Top GKToday’s News Headlines-22 May 2020

Top GKToday’s News Headlines-22 May 2020

MOOC ON SWAYAM FOR CREDIT TRANSFER

• UGC directs universities and colleges to use the 82 undergraduate and 42 postgraduate MOOC (Massive Open Online Courses) available on the HRD Ministry’s ‘SWAYAM’ platform for credit transfer
• The courses will be available from July semester 2020
• The students enrolled in universities and affiliated colleges can avail credits by completing these courses as per UGC norms.
• SWAYAM is Study Webs of Active-Learning for Young Aspiring Minds.

NEW AMBASSADORS

President Ram Nath Kovind accepted credentials from Ambassadors and High Commissioners of seven countries through video conference

• Ambassador Choe Hui Chol from North Korea
• Ambassador Abdoul Wahab Haidara from Senegal
• High Commissioner Roger Gopaul from Trinidad and Tobago
• High Commissioner Santi Bai Hanoomanjee from Mauritius
• High Commissioner Barry Robert O’Farrell from Australia
• Ambassador M N’DRY Eric Camille from Cote d’Ivoire
• High Commissioner Jacqueline Mukangira from Rwanda

COVID 19 KIT

• SCTIMST, Trivandrum announced commercial launch of Agappe Chitra Magna, a magnetic nanoparticle-based RNA extraction kit for use during testing for detection of COVID-19.
• The kit was developed Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology (SCTIMST), Trivandrum along with Cochin-based Agappe Diagnostics Ltd,

INDIA

• Death anniversary of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi observed as Anti-Terrorism Day in India on May 21

FLIGHT RESUMPTION

• Aviation Ministry announces resumption of one-third domestic flights from May 25
• The Airports Authority of India (AAI) issued a standard operating procedure (SOP) to airport operators
• Only those who have done web check-in will be allowed to enter the terminal building
• Passengers will have to provide their medical details through the Aarogya Setu app or by filling up a self-declaration form
• Those residing in containment zones will not be allowed to travel.
• People who are coronavirus positive will not be allowed to board the flights
• Aarogya Setu app is not mandatory for children below 14 years of age

FLIGHT PRICING

• Minimum and maximum fares capped till August 24
• Aviation regulator DGCA issued seven bands of ticket pricing with lower and upper fare limits
• For flights of less than 40 minutes duration, lower and the upper fare limits are Rs 2,000 and Rs 6,000, respectively.
• Other six price bands are – 40-60 minutes: Rs 2,500-Rs 7,500, 60-90 minutes: Rs 3,000-Rs 9,000, 90-120 minutes: Rs 3,500-Rs 10,000, 120-150 minutes: Rs 4,500-Rs 13,000, 150-180 minutes: Rs 5,500-Rs 15,700 & 180-210 minutes: Rs 6,500-Rs 18,600.

WORLD

• US to pull out of Open Skies surveillance treaty that allowed member nations to conduct unarmed, observation flights over each other’s territory
• World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development observed by the UN on May 21
• International Tea Day observed by the UN on May 21