1.World Red Cross Day: 8 May
.PNG)
May 8 is observed as the World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day.Every year, the day celebrates the principles of the “International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement”.
The celebrations aim to pay tribute to the volunteers who participated in the event as well as welcome their precious contribution to helping people in need.
Mainly, World Red Cross Day focuses on the food shortage, natural calamities, war as well as diseases of the epidemic.
This day commemorates the birth anniversary of the Red Cross and International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) Henry Dunant.
Henry Dunan won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1901.
The Red Cross Society has won the Nobel Prize thrice: in 1917, 1944 and 1963. No other organisation has won the Peace Prize more than the Red Cross.
2.India, Russia signs MoU on coking coal
.PNG)
India and Russia are in talks to expand their energy partnership by increasing crude oil imports from Russia.Both the countries signed a memorandum of understanding to import coking coal to meet requirements of Indian steel industry.
Delhi is seeking a long-term agreement for supply of crude oil from Russia as it seeks to diversify its sources for hydrocarbons.
India has begun negotiations with Russia on long-term assured supplies of crude oil, especially from Russia’s Far East, and has also invited Russian companies, particularly in gas business, gas infrastructure and petrochemicals, to invest in India.
3.Time of Remembrance and Reconciliation for Those Who Lost Their Lives during the World War II: 08-09 May
.PNG)
The Time of Remembrance and Reconciliation for Those Who Lost Their Lives during the Second World War is an international day of remembrance organised to pay tribute to the victims of World War II.This year, the observance begins on May 8, the anniversary of the date when the World War II Allies accepted the surrender of the armed forces of Nazi Germany and the end of Adolf Hitler’s Third Reich and ends on May 9.
The day pays tribute to all the victims of the Second World War.
May 8 marks the day when Nazi Germany decided to surrender while the Allies accepted it.
4.Rajnath Singh inaugurates Link Road to Kailash Mansarovar via video conferencing
.PNG)
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated the Link Road to Kailash Mansarovar via video conferencing.The link road connects Dharchula to Lipulekh, China Border which is known as Kailash-Mansarovar Yatra Route.
Mr Singh congratulated the Border Roads Organization (BRO) engineers and personnel whose dedication made this achievement possible.
5.Dr Harsh Vardhan launches ‘AYUSH Sanjivani’ App
.PNG)
Dr Harsh Vardhan, Union Health & Family Welfare Minister launched the ‘AYUSH Sanjivani’ App.The ‘AYUSH Sanjivani’ mobile app will help to generate data on acceptance and usage of AYUSH advocacies and measures among the population and its impact in prevention of COVID 19.
It is developed by the Ministry of AYUSH and MEITY and shall reach out to a target of 50 lakh people.
6.Tamil Nadu raises retirement age of government employees to 59
.PNG)
Tamil Nadu government increased the retirement age of its staff from 58 years to 59 years to defer an outgo of Rs 5,000 crore towards retirement benefits for the current fiscal.More than 25,000 government employees were set to superannuate this financial year.
The order has come into immediate effect and will be applicable to all government employees, teaching and non-teaching staff in government and aided educational institutions, and employees of constitutional statutory bodies, PSUs, corporations, local bodies, boards, commissions and societies.
Those who are due for retirement on May 31 this year will now retire on May 31, 2021.
7.Delhi govt launches e-token system for liquor sale
.PNG)
Delhi Government launched an e-token system for liquor sale in the national capital to ensure social distancing and to stop overcrowding.The decision was taken to encourage people to avoid long queues by applying for an e-token with a time slot at any nearby shop to buy liquor.
Any person can apply for an e-token through the link www.qtoken.in.
Name and phone number will be required while applying and the e-token will be sent at the registered mobile number.
8.UP becomes first state to provide facility of beds with ventilators in each district of state
.PNG)
Uttar Pradesh has become the first state in the country to provide the facility of beds with ventilators in hospitals of each and every district of the state.Now, all 75 districts of the state can provide higher levels of care to the patients of COVID-19.
Uttar Pradesh has 24 testing labs for COVID-19 now and around 1,300 beds with a ventilator to fight with this disease.
The government tries to save the lives of people from COVID-19 through community surveillance.
For this, the government has constituted a Village Supervision Committee or Gram Nigrani Samiti in every village to curb the spread of Corona.
9.Uttar Pradesh brings ordinance to suspend most labour laws for 3 years
.PNG)
Uttar Pradesh has suspended labour laws for the next 3 years.The move is aimed at boosting industrial investment as well employing the large number of migrant workers that have come back to their native villages in the state.
The government has accordingly passed an ordinance to this effect that will apply to all factories and manufacturing facilities as well as fresh investments coming into the state.
The ordinance however will not apply to certain laws like the Bonded Labour Act, Building and other Construction Workers Act, Section 5 of Payment of Wages Act and Workmen Compensation Act. Labour laws related to children and women will also not be affected.
10.Dia Mirza’s tenure as UNEP Goodwill Ambassador extended till 2022
.PNG)
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) extended environmentalist and actor-producer Dia Mirza’s term as its National Goodwill Ambassador for another two years till the end of 2022.The actress is also the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal Advocate.
As a Goodwill Ambassador, Mirza will continue work with the UN to further spread the message on key areas including clean air, clean seas, wildlife protection and climate change.
One of Dia’s big campaigns during her first tenure as the ambassador was #BeatPlasticPollution helped in highlighting the issue at the highest levels and led to a clarion call from Prime Minister Narendra Modi to make India Single Use Plastics free by 2022.
11.Kumar Sangakkara set for second term as MCC President
.PNG)
The Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) decided to recommend a second term for its President Kumar Sangakkara as the current activities at the club have been postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.The former Sri Lanka wicketkeeper-batsman became the first non-British President of the club when he assumed office on October 1 last year.
Sangakkara is all set to enter an elite list of people who have served multiple terms.
12.Creator of Finding Nemo, Rob Gibbs passes away
.PNG)
Rob Gibbs, who worked on films like Toy Story 2, Finding Nemo, Inside Out, Onward, Monsters, Inc. and Incredibles 2 died at the age of 55.The Pixar director, story artist and writer worked at the Pixar studios for 20 years.
Gibbs’ also has the short film Tokyo Mater (2008), the series Mater’s Tall Tales and Tales From Radiator Springs, all emanating from the Cars franchise, Brave (2012), Monsters University (2013), Incredibles 2 (2018) and the upcoming Monsters at Work series for Disney+ to his credit.
