LEGAL NEWS
Candidates have a right to privacy from voters: Supreme Court
• The Supreme Court has affirmed that candidates contesting elections maintain a right to privacy from voters.
• It ruled that candidates are not obligated to disclose every movable property owned by them or their dependents. Rather, they are required to divulge information about properties of substantial value or those indicative of a luxurious lifestyle.
• The Court emphasized that voters do not possess an absolute right to access every asset belonging to a candidate. It stressed the importance of distinguishing between substantial and insignificant matters when assessing the validity of a nomination.
• This ruling was delivered during a hearing on a case involving Independent MLA Karikho Kri from Arunachal Pradesh. The Court upheld Kri's election from Tezu constituency in the 2019 Arunachal Pradesh Assembly election.
• In response to a petition filed by Congress candidate Nuney Tayang, challenging the outcome of the 2019 Assembly election, the High Court had previously nullified Kri's election.
APPOINTMENTS
Harendra Singh was appointed as coach of Indian women's hockey.
• Following the resignation of Janneke Schopman as the head coach of the Indian women's hockey team, Harendra Singh has been appointed as the new coach.
• Harendra Singh, a recipient of the Dronacharya Award, brings a wealth of coaching experience to the role, having previously coached various Indian teams, including the senior men's hockey team.
• Prior to his appointment as the coach of the Indian women's hockey team, Harendra Singh was serving as the coach of the USA men’s hockey team.
• He began his coaching career with the Indian men's hockey team in 1997.
• Under his leadership, India has achieved significant success, including winning 11 gold medals, such as the 2016 men’s junior World Cup, 2017 women’s Asia Cup, and 2018 Asian Champions Trophy (men).
NATIONAL NEWS
NTPC launches new edition of Girl Empowerment Mission
• NTPC Limited, India's foremost integrated power company, is gearing up to launch the latest installment of its flagship Corporate Social Responsibility initiative, the Girl Empowerment Mission (GEM).
• Aligned with the Government of India's Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao initiative, the program is dedicated to addressing gender inequality by empowering girls to realize their full potential and explore opportunities.
• GEM achieves this objective through a month-long workshop designed to coincide with the summer holidays, providing young girls with a platform for holistic development and upliftment.
• Commencing from April 2024, the new edition of GEM will extend its reach to include nearly 3,000 deserving children from underprivileged backgrounds across 42 identified locations associated with the power sector PSU.
• With this expansion, the total number of beneficiaries from the Mission is set to surpass 10,000, further cementing its impact on fostering a more inclusive and empowered society.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
Zimbabwe launches new gold-backed currency
• Zimbabwe has introduced ZiG (Zimbabwe Gold), a new currency backed by gold, in a bid to stabilize its economy after decades of criswhi
• chhis move replaces the Zimbabwean dollar and RTGS, both of which suffered from significant devaluation and high inflation rates.
• ZiG banknotes, available in denominations from 1 to 200, aim to address currency shortages.
• Additionally, coins will be introduced to tackle the scarcity of US coins, which has led to unconventional practices like giving change in sweets and pens.
• The central bank governor has assured that ZiG will maintain its value through backing with precious minerals, particularly gold, or foreign exchange, aiming to avoid the devaluation issues faced by previous ccurrencies.
SPORTS
Verstappen secures victory at the F1 Japanese Grand Prix 2024
• Max Verstappen's record-breaking dominance in Formula 1 resumed with his victory in the Japanese Grand Prix.
• The podium at the Japanese Grand Prix 2024 saw Sergio Perez from Red Bull Racing securing the second position, followed by Carlos Sainz Jr. from Ferrari in third place.
• Verstappen's victory in the Japanese GP marked his third win of the 2024 Formula 1 season, adding to his successes at the Saudi Arabian GP and the Bahrain GP, and bringing his career total to 57 victories and 101 podium finishes.
INDEX AND RANKING
The WHO report states that India is second only to China in the cases of Hepatitis B and C.
• According to a World Health Organization (WHO) report, India had the second highest number of hepatitis B and C cases after China with 35 million infections in 2022.
• Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver that can cause a variety of health problems and can be fatal.
• Globally, 254 million people were infected with hepatitis B, and 50 million were infected with hepatitis C in 2022, according to WHO's 2024 Global Hepatitis Report released on 9 April.
• In terms of viral hepatitis, India was second only to China, with 29.8 million hepatitis B cases in 2022 and 5.5 million hepatitis C infections.
• China has recorded 83 million cases of hepatitis B and C, accounting for 27.5% of the total disease burden.
• According to the report, India accounted for 11.6% of the total disease burden globally that year with a total of 35 million cases.
• There are five main types of hepatitis viruses, called types A, B, C, D, and E.
• Although they all cause liver disease, they differ in important ways, including methods of transmission, severity of disease, geographic distribution, and methods of prevention.
• The report released at the World Hepatitis Summit said that 3,500 people are dying globally due to hepatitis B and C infection every day.
