Ukraine 17th country to Have Air Bubble Arrangement with India
India has established a separate bilateral air bubble arrangement with Ukraine for operation of special international passenger flights between the two countries.
Till now, India had formed such arrangements with 16 countries—Afghanistan, Bahrain, Oman, Canada, France, Germany, Iraq, Japan, the Maldives, Nigeria, Qatar, the UAE, Kenya, Bhutan, the UK and the USA.
Under an air bubble pact between the two countries, special international passenger flights can be operated by their airlines into each other's territories under restrictive conditions due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Germany Agrees to aid Holocaust Survivors
The organisation that negotiates compensation with the German government said that Germany has agreed to provide more than a half billion euros to aid Holocaust survivors struggling under the burdens of the coronavirus pandemic.
The payments will be going to approximately 240,000 survivors around the world, primarily in Israel, North America, the former Soviet Union and Western Europe, over the next two years.
With the end of World War II now 75 years in the past, Holocaust survivors are all elderly, and because many were deprived of proper nutrition when they were young today they suffer from numerous medical issues.
In addition, many live isolated lives having lost their entire families and also have psychological issues because of their persecution under the Nazis.
US Supreme Court Halts Census in Latest Twist of 2020 Count
The Supreme Court ruled that the Trump administration can end census field operations early, in a blow to efforts to make sure minorities are properly counted in the crucial once-a-decade tally.
The decision was not a total loss for plaintiffs in a lawsuit challenging the administration's decision to end the count early. They managed to get nearly two extra weeks of counting people as the case made its way through the courts.
However, the ruling increased the chances of the Trump administration retaining control of the process that decides how many congressional seats each state gets — and by extension how much voting power each state has.
Great Barrier Reef Might Lose Ability to Recover from Warming
Australia's Great Barrier Reef has lost more than half its coral in the last three decades and scientists fear the loss caused by frequent bleaching will compromise its ability to recover.
Record-breaking temperatures that triggered bleaching events in 2016 and 2017 have meant fewer small, baby corals and breeding adult ones.
That means the resilience of the reef, its ability to bounce back from recurrent mass bleaching events, has been compromised.
Rajeev Gupta Panel Set Up to Streamline Sepctrum Allocation
The Government of India has constituted a panel under the cabinet secretary Rajiv Gauba to streamline telecom spectrum allocation. The panel has been constituted with secretaries of railways, defence, home, telecom, department of space and Information and Broadcasting.
The spectrum auction had been held by GoI for six times. They are 2010, 2012-16. However, there was no clarity on frequency of future airwave sale.
Spectrum allocation is the regulation of electromagnetic spectrum bands. These bands are of radio frequency. The next spectrum auction is looked forward in regard to the 5G network.
The panel will resolve the tussle between Department of Space and the telecom department over the 5G spectrum in the 26 GHz band.
Fifty per cent Subsidy for Agricultural Perishable
The Ministry of Food Processing and the ministry of Railways have jointly provided subsidised rate of 50% for freight transportation of perishable agriculture produce such as vegetables and fruits.
The step is being implemented to boost Operation Green. Operation Green is implemented by Ministry of Food Processing.
The ministries will provide 50% subsidies to farmers transporting surplus agricultural produce such as vegetables and fruits by train. Also, the ministry will provide 50% subsidy to cold chain storage of Agricultural commodities. In order to receive the subsidies, the farmers have to submit self-certified documents on "Sampada" portal. The portal is maintained by the Ministry of food processing.
EarlySalary Launches Salary Card Powered by RuPay
EarlySalary, India's largest consumer lending platform, launched 'Salary Card' a zero-touch digital card that provides instant access for salaried professionals, enabling them to make instant purchases across thousands of merchants across India.
Powered by RuPay, the Salary Card comes with a unique feature that allows consumers the flexibility of setting up a dynamic credit limit to suit their shopping, medical, travel, entertainment and other needs.
The on-going pandemic has created a higher preference for non-contact payments. The digital zero-touch 'Salary Card' credit solution is EarlySalary's commitment to offer a safe and secured environment to customers, enabling them to exercise tighter control over their finances by setting a credit limit for every shopping need or expense.
NASA to Launch Nano Satellite Developed by Three Tamil Nadu Students
An experimental satellite by three students from Tamil Nadu's Karur district will be launched by the National Aeronautics and Space Agency into the sub orbit in June, next on NASA's sounding rocket 7.
The three students M. Adnaan of Thanthonrimalai, M. Kesavan of Nagampalli and V. Arun of Thennilai — started with their experimental model when they were in their high school. Mentored by Chennai-based Space Kids India, the satellite model has outnumbered many other satellites designed as part of the global competition conducted by the Cubes in Space, a programme of Idoodledu Inc in association with NASA.
Their innovation, India Sat, which took more than two years of extensive research, has been deemed world's smallest and lightest satellite, made with reinforced graphene polymer is 3 cm in size and weighs 64 gm.
Russian-US Crew Launches on Fast Track to Space Station
A trio of space travellers has been launched successfully to the International Space Station, for the first time using a fast-track maneuver to reach the orbiting outpost in just three hours.
NASA's Kate Rubins along with Sergey Ryzhikov and Sergey Kud-Sverchkov of the Russian space agency Roscosmos lifted off as scheduled from the Russia-leased Baikonur space launch facility in Kazakhstan for a six-month stint on the station.
For the first time, they are trying a two-orbit, three-hour approach to the orbiting space outpost. Previously it took twice as long for the crews to reach the station.
Neymar overtook Ronaldo Nazario and moved into second place behind Pele on Brazil`s all-time goal scoring list after notching a hat-trick in a 4-2 victory over Peru in a World Cup qualifier.
According to the count by world governing body FIFA, the Paris St Germain striker now has 64 goals, two more than Ronaldo and 13 behind Pele, who heads the list with 77.
Neymar, who made his Brazil debut in 2010, scored his 64 goals in 103 games.
Constantina Dita Ambassador for the World Athletics Half Marathon Championships
Romania's 2008 Olympic champion Constantina Dita was named an ambassador for the World Athletics Half Marathon Championships to be held in Gdynia, Poland on 17th October.
The Romanian competed at eight editions of the World Half Marathon Championships and earned seven medals in the process, making her one of the most successful athletes in the history of the event. Her double victory in Edmonton in 2005, taking individual and team gold medals, remains one of the highlights of her career.
Along with her major championship medals, she was also successful at big city marathons. She won the 2004 Chicago Marathon and finished second in 2005. She also made it on to the podium at three editions of the London Marathon.
India-Norway Sixth Session of Joint Commission Held
The sixth-session of the India-Norway Joint Commission Meeting was held virtually. The meeting was attended by India's External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and his Norwegian counterpart Ine Eriksen Soreide.
During the meet, the ministers of both nations reiterated their commitment to cooperate closely in combating the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic. They also reviewed the entire gamut of bilateral relations between both the nations and expressed satisfaction with the progress.
The blueprint for a comprehensive partnership between India and Norway was laid during the visit of Norway's Prime Minister Erna Solberg to India in January 2019.
Assam to Delete Names from NRC
Assam NRC Coordinator Hitesh Dev Sarma asking Deputy Commissioners (DCs) and District Registrars of Citizen Registration (DRCR) of various districts of Assam to delete the names of ineligible persons from the final NRC (National Registrar of Citizens).
Sarma – who was handpicked by the BJP government in Assam for appointment as State NRC Coordinator ignoring frantic protests from Congress MP Abdul Khaleque – wrote to the DCs and DRCRs to submit a list of such persons who were not eligible for having their names in the NRC.
According to Sarma, the DCs and DRCRs had earlier reported to him about some names of ineligible persons belonging to the categories of DF/DV/PFT (declared foreigner/doubtful voters/pending before foreigners' tribunal) along with their descendants having found entry to the NRC.
India Provides USD 1 Million for Palestinian Refugees
India contributed USD one million to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East to support Palestinian refugees who have been facing extreme challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a move hailed by the UN body as timely help.
The Government of India handed over the contribution cheque to the UN agency through its representative in Palestine, Sunil Kumar.
United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) thanked India for its timely help.
White House Advances Drone and Missile Sales to Taiwan
The White House is moving forward with more sales of sophisticated military equipment to Taiwan, telling Congress that it will seek to sell Taipei MQ-9 drones and a coastal defensive missile system.
The possible sales follow three other notifications that drew China's ire as the United States prepares for its November 3 election.
One of the eight sources said that in total the sales were valued at around $5 billion. Very often figures for U.S. foreign military sales include costs for training, spares and fees making the values difficult to pinpoint.
India Can Have Complete Hyper sonic Cruise Missile System
In a major boost for India's missile strike capabilities, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has said that it can develop a complete hyper sonic cruise missile system in the next four to five years which will have the capability to strike its targets at speeds at least double than that of world's present fastest BrahMos supersonic cruise missile.
The DRDO test-fired the Hyper sonic Technology Demonstrator Vehicle (HSTDV) on September 7 which is expected to lay the foundation for the development of a hyper sonic cruise missile system.
As per DRDO chief Dr. G. Satheesh Reddy, the cruise missiles are the one which flies at a lower altitude.
Renowned Kuchipudi exponent Sobha Naidu, a recipient of Padma Shri and numerous other awards, passed away.
Naidu, who was in her sixties, was undergoing treatment at a private hospital.
Sobha Naidu's major achievements include choreography and presentation of Ballets, Vipranarayana, Kalyana Srinivasam and many others in which she was the main protagonist and donned various roles like Satyabhama, Devadevaki, Padmavathi, Mohini, Sai Baba, and Goddess Parvati which won her great appreciation.
DGP Bhupendra Singh Retires, Appointed as RPSC Chairman
Director General of Rajasthan Police Bhupendra Singh was appointed as chairman of the Rajasthan Public Service Commission after he took voluntary retirement.
The state government also appointed four members in the Rajasthan Public Service Commission (RPSC).
DG (Crime) ML Lather was given the additional charge of DGP Rajasthan.
Governor Kalraj Mishra issued the appointment order of Singh as RPSC chairman for a period of six years or until the age of 62 years, whichever is earlier.
An IPS officer of 1986-batch, Singh was appointed the Director General of Police (DGP) in June 2019. He was to retire on December 31, 2019, but the government had extended his tenure till June 2021.
Singh replaced RPSC chairman Deepak Upreti, whose tenure has ended.
World Students' Day every year is celebrated across the globe on October 15. The day is marked to celebrate the birth anniversary of Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam. World Students' Day was first celebrated in 2010 in United Nations on Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam's birthday when he was 79 years old.
The day is celebrated to honour the most loved President of India who was a scientist, a teacher, an author among many other roles that he played. Dr. Kalam was born on October 15, 1931, in Rameshwaram, Tamil Nadu, and studied physics and aerospace engineering. He spent the next four decades as a scientist and science administrator, mainly at the DRDO and ISRO.
White Cane Safety Day
White Cane Safety Day is a national observance in the United States, celebrated on October 15 of each year since 1964. The date is set aside to celebrate the achievements of people who are blind or visually impaired and the important symbol of blindness and tool of independence, the white cane.
On October 6, 1964, a joint resolution of the U.S. Congress, H.R. 753, was signed into law as Pub.L. 88–628, and codified at 36 U.S.C. § 142. This resolution authorized the President of the United States to proclaim October 15 of each year as "White Cane Safety Day".
President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the first White Cane Safety Day proclamation within hours of the passage of the joint resolution.
In 2011, White Cane Safety Day was also named Blind Americans Equality Day by President Barack Obama.
India among 3 Countries Having Largest Share of Global TB Burden
India is one of the three countries bearing the largest share of the global burden of Tuberculosis (TB) cases along with China and the Russian Federation, revealed the Global TB report released by the World Health Organization (WHO).
The report also said that in India, Indonesia, the Philippines and South Africa, four countries that account for 44% of global TB cases, there were large drops in the reported number of people diagnosed with TB between January and June 2020.
Union Cabinet Approves World Bank Project STARS
Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved the project STARS aided by the World bank.
The cabinet has approved Rs. 5,718 crores of aid from World Bank to implement project STARS. STARS is Strengthening Teaching Learning and Resources for States.
The project is to be implemented by department of school education and literacy operating under Ministry of Education. The project will also setup and support the PRAKH, the national assessment centre.
The project will cover Maharashtra, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha and Kerala. The focus and components of the project is aligned with national education policy 2020.
Project will improve overall monitoring of Indian school education system. It will shift the focus towards maintaining of outputs by Linking the disbursement of funds.
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