International Organizations, Defence, Books & Authors, World History

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Bikini Day is observed in Japan in memory of the victims of the hydrogen bomb explosion on March 1, 1954. It is so named because radioactive ashes from the US explosion fell on fishing vessels in the vicinity of Bikini Atoll, where the explosion took place.

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The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) was established in 1964. It was meant for the integrated treatment of trade and development and related issues in the areas of investment, finance, technology, enterprise development and sustainable development.

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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.

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The Indian government has designated the Third Week of December every year to observe India Corporate Week. This initiative aims to promote corporate governance, encourage entrepreneurship, and highlight the contributions of the corporate sector to the economy. The week serves as a platform for discussions on business practices and policies, fostering a better understanding of corporate responsibilities.

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United Nations (UN) emblem was designed by a team of designers led by Oliver Lincoln Lundquist during the United Nations Conference on International Organization in 1945. The emblem is a map of the world centered on the North Pole, surrounded by two olive branches. The design was modified and approved by the Assembly in 1946. The blue color in the flag represents peace.
The UN flag was adopted in October 1947. It has a light blue background with a white image in the center that looks like a globe. The image is the UN emblem, which is a polar world map surrounded by two olive branches. The olive branch is a symbol of peace.

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The International Development Association (IDA) was established in 1960 as part of the World Bank Group. IDA offers highly concessional loans and grants to the world’s poorest countries. As of fiscal year 2025, IDA has provided $600 billion to 116 countries. Its concessional loans typically have repayment periods of up to 40 years with long grace periods and low or zero interest.

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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 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) is a forum for 21 Pacific Rim countries. It has 7 ASEAN countries. It was established in 1989.

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The correct answer is the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO). Established in 1992, the CSTO is a military alliance of several former Soviet republics, aimed at mutual defense and security cooperation. Its headquarters are indeed located in Moscow, Russia. In contrast, the Southeast Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO) was formed in 1954 and dissolved in 1977, while the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) was founded in 2001 with its headquarters in Beijing, China.

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The famous Sufi poet, Amir Khusrau wrote a historic masnavi (or poem) “Tughlaq Nama (Book of the Tughlaqs)” about the reign of Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq and other Tughlaq rulers. Excerpts of the works done by him are Wast-ul-Hayat, Nuh Sipihr, Khamsa, Baqia-Naqia, etc.