International Organizations, Defence, Books & Authors, World History

Notes:
“A Brief History of Time” is a book written by physicist Stephen Hawking. It was first published in 1988, and it covers a wide range of topics in cosmology and theoretical physics. The book became a bestseller and has been translated into over 40 languages.

Notes:
World Bank is one of five institutions created at Breton Woods Conference in 1944. It is part of the United Nations system, but its governance structure is different. Its headquarter are situated at Washington DC, US. World Bank provides loans to developing countries for capital programmes.
 It comprises only two institutions viz. International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) and International Development Association (IDA). In contrast World Bank Group comprises three more viz. International Finance Corporation (IFC), Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA), and International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID)

Notes:
Since 1997, UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize is given to a person, organization or institution that makes outstanding contribution to the defence and/or promotion of press freedom anywhere in the world. This USD 45,000 Award is given on World Press Freedom Day on 3 May

Notes:
The North Atlantic Treaty (also known as the Washington Treaty) was signed by 12 countries on April 4, 1949 at the Departmental Auditorium in Washington, D.C.. The countries that signed the treaty were:  Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, The United Kingdom, The United States.  The treaty established the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), a mutual defense treaty between the 12 nations. The purpose of NATO was to deter the Soviet Union from invading Western Europe. The treaty committed each member to share the risks, responsibilities, and benefits of collective defense.  NATO is now an alliance of 31 nations from Europe and North America. The main purpose of NATO is to safeguard the freedom and security of its members by political and military means.

Notes:
Mudrarakshasa is a Sanskrit-language play by Vishakhadatta that tells the story of the ascent of King Chandragupta Maurya. Its timeframe varies from the late 4th century to the 8th century CE. This literary work mainly portrayed the Mauryas and the Nandas, hence marking an important event in Indian historiography.

Notes:
The Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS) Agreement instructs governments on food safety and animal and plant health measures implementation, in addition to offering instructions on most-favoured-nation treatment and the general elimination of quantitative restrictions under the WTO framework. Commonly known as the SPS Agreement, it was established during the Uruguay Round of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade and came into force with the creation of the WTO in early 1995.

Notes:
On September 18, 1951, It was commissioned as the first shore hospital of the Indian Navy and was named INHS (Indian Naval Hospital Ship) Asvini, after the twin Asvini Kumars of Hindu mythology who are credited with unmatched knowledge and skills in medicine.

Notes:
Gold Coast was a region in West Africa that is now known as the country Ghana. The region was named the Gold Coast because of its large supplies of gold and the market for it during the transatlantic slave trade. The Gold Coast was also a trade hub for slaves.
The Portuguese named the area Mina, which means “mine”, after finding so much gold between the Ankobra and Volta rivers in the 15th century. The English colonists later adopted the name Gold Coast.
The Gold Coast was a British colony. In 1957, the Gold Coast gained independence from Britain and became the country Ghana. Kwame Nkrumah led the independence movement and became Ghana’s first prime minister and president.

Notes:
Economic and Social Commission for Asia and Pacific (ESCAP) is an organization under United Nations. It is one of the five regional commissions under the jurisdiction of the United Nations Economic and Social Council. It is located in Thailand.

Notes:
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.