National
2020 Kuvempu Award
⇒ Odia poet Dr Rajendra Kishore Panda has been selected for the Kuvempu Rashtriya Puraskar for the year 2020. Dr. Panda has published 16 poetry collections and a novel.
About Award:
The national award has been instituted in memory of the late poet laureate Kuvempu. Founded in 1992, Rashtrakavi Kuvempu Trust instituted this national annual literary award in 2013.
The award carries a cash award of Rs 5 lakh, a silver medal and a citation. The award is presented at Kuppalli, the birthplace of Kuvempu in Shivamogga district, on December 29 to mark his birth anniversary.
The award is given annually to a writer who has contributed in any of the languages recognised by the Constitution of India.
First fintech cohort of AIM-iLEAP
⇒ Atal Innovation Mission, NITI Aayog concluded its first fintech cohort of AIM-iLEAP on 30 June 2021. AIM-iLEAP is an initiative to back tech start-ups with much-needed access to industry, markets and investors.
AIM organised its first fintech cohort of AIM-iLEAP as major step to accelerate Tech Start-ups across India.
Organised:
The fintech cohort was done through a series of thematic virtual demo days. It was organised by AIM in partnership with Startup Réseau and Visa as part of AIM-iLEAP (Innovative leadership for entrepreneurial agility and profitability) initiative.
Area of Discussion:
The Fin-Tech cohort consisted of start-ups from a wide range of areas such as- payments, international money transfers, personal finance, consumer banking, insurance, neo bank etc.
After going through an intensive discussion session, the start-ups showcased their solutions to various enterprises for market access and investors for funding via the inaugural virtual Demo Day on 30th June 2021. Fintech giants such as Visa, Paytm etc. as well as big investors attended the program.
Objective:
The objective of the AIM-iLEAP program is to invite technology start-ups across a broad range of functions and have them present their solutions to the corporate leadership and innovation team for enabling market access and industry partnerships.
International
WHO declared China malaria-free
⇒ The World Health Organization on 30 June 2021 declared China malaria-free after a 70 year old effort to eradicate the disease.
According to the WHO, globally 40 countries and territories have won the battle against malaria.
China has become the 40th country to be declared malaria-free.
China is the first country in the WHO Western Pacific Region to be awarded a malaria-free certification in more than 3 decades. Other countries in the region that have achieved this status include Australia (1981), Singapore (1982) and Brunei Darussalam (1987).
Other countries to gain the status recently are:
El Salvador (2021), Algeria (2019), Argentina (2019), Paraguay (2018) and Uzbekistan (2018)
Meeting with Ministers of Health of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Countries
⇒ Dr Harsh Vardhan, Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare addressed a meeting with Ministers of Health of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) countries on 30 June 2021.
Key Points of Minister’s Address:
» Dr. Harsh Vardhan stated, India has started the “Institute for One Health of International Standard” which may be leveraged to have a One Health International Hub in India which will address existing or potential risks which originate through the interface of animal-human systems.
» He also informed that how India has utilized digital technologies extensively for inventory management and timely distribution of COVID vaccines. India had also launched the ‘Vaccine Maitri’ to provide vaccines to partner countries.
» He also emphasized how the Indian traditional system of medicine has contributed substantially in boosting the immunity of the general population during COVID-19.
UN Report on the Global Economy:
⇒ The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on tourism could result in a more than $4 trillion loss to the global economy, UN trade and development body UNCTAD said on 30 June 2021 in a report issued jointly with the UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO).
2021 BET Awards
⇒ The 2021 BET Awards ceremony was held on 27 June 2021 in Los Angeles, California.
Theme:
The theme of the 21st Bet Awards was “Year of the Black Woman”.
Important Award Winners:
- Album of the Year: Heaux Tales – Jazmine Sullivan
- Best Movie: Judas and the Black Messiah
- Best Actress: Andra Day
- Best Actor: Chadwick Boseman
- Sportswoman of the Year: Naomi Osaka
- Sportsman of the Year: LeBron James
- Lifetime Achievement Award: Queen Latifah
Important Day
World Asteroid Day 2021
⇒ World Asteroid Day is observed globally on 30th June every year as per UN resolution.
It started in 2016 in order to make people aware about the possible impact of Asteroids on Earth and its habitants.