Information about Christmas

Christmas is an annual holiday that celebrates the birth of Jesus. It refers both to the day celebrating the birth; as well as to the season which that day inaugerates, and which concludes with the Feast of the Epiphany. The date of the celebration is traditional, and is not considered to be his actual date of birth. Christmas festivities often combine the commemoration of Jesus' birth with various cultural customs, many of which have been influenced by earlier winter festivals.

In most places around the world, Christmas Day is celebrated on December 25. Christmas Eve is the preceding day, December 24. In the United Kingdom and many countries of the Commonwealth, Boxing Day is the following day, December 26. In Catholic countries, Saint Stephen's Day or the Feast of St. Stephen is December 26. The Armenian Apostolic Church observes Christmas on January 6. Eastern Orthodox Churches that still use the Julian Calendar celebrate Christmas on the Julian version of 25 December, which is January 7 on the more widely used Gregorian calendar, because the two calendars are now 13 days apart.

The word Christmas originated as a contraction of "Christ's mass". It is derived from the Middle English Christemasse and Old English Cristes mæsse, a phrase first recorded in 1038, compounded from Old English derivatives of the Greek christos and the Latin missa. In early Greek versions of the New Testament, the letter ? (chi), is the first letter of Christ. Since the mid-16th century ?, or the similar Roman letter X, was used as an abbreviation for Christ. Hence, Xmas is often used as an abbreviation for Christmas.

After the conversion of Anglo-Saxon Britain in the very early 7th century, Christmas was referred to as geol, the name of the pre-Christian solstice festival from which the current English word 'Yule' is derived.

The prominence of Christmas Day increased gradually after Charlemagne was crowned on Christmas Day in 800. Around the 12th century, the remnants of the former Saturnalian traditions of the Romans were transferred to the Twelve Days of Christmas (26 December - 6 January). Christmas during the Middle Ages was a public festival, incorporating ivy, holly, and other evergreens, as well as gift-giving.

Modern traditions have come to include the display of Nativity scenes, Holly and Christmas trees, the exchange of gifts and cards, and the arrival of Father Christmas or Santa Claus on Christmas Eve or Christmas morning. Popular Christmas themes include the promotion of goodwill and peace.

Information Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas

United Nations Organization (UNO)

The UNO is an association of sovereign states bound by a Charter (Constitution) to maintain international peace and security. It is the worlds largest international organization; a successor to the league of Nation.

UN Charter

On June 26, 1945, the delegates of 50 countries at San Francisco (USA) signed the United Nations Charter (Constitution).

Foundation Day of the UNO

The UNO Formally came into existence on October 24, 1945 when governments of China, France, and the United Kingdom, the former USSR, the United States and a majority of other states ratified the UNO Charter. October 24 is celebrated as the United Nations Day throughout the world.

First Regular Session of the UNO

The first regular session of the UNO was held in London in January 1946 and Trygve Lie (Norway) was elected the first Secretary General of the UNO.

Headquarters of the UNO

These are located on the First Avenue, UN Plaza, New York City, and United States of America.

The UNO Flag

The UNO General Assembly adopted the UNO flag on October 20, 1947. The white UNO emblem is superimposed on a light blue background. The emblem consists of the global map projected from the North Pole and embraced in twin olive branches (symbol of peace). The UNO flag is not to be subordinated to any other flag in the world.

Aims and Objectives

The main objectives of the UN are:

1. To maintain peace and security in the world
2. To work together to remove poverty, disease and illiteracy and encourage respect for each other’s rights of basic freedom
3. To develop friendly relations among nations.
4. To b a centre to help nations achieve these common goals.

Membership of the UNO

Admission of Members: New members are admitted to the General assembly on the recommendation of the Security Council and two-third of the members should vote in favor. Members are expelled or suspended in the same manner.

Permanent Members: There are five permanent members of the Security Council: China, France, Russia, UK and USA.

Veto: A negative vote by a permanent member bars action by the Security Council and is called a veto. Each permanent member enjoys the power were veto.

Membership: When the UNO Charter was signed, there were only 50 members. By 1994 the membership rose to 185. The following nations were admitted to the UNO in 1993:

Czech Republic	Slovakia
Macedonia	Monaco
Eritrea	Andorra

In 1994: Palau, a newly independent Pacific nation which had been under the trusteeship of the USA.

Non-members: (1) Switzerland (2) Taiwan. In addition several other small states like Nauru. Tonga, Vatican City are also not members of the UNO.

Organization of the UNO

The principal bodies of the UN are:

1. The General Assembly
2. The Security council
3. The Economic and Social Council
4. International Court of Justice
5. Trusteeship Council
6. Secretariat

General Assembly (GA)

Headquarters: New York

Membership: Consists of all member states of the UNO. Each member can send five delegates but each nation has only one vote.

Functions: All other UNO bodies report to the General Assembly. It discusses and makes recommendations on any subject covered under the UNO Charter except those with which the Security Council may be dealing.

Meetings: The General Assembly meets every year in regular sessions beginning on the third Tuesday in September.

UN Security Council (SC)

Headquarters: New York

Membership: The Security Council has 15 members- five permanent members enjoying veto power (China, France, Russia, UK and USA) and 10 non-permanent elected members. The non-permanent members are elected by the General Assembly. They retire on rotation every two years.

Function: The Security Council is responsible for international peace and security. Any nation, irrespective of its membership of the UNO, can put forth its problem before the Council. The Security Council can recommend peaceful solutions or, if necessary, may order use of force to restore peace.

The Economic and Social Council

Headquarter: New York

Membership: Consists of representatives of 54 member-countries elected by a two-third majority in the General Assembly. One-third of the members are elected every year to serve for a period of three years and one-third of the members retire annually.

Functions: The Economic and Social Council carries on the functions of the UNO with regard to international economic, social, cultural, educational, health and related matters.

International Court of Justice (ICJ)

Headquarter: The Hague (Netherlands)

Membership: Consists of 15 judges who are elected by the General Assembly and the Security Council for a term of nine years.

Function: It gives advisory opinion on legal matters to the bodies and special agencies of the UNO and considers the legal disputes brought before them.

Justice R. S. Pathak, Chief Justice of India, was elected Judge of the ICJ on April 18, 1989. He became the third Indian on whom this honour has been bestowed. The other two were Mr. Justice B.N. Rao and Mr. Justice Nagendra Singh.

Trusteeship Council

Headquarter: New York

Membership: There are five permanent members of the Security Council plus those nations, who administer Trust Territories.

Functions: To safeguard the interest of inhabitants of territories which are not yet fully self-governing and are governed by an administering country.

The Secretariat

Headed by: Secretary General which is appointed by the General Assembly on the recommendation of the Security Council.

Tenure: Five years and eligible for re-election after the tern expires.

Functions: It is the Chief administrative office of the UNO, which coordinates and supervises the activities of the UNO.

Secretary Generals of the UN

1. Trygve Lie	1946-52
2. Dag Hammarskjold (He was killed in an Air Crash)	1953-61
3. U. Thant	1962-71
4. Dr. Kurt Waldheim	1972-81
5. Javier Perez De Cuellar	1982-91 (Two Terms)
6. Dr. Boutros Ghali	1992-1997
7. Kofi Annan	1997-2007 (Two Terms)
8. Ban Ki-moon	2007-Till Date

Official Languages of the UNO

There are now six official languages recognized by the UN:

1. Chinese
2. English
3. French
4. Russian
5. Spanish
6. Arabic

Top 10 Causes of Death

Heart disease and stroke were the leading causes of death in 2001, regardless of countries' incomes, the study shows. However, other leading causes of death differed depending on countries' incomes. Here is the list for high-income countries:

1. Heart disease
2. Stroke
3. Lung cancer
4. Lower respiratory infections
5. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
6. Colon and rectum cancers
7. Alzheimer's disease and other dementias
8. Type 2 diabetes
9. Breast cancer
10. Stomach cancer

Here is the list for low- and middle-income countries:

1. Heart disease
2. Stroke
3. Lower respiratory infections
4. HIV/AIDS
5. Fetus/newborn (perinatal) conditions
6. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
7. Diarrhea
8. Tuberculosis
9. Malaria
10. Road traffic accidents

Origin and Names of the States of USA

1. ALABAMA: Possibly from the Creek Indian word alibamo, meaning "we stay here".
2. ALASKA: From the Aleutian word alakshak, which means "great lands," or "land that is not an island".
3. ARIZONA: Taken either from the Pima Indian words ali shonak, meaning "little spring," or from the Aztec word arizuma, meaning "silver-bearing".
4. ARKANSAS: The French somehow coined it from the name of the Siouan Quapaw tribe.
5. CALIFORNIA: According to one theory, Spanish settlers names it after a utopian society described in a popular 16th-century novel called Serged de Esplandian.
6. COLORADO: Means "red" in Spanish. The name was originally applied to the Colorado River, whose waters are reddish with canyon clay.
7. CONNECTICUT: Taken from the Mohican word kuenihtekot, which means "long river place".
8. DELAWARE: Named after Lord De La Warr, a governor of Virginia. Originally used only to name the Delaware River.
9. FLORIDA: Explorer Ponce de Leon named the state Pascua Florida – "Flowery Easter" on Easter Sunday in 1513.
10. GEORGIA: Named after King George II of England, who charted the colony in 1732.
11. HAWAII: An English adaptation of the native word Owyhee, which means "homeland".
12. IDAHO: Possibly taken from the Kiowa Apache word for the Comanche Indians.
13. ILLINOIS: The French bastardization of the Algonquin word illini, which means "men".
14. INDIANA: Named by English-speaking settlers because the territory was full of Indians.
15. IOWA: The Sioux word for "beautiful land," or "one who puts to sleep".
16. KANSAS: Taken from the Sioux word for "south wind people," their name for anyone who lived south of Sioux territory.
17. KENTUCKY: Possibly derived from the Indian word kan-tuk-kee, meaning "dark and bloody ground." Or kan-tuc-kec, "land of green reeds", or ken-take, meaning "meadowland".
18. LOUISIANA: Named after French King Louis XIV.
19. MAINE: The Old French word for "province".
20. MARYLAND: Named after Queen Henrietta Maria, wife of English King George I.
21. MASSACHUSETTS: Named after the Massachusetts Indian tribe. Means "large hill place".
22. MICHIGAN: Most likely from the Chippewa word for "great water." micigama.
23. MINNESOTA: From the Sioux word for "sky tinted" or "muddy water".
24. MISSISSIPPI: Most likely taken from the Chippewa words mici ("great") and zibi ("river").
25. MISSOURI: From the Algonquin word for "muddy water".
26. MONTANA: Taken from the Latin word for "mountainous".
27. NEBRASKA: From the Otos Indian word for "broad water".
28. NEVADA: Means "snow-clad" in Spanish.
29. NEW HAMPSHIRE: Capt. John Mason, one of the original colonists, named it after his English home county of Hampshire.
30. NEW JERSEY: Named after the English Isle of Jersey.
31. NEW MEXICO: The Spanish name for the territory north of the Rio Grande.
32. NEW YORK: Named after the Duke of York and Albany.
33. NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA: From the Latin name Carolus; named in honor of King Charles I of England.
34. NORTH AND SOUTH DAKOTA: Taken from the Sioux word for "friend," or "ally".
35. OHIO: Means "great," "fine" or "Good River" in Iroquois.
36. OKLAHOMA. The Choctaw word for "red man".
37. OREGON: Possibly derived from Ouaricon-sint, the French name for the Wisconsin River.
38. PENNSYLVANIA: Named after William Penn, Sr., the father of the colony’s founder, William Penn. Means "Penn’s woods".
39. RHODE ISLAND: Named "Roode Eylandt" (Red Island) because of its red clay.
40. TENNESSEE: Named after the Cherokee tanasi villages along the banks of the Little Tennessee River.
41. TEXAS: Derived from the Caddo Indian word for "friend," or "ally."
42. UTAH: Means "upper," or "higher," and was originally the name that Navajos called the Shoshone tribe.
43. VERMONT: A combination of the French words vert ("green") and mont ("mountain").
44. VIRGINIA AND WEST VIRGINIA: Named after Queen Elizabeth I of England, the "virgin" queen, by Sir Walter Raleigh in 1584.
45. WASHINGTON: Named after George Washington.
46. WISCONSIN: Taken from the Chippewa word for "grassy place".
47. WYOMING: Derived from the Algonquin word for "large prairie place".

Distinctive Names of Countries & Towns - Geographical Epithets

Distinctive Name	Country/Town/Port/River
Britain of the South	New Zealand
The Battlefield of Europe	Belgium
City of the Golden Gate	San Francisco
City of Magnificent Distances	Washington D.C.
City of Popes	Rome
City of Seven Hills	Rome
City of Skyscrapers	New York
Cockpit of Europe	Belgium
Dark Continent	Africa
Dairy of Northern Europe	Denmark
Emerald Island	Ireland
Empire City	New York
Eternal City	Rome, Italy
Forbidden City	Lhasa (Tibet)
Garden of England	Kent
Gate of Tears	Babel-Mandab, Jerusalem
Granite City	Aberdeen (Scotland)
Great White Way	Broadway (New York)
Gift of Nile	Egypt
Gibraltar of the Indian Ocean	Aden
Herring Pond	Atlantic Ocean

Source : knowledgebase-script

Important Symbols in the World

Symbol	Significance
Maharaja	Air India
Red Triangle	Family Planning
Red Cross	Hospital/Medical Services
Lotus	Culture and Civilization
Olive Branch	Peace
Red Light	Traffic Sign of 'Stop'/Danger/Emergency
Green Light	Traffic Sign of 'Go'/Clear
Black arm-band	Sign of mourning
Blindfolded Woman Holding a Balance Scale	Justice
Dove	Peace
Black Flag	Protest
Flag at half mast	National mourning
Red Flag	Revolution/Danger
White Flag	Truce
Yellow Flag	Flown on ships carrying patients suffering from infectious diseases
Flag Upside Down	Distress

World’s Largest Swimming Pool

World’s Largest Swimming Pool - San Alfonso in Chile:

Construction of the world's largest crystal-clear saltwater lagoon has been successfully completed. Upon execution of the last expansion stage, this lagoon – San Alfonso's signature amenity - has reached its final size; over one kilometer in length, 8 hectares in surface area and 2.5 million liters of water. Too big to picture? Let's put it this way, the size of the lagoon is equivalent to 6,000 standard-size 8-meter long swimming pools.

Located in the South American resort of San Alfonso del Mar in Chile, this artificial lagoon and swimming pool is eight hectares in size and contains an incredible 250,000 cubic metres of water. Acknowledged by Guinness World Records as being the world’s largest swimming pool, the lagoon trounces all other record holders in the category, including the Orthlieb pool in Casablanca, Morocco, itself a huge 150 metres by 100 metres – the San Alfonso pool is ten times this size, measuring 1km in length. The revolutionary clear water artificial lagoons, transparent to a depth of 35 metres and unprecedented in design and construction methods, are the brainchild of Crystal Lagoons founder, biochemist and Chilean businessman Fernando Fischmann.

It is 1.3 kilometers long, 800 meters wide (8/10 of a mile long by 1/2 mile wide) at its shortest point and varies from ankle depth to 8 meters deep. It employs 41 life guards and has lifesaving devices which pop out of the bottom in various locations in case of rescue requirements. Yet with size being as impressive as it is, the lagoon's highlight is the crystal-clear tropical blue color of its water attained through cutting-edge technology developed by Crystal Lagoons Corp. that allows to harvest, filter and permanently re-circulate salt water. Yet there's more to it. The lagoon’s water temperature in summer is 26ºC, nine degrees warmer than the ocean.

Biggest Countries In the World (In Area)

No. Countries Area sq. km sq. mi 1 Russia 17,075,200 6,591,027 2 Canada 9,984,670 3,854,082 3 United States 9,631,418 3,717,727 4 China 9,596,960 3,704,426 5 Brazil 8,511,965 3,285,618 6 Australia 7,686,850 2,967,124 7 India 3,287,590 1,269,009 8 Argentina 2,766,890 1,068,019 9 Kazakhstan 2,717,300 1,048,877 10 Sudan 2,505,810 967,243 11 Algeria 2,381,740 919,352 12 Congo, Democratic Republic of the 2,345,410 905,328 13 Mexico 1,972,550 761,404 14 Saudi Arabia 1,960,582 756,785 15 Indonesia 1,919,440 740,904 16 Libya 1,759,540 679,182 17 Iran 1,648,000 636,128 18 Mongolia 1,564,116 603,749 19 Peru 1,285,220 496,095 20 Chad 1,284,000 495,624

World Civilizations

Egyptian Civilization

It is one of the world's longest continuous civilizations. In 300 BC Upper and Lower Egypt were united, beginning a period of cultural glory and native rulers that lasted nearly 3,000 years. Historians have divided the history of Egypt into the Old, Middle and New Kingdoms, spanning 31 dynasties and lasting to 322 BC. The highlight of the Old Kingdom was the building of the pyramids of Giza. The Middle kingdom saw Egypt develop into a great power. Massive temples and tombs, such as Tutenkhamun's were built during the New Kingdom. Another classification is the pyramid age (3490-2500 BC), the Feudal Age (about 1800 BC), the New Empire (about 1150 BC). In the fourth and third millennium, the Pharaohs held supreme power. The Egyptians studied nature with great care. They were aware of five planets. They divided the day-night cycle into twelve hours. They also developed a system of writing called hieroglyphics.

Mesopotamian Civilization

Mesopotamia was the ancient region between Tigris and Euphrates in South-West Asia, roughly corresponding to modern Iraq. It was the site of one of the earliest human civilizations, resulting from the development of irrigation in the 6th millennium BC and the extreme fertility of the irrigated land. Sumerians settled in the lower parts of Tigris and Euphrates valley between 5000 and 4000 BC. Its seat was the city of Mesopotamia, founded by the Sumerians Babylonia gained supremacy in the 18th Century BC and was followed by others, notably the Assyrians. Later ruled by the Persians Greek and Romans, Mesopotamia gradually lost its distinctive cultural traditions. Mesopotamia bears the stamp of clay as does no other civilization, and nowhere in the world but in Mesopotamia and the regions over which its influence was diffused was clay used as the vehicle for writing. They also created mythological and historical epics like the famous 'Creation' and 'Flood Epics'. The most impressive work of the Babylonians is the 'Epic of Gilgamesh' containing their main myths.

Chinese Civilization

The first documented dynasty was the Shang (c. 1523-c. 1020 BC), when bronze casting was perfected. The Zhou dynasty (c. 1030-221 BC) was the age of Chinese Classical Literature, in particular Confucian and Lao Tzu. China was unified by Qin Shihuangdi, whose tomb near Xlan contains the famous terracotta army. The majority of the great wall was built by the Qin dynasty (221-206 BC). The Ran dynasty established in 206 BC and ruled until AD 220. The Ran dynasty developed the empire, a bureaucracy based on Confucianism, and also introduced Buddhism. China then split into three kingdoms (Wei, Shu and Wu). Tang dynasty (618-907) was a golden era of artistic achievement, especially in poetry and fine art. Genghis Khan conquered most of China in the 1210s and established the Mongol empire. Kubla Khan founded the Yuan dynasty (1271-1368), a period of dialogue with Europe. The Ming dynasty (1368-1644) restablished Chinese rule and is famed for its fine porcelain. The Manchu Qing dynasty (1644-1912) began by vastly extending the empire.

Greek Civilization

The earliest urban society in Greece was the palace-centered Minoan civilization. It reached its height on Crete c. 2000 BC. It was succeeded by the mainland Mycenaen civilization, which arose c. 1600 BC following a wave of Indo-European invasions. A second wave of invasions in c. 1200 BC, destroyed the Bronze Age cultures, paving the way for a dark age. Classical Greece began to emerge (c. 750 BC) as a collection of independent city-states including Sparta and Athens. The civilization reached its heights, after repelling the Persians at the beginning of the 5thcentury BC and began to decline after the civil strife of the Peloponnesian war. The Greek city-states were taken over by Philip II of Macedon in 388 BC. Greek culture was spread by Philip's son Alexander the Great throughout his empire. In the 2nd century BC, the Romans conquered Greek city-states. The Greeks were the first political scientists and democrats in the world. Greece occupies a great place in the history of world civilization. The outstanding philosophers like Socrates, Plato and Aristotle were the products of this civilization. The Greeks also built many temples. Homer's 'Iliad' and 'The Odyssey' are also Greece's great gifts to the world.

Roman Civilization

Rome is situated on the river Tiber in Italy. Etruscan traders occupied this city and made it the largest and most important cities of central Italy. Between 338 and 169 B.C., the Romans dominated the Mediterranean world. Between 167 B.C. and 14A.D. much of the land was conquered, the republic was brought to an end and the Roman Empire was established. The rise of Caesar is a remarkable event in the Roman history. After Caesar, Octavian brought the republic to an end. The ancient Romans worshipped their family deities. Galen, a physician, completed an encyclopedia of medicine. Caesarian Operation, first tried at the birth of Caesar became popular. In the fourth century after Christ, Theodosius made Christianity the religion of the state.

Important Dates of World History

B.C.

3000
Building of the Great Pyramid.

776
First Olympiad in Greece.

753
Foundation of Rome.

490
Greeks defeated the Persians at the Battle of Marathon.

360
The period of Aristotle and Plato.

332
Egypt conquered by Alexander.

323
Alexander dies at Babylon.

214
Work on the Great Wall of China begins.

55
Julius Ceasar attacks Great Britain.

4
Birth of Jesus Christ.

A.D.

29
Crucifixion of Jesus Christ.

375
Huns' invasion of Europe.

570
Prophet Mohammed born at Mecca.

622
Flight of Mohammed from Mecca to Madina.

632
Death of Mohammed; Beginning of Hijiri Era.

711
Arabs invade Spain.

1066
Norman invasion of England; Victory of William the Conquerer over the English King Harold II at Hastings.

1280
Roger Bacon invents gunpowder.

1338
The Hundred years War broke out.

1348
English faces Black Death Plague.

1453
Turks captured Constantinople; Renaissance in Europe.

1492
Discovery of America by Columbus.

1498
Sea-route to India discovered by Vasco-de-Gama.

1588
Spanish Armada defeated.

1600
British East India Company established in India.

1649
Execution of Charles I.

1660
Monarchy restored in England.

1665
The Great Plague of England.

1668
Glorious Revolution in England.

1704
Battle of Blenheim.

1707
Union of England and Scotland.

1776
Declaration of American Independence.

1789
French Revolution; George Washington elected the first President of America.

1805
Battle of Trafalagar and Nelson's death.

1815
Battle of Waterloo; Napolean exiled to St. Helena.

1821
Death of Napolean.

1832
Reforms Bill passed in England.

1837
Queen Victoria's accession to the throne of England.

1861
Beginning of the American Civil War.

1863
Slavery abolished in USA

1865
Assassination of Abraham Lincoln.

1869
Opening of the Suez Canal for traffic.

1895
Roentgen discovered X-Rays.

1896
Marconi invented wireless.

1904
Russiao-Japan war.

1905
Japan defeated Russia; Discovery of the theory of Relativity by Einstein.

1911
Chinese Revolution.

1912
Republic of China established.

1914
Beginning of World War I.

1917
Russian Revolution.

1918
End of World War I.

1919
Treaty of Versailles signed.

1920
Formation of the League of Nations.

1923
Turkey declared Republic.

1933
Hitler became the Chancellor of Germany.

1936
Beginning of the Spanish Civil War.

1939
World War II begins.

1941
Russia invaded by Hitler; Pearl Harbour invaded by Japan.

1945
Establishment of UNO; End of World War II; Hiroshima and Nagasaki experience the first dropping of the Atom Bomb; Death of President Roosevelt.

1946
Civil War in China.

1948
Burma and Ceylon get independence.

1949
Indonesia gets independence; The Communists capture power in China.

1952
General Eisenhower elected as the American President.

1953
Death of Stalin; Mt. Everest conquered for the first time.

1954
Military Aid Pact between China and Pakistan; Chou En-lai visits India.

1955
Austria gets independence; Bandung Conference.

1956
Suez Canal nationalised by President Nasser; Egypt attacked by the forces of Britain; France and Israel.

1957
First artificial satellite launched by Russia.

1958
Egypt and Syria united and renamed United Arab Republic (UAR)

1959
Chinese capture Tibet; Dalai Lama flees to India; Sputnik launched by Russia.

1960
Explosion of an atom bomb device by France; Election of John F. Kennedy as President of USA

1961
Yuri Gagarin of USSR becomes the first spaceman.

1963
Partial Nuclear Test-Ban Treaty signed; Malaysia established; John F. Kennedy assassinated.

1965
Death of Sir Winston Churchill; Singapore becomes the sovereign independent nation; outbreak of Indo-Pak war.

1966
Tashkent Pact; A Russian aircraft lands on moon.

1967
Chinese explode hydrogen bomb; Arab-Israel War; Suez Canal closed.

1971
Outbreak of Indo-Pak war; Birth of Bangladesh; Surrender of 93,000 Pakistani troops; Khruschev died; Z.A. Bhutto new President of Pakistan.

1972
Sheikh Mujibur Rahman freed from Pakistani Jail and assumed the office of P.M. Bangladesh; Nixon of USA visited China; King Mahendra of Nepal died; USA and the USSR sign Strategic Arms Limitations Treaty.

1973
Outbreak of fourth Arab-Israeli war; Fourth non-aligned summit in Algiers.

1975
Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, President of Bangladesh assassinated; King Faisal of Saudi Arabia, assassinated; Suez Canal reopened; Red Cross force Cambodia Government to Surrender.

1976
Chou-En Lai, P.M. of China, died; Seychelles gets independence; Viking I lands on Mars; Mao Tse-tung died; Jimmy Carter elected President of USA

1978
Agreement between Israel and Egypt; Vietnam attacked Cambodia; Z.A. Bhutto, former P.M. of Pakistan, sentenced to death; Bloody coup in Afghanistan; Mohammed Daoud assassinated; World's first test-tube baby born.

1979
Chinese aggression in Vietnam; Cambodian rebels grab power in Pnom Penh; Mr. Z.A. Bhutto hanged; Mrs. Margaret Thatcher is the first woman P.M. of Britain.

1980
War starts between Iran and Iraq; Ronald Reagon elected USA President.

1982
Falklands, captured by Argentina; Israel attacks South Lebanon; Argentina forces surrender to British; P.L.O. Chief Yesser Arafat leaves Beirut; Bashir Gemyel, the President elect of Lebanon, assassinated; Soviet President breathes his last.

1983
US attacks Grenada; USA withdraws from UNESCO.

1985
India gets Presidentship of UN Security Council; Soviet President, Mr. Konstantin Chernenko, dies; Vietnam withdraws troops from Kampuchia.

1986
American air attack on Libya.

1987
Nuclear tests by USSR; Fresh proposal by Gorbachev; Group 77 meet at Havana; Unsuccessful military coup in Philippines, Prime Minister of Lebanon killed.

1988
WHO observes 7th of April as no smoking day, French President re-elected, Gen. Zia-ul-Haq killed in plane crash, Quake kills about 1,000 people in Bihar (India), George Bush elected President of USA, Arafat declares on independent state of Palestine, Nearly 1,00,000 people killed in earthquake in Armenia.

1989
The UN Peace keeping force starts implementation of UN Resolution 435 for the independence of Namibia.

1990
The Panamanian President surrenders to the United States. South Africa lifts lean on African National Congress. Lithuania declares independence from the Soviet Union. Namibia becomes a free nation.
Iraq overruns Kuwait. East and West Germanys unite.

1991
War breaks out in the Gulf, With the defeat of Iraq and freedom of Kuwait, Gulf war ends.

1993
5 new members of security council START II treaty between Russian & US Presidents, Security Council resolution on Angola, Emergency in Zambia, Elections in Australia.

1994
South Africa emerged from aparted regime with Nelson Mandela as its president. GATT treaty signed to create World Trade Organisation (WTO).

1995
WTO comes into existence. Nuclear test by France. Balkan peace accord signed.

1996
Kofi Annan new UN Secretary General. Clinton re-elected US President. India refuses to sign CTBT. Shekh Hasina Wajed new PM of Bangladesh. Taliban capture Kabul and execute former communist
President Najibullah.

1997
Tony Blair back in power in UK. Mohd. Khatami elected president of Iran. Hong Kong goes back to China after 99 year British rule.

1998
Indonesian President Suharto resigns. Pakistan test fires `Gauri' missile. US President Clinton faces impeachment.

1999
G-15 Summit ends. Yugoslavia accepts a peace plan for Kosovo.

2000
Thai commandor rescue 700 hostages from a capital Ratchabuh. India-China sign agreement on Information Technology, World Aids Day observed.

2001
Goerge W. Bush, was sworn in as the 43rd President of the United States. Heritage destroy of Bamiyan Buddha in Afghanistan by Taliban. Massacred of Nepal Royal family. Terrorist attacks on America by Taliban Supremo Osama bin Laden.

2002
`Euro' becomes the official currency of 12 European countries. A new nation East Timor came into existence. Switzerland and East Timor becomes the 190th & 191th member of the UN.

2003
Germany, Spain, Pakistan, Chile and Angola take rotating two-year seats on the UN Security Council; Iraq and the UN sign a 10-point agreement to facilitate the work of disarmament monitors; India-born American astronaut Kalpana Chawla and six other crew of the STS-107 space shuttle mission were killed as the US space shuttle Columbia disintegrates over Texas; name of Yugoslavia has been changed, it became Serbia and Montenegro; Australia win ICC World Cup by defeating India, war between US and Iraq; International criminal court was launched. WTO ministerial conference held in Cancun. India and ASEAN signed three accord. Over 20,000 people are killed as a major earthquake
destroys the Iranian Fort city Bam.

2004
India-Pakistan air links resume, the 12th SAARC Summit concludes in Islamabad after the signing of historic Agreement on Free Trade, Additional Protocol on Terrorism and Social Charter. NASA announced that it would name the spot where the robot probe Spirit landed successfully, in the memory of seven astronauts of the space shuttle Columbia. The US declares Mr. Saddam Hussein a prisoner of war. Pakistan has been readjusted to the common wealth. United States hand over political authority to Iraq. The 28th Olympics start in Athens. Russian Parliament ratifics the Kyoto Protocol, Yasser Arafat dies in Paris. Taslima Nasreen awarded UNESCO tolerance and non-violence Prize.

2005
India and Pakistan agree to allow travel by bus across the Line of Control between Srinagar and Muzaffarabad, Microsoft founder, The U.S. Senate approves Michael d. Griffin as NASA chief, Kuwaiti Parliament grants women the right to vote and run in elections, Latvia ratifies E.U. Constitution, The sixth book by J. K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince, hits the stands worldwide, Junichiro Koizumi is reelected Japanese Premier by the new House of Representatives at a special session in Tokyo, The Dhaka Declaration decides to set up a SAARC poverty Alleviation Fund and to declare 2006-2015 the SAARC Decade of Poverty Alleviation, The Kyoto protocol on limiting pollution becomes fully operational, Evo Morales wins Bolivian presidential polls, The Galileo navigational telescope is launched from Kazakhstan.

2006
SAFTA comes into effect. Sirleaf sworn in as Liberian president. Chile elected socialist Michelle Bachelet to be its first woman president. 18th CWG held in Melbourne (Australia). UNO passed a resolution for new Human Rights Council. UN General Assembly has approved Ban-Ki-Moon as the new Secretary General. North Korea conducted an underground Nuclear test. 15th Asian Games were held in Doha (Qatar) in December 2006.

2007
Bangladesh declares a state of emergency. Nepal's Parliament unanimously approves the interim Constitution. 14th SAARC Summit held in New Delhi (India). Australia won the World Cup Cricket tournament, 2007. G-8 Summit held in Heilligendamm, Berlin (Germany). Viktor Zubkov has been appointed as a new Prime Minister of Russia. Yasuo Fukuda was sworn in as the Prime Minister of Japan. India won the Twenty-20 World Cup Cricket Championship over Pakistan in South Africa. Nobel
Prize 2007 has ben announced.

World Largest Dams

Dam Location Volume (thousands) Year completed cu m cu yds Three Gorges China 39,300,000 51,402,459 UC08 Syncrude Tailings Canada 540,000 706,320 UC Chapetón Argentina 296,200 387,410 UC Pati Argentina 238,180 274,026 UC New Cornelia Tailings United States 209,500 274,026 1973 Tarbela Pakistan 121,720 159,210 1976 Kambaratinsk Kyrgyzstan 112,200 146,758 UC Fort Peck Montana 96,049 125,628 1940 Lower Usuma Nigeria 93,000 121,644 1990 Cipasang Indonesia 90,000 117,720 UC Atatürk Turkey 84,500 110,522 1990 Yacyretá-Apipe Paraguay/Argentina 81,000 105,944 1998 Guri (Raúl Leoni) Venezuela 78,000 102,014 1986 Rogun Tajikistan 75,500 98,750 1985 Oahe South Dakota 70,339 92,000 1963 Mangla Pakistan 65,651 85,872 1967 Gardiner Canada 65,440 85,592 1968 Afsluitdijk Netherlands 63,400 82,927 1932 Oroville California 59,639 78,008 1968 San Luis California 59,405 77,700 1967 Nurek Tajikistan 58,000 75,861 1980 Garrison North Dakota 50,843 66,500 1956 Cochiti New Mexico 48,052 62,850 1975 Tabka (Thawra) Syria 46,000 60,168 1976 Bennett W.A.C. Canada 43,733 57,201 1967 Tucuruíi Brazil 43,000 56,242 1984 Boruca Costa Rica 43,000 56,242 UC High Aswan (Sadd-el-Aali) Egypt 43,000 56,242 1970 San Roque Philippines 43,000 56,242 UC Kiev Ukraine 42,841 56,034 1964 Dantiwada Left Embankment India 41,040 53,680 1965 Saratov Russia 40,400 52,843 1967 Mission Tailings 2 Arizona 40,088 52,435 1973 Fort Randall South Dakota 38,227 50,000 1953 Kanev Ukraine 37,860 49,520 1976 Mosul Iraq 36,000 47,086 1982 Kakhovka Ukraine 35,640 46,617 1955 Itumbiara Brazil 35,600 46,563 1980 Lauwerszee Netherlands 35,575 46,532 1969 Beas India 35,418 46,325 1974 Oosterschelde Netherlands 35,000 45,778 1986

NOTE: UC = under construction.

Wonders Of The World

The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World

• The Great Pyramid of Giza • The Hanging Gardens of Babylon • The Temple of Artemis at Ephesus • The Statue of Zeus at Olympia • The Mausoleum at Halicarnassus • The Colossus of Rhodes • The Pharos of Alexandria

The Seven Wonders of the Medieval Mind

• Stonehenge • The Colosseum • The Catacombs of Kom el Shoqafa • The Great Wall of China • The Porcelain Tower of Nanjing • The Hagia Sophia • The Leaning Tower of Pisa

The Seven Natural Wonders of the World

• Mount Everest • The Great Barrier Reef • The Grand Canyon • Victoria Falls • The Harbor of Rio de Janeiro • Paricutin Volcano • The Northern Lights

The Seven Underwater Wonders of the World

• Palau • The Belize Barrier Reef • The Galapagos Islands • The Northern Red Sea • Lake Baikal • The Great Barrier Reef • The Deep Sea Vents

The Seven Wonders of the Modern World

• The Empire State Building • The Itaipú Dam • The CN Tower • The Panama Canal • The Channel Tunnel • The North Sea Protection Works • The Golden Gate Bridge

The Seven Forgotten Natural Wonders of the World

• Angel Falls • The Bay of Fundy • Iguaçú Falls • Krakatoa Island • Mount Fuji • Mount Kilimanjaro • Niagara Falls

The Seven Forgotten Modern Wonders of the World

• The Clock Tower (Big Ben) • Eiffel Tower • The Gateway Arch • The Aswan High Dam • Hoover Dam • Mount Rushmore National Memorial • The Petronas Towers

The Seven Forgotten Wonders of the Medeival Mind

• Abu Simbel Temple • Angkor Wat • Taj Mahal • Mont Saint-Michel • The Moai Statues • The Parthenon • The Shwedagon Pagoda

The Forgotten Wonders

• The Aztec Temple • The Banaue Rice Terraces • The Borobudur Temple • The Inca City • The Statue of Liberty • The Mayan Temples • The Temple of the Inscriptions • The Throne Hall of Persepolis • Petra • The Suez Canal • The Sydney Opera House • The Red Fort in India

List of International Postal Services

Australian Postal Service - http://www.auspost.com.au

United States of America - http://www.usps.com

Indian Postal Service - http://www.indiapost.gov.in

Japan Postal Service - http://www.japanpost.jp

UK Postal Service - http://www.royalmail.com

China Post - http://www.chinapost.gov.cn

Hong Kong Post - http://www.hongkongpost.com