Army launches ‘Mission Reach Out’ in Jammu

1. CRPF ‘Madagaar’ Helpline number restored in Jammu and Kashmir

The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) announced that its ‘Madadgaar Helpline’ number 14411 was restored after it went inactive due to communication disruption in Jammu and Kashmir.In the tweet, CRPF also mentioned that people can also seek help on its Twitter and Facebook handles @CRPFmadadgaar.People can contact the helpline number for Medical Assistance, Pilgrimage Tourist assistance, Public Safety and Security, Domestic Violence and Eve Teasing, Public Utilities, Natural Calamities, Assistance to Poor, Sports Assistance, Educational Assistance, Civic Action Programme and Recruitment and other information.CRPF had launched the 24×7 helpline ‘madadgaar’ (14411) in June 2017 to help any Kashmir Valley resident in distress.

2. Army launches ‘Mission Reach Out’ in Jammu

The Army has launched ‘Mission Reach Out’ in Jammu to ensure basic necessities and essential services are available in the region.A high-level Mission Reach Out conference to review the prevalent situation in the region was held in the Nagrota Military Station was chaired by White Knight Corps Commander Lt Gen Paramjit Singh.The Corps commander lauded the absolute synergy between the Army, civil administration and other security establishments in maintaining peace, harmony and a conducive environment.

3. NGT directs govt to submit a report on standards for lead in PVC pipes

The National Green Tribunal has directed the Centre to submit a report on standards of lead and to phase out lead as a stabiliser in Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) pipes that are commonly used in most buildings.A bench headed by NGT chairperson Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel expressed concern that the notification has not been finalised despite its direction.It directed the Ministry of Environment and Forests to submit a report before October 21.The green panel in March had directed the Centre to finalise within two months the standards for using lead in PVC pipes.The NGT was earlier informed that water passing through PVC pipes commonly used in most buildings may contain toxic materials like lead, which has a hazardous effect on human health.

4. Two new UTs, in J&K, will come into effect on Oct 31

With the President’s assent to the newly passed Jammu and Kashmir Re-organisation Act comes into effect, the two newly created Union Territories Jammu &Kashmir and Ladakh will officially come into existence on October 31.October 31 happens to be the birth anniversary of the country’s first Home Minister Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, who was instrumental in the merger of about 565 princely states into the Union of India following Independence.The Parliament has given its nod to the J&K Re-organisation Bill on August 6 turned the militancy-hit state in two separate administrative units as Union Territories.According to the new Act, UT J&K will have Assembly while Ladakh will be UT without a Legislature.Each UT will be governed by a separate Lieutenant Governor.The Ladakh UT will have three districts that are Leh, Kargil and Ladakh while the rest 12 districts will remain with J&K UT.

5. Alejandro Giammattei elected as Guatemala President

Conservative Alejandro Giammattei was elected as Guatemala’s president after defeating former first lady Sandra Torres in a run-off.He had polled almost 58.5 per cent with a lead of 550,000 votes.Giammattei will take over in January from corruption-tainted President Jimmy Morales.

6. 20 persons, three organisations conferred with National Youth Awards for 2016-17

Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Kiren Rijiju conferred the National Youth Awards for 2016-17 on 20 individuals and 3 organisations on the occasion of International Youth Day.The awards are presented to young persons and voluntary organization every year in recognition of their outstanding work in the field of national development and social service.The awards aim towards encouraging them to develop a sense of responsibility to the community and also to improve their own potential as a good citizen.An individual award comprises a medal, a certificate and a cash prize of 50 thousand rupees while a cash prize of 2 lakh rupees is given to the youth organisation.

7. Aishwarya Pissay becomes first Indian to claim a world title in motorsports

Aishwarya Pissay became the first Indian to claim a world title in motorsports.She won the FIM World Cup (Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme) in the women’s category after the final round of the championship at Varpalota in Hungary.The 23-year old from Bengaluru also finished second in the FIM Junior category.She was placed second in the junior category with 46 points, behind championship winner Tomas de Gavardo (60) of Chile.

8. Netherlands’ star footballer Wesley Sneijder announces retirement

Netherlands’ star footballer Wesley Sneijder has announced his retirement from football.The player has signed a contract with Utrecht’s business partners and he will be able to watch the team play from a private box in the upcoming season.Sneijder had begun his career in 2002 with football club Ajax and later on in his career, he went on to represent Real Madrid.With Real Madrid, the player was able to win the La Liga title in the 2007-08 season.Sneijder represented the Dutch 134 times from 2003 to 2018.

9. Djokovic remains at top of ATP rankings

Wimbledon 2019 champion Novak Djokovic remains to be at the top of the ATP rankings.Rafael Nadal, who secured his 35th Master’s title, takes the second position.Nadal overwhelmed Russia’s Daniil Medvedev 6-3 6-0 to win his fifth Rogers Cup in Montreal.The top three ATP rankings are unchanged. Serbia’s Djokovic has collected 12,325 points atop Roger Federer of Switzerland with 7,460 points is on the third-placed.Austria’s Dominic Thiem retains the fourth place.

10. Music star DJ Arafat dies in road crash

DJ Arafat, a singer from Ivory Coast with a huge following in francophone Africa, has died after a road accident in Abidjan.Born in Abidjan in 1986, the artist, whose real name is Ange Didier Huon, had a massive audience in French-speaking western and central African countries.He issued 11 albums, mainly of “coupe-decale” a dance music form combining rapid percussion, choppy rhythms with hip hop-style vocals.He Arafat was named “Best Artist of the Year” at the Ivorian “Coupe-decale” Awards in 2016 and 2017.