International Organizations, Defence, Books & Authors, World History

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When a country faces serious medium-term balance of payments problems, International Monetary Fund assist the country with the adjustment process under its Extended Fund Facility.

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BIMSTEC-Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation
The BIMSTEC is sub-regional grouping comprising of seven countries of South Asia- India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, Sri Lanka and South East Asia- – Myanmar, Thailand. It was established on 6 June 1997 through Bangkok Declaration. It is headquartered at Dhaka, Bangladesh.

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SIMBEX is a naval exercise that takes place between the navies of Singapore and India. It is an acronym for “Singapore-India Maritime Bilateral Exercise”. The exercise typically involves a variety of naval drills and training activities designed to improve the interoperability and cooperation between the participating navies. The first SIMBEX exercise was held in 1994, and it has been conducted annually ever since.

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Mercosur is a sub-regional bloc of South American countries. Its purpose is to promote free trade and the fluid movement of goods, people, and currency. It was established in 1991 and its headquarters are located at Montevideo (Uruguay). It calls itself the common market of the South America At present, it is a full customs union and a trading bloc. Its full members are Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay

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The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development is an intergovernmental economic organisation with 37 member countries, founded in 1961 to stimulate economic progress and world trade. It is headquartered at Paris, France. The OECD publishes and updates a model tax convention that serves as a template for allocating taxation rights between countries.

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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.

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The United Nation Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre is an executive agency of UN Environment Programme, which is based in Cambridge (UK). It was previously managed by IUCN, UN Environment Programme and WWF.

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International Anti-Corruption Day is observed on December 9th each year. This global observance is promoted by the United Nations (UN) to raise awareness about the detrimental effects of corruption and to encourage countries, governments, organizations, and individuals to take measures to combat and prevent corruption. It provides an opportunity for governments, civil society organizations, and the private sector to come together to discuss and promote anti-corruption initiatives and strategies. The goal is to create a world in which corruption is less prevalent, transparent governance is promoted, and the rule of law is upheld.

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The Apple Cart: A Political Extravaganza was written by George Bernard Shaw. It is a play that was first performed in 1929. The play is a satirical look at politics and government, and explores the tension between the forces of tradition and progress in society. It is one of Shaw’s most popular and enduring works.

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Operation Meghdoot was an Indian armed forces operation launched on 13 April 1984 to capture the Siachen Glacier in Kashmir. The operation was entrusted to one of the Kumaon Battalions, supported by Ladakh Scouts. Initial assault was led by Maj (later Col ) RS Sandhu, VrC. This military operation was unique because it was the first assault launched in world’s highest battlefield.