Albinism Awareness Day

Every year, International Albinism Awareness Day is observed globally on 13 June. Albinism is a congenital disorder that affects the pigmentation of the hair, skin and eyes. This year, the theme is ‘United in making our voice heard’. The day is observed to spread awareness about this rare disease and the rights of the people with albinism. The disease is not just limited to humans but also to animals like lions, cheetahs and penguins.

New Record

22-year-old mountaineer Poorna Malavath, from Nizamabad district, Telangana, has created a new record by completing her ‘Seven Summits Challenge’. Poorna, who has climbed six other major peaks in the past, reached the summit of Mt Denali (6,190 mt), the highest mountain in the continent of North America, on June 5, 2022. At the age of 13, Poorna scaled Mount Everest and became the youngest Indian and the youngest girl in the world to have reached the summit, in 2014.

 

Carving A New Path

D.S. Roopkala, the head of R.R. Architects and Associates in Bengaluru, Karnataka, successfully led a team of architects, comprising three women and two male structural engineers, to design the newly launched Sir M. Visvesvaraya air-conditioned railway Terminal, at Baiyappanahalli in Bengaluru. The terminal was opened for commercial operation on 6 June, 2022. Roopkala said that they wanted the station to fascinate and comfort visitors with a positive vibe.

Magicking his way

Adhil’s interest in learning magic tricks started when he was just 10 years-old. Now as a first-year engineering student from Kochi, Kerala, the automobile enthusiast  has earned his name in the India Book of Records, Asia Book of Records and International Book of Records for performing 23 magic acts in just 60 seconds. Adhil said that his passion for magic hasn’t reduced in all these years and it is a privilege for him to perform magic in front of audiences.

Brain Tumour Day

World Brain Tumour Day is observed globally every year on 8 June. A brain tumour is identified by a growth of abnormal cells in the brain. According to the National Health Portal (NHP), every day across the globe, more than 500 new patients are diagnosed with a brain tumour. The day is observed to create awareness about brain tumours and its prevention and treatment, and to pay respects to the patients, their families and the medical professionals involved in their care.

Drones to the rescue

Aster MIMS Hospital in Kozhikode, Kerala, has become the first hospital in the state to introduce the use of drones for the delivery of essential items, especially blood samples and medicines, to hospitals. Farhan Yasin, the regional director of Aster Kerala, said that the firm is planning to employ drones for transporting organs in the future and also to collaborate with residents’ associations and apartment complexes to allot some space in their area for landing drones.

Save the Sea

Every year, World Oceans Day is celebrated globally on 8 June. This year, the theme is Revitalization: Collective Action for the Ocean. The day is observed to create awareness among people about the negative impact of human activities such as garbage and sewage disposal on the ocean. On December 5, 2008, the United Nations General Assembly passed a resolution to designate 8 June as World Oceans Day.

Birthday Tribute

On his 171st birth anniversary, Google paid tribute to inventor Angelo Moriondo with a special doodle, on June 6, 2022. The doodle featured a GIF image of the first-known espresso machine and was painted wholly with coffee. Known as the ‘Godfather of Espresso Machines’, Moriondo was credited for patenting the earliest-known espresso machine in 1884. During the time of his invention, the machine was popular with coffee lovers as it reduced their waiting time to get the beverage.

 

Greener India

83-year-old Prakash Singh Bhatty from Amritsar, Punjab, has planted over one crore saplings across the nation, in the past five decades. With the help of his NGO Missionaries Khudai Khidmatgaran, Bhatty has saved thousands of acres from becoming barren lands in many states with his plantation work. The environmentalist said that he prefers to plant traditional trees that have slowly vanished from Punjab and Haryana, such as amla, baheda and falsa.

 

Future Sporting Stars

This year in Khelo India Youth Games, 10 out of the total 12 players in the Andhra Pradesh kabaddi girl’s team, are the daughters of farm labourers from Kapusambham village near Vizianagaram. These talented teenage girls participated in this tournament not only to win a medal, but to become future sporting stars and buy fields for their parents. Khelo India Youth Games is a multi-disciplinary sports competition held for the nation’s under 17 and 21 years young athletes, in the respective categories.