International Organizations, Defence, Books & Authors, World History

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Japan was the first country in Asia to industrialize on a large scale. Industrialization began in Japan after the fall of the Tokugawa government in 1868. Japan industrialized faster than many European countries.
Japan’s industrialization was prompted by the need to improve the nation’s defenses against foreign threats. Local clans developed industrialization by copying Western examples and using traditional craft skills. Japan’s production included steel, machinery, metal goods, and chemicals, which were produced in quantities large enough for export.
Other Asian countries that have industrialized include: South Korea, Singapore, Taiwan, Hong Kong.

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The decision that major countries should have veto power was taken at Dumbarton oaks.

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World leprosy day is annually observed around the world on the last Sunday of January. It was initiated in 1954 by French philanthropist and writer, Raoul Follereau. The day was chosen to coincide with the death anniversary of Indian freedom fighter and Father of nation Mahatma Gandhi’s assassination on January 30 1948.
Leprosy (also known as Hansen’s disease) is one of the oldest diseases known to humankind. It is caused by a slow-growing type of bacteria called Mycobacterium leprae (M. leprae). It is curable with multidrug therapy (MDT)

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The Secretariat of the International Association of Deposit Insurers (IADI) is located in Switzerland. Established in 2002, IADI aims to enhance the effectiveness of deposit insurance systems worldwide. Switzerland is known for its strong financial sector and is home to many international organizations, making it a strategic location for IADI.

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The United Nation Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre is an executive agency of UN Environment Programme, which is based in Cambridge (UK). It was previously managed by IUCN, UN Environment Programme and WWF.

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In the year 2011 the Election Commission of India launched the National Voters Day to be celebrated on 25 January every year as a part of the Systematic Voter’s Education and Electoral Participation (SVEEP) Programme.

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The g4 countries are India, Brazil, Germany, Japan. They together are fighting for a permanent seat in the UN security council.

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The Financial Transaction Plan is an integral part of the IMF, managing its lending and repayment operations. The Technical Assistance Special Fund is associated with the Asian Development Bank and not the IMF. The Financial Stability Board is a separate international body; while IMF representatives participate in its activities, it is not part of the IMF itself.

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AFSPA became a law on September 11, 1958. Initially, it was applicable to the seven Northeastern states of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland and Tripura. This was so because in all these states there were movements of ethnic groups demanding separation from India. The government felt that such insurgencies could be checked through deployment of the armed forces, and they would need special powers to carry out their responsibilities. AFSPA was extended to J&K in 1990, on similar considerations.

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World Conference on Disaster Reduction is a United Nations conference bringing together government officials, non-governmental experts and other specialists from around the world to discuss the growing trend of people affected by natural disasters. The first WCDR conference was held in Kobe, Japan January 10- 22, 2005. The outcome of this conference was Hyogo Framework for Action. The HFA suggests five specific priorities for action:

1. Making disaster risk reduction a priority;
2. Improving risk information and early warning;
3. Building a culture of safety and resilience;
4. Reducing the risks in key sectors;
5. Strengthening preparedness for response.