World No Tobacco Day - May 31

World Health Organisation(WHO) has earmarked May 31 as 'World No Tobacco Day', to highlight the risks associated with tobacco usage and reduce its consumption .

The theme of this year's 'World No Tobacco Day' is "Ban tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship." 

World No Tobacco Day 2013: 10 ads that can make smokers quit

http://ibnlive.in.com/news/world-no-tobacco-day-2013-10-ads-that-can-make-smokers-quit/395149-17.html

International Everest Day - May 29

1953 may 29, 11:30:00 am, The New Zealander Edmund Hillary, and the Nepalese Sherpa Tenzing Norgay, have become the first to reach the summit of Mount Everest on the Nepal-Tibet border. They reached the top of the world after a grueling climb up the southern face. 

 Mount Everest was named after Sir George Everest, the surveyor-general of India who was the first to produce detailed maps of the Indian subcontintent including the Himalayas.

Shashi Kant Sharma appointed as new CAG

Defence secretary Shashi Kant Sharma was on Tuesday named as the new Comptroller & Auditor General of India (CAG), succeeding Vinod Rai who demitted office today after an eventful five-and-a-half years during which the audit body was locked in confrontations with the government.

 The CAG is appointed for a term of six years or till the incumbent attains the age of 65 years, whichever is earlier.

Lydia Davis wins the Man Booker International Prize 2013

Lydia Davis, an American author best known for her short stories, has won this year's Man Booker International Prize. Davis, 65, has had six collections of short stories published. She has also translated a number of French classics, including Flaubert's Madame Bovary, and has written one novel. 

The prize, worth £60,000, recognizes one writer for his or her achievement in fiction. It is awarded every two years to a living author who has published fiction either originally in English or whose work is available in translation in the English language.

International Day for Biological Diversity - 22 May

The United Nations has proclaimed May 22 The International Day for Biological Diversity (IDB) to increase understanding and awareness of biodiversity issues. 

When first created by the Second Committee of the UN General Assembly in late 1993, 29 December (the date of entry into force of the Convention of Biological Diversity), was designated The International Day for Biological Diversity. In December 2000, the UN General Assembly adopted 22 May as IDB, to commemorate the adoption of the text of the Convention on 22 May 1992 by the Nairobi Final Act of the Conference for the Adoption of the Agreed Text of the Convention on Biological Diversity. This was partly done because it was difficult for many countries to plan and carry out suitable celebrations for the date of 29 December, given the number of holidays that coincide around that time of year.

Source & Thanks:  http://www.cbd.int/idb/

Anti-Terrorism Day – May 21

The death anniversary of ex-prime minister of India, Shri Rajiv Gandhi is also observed as Anti Terrorism Day all over the country on 21 May.

The day is observed to generate awareness in the country among all sections of people, about the danger of terrorism and violence and its effect on the people, society and the country as a whole.

The objective behind the observance of Anti-Terrorism Day is to wean away the people from terrorism and violence.

World Telecommunication and Information Society Day - May 17

The purpose of  World Telecommunication and Information Society Day (WTISD) is to help raise awareness of the possibilities that the use of the Internet and other information and communication technologies (ICT) can bring to societies and economies, as well as of ways to bridge the digital divide. 17 May marks the anniversary of the signing of the first International Telegraph Convention and the creation of the International Telecommunication Union.

The day had previously been known as World Telecommunication Day to commemorate the founding of the International Telecommunication Union in 17 May 1865. It was instituted by the Plenipotentiary Conference in Malaga -Torremolinos in 1973.

Source: http://www.itu.int/en/wtisd/Pages/default.aspx

International Day of Families - May 15

International Day of Families was brought about by the United Nations Programme on the Family and will stress the importance of having healthy and happy relationships with your relatives.

Families are the 'basic core' of our society - we are born into them and some of the most important developing years of our lives are spent growing up with our families.

Each year there is a different theme for the day and in 2013 the theme will be 'Advancing Social Integration and Intergenerational Solidarity'.

World Red Cross Red Crescent Day – 8 May 2013

World Red Cross Day celebrates the work of those who volunteer with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).

IFRC is the world's largest humanitarian organisation, providing worldwide relief during times of disease, famine, disaster or war. It has around 97 million members and volunteers in some 170 countries and helps more than 230 million people every year.

World Red Cross Day is held on 8 May, the birthday of Jean Henri Dunant, founder of the International Committee of the Red Cross. The theme for 2012 is 'Together for humanity'. The Red Crescent is used in place of the Red Cross in many Islamic countries.

Source: http://www.educationscotland.gov.uk/resources/w/worldredcrossredcrescentday.asp

World Asthma Day - May 7 "You Can Control Your Asthma"

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. The theme of 2012's event was "You Can Control Your Asthma"