1) World
Health Day observed: World Health Day was observed across the globe on
April 7. The Theme for 2014 is vector-borne diseases. Vectors (mosquitoes,
flies, bugs etc) transmit diseases like malaria, dengue, yellow fever etc. The theme
for the last year was 'Control your blood pressure'. The World Health Day is
celebrated every year on April 7, under the sponsorship of the World Health
Organization (WHO).In 1948, the WHO held the First World Health Assembly. The
Assembly decided to celebrate 7 April of each year, with effect from 1950, as
the World Health Day. The World Health Day is held to mark WHO's founding, and
is seen as an opportunity by the organization to draw worldwide attention to a
subject of major importance to global health each year.
2) First
phase of Lok Sabha election began in Assam, Tripura; High turnout: The
first round of elections on Monday in the six parliamentary constituencies of
the North-East recorded a high turnout. In Assam where five constituencies went
to the poll, the Election Commission described the turnout as above average
with over 72.5 per cent voters casting their vote. The turnout was well above
the 69.60 per cent voting registered for the entire State in the 2009 polls.
The Tripura West constituency also recorded an overwhelmingly high turnout of
84 per cent. According to the Election Commission, the final figure could go up
by 1-2 per cent.
3) Dhoni
named captain of World T20 Team of Tournament: His side may have lost in
the final but Mahendra Singh Dhoni was on Monday named captain of the 2014 ICC
World Team of the Tournament that figures four Indians, including star batsman
Virat Kohli. Opener Rohit Sharma and Ravichandran Ashwin are the other two
Indian players who feature in the team that was announced by the ICC. Kohli was
adjudged Player of the Tournament for amassing 319 runs with the help of four
half centuries, including knocks of 72 and 77 in the semifinal and final of the
showpiece event.
Men's Team of the Tournament (in batting
order): Rohit Sharma (India) - 200 runs, Stephan Myburgh (Netherlands) - 224
runs, Virat Kohli (India) - 319 runs,
JP Duminy (South Africa) - 187 runs, Glenn
Maxwell (Australia) - 147 runs, MS Dhoni (India - captain, wicketkeeper) - 50
runs, six dismissals, Darren Sammy (West Indies) - 101 runs, Ravichandran
Ashwin (India) - 11 wickets, Dale Steyn (South Africa) - nine wickets, Samuel
Badree (West Indies) - 11 wickets, Lasith Malinga (Sri Lanka) - five wickets,
12th Player: Krishmar Santokie (West Indies) - eight wickets.
4) Sun
Pharma to buy Ranbaxy in $3.2 billion all-share deal: In a landmark
transaction for the Indian pharmaceutical industry, Sun Pharmaceutical
Industries (SPL) on Monday announced that it will acquire 100 per cent of
Ranbaxy Laboratories in a $ 4 billion all-share transaction. The transaction
has a total equity value of $ 3.2 billion and a net debt of $ 800 million on
Ranbaxy’s books will also be part of the transaction. The combined entity will
create the fifth-largest specialty generics company in the world and the
largest pharmaceutical company in India with leadership in 13 specialty
segments.
5) Shooter
Heena Sidhu becomes world No.1: By virtue of consistent performances,
shooter Heena Sidhu has now become world No.1 in the 10 metres air pistol
event, according to the recent rankings released by International Shooting
Sport Federation. Last month in Kuwait, she won a gold medal in the Asian Air
Gun Championship and also recently finished with a silver at the ISSF
rifle/pistol World Cup in Fort Benning, USA. At the World Cup, 2013 in Munich,
Sidhu shot a world record score to win the gold medal.
6) Kingfisher
airline brand up for sale: The erstwhile 'king of good times', Vijay
Mallya, may now lose his Kingfisher brand. Lenders have started the process of
selling brands associated with the grounded Kingfisher Airlines (KFA). And the
ones up for grab include 'Kingfisher', 'fly the good times' and 'flying
models'. The sale will not directly impact Mallya's flagship beer brand by the
same name. That's because the airline and the beer brands are registered under
different categories. However, Dutch giant Heineken, which is the largest
shareholder in United Breweries, makers of Kingfisher beer, has reportedly
expressed concern about the sale of the surrogate 'Kingfisher' (airline) brand.
7) Lok
Sabha Elections 2014: BJP Released Manifesto: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)
on 7 April released its "Election Manifesto 2014" in New Delhi,
emphasising that it will strive for the revival of growth and job creation in
the country. However, the party said that it will not allow Foreign Direct
Investment (FDI) in multi-brand retail trade. The 52-page election manifesto
was released at a function at the BJP headquarters. BJP prime ministerial
candidate Narendra Modi, party president Rajnath Singh, veteran leaders LK
Advani, Sushma Swaraj and others were present at the event. The manifesto also
said that BJP will ensure equal opportunities for all minorities.
8) Jhumpa
Lahiri’s Lowland shortlisted for top UK prize: Pulitzer Prize-winning
Indian American novelist Jhumpa Lahiri’s “Lowland” has been shortlisted for
this year’s Baileys Prize, the UK’s only annual book award for fiction written
by a woman. “The Lowland”, which is about the lives of brothers Subhash and
Udayan, their choices and their fate, was described by Helen Fraser, Baileys
Women’s Prize for Fiction 2014 Chair, as “Moving and vivid, an unforgettable
story of two brothers and the different paths they take. A novel about how
political passion can destroy lives.” Earlier known as the Orange Prize, the
winner will be announced on June 4 in London and presented with a cheque for
USD 30,000.
9) Cinematographer
VK Murthy passed away at 90 in Bangalore: The veteran cinematographer
breathed his last at his residence in Bangalore. He was the first
cinematographer to receive Dada Saheb Phalke award in 2008. Cinematic
masterpieces like Pyaasa and 'Kagaz Ke Phool' gave him an iconic status for his
camera work.
10) Koyal
Rana wins Miss India 2014 title: Koyal Rana won the coveted Miss India 2014
crown at the 51st edition of the pageant, on Saturday, April 5. She was crowned
winner among 24 gorgeous contestants from across the country. Miss India 2013
Navneet Kaur Dhillion, and Miss World 2013 Megan Young felicitated Rana with
the crown at the beauty pageant. Jhataleka Malhotra, was crowned first
runner-up by Sobhita Shulipala, and Gail Nicole Da Silva was crowned second
runner-up by Zoya Afroz. Koyal Rana hails from Jaipur, Jhataleka from Mumbai,
and Gail from Goa. Rana will represent India at the Miss World 2014 beauty
pageant this year.
11) Army
successfully test-fired BrahMos missile:
Army on Monday successfully test-fired an advanced version of 290 km
range supersonic cruise missile BrahMos as part of a user trial at Pokhran test
range in Rajasthan.
