International Organizations, Defence, Books & Authors, World History

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In 2011 UNESCO has become the first U.N. agency to welcome the Palestinians as a full member. The Palestinians got backing from two thirds of UNESCO’s members to become its 195th member.

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The SAARC Food Bank was established during the 15th SAARC Summit held in Colombo, Sri Lanka, in 2008. This initiative aimed to address food security issues among member countries by providing a mechanism for food assistance during crises. The food bank is a important step towards regional cooperation in agriculture and food security within South Asia, which is home to a large population facing food scarcity challenges.

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The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) is an inter-governmental policymaking body that has a ministerial mandate to establish international standards for combating money laundering and terrorist financing.  India joined the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) as its 34th member in June 2010.

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Dayton Peace Agreement (DPA) ended the Bosnian War, which was part of the Yugoslav Wars. The DPA was signed on December 1995 after months of negotiations. The war lasted three and a half years and was known for its violence and atrocities. The war resulted in about 100,000 deaths and displaced two million people. The DPA also outlined a constitutional framework for peace in Bosnia.  The DPA was reached by the presidents of Bosnia, Croatia, and Serbia. The agreement was brokered by American diplomat Richard Holbrooke. The negotiations began in the Balkans and ended in Dayton, Ohio.

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U Thant was from Myanmar, formerly known as Burma. He served as the third Secretary-General of the United Nations from 1961 to 1971, becoming the first Asian to hold the position. His tenure was marked by important events, including the Cuban Missile Crisis and the Vietnam War. U Thant was known for his efforts in peacekeeping and promoting decolonization.

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Sagarmal Gopa was a freedom fighter and patriot from Rajasthan, India. He took active part in the non-cooperation movement in 1921. He was the author of Jaisalmer ka Gundaraj.

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February 2nd is World Wetlands Day. This day is celebrated annually to raise awareness about the importance of wetlands and how to restore them. It also commemorates the Ramsar Convention, which was signed on February 2nd, 1971 in Ramsar, Iran.

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The Tunisian Revolution is also called the Jasmine Revolution. It was an intensive 28-day campaign of civil resistance. It led to the ousting of longtime president Zine El Abidine Ben Ali in January 2011.

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The 40+9 Recommendations are related to the Financial Action Task Force (FATF). The FATF is an intergovernmental body that sets international standards to prevent money laundering and terrorist financing. The 40+9 Recommendations are the international standards for combating these illegal activities.
The FATF first issued its Forty Recommendations in 1990. In 2004, the FATF published the Ninth Special Recommendations (SR). These recommendations further strengthened the international standards. In February 2012, the FATF revised the 40 and IX Recommendations. The revised recommendations integrated the SR on terrorist financing with measures against money laundering. The revised recommendations covered issues such as the financing of weapons of mass destruction.
The FATF Recommendations are not binding in the way a law or contract would be.

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“A Suitable Boy” is an epic novel of over 1,500 pages, making it one of the longest novels published in a single volume in the English language. The author, Vikram Seth, is a celebrated Indian novelist and poet. Known for his masterful storytelling and keen understanding of human nature, he holds a distinguished place in contemporary English literature.