1. Goa Manohar International Airport wins Best Sustainable Greenfield Airport Award
Tags: Awards
Goa Manohar International Airport (MIA) has been awarded the prestigious "Best Sustainable Greenfield Airport" award under Aviation Sustainability and Environment at the ASSOCHAM 14th International Conference.
An overview of the news
The award was presented for "outstanding initiatives" taken by Goa International Airport Limited (GGIAL) in implementing sustainability.
The awards were presented to senior officials of GGIAL by Union Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia.
Goa Manohar International Airport
Goa Manohar International Airport was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 11 December 2022
Commercial operation was slated for January 5, 2023.
The Union Cabinet on 04 December 2022 approved the renaming of the Greenfield International Airport at Mopa as 'Manohar International Airport - Mopa' in memory of late Manohar Parrikar, former Defense Minister and four-time Chief Minister of Goa.
2. Nepalese ophthalmologist Dr Sanduk Ruit wins Bahrain's Isa Award for Service to Humanity
Tags: Awards
Himalayan Cataract Project Co-Founder and noted Nepali ophthalmologist Dr Sanduk Ruit has won the Isa Award-2021-2022 for Service to Humanity, a top civilian award of Bahrain.
An overview of the news
The award carries a cash prize of US$1 million, a certificate of merit and a gold medallion.
Dr. Ruit is a pioneer in providing high quality microsurgical procedures in remote eye camps.
He has been instrumental in making modern eye care affordable and accessible to countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America.
He is fondly called "God of Sight" for saving the sight of 1,20,000 eyes.
The biennial award will be presented at a ceremony to be held next month at the Isa Cultural Center in Manama under the patronage of King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa.
The Board of Trustees considered the findings of the field research team's visit and decided that Dr. Ruit work deserves this award for service to humanity because of the originality of his efforts and his success.
Dr. Ruitt has trained and qualified more than 650 doctors to treat and prevent blindness.
He is a recipient of the Padma Shri award by the Government of India, the National Order of Merit of Bhutan as well as the Ramon Magsaysay Award.
The Government of Australia conferred on him "The Order of Australia" in 2007.
In 2016, he was awarded the "Asian Game Changer Award" by the Asia Society of New York.
The "Isa Award for Service to Humanity" was established in 2009 by His Majesty Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, the King of Bahrain.
3. ‘Naanera’ bags ‘Golden Kailasha’ award in Ajanta-Ellora film festival
Tags: Awards
A Rajasthani film "Nanera" directed by Dipankar Prakash was awarded the 'Golden Kailasha' award for the best film at the Ajanta-Ellora Film Festival.
An overview of the news
The Rajasthani film Nanera (Nanaji's house) revolves around the main character Manish.
After the death of Manish's father, his maternal uncle starts taking decisions about his life.
The life of Manish, the main character of the story, takes a new turn when he falls in love with his cousin. Because of this, his family finds themselves in trouble.
'Nanera' has also received the award for Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Editing.
The award was announced by N Vidyashankar, jury member of FIPRESCI (Fédération Internationale de la Presse Cinématographique The International Federation of Film Critics) India.
Under the award for the best film, 'Nanera' was given a trophy and a cash prize of one lakh rupees.
The eighth edition of the film festival was organised in Aurangabad from 11 to 15 January.
Apart from this, Akshata Pandavapura of Kannada film 'Koli Isru' (Chicken Curry) won the Best Child Artist and Best Actress award.
The film revolves around a young mother in a village who must somehow fulfill her daughter's desire to eat chicken curry.
Jeetu Kamal was awarded the best actor award for the Bengali film 'Aparajito' at the film festival.
55 films were screened in this five-day film festival.
4. K. Venu was awarded the Federal Bank Literary Award 2022
Tags: Awards
In January 2023, renowned author K Venu was awarded the Federal Bank Literary Award 2022 for his autobiography 'Oarnavashanthinte Katha'.
An Overview of the news
Mr. Venu received the award from Balagopal Chandrasekhar, Chairman and Independent Director, Federal Bank, at a special event organised as part of the Kerala Literature Festival.
10 works were selected for this award. The gist of this book brings back one of the most profound political memories in Kerala's modern history.
Federal Bank Literary Award
This is the first literary award instituted by the Federal Bank.
The award was announced by Nandakumar V, Executive Vice President & Head - Branch Banking.
Federal Bank
Founder of Federal Bank: K.P. Hormis
Federal Bank Headquarters: Aluva (Kerala)
Federal Bank CEO: Shyam Srinivasan
5. America's R Bonnie Gabriel became Miss Universe 2022
Tags: Awards
America's R'Bonnie Gabriel won the Miss Universe 2022 title at the 71st Miss Universe pageant.
Amanda Dudamel of Venezuela was declared the first runner up while Anderina Martinez of Dominican Republic became the second runner up.
R Bonnie Gabriel, 28, is a model, fashion designer and sewing instructor. She is the first American of Filipino descent to win Miss USA.
The pageant saw 84 women from around the world compete for the crown.
Divita Rai took part from India, who could only reach the semi-finals.
The 71st Miss Universe pageant was held in the city of New Orleans in the US state of Louisiana.
India's Harnaaz Sandhu was crowned Miss Universe 2021, the third Indian to win the crown after Sushmita Sen (1994) and Lara Dutta (2000).
The Miss Universe pageant was founded in 1952 by Pacific Mills, a California-based textile company.
The first Miss Universe pageant was held in 1952 in Long Beach, California.
Armi Kuusela of Finland won the first Miss Universe title.
6. Rajamouli's film 'RRR' wins Critics' Choice Award for Best Song
Tags: Awards
SS Rajamouli's film 'RRR' won the 28th Critics' Choice Awards 2023 for Best Foreign Language Film and Best Song.
The film 'Rise, Roar, Revolt' ie RRR recently received the Golden Globe Award for the song 'Naatu Naatu'.
The film also won the Critics' Choice Award for Best Song for the song 'Naatu Naatu'.
For Best Song, 'RRR' was up against 'Where the Crowded Sing', 'Guilmeri del Toro Pinocchio', 'Top Gun: Maverick', 'Black Panther: Wakanda Forever' and 'White Noise'.
RRR won the Best Foreign Language Film award beating films like 'All Quiet on the Western Front', 'Argentina 1985', 'Bardo', 'False Chronicle of a Dumpful of Truths', 'Close' and 'Decision to Leave'.
Movie 'RRR'
'RRR' directed by SS Rajamouli is based on nationalism and brotherhood.
It stars famous actors Ram Charan and Jr. NTR in lead roles.
The film is based on the lives of real-life Indian revolutionaries Alluri Sitarama Raju and Komaram Bheem.
The song 'Naatu Naatu' is composed by MM Keeravani and sung by Kaal Bhairav and Rahul Sipligunj.
7. Best Agripreneurs honoured on National Youth Day
Tags: Awards National News
On the occasion of National Youth Day, 82 best Agripreneurs trained under Agri-Clinic and Agri-Business (AC&ABC) scheme were hounered for their significant contribution through Agri-Clinic and Agri-business services to the farmers.
An overview of the news
The Agri-Clinics and Agri-Business Scheme is a mega flagship scheme of the Government, which was launched by the Government of India in April 2002 in collaboration with NABARD.
It aims to transform unemployed youth into self-employed agri-entrepreneurs through 45 days free residential training in different parts of the country along with access to loans and subsidies from banks.
The scheme is being implemented by the National Institute of Agricultural Extension Management, Hyderabad through a network of 136 Nodal Training Institutes (NTIS) spread across all states.
8. Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award 2023
Tags: Awards
President Draupadi Murmu honored 27 overseas Indians with the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award on 10 January 2023 at the concluding session of the 17th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Convention.
An Overview of the news
It is the highest award given to overseas Indians for their distinguished contributions and achievements abroad.
Chief among the recipients of the award were Guyana President Mohamed Irfan Ali and Suriname President Chandrika Prasad Santokhi. In this context, some of the major award recipients, their country and related field have been mentioned as follows:
Awardee Country Region
Archana Sharma Switzerland Science and Technology
Reena Pushkarna Israel Business and Social Welfare
Vaikuntham Iyer Canada Education, Health, Clean Tech.
Shivakumar Nadesan Sri Lanka Community Welfare
Jagdish Chennupati Australia Science, Technology, Education
Sanjeev Mehta Bhutan Education
Dilip Lundo Brazil Art-Culture-Education
Alexander Maliakale Brunei Medicine
Joginder Singh Nijjar Croatia Art & Culture
Ramji Prasad Denmark IT
Kannan Ambalam Ethiopia Community Welfare
Selection of Honor Recipients
The Pravasi Bharatiya Samman recipients are selected by a committee headed by the Vice President. In which the External Affairs Minister (S Jaishankar) is its Vice-Chairman. While other members of the committee come from different places.
According to the Ministry of External Affairs, the committee considers the nominations for the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award and unanimously the winners are selected.
The awardees are expatriates who have made a mark abroad through their work in different fields.
9. Indian peacekeepers honoured with UN Medal for Exemplary Service
Tags: Awards
Over 1,000 Indian peacekeepers serving in the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) were awarded the prestigious United Nations Medal at an award ceremony.
An overview of the news
At a special award ceremony in Upper Nile, 1,171 peacekeepers from India deployed with the United Nations Mission in South Sudan were awarded the United Nations Medal for their exemplary service.
For the first time, a woman officer of the Indian Army, Major Jasmine Chatha, led the parade of the Indian contingent at the award ceremony in Upper Nile.
India is one of the largest troop-contributing countries to UN peacekeeping missions
Peacekeepers of India are commended for their excellent work and duties while serving in missions.
As of June 2022, 2370 Indian military personnel are deployed with UNMISS, second only to Rwanda (2637).
About UN Peacekeeping
UN peacekeeping began in 1948 when the UN Security Council authorised the deployment of UN military observers in the Middle East.
It helps to bring countries from conflict to a difficult path of peace.
It deploys soldiers and police from all over the world for peacekeeping.
India is one of the largest military and police contributors to UN peacekeeping operations.
There are currently more than 5,700 Indian peacekeepers deployed in nine of the 12 UN peacekeeping missions.
10. RRR's Naatu Naatu wins historic Golden Globe for best original song
Tags: Awards
South Cinema's film RRR has created history at the 80th 'Golden Globe Awards 2023' award ceremony, the film's Telugu song 'Naatu Naatu' has won the Best Song award.
An overview of the news
'Naatu Naatu' is the first Indian song to win this prestigious award.
The song was composed by MM Keeravani and sung by Kaala Bhairava and Rahul Sipligunj.
In the 'Golden Globe Awards 2023' award, the film 'RRR' received nominations in two categories, including 'Best Film - Non-English' and the other 'Best Original Song - Motion Picture'.
'RRR' directed by Rajamouli is based on nationalism and brotherhood.
It stars famous actors Ram Charan and Jr. NTR in lead roles.
The two play real-life Indian revolutionaries Alluri Sitarama Raju and Komaram Bheem in the film.
The film is based on a fictional story set in the pre-independence era.
The film 'RRR' is the first Indian film after two decades to be nominated for the awards.
Rajamouli recently won the prestigious New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Director.
Earlier in the 'Foreign Language' category, the films 'Salaam Bombay!' (1988) and 'Monsoon Wedding' (2001) were nominated. Both these films were directed by Mira Nair and both the films are completely different from 'RRR'.
