International Organizations, Defence, Books & Authors, World History

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In 2011, the G20 Ministers of Agriculture while recognizing the importance of timely, accurate and transparent information in addressing food price volatility launched the Agricultural Market Information System (AMIS), a collaborative food information initiative. AMIS builds on and complements existing systems and improves global food market information. AMIS is a platform through which countries, international organizations and the private sector can work together to strengthen synergies and collaboration in order to improve data reliability, timeliness and frequency. AMIS will also build developing countries’ capacity in market outlook analysis and promote policy dialogue.

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The Integrated Test Range (ITR) of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is located in Balasore, Odisha. It provides safe and reliable launch facilities for performance evaluation of rockets, missiles and air-borne weapon system.

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The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) is an inter-governmental policymaking body that has a ministerial mandate to establish international standards for combating money laundering and terrorist financing.  India joined the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) as its 34th member in June 2010.

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Squadron 25, also known as the Himalayan Eagles, was formed after the Chinese aggression in 1962 to strengthen supply lines to the army in the Northern Sector. The Sino-Indian War took place from October 20 to November 21, 1962. The Chinese won the war.

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The International Socrates Award is given by the European Business Assembly. The European Business Assembly is an international organization that recognizes and promotes excellence in various fields, including business, education, science, and culture. The International Socrates Award is one of the honors they bestow upon individuals and organizations for their contributions and achievements in these areas. This award is not associated with the United Nations, the World Economic Forum, or the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF).

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Bioversity International, a non-profit research organization for development, was established in 1974. The motto of the organization is “Agricultural biodiversity nourishes and sustains the planet”. It is headquatered at Rome, Italy.

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National Mathematics Day is celebrated on December 22 in India to honor the birth of the renowned mathematician Srinivasa Ramanujan, born on December 22, 1887. Ramanujan made important contributions to mathematical analysis, number theory, and continued fractions. His work has influenced various fields, and he is celebrated for his intuitive grasp of mathematics despite having little formal training. The day aims to promote the importance of mathematics in education and society.

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Commonwealth of Nations is a political organization with 56 member states. The Commonwealth was formed to maintain an association between countries that were once part of the British colonies. Although the Commonwealth has historical ties to the British Empire, any country can apply to be a member.
The Commonwealth is made up of independent countries from Africa, Asia, the Americas, Europe, and the Pacific. The Commonwealth’s members have a combined population of 2.4 billion people, almost a third of the world’s population. 94% of the Commonwealth’s population lives in either Asia or Africa.
The Commonwealth’s 55th and 56th members are Gabon and Togo, both former French colonies.

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The Imphal Peace Museum (IPM) has been gifted by Japan to Manipur to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Imphal, which was one of the fiercest battles of the Second World War. The museum was inaugurated at Maibam Lokpa Ching popularly known as Red Hill. Around 70,000 Japanese soldiers, alongside those of Subhash Chandra Bose’s Indian National Army (INA), died in battles with the British-led Allied forces in areas around Imphal and Kohima from March to June 1944. The last of these battles was fought at Red Hill, where the Japanese War Memorial was built in 1944 to mark the 50th anniversary of the battle. The museum symbolizes the reconciliation between Japan & Britain and Japan & India. It is to reinforce the message that history changes and makes us learn from the past.

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The North-South Dialogue refers to the process through which the developing and newly independent nations of the “third world,” predominantly in Asia, Africa, and Latin America, engaged the industrialized countries of North America and Western Europe in negotiations over changes to the international economic system.