MAY

NATIONAL

01 The Supreme Court orderes the setting up of six fast track courts to try the 2002 Godhra and post-Godhra riot cases; Chanda Kochhar assumes office as Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of ICICI Bank.

04 The Civil Services results announced with women secured the top three ranks.

07 The fourth phase of general election concludes.

08 The Supreme Court gives a series of directions and guidelines to deal with the menace of ragging in educational institutions; Telecom group Bharti Airtel becomes the first Indian sponsor of Manchester United after signing a five-year deal with the soccer champion team.

10 IIT Kanpur developes a nanosatellite named ‘Jugnu’ that provides real-time data on drought, flood, vegetation and forestation.

13 The fifth and last phase of general election completes; D.D. Lapang is sworn in Chief Minister of Meghalaya, with the Congress party stitching an alliance with UDP.

16 The Congress party and its allies win the Lok Sabha election; Country’s first case of influenza A (H1N1) is confirmed.

18 Sensex creates history by gaining 2111 points within minutes of opening.

20 Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy and Pawan Chamling takes oath as the chief minister of Andhra Pradesh and Sikkim respectively.

21 Naveen Patnaik becomes chief minister of Orissa for the third consecutive term.

22 Dr. Manmohan Singh is inaugurated for his second term as Prime Minister.

24 The Deccan Chargers defeat the Royal Challengers Bangalore to win the Indian Premier League.

28 Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) inducted into Indian Air Force.

29 M.K. Stalin, younger son of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi named the deputy chief minister of the state.

INTERNATIONAL

01 Sixteen countries confirm their first case of swine flu. 

03 Ricardo Martinelli of Democratic Change is elected as President of Panama.

04 Nepalese Prime Minister Prachanda resigns.

07 General Motors reports a US$6 billion loss for the first fiscal quarter of 2009.

08 Toyota reports a record annual net loss of US$4.4 billion, its first operating loss in the company’s history of 71 years.

09 Jacob Zuma is inaugurated as President of South Africa.

13 The European Commission fines Intel Corporation _1.06 billion for anti-competitive practices; The Cannes Film Festival starts.

16 The United Kingdom's Royal Air Force ends its involvement in Iraq; Manchester United Football Club win the 2008-09 season of the Premier League.

17 Kuwaiti voters for the first time elect women members to the country’s Parliament.

18 Sri Lankan government declares an end to the 25-year civil war after the death of LTTE leader Prabhakaran; Dalia Grybauskaite is elected as the first female President of Lithuania; Somalia requests international assistance to establish an anti-piracy coast guard.

19 President Mahmoud Abbas inaugurates the Palestinian National Authority's new government.

20 Iran launches a Sajjil-2 mediumrange surface-to-surface missile.

21 Nepal’s Apa Sherpa summits Mount Everest for the record 19th time.

23 South Korea’s former President Roh Moo-hyun commits suicide by jumping from a mountain cliff.

25 Madhav Kumar Nepal of the Communist Party takes oath as Prime Minister of Nepal; North Korea conducts a successful nuclear test, more powerful than the first test in October 2006.

29 The Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal celebrates its first Republic Day.