Today’s top news: 18 December, 2020 (GPN):

NATIONAL NEWS:

1. ISRO successfully launches communication satellite CMS-01 onboard PSLV-C50; : CMS-01 is the 42nd communication satellite of the space agency and it is envisaged for providing services in Extended-C Band of the frequency spectrum covering India, Andaman and Nicobar and Lakshadweep islands.
2. PSLV-C50 is the 22nd flight of PSLV in ‘XL’ configuration (equipped with six strap-on motors), and the launch would be the 77th launch vehicle mission from Sriharikota, It follows the successful launch of PSLV-C49 (EOS-01) earth observation satellite and nine customer spacecraft on November 7 which was ISRO’s first mission of the year amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
3. The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) has set up a dedicated Space Situational Awareness (SSA) Control Centre named “NETRA”, at its ISTRAC campus at Peenya, Bengaluru. The ISRO SSA Control Centre ‘NETRA’ was formally inaugurated by ISRO Chairman K Sivan.
4. The “NEtwork for space object TRacking and Analysis (NETRA)” will monitor, track and protect India’s space assets. It will function as a hub of all SSA activities within India. It has been set up as a ‘Directorate of Space Situational Awareness and Management (DSSAM)’ aiming to protect high valued space assets from space debris close approaches and collisions.
5. Acknowledging the right of farmers to hold non-violent protests, the Supreme Court on Thursday suggested that the Centre put implementation of the new farm laws on hold while putting forward the idea of constituting an impartial and independent committee.
6. As the farmers’ protest enters the 22nd day on Thursday, Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar has written an open letter to all the farmers to clear confusion over the three contentious agrarian laws . The Union Minister concluded his 8-page long letter to the farmers with six assurances that the Centre is ready to provide
7. Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday, tore copies of the Centre’s Farm Laws in the Delhi Assembly while debating a resolution against the farm laws in Assembly.
8. A petition has been filed in the Supreme Court seeking to notify Sanskrit as the national language while continuing with Hindi as the official language . The PIL has been filed by former additional secretary to the Gujarat government, K.G. Vanzara, who is now a lawyer in the Gujarat High Court.
9. Sonia Gandhi Finally Agrees To Meet Congress Rebels. : A group of Congress “rebels” who wrote a letter flagging a leadership drift and calling for sweeping organizational changes, may finally get to meet with Sonia Gandhi. Former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath was key to setting up the meeting,
10. Chennai-Port Blair flight carries passengers instead of cargo, airline faces action : In a serious violation of norms, GoAir’s Chennai to Port Blair flight on December 15 and 16 flew without the requisite permissions in place to operate the flights. The budget carrier’s flight was scheduled as a cargo flight but, violating rules, the airline booked passengers and operated both of them as commercial flights leading to its return.
11. Mamata Banerjee-led government in West Bengal was left shell shocked on Thursday as two Trinamool Congress (TMC) leaders–Suvendu Adhikari and Jitendra Tiwari resigned from the party. The blow to the TMC government comes ahead of the West Bengal Assembly election 2021.
12. An earthquake of magnitude 4.2 hit several parts of Delhi and NCR on Thursday. The tremors were felt late in the evening @ 11.46 pm.
13. Kerala Government has decided to resume the undergraduate and postgraduate classes early January next year.
14. UPSC CDS results 2020: Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) on Wednesday declared the results of Combined Defence Services Examination (II), 2020 on its official website online at upsc.gov.in.
15. The Bollywood drugs nexus case, the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has summoned Bollywood filmmaker and producer Karan Johar in connection with the 2019 party video that had come under severe scrutiny. Karan Johar has to respond to the notice by December 18.
16. The online application window for the All India Sainik School Exam (AISSEE) 2021 for class 6th and 9th admission will close today ( December 18). Candidates who have not yet applied for the exam can apply online at aissee.nta.nic.in.The National Testing Agency will conduct AISSEE on February 7, 2021.
17. Defence Ministry approves acquisition of military hardware worth Rs 28,000 crore including an indigenous programme to develop a large Airborne Early Warning and Control System (AWACS) and next generation offshore patrol vessels.
18. Defence Ministry clears 11 advance warships for Navy, 6 surveillance planes for IAF : the Indian Navy has got the approval now to issue a tender worth over Rs 9,000 crore for acquiring 11 next-generation Offshore Patrol Vessels for its surface fleet.
    The Defence Ministry had recently approved the scrapping of a tender for acquiring five Naval Offshore Patrol Vessels from Anil Ambani-owned Pipavav Shipyards after long delays in the delivery schedule.
19. The Centre on Thursday hit out at former Congress president Rahul Gandhi after he along with his party MPs walked out of a meeting of the Parliamentary Committee on Defence. Union Minister Prakash Javadekar said that Rahul Gandhi has only attended 2 meetings out of the 14 meetings in the past one-and-a-half years and then he complains “why the important issues not discussed in the meeting.”
20. Coronavirus Cases:
    9,977,760
    Deaths: 144,829
    Recovered: 9,519,928

✈INTERNATIONAL NEWS

1. The UNESCO recently launched the State of Education for India report (SER). The report highlights the vision of the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) included in India’s new national education policy 2020. UNESCO has developed a Strategy for TVET (2016-21). The strategy is in alignment with the Sustainable Development Goal and Education 2030 Framework for Action.
2. After banning several Chinese apps, Modi government launches fresh strike on China : the Cabinet Committee on Security approved the proposal to set up a new National Security Directive on telecommunication sector which will help in classifying telecom products and their sources under the ‘trusted’ and ‘non-trusted’ categories. It is expected that the Centre’s decision would make it tougher for Huawei, ZTE and another Chinese companies to supply equipment to Indian telecom players.
3. India and Bangladesh have agreed to further enhance their cooperation in the field of multilateral projects and institutions after the summit level virtual meeting between PM Modi and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
4. PM Modi to attend Bangladesh’s 50th Independence Day in March, calls it ‘matter of pride’: PM Modi held a virtual summit with his Bangladeshi counterpart Sheikh Hasina yesterday, where the two leaders discussed a host of issues.
5. Cross-border drones continue to be a big challenge for BSF
   With the fog cover increasing on the international border with Pakistan, the Border Security Force (BSF) and border range police have stepped up the vigil to prevent any cross-border misadventure, especially dropping of arms and drugs using drones.
6. IAF to get new ‘Made in India’ surveillance planes for China, Pak borders in Rs 10,500 crore project
   In a major boost for the surveillance capabilities of Indian Air Force along the borders with China and Pakistan, DRDO is making six new ‘Made in India’ planes. These would be built on passenger aircraft flying with Air India.
7. A 36-year old an Indian Employee Crushed by Airplane Equipment at Chicago O’Hare Airport. Jijo George died of multiple injuries.

🌎WORLD NEWS🌍

1. China’s Chang’e 5 lunar mission returned to Earth in the early hours of Thursday carrying around 2 kilograms of first fresh rock samples from the moon in 44 years.

2 Hungarian lawmakers on December 15 passed a law banning same-sex couples from adopting children triggering widespread criticism from Human rights groups.

3. Germany has decided to allow Chinese telecom giant Huawei to set-up a 5G network in the country. Angela Merkel’s government has sent legislation to the German parliament on Wednesday to allow Huawei to build 5G network. However, the proposed legislation will also make Huawei and other providers financially liable for security lapses.
4. The United States has issued an export permit for a digital sonar system critical to Taiwan’s indigenous submarine project,
5. The U.S. military slammed China for failing to appear at virtual, senior-level meetings slated for this week, with the top U.S. admiral for the Asia-Pacific saying it was “another example that China does not honor its agreements.”
6. WHO team expected to visit China in January 2021 to probe COVID-19 origins : The much-awaited international mission led by the World Health Organization (WHO)is expected to go to China in the first week of January to investigate the origins of the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) that triggered the COVID-19pandemic.
7. French President Emmanuel Macron has tested positive for COVID-19, Macron will now be in isolation for nearly seven days and will continue to work remotely as he is “still in charge” of running the European nation amid the pandemic.
8. Coronavirus Cases:
   75,205,690
   Deaths: 1,666,690
   Recovered: 52,787,769

🚣🚴🏇🏁🏊Sports:

1. Australia vs India, 1st Test, Border-Gavaskar Trophy, 2020/21
   Day 1: Stumps
   IND – 233/6 (89)
   CRR: 2.62 *Now batting R(B)
   *Ravichandran Ashwin* 15(17)
   Wriddhiman Saha 9(25)
2. All India Football Federation (AIFF) has formally announced its candidature to host the AFC Asian Cup 2027 and deliver a Brighter future together for football in India and across Asia.
3. Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Amir has retired from international cricket , the PCB has confirmed. Amir represented Pakistan in 36 Tests, 61 ODIs and 50 T20Is, and recently played in the inaugural Lanka Premier League for runners-up Galle Gladiators.

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🇮🇳Facts about India🇮🇳

The Ganges or Ganga river flows through the nations of India and empties into the Bay of Bengal. River Ganga is the most sacred river to Hindus and worshipped as the goddess, The Ganges is the longest river of India and Ganges Delta is the world’s largest delta.
Godavari – 1,465 km

Seven major rivers Indus, Brahmaputra, Narmada, Tapi, Godavari, Krishna and Mahanadi along with their numerous tributaries make up the river system of India. Most of the major rivers flow eastwards and drain into the Bay of Bengal but there are only three rivers in India that run from east to west Narmada, Mahi and Tapti River

Joke of the day

Pappu in Computer Exam Examiner: What is Microsoft Excel?

Pappu : It is a new brand of Surf Excel to wash Computer…..!

😳Why..❓

Bathe after attending a funeral

After death, the human body begins to gradually decompose.

When you attend a funeral, you are naturally exposed to a wide variety of bacteria.

In the olden days, vaccination was rare and medical facilities were scarce.

If a person died due to prolonged illness, the risk of contracting the illness was huge.

Thus began the practice of cleansing oneself and changing into fresh clothes after attending a funeral.

😊 Thought of the day☺️

Heart is the only machine that works without any rest for years. Keep it always happy, whether it is yours or others.

LEARN Sanskrit🙏🏻

Brain : मस्तिष्क.

🤔 How it works ⁉

Povidone-iodine (PVP-I), also known as iodopovidone, is an antiseptic used for skin disinfection before and after surgery. It may be used both to disinfect the hands of healthcare providers and the skin of the person they are caring for. It may also be used for minor wounds. It may be applied to the skin as a liquid or a powder.

💁🏻‍♂️ GK TODAY

Oxygen was discovered about 1772 by a Swedish chemist, Carl Wilhelm Scheele , who obtained it by heating potassium nitrate, mercuric oxide, and many other substances. An English chemist, Joseph Priestley, independently discovered oxygen in 1774 by the thermal decomposition of mercuric oxide

🛕 VEDIC GYAN

Actual meaning of Oṃ, ॐ :

As o is the guṇa vowel grade of u , the word om can be considered to consist of three phonemes: “a-u-m”. three phonemes correspond to trimurti also. The syllable Om is first mentioned in the Upanishads, the mystical texts associated with the Vedanta philosophy. It has variously been associated with concepts of “cosmic sound” or “mystical syllable” or “affirmation to something divine”, or as symbolism for abstract spiritual concepts in the Upanishads. When said aloud, Om (or Aum) actually sounds like a three-part word. ” The A represents creation, U is manifestation, and M is destruction.

Oṃ, ॐ The lower left curve represents the conscious, waking state of being.
The top left curve is the unconscious state.
The lower right curve is the dream state—the state between the waking and the unconscious.
The semicircle at the top is the maya state . “Maya means “illusion”; the biggest obstacle to spiritual development,” explains Kumar.
The dot at the top represents the absolute state . “It’s the highest state of consciousness; the ultimate state of spiritual bliss when you can just be,”

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

Ginger

One of the most potent herbs, ginger helps prevent nausea and soothes an upset tummy. Ginger is also effective in keeping the body warm and helps break down the accumulation of toxins in the body. Add ginger to a stir-fried dish or boil it to make a cup of tea. You can also add a few slices of ginger to your lemon water in the morning for the perfect kick-start.

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