1. UN designates Masood Azhar as Global Terrorist; China lifted its hold
The 1267 Al-Qaida Sanctions Committee of the United Nations Security Council on May 1, 2019 designated Pakistan’s Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) chief Masood Azhar as a Global Terrorist.
With the addition of Azhar to the Al Qaida Sanctions List, he will be subject to the assets freeze, travel ban and arms embargo. The Sanctions List currently contains the names of 262 individuals and 83 entities.
The move came after China lifted its hold on a proposal to blacklist Azhar. China in March 2019 had for the fourth time blocked a bid in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to designate Azhar as a global terrorist.
2. Apurvi Chandela becomes world number 1 in 10m air rifle, Anjum claims second position
India’s Apurvi Chandela on May 1, 2019 became world number 1 in women’s 10m air rifle event, according to the latest rankings released by the International Shooting Sport Federation.
Hailing from Jaipur, the shooting ace is among the five Indian shooters to have already secured 2020 Olympics quotas for the country. The shooter took to twitter to share her joy on achieving the feat. “World Number 1 touched a milestone in my shooting career,” wrote Chandela.
3. Kumar Sangakkara named as first non-British MCC president
Former Sri Lanka captain, Kumar Sangakkara was on May 1, 2019 appointed as the President of the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), England. With this, Sangakkara became the first non-British to head the Club.
Sangakkara will take up the post on October 1, 2019 and will serve the position for a period of 12 months. His nomination was announced by the current MCC President Anthony Wreford at the MCC Annual General Meeting at Lord’s.
During his one-year tenure, Sangakkara will witness two England Tests against West Indies and Pakistan, and the launch of The Hundred competition before his term ends on September 30, 2020.
4. US President Trump announces to withdraw from UN Arms Trade Treaty
US President Donald Trump on April 26, 2019 rejected the United Nations' 2013 Arms Trade Treaty aimed at regulating the global arms trade. Trump announced to “unsign” the United Nations Arms Trade Treaty (ATT), describing it as a misguided document and an intrusion on US sovereignty.
Trump states, “We will never allow foreign bureaucrats to trample on your Second Amendment freedom”. Trump said that the US Senate never ratified the 2013 Arms Trade Treaty despite his predecessor Barack Obama having endorsed it. The US President also made it clear that he will never ratify the treaty.
5. Indonesia to relocate its capital from Jakarta
Indonesia on April 29, 2019 announced its plans to move its capital away from Jakarta. President Joko Widodo’s government plans to establish a new Capital out of the crowded Java Island to ensure more equitable development of the country amid environmental concerns and overcrowding issues.
The new location is yet unknown. President Widodo-led government looks forward to form the Capital similar to Washington D.C. and letting Jakarta sustain as the business, trade and financial hub, similar to New York in the United States.
6. SC seeks EC’s response on plea against voter prosecution
The Supreme Court on April 29, 2019 sought a response from the Election Commission on a plea seeking abolition of a provision in election rules that provides for prosecution of an elector if a complaint alleging malfunctioning of EVMs and VVPATs turns out to be false.
The plea, filed by Mumbai-based lawyer Sunil Ahya, was heard by a three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi. The bench also comprising Justices Deepak Gupta and Sanjiv Khanna took note of the plea, which alleged that Rule 49MA of 'The Conduct of Elections Rules' was unconstitutional as it criminalises reporting of malfunctioning of Electronic Voting Machines and Voter Verified Paper Audit Trails.
7. Lok Sabha Elections 2019 Phase 4: Voting begins in 72 Constituencies
The fourth phase of Lok Sabha Elections 2019 began on April 29, 2019 for 72 Lok Sabha Constituencies across 9 States.
The Lok Sabha Elections 2019 Phase 4 will see voting in 17 seats of Maharashtra, 13 seats each in Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh, 8 in West Bengal, 6 each in Madhya Pradesh and Odisha, 5 in Bihar, and 3 in Jharkhand.
During the fourth phase, voting is also being held for the remaining 41 assembly seats in Odisha, by-election to Chhindwara assembly seat in Madhya Pradesh, Nighasan in Uttar Pradesh, and Krishnaganj in West Bengal.
8. BCCI nominates four cricketers for Arjuna Award
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on April 27, 2019 recommended India pacers Mohammad Shami and Jasprit Bumrah, all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja and women’s team spinner Poonam Yadav for the prestigious Arjuna award.
The decision was taken during the Supreme Court-appointed CoA meeting in New Delhi. The Arjuna Awards are given to honour excellence in sports by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports.
On the other hand, All India Football Federation (AIFF) recommended the names of goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu and forward Jeje for the prestigious sporting honour.
9. World's first floating nuclear power plant to begin operations
Akademik Lomonosov, world's only floating nuclear power unit is ready to start commercial operations in Russia. The plant was launched by Russia on May 19, 2018 at the St Petersburg shipyard.
The power plant is to be the first of a fleet of floating nuclear power stations to be stationed in the Russian Arctic. It is capable of producing enough electricity to power a town of 200,000 residents, far more than the 5,000 living in Pevek.
It is expected to operate for 40 years, with the possibility of the operating life being extended to 50 years and the two reactors will be refueled once every three years.
10. Vladimir Putin signs controversial internet bill into law
President Vladimir Putin on May 1, 2019 signed a new measure into law that will allow Russian authorities to isolate the country's internet from the rest of the world and create a new national network.
The ‘sovereign internet’ bill aims to expand government control over the Internet. Russian lawmakers insist the new law is necessary to ensure the security of Russia's online networks, while critics argue that the vaguely worded bill gives new censorship powers to government monitors.
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