International Organizations, Defence, Books & Authors, World History

Notes:
The Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property was signed on March 20, 1883 in Paris, France.   It was one of the first intellectual property treaties. The convention established a Union for the protection of industrial property.   It still applies today, and has 177 member countries.  The convention’s provisions fall into three main categories:

1. National treatment
2. Right of priority
3. Common rules

The convention applies to:  Patents, Trademarks, Industrial designs, Utility models, Service marks, Trade names, Geographical indications, Repression of unfair competition.  The convention’s provisions include a 12-month priority period. This period begins on the date of filing the first application to the first country.

Notes:
The International Development Association (IDA) was established in 1960 as part of the World Bank Group. IDA offers highly concessional loans and grants to the world’s poorest countries. As of fiscal year 2025, IDA has provided $600 billion to 116 countries. Its concessional loans typically have repayment periods of up to 40 years with long grace periods and low or zero interest.

Notes:
International Women’s Day is observed on March 8 each year. This date was officially recognized by the United Nations in 1977, although its roots trace back to the early 20th century, with the first official celebration occurring in 1911. The day highlights women’s achievements and advocates for gender equality globally.

Notes:
It`s worth note that Abaninath Mukherji or Abani Mukherji, who was one of the cofounders of Communist Party of India was a victim of the Great Purge, orchestrated by Joseph Stalin in 1936-1938. It was a series of campaigns of political repression and persecution in the Soviet Union. Abani Mukherji died in Soviet Union in 1937 when he was executed and his death was acknowledged only after 1955

Notes:
The book “Equilibrium Unemployment Theory” is authored by Christopher A. Pissarides. It is a comprehensive work that focuses on unemployment dynamics, job creation, and job destruction. The author introduces the theory of equilibrium unemployment – a framework which has been highly influential in the economics field. Additionally, Pissarides’s work in the search and matching theory of frictional unemployment, along with his contribution to the book has earned him a share of the 2010 Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences.

Notes:
Rajatarangini (or River of Kings) wrote by Kashmiri Brahman Kalhaṇa in Sanskrit between 1148 and 1149. The book is an account of the history of Kashmir, particularly the kings of Kashmir.

Notes:
With the induction of Prithvi-II, the IAF is the only air force in the world with surface to surface ballistic missiles under its command.

Notes:
Kofi Annan of Ghana is the seventh Secretary- General of the United Nations. The first Secretary- General to be elected from the ranks of United Nations staff, he began his term on 1 January 1997. On 29 June 2001, acting on a recommendation by the Security Council, the General Assembly appointed him by acclamation to a second term of office, beginning on 1 January 2002 and ending on 31 December 2006.

Notes:
The name of the author of the book ” The first war of Indian Independence” is V. D. Savarkar. In this book, he termed the great revolt of 1857 as a “planned war of national independence”.

Notes:
Barbados became a British colony in 1627. It was a wealthy sugar colony then. It became a British centre of African slave trade. Slave trade banned in 1817. Deep dissatisfaction against the British finally leads to the independence of Barbados from the United Kingdom in 1966.