International Organizations, Defence, Books & Authors, World History

Notes:
The Brasilia Declaration is related to the IBSA (India, Brazil, South Africa) Dialogue Forum. Established in 2003, IBSA aims to promote South-South cooperation and enhance collaboration among these three emerging economies. The Brasilia Declaration, signed in 2006, emphasizes political dialogue, economic cooperation, and cultural exchange among member countries. IBSA is notable for its focus on issues like poverty alleviation, sustainable development, and reforming global governance structures.

Notes:
The Shatt al-Arab waterway was the main factor in the Iran-Iraq War. The Shatt al-Arab is formed by the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers. The southern end of the river forms the border between Iran and Iraq. The Shatt al-Arab was an important channel for oil exports for both countries. The dispute over the Shatt al-Arab lasted from 1936 until 1975. Iran rejected the demarcation line established in the Anglo-Ottoman Convention of Constantinople of November 1913. Iran wanted the border to run along the thalweg, the deepest point of the navigable channel. The Iran-Iraq War lasted from September 1980 until August 1988. The war was also called the First Persian Gulf War or the Imposed War in Iran.

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The Axis powers during the World War-II included Italy, Germany and Japan. They were also known collectively as “Rome–Berlin–Tokyo Axis”. These three nations fought the WW-II against the allies but without any strong coordination between three of them. The major Allied Powers were Britain, France, Russia, and the United States. Thus, France was an allied power and not axis power.

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UNESCO Avicenna Prize for Ethics in Science is awarded every two years to individuals and groups with outstanding achievements in the field of ethics in science. Its purpose is to highlight the importance of ethics in science, to develop a reflection on the issue and to bring it to the attention of scientists and the general public.

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The name of the upper house of the European union is Council of the European Union. It is composed of twenty-eight national ministers (one per state).

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World Press Freedom Day is observed every year on May 3. The day was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1993, and is intended to celebrate the fundamental principles of press freedom and to remind governments of their duty to respect and uphold the right to freedom of expression. World Press Freedom Day is an opportunity for journalists, media professionals, and members of the public to come together and reflect on the importance of a free and independent press, and to support efforts to promote and defend press freedom around the world.

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United Nations Security Council Resolution 1386, adopted in December 2001, authorized the establishment of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan. This resolution aimed to assist the Afghan Interim Authority in maintaining security and stability following the U.S.-led invasion that ousted the Taliban regime. ISAF was initially a NATO-led mission, marking the first time NATO took command of a military operation outside Europe.

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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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Pinaka is a multi-barrel rocket launcher developed by the Indian Army’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). It is designed to be used for long-range artillery support and can fire a variety of rockets, including high-explosive, incendiary, and smoke-producing rounds.

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“Nomadic Elephant” is a joint military exercise focusing on counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism operations between India and Mongolia. This exercise is part of a series of military cooperation activities undertaken by the Indian Army with various countries and is aimed at enhancing military cooperation and interoperability, particularly in areas related to counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism.