Researchers discover ‘sea cockroach’ species in Indonesia

1.UAE launches its first space mission to Mars from Japan

UAE’s historic journey to Mars has been successfully started from the Tanegashima Space Center in Japan.The spacecraft Hope Probe took off in an early morning launch.H2A, the rocket carrying the Hope Probe to space, was launched from the Tanegashima Space Centre in Japan.It is the Arab world’s first interplanetary landmark mission, putting UAE firmly ahead of all the countries in the Middle East in the area of space and technology.Hope Probe Spacecraft is expected to reach the Red Planet by February 2021, to coincide with UAE’s 50th anniversary of its formation.The orbiter Hope is expected to take images and send back data of the distant Red Planet.

2.Researchers discover ‘sea cockroach’ species in Indonesia

The scientists reported the discovery of the first “Super Giant Isopod” species.It has been found deep in the Indian Ocean by a team of researchers from Singapore.The researchers found the species when they were working on the unexplored waters of Indian Ocean in Banta.Bantan is in the southern coast of West Java in Indonesia.The newly found cockroach species has been named “Bathynomus raksasa”.

3.COVID-19 fatality rate in India falls below 2.5% for first time; one of the lowest in world

The Government said that India’s Case Fatality Rate of COVID-19 falls below 2.5 per cent for the first time.India has one of the lowest fatality rates in the world.Due to the focused efforts of Centre and State and Union Territories governments on efficient clinical management of hospitalized cases have ensured that the Case Fatality Rate falls to 2.49 per cent.Many States have conducted population surveys to map and identify the vulnerable population like the elderly, pregnant women and those with comorbidities.At the ground level, front line health workers like ASHAs and ANMs have done a commendable job of managing the migrant population and to enhance awareness at the community level.As a result, there are 29 States and UTs with Case Fatality Rate lower than the India average. Five States and UTs have a Zero Case Fatality Rate.While 14 States and UTs have a Case Fatality Rate of less than one per cent.

4.Indian spices’ exports up by 23 percent

According to  Assocham, India’s spices exports rose by 23 per cent to $359 million (around Rs 2,690 crore) in June 2020 from $292 million (Rs 2,190 crore) in the same month last year.A dipstick study by the chamber also noticed how the rising demand for spices in the domestic market led to a sharp increase in their prices by almost 12 per cent in June whereas the headline CPI inflation was half that level.The country’s exports in June 2020 stood at $21.91 billion, as compared to $25.01 billion in June 2019, exhibiting a contraction of 12.41 per cent.Pepper, cardamom, ginger, turmeric, coriander, cumin, celery, fennel, fenugreek, nutmeg, spice oils and mint products are the major spices shipped abroad.Indian spices reach almost the entire world while the main importers include the US, UK, Germany, France, Italy, Canada, Australia, UAE, Iran, Singapore, China and Bangladesh, among others.

5.No entry for devotees from outside MP in Mahakal temple

In Madhya Pradesh, devotees from outside the state will not be allowed to enter the Mahakal temple campus in Ujjain from in view of the rising number of COVID-19 cases.Mahakal temple is one of the 12 jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva which attracts lakhs of devotees every year.The decision has been taken by the management committee of the temple due to fear of widespread infection if devotees from outside the state are allowed.Lakhs of devotees from various parts of the country visit the temple during the holy month of Sawan for worshipping Lord Mahakal.

6.UP Chief Minister launches employment scheme for SCs

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath launched ”Navin Rojgar Chhatri Yojana” for an all round development of the Scheduled Castes.He also transferred financial assistance of 17.42 crore online to 3,484 people under the ‘Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay Swarojgar Yojana’ and interacted with some beneficiaries from Rae Bareli, Gorakhpur, Basti, Meerut, Azamgarh and Moradabad districts through video conferencing.The state government is extending financial help to make people self-dependent.

7.Over 108 animals including 9 rhinoceroses have died so far at Kaziranga National Park due to Assam floods

Nine rhinos are among the 108 wild animals that have died during this year’s floods at Assam’s Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve (KNPTR).Nearly 85% area of the park, spread over 430 sq km, is under water at present.Forty three of the 223 forest camps inside the park are inundated of which 6 have been vacated.Till now, 60 animals (36 hog deer, eight rhinos, three wild buffalo, one python, seven wild boar, two swamp deer, one Sambar and two porcupines) have died due to drowning.Annual floods are common in Kaziranga, the biggest habitat of one-horned rhinos. The park has around 2,400 rhinos and 121 tigers.

8.Marianna Vardinoyannis & Morissana Kouyaté win 2020 Nelson Mandela Prize

This year’s laureates of United Nations 2020 Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela Prize are Marianna Vardinoyannis of Greece and Morissana Kouyate of Guinea.Vardinoyannis is a Greek philanthropist known for fighting childhood cancer and for a world without borders in health for about 30 years.He is also the world advocate for human rights and the protection of children’s health and welfare.Kouyate is another Human rights activist known for her contribution towards violence against women and girls in Africa.He is a leading advocate in the fight against harmful traditional practices against women, particularly female genital mutilation.

9.Lewis Hamilton Hamilton wins 8th Hungarian GP

Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton won the Hungarian Grand Prix for the eighth time to equal Michael Schumacher’s single-venue record.Hamilton’s latest victory from pole position was as comfortable as the nearly 9-second margin over second-place Max Verstappen suggested.The British driver’s 86th GP win moved him just five behind the German great Schumacher’s F1 record of 91.Schumacher won the French GP eight times when it was held at Magny-Cours.Hamilton first won here in 2007 and his first success with Mercedes also came at the Hungaroring track in 2013, the year after replacing Schumacher on the Silver Arrows team.

10.World Cup winner Schurrle retires at 29

The Germany forward player & World Cup winner, Andre Schurrle has announced retirement from the sport.He helped his country to win the 2014 FIFA World Cup.He represented Germany in 57 matches, scoring 22 goals.He also played for Chelsea from 2013-15 and also won a Premier League winners medal in 2015.