2st May CURRENT AFFAIRS IN ENGLISH

1. World Asthma Day 2018: 1 May

World Asthma Day is an annual event organized by the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) to improve asthma awareness and care around the world.

• World Asthma Day takes place on the first Tuesday of May. First World Asthma Day was held in 1998.
• The theme for the year 2018 is “Never too early, never too late. It’s always the right time to address airways disease”.

2. International Labour Day: May 1

The International Labour Day, also known as International Worker’s Day or May Day is observed every year on May 1.

• The day aims to promote and encourage the international labour associations, marks the victory of workers’ movement for eight hours of work and pay tribute to workers sacrifices in achieving economic and social rights all over the world.
• The theme of International Labour Day 2018 is “Uniting Workers for Social and Economic Advancement”.

3. Pravasi Bharatiya Divas 2019 to be held in Varanasi

The 15th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas will be held in the holy city of Varanasi in January 2019.

• The event would be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Mauritian counterpart Pravind Jugnauth.
• It would be held in Varanasi from January 21 to 23.

4. South Western Command’s Exercise Vijay Prahar

South Western Command is carrying out Exercise VIJAY PRAHAR employing more than 20000 troops in the Mahajan Field Firing Ranges close to Suratgarh in Rajasthan.

• The exercise is aimed to orchestrate wide spectrum of threats which are planned to be tackled through high tempo joint air and land operation.
• The month-long exercise is essentially to practice the troops in penetrative manoeuvres across the obstacle ridden terrain under a nuclear umbrella.

5. 9th India-Japan Energy Dialogue held in New Delhi

The 9th India Japan Energy Dialogue was held in New Delhi. Minister of State(IC) for Power and New &Renewable Energy, Shri R.K Singh, and Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) Mr. Hiroshige Sekosigned a Joint Statement at the conclusion of the meeting.

• Both Japan and India, as the third and the seventh largest economies respectively, recognized that having access to reliable, clean and economical energy is critical for their economic growth and in achieving this, both Ministers agreed on further strengthening of bilateral energy cooperation for energy development of both countries, while also contributing to worldwide energy security, energy access and climate change issues.

6. GAIL signs Rs 2,000-cr loan agreement with SBI

 

GAIL (India) Limited and State Bank of India have signed a Rupee Term Loan Agreement of Rs 2,000 crores for a door to door tenure of 15 years.

• A statement from the company said that the purpose of the loan is for general capital expenditure of GAIL, mainly in the gas pipeline projects, in the forthcoming years.

7. Shri Sitanshu Kar takes over as DG, PIB

Mr Sitanshu Ranjan Kar, a 1983 batch  officer of Indian Information Service, took over as the 27th Principal Spokesperson of the Government of India and  Director General of Press Information Bureau in New Delhi. 

• He succeeds Mr Frank Noronha, who superannuated yesterday. 
• In a career spanning nearly 35 years, Mr Kar has worked in key positions in various Media Units of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. 

8. Asha Bhosle Honored with PC Chandra Puraskaar

Legendary singer Asha Bhosle was honoured with 26th PC Chandra Puraskaar for her contribution in the field of Indian music.

• Sharmila Tagore was the Chief Guest at the event who also presented the prestigious award to Asha Bhosle.
• Asha Bhosle made her singing debut in 1943 and she has sung in a great variety of musical genres.

9. India's Neeraj Goyat is WBC Asia Boxer of the Year

Indian pugilist Neeraj Goyat has been conferred with the WBC Asia Boxer of the Year Award. Neeraj is the current WBC Asia champion in welter weight category.

• Since turning pro in 2011, Neeraj has won nine fights including two knockouts.
• Neerav Tomar was bestowed with WBC Asia honorary Promoter of the year 2017 Award.