CURRENT GS

• In January 2009 Genes And Development published that scientists have discovered a missing link in the way cells protect themselves against cancer -.they have uncovered how cells switch a gene p53, which can block the development of tumours
• Belgium became the Europe's first country to ban burqa.
• Pakistan's National assembly passed a bill that takes away the President's power to dissolve parliament, dismiss a elected government and appoint the three services Chiefs. Pakistan's parliament passes 18th amendment which was later signed by Presient cutting President's powers.
• USA and Russia signed Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty(START) that allowed a maximum of 1550 deployed overheads, about 30% lower than a limit set in 2002. The treaty was signed in the Progue Castle.
• Emergency was imposed in Thailand.
• Nuclear Security Summit held at Washington.It was a 47 nation summit wherein P.M. announced setting up of a global nuclear energy centre for conducting research & development of design systems that are secure, proliferation resistant & sustainable.
• PM visit USA & Brazil, a two nation tour. He attended Nuclear Security Summit in USA & India- Brazil-S.Africa(IBSA) and Brazil-Russia-India-China(BRIC) summit in Brasilia (Brazil).
• 16th SAARC Summit held in Bhutan in 28-29 April. The summit was held in Bhutan for the first time. It is the silver jubilee summit as SAARC has completed 25 years. The summit central theme was 'Climate Change'. The summit recommended to declare 2010-2020 as the "Decade of Intra-regional Connectivity in SAARC". The 17th SAARC summit will be held in Maldives in 2011.
• China will launch in 2011 unmammed space mode ' Tiangong I' for its future space laboratory.
• US internet giant Google close its business in China.
• India's largest telecom service provider Bharti Airtel buy Zain's Africa operations for an enterprise value of $ 10.7 billion (Rs 49000 crore). Currently Bharti's non-India operations include Sri Lanka & Bangladesh.
• Russia abolished two of its eleven time Zones.
• NATO forces carried out Marjah operation (dubbed Moshtarak) against Taliban forces in Afghanistan.
• European Union summit was held in Brussels. EU & IMF decided to giving support to Greece in its struggle to bring its ballooning budget deficit under control. EU President is Herman Van Rompuy.
• Iran's President Mahmood Ahmedinejad declared that Iran had produced first batch of 20 % enriched uranium and now Iran became a nuclear state.
• Iran launched 'Kavoshger -3 rocket' capable of carrying a satellite. It carried a mouse, worms & two turtles.
• Gilgit Baltistan region elected its first Chief Minister Mehdi Shah on the basis of Gilgit Baltistan Empowerment & Self Governance Order 2009. The new appointed CM declare the Gilgit Baltistan region as 5th province of Pakistan. The Indian Govt has, however, of the view that the region was part of J & K, and thus objected to the remarks of CM.
• Venezuela devalued it currency 'Bolivar'.
• A massive earthquake strike Haiti, the Carribbean nation. Capital of Haiti is Port-au-Prince.
• Mahinda Rajapaksa won a second term as Sri Lanka's President. He belongs to Sri Lanka Freedom Party