01 May 2019 - Daily Current Affairs
1. International Labour Day being observed today
- The 'International Labour Day' is a celebration of labourers and the working classes, promoted by the international labour movement, anarchists, socialists, and communists.
- It takes place every year on 1st May which also matches with the Celtic spring festival.
- The day marks the victory of the workers' movement for eight hours of work. It also aims to pay tribute to workers sacrifices in achieving economic and social rights all over the world.
- The theme of International Labour Day 2019 is “Sustainable Pension for all: The Role of Social Partners".
- The date was chosen for International Workers' Day by the Second International to commemorate the Haymarket affair, which occurred in Chicago on 4th May 1886.
Note:
- Labour Day is known as Kamgar Din (Hindi), Karmikara Dinacharane (Kannada), Kamgar Divas (Marathi), Uzhaipalar dhinam (Tamil), and Thozhilaali Dinam (Malayalam).
Source: UN.Org
2. Gujarat & Maharashtra celebrates its 60th foundation day today
- Today, the two states Gujarat and Maharashtra are celebrating 60th foundation day.
- In 1960, two western states Gujarat and Maharashtra were formed from erstwhile Bombay state on this day.
- Every year the Government of Maharashtra issues a notification declaring the 1st of May to be a public holiday to be celebrated as Maharashtra Day.
- However, there is no official celebration this year due to the model code of conduct.
- The day is marked with various cultural events and ceremonies showcasing the culture and traditions of Maharashtra.
National Affairs
3. All electric cars to have green number plates
- The Union Government has asked state transport departments to ensure that all battery-operated vehicles (both existing and new) have green number plates immediately.
- In August 2018, the road transport ministry had introduced the new number plate for all battery-operated or electric vehicles (EVs).
- The transport ministry’s missive to states is aimed at indicating that the government is serious about pushing green mobility across the country.
- The government has done away with permits for vehicles running on battery and other alternative sources of fuel like methanol and bio-fuel.
Note:
- An electric car is an automobile that is propelled by one or more electric motors, using energy stored in rechargeable batteries.
Source: The Times of India
4. Cyclone Fani: Centre releases advance SDRF funds to 4 states
- Ministry of Home Affairs ordered an advance release of Rs 1086 crore to four states from the State Disaster Response Fund to deal with the preventive measures for cyclonic storm 'Fani'.
- Under this, the state of Andhra Pradesh will get Rs 200.25 crore while Rs 340.87 crore has been given to Odisha.
- A total of Rs 309.37 crore and Rs 235.50 crore have been allotted to Tamil Nadu and West Bengal respectively.
- The financial assistance has been released to their State Disaster Response Fund to assist them in undertaking preventive and relief measures in response to the cyclonic storm.
Source: DD news
International Affairs
5. Japan's new Emperor Naruhito ascends the throne
- Japan's new emperor Naruhito has formally ascended the Chrysanthemum Throne (replacing his father) Akihito, who had abdicated a day earlier.
- Today, In a morning ceremony at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo, today, Naruhito became the 126th Emperor of Japan.
- A new imperial era called Reiwa, which means order and harmony, has now begun.
- The emperor in Japan holds no political power but serves as a national symbol.
Source: AIR News
6. Benjamin Netanyahu sworn-in as Israel's PM
- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (69-years) was among the 120 newly-elected members who were sworn-into country's new Parliament.
- Israeli President Reuven Rivlin called upon the new members to fight for their common home where secular, religious, ultra-Orthodox, Jews and Arabs can find themselves equal.
- Netanyahu's ‘Likud party’ won 35 seats in the election, the same as his main opponent from the centrist Blue and White alliance, led by former military chief Benny Gantz.
- Support from smaller right-wing parties allied to Likud led to a majority of 65 parliament members supporting Benjamin Netanyahu to continue as Premier.
Note:
- Benjamin "Bibi" Netanyahu was born in Tel Aviv in 1949.
- In 1963 his family moved to the US when his father Benzion, the historian and Zionist activist, was offered an academic post.
- He took part in a raid on Beirut's airport in 1968 and fought in the 1973 Middle East war.
Source: AIR News
7. European Union extends a ban on selling arms to Myanmar
- The European Union (EU) has extended a ban on selling arms to Myanmar and prolonged sanctions against high-ranking officials till 30th April 2020 (due to Rohingya crisis).
- The sanctions include an embargo on arms and equipment that can be used for internal repression, an export ban on dual-use goods for use by the military and border guard police, and export restrictions on equipment for monitoring communications that might be used for internal repression.
- About 14 top military and border officials are under individual EU sanctions - barring them from travelling to or through the European bloc and freezing any assets they hold in Europe - over alleged human rights violations, including killings and sexual violence.
- The Rohingya, described by the UN as the world's most persecuted people, have faced heightened fears of attack since dozens were killed in communal violence in 2012.
Note:
- In August 2017, almost 750,000 Rohingya refugees fled a military crackdown in northern Myanmar to cross into Bangladesh, where 300,000 members of the persecuted Muslim minority were already in camps.
Source: AIR News
8. Gaganjeet Bhullar wins 'Outstanding Achievement as a player' award
- Indian golfer Gaganjeet Bhullar has won the 'Outstanding Achievement as a player' award at the fourth edition of the annual India Golf Industry Association (GIA) awards at the Delhi Golf Club.
- Bhullar won the 2018 Fiji International, a European Tour event, and became the youngest golfer on the Asian Tour to achieve nine career victories on tour.
- The GIA awards were held along with the 8th India Golf & Turf Expo (IGTE), South Asia’s largest golf trade show.
Note:
- The Royal Calcutta Golf Club and Eco Park, Kolkata, won the prestigious ‘Best Member Engagement Programme’ award for its successful Royal Premier Golf League and the ‘Best New Nine-Hole Golf course’ awards, respectively.
Source: Business-Standard
Sports
9. Raheem Sterling named 2019 FWA footballer of the year
- Manchester City star and England forward ‘Raheem Sterling’ (24-year) has been named the 2019 footballer of the year by the Football Writers' Association (FWA).
- The winner is selected by a vote amongst the members of the Football Writers' Association (FWA), which comprises around 400 football journalists based throughout England.
- ‘Parris’ (Manchester City and England forward) took the women’s award by just a single vote, beating Vivianne Miedema (Arsenal and Netherlands striker) 11 votes to 10.
Note:
- The Football Writers' Association (FWA) Footballer of the Year is an annual award given to the player who is adjudged to have been the best of the season in English football.
- The award was instigated at the suggestion of Charles Buchan, a former professional footballer turned journalist and one of the Association's founders.
Source: AIR News
10. Dominic Thiem wins Barcelona Open 2019
- Austrian tennis player Dominic Thiem has won the Barcelona Open 2019 after defeating Russian Daniil Medvedev (6-4,6-0).
- He became the fourth player (after Rafael Nadal, Kei Nishikori and Fernando Verdasco) in the past 15 years to lift the title in Barcelona.
- Now, Thiem has 13 ATP Tour titles, nine of which have come on clay.
Note:
- The Barcelona Open 2019 took place at the Real Club de Tenis Barcelona in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.
- It was the 67th edition of the event and part of the ATP World Tour 500 series of the 2019 ATP World Tour.
Source: Sports Star
11. Ajinkya Rahane becomes 1st Indian cricketer to join Hampshire
- India Test vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane (30-year) has become the first overseas player from India to join Hampshire a.
- Rahane will replace South Africa batsman Aiden Markram.
- He will play in the County Championship throughout the months of May, June, and July (subject to visa clearance).
Note:
- Hampshire County Cricket Club (founded in 1863) is one of eighteen first-class county clubs within the domestic cricket structure of England and Wales.
- James Michael Vince is an English cricketer who is the captain for Hampshire County Cricket Club.
Source: The Hindustan Times
