1. Top 100 universities of India allowed to begin online courses by May 30: FM
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has announced that the top 100 universities of India will be allowed to start educational online courses by May 30, 2020. The Finance Minister also said that the government will be launching PM eVIDYA, a programme for multi-mode access to digital/online education. These will have several parts including online education by universities and TV channels for class 1-12. In addition to this, the minister also announced other initiatives the government is planning to take to boost digital education, some of which include, specially build e-content for visually and hearing impaired, DIKSHA for school education in states/UTs: e-content and QR coded Energized Textbooks for all grades, SWAYAM PRABHA DTH channels to support and reach the ones who do not have access to the internet, etc.
2. Researchers of Florida Museum rediscover a rare blue bee
Researchers of Florida Museum of Natural History have rediscovered an “ultra-rare” metallic blue bee that hadn’t been seen by anyone for years. Experts had almost started believing that the bee had ceased to exist. The last time, this bee was spotted in 2016. “We observed a shiny little blue bee grabbing (an Ashe’s calamint flower) and rubbing its head on the top portion of the flower 2-3 times. That behavior is unusual and a unique characteristic of the blue Calamintha bee: “We were pretty shocked to see it.” said researcher Chase Kimmel. The research of the insect, however, stands curtailed due to the pandemic.
3. “More keen on coaching than doing commentary in the future”: Yuvraaj Singh
Former India cricketer Yuvraj Singh, during an Instagram live with ex-England skipper Kevin Pietersen, said that he’s “more keen” on coaching than exploring the option of commentary in the future. “I’ll probably start by being a mentor and then if it goes well maybe full-time coaching,” said Singh. “I have more insight in limited-overs cricket and I can share my knowledge,” he further added. He revealed this wish of coaching after Pietersen asked Yuvraj to join him in the commentary.
4. To raise funds for daily workers, Sonakshi Sinha auctions her sketch
Full-time actress, part-time painter, Sonakshi Sinha had joined hands with Fankind to put up her pieces of art for auction. The motive behind this is to help the daily wage workers during the challenging times of lockdown. Under her ‘Bid for Good’ initiative to provide ration to daily wage workers, her art that she has put up for auction includes digital prints, sketches, and large canvas paintings. To talk about this initiative the actress put up a video on Instagram that said’ “What good are we, if we can’t do for others. My art is my safe space, my solace. It helps me centre and channelize my thoughts and just brings me so much happiness. Creating art brings a sense of calm and relief to me.”
5. Sneakers of Michael Jordon auctioned for Rs 4.25 cr
NBA champion, Michael Jordan’s autographed game-worn sneakers designed in 1985 were auctioned Rs 4,24,62,028 ($5,60,000) at Sotheby’s auction house. The white, black and red shoes beat the reigning “Moon Shoe,” one of Nike’s first sneakers, a pair of which sold for $4,37,000 in July 2019. The Air Jordan 1 is the first model personally created for Michael Jordan by Nike. The NBA legend wore these sneakers in his first season in the NBA for the very first time.
6. Secretive space plane dedicated to COVID-19 victims launched by US military
The sixth successful launch of the unmanned ‘secretive’ space plane, named “X-37B” was recently conducted by the US Space Force. It was launched aboard the “Atlas V” rocket which was built by a joint venture between Lockheed and Boeing. Since many lives were lost in America in the past two months, this space plane was launched in the memory of those lost lives and to pay tribute to all the frontline workers. It also carried a written dedication to those suffering from COVID-19 and frontline workers. Its mission or the time it’ll spend in orbit hasn’t yet been revealed.
7. 4th phase of India’s lockdown comes with new guidelines
The fourth phase of the lockdown has commenced and will last till May 31. This phase is going to be the most crucial one, PM Modi said in his previous address to the nation. Although several relaxations have been granted like the inter-state movement of passenger vehicles and buses and opening of sports complexes and stadiums. However, schools, malls, and restaurants will continue to remain shut along with the suspension of flight and metro services till May 31. Similarly, hotels, restaurants, cinema halls, malls, swimming pools, gyms will also remain shut.
8. Chetan Sharma says, Bumrah is a name that batsmen today are scared of
Chetan Sharma, ex-India pacer has raised his thought and said that if there’s one bowler that the batsmen today are “scared” of, its Jasprit Bumrah, India fast bowler. “You never know what Bumrah will do,” Sharma added. He also lauded the BCCI for the current Team India bench strength and stated that other players are available to play for the team if skipper Virat Kohli is suffering from an injury.
9. Sanjay Khan performs duty of a father, relaunches Zayed Khan
Actor-director Sanjay Khan has starred his son and Mai Hoon Na actor, Zayed Khan in his next war drama. Through this film, Sanjay Khan has decided to relaunch Zayed whose career slides down with flops such as Speed, Cash and Rocky. Sanjay Khan will be releasing biopic based on 1947 India-Pakistan war hero Brigadier Mohammad Usman with Zayed in the titular role. In an interview with Mid-Day, Sanjay Khan said, “He is one of the most handsome actors in the film industry. As a father, it is my duty to make a film for him. The audience will rediscover him in the movie.”
10. Say Future Forum to organize online conference from 20-23 October 2020
The Say Future Forum has conducted online conference which is going to be held on 19th May 2020 at 12:00 Moscow time. This conference will host participants who are the representative of chambers of commerce and trade, and representatives of different countries. These participants will be discussing new ways and instruments of cooperation. The conference also has a series of events which will be conducted from 20-23rd October 2020 in Moscow at VDNH venue and will be co-hosted with International Homeland Security expo “Interpolitex-2020”
