Persons in News
A) APPOINTMENTS
N B Singh Assumes Charge As BDL director
Air Vice Marshal N B Singh, AVSM, VSM (retd) on 1 April assumed charge as Director (technical) of Bharat Dynamics Limited, a Hyderabad-based Mini-ratna category-1 company under the Ministry of Defence.Prior to this appointment, AVM Singh served as Assistant Chief of Air Staff (communication) in the Indian Air Force.
Justice RM Lodha Sworn In As 41st Chief Justice of India
Justice Rajendra Mal Lodh was on 27 April sworn in as the 41st Chief Justice of India (CJI) on 27 April. He was administered the oath of office by President Pranab Mukherjee.Chief Justice Lodha succeeds Chief Justice P Sathasivam who demitted office on completion of his term on 26 April 2014.Justice Lodha will have a brief tenure of five months as the Chief Justice as he will retire on 27 September 2014.
Former IAF chief Appointed India’s Ambassador To Norway
Former Indian Air Force (IAF) chief Norman Anil Kumar Browne has been appointed India’s next Ambassador to Norway on 29 April.He will succeed R. K. Tyagi as India’s envoy in Norway. Browne had served as IAF chief between 31 July 2011 and 31 December 2013.
B)RESIGNS
Kazakhstan Prime-Minister Serik Akhmetov Resigned
Kazakhstan’s Prime Minister Serik Akhmetov, has announced his resignation on 2 April, a development that will lead to the dissolution of the government.The resignation was accepted by the President as per the Constitutional provision.Akhmetov was appointed as the Prime Minister of Kazakhstan in September 2012.
C)DEATHS
Renowned Cinematographer VK Murthy Died
Renowned cinematographer and Dada Saheb Phalke awardee V K Murthy,died on 7 April in Shankarapuram. He was 91 and was famous for his camera work in Guru Dutt’s classics like Pyaasa and Sahib, Bibi Aur Ghulam. He was the first cinematographer to be chosen for the prestigious Dada Saheb Phalke award for 2008. He received the hounour on 19 January 2010. For his contribution to Indian cinema, he received the International Indian Film Academy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2005.In 1959, he won the Filmfare Best Cinematographer award.
D)VISITORS
U.S. Vice President Joe Biden Visited Ukraine
U.S. Vice President Joe Biden visited Ukraine on 21 – 22 April 2014. In the most high-level visit of a U.S. official since crisis erupted in Ukraine, Biden met privately with acting Ukrainian Prime Minister Yatsenyuk and acting Ukrainian President Oleksandr Turchynov, as well as with democracy activists.In the visit, Biden also announced the United States will provide an additional $50 million to help Ukraine’s beleaguered government with political and economic reforms.
E)MISCELLANEOUS
Koyal Rana Won Miss India 2014 Title
Koyal Rana was crowned as the new Miss India in the 51st Femina Miss India 2014 contest on 5 April at Mumbai.The winner will represent India at Miss World 2014 while 19 year old Jhataleka Malhotra was first runner up who will represent India at Miss Earth and second runner up Gail Nicole Da Silva at Miss Supranational.