ULA’s Atlas 5 launches AEHF-6 communications satellite

1.ULA’s Atlas 5 launches AEHF-6 communications satellite

A United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket lifted off carrying a $1.4 billion Advanced Extremely High Frequency (AEHF-6) communications satellite for the U.S. Space Force.This was the sixth and final satellite of the AEHF constellation that provides secure, jam-proof voice and data communications for U.S. national leadership, military forces.

It has international partners like Canada, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and Australia.

Atlas 5 rockets launched the first five AEHF satellites in 2010, 2012, 2013, 2018 and 2019.

2.US has now most confirmed coronavirus cases in world

In the United States, according to data compiled by Worldometer, over 16,000 confirmed cases were reported in a single day, making the total number of COVID-19 patients to 85,088 (as on 26 March), the highest for any country.The United States surpassed China (81,285) and Italy (80,589) in terms of number of people infected with the novel coronavirus.

A week ago, the number of confirmed cases was 8,000.

It has dangerously surged 10 times in the span of a week.

Dr Deborah Brix, coordinator for the White House Coronavirus Task Force assured Americans that there is no shortage of essential medical supplies including ventilators and ICU beds.

3.UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson tests positive for coronavirus

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has tested positive for coronavirus and is self isolating but will still lead the government’s response to the outbreak.This is the UK’s second high profile coronavirus case in the last three days.

Prince Charles, the 71-year-old heir to the British throne, has tested positive for coronavirus.

4.Shilpa Shetty Kundra partners with Fit India

In a first-of-its-kind step, the government”s flagship fitness movement, Fit India, has partnered with Bollywood actor and fitness icon Shilpa Shetty Kundra to provide her premium 21-Day Weight Loss Programme.The program includes diet tips, free of cost on the Shilpa Shetty App (SS App), during the 21-day lockdown owing to Covid-19.

For this period of lockdown that India is in right now, we have made the App”s premium ”21-Day Weight Loss Program” free for all Indian and global users.

5.Odisha announces Covid-19-dedicated hospitals with 1,000 beds

The Odisha government announced it will set up two 500-bed hospitals to exclusively treat Covid-19 patients.The hospitals, being set up in partnership with Kalinga Institute of Medical Sciences and SUM Hospital, will be functional in a fortnight.

While there were three positive cases of Covid-19 in the state as of March 26, the state government is preparing for any possible deterioration in the situation.

About 84,000 people had returned to the state recently from other states and abroad.

Panchayats across the state have already readied 7,200 beds for isolation and quarantine purposes.

6.PESO takes measures to ensure uninterrupted supply of oxygen to hospitals, other health care facilities

Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organization, PESO has taken various measures to ensure uninterrupted supply of Oxygen to hospitals and other health care facilities due to nationwide lock down for containment of COVID-19 pandemic.Instructions have been issued by PESO to all its offices to ensure grant of licences for storage and transport of medical oxygen on an urgent basis.

The validity of licenses for transportation of oxygen and other gases which will expire on 31st of this month has been extended up to 30th June this year.

The advisory has been also issued to all States, requesting them to allow uninterrupted transportation and manufacturing of medical oxygen and nitrous oxide.

PESO Headquarters location: Nagpur

Founded: 9 September 1898

7.RBI permits 3 month moratorium on EMI payments on all outstanding loans

The Reserve Bank permitted banks, NBFCs (including housing finance companies) and other financial institutions to allow a three-month moratorium on payment of installments on term loans in view of the disruption caused by the coronavirus outbreak.Deferment will not impact the credit history of the borrower.

Financial institutions have been allowed to shift repayment schedule and all subsequent due dates, as also the tenor for such loans, across the board by three months, in respect of all term loans outstanding as on March 1, 2020.

8.Zoya Akhtar won IIFTC Tourism Impact Award 2020  

Zoya Akhtar won the IIFTC Tourism Impact Award 2020 for her outstanding contribution to world tourism through her cinema at the 8th India International Film Tourism Conclave (IIFTC).Zoya Akhter set the trend in the film tourism space with her 2011 classic ‘Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara’ shot in Spain, following it up with 2015 comedy-drama ‘Dil Dhadakne Do’ shot in Turkey.

She has single handedly promoted tourism of these counties through her films.

Since its inception in 2013, IIFTC’s single minded objective is to bring the global film locations to the Indian film industry.

9.Brahma Kumari’s Chief Dadi Janki passes away

Rajyogini Dadi Janki, the Chief of Brahmakumaris Sansthan, the world’s largest spiritual organization run by women, passed away at the age of 104 after prolonged illness.She was suffering from respiratory and stomach-related problems for the last two months.

Rajyogini Dadi Janki was born on 1st of January 1916 in Hyderabad city located in Sindh province now in Pakistan.

She had embraced the spiritual path at the age of 21. In the 1970s, she moved to western countries to establish Indian philosophy, Raj Yoga and human values.

She had set up ‘Seva Kendras’ in 140 countries around the world.

Dadi janki was appointed the brand ambassador of Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan (Clean India Mission) by the government for her work in the field of maintaining cleanliness.

10.Renowned chef Floyd Cardoz passes away at 59 due to coronavirus

Renowned chef Floyd Cardoz, who ran the successful ‘Bombay Canteen’, ‘O Pedro’ and ‘Bombay Sweet Shop’ in Mumbai passed away due to complications from the coronavirus.The 59-year-old co-founder of Hunger Inc Hospitality, tested positive for Covid-19 in the USA on March 18.

The culinary star, committed to making the food industry more sustainable, began his hospitality training in his native Mumbai.

He later moved to Switzerland, where he honed his skills in French, Italian and Indian cuisine before moving on to the kitchens of New York City.

Cardoz also competed on ‘Top Chef’ and won ‘Top Chef Masters’.