NEWS 08-05-2019. NEWS FOR 10-MAY (FRIDAY) PM Narendra Modi holds informal talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping The first-ever informal meet between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping began on April 27, 2018 at Hubei Provincial Museum, in the city of Wuhan in China. The two-day meet is expected to see the two leaders exchange a series of one-on-one conversations on various issues including bilateral, global and regional issues. The leaders are expected to review the developments in their bilateral relations. Indu Malhotra takes oath as Supreme Court Judge Senior advocate Indu Malhotra took oath as a Judge of the Supreme Court on April 27, 2018. With Malhotra’s appointment, the total strength of the Supreme Court would now go upto 25, against the sanctioned strength of 31, including the CJI. PM Modi launches Van Dhan Scheme to help increase tribal income The Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi launched the Van Dhan Scheme of Ministry of Tribal Affairs and TRIFED on April 14, 2018, during the celebrations of Ambedkar Jayanti at Bijapur, Chattisgarh. While speaking at the launch, the Prime Minister said that the Van Dhan scheme along with others like Jan Dhan and Gobar-Dhan schemes had the potential to change the tribal-rural economic system. Hence, he stated that all the three schemes need to be promoted by the state governments. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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 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. < < Back