Prime Minister Narendra Modi, today announced a landmark increase in remuneration for ASHA and Anganwadi workers.

The announcement which will be effective from next month was made during a video bridge interaction with lakhs of ASHA, Anganwadi and ANM workers today.

The Prime Minister announced the doubling of routine incentives given by the government to ASHA workers. In addition, all ASHA workers and their helpers would be provided free insurance cover under Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana and Prime Minister Suraksha Bima Yojana. Prime Minister also announced a significant increase in the honorarium given to Anganwadi workers.

Those receiving 3000 rupees so far, would now receive 4500 rupees. Those receiving 2200, would now get 3500 rupees.

The honorarium for Anganwadi helpers has also been increased from 1500 to 2250 rupees. Mr Modi also announced that Anganwadi workers and helpers using techniques such as Common Application Software would get additional incentives.

The incentives ranging from 250 to 500 rupees, would be based on performance. The Prime Minister interacted with ASHA, Anganwadi and ANM workers from across the country.

He appreciated their efforts to work together, to use innovative means and technology, to improve the delivery of health and nutrition services and achieve the goal of the POSHAN Abhiyan - reduction of malnutrition in the country.

The country’s oldest research reactor ‘Apsara’, which was shut down permanently in 2009 for revamp, has been recommissioned with a higher capacity.

It was recommissioned after upgradation on September 10, BARC said in a statement Tuesday.

The reactor came into existence in August 1956 and was utilised for various experiments including neutron activation analysis, radiation damage studies, forensic research, neutron radiography, and shielding experiments.

“Nearly 62 years after Apsara came into existence, a swimming pool type research reactor ‘Apsara-upgraded’ of higher capacity was commissioned. The reactor made indigenously uses plate type dispersion fuel elements made of low enriched uranium,” BARC said.

The upgraded reactor will increase indigenous production of radio-isotopes for medical application, it added.

“By virtue of higher neutron flux, this reactor will increase production of radio-isotopes for medical application

The United States announced the closure of the Palestinian mission in Washington. The state department, in a statement yesterday, said that PLO leaders had failed to engage with US efforts to bring about peace with Israel and attempted to prompt an investigation of Israel by the International Criminal Court.

The action against the PLO, which serves as the main entity representing the Palestinian people, is the latest in a series of measures by the Trump administration against the Palestinian leadership. Over the past year, Jared Kushner, Trump's son-in-law and senior adviser, has repeatedly questioned Mahmoud Abbas' commitment to peace and the US president's so-called "deal of the century".

A senior Palestinian official called the decision a "dangerous escalation". The PLO, the internationally-recognised representative of the Palestinian people, opened the mission in 1994.

New Delhi: In a move aimed at creating a payments acceptance network for unorganized retail including small merchants and kirana stores where consumers can make payments, India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) has partnered with Financial Software and Systems (FSS), a payments technology company to ensure that micro-merchants are able to accept payments over any channel – online, unified payments interface (UPI), quick-response (QR) codes, Aadhaar and IPPB accounts.

FSS will also provide merchant management and settlement solutions including on-boarding fee calculation, reconciliation and settlement, it said in a statement on Monday.

In an exclusive interview with Mint, Suresh Sethi, managing director and chief executive officer of IPPB had discussed the plans of creating a QR based payments acceptance network for unorganized retail sector mainly at the rural parts of the country. He had said the bank was also signing up merchants for so.

Former Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s wife Kulsoom Nawaz passed away Tuesday in London, Pakistan media reported. Sharif and his daughter Maryam Sharif are at present imprisoned in Rawalpindi jail.

According to Pakistan media Geo TV, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz President Shehbaz Sharif and her son, Hussain Nawaz, confirmed that the former first lady breathed her last at a clinic in London.

Earlier in the day, Begum Kulsoom was placed on life support as her health began to deteriorate after developing a lung problem, reported Dawn, quoting Geo TV.

The 68-year-old had been diagnosed with early-stage lymphoma in August last year and had been London since, the Dawn reported. She further underwent multiple surgeries and around five chemotherapy sessions.

New Delhi, Sep 11 : The Indian Army is planning to cut around 1.5 lakh jobs over the next four to five years so as to divert the funds to be used to purchase modern weapons for fulfilling Narendra Modi’s idea of ‘lean and mean’ force.belying expectations of a significant hike .when the armed forces are facing growing challenge on the borders with both Pakistan and China.

As per media reports, job cuts will help the army in saving around Rs 7,000 crore which will be used to buy weapons.

Indian Army reviewed wide-ranging issues including cutting the personnel strength of the 1.2-million strong Indian Army force and merger of different verticals to optimise its functioning as per the order on Jun21,According to a report in the Hindustan Times, the reduction in the work-force will be done by revamping the verticals.

On September 1, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) approved the acquisition of 6.5 lakh assault rifles, under the “Make in India” program. The Indian Army issued a Request for Information (RFI) for the purchase of 7.62×39 square mm calibre assault r

Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal has confirmed that Indian Athlete Hima Das will be named as the first sports ambassador of the state.

The announcement came after Hima Das recently became the first Indian woman to win gold at IAAF World U-20 Athletics Championships.

The 18-year-old made the country proud as she scripted history by clinching the top spot in the women’s 400 m final race at the Championships which was held in France.

est-selling author Preeti Shenoy announced the launch of her new book, 'The Rule Breakers'.

The book claims to explore complex themes of women's equality, gender, and inclusion among others.

The novel set in the '90s is the story of Veda, who harbors big dreams, but finds herself trapped in an arranged marriage and realizes that her opinions in real life don't matter.

Om Prakash Mishra, who studied law in India, is set to become Nepal's new Chief Justice after the Parliamentary Hearing Committee Monday unanimously endorsed his name for the top judicial post.

Mishra, the senior-most justice after Justice Deepak Raj Joshee, will assume charge as the Chief Justice after President Bidya Devi Bhandari officially appoints him.

The Parliamentary Hearing Committee (PHC) conducted hearings on complaints filed against Mishra before giving its approval ..

The mid-air re-fuelling of wet contact trial for Light Combat Aircraft, LCA Tejas MK-1 was successfully carried out from an Indian Air Force base.

Defence Ministry in a release said, the trial was a part of the Air-to-Air refuelling flight tests conducted by Indian Air Force. Before this wet contact trial, the dry contact trials were successfully conducted last week.

The Ministry said, Indian Air Force provided all required support to DRDO including the tanker aircraft for the successful test flight.

The Air-to-Air refuelling capability for Tejas is a force multiplier for the Indian Air Force, giving the aircraft the potential to stay airborne for much longer periods of time. Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has complimented DRDO, Indian Air Force, HAL and other agencies involved in the mission. (AIR)