Current Affairs

Ruchira Kamboj, India's top diplomat at UN, retires after 4 decades of service

After an illustrious career spanning over 35 years, India’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ruchira Kamboj, has retired, the senior diplomat said on Saturday.

The first woman diplomat to occupy the prestigious position as the Ambassador of India at the UN, Kamboj – who had joined the Indian Foreign Service in 1987 – took to social media to bid goodbye.

“Thank you, Bharat, for the extraordinary years and unforgettable experiences,” the 60-year-old senior diplomat signed off with this message on her X handle.



Dinesh Karthik officially announces retirement from all forms of cricket

Dinesh Karthik made it official on Saturday. The veteran wicketkeeper-batter announced his retirement from all forms of cricket. The writing was on the wall when Karthik was given an emotional farewell by his IPL franchise, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, after losing the Eliminator to the Rajasthan Royals. Karthik finally put the official stamp on it 10 days later.

“Having given it plenty of thought for some time now, I have decided to move on from playing representative cricket. I officially announce my retirement and put my playing days behind me as I square up for the new challenges that lie ahead,” Karthik wrote in a social media statement.



India is warming fast; endured its 2nd-hottest year on record in 2023

In 2023, India endured its second-hottest year on record, marked by remarkably warm winters, monsoons and post-monsoon periods. At least 102 weather stations across 26 states and Union Territories shattered their monthly highest 24-hour maximum temperature in 122 years.

Ten of these stations were in million-plus cities — Bengaluru, Jamshedpur, Kochi, Kota, Kozhikode, Lucknow, Madurai, Thiruvananthapuram, Thrissur and Visakhapatnam — showed the analysis in State of India’s Environment In Figures: 2024, the annual publication by Down to Earth and Delhi-based think tank Centre for Science and Environment being released on May 31, 2024.

Twenty-seven of the weather stations with record-breaking temperatures were in Andhra Pradesh, Kerala and Tamil Nadu (9 each).

Thirty-four of the weather stations with record-breaking 24-hour maximum temperatures were reported in September.



India sends humanitarian aid to Cuba

A consignment of around 90 tonnes of nine different Made in India Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) left Mundra port for the Republic of Cuba on June 2, 2024. These APIs are critical for producing essential antibiotics that are needed for the treatment of chronic communicable diseases.

The APIs sent by India will be utilized by Cuban drug manufacturers to produce antibiotics in various forms such as tablets, capsules, syrups, and injections. These forms are crucial for effective treatment and management of chronic diseases that have a significant impact on public health in Cuba. This initiative is part of India’s broader effort to support global health and to provide assistance to countries in need.



Gautam Adani overtakes Mukesh Ambani to become richest Asian

Gautam Adani has retaken the tag of richest person in Asia after a surge in stock price of the listed companies in his apples-to-airport conglomerate helped him overtake Reliance Industries head Mukesh Ambani.

Mr. Adani with a net worth of $111 billion is now ranked as the 11th richest in the world, ahead of Mr. Ambani whose $109 billion wealth placed him at No. 12, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.

Shares of all Adani Group companies surged on Friday by up to 14% after U.S. brokerage Jefferies put a bullish view on the group that is back to an expansion spree with a planned $90 billion capital expenditure over the next decade.



India’s D.P Manu Clinches Gold In Javelin Throw At Taiwan Athletics Open

India’s DP Manu and Nithya Ramraj brought home one gold and one silver medals, respectively, at the Taiwan Athletics Open 2024 on Saturday. In men’s Javelin throw, Manu clinched the gold medal with the best effort of 81.58 metres. He started the competition with a throw of 78.32. However, he secured the top spot in the competition in the sixth and final attempt, to finish with the best throw of 81.58 metres. Chao Tsun Cheng of Chinese Taipei won the silver with a throw of 76.21 metres while his compatriot Chao-Hong Huang with 71.24 metre took the bronze medal.

Meanwhile, in the women’s 100 metre hurdles, Nithya Ramraj bagged the silver medal with a timing of 13.23 seconds. Former world champion Nia Ali of USA won the gold medal after clocking 12.80 seconds, while Zhang Bo-ya of Chinese Taipei won the bronze medal with a timing of 13.28 seconds.



Tanvi Sharma Bags Women’s Singles Title Of Bonn International Badminton Tournament

India’s Tanvi Sharma bagged the women’s singles title of the Bonn International Badminton Tournament, in Germany on Saturday. The young Indian shuttler defeated Wang Pei Yu of Taiwan in straight sets, 21-19, 22-20. This is the first senior title for the 15-year-old Tanvi.



India Bag 7 Medals Including 3 Gold, 3 Silver, One Bronze

In the Taiwan Athletics Open 2024, the Indian contingent concluded the campaign with a remarkable medal haul, bagging seven medals including three golds, three silvers and one bronze medal. In women’s Long Jump, Nayana James clinched the gold medal, registering the best jump of 6.43 metres today. Sumire Hata of Japan won the silver, while Yu Jeongmi of South Korea won the bronze medal.

In Men’s 800 metres, India’s Ankesh Choudhary bagged the gold, clocking 1 minute 50.63 seconds, while compatriot Somnath Chouhan won the silver medal clocking 1 minute 50.88 seconds. Hussein Lorana of Philippines won the bronze medal.

In Men’s pole vault, Dev Meena won the silver medal. Yong Fu Huang of Chinese Taipei also registered a leap of 5.10 metre. However, Yong won the gold medal courtesy of fewer fouls. Another Chinese Taipei athlete Huang Chen Chi took the bronze for a height of 4.80m.



Sushil Kumar Singh (IRSME) appointed as Chairperson of Deendayal Port Authority

The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved the appointment of Sushil Kumar Singh (IRSME) as Chairperson of Deendayal Port Authority, Kandla under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways on Friday.

According to an order issued from the Department of Personnel & Training (DoPT) on May 30, Singh has been appointed as Chairman of Deendayal Port Authority in place of SK Mehta (IFoS) with effect from the date of assumption of charge of the post, for an overall tenure upto the date of his superannuation on January 31, 2027 or until further orders, whichever is earlier.



Pakistan Army gets minority woman brigadier in historic first

Dr Helen Mary Roberts, serving in the Pakistan Army Medical Corps, has made history by becoming the first woman from the Christian and minority community to achieve the rank of brigadier in the Muslim-majority country.

Roberts was among Pakistan Army officers promoted as brigadiers and full colonels by the Selection Board, The News reported on Sunday.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif congratulated Helen on her promotion as Brigadier, saying the whole nation was proud of her and thousands of hardworking women like her from minority communities who are serving the country with distinction.