Current Affairs 9th May 2019

Current Affairs 9th May 2019 - Important Points

• India’s Jagjit Pavadia wins re-election in INCB on - 7th May 2019
• Iran quits important promises under nuclear pact on - 8th May 2019
• World Red Cross Day observed on - 8th May 2019
• Historian Prof Kirpal Singh passes away on - 7th May 2019
• Who has been awarded US’s Presidential Medal of Freedom ? - Golfer Tiger Woods
• World Thalassemia Day 2019 observed on  - 8th May 2019
• 2 Indians awarded by UN for their - Sacrifice 
• India re-elected as an Observer to  - Arctic Council 
  Current Affairs 9th May 2019 - Details

India’s Jagjit Pavadia wins re-election in INCB on - 7th May 2019

India’s Jagjit Pavadia was re-nominated for another term to the International Narcotics Control Board on May 7th, 2019.  The 60 years old secured the election of the NCB with the highest number of votes at 44. The declaration of her victory was done by India's Permanent Representative to the United Nations Ambassador Syed Akbaruddin following the election results were declared.
Pavadia has been a member of the NCB since 2015 and her present term was set to come to an end in 2020.
Important Highlights

• The elections were organised by secret ballot by the 54 members United Nations Economic and Social Council. A sum of 15 candidates were competing for 5 seats.
• There were 54 members present for voting and the needed majority to secure the election was 28.
• Following the conclusion of the 1st round of voting, Pavadia with 44 votes topped the voter tally, trailed by Jallal Toufiq of Morocco who received 32 votes and Cesar Tomas Arce Rivas of Paraguay, who got 31 votes.
• The council then organised a 2nd round of voting in which France’s Bernard Leroy and Colombia’s Viviana Manrique Zuluaga were elected following got the required majority.
• Pavadia has been re-nominated for a 5 years term starting on March 2nd, 2020 and expiring on March 1st, 2025.

Iran quits important promises under nuclear pact on - 8th May 2019

Iran on May 8th, 2019 declared its removal from some promises under the 2015 International Nuclear Pact. The country stated that it will restart higher enrichment of uranium in 60 days unless a fresh pact can be reached.
The declaration was done by Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani via live speech. Rouhani explained Iran
needed to negotiate new terms with remaining partners in the pact, but acknowledged the situation was dire. As per to Iran, the initiative has been taken because the EU & other countries do not have the power to resist the United States pressure.
The declaration comes exactly a year after United States President Donald Trump finalised to pull the
United States out of the landmark accord & re-introduced sanctions against Iran.
Important Highlights

• Iran declared the suspension of 2 important promises under the 2015 International Nuclear Pact, 1st being the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action that Iran was following to, which includes the sale of surplus enriched uranium & heavy water.
• In the 2nd suspension, Iran issued the EU, Russia & China 60 days to contrivance their financial & oil promises to the pact, upon the failure of which, Iran would continue production of higher-enriched uranium, which is presently capped.
• Iran further informed that if the promises of the remaining parties do not come through within the time limit period, it would also start developing its Arak heavy water reactor based on plans made prior to the pact.
• The country’s Supreme National Security Council informed that the measure was essential to secure its rights & bring back the balance after the United States declared its exit from the agreement.
• Iranian President declared that he would be keeping enriched uranium stocks in the nation rather than selling them abroad.

World Red Cross Day observed on - 8th May 2019

World Red Cross is observed on May 8th every year to pay tribute to the individuals contributed in the programme as well as remembering their contribution to assisting people in need. This is a
yearly observation of the principles of the International Red Cross & Red Crescent Movement.
This day is observed on this day due to the fact that it marks the birth anniversary of Henry
Dunant, founder of the Red Cross & International Committee of the Red Cross.
All branches of Red Cross Society have observed this day & passed message among masses
about peace & harmony. Red Cross also appeal people to join them to assist the people who
suffer from any Food Shortage, Natural Calamities, War and Epidemic diseases. Several blood
donation camps have been planned countrywide & worldwide.
Theme
The theme for World Red Cross & Red Crescent Day 2019 is ‘love’, which emphasis on asking
people about what they love about Red Cross & Red Crescent.
More about Red Cross Day

• 1st Red Cross Day was observed in 1948 when it was formally declared as World Red Cross & 
  Red Crescent Day.
• It was earlier called as “Red Cross Truce” & it was studied by an International Commission
  recognized at the 14th International Conference of the Red Cross.
• Its report, passed to the 15th International Conference of the Red Cross, Tokyo in 1934, was
  sanctioned.
• Following 2nd world war the suggestion of an annual International Red Cross Day was accepted & 
  the 1st Red Cross Day was observed on May 8th, 1948.

Historian Prof Kirpal Singh passes away on - 7th May 2019

The 1st chronicler of Partition Kirpal Singh deceased at Chandigarh on May 7th, 2019. He was 95
years old and was known as 1st chronicler of partition because he begun building an archive in
1954.
Kirpal Singh has written many books, journals and research papers about partition. He also
interviewed many architects of the partition. He supposed that there was a design behind partition
but there was no one to take accountability for the human loss.
About Prof. Kirpal Singh
His journey in this field started in 1953 as a young lecturer at Khalsa College, Amritsar.
Bhai Veer Singh named him and said what had happened in 1947 was unique. He replied him that
he wants to work on Partition but he was too old.
Kirpal Singh began writing Partition’s history. In the next 6 months, Kirpal took interviews of the
leading personalities connected with Partition including Punjab Boundary Commission chairman
Cyril John Radcliffe, Governor of West Punjab Sir Francis Mudie, PM Clement Attlee and
Mountbatten’s Chief of Staff Hastings Ismay.
He has also accumulated “Selected Documents on Partition of Punjab” that labels the stories of
hope and how people managed after partition.

Who has been awarded US’s Presidential Medal of Freedom ? - Golfer Tiger Woods

The US President Donald Trump awarded Presidential Medal of Freedom, nation’s highest civilian award to golfer Tiger Woods. The 43 years old Tiger Woods became 4th and youngest, professional golfer to get prestigious highest civilian honour, after other 74 years old golfers Arnold Palmer, 65 years old Jack Nicklaus and 92 years old Charlie Sifford.
About the Presidential Medal of Freedom
It was 1st recognized by President Truman to award extraordinary civilian activities related to World
War II. Later, in 1963 the medal was recognized again by President Kennedy by an executive order.
It is awarded by United States President to any person, living/posthumously.
It is awarded every year to people who have made especially meritorious contribution, contributions to
security/national interests of United States, and to world peace/significant cultural/public/private
endeavours.
President usually awards the medal of freedom in groups during public ceremonies. Once given, it cannot be cancelled.

World Thalassemia Day 2019 observed on  - 8th May 2019

Every year 8th May is observed as “World Thalassaemia Day” internationally. The theme for 2019 was
‘Universal access to quality thalassaemia healthcare services: Building bridges with and for patient’.
More about World Thalassaemia Day
To raise awareness about genetic disorder thalassaemia, its prevention and actions to avoid its
transmission among people worldwide.
It is observed in award of all patients suffering and fighting from thalassaemia and also all researchers
working hard to provide better-quality quality of life to people suffering with it.
About Thalassemia
It is an inherited blood disorder distinguished by less haemoglobin and lesser than normal level of blood
cells. An individual suffering from thalassemia has minimum one of the parents as disease carrier.
Fewer haemoglobin in patient’s body results in inappropriate oxygen transport and destruction of RBCs and  leads to anaemia. This further leads to iron overload, bone distortions especially in face and in severe cases can cause heart diseases.
Apart from bone deformities, a person with thalassemia can also have yellow/pale skin, dark coloured
urine, delayed growth and unnecessary tiredness
Being a genetic disease, its inhibition is difficult but can be diagnosed by blood tests.

2 Indians awarded by UN for their - Sacrifice 

About 115 peacekeepers from 43 different countries, who sacrificed their lives in line of duty were paid
tribute by United Nations Secretary General, Antonio Guterres along with other top United Nations
administrators and Peacekeeping personnel.
Among those presented by worldwide organisation were 2 Indians named Jitender Kumar and Shikha Garg. They lost their lives in peace keeping services between January 2018 and March 2019.
Jitender Kumar was an Indian police officer positioned to United Nations Organisation Stabilisation
Mission in Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Shikha Garg was a consultant with United Nations Development Programme, linked with India’s Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. She was killed in Ethiopian Airlines plane crash.
103 out of 1155 peacekeepers were African peacekeepers. At tribute ceremony their names were read
out loud and it was witnessed by diplomats and family members of those who have fallen.

India re-elected as an Observer to  - Arctic Council 

At 11th Arctic Council ministerial conference organised at Rovaniemi in Finland; India was re-nominated as an observer to Intergovernmental forum Arctic Council. India assured its commitment towards contributing extra to Arctic Council.
More about 11th Arctic Council

• With rising tensions universally, how to pact with global warming and jurisdiction of Arctic’s wealth of minerals.
• Apprehensions over renewed climate policies of United States President Donald Trump.
  China’s “Polar Silk Road” plan because melting ice has opened-up new northern shipping routes, which it outlined in 2018.
• Russia’s Northern Fleet modernization and revived Cold War military bases.
  About Arctic Council
• It was recognized in 1996 by Ottawa Declaration.
• Its HQ is in Tromso, Norway.
• Its 8 members are Russia, Sweden, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Denmark, Canada and USA.
• Iceland presently holds council’s rotating chair.
• By Indigenous groups and council also has 13 observer states which are non-Arctic nations invited to council conferences but do not have any voting rights.
• It is a high-level intergovernmental forum which tackles matters faced by Arctic states, its indigenous people and its other residents.
• It pursues to promote co-ordination, co-operation and interaction among them on common problems but mainly on environmental protection and sustainable development in Arctic.