Azim Premji Receives Dr. Ida S. Scudder Oration Award
Azim Premji, founder chairman of Wipro Limited and founder of Azim Premji Foundation was recipient of the 10th annual Dr Ida S. Scudder Humanitarian Oration 2021, jointly established by Christian Medical College Vellore (CMC) and the U.S.-based Vellore CMC Foundation. The award was presented to Premji in recognition of his contributions to society.
Established in 2001, the Foundation has contributed immensely towards education, runs Azim Premji University in Bengaluru and also supports several not-for-profit organisations with financial grants. The Foundation also funded organisations in the field of healthcare.
Dr. Scudder who was born in Ranipet in 1870 dedicated her life to bringing modern healthcare and medical education to the people of India. The Oration seeks to inspire people to emulate her dedication to the service of humanity by honouring exceptional individuals. The previous recipients of the Dr Ida S. Scudder Humanitarian Oration include former president of India A.P.J. Abdul Kalam.
Dec 13, 2021
India's Harnaaz Sandhu becomes Miss Universe 2021
The new Miss Universe 2021 is Harnaaz Sandhu from India. The 21-year-old model was crowned the Miss Universe 2021 on December 12, 2021 at Universe Dome in Eilat, Israel. Harnaaz will bring home the Miss Universe crown after 21 years. Before her, Lara Dutta was crowned the Miss Universe in 2000.
Harnaaz is a 21-year-old model from Chandigarh who finished her school and college in the city.
She has been in the industry for many years and even has many numerous pageant titles to her name. She has also starred in Punjabi films like Yaara Diyan Poo Baran and Bai Ji Kuttange.
Harnaaz was the winner of Times Fresh Face Miss Chandigarh 2017, Miss Max Emerging Star India 2018 and Femina Miss India Punjab 2019.
Teen Pilot Zara Rutherford Lands in Seoul in her Mission to Fly Around the World Solo
Teen pilot Zara Rutherford landed in Seoul from Russia, the first Asia stop on her attempt to become the youngest woman to fly around the world solo.
In August, the 19-year-old British-Belgian departed from Kortrijk-Wevelgem Airport in western Belgium on her 51,000-km (32,000-mile) journey, which is to span five continents and 52 countries, including the United States, Greenland, Russia and Colombia.
Dec 10, 2021
Jailed Chinese journalist Zhang Zhan wins Lin Zhao Freedom Award
A US-based rights group has awarded journalist Zhang Zhan, who was jailed by Chinese authorities for reporting on the COVID-19 pandemic.
The US-based Christian rights group ChinaAid has awarded her with the Lin Zhao Freedom Award, for her work in promoting the Chinese civil society and advancing the rule of law.
Lawyer-turned-journalist Zhang travelled to Wuhan and "courageously investigated the area demonstrating a dedication to the victims of the COVID-19 that touched the world, and a spirit of fearless sacrifice," ChinaAid said.
International Maritime Organization (IMO) award
In order to internationally recognise extraordinary seamanship skills and outstanding courage displayed by individuals at sea, International Maritime Organization (IMO) award for exceptional bravery at sea is conferred annually to individuals or groups who, at the risk to their own lives, perform acts of exceptional bravery in attempting to save life at sea or in attempting to prevent or mitigate damage to the marine environment.
This year, IMO council awarded Certificate of Commendation to Indian Navy, Indian Coast Guard and Master along with crew members of tugboat Ocean Bliss for exceptional and courageous efforts towards rescue operation of M/T New Diamond, which caught fire and was drifting towards the coast, laden with inflammable cargo. The rescue team members of the Indian Navy, Indian Coast Guard and the master and crew of tugboat Ocean Bliss, carried out sustained and effective fire- fighting operations and skilfully towed the vessel away from the coast, thereby preventing loss of life at sea and averted a serious marine pollution incident.
Dec 09, 2021
Konkani Novelist Receive Jnanpith Award
Konkani novelist Damodar Mauzo won the 57th Jnanpith Award. The country's highest literary award, the Jnanpith is bestowed on writers for "their outstanding contribution to literature". Jnanpith Award is a literary award presented by the Bharatiya Jnanpith organization to Indian writers every year. This was instituted in 1961 and is given only to Indian writers who write in Indian languages and English.
Mauzo is based out of Majorda, Goa, and has previously won the Sahitya Akademi Award. He is known for his novels, such as Karmelin, and Tsunami Simon, and short stories Teresa's Man and Other Stories from Goa. This is the second Jnanpith Award for a Konkani writer— the first being Ravindra Kelekar in 2006.
Dec 06, 2021
Ciprian Foias Prize
Nikhil Srivastava is an associate professor of Mathematics at University of California, Berkeley.
Eminent Indian-American mathematician Nikhil Srivastava was jointly selected for the inaugural $5,000 Ciprian Foias Prize for the highly original work in Operator Theory by the American Mathematical Society (AMS).
Along with Prof. Srivastava, who teaches at the University of California, Berkeley, the two other awardees were Adam Marcus and Daniel Spielman.