International Organizations, Defence, Books & Authors, World History

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Peninsula Shield Force is the military side of the Gulf Cooperation Council or GCC, which intends to deter, and respond to, military aggression against any of the GCC member countries: Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.

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Secretariat of SAARC Development Fund is located in Thimpu which is capital of Bhutan. The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation(SAARC) is the regional intergovernmental organization and geopolitical union of states in South Asia. Its member states are Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

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The first Secretary-General of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) was Josip Broz Tito, the leader of Yugoslavia. The NAM was established in 1961 during the Cold War to promote cooperation among countries that did not want to align with either the Western or Eastern blocs. Tito played a crucial role in its formation, alongside leaders like Jawaharlal Nehru and Gamal Abdul Nasser. The movement aimed to provide a platform for countries seeking independence from colonialism and to advocate for peace and mutual respect among nations.

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ECB is the central bank of Eurozone which was established by the Treaty of Amsterdam in 1998. Its headquarters is in Frankfurt. Frankfurt is a city n Germany.

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The World Investment Forum is a biennial event organized by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD). It brings together government officials, business leaders, investors, civil society organizations, and other stakeholders to discuss the latest trends, challenges, and opportunities in international investment. The Forum is designed to facilitate dialogue and cooperation on issues related to investment and development, and to promote inclusive and sustainable growth. The first World Investment Forum was held in 2008, and it has been held every two years since then.

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The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) is a forum for 21 Pacific Rim countries. It has 7 ASEAN countries. It was established in 1989.

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Ballal Sena, the ruler of the Sena dynasty, was the author of Adbutsagar and Dansagar. These works of literature provide a glimpse into the literary and cultural aspects of the time. They are regarded as significant historical documents that illuminate our understanding of the era.

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Around 44 African countries are entering into an agreement to set up AfCFTA (African Continental Free Trade Area) to remove barriers to trade, like tariffs and import quotas, allowing the free flow of goods and services between its members. The agreement will still have to be ratified at a national level, and is only due to come into force in 180 days. This is touted to be biggest free trade agreement since establishment of WTO.

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Udaipur Declaration is associated with Disaster Management meet at Udaipur, Rajasthan. It was held with mutual support and collaboration among BRICS Countries. BRICS countries resolved to set up a dedicated Joint Task Force for Disaster Risk Management.

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Krishna Sobti (94), the famous Hindi fiction writer and essayist, has passed away in New Delhi on January 25, 2019. She had won the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1980 for her novel Zindaginama and was awarded the Jnanpith in 2017 for her contribution to Indian literature. Sobti is best known for her 1966 novel Mitro Marajani, an unapologetic portrayal of a married woman’s sexuality. Some of her notable works are as follows: Daar Se Bichchuri, Surajmukhi Andhere Ke, Yaaron Ke Yaar, Zindaginama. Some of her well-known short stories are Nafisa, Sikka Badal gaya, Badalom ke ghere.