
CSK – 166/5
CSK Won by Five wickets

2. *Ambati Rayudu scored 71 runs (48 balls)and Faf du Plessis smashed a half-century each* as Chennai Super Kings (CSK) kicked off their campaign at the 2020 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) with a comfortable five-wicket win over defending champions Mumbai Indians at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi on Saturday. Rayudu was declared ‘Man of the Match’ for his good show with the bat.

3. *CSK will next lock horns with Rajasthan Royals on September 22* at Sharjah Cricket Stadium, while Mumbai Indians will face Kolkata Knight Riders at Sheikh Zayed Stadium a day later.

4. *Sports Authority of India (SAI) will fund badminton player Kidambi Srikanth’s participation at the DANISA Denmark Open* which is scheduled to be held from October 13th till October 18th. Kidambi is part of SAI’s Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) and receives support through it

*USD 73.61 GBP 95.08*
_In Daman_(UT)
*Gold ₹53,490@10 gm 24 (Krt)*
*Silver ₹71,640@ Kg*
⛽ *Petrol ₹ 77.35*
⛽ *Diesel ₹ 76.34*

* FACTS ABOUT INDIA*

*Indus Waters Treaty,* treaty, signed on September 19, 1960, between India and Pakistan and brokered by the World Bank. The treaty fixed and delimited the rights and obligations of both countries concerning the use of the waters of the Indus River system.

* THOUGHT OF THE DAY

It doesn’t matter how slow you go. As long as you will not stop.

JOKES OF THE DAY:

1) Friend To Pappu :
Yeh doctor log operation karne se pehle Patient ko behosh kyun karte hen?

*Pappu* : Kahin patient khud operation karna seekh na le is liye……

2) What is the difference between a Wife and a Girlfriend?
Wife is like a TV and Girlfriend is like a MOBILE.

At home you watch TV, but when you go out you take your MOBILE with you.

Sometimes you enjoy TV, but most of the time, you play with your MOBILE.

TV is (as good as) free for life, but for the MOBILE, if you don’t pay, the services will be terminated.

TV is big, bulky and most of the time old, But the MOBILE is cute, slim, curvy, replaceable and portable.

Operational costs for TV is often acceptable but for the MOBILE, it is often high and demanding.

TV has a remote but MOBILE doesn’t.

Most importantly, MOBILE is a two-way communication (you talk and listen), but with the TV, you MUST only listen (whether you want to or not)!

Last but not least!
Yet TVs are superior because TVs don’t have viruses, but MOBILES often do. And mobiles can be easily hacked or stolen.

Take Care. Stick to TV only.

Issued in Public interest!

3) An airbus with 346 passengers on board met with technical problems and as the message was flashed to the passengers, they started screaming with fear.

The Captain said, “Don’t panic. I want to ask you. Who among you is the greatest believer. Who has the greatest faith in God?”

A passenger from the economy class yelled, “Myself.”

Captain, “Are you sure?”

Passenger, “Yes, I am.”

Captain, “Please stand at that corner and pray. We have a shortage of 1 parachute.”

4) After a round of golf, four ladies sat around the club house, chatting.

Seeing the ladies, the Pro approached them and asked, “How did your game go?”

The first lady, a brunette, said she had a good round… making the comment that she actually had 25 riders. The Pro was a bit perplexed not knowing what a “Rider” was.

The second was a blonde lady who quickly chimed in and said that she had a very good round as well with 16 riders.

The third lady then said that her round was average and that she only had 10 riders.
The fourth lady admitted that she played the worst round of the day and that she only had 2 riders all day long.

The Pro was completely confused not knowing what the term “rider” meant. But, because he didn’t want to look dumb, he made a quick polite remark, wished the ladies well and then left.

He then approached the bartender and asked “Hey, can you tell me what these ladies are talking about when they refer to “Riders”?

The bartender simply smiled and said, “A ‘Rider’ is when you hit a shot long enough to ride on the golf cart to your ball.”

5) A couple, hosting a dinner party, were interrupted when the maid called the hostess to the kitchen.

“Ma’am, the cat climbed up on the kitchen counter and ate the lot of the fresh salmon.”

Light on her feet, the hostess told her to replace the missing portion with canned salmon, then returned to her guests. As everyone enjoyed the fish, the maid summoned the hostess into the kitchen again.

“Ma’am, the cat is dead!”

The frightened hostess felt obliged to inform her guests and suggested everyone go to the hospital together to get their stomachs pumped.

Returning home after their long, expensive, and embarrassing ordeal, she asked the maid where she had put the cat. “Nowhere, Ma’am. It’s still out in the street where the car hit it!”

6) After only a year in Canada, a Polish man got married to a nice Canadian girl. They got along quite well until the day he rushed into his lawyer’s office and begged him to arrange a quick divorce.

The lawyer said, “What are the circumstances? Have you any grounds?”

And the Polish immigrant replied, “Ja, ja, ve’ve got an acre and a half with a nice little house.”

“No, I mean, what is the foundation of your case?”

“It’s made of concrete.”

“Does either of you have a grudge?”

“No, but we have a big carport.”

“I mean, what are your relations like?”

“All my relations are in Poland.”

“Is there any infidelity in your marriage?”

“Yes, we have high fidelity stereo and a CD player.”

“No, I mean, does your wife beat you up?”

“No, I get up before her.` `Is your wife a nagger?”

“What? No, she’s white.”

`Why do you want this divorce anyway?”

“She’s gonna kill me. She’s going to poison me.”

“Really? What makes you think so?”

`I’ve got proof.”

“What kind of proof?”

“She brought home a bottle from the drug store that says, ‘Polish Remover!'”

7) रौबीला चेहरा… घुमावदार बडी बडी मूंछ, आँखों में चमक, हाथों में दोनाली बंदूक और पैरों के पास पड़ा हुआ कम से कम 10 फुटा बब्बर शेर!

पेंटिंग्स की दुकान में तस्वीरें देखते देखते मैं अचानक इस तस्वीर के सामने रुक गया और एकटक देख जा रहा था उस तस्वीर ने जैसे मुझको जकड़ सा लिया था!

5000 /- रु. मेरे पूछने पर दुकानदार ने उस तस्वीर की कीमत बताई!

हालांकि कीमत कुछ ज्यादा लगी फिर भी मैंने अपनी जेब से रुपये निकाल कर गिने तो वे महज 4500/- ही निकले

तब मैंने उस दुकानदार से वह तस्वीर 4500/- रु. में बेचने का आग्रह किया किंतु दुकानदार ने मना कर दिया!

दो दिन बाद जब मैं पूरे 5000/- रु लेकर दुकान पर पहुँचा तो पाया कि वह तस्वीर तो बिक चुकी है! कई महीनों तक मुझे वो तस्वीर ना खरीद पाने का मलाल रहा!

आज 4 महीने के पश्चात अपने मित्र के ड्राइंग रुम की शोभा बढाते हुए उसी तस्वीर को देखकर मैंने जब अपने मित्र से पूछा तो उसने बताया कि… “ये उसके दादा जी की तस्वीर है। वो बहुत ही बड़े शिकारी थे! बीसियों शेरों का शिकार किया था दादा जी ने अकेले ही। कई अंग्रेज अपॉइंटमेंट लेते थे दादा जी से शिकार करने को!”

तब मित्र की बातें सुन मन ही मन मैं सोच रहा था कि… “साले उस दिन पाँच सौ रुपये कम पड गए थे! वरना आज ये मेरे दादा जी होते!”

8) एक बार स्टीवन स्पीलबर्ग एक होटल में डिनर कर रहा था।

एक चीनी फ़ैन उनके पास गया और आटोग्राफ माँगने लगा।

स्पीलबर्ग ने उसे दो थप्पड़ मारे और कहा,”तुम लोगों ने पर्ल हार्बर पर बम फेका था मैं तुम्हे कोई ऑटोग्राफ नहीं दूंगा, भागो यहाँ से।”

चीनी: वो हम नहीं थे वो तो जापानी थे।

स्पीलबर्ग: चीनी, जापानी और ताईवानी सब एक ही हैं।

चीनी: तुमने भी तो टाइटॅनिक को डूबा दिया था उसमें मेरे परदादा थे।

स्पीलबर्ग: अरे, वो मैं नहीं था वो तो आइसबर्ग था।

चीनी: आइसबर्ग, स्पीलबर्ग, कार्ल्सबर्ग सब एक ही हैं।

*GK TODAY*

Egypt (Currency): Egyptian Pound

*TELL ME WHY ❓❓*

*Joining Both Palms Together To Greet in Indian Culture. ..?*

Scientific reason in joining both hands ensures joining the tips of all the fingers together; which are denoted to the pressure points of eyes, ears, and mind. Pressing them together is said to activate the pressure points which helps us remember that person for a long time. And, no germs since we don’t make any physical contact!

*LEARN SANSKRIT*

*ललित* : Charming, lovely, gentle

*HOW IT WORKS* ⁉

A venomoid is a venomous snake that has undergone a surgical procedure to remove or inhibit the production of snake venom. This procedure has been used for venomous snakes kept as pets or used in public demonstrations in order to remove the risk of injury or death when handled

‍♂️ *GK TODAY*

Generally our shirt buttons are made by horns of animals

*VEDIK GYAN*

*Kali* also known as Kālikā (कालिका) or Shyāmā is a
goddess. Kali is the chief of the Mahavidyas, a group of ten Tantric goddesses.

Kali’s earliest appearance is that of a destroyer of evil forces. She is the most powerful form of Shakti, and the goddess of one of the four subcategories of the Kulamārga, a category of Tantric Saivism. She destroys the evil in order to protect the innocent. Over time, Kali has been worshipped by devotional movements and tantric sects variously as the Divine Mother.

Kali consumes Raktabija and his duplicates, and dances on the corpses of the slain.[10] In Devi Mahatmya version of this story, Kali is also described as a Matrika

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

*Top 5 things you need to do if you get bitten by a snake*

1. Call an ambulance immediately.

2. You should treat any snake bite as an emergency, regardless of whether you think the snake was venomous or not. …

3. Don’t panic and don’t move. …

4. Leave the snake alone and apply a pressure immobilisation bandage and splint. …
5. Don’t wash, suck, cut or tourniquet the bite. If you’ve got a pad or even a piece of plastic like cling wrap, put it over the bite site to either soak up or protect the venom for later testing.

if you’ve got nothing else on you, putting a little mud or dirt on the bandage will work. Then, splint the limb to keep it still. Any straight object will do – a stick, rolled up newspaper or even firmly rolled up clothes or tarps can all work. Fix the splint in place by securing it to the limb with bandages or other material.

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