NATIONAL NEWS
1.ISRO planning to send a probe to study sun early next year:-
Indian Space Research Organization is planning to send a probe to study the sun early next year. Talking to reporters in Nagercoil, ISRO chairman Dr K Sivan said, currently scientists are exploring possibilities to study more about Sun and the probe named Aditya-L1 will be sent to observe the solar corona, the outer layers of the Sun. He said, the satellite would be ed in a halo orbit around the L1 (Lagrangian point 1) of the Sun-Earth system so that it has the advantage of continuously viewing the Sun without any occultation or eclipses. The L1 is 1.5 million kms from the Earth. Mr Sivan said, the mission to send Indian astronauts to space by 2022 is well on stream. On a question about tracking cyclone Fani, he said, with the details provided by ISRO, officials were able to forecast the landfall area and this helped in taking precautionary measures in advance. It may be recalled that ISRO is making all-out efforts to launch Chandrayaan-2 in the launch window between July 9 and 16, with the aim of its lander soft landing near the south pole of the moon by September 6th.
2.Indian Navy steps up rescue operations in worst affected Chilka, Puri areas:-
Indian Navy has intensified rescue operations in Odisha. Eastern Naval Command intensified Rescue Operations in the worst affected areas of Chilka and Puri. Additional relief material and medical teams have been augmented to Odisha from Visakhapatnam. INS Ranvijay and Airavat with integral helicopters have also sailed from Visakhapatnam with relief material including medical stores and medical teams and are proceeding to Odisha to conjoin the rescue operation with Indian Naval Ships Sahyadri, Ranvir and Kadmatt. An Indian Navy spokesperson said, Dornier Maritime Reconnaissance aircraft was pressed into service to undertake an aerial survey to assess the impact of the cyclone and the extent of the devastation.
3.Rahul Gandhi says NYAY scheme to improve country’s economy:-
Congress President Rahul Gandhi attacked the Modi government and said that crores of bank accounts were opened in the country but funds were not made available in these accounts. Addressing an election rally in Bharatpur of Rajasthan on Friday, he said if they come to power, money under NYAY scheme will be transferred in the accounts opened by the Modi government. He said poverty will be removed by transferring 72 thousand rupees annually to 5 crore families.
He alleged that demonetisation harmed the economy, and the NYAY scheme will improve the country’s economy as people will have money in their bank accounts to spend.
4.World Press Freedom Day: 3 May:-
World Press Freedom Day is celebrated every year on 3 May.This day was proclaimed by the UN General Assembly in December 1993, following the recommendation of UNESCO’s General Conference.The theme of World Press Freedom Day this year is ‘Media for Democracy: Journalism and Elections in Times of Disinformation’.The 26th celebration of World Press Freedom Day is jointly organized by UNESCO, African Union Commission and the Government of Ethiopia.The main event is being held at the African Union Headquarters at Addis Ababa.
5.The UK becomes the first parliament to declare a climate emergency:-
The UK is the first national government to declare an environmental and climate emergency.The decision marks a renewed sense of urgency in tackling climate change.Eleven days of protests by the Extinction Rebellion activist group caused major disruptions in central London in recent weeks.There is no single definition of what that means climate emergency but many local areas say they want to be carbon-neutral by 2030
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
6.US targets Iran’s uranium enrichment:-
The United States says it would start imposing sanctions over Iranian exports of enriched uranium allowed under a nuclear deal rejected by President Donald Trump, although it granted waivers to allow the accord to survive. Under the 2015 deal, which still enjoys strong support among European powers, Iran was limited to keeping 300 kilograms of uranium enriched up to 3.67 percent — far below the level needed to build nuclear weapons. As part of the agreement, Iran was to sell any enriched uranium above that threshold on international markets in return for natural uranium.
But in a policy change, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has said the United States would start to impose sanctions on anyone involved in the trade of natural for enriched uranium.
At the same time, the United States issued new three-month waivers to allow the continuation of the major parts of the nuclear deal.
7.US Air Force General Tod Wolters sworn in as top military officer of NATO:-
US Air Force General Tod D. Wolters has been sworn in as the top military officer of the 29-nation NATO military alliance.
The former pilot, who has served in Afghanistan and Iraq, became Supreme Allied Commander Europe at a ceremony today at NATO’s military headquarters in Mons in southern Belgium. Wolters’ term is likely to run two to three years. He will also be commander of U.S. forces in Europe. The post has always been held by an American military officer.
SPORTS NEWS
8.Bajrang Punia bags gold in Ali Aliyev wrestling tournament:-
World number one Bajrang Punia won the gold medal in the Ali Aliyev wrestling tournament in Kaspiisk, Russia.He defeated Viktor Rassadin in the finals of men’s 65kg freestyle.The 25-year-old had won a gold medal last week at the Asian Championships in Xi’an, China.
