PUNJAB
Pb agriculture dept to focus on 8 hotspot dists to check stubble burning
In Punjab, eight districts account for around 75% cases of stubble burning over the last two years. Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) now plans to curb the menace in these districts, which have been declared hotspots.
The agriculture department has provided machinery, including Super SMS, on a priority basis to around 234 such villages and 290 societies in eight districts comprising Sangrur, Patiala, Mansa, Muktsar, Bathinda, Ferozepur, Taran Tarn and Barnala. More nodal officers have been appointed in these districts to check farm fires and report cases to authorities at the earliest. Across Punjab, over 8,000 nodal officers will keep a tab over stubble burning cases.
Last year, over 23,000 machines were provided by the department on subsidy and in 2018, subsidy was given on more than 28,000 machines to farmers and SHGs. Punjab witnessed stubble burning in 49.39% of the total paddy area in 2018 and around 37.42% area in 2019.
Area under paddy increased in Barnala, Sangrur, Mansa, Ferozepur, Tarn Taran and Bathinda in 2019 whereas in Patiala and Muktsar districts, area under paddy declined in 2019 in comparison to 2018.
INTERNATIONAL
G4 countries call for decisive push for UN Security Council reforms
Foreign Ministers of the G4 countries – India, Brazil, Japan, and Germany have highlighted the urgency of reforming the United Nations and updating its main decision-making bodies, in order to better reflect contemporary realities.
They expressed disappointment at attempts to derail this process and committed to addressing the issue in a meaningful way and with increased urgency at this 75th anniversary of the UN.
External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar, and his counterparts from Brazil, Japan and Germany met virtually during the 75th session of the United Nations General Assembly.
World Tourism Day: 27 September
The World Tourism Day is observed worldwide on September 27.
The day aims to raise awareness on the role of tourism within the international community and to demonstrate how it affects social, cultural, political and economic values worldwide.
This date was chosen by the United Nations World Tourism Organization as on that day in 1970, the Statutes of the UNWTO were adopted.
2020 theme: “Tourism and Rural Development”.
Bilateral Maritime Exercise between Japan and India, JIMEX 20, to Commence on 29 Sept
The 
4th edition of Maritime bilateral exercise between India and Japan “JIMEX 20” has been scheduled to be held from 26 to 28 September 2020. The exercise is conducted biennially between the Indian Navy and the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF).
JIMEX 20 will be conducted in North Arabian Sea.
The exercise will showcase joint operational skills and high degree of inter-operability through conduct of a multitude of advanced exercises, across the spectrum of maritime operations.
The exercise will include Multi-faceted tactical exercises like weapon firings, cross deck helicopter operations and complex surface.
It also incluse anti-submarine and air warfare drills that will consolidate coordination developed by the two navies.
JIMEX 20 will be conducted in a ‘non-contact at-sea-only format’, in view of COVID-19 restrictions.
NATIONAL
India aims to end tuberculosis by 2025
Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan has said that India has accorded high priority for ending tuberculosis by 2025, five years ahead of the Sustainable Development Goals.
Dr Harsh Vardhan said this while addressing Ministers of Member Nations of WHO, Heads and Representatives of UN Agencies through virtual interaction.
Tuberculosis has been in existence since time immemorial and continues to remain a major global public health problem.
TB is caused by bacteria (Mycobacterium tuberculosis) that most often affect the lungs.
TB is spread from person to person through the air. When people with TB cough, sneeze or spit, they propel the TB germs into the air.
Kerala Tourisms Human by Nature campaign bagged 2020 PATA Grand Award
Kerala Tourism’s internationally-acclaimed ‘Human by Nature’ campaign has bagged one of the three PATA Grand Awards 2020. The awards were announced live during a virtual presentation ceremony in Beijing, China. The award recognized the campaign’s Marketing, giving a huge stimulus to the state’s tourism industry, which has been severely impacted by COVID-19 pandemic.
The PATA Gold Awards 2020 received 121 entries from 62 organisations and individuals across the world.
The winners were selected by a judging committee of 16 personalities from various destinations.
PM launched Age Appropriate Fitness Protocols
Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the ‘Age Appropriate Fitness Protocols’ via virtual conferencing, on the first-anniversary occasion of the Fit India Movement.
Fit India Dialogue focuses on the fitness interests of every age group.
The main objective is to bring into play different dimensions of fitness.
The Dialogue aims to draw ideas of health and fitness from citizens in taking the Fit India Movement forward.
The Age Appropriate Fitness Protocols are laid for three age groups namely 5–18, 18–65 and above 65.
Fit India Movement is a nation-wide campaign. The movement aims to encourage drill physical activity and sports in their everyday lives. The entire program has been conceptualized by PM Modi. The movement was launched on the occasion of National Sports Day in 2019. National Sports Day is celebrated on 29 August every year, to honour the legendary hockey player Major Dhyan Chand Singh.
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