Current Affairs 24th March 2019

Current Affairs 24th March 2019 - Important Points

• Prohibition on Military-Style Semi-automatics and Assault Rifles announced by -  New Zealand 
• World Down Syndrome Day 2019 celebrated on - 21st March 2019
  Current Affairs 24th March 2019 - Details

Prohibition on Military-Style Semi-automatics and Assault Rifles announced by -  New Zealand 

New Zealand PM Jacinda Ardern has declared a prohibition on all military-style semi-automatic weaponries, assault rifles and high-capacity magazines. New Zealand has finalised to overhaul gun laws in the nation in the backdrop of the Christchurch mosque shootings. It is predictable that there are around 1.2 to 1.5 million guns in New Zealand which has a population of about 5 million individuals. There was no certified information about the number of assault rifles in circulation and there are approximately 13500 military-style semi-automatic weaponries in New Zealand.
Christchurch Mosque Shootings

• Christchurch mosque shootings refer to 2 consecutive terrorist attacks at mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand, during Friday Prayer on 15th March 2019.
• The 1st attack occurred at the Al Noor Mosque in the suburb of Riccarton at 1:40 pm and the 2nd attack occurred at the Linwood Islamic Centre at about 1:55 pm.
• The attacks were connected to white supremacism and alt-right extremism movements.
• New Zealand police is investigating a manifesto, the 28 years old doubtful allegedly wrote and mailed on social media shortly before the shooting started.
• This manifesto advocates far-right and white nationalistic views, specifically targeting Muslims and immigrants and spreads mass murderers Dylann Roof, who criticized a historically black church in Charleston, South Carolina, in 2015, and Anders Breivik, who murdered dozens of young people at a summer camp for Norway’s left-leaning political party.

World Down Syndrome Day 2019 celebrated on - 21st March 2019

March 21st was celebrated as World Down Syndrome Day. The slogan of the 2019 World Down
Syndrome Day is “Leave no one behind”. March 21 is the 21st day of 3rd month. March 21st was selected to indicate uniqueness of the triplication of the 21st chromosome which causes Down syndrome.
Down Syndrome
Down Syndrome is a genetic disorder which results in overdue physical and mental growth in people. The genetic syndrome has been named after British doctor John Langdon Down who completely described the syndrome in 1866.
In normal conditions, individuals have only 2 copies of Chromosome 21 whereas those with suffering
with Down’s syndrome has presence of a part/full of the 3rd copy of chromosome 21.
Even though Down’s Syndrome is inveterate, the quality of life of those suffering could be considerably
enhanced by giving proper medical support and education.
World Down Syndrome Day
21st March is celebrated as World Syndrome Day to upsurge international awareness about the
syndrome by the UN since 2012. Since then March 21 is celebrated as World Down Syndrome Day by the governments, NGOs and individuals to encompass support to the sufferers of Down’s Syndrome.