1.Person in News
UN honours Kerala health minister KK Shailaja for COVID-control efforts
United Nations honoured Kerala health minister for her efforts to control COVID-19 in the state on the occasion of its Public Service Day
Kerala was the first state to experience COVID-19 cases and has now flattened its curve
Invited to talk about her efforts, she explained the three strategies used in the state: Trace, Quarantine, Test, Isolate and Treat, Break the Chain and Reverse Quarantine.
2.Sports
Indian umpire Nitin Menon included into ICC’s Elite Umpire Panel
Nitin Menon is the youngest umpire to be included in the panel.
He is the third Indian umpire to be included after Srinivas Venkatraghavan and Sundaram Ravi.
He will be part of the International Cricket Council’s Elite Umpires Panel for the year 2020-21.
Quick Fact: The Elite Panel is a panel of cricket umpires appointed by ICC to officiate in Test and ODI matches around the world.
3.Science and Technology
Indigenously developed vaccine ‘COVAXIN’ gets approval for human clinical trials
COVAXIN has been developed by Bharat Biotech along with Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and the National Institute of Virology (NIV)
It has received approval for Phase I and II human clinical trials by the Drug Controller General of India (DGCI)
COVAXIN is the first indigenously developed vaccine against COVID-19 which has been approved for Human Clinical Trials
Quick Fact: Bharat Biotech has also developed vaccines for Polio, Rabies, Chikungunya, Rotavirus and Zikavirus.
4.Person in News
KK Venugopal reappointed as Attorney General for India
KK Venugopal has been reappointed as AGI by the President till August 2021.
KK Venugopal has been conferred with both Padma Vibhushan as well as the Padma Bhushan civilian honour
The Attorney General is the Chief Legal Advisor for GoI, whose term duration is decided by the President
Quick Fact: The first AGI of India was MC Setalvad
5.Defence and Security
59 Chinese apps banned on recommendation of Home Ministry
59 Chinese mobile applications, including popular ones like TikTok, CamScanner and WeChat have been banned by India
The ban has been imposed under Section 69A of the Information Technology Act
The reasons for the same have been cited as misuse of some mobile apps for stealing and transmitting user data out of India without permission, as well as engaging in activities prejudicial to sovereignty and integrity of India.
