Current affairs 21 June 2023

Author Salman Rushdie awarded the prestigious German Peace Prize in 2023.

British-American author, Salman Rushdie has been selected for the prestigious German Peace Prize 2023 for his literary work and his resolve and positive attitude in the face of constant danger.
He would receive the award in Frankfurt on October 22, 2023.
Cash prize: €25,000 ($27,300)
This prize was established in 1950 to recognize a personality committed to serving international understanding between nations and cultures through their work.

According to a new report, Glaciers in Asia’s Hindu Kush Himalaya could lose up to 75% of their volume by the end of the century.
Reason: Global warming, is causing dangerous flooding and water shortages for the 240 million people who live in the mountainous region.
The international scientist team found that ice loss on the peaks of Everest and K2 is speeding up.
In 2010, the glaciers shed as much as 65% of ice, which was faster than they had in the preceding decade.

UN has adopted the first-ever treaty to protect marine life on the high seas, approved by delegates from the 193 member nations.
The treaty will create a new body to manage the conservation of ocean life and establish marine protected areas on the high seas.
It also establishes ground rules for conducting environmental impact assessments for commercial activities in the oceans.
The new treaty is under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, came into force in 1994.

Karnataka government has launched a free power scheme named Gruha Jyothi scheme for providing free electricity up to 200 units a month.
Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah also stated that the scheme also extends to tenants living on rent if their electricity consumption matches the scheme's criteria.
The beneficiaries will get a ‘zero bill’ starting August 1 if usage is within their entitlement.
The Gruha Jyothi scheme is part of the Congress government's five poll promises.

Nusrat Jahan Choudhury, a civil rights attorney, has achieved a historic milestone by becoming the first Muslim woman to serve as a federal judge in the United States.
President Joe Biden nominated Choudhury, a civil rights attorney, to the U.S. District Court for Eastern New York in January, and she was confirmed to the life-tenured position with a narrow margin of 50-49 votes.
Choudhury currently serves as the legal director of the Illinois chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU).
She has been a vocal advocate for racial justice and protecting civil liberties throughout her career.