News Flash (5th September 2020): Top 10 Stories Of The Day

1. Special trains to run on 23 routes for candidates appearing for NDA & NA exams

Central Railways’ (CR) fully reserved special trains have been running from September 4 till September 6 for candidates appearing for the National Defence Academy (NDA) and Naval Academy (NA) exams. The Central Railway, through an official release, has urged passengers to abide by all the rules and SOPs related to COVID-19 while boarding and during the travel. The trains are going to be running on 23 for the remaining two days as well

2. Delhi schools to remain shut till Sept 30, class 9-12 students can visit for doubt solving

Schools of Delhi, as decided, are going to remain shut September 30 to keep students safe during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Directorate of Education said. Only students from classes 9-12 will be allowed to visit schools voluntarily for taking guidance and getting their doubts regarding the syllabus, solved, from their teachers from September 21. Only 50% of staff can be called to schools outside COVID-19 containment zones, the order added.

3. New mosque in Ayodhya to be the exact size of Babri Masjid: Trust

The Indo-Islamic Cultural Foundation, a trust functioning under the stewardship of UP Sunni Waqf Board, has said that it plans to construct a mosque in Ayodhya that will be the exact size of the Babri Masjid. A hospital too is to be built on the five-acre plot. The decision to build a hospital comes in the wake of the pandemic, the trust said. 

4. PUBG’s Indian alternative FAU-G’s name was Akshay Kumar’s idea

Just when the buzz of the launch of FAU-G was at its peak all over the media, Vishal Gondal, the Co-Founder of Bengaluru-based nCore Games which is developing the game revealed that it was actor Akshay Kumar who came up with the game’s title and also helped with the development of the game’s concept. “This game was in the works for some months. In fact, the first level of the game is based on Galwan Valley,” the co-founder said.

5. Trump interested to resolve India-China conflict, says situation ‘very nasty’

Calling India-China border situation as “very nasty”, US President Donald Trump has shown keen interest in helping the two nations resolve the issue. He said, “We stand ready to help with respect to China and India. If we can do anything, we’d love to get involved and help.” 

6. India Couture Week to host India’s 1st digital edition from 18 September

In a move that indicates that no pandemic can come in the way of fashion, Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI) is ready to go all digital by conducting India’s first-ever digital edition of India Couture Week, which will commence from 18 to 23 September. The couturiers including Amit Aggarwal, Falguni Shane Peacock and Kunal Rawal will display their collection at the six-day long event. This year’s show will commence with Gaurav Gupta and come to an end with Manish Malhotra.

7. Automakers asked to reduce royalties to foreign parent companies by Piyush Goyal

Piyush Goyal, India’s Industry and Commerce Minister has directed all automakers to cut down royalty payments to foreign parent companies for use of technology or brand names with the mtove to help them through the COVID-19 crisis. Reducing royalties will bring down the price of the vehicle and boost domestic sales, he added. Maruti Suzuki paid ₹3,820 crore as royalty to its Japanese parent Suzuki Motor in FY20.

8. Chinese army behind the abduction of 5 Arunachal men, allege families

Five men who’d gone hunting in Upper Subansiri district on Sino-India border were kidnapped by the Chinese Army, their families alleged. Two others, who were in the group, managed to escape and informed police, PTI reported. “This has happened at a time when (Defence Minister) Rajanath Singh is meeting defence ministers of Russia and China,” Congress MLA Ninong Ering said.

9. Actress Samyuktha abused by Congress leader over workout clothes in park

Kannada actress Samyuktha Hegde has said Congress leader Kavitha Reddy abused her for wearing workout clothes in a park in Bengaluru and shared a video showing Kavitha attacking her friend. Samyuktha claimed Kavitha told her, “What sort of clothes are you wearing? If you wear such clothes and something happens to you the next time, don’t come crying to anyone.”

10. 3-month state of emergency declared in Sudan after 99 die due to floods

Sudan’s Security and Defense Council has declared a national state of emergency for three months and designated Sudan as a natural disaster zone, after death toll due to floods this year rose to 99. Minister of Labour and Social Development Lena el-Sheikh said that the floods have injured 46 people, impacted over 5 lakh people and destroyed over 1,00,000 homes.