israel

Israel

Common borders with Egypt, Jordan,Syria,Lebanon 





“OpIsrael” affects 650 Israeli websites
• In an operation “OpIsrael” online activist group Anonymous recently hacked number of websites of Israeli
state agencies and a top bank to protest against Israel’s deadly air assault on Gaza.








which among the following country has successfully tested an
upgraded version of its "Iron Dome" missile defence system?
[A]Iran
[B]Israel
[C]North Korea
[D]Syria
Israel
The Israeli air force has successfully tested an upgraded version of its “Iron Dome”
missile defence system, the Defence Ministry has said. This test constitutes a new
success in the project to strengthen the Iron Dome’s performance. Israel has
invested an enormous budget to finance the different missile defence systems that
should allow us to protect the whole of our territory within a few years. The first Iron
Dome battery was installed in March 2011 near Beersheva in the Negev desert
region, 40 km (25 miles) from the Gaza Strip, and has intercepted more than 100
rockets since then. Southern Israel is regularly targeted by rocket attacks from
Palestinian Hamas-controlled Gaza, to which it often responds with air raids. The
Iron Dome system is developed by Rafael Advanced Defence Systems, a public
arms company based in the northern town of Haifa, and part-funded by the US. The
Israeli missile defence programme includes other systems, including Arrow, which
is for ballistic missiles, and David’s Sling, for medium-range attacks.

WORLD

ALBANIA---EUROPE
BAHAMAS----AFRICA
CAMERRON----ASIA
PERU---S.AMERICA

KNESSET---PARLIMENT OF ISRAEL

PLAYGROUND OF EUROPE----SWITZERLAND

INDIA SHARES 16.7% OF WORLD POPULATION



ATACAMA DESERT----CHILE


NELSON MANDELA IMPRISONED BY BRITISH FOR 27 YRS

N.AMERICA

WORLD'S LONGEST RULING OF GOVT IS FROM CUBA

FIDEL CASTRO CAME TO POWER IN 1959 FOLLOWING CUBAN REVOLUTION AND BECAME PM  IN 1961 AND FROM 1976 HE BECAME THE PRESIDENT OF CUBA TILL DATE


The Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) leader Enrique Peña Nieto was elected the new President of Mexico on 2 July 2012.




Enrique Peña Nieto will be new President of Mexico
The leader of Institutional Revolutionary Party, Enrique Peña Nieto has been elected as the new
President of Mexico. He beat Party of the Democratic Revolution (PDR) candidate Andrés Manuel López
Obrador. Enrique Peña Nieto, 45, was earlier the governor of the State of Mexico.
As per the Mexican Constitution:
 The President is the head of both the state and the Government.
 President is also the Supreme Commander of the Mexican armed forces.
 Mexico holds Presidential elections every 6 years since 1934 (earlier it was every 4 years).
 The President is elected via direct and universal adult voting system, where the candidate who gets maximum
number of votes is announced winner.
 The constitution of Mexico does not provide any runoff election

CUBA

HAVANA IS FAMOUS FOR CIGAR INDUSTRY



FEB 2008, CUBAN NATIONAL ASSEMBLY CHOOSE RAUL CASTRO AS PRESIDENT OF CUBA

SCOTLAND

JUTE ENTERPRUNERS ARE CALLED AS JUTE BARONS IN SCOTLAND

brazil

Joaquim Barbosa: Brazil’s First Black Supreme Court Justice

November 27th, 2012

Joaquim Barbosa became the only black ever to become Supreme Court Justice of Brazil.

Barbosa will have a 2-year tenure as Supreme Court president. The election of the President of Supreme Court is done on the basis of the length of period a justice has served on the bench. The justice who has served on the bench the longest is elected.

Barbosa made news when he presided over a high-profile corruption trial involving a congressional cash-for-votes scheme. The court has convicted 25 people including the former chief of staff of ex-President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

Joaquim Barbosa sworn-in as Brazil’s Supreme Court’s First non-White President

Joaquim Barbosa was sworn-in as Brazil's Supreme Court's first non-White President on 23 November 2012 at a packed ceremony in the capital Brazilia. Barbosa became famous in Brazil after overseeing one of the country's biggest corruption trials involving key members of the former President Lula Da Silva's government.

Barbosa is famous for his tough stand against political corruption. Brazil has the second largest non-White population in the world after Nigeria, but few of them achieve high office.

cachaca is the most popular alcholic drink made from sugarcane is also called as the national spirit of brazil

Brazil court on 3 July 2012 ordered Baden Aniline and Soda Factory (BASF) and Royal Dutch Shell to pay 382 million dollar into a compensation fund. The fund would likely to be given to the ex-employees who were suffered from working in contaminated and sickened agricultural chemical plant. Both companies were disputed against the decision.

As per annual report of BASF, in 1995 Shell was operating the site in the Brazilian municipality of Paulinia, after that Shell sold it to the American Cyanamid. BASF claimed that it had bought the site in the year 2000 and at that time the site was already infected by Shell. After that in 2011, BASF SA, parent company of BASF SE had also approved that the site was extensively infected by production of crop protection products.

BASF had taken a legal action against Shell to accept full responsibility.

BASF is the largest Chemical Company across the world and headquarter in Ludwingshafen, Germany. Currently, it has a registered trademark. It is also listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange, London Stock Exchange and Zurich Stock Exchange. It was plunked in 1865 to produce other chemicals required for dye production, notably soda and acids.

Royal Dutch Shell plc or Shell is a global oil and Gas Company and is headquartered in The Hague, Netherland. It has its registered office in London, Uk. It was founded by Marcus Samuel in 1907. It has major renewable energy activities including in biofuels, hydrogen, solar and wind power

uganda

capital------kampala

Libya

The General National Assemly of Libya on 7 October 2012 rejected the new 10-member Crisis Cabinet proposed by the Prime Minister Mustafa Abu Shagur




Ali Zeidan
Libya’s 200-member General National Congress has elected a former congressman
and human rights lawyer as the country’s new Prime Minister.Mr. Zidan was a
diplomat under Muammar Qadhafi before defecting in the 1980s and joining Libya’s
oldest opposition movement, National Front for the Salvation of Libya, from Geneva
where he resided.

s.america

Huge Chavez re-elected as President of Venezuela on 9 October 2012 Venezuela. It his third  election victory in 14 years of Office. With this he will be spending 6 more years in Office.


ARGENTINA---------FACED ECONOMIC CRISIS DUE TO HUGE PUBLIC DEBT CAUSED A GREAT CIVIL STRIFE AND PEOPLE BECAME ANXIOUS ABOUT THEIR FINANCE FUTURE








Tens of thousands of demonstrators took to the streets of Argentina to protest
against the President recently. Who among the following is the present President of
Argentina------Cristina Kirchner

the Juan Fernández Islands (Spanish: Archipiélago Juan Fernández) are a sparsely inhabited island group reliant on tourism and fishing in the South Pacific Ocean, situated about 600 km (324 nmi; 373 mi) off the coast of Chile, and is composed of three main volcanic islands; Robinson Crusoe Island, Alejandro Selkirk Island and Santa Clara Island, the first two being formerly called Más Adentro and Más Afuera respectively

chile is the largest producer of copper in the world.chileanisation of copper refers to nationalization of some chile copper mines that began in 1950’s and lasted in three phases.

uae

Dubai International Peace Convention gets underway
The 2nd edition of Dubai International Peace Convention got afoot in Dubai. Leading Islamic scholars and
thinkers from all over the world are taking part in the event. Indian Islamic scholar Dr. Zakir Naikwho is
taking part in the event, shared his views for unity of mankind on the opening day of the Peace
Convention.
Objective: It is a 2 day event aimed at nurturing ideas and solutions for a peaceful world.





In Kuwait, the ruler Emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad Al-Sabah on 7 October 2012 dissolved the parliament clearing the decks for yet other parliamentary elections in the country. It is for the sixth time in five years that parliament has been dissolved in Kuwait.




“Caravan of Women”: World’s largest mural painting unveiled in Dubai
“Caravan of Women” by Lebanese artist Souheil Madi, the world’s largest
mural painting of its kind, was unveiled in Dubai. It is a football field size
painting on the Gloria Hotel in Dubai can be seen from high altitudes and
helicopters.
“Caravan of Womën” depicts the camel caravans that used to pass through
the Arabian desert with women on board. Madi used a simple paintbrush to
complete the painting replete with images showcasing the realities of the Arabian Desert. Madi said he took 100 hours
to complete the painting with the help of an associate working on the 8thfloor of the Gloria Hotel in Dubai. The painting
has become the latest tourism landmark in Dubai

malawi

Joyce Banda takes over sworn in as Malawi president
Malawi’s Vice President Ms Joyce Banda took over power in the southern African
nation following the official announcement of the death of President Bingu wa
Mutharika. Under Malawi’s Constitution the Vice President takes over in the
absence of the president. Bingu wa Mutharika died of a heart attack a day before due to a Heart
attack.

Australia

NO VOLCANOES IN AUSTRALIA MAIN LAND

Australian Scientists Claimed South Pacific Island Does Not Exist At All

Australian scientists from the University of Sydney discovered in the third week of November 2012 that the South Pacific Island which is located between Australia and New Caledonia in South Pacific is not in existence. The island is shown on the marine charts, world maps as well as Google Earth, but in reality it has no existence.

Geologists from the University of Sydney became suspicious about its existence when navigation charts which are used by ships showed 1400 metres depth in the area while the scientific maps as well as Google Earth showed large island at that place. When the geologists sailed through the place, they found nothing except the blue ocean.

The error had broadcasted through to world coastline database, which is responsible for making a lot of maps. It is notable that the island which does not exist at all has also appeared in the scientific publications since 2000.

No one has an idea how island appears on a lot of maps.

Australia approved the plan to save the Murray-Darling Basin

Australia on 22 November 2012 approved the plan to save the Murray-Darling Basin, an ailing river system. As per the plan, the sum total of five Sydney Harbour’s worth of water to the network every year.  Murray-Darling Basin river system is vital to the Australia’s food bowl. This river network is sprawling across five Australian states and covering the area of one million square kilometers. Two million tonnes of salt will also be flushed out each year under the plan.

The concerned river system affects the livelihood of millions of people, but due to overexploitation it is ailing now. It suffers from increased salt concentrations as well as depletion in its amount of water because of draught.

Australia clears plan to protect Murray-Darling Basin

November 27th, 2012

Australia approved a plan aimed at saving vital Murray-Darling Basin river water sytem.

About Murray-Darling Basin:

The Murray–Darling Basin is a river network sprawling for one million square kilometres (400,000 square miles) across five Australian states(New South Wales, Victoria, and the Australian Capital Territory, Queensland South Australia) in the interior of south-eastern Australia. The two main rivers in this basin are the Murray River and the Darling River.

How it is important to Australia?

• The basin drains around 1/7^th of the Australian land mass, and is one of the most important agricultural areas in Australia.

What are the dangers faced by the basin?

The major threat to the basin is overexploitation and draught which has caused increase in concentration of salt and depletion of water.

What is the Plan?

As per the plan:

• Around 2,750 gigalitres of water will be returned annually as environmental flows to the system.
• 2 million tonnes of salt will also be flushed out each year.

the following country, the Commission for the
Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR), made up of 24
countries and the European Union met to discuss about carving out new marine
sanctuaries in Antarctica?
[A]Russia
[B]Canada
[C]Australia
[D]USA
Australia
Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR),
made up of 24 countries and the European Union met in Hobart, Australia to discuss
about carving out new marine sanctuaries and protect thousands of species across
Antarctica. But the talks were failed due to resistance led by China and Russia








the following country's Parliament, a petition has been
tabled to recognise the 1984 anti-Sikh riots in India as "genocide"?
[A]France
[B]Australia
[C]Canada
[D]USA
Australia
Twenty eight years after the anti-Sikh riots in India, a petition has been tabled in
Australian Parliament seeking recognition of the 1984 violence as “genocide.”The
petition, with 4,453 signatures, was moved by federal MP Warren Enstch. Tabling
the petition, Mr. Enstch said that as long as the 1984 events “continue to be referred
to as ‘anti-Sikh riots’ there could be no closure for the Sikh community.”

Australia Created World’s Largest Marine Reserve to Protect Ocean Environment

Australia on 16 November 2012 created the world's largest network of marine reserves, protecting more than 2.3 million square kilometres of ocean environment.

The announcement came after years of planning and consultation. The Marine reserve created is going to expand the protection of creatures such as the blue whale, green turtle and the critically endangered populations of grey nurse sharks, and dugongs.

The plan extension cover six marine regions and it was first made public in June 2012.

Australia is home to some incredible marine environments which include the Perth Canyon in the south-west and the stunning reefs of the Coral Sea and  by creating World’s largest Marine Reserve is becoming a world leader on environmental protection.

However, the Marine reserve creation is going to ruin coastal communities and it will also affect thousands of jobs with a serious impact on US $ 2 billion aquaculture Industry. It was also criticized by the Commonwealth Fisheries Association.

As per the cost analysis by the Australian Marine Alliance it was found that the marine reserve creation  would affect 60 regional communities ,36000 jobs lost and a displacement of 70-80 trawler operators while the cost of seafood imports would soar.
























From July 1, 2012, which among the following countries has introduced the
controversial carbon tax which makes around 300 businesses to pay $23 for every
tonne of carbon emission they produce------Australia

Australian Scientists on 5 October 2012 unveiled a colossal radio telescope with abilities of exploring the depths of universe with unparalleled precision. The telescope will increase the abilities of astronomers in mapping black holes, survey the universe, and cracking the new light across the galaxies to an exponential level.

At present the Australian SKA Pathfinder telescope having 36 antennas with diameter of 12 meters each is placed at the remote Murchison Radio-Astronomy observatory in the deserts of West Australia. Designed and developed by making investments of Australian $ 140 million has facilities of surveying the sky at a much faster speed than any other telescope available in the world. The sensitive antennas of the telescope are quite sensitive to the faint radiations of Milky Way hence is able to detect the galaxies far away.  The radio waves generated from this telescope can provide details of the cosmos far away and the gases that resulted in the formation of any particular star.

Pulsars and quasars can also be identified by the telescope with an ease pushing forward the boundaries of knowledge of the mankind ahead of the physical laws of nature. The principle of radio-astronomy can provide the details of the beginning of the universe. Basically the antennas of the telescope spread across the rocky terrain would be used for collection of the radio signals of the cosmic phenomenon. Being 50 times more powerful, when compared to other radio devices, it can easily detect the exploding stars. Hence can be of a great use in establishing the facts related to the formation of the universe that happened about 14 billion years ago

Sundaram Finance Ltd., the Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) arm of Sundaram Business Services (SBS) on 9 July 2012 signed a number of deals to expand its BPO servies in Australia.The Company is targeting to expand its Australian business by 50 percent in 2012.

Sundaram Business Services (SBS) provides non-voice support services. It also offers accounting, credit processing, deposit processing, employee administration and insurance related processing services. The company is based in Chennai, India. It would process around 3 lakh mortgage documents annually. The overall BPO business from Australia for SBS was around 15 crore rupees in the year 2011-12.

It had also signed a deal with a Sydeny- based company to undertake mortgage process work from India. It has also signed Melbourne-based Research Company to  undertake high-end equity research back office work.

As per the company, each contract will cost around 15 crore rupees

200 US Marines arrive in Australia as part of
defence deal
About 200 U.S. Marines arrived in Darwin in the north of the country as part of a
defence deal between Australia and the United States. US and Australia will hold
joint training and exercises in Darwin and the U.S. Marines would be stationed, on
rotation basis here. The new plan would intensify the 60 year military alliance
between the two countries.
Why Darwin?
If we see in Map (figure) Darwin has a close proximity with Asia which makes it an important gateway. Thus it is
strategically an important position.
Are the Alarm bells ringing for China?
Yes. China’s Heart Beat is rising now!!!

myanmar

STATES OF INDIA HAVING COMMON BORDER WITH MYANMAR ----MIZORAM,MANIPUR, NAGALAND, ARUNACHAL PRADESH

Myanmar’s first Vice President Tin Aung Myint Oo resigned on 4 July 2012 due to health reasons. The move, which is expected to begin a broader reshuffle in the government, could see the appointment of some more reformers to Myanmar's cabinet.

Tin Aung Myint Oo, a former army general is widely regarded as a hard-liner. He took over as the vice president in 2011 after being selected by a bloc of military officers in the country's legislature.

The resignation of  Tin Aung Myint Oo is likely to accelerate the pace of economic change in Myanmar after the European Union and the US began lifting their longstanding economic sanctions against the country during the past several months.

the following is the winner of 2012 Amnesty
International Ambassador of Conscience Award--------]Aung San
Suu Kyi

The Nobel Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi received, the US Congress highest Civilian Honour at a ceremony organized in the Capitol Rotunda on 19 September 2012, before her meet with the US president Barack Obama. Before her, the recipient of this award includes George Washington, Pope John Paul II and Dalai Lama-the Tibetan Buddhist Leader. During her 15 year long house arrest against the military rule in Myanmar, she received the Congressional Gold Medal in 2008.

Other awards received by Suu Kyi before the US Congress highest Civilian medal are:

1. Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought in the year 1990
2. Rafto Prize in the year 1990
3. Nobel Peace Prize in the year 1991
4. The government of India awarded her with Jawaharlal Nehru Award for International Understanding in the year 1992
5. The government of Venezuela awarded her with International Simón Bolívar Prize
6. The Government of Canada in 2007 awarded her with Honorary citizenship, she was among the only four people by then to receive the award
7. She won Wallenberg Medal in 2011

US eases sanctions on Myanmar
US declared easement of sanctions against Myanmar. Some travel and financial
sanctions would be eased and thus now senior Myanmar officials will now be able
to visit the United States and US will open a development office in Myanmar. The
EU is also considering a similar package.
Why USA and EU are considering an ease in sanctions over Myanmar?
The declaration for easing of sanctions against Myanmar from US as a result of the
National League for Democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi winning a seat in
Parliament and her party sweeping the by-elections for the Myanmar’s lower house of Parliament. US and EU have
been propounders of a popular and Democratically elected Government in Myanmar. With the election of Aung San
Suu Kyi in Myanmar Parliament, they are now assured that AALL IS WELL in Myanmar now.
April 5, 2012
Suu Kyi’s NLD party wins majority, main opposition in Myanmar
In Myanmar, the opposition National League for Democracy (NLD) announced that its leader Aung San Suu
Kyi has won a seat in the bi-election for the country’s lower house of Parliament. NLD party has also
claimed to have swept most of the 45 Parliamentary seats for which bi-elections were held. But, this
announcement has not been affirmed officially so far. Ms Aung San Suu Kyi spent over 15 years under
house-arrest after the military annulled her party’s landslide general election victory in 1990. The NLD
contended in elections the first time since 1990.
What role did India play during the Elections?
For the first time international observers have been allowed to monitor the elections and playing its role in the
elections, India also had designated two senior election officials and its Ambassador to Myanmar to supervise the
elections.

Kachin State  is the northern most state of Burma. It is bordered by China to the north and east. The area of Kachin State is 89,041 km²(34,379 sq mi). The capital of the state is Myitkyina. Other important towns include Bhamo. Kachin State has Myanmar’s highest mountain, Hkakabo Razi, forming the southern tip of the Himalayas, and a large inland lake, Indawgyi Lake. 

The Kachin ethnic rebels, who are recently in news are found in ____________?

Myanmar
Recently, Kachin ethnic rebels in northern Myanmar said that military air attacks
against them are continuing. The Kachin, like Myanmar's other ethnic minorities,
have long sought greater autonomy from the central government. They are the only
major ethnic rebel group that has not reached a cease-fire agreement with elected
President Thein Sein's reformist government, which came to power in 2011 after
almost five decades of military rule.








Australia to lift some sanctions on Myanmar
Australia has decided to lift sanctions against Myanmar’s President and more than 200 others who are at present
under travel and financial bans.
The declaration follows a series of reforms in Myanmar in 2011.
 Australia announced that some 130 names will still continue on the restricted list, counting senior members of
the military and others alleged of human rights abuses.
The decision comes just days after British PM David Cameron and Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi
issued a mutual call for the suspension of sanctions. The EU foreign ministers are also likely to act on the issue
soon.
 Norway has also decided to lift economic sanctions against Myanmar, whilst keeping the arms embargo and
limitations on military cooperation in force.

mali

Mali Prez ousted from power Amadou Toumani Toure (President of the West African State of Mali)
ousted from power in a Military coup. Mali Soldiers stormed the
presidential palace and declared that they had seized control of the
country. The mutinous soldiers imposed a nationwide curfew.
A group of soldiers on the national television declared that the country is
under the control of the military’s National Committee for the Reestablishment
of Democracy and the Restoration of the State. They
announced suspension of Mali’s constitution and dissolved its institutions.
The Military complained that the civilian government had not done enough
to combat a rebellion by ethnic Tuareg separatists who want to carve out a homeland in the country’s northern desert.
Thus they held that the Military committee has decided to assume its responsibilities and end the incompetent regime of President Amadou Toumani Toure.

europe

cern--------european organisation for nuclear research





GREAT MIGRATION LASTED FOR 4 CENTURIES

Spain

Smoking banned in most of the places

Norway

Atlantic ocean adjacent to it is an important fishing region.

Denmark

Greenland comes under jurisdiction of denmark

Germany

Ruhr region famous for—coal

FRANCE

BANNED WEARING BURQA IN PUBLIC PLACES

CERN physicists discover the GOD Particle
In the field of Physics a quantum jump was made as the scientists at the Switzerland’s CERN research centre near
Geneva discovered a sub-atomic particle ‘Higgs boson’, prevalently known as the “God particle”, conceived to be an
essential building block that contributed to the shaping of the universe. A declaration to this effect was made by the
CERN’s Scientists.
The subtle particle is conceived to have been responsible for imparting mass to the particles that finally formed the
stars and the planets after the Big Bang 13.7 billion years ago.
The breakthrough of a particle consistent with the Higgs boson is probable to elucidate other secrets of our Universe.
The particle was conjectured in 1964 by six physicists, including Briton Peter Higgs, from whose name the word ‘Higgs’
has been taken. The word ‘Boson’ has been taken from the surname of the famous Indian physicist, Satyendra Nath
Bose, a contemporaneous of Albert Einstein.
Indian Scientists also contributed to the discovery
A lot of Indian scientists, representing the Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics, Kolkata, Tata Institute of Fundamental
Research, Mumbai, Harishchandra Research Institute, Allahabad and Institute of Physics, Bhubaneswar, were involved
in the experiment.
 CERN Director: General Rolf Heuer
 Higgs Boson named after: Briton Peter Higgs and Indian Scientist Satyendra Nath Bose

Scientists at CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research, on 4 July 2012, discovered a new sub-atomic particle called Higgs Boson or God’s Particle. The new discovery is being considered as a gateway to a new era in understanding the universe's great mysteries including dark matter.

Scientists had predicted the existence of Higgs Boson, which is also referred to as God’s Particle, in 1964. The particle was named Higgs Boson after Peter Higgs and Indian physicist Satyendra Nath Bose. Peter Higgs was one of six authors who wrote the revolutionary papers covering what is now known as the Higgs mechanism and described the related Higgs field and boson.

The term God particle was first used by Nobel Prize-winning physicist Leon Lederman. The term is now a more popular term for Higgs Boson which explains how the subatomic universe works and got started.

Europe’s most recent spacecraft to track weather in orbit

The most recent spacecraft in Europe’s long-running Meteosat series has moved into orbit on an Ariane rocket. The
spacecraft being guided into a position about 36,000 kms above the Earth from where it can keep an unceasing eye on
developing weather systems.
Since 1977, this spacecraft is the 10th Meteosat platform to go into service.
Its images will shortly be feeding into the daily forecasts furnished to the public by national meteorological agencies
throughout Europe. It is anticipated to publish the first image on August 6, 2012.

European aerospace Airbus on 2 July 2012 announced to build its first US assembly Plant in Alabama to compete with Boeing. The Alabama plant costs around 600 million dollar. It will employ around 1000 people and likely to be complete till 2017.

Previously, Airbus had planned to manufacture refueling tankers for the U.S. Air Force in Alabama. But its parent company, the European Aeronautic Defense and Space Co. had lost the contract to Boeing in 2011. Boeing is already present in Alabama and its employing 2700 people in defense and rocket operations.

Airbus appears to increase its A320 production while Boeing is producing its 737. Airbus A320 directly competes with Boeing 737. Both companies are placing new, more fuel-efficient engines on the planes to extend their request as airlines try to cut fuel costs. Airbus had the facility in Mobile to design and install the interior items like seats and cabin equipment for its big planes, this facility would likely employ around 230 people.

Europe’s ATV space truck blast off from French Guiana
Europe’s Ariane Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV) space truck blasted off from French Guiana and is
heading towards the ISS (International Space Station) with new supplies of food, water, air, and fuel
blasted. It is carrying experiments and spares for the high-flying astronaut outpost. At 20 tonnes, the ATV
is the biggest ship servicing the station now that the US shuttles have all been withdrawn from service. The
cargo vessel is scheduled to dock with the ISS on Wednesday March 28, 2012 and will remain attached to it
until August, 2012.

turkey

which among the following governments has entered into a dialogue
with imprisoned Kurdish rebel leader Abdullah Ocalan in order to convince the
Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) to disarm?
[A]Saudi Arabia
[B]Turkey
[C]Afghanistan
[D]Egypt
Turkey
The Kurdish insurgency, now three decades old, has resulted in the deaths of some
40,000 people (mostly civilians) in the heavily Kurdish southeastern part of Turkey.
Last year, the conflict between the Turkish military and Kurdish guerrillas based in
northern Iraq intensified with a series of tit-for-tat attacks. Turkish security forces
killed almost 1,500 Kurdish guerillas last year alone. The PKK has sought to
establish an independent Kurdish homeland. Recently, the Turkish government has
entered into a dialogue with imprisoned Kurdish rebel leader Abdullah Ocalan in
order to convince the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) to disarm.







Turkey cuts off 20% oil imports from Iran amid US sanctions
20% of its Oil imports from Iran have been cut-off by Turkey. This was done in the wake of US Sanctions. Turkey’s
national oil company ‘Tupras’ held that the move follows an evaluation to
reduce crude purchases from Iran by 20%.
EU, which is halting Iranian oil imports from July 1, 2012 is also taking up other
sanctions that also make it harder for other countries to import Iranian oil.
In early March 2012, US granted exemptions to financial institutions from
Japan and 10 EU nations for reducing dependency on oil imports from Iran.

Now Turkey, which imports one third of its oil from Iran is seeking a similar exemption.
Turkish asserted that it would try to make up for lower imports from Iran by buying more crude from Libya.

ivory coast

Ivory Coast PM & cabinet resign
The PM of Ivory Coast, Guillaume Soro and his Cabinet resigned. Mr. Soro held that he
could no longer exercise his executive powers. His departure is expected to pave the
way for the formation of a broader coalition government after Parliamentary elections
in 2011. It will allow the President Alassane Ouattara to appoint a PM from the party of
the former President Henri Konan Bedie which came second to Mr. Ouattara’s party.
Back-grounder:
Mr Ouattara’s election victory was disputed by Laurent Gbagbo, his rival who had been
President since 2000 and was unwilling to surrender power. The power struggle
triggered a bloody four-month conflict which ended in April 2011 with Gbagbo’s
capture. Gbagbo is currently in jail awaiting trial at the International Criminal Court in
The Hague where he faces war crimes charges.




the world’s biggest producer of Cocoa, as it was recently making news because about 89 per cent of
children in this country were involved in growing cocoa, violating Child Labour Norms------------Ivory Coast

FRANCE

France recognised the new Syrian Opposition Coalition

France recognized the new Syrian Opposition coalition on 13 November 2012. France has become the first major nation to recognise the newly formed Syrian National Coalition of opposition and Revolutionaries as the legitimate representative of the Syrian people.  Arab League has granted Observer status to the bloc while the six nation Gulf Co-operation Council has already recognized it. Britain and European Union have stopped short of recognizing the bloc.  Britain stated that it wants to see more evidence that the opposition grouping has strong support inside Syria.

Meanwhile, Syrian opposition activist groups reported that 31 people were killed across Syria as airstrikes continued along the country's northeastern border with Turkey.

PRIME MINISTER OF MANACO IS CHOSEN BY RULING PRINCE FROM A STATE OF 3 CANDIDATES PUT UP TO HIM BY PRESIDENT OF FRANCE





'Velib' is a large-scale public bicycle sharing system in:
[A]France






$3.2-bn loss reported by Areva, the French nuclear giant

Areva, the France’s State-controlled nuclear giant reported to have lost around €2.4 billion ($3.2 billion) in 2011. BECOS  of a troubled uranium mining venture that has been the subject of investigation,a global reconsideration of the future of atomic energy in the wake of Japan’s Fukushima disaster. E.g. Germany has resolved to close-down all of its
nuclear plants by 2022, forcing Areva to lay off staff in Germany,
2011 also witnessed the departure of Areva’s charismatic chief executive Anne Lauvergeon (known as “Atomic Anne”) subsequent to her loss of the French government’s support.

A Look into the Areva’s partnership / business with INDIA:
 18 December 2008 – AREVA inked an agreement with the NPCIL (Nuclear Power Corporation of India) for thesupply of 300 tonnes of uranium to India for power generation. Thus, Areva became the first-ever foreign supplier of Uranium to India after the NSG waiver.
 4 February 2009 – AREVA inked MOU to supply 2 to 6 nuclear reactors to the NPCIL.  an all-time record for the company surpassing the 8-billion Euro deal signed with China a few years earlier.
 Areva is also probable to supply fuel for the project intended in Maharashtra

 Areva will also carry out the construction of a 110/11KV Substation for Infopark at Cherthala in Kerala.

netherland

Mobile euthanasia programme by “Right to Die” group in Netherlands
 In Netherlands a specialized team is sent out house-to-house to aid patients finish their lives. The project has elicited acute critique from doctors. The project is the brainchild of the Dutch predominately donor-funded pro-mercy killing group: “Right to Die” NL.
The Netherland’s Government in its 2002 decision legalised Euthanasia. Thus, Netherlands was the first nation in the world to legalize Euthanasia.After the scheme was declared in February 2012, the “Right to Die” group has received around 70 phone calls from
potential assisted suicide patients and the Team expects around 1,000 requests every year. The mobile units of “Right to Die” comprise of doctors and nurses particularly trained in executing self-annihilation. The procedure adopted by them involves firstly injecting the patient with a sleep-inducing drug and then to stop heart and lung function
barbiturates are given.

ethiopia

 the new Prime Minister of Ethiopia after the death of Meles Zenwai----------Haile Mariam Desalegn




Ethiopian forces attack Eritrea

Ethiopian forces launched a military assault on positions inside Eritrea. Ethiopian
held that Ethiopia attacked Eritrea as Eritrea was training subversive groups
to carry out attacks inside Ethiopia. A number of people were killed and others
captured when three camps were attacked. The two countries fought a border
war from 1998 to 2000. Despite signing a peace treaty, tensions b/w them have
remained high ever since. Nevertheless, this was the first attack by Ethiopian
troops inside Eritrean territory since the end of the war in which some 80,000
people died. USA has turned to both nations to exercise restraint.