International Organizations, Defence, Books & Authors, World History

Notes:
The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) has observed its 3rd National Deworming Day (NDD) on February 10 to tackle worm infections among pre-school (anganwadi) and school-age children across India. The aim of the NDD is to reach every child, regardless of their socio-economic circumstance. It is the world’s largest deworming programme that covers 340 million children under-19 years of age across 36 states/ UTs. The deworming programme is India’s commitment to a comprehensive national response to the public health threat posed by worms.

Notes:
The Divine Comedy is an epic poem written by Dante Alighieri between c. 1308 and his death in 1321. It is widely considered the preeminent work of Italian literature, and is seen as one of the greatest works of world literature. The poem’s imaginative and allegorical vision of the afterlife is a culmination of the medieval world-view as it had developed in the Western Church. It helped establish the Tuscan dialect, in which it is written, as the standardized Italian language.

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The National Technology Day (NTD) is celebrated every year on May 11 by the Union Ministry of Science & Technology to mark the historic feat of test-firing its very first nuclear-capable missile back in 1998 and to commemorate achievements of Innovation and Technology in India. 

Notes:
The Bermuda Conference, also known as the Bermuda Conference on the Problems of War and Peace, was a conference held in 1943 in Bermuda to discuss issues related to the ongoing World War II. The conference was attended by high-level officials from the United States and the United Kingdom, and focused on a range of issues related to the war, including the fate of Jewish refugees and the possibility of negotiating a peace settlement with the Axis powers. The conference ultimately failed to produce any significant agreements or resolutions.

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Asian Clearing Union (ACU) is a payment settlement forum for the transactions clearing that take place within the regions. The Asian Clearing Union, with headquarters in Tehran, Iran. It was established on December 9, 1974.

Notes:
[A] Border Security Force (BSF): Established on December 1, 1965.
[B] Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF): Established on July 27, 1939.
[C] Assam Rifles: Formed in 1835 as the Cachar Levy, it was later renamed as the Assam Rifles in 1917.
[D] National Security Guards (NSG): Established in 1984.
So, the Assam Rifles is the oldest among these organizations, with its origins dating back to the 19th century.

Notes:
The secretariat of the International Chamber of Commerce is located in Paris, France. Founded in 1919, the International Chamber of Commerce represents businesses from more than 130 countries. It plays a significant role in arbitration and has a wide reach in areas involving trade and business law. This international non-governmental organization assists in streamlining international trade rules, thereby promoting economic growth.

Notes:
One of the most famous speeches of the Cold War period in which former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill condemns the Soviet Union’s policies in Europe is also called as Iron Curtain Speech.

Notes:
World Forestry Day, also known as the International Day of Forests, is observed on March 21st every year. It was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 2012 to raise awareness about the importance of forests and trees and to promote sustainable forest management. The day provides an opportunity to highlight the significance of forests in supporting biodiversity, combating climate change, providing livelihoods, and contributing to sustainable development. Various activities and events are organized worldwide to celebrate World Forestry Day and promote the conservation and sustainable use of forests.

Notes:
The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) developed the Transnationality Index (TNI). The TNI is used to rank multinational corporations. It is calculated as the average of three ratios:

1. The ratio of foreign assets to total assets
2. The ratio of foreign sales to total sales
3. The ratio of foreign employment to total employment

The TNI has been used since 1990 to rank the world’s 100 largest non-financial TNCs. It can be used for comparative analysis with similar surveys conducted in other countries.

The TNI has shown that the average index value for developing economies’ TNCs has increased over time.