Current Affairs 29th April 2014

Current Affairs 29th April 2014

Updated : 29-Apr-2014

Current Affairs 29th April 2014 - Important Points
Current Affairs 29th April 2014 - Details
Ramesh Agrawal from India wins top environment award - Goldman Environmental Prize 2014
On 28th April 2014, India's Ramesh Agrawal won Goldman Environmental Prize 2014, which is awarded annually for grass-roots activism. Ramesh Agrawal is among six environmental activists from around the world who have won the Goldman Prize.

The winners of the prestigious prize will each receive $175,000.
He founded a grassroots movement named Jan Chetana to protect people as well as the environment from industrialization.
Important to note :
Apart from Ramesh Agrawal other five people who bagged this award are :
- Rudi Putra (Indonesia),
- Helen Holden Slottje (America),
- Desmond D'Sa (South Africa),
- Suren Gazaryan (Russia) and
- Ruth Buendia Mestoquiari (Peru).
Slovakia and Ukraine signed Framework Interconnection Agreement on gas supply
On 28th April 2014, Slovakia and Ukraine signed a Framework Interconnection Agreement on gas supply, which will allow supply of gas from from Central Europe to Ukraine via Slovakia. This deal was signed in Bratislava.
The agreement signed between Slovakian company Eustream and the Ukrainian company Ukrtransgaz was brokered by the European Commission. By this Ukraine will have Norwegian gas or liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the global markets at competitive prices and it will also help Ukraine overcome the current economic and financial woes.

South Californian Mite became the fastest land animal
A Southern California mite Paratarsotomus macropalpis set a new record as world's fastest land animal. Cheetah was the last record holder. The findings were presented during the Experimental Biology 2014 meeting in California.
The mite can run 20 times faster than a cheetah and the equivalent of a person running 2092km per hour. The mite runs on concrete up to 60 degrees Celsius, a temperature significantly higher than the upper lethal temperature of most animals.
Dissolution of Andhra Pradesh Assembly approved by President of India
On 29th April 2015, President of India Shri Pranab Mukherjee gave his approval for the dissolution of the Andhra Pradesh Assembly and a fresh proclamation of central rule in the state. This nod of the President came after the Union Cabinet on 25 April 2014 recommended dissolution of the Assembly of Andhra Pradesh and extension of the President’s rule there beyond 30 April 2014. This decision was made following the submission of a report by the Andhra Pradesh governor ESL Narasimhan to the centre about the prevailing situation in the state.
Important to note :
On 1 March 2014, the President’s rule was imposed in Andhra Pradesh after the Chief Minister of the state, N Kiran Kumar Reddy resigned from his office.
Nokia Corporation appointed Rajeev Suri as President and CEO
Nokia Board of Directors has appointed Rajeev Suri as President and CEO of Nokia Corporation, effective May 1, 2014. Suri joined Nokia in 1995 and has held a wide range of leadership positions in the company. Since October of 2009, he has served as CEO of NSN, the former joint venture between Nokia and Siemens that is now fully owned by Nokia.
Indian Alphonso mangoes and 4 vegetables faced temporary ban by EU
The 28-member European Union has temporarily banned the import of Alphonso mangoes, the king of fruits, and four vegetables from India from May 1, sparking protests from the Indian community, lawmakers and traders.
The recent decision by the grouping's Standing Committee on Plant Health came after 207 consignments of fruits and vegetables from India imported into the EU in 2013 were found to be contaminated by pests such as fruit flies and other quarantine pests.

Apart from Alphonso mangoes other vegetables are :
- Eggplant,
- The taro plant,
- Bitter gourd and
- Snake gourd.
NR Narayana Murthy hounoured with 'Global Indian Award'
On 26th April 2014, India's IT Guru NR Narayana Murthy honoured with the 2014 Canada India Foundation Chachalani Global Indian Award in Toronto, Canada.
Mr NR Narayana Murthy founder and executive Chairman of Infosys.
The Canadian Finance Minister Murthy by Joe Oliver presented this award which carries a trophy and cash prize of 50000 US dollars.
The Canada India Foundation Chachalani Global Indian Award :
The Canada India Foundation Chachalani Global Indian Award is conferred by the Canada India Foundation and is given to recognize an individual who demonstrates global leadership, vision and professional excellence. This award is one of the most prestigious awards among Indians around the world.