1. Muthamizh Selvi becomes first woman from Tamil Nadu to scale Mount Everest
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Muthamizh Selvi, 36, a resident of Johilpatti, Virudhunagar, became the first woman from Tamil Nadu to scale Mount Everest.
An Overview of the News
Tamil Nadu Sports Development and Youth Welfare Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin felicitated Muthamizh Selvi for his remarkable achievement.
Mount Everest is the highest peak of the Greater Himalayan mountain range located on the border of Nepal and China (Tibet) in Asia.
Mount Everest is called Devagiri in Sanskrit, Chomolungma in Tibetan, Chu-mu-long-ma-feng in Chinese and Sagarmatha in Nepali.
On 29 May 1953, Edmund Hillary of New Zealand and Tensingh Norgay Sherpa, an Indian citizen of Nepali origin, climbed Mount Everest for the first time.
Junko Tabei (Japan)is the first woman to reach the summit of Mount Everest, as well as the first woman to climb the highest peaks on each of the 7 continents.
Bachendri Pal is the first Indian woman to climb Mount Everest in 1984. Santosh Yadav is the first Indian woman to climb Everest twice in a row.
About Tamil Nadu
The state was formed on 26 January 1950 but its boundaries were redrawn on 14 January 1969.
It is situated at the mouth of the Arabian Sea, the Bay of Bengal and the Indian Ocean.
Tamil Nadu is the largest producer of bananas and flowers, second largest producer of mangoes, rubber, groundnut, coconut and third largest producer of coffee.
Governor - Ravindra Narayan Ravi
Chief Minister - MK Stalin
Assembly seats - 235 seats
Rajya Sabha seats -18
Lok Sabha seats - 39
2. Janardan Prasad appointed as new Director General of GSI
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Janardan Prasad has been appointed as the new Director General of the Geological Survey of India (GSI).
An Overview of the News
Janardhana Prasad takes over from Dr. S. Raju, who has served as the Director General since 2020.
The GSI conducts scientific studies on the Earth's geology, mineral resources, and natural hazards.
It contributes to areas such as mining, infrastructure development, disaster management and environmental planning.
GSI collaborates with national and international institutions, carries out geological mapping and assessment of mineral resources.
Geological Survey of India (GSI)
It is a scientific agency of India.
It was established in 1851 and is one of the oldest organisations of its kind globally.
GSI works under the Ministry of Mines, a government organisation.
It conducts geological surveys and studies all over India.
The GSI is the second oldest survey in India after the Survey of India(established in 1767).
The agency provides basic Earth science information to the government, industry and the general public.
GSI is actively involved in steel, coal, metals, cement and power industries.
3. Nirmala Laxman appointed as the new chairman of The Hindu Group
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Nirmala Laxman has been appointed as the Chairperson of the Board of Directors of The Hindu Group Publishing Private Limited (THGPPL) for a period of three years.
An Overview of the News
He succeeds Malini Parthasarathy, who stepped down after completing her three-year term at the board meeting on June 5, 2023.
Nirmala Laxman During her time as joint editor of The Hindu, she was instrumental in re-launching and setting up new features sections, including 'The Hindu Literary Review', 'Young World' and 'The Hindu in School'. played an important role.
Nirmala Laxman is the founder and curator of Lit for Life, a literary festival organized by The Hindu.
In addition to his current appointment, he previously served as the chairman of Kasturi Media Limited (KML), the publisher of The Hindu Tamil Thisai.
The Hindu Group Publishing Private Limited (THGPPL):
It is a media company.
It is the publisher of The Hindu, a national daily newspaper, as well as other publications including Frontline, Sportstar and Hindu BusinessLine.
THGPPL operates the digital assets including the website and mobile app of The Hindu.
The company was founded in 1878 by G. Subramania Iyer as The Hindu Religious and Public Trust, which focused on religious and educational material.
In 1905, the Trust acquired The Hindu newspaper, shifting the company's focus to journalism.
Headquarters - Chennai, India
4. Wrangler signs Smriti Mandhana as brand ambassador
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Ace Turtle Omni Pvt Ltd., a retail company, has selected Indian cricketer Smriti Mandhana as the brand ambassador for its Wrangler brand. Ace Turtle is the licensee of Wrangler in India.
An overview of the news
The company aims for significant expansion in the fiscal year 2024.
Mandhana embodies the company's values and is expected to inspire customers to embrace their uniqueness and pursue their dreams.
Tuhin Mishra, co-founder and Managing Director of the talent management firm, expressed delight in facilitating the endorsement association between Mandhana and Wrangler.
Mandhana's Achievements
Mandhana has established herself in international women's cricket and gained a global fan base through her exceptional talent and fearless approach.
She has received the ICC Women's Cricketer of the Year award twice for her outstanding performances on the cricket field.
Smriti Mandhana was the highest bid player, receiving ₹3.4 crore, in the Women's Premier League auctions.
Starting at a base price of ₹50 lakh, she was eventually bought by the Royal Challengers Bangalore.
5. Dennis Francis elected 78th UNGA president
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Dennis Francis, a citizen of Trinidad and Tobago (TT), created history by becoming the first TT citizen to be elected as the President of the UN General Assembly (UNGA).
An overview of the news
The election took place at the UN headquarters in New York, US, on 1 June.
Francis, who has served in the diplomatic service for over 40 years, was nominated on April 1 and faced no opposition in the election.
He will serve as the 78th President of the UNGA.
He will enforce the rules of procedure, such as opening and closing debates, regulating speaking times for representatives, suspending or adjourning debates, and setting the agenda for the assembly.
United Nations General Assembly (UNGA)
It is the United Nation’s chief policy-making and representative organ and was created in 1945.
It is one of the six principal organs of the United Nations (UN).
It serves as the main deliberative, policy making and representative organ of the United Nations.
Its powers, structure, functions and procedures are set out in Chapter IV of the United Nations Charter.
Its main functions are to prepare the budget of the United Nations, appoint non-permanent members to the Security Council, appoint the Secretary-General of the United Nations, receive reports from other parts of the United Nations system, and make recommendations through resolutions.
6. Shalini Singh becomes first woman NCC cadet to complete mountaineering course
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20-year-old Shalini Singh from Lucknow has become the first woman NCC cadet in India to complete a mountaineering course in the Himalayan region of Uttarakhand.
An Overview of the News
Shalini Singh scaled the 15,400 ft peak in Dring Valley in Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand as part of the course.
The training course took place at Tekla, Uttarkashi from 26 April to 6 May.
The training was conducted under tough conditions, with subzero (-14°C) temperatures.
Shalini was the only woman cadet in the team of 45 NCC cadets.
This included training in rock climbing, rappelling, snow and ice climbing and camping.
Shalini Singh was admitted as Senior Wing NCC Cadet in 67 UP Battalion.
National Cadet Corps (NCC):
It is the youth wing of the Indian Armed Forces, headquartered in New Delhi, India.
It has been active since July 16, 1948 and is open to school and college students on a voluntary basis.
The NCC functions as a tri-services organisation comprising the Army, Navy and Air Force.
Its primary aim is to develop the youth of the country into disciplined and patriotic citizens.
The Soldier Youth Foundation in India is a voluntary organisation that recruits cadets from high schools, higher secondary schools, colleges and universities across the country.
On completion of their course, officers and cadets in NCC and Soldier Youth Foundation are not bound to serve in active military duty.
Its emblem comprises three colours: red - representing the Indian Army, dark blue - representing the Indian Navy and light blue - representing the Indian Air Force.
7. Latvian parliament elects Edgars Rinkevics as new president
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In 2011, Edgars Rinkevics, Latvia's foreign minister, was elected as the new president by the 100-seat Saimaa legislature.
An Overview of the News
In a close vote, Edgars Rinkevics secured 52 votes, more than the minimum needed to win the election.
Edgars Rinkevics, aged 49, has previously held positions such as State Secretary in the Ministry of Defense and worked as a journalist with Latvian Radio in the 1990s.
Latvia:
It is a country on the Baltic Sea, situated between Lithuania and Estonia.
The capital of Latvia is Riga, known for its remarkable woodwork and Art Nouveau architecture.
Riga's mediaeval Old Town contains St. Peter's Church is a popular tourist destination.
Capital - Riga
Prime minister - Krišjānis Kariņš
Official language - Latvian
8. Argentina's Celeste Saulo becomes first female Secretary-General of World Meteorological Organization
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Celeste Saulo of Argentina has been appointed as the first female Secretary-General of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).
An overview of the news
Saulo won a landslide victory at the Congress of the United Nations Climate and Weather Agency in Geneva.
She will take over from the outgoing secretary-general Petteri Taalas of Finland on January 1.
Saulo has served as director of Argentina's National Meteorological Service since 2014.
He said that at a time when inequality and climate change are the biggest global threats, WMO should contribute to strengthening meteorological and hydrological services to protect populations and their economies.
The leader of the World Meteorological Congress is elected every four years.
The agency plays an important role in coordinating international meteorological operations.
It relies on satellites and thousands of weather stations to measure key parameters of the atmosphere, land and sea.
World Meteorological Organization (WMO)
It was established in 1873 by the International Meteorological Organization.
Headquarters – Geneva, Switzerland
On March 23, 1950, the World Meteorological Organization became a specialised organisation of the United Nations.
This organisation uses the latest information on meteorology, climatology, hydrology and related geophysical research to contribute to the safety and welfare of society.
9. Mission Olympic Cell approved Neeraj Chopra's proposal to train in Kuortane, Finland
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The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MYAS) Mission Olympic Cell (MOC) on 28th May approved Olympic Gold Medallist Neeraj Chopra’s proposal to train in Kuortane, Finland.
An overview of the news
Neeraj will train at the Kurtane Olympic Training Center in Finland.
He is scheduled to compete in several World Athletics events next month.
The MOC members also approved paddler Payas Jain's proposal for an advanced training camp in Taiwan.
Proposals to get Indian table tennis stars Manika Batra and Sathiyan Gnanasekaran's personal trainers Aman Balgu and Raman Subramaniam for a number of events were also approved by the MOC.
The ministry said that the financial assistance will cover air travel expenses of the players, camp expenses, boarding and lodging expenses, medical insurance and pocket money apart from other expenses.
Neeraj, who recently became the first Indian Javelin thrower to become World Number One, followed a similar training plan in 2022 as well.
10. Amarendu Prakash takes charge as new SAIL chairman
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Amarendu Prakash took charge as the new Chairman and Managing Director of Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) with effect from 31 May.
An Overview of the News
He was earlier Director (In-Charge) of SAIL's Bokaro Steel Plant.
SAIL had experienced three years of losses from FY16 to FY18.
Prakash is heading the Bokaro Steel Plant as Director-in-Charge from September 2020.
Under Prakash's leadership, Bokaro Steel Plant achieved remarkable production records in FY22 and FY23.
Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL):
It is a leading steel making company in India.
SAIL is a Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) under the Ministry of Steel, Government of India.
SAIL aims to promote the development and production of steel in the country.
The history of SAIL begins with India's First Five Year Plan (1951–1956).
Hindustan Steel Limited (HSL) was established in 1954, which later became the flagship company of SAIL.
In the 1970s and 1980s, SAIL embarked on a significant expansion plan to increase its steel production capacity.
New steel plants including Bokaro Steel Plant in Jharkhand, Visvesvaraya Iron and Steel Plant in Karnataka, Salem Steel Plant in Tamil Nadu and Alloy Steel Plant in West Bengal were established.
Establishment - January 19, 1954
Headquarters - New Delhi
CEO - Soma Mondal
