1. Egypt's President Abdel-Fattah El-Sissi expands powers, citing coronavirus outbreak

• Egypt's President Abdel-Fattah El-Sissi has approved amendments to the country's state of emergency that grant him and security agencies additional powers. The government says the amendments are needed to combat the coronavirus outbreak.
• The new amendments allow the president to take measures to contain the virus, such as suspending classes at schools and universities and quarantining those returning from abroad. But they also include expanded powers to ban public and private meetings, protests, celebrations and other forms of assembly.
• The amendments also allow military prosecutors to investigate incidents when army officers are tasked with law enforcement or when the president orders it. The amended law would also allow the president to postpone taxes and utility payments as well as provide economic support for affected sectors.

Foot Notes: About Egypt
Capital: Cairo
President: Abdel Fattah El-Sisi
Prime Ministers: Moustafa Madbouly

2. India's fuel consumption fell almost 46 per cent in April as all petroleum products, except LPG

• It massively erased demand following the nationwide lockdown that halted economic activity and travel. India's fuel consumption fell 45.8 per cent to 9.929 million tonnes in April, down from 18.32 million tonnes of fuel consumed in the same month a year back.
• Fuel consumption during March, when travel restrictions began to be imposed to curb the spread of coronavirus, stood at 16.08 million tonnes. Petrol sales were down 60.43 per cent to 9,73,000 tonnes in April. 
• The demand for the fuel had fallen 64 per cent in the first half of the month, but there was some pick up in sales after reopening of some offices brought a few more vehicles back on road.

Foot Notes:
Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas: Shri Dharmendra Pradhan

3. Odisha increases  working hours to 12; staff to be paid for overtime

• Considering representations from certain industries and industry associations, the Odisha government decided to provide relaxation for industries and commercial activities and approved a 12-hour work shift instead of 8 hours.
• Payments will be made for overtime for a period of three months during the lockdown. This relaxation will not be applicable to areas declared hotspots and containment zones in different cities of the state. 
• Also it has directed the factories that no female workers shall be allowed or required to work in a factory between 7 pm to 6 am unless specifically permitted by the Government in this regard.

Foot Notes:
About Odisha
Capital: Bhubaneswar
Governor: Ganeshi Lal
Chief Minister: Naveen Patnaik

4. Registrar General of India released Birth rate, death rate, IMR data

• Data released by the Registrar General of India stated that India's infant mortality rate (IMR) has improved very marginally from 33 per 1,000 live births in 2017 to 32 in 2018.
• The report stated that Madhya Pradesh has the worst IMR in the country at 48 and Nagaland had the best at 4. In 2017, Madhya Pradesh's IMR stood at 47. 
• Among large states, Kerala has performed best with an IMR in single digits at 7. Also, only Kerala state has now achieved the United Nations' sustainable development goal in this regard. The report stated that the largest decline in IMR has been registered by Mizoram, with a decline from 15 to 5. Undivided Jammu and Kashmir has shown a decline and is at 22, well below the national average of 32.

Foot Notes:
Registrar General: Sailesh

5. Govt launched operation “Mission Sagar” for assistance to Indian Ocean nations amid COVID-19 crisis

• The government of India launched "Mission Sagar" on 10 May. The aim is to provide assistance to Indian Ocean Region Nations amid the coronavirus crisis.
• The operation is being progressed in coordination with the Ministry of Defence (MoD) and the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). The mission is in line with the Prime Minister's vision of SAGAR.
• Under the mission, Indian Naval Ship (INS) Kesari has departed for Maldives, Mauritius, Seychelles, Madagascar, and Comoros, to provide Food Items, COVID related Medicines including HCQ Tablets and Special Ayurvedic Medicines with Medical Assistance Teams.

Foot Notes:
Defence Minister: Shri Rajnath Singh
Minister of External Affair: Subrahmanyam Jaishankar
About Indian navy: 
Chief of Navy Staff: Admiral Karambir Singh
Headquarters: New Delhi
Founded: 5 September 1612

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6. National Technology Day is observed  every year on 11 May

• National Technology Day is observed on 11 May. The day highlights the importance of science in daily life. It also encourages youngsters to get into the field for their career options.
• Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the Department of Science and Technology (DBT) is conducting a session on YouTube. Digital Conference will focus on RE-START 'Reboot the Economy through Science, Technology And Research Translations.' It will focus on rebooting the economy through Science and Technology.
• The conference aims to bring together Scientists, Technocrats, Diplomats, World Health Organization (WHO) officials and dignitaries from national and international Industries, Research Institutions, and Academic Institutions.

Foot notes: About National Technology day
On May 11, 1998, India successfully ejected operated Shakti missile at the Indian Army's Pokhran Test range in Rajasthan. Led by late aerospace engineer and President Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam, it was first among five nuclear tests in Pokhran. Later, the then Prime Minister of India Atal Bihari Bajpayee declared India a nuclear state and it became the sixth country to join the nuclear club of nations. Thus, this day is celebrated as National technology day since 1999.

7. Central Board of Direct Taxes amends 44G of Income-tax Rules 1962

• The Central Board of Direct Taxes(CBDT) amended Rule 44G of Income-tax Rules, 1962 for making an application to invoke the mutual agreement procedure in Form no.34F which will be called Income-tax (8th Amendment) Rules, 2020.
• Regarding the issues contained in Form no.34F or in the reference of the competent authority of the nation or in a territory outside the country calls for the relevant records and additional documents from the Department of Income Tax to understand the actions taken by the Income-tax authorities within or out of India that are not in accordance with the terms of the agreement between India and the other countries or specified territories.
• According to the Agreements between India and the other countries or specified territory within an average time period of 24 months the authority in India will endeavor to arrive at a mutually agreeable resolution of the tax disruption.
• It states that the acceptance or non-acceptance within 30 days. The acceptance of the resolution, the assessee shall withdraw any appeal field in this regard and pay the tax determined by the assessing officer after giving effect to the resolution. The rule 44H has been omitted with this amendment.

Foot Notes: About CBDT
Chairman– Pramod Chandra Mody
Headquarters– New Delhi
Established– 1924

8. Edu-tech firm ELSA Corp appoints Indian cricketer Ajinkya as its brand ambassador for India, Middle East, ANZ & SAARC

• ELSA Corp (English Language Speech Assistant Corporation) India, the education technology company based out of the US (United States), has appointed Indian Test team vice-captain Ajinkya Madhukar Rahane (31) as its brand ambassador for India, Middle East, ANZ (Australia & New Zealand) and SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation).
• Now Rahane will work with the company’s mobile app ‘ELSA Speak’ to popularize it among Indian people who want to better their English pronunciation.

Foot Notes: About ELSA Corp
Headquarters– California, US
Co-Founder & CEO– Vu Van

9.  Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray to enter Legislature to continue his CM term 

• Mr. Uddav Thackeray is the current Chief Minister of Maharashtra. However, he did not win in the Maharashtra state elections that were held in November 2019.
• Article 164 of the Constitution provides every provision for a Chief Minister of a state. According to the article, any person who has the support of the majority of the elected members of the legislative assembly shall be appointed as the CM by the governor of the state. In this case, if the person is not a member of the legislative assembly, or if he has lost the general election, he can still be appointed as the CM provided he has the support of majority of the members. However, he has to win an election within 6 months.
• The Election Commission on the request made by the Maharashtra Governor BS Koshyari is conducting Maharashtra Legislative Council Election.

Foot Notes: About Maharashtra
Capital: Mumbai
Governor: Bhagat Singh Koshyari

10.  Madhya Pradesh policemen to be honoured with Karmaveer Medal for fighting against Corona

• In Madhya Pradesh, all those policemen who rendered their services for thirty days in the fight against Corona will be honoured with the Karmaveer Medal. 
• At the same time, the problems of families of martyrs and other deceased police personnel in Madhya Pradesh will now be resolved through the help-desk. 
• The help desk has been set up at the police headquarters in Bhopal. 
• Four police personnel have sacrificed their lives in the fight against Corona while 91 employees of the police department are infected with Corona and are undergoing treatment.

Foot Notes: About Madhya Pradesh
Capital: Bhopal
Governor: Lalji Tandon
Chief Minister: Shivraj Singh Chouhan