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DECEMBER 2011
PERSON ON VISIT
Afghan President Hamid Karzai Visit India
Afghan President Hamid Karzai was on a two-day visit in India
on 4 October and 5 October, 2011. The visit meant for both the
countries to consolidate their strategic partnership and discuss
bilateral, regional and global issues of mutual interest.
On 4 October 2011 India signed three agreements with Afghanistan
for both the countries greater strategic partnership. The
agreements were singed between Afghanistan President, Hamid
Karzai and India’s Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. The strategic
pact was aimed at bolstering cooperation against international
terror. The Three arguments that were signed during the visit
were:
• Agreement on Strategic Partnership between India and
Afghanistan
• MoU on Cooperation in the Field of Development of
Hydrocarbons
• MoU on Cooperation in the Field of Mineral Resources
Development.
President of Myanmar Visited India
U Thein Sein, the President of the Republic of the Union of
Myanmar visited India from 12 October 2011 to 15 October 2011.
This was the first State visit of any political head from Myanmar
to India following the swearing in of a new government in
Myanmar in March 2011. Apart from his official engagement in
New Delhi, President U Thein Sein visited places of economic,
historical and religious interest, including Bodhgaya, Kushinagar
and Varanasi. During his visit, the President of Myanmar signed
several agreements with India including cooperation in Oil and
Natural gas. Apart from this, both nations also issued a joint
statement.
PLACES IN NEWS
IBSA Summit Concluded in PRETORIA
Pretoria: The fifth summit of IBSA was held here. Pretoria is a
city located in the northern part of Gauteng Province, South Africa.
It is one of the country’s three capital cities, serving as the
administrative capital; the others are Cape Town, the legislative
capital, and Bloemfontein, the judicial capital.
The fifth IBSA (India Brazil South Africa) summit concluded on
18 October 2011 in Pretoria. India, Brazil and South Africa, issued
a joint declaration at the end of the summit, which condemned
terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.
IBSA leaders described terrorism as one of the most serious threats
to international peace and security. At their summit meeting, the
IBSA leaders said the United Nations should play a central role in
co-ordinating international action against terrorism within the
framework of the UN Charter and in accordance with the
international law.
Goa Plans to Revive 60 Mines in
Sanctuary
Netravali Wildlife Sanctuary: It is located in Goa; 60 kms from
state capital Panaji. The state government of Goa gave its
approval to 60 non-operational mines in the Netravali Wildlife
Sanctuary under the Regional Plan 2021. The sanctuary is located
60 kms from Panaji. The Sanctuary is one of the five sanctuaries,
which are located in Goa. It is home to animals like slender loris,
deer, black panther and leopard. The environmentalists expressed
their concern over the state government’s decision as the mining
activities can have harmful effects on the animals in the sanctuary.
The 125th Assembly of the Inter
Parliamentary Union took place in Bern
Switzerland
BERN: The 125th Assembly of the Inter Parliamentary Union
was held here. The 125th Assembly of the Inter-parliamentary
union was held in Bern, Switzerland from 16 October 2011 to 19
October 2011. Bern was also the headquarters of the IPU from
1892 to 1911
ACCIDENT / INCIDENT
7.2 Richter Scale Earthquake Hits
Eastern Turkey
An earthquake measuring 7.2 on the Richter scale killed many
people in eastern Turkey on 23 October 2011. Approximately, 93
people died in Van province alone and 45 in the Ercis district.
The death toll is likely to increase. Serious damage and casualties
were also reported in the district of Celebibag, near Ercis. The US
Geological Survey initially measured the quake at 7.3 magnitude
but later downgraded it to 7.2. The earthquake struck at at a
depth of 20 kilometres with its epicentre 16 kilometres north-east
of Van in eastern Turkey. It was followed by a series of powerful
aftershocks, also centred north of Van, including two of
magnitude 5.6 soon after the quake and one of 6.0. Turkey is
particularly vulnerable to earthquakes because it sits on major
geological fault lines.
SUMMIT / CONFERENCE
India to Head UN South Asian
Regional Commission for Tourism
India took over as the Chairman of United Nations South Asian
Regional Commission for tourism. This was announced on 10
October 2011 at the ongoing United Nations World Tourism
Organisation (UNWTO) conference at Gyeongju in South
Korea.The chairmanship of the Commission was with Iran for
the last four years. It signifies the confidence of various countries
in India and the efforts of the Indian government in the promotion
of tourism in the country as well as across the globe in a
responsible and sustainable manner to achieve inclusive growth.
Parinam
DAY / WEEK / YEAR
World Mental Health Day 2011
The World Mental Health Day is anually observed on 10 October.
World Mental Health Day was observed on 10 October 2011 with
the theme, The Great Push: Investing in Mental Health. The
theme for 2011 World Mental Health Day invited a multisectoral
approach in removing barriers to mental healthcare, thereby
reducing the burden of neuropsychiatric disorders. It also
highlighted the long term cost effectivenes of investing in
interventions for prevention of mental disorders and promotion
of mental wellbeing. The day was celebrated in 2011 with an
intention to enhance discussions on mental disorders, and to
encourage investments in prevention, treatment and promoting
awareness of mental illnesses.
A separate day to acknowledge mental health was created by the
World Federation for Mental Health (WFMH) in 1992 with a hope
to create public awareness on mental health related issues. The
day is significant in drawing attention to issues concerning not
only mental illness, but mental well being as well.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) describes mental health
as a state of well being in which the individual realises his or her
own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work
productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to
his or her community.
According to an estimation, around 450 million people worldwide
have a mental health problem. By the year 2020, the WHO has
projected that depression will be the second leading cause of
disability in the world. Mental health is an important factor in the
overall health of a person. Without good mental health, a person
will be unable to fulfill its full potential.
World Food Day Observed on 16 Oct
with Food Prices – From Crisis to
Stability as Theme
World Food Day is observed every year on 16 October. In 2011,
World Food Day was observed with the theme- Food Prices –
From Crisis to Stability. Food Priices-from Crisis to Stability
was chosen as the 2011 World Food Day theme to shed some
light on what can be done to mitigate its impact on the most
vulnerable. World Food Day 2011 was observed with an objective
to look seriously at what causes swings in food prices, and do
what needs to be done to reduce their impact on the weakest
members of global society. Price upswings represent a major
threat to food security in developing countries. According to
the World Bank, in 2010-2011 rising food costs pushed nearly 70
million people into extreme poverty. World Food Day is
celebrated every year around the world on 16 October in honor
of the date of the founding of the Food and Agriculture
Organization of the United Nations in 1945. It is also the Food
Engineer day. World Food Day (WFD) was established by FAO’s
Member Countries at the Organization’s 20th General Conference
in November 1979. cont....
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