Worldwide events; zarb e jamhoor newspaper; 163 issue; 16 22 feb, 2014

Independence Day (1918) Lithuania - F e b 1 6

The Act of Independence of Lithuania (Lithuanian: Lietuvos Nepriklausomybės Aktas) or Act of February 16 was signed by the Council of Lithuania on February 16, 1918, proclaiming the restoration of an independent State of Lithuania, governed by democratic principles, with Vilnius as its capital. The Act was signed by all twenty representatives, chaired by Jonas Basanavičius.

The Act of February 16 was the result of a series of resolutions on the issue, including one issued by the Vilnius Conference and the Act of January 8. The path to the Act was long and complex because the German Empire exerted pressure on the Council to form an alliance. The Council had to carefully maneuver between the Germans, whose troops were present in Lithuania, and the demands of the Lithuanian people.

The immediate effects of the announcement of Lithuania's re-establishment of independence were limited.

Publication of the Act was prohibited by the German authorities, and the text was distributed and printed illegally. The work of the Council was hindered, and Germans remained in control over Lithuania. The situation changed only when Germany lost World War I in the fall of 1918. In November 1918 the first Cabinet of Lithuania was formed, and the Council of Lithuania gained control over the territory of Lithuania. Independent Lithuania, although it would soon be battling theWars of Independence, became a reality.

While the Act's original document has been lost, its legacy continues. The laconic Act is the legal basis for the existence of modern Lithuania, both during the interwar periodand since 1990. The Act formulated the basic constitutional principles that were and still are followed by all Constitutions of Lithuania. The Act itself was a key element in the foundation of Lithuania's re-establishment of independence in 1990. Lithuania, breaking away from the Soviet Union, stressed that it was simply re-establishing the independent state that existed between the world wars and that the Act never lost its legal power.

Historic background and Council of Lithuania

After the last Partition of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth in 1795, Lithuania was annexed by the Russian Empire. During the 19th century, both the Lithuanians and the Poles attempted to restore their independence. They rebelled during the November Uprising in 1830 and the January Uprising in 1863, but the first realistic opportunity came when both Russia and Germany were weakened during World War I. In 1915, Germany occupied western parts of the Russian Empire. After the Russian Revolution in 1917, Germany conceived the geopolitical strategy of Mitteleuropa – a regional network of puppet states that would serve as a buffer zone – and agreed to allow the Vilnius Conference, hoping that it would proclaim that the Lithuanian nation wanted to detach itself from Russia and establish a closer relationship with Germany.However, this strategy backfired; the conference, held from September 18–22 of 1917, adopted a resolution that an independent Lithuania should be established and that a closer relationship with Germany would be conditional on Germany's formal recognition of the new state. On September 21, the 214 attendees at the conference elected a 20-member Council of Lithuania to codify this resolution. The German authorities did not allow that resolution to be published, but they did permit the Council to proceed. The Vilnius Conference also resolved that a constituent assembly be elected by popular vote as soon as possible.

Path to the Act of February 16 Act of December 11:

The Act of December 11 was the second stage in the progression towards the final Act of Independence. The first draft, demanded by chancellor Georg von Hertling, was prepared by the German Ministry of Foreign Affairs on December 1. Further changes were jointly prepared by the German chancellery and by a delegation of the Council of Lithuania. The delegation's members were Antanas Smetona,Steponas Kairys, Vladas Mironas, Jurgis Šaulys, Petras Klimas and Aleksandras Stulginskis. After discussion amongst the parties, a compromise was reached on the document's text. The German representative, Kurt von Lersner, insisted that not one letter be changed in the agreedupon text and that all the Council members sign the document.

After the delegation returned to Vilnius, a session of the Council was held on December 11 in order to discuss the Act. It was adopted without any further changes. Fifteen voted in favor of the Act, three voted against it, one member abstained, and one did not participate. It is not entirely clear whether every member of the Council signed this document. The Act was written in German, and apparently no official Lithuanian translation was prepared. Therefore different sources provide slightly different translations. The Act of December 11 pronounced Lithuania's independence, but also asked German government for protection (clause 2) and called for "a firm and permanent alliance" with Germany. Since the Act specified that the alliance was to be formed based on conventions concerning military affairs, transportation, customs, and currency, many Lithuanians argued that the Council had overstepped its authority: the September resolution adopted by the Vilnius Conference clearly demanded that a constituent assembly decide these crucial matters of state.

Act of January 8:

When peace talks started between Germany and Russia in 1918, German authorities asked the Lithuanian representatives to prepare two notifications of independence—one for Russia, in which Lithuania's ties with Russia would be denounced and nothing would be mentioned about an alliance with Germany, and a version to be released in Germany that would essentially repeat the Act of December 11. The Council decided to amend the first part of the Act of December 11. Petras Klimas included a sentence calling for the Constituent Assembly. Another important development was the statement that democratic principles would be the basis of the new state's governance, something that was declared by the Vilnius Conference, but omitted in the Act of December 11. The second part, mentioning the "firm and permanent alliance with Germany", was completely omitted. Its final version was approved on January 8, 1918, the day that U.S. President Woodrow Wilson announced his Fourteen Points. In its essence, the Act of January 8 did not differ from the Act of February 16.

However, Ober Ost, the German military administration, rejected the changes. On January 26, in compliance with the earlier request, the two versions of the notification were approved, but they did not include the changes of January 8. The texts were prepared based on the Act of December 11. These concessions to the Germans created tensions among the Council members. Four members – Mykolas Biržiška, Steponas Kairys, Stanisław Narutowicz andJonas Vileišis – resigned from the Council in protest. The chairman of the Council, Antanas Smetona, who supported the Act of December 11, stepped down. Jonas Basanavičius, who would later be called the patriarch of independence, was elected as the chairman.

Act of February 16:

Germany failed to recognize Lithuania as an independent state, and the Lithuanian delegation was not invited to the Brest-Litovsk negotiations that started on December 22, 1917 between the Central Powers and Russia in order to settle territorial claims. During the first and final official joint session between the Council and the German authorities, it was made clear that the Council would serve only as an advisory board. This situation gave additional backing to those Council members who were seeking independence without any ties to other countries. The prime concern at this point was to invite back those members who had left the Council. Negotiations were undertaken that led to the reformulation of previous versions of the Act. The four withdrawn members demanded that the Council return to the Act of January 8 and omit the mention of any alliance with Germany. After heated debates that lasted for several weeks, on February 15, at 10 o'clock am, the new revision of the Act was ready. It included, with minor stylistic changes, wording of the Act of January 8 and promulgation and notification, drafted on February 1. Promulgation and notification do not carry legal weight and do not change the meaning of a legal document. The Council, including the withdrawn members, was invited to return the next day for its finalization. On the next day, February 16, 1918, at 12:30 pm, all twenty Council members met in the room of Lithuanian Committee for Support of the War Victims, at 30 Didžioji Street in Vilnius.The building has since been known as the House of the Signatories (Lithuanian: signatarų namai) and houses a museum. The Council first voted to approve the first part, the first two paragraphs up to the word drauge, of the Act. This section was approved unanimously.The second part, however, did not receive support from the four withdrawn members because they were not satisfied with the word "finally" in describing the duties of the Constituent Assembly (in "... the foundation of the Lithuanian State and its relations with other countries will be finally determined by the Constituent Assembly ..."). They were afraid that this word would give a pretext for the Council to usurp the powers of the Constituent Assembly, while the majority argued that the word simply expressed the non-negotiable and non-appealable nature of the future Assembly's decisions. Therefore the Act was unanimously approved en bloc but did not have full-fledged support from all twenty men.

Aftermath Lithuania:

Soon after the signing, the Act was taken to Germany and handed to parties in theReichstag. On February 18, the text was reprinted in German newspapers, including Das Neue Litauen, Vossische Zeitung, Taegliche Rundschau and Kreuzzeitung. In Lithuania a text of the proclamation was prepared for printing in newspapers, particularly in Lietuvos aidas, the Council's newspaper established by Antanas Smetona; but the German authorities prohibited this publication. Although the majority of the copies of the issue were confiscated, the newspaper's editor, Petras Klimas, managed to hide about 60 of them.This censorship meant that the distribution and dissemination of the Act was illegal in Lithuania.

On March 3, 1918, Germany and the now-Bolshevik Russia signed the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk. It declared that the Baltic nations were in the German interest zone and that Russia renounced any claims to them. On March 23, Germany recognized independent Lithuania on the basis of the December 11 declaration. However, in substance, nothing had changed either in Lithuania or in the Council's status: any efforts to establish an administration were hindered.

This situation changed when the German Revolution started and Germany lost the war in the fall of 1918 – it was no longer in a position to dictate terms. The Council of Lithuania adopted the first provisional constitution on November 2. The functions of government were entrusted to a three-member presidium, and Augustinas Voldemaras was invited to form the first Cabinet of Ministers of Lithuania. The first government was formed on November 11, 1918, on the day that Germany signed the armistice in Compiègne. The Council immediately began to organize an army, police, municipalities, and other institutions. The proclaimed independence was established.

The Act:

Two copies of the Act were signed: the original and a duplicate. The original was given to Jonas Basanavičius to safeguard and protect. The original was never published or used in any public matters; its existence was first mentioned in the press in 1933. The whereabouts of the original remain unknown. The duplicate was used in day-to-day business, and was stored in the president's archives until June 15, 1940, the day when Lithuania received an ultimatum from the Soviet Union and lost its independence. After that date the document disappeared. Neither the original nor the duplicate has been located; historians and adventurers continue to hunt for it. In 2006, a team of engineers searched the walls of the former house of Petras Vileišis. Two facsimiles of the duplicate were produced, one in 1928 and the other in 1933. The 1928 facsimile is a closer reproduction of the Act in its original state; there are spelling errors, and the background is visually "noisy", while the 1933 facsimile shows the Act in an "improved" condition.

The signatories:

Most of the signatories of the Act remained active in the cultural and political life of independent Lithuania. Jonas Vileišis served in theSeimas and as mayor of Kaunas, temporary capital of Lithuania; Saliamonas Banaitis was involved in finance, opening several banks. Among the signatories were two future Presidents of Lithuania, Antanas Smetona and Aleksandras Stulginskis. Jonas Basanavičius, chairman of the Council of Lithuania, returned to an academic life, pursuing his research in Lithuanian culture and folklore. Five signatories died before World War II started; three perished during the Nazi occupation. Those who did not emigrate to Western countries became political prisoners after Lithuania was occupied by the Soviet Union.

Aleksandras Stulginskis and Petras Klimas were sent to prison in Siberia by Soviet authorities, but survived and returned to Lithuania; Pranas Dovydaitis and Vladas Mironas were also sent to Siberia but died there. Kazys Bizauskas disappeared during the summer of 1941 while being transported to a Soviet prison in Minsk; he is presumed to have been shot along with a number of other prisoners. Donatas Malinauskas was deported to Russia on June 14, 1941.

Several of the signatories went into exile, including Jurgis Šaulys and Kazimieras Steponas Šaulys, who died in Switzerland.Antanas Smetona, Mykolas Biržiška, and Steponas Kairys emigrated to the United States and are buried there.

Legacy The Act of February 16 proclaimed the re-establishment (atstatyti) of the Lithuanian state, making it the successor

to the Lithuanian historical state, the Grand Duchy of Lithuania.In this respect the Council deviated from the resolution adopted by the Vilnius Conference which called for establishment (sudaryti) of a Lithuanian state. However, it was made clear that the new state would be quite different from the old Duchy: it was to be organized only in ethnic Lithuanian lands and was to be governed by democratic principles, as opposed to the multi-ethnic Duchy that had been ruled by aristocracy. The termination of the ties binding Lithuania to other states was addressed to Germany, Russia, and Poland, all of which had their own plans for the country. Even though not addressed directly, the Act renounced any attempt to resurrect the former Polish-Lithuanian union.

The Act of February 16, 1918, is the legal basis for the existence of present-day Lithuania, both during the interwar period and since 1990. The Act became one of the key elements during the restoration of Lithuania's independence from the Soviet Union in 1990. A paragraph in the Act of the Re-Establishment of the State of Lithuania, delivered on March 11, 1990, stated: The Act of Independence of 16 February 1918 of the Council of Lithuania and the Constituent Assembly (Seimas) decree of 15 May 1920 on the re-established democratic State of Lithuania never lost their legal effect and comprise the constitutional foundation of the State of Lithuania.

This formulation emphasized the continuity of the two legal Acts. The Act of February 16, 1918 and its successor, the Act of March 11, 1990, are regarded as two of the most important developments of Lithuanian society in the 20th century.

February 16 in Lithuania is now an official holiday. On this day various ceremonies are hosted all across Lithuania, but the main commemoration is held in the House of Signatories in Vilnius where the Act was signed in 1918. During this observance the Flag of Lithuania is hoisted, and Lithuanian cultural activists and politicians deliver speeches from its balcony to the people gathered below. Special masses in churches and cathedrals are also delivered. Honoring the Act's legacy, the President of Lithuania hosts a reception for the signatories of the Act of March 11, 1990, in the Presidential Palace.

In 1992, an award was established in honor of Jonas Basanavičius, who led the Council of Lithuania when the Act of February 16 was signed. The Jonas Basanavičius Prize is bestowed for distinguished work within the previous five years in the fields of ethnic and cultural studies. The prize is awarded in the House of Signatories, in homage to its history.

Kim Jong-il's Birthday North Korea - F e b 1 6

Kim Jong-il (born Yuri Irsenovich Kim; 16 February 1941 or 1942 – 17 December 2011)was the supreme leader of North Korea (DPRK) from 1994 to 2011. He succeeded his father and founder of the DPRK Kim Il-sung following the elder Kim's death in 1994. Kim Jongil was theGeneral Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea, Chairman of the National Defence Commission of North Korea, and the supreme commander of the Korean People's Army, thefourthlargest standing army in the world.

In April 2009, North Korea's constitution was amended to refer to him the "supreme as leader".He was also referred to as the "Dear Leader", "our Father", "the General", and "Generalissimo", among others. His son Kim Jong-un was promoted to a senior position in the ruling Workers' Party and is his successor. In 2010, he was ranked 31st in Forbes Magazine's List of The World's Most Powerful People. The North Korean government announced his death on 19 December 2011.

Childhood Birth:

Details surrounding Kim Jong-il's birth vary according to source. Soviet records show that he was born in the village of Vyatskoye, near Khabarovsk, in 1941, where his father, Kim Il-sung, commanded the 1st Battalion of the Soviet 88th Brigade, made up of Chinese and Korean exiles. Kim Jongil's mother, Kim Jong-suk, was Kim Il-sung's first wife.

Kim Jong-il's official biography states he was born in a secret military camp on Baekdu Mountain in Japanese-occupied Korea on 16 February 1942. Official biographers claim that his birth at Baekdu Mountain was foretold by a swallow, and heralded by the appearance of adouble rainbow across the sky over the mountain and a new star in the heavens.

In 1945, Kim was three or four years old when World War II ended and Korea regainedindependence from Japan. His father returned to Pyongyang that September, and in late November Kim returned to Korea via a Soviet ship, landing at Sonbong (선봉군, also Unggi). The family moved into a former Japanese officer's mansion in Pyongyang, with a garden and pool. Kim Jong-il's brother, "Shura" Kim (the first Kim Pyong-il, but known by his Russian nickname), drowned there in 1948. Unconfirmed reports suggest that five-year-old Kim Jong-il might have caused the accident.

In 1949, his mother died in childbirth. Unconfirmed reports suggest that his mother might have been shot and left to bleed to death.

Education:

According to his official biography, Kim completed the course of general education between September 1950 and August 1960. He attended Primary School No. 4 and Middle School No. 1 (Namsan Higher Middle School) in Pyongyang. This is contested by foreign academics, who believe he is more likely to have received his early education in the People's Republic of China as a precaution to ensure his safety during the Korean War. Throughout his schooling, Kim was involved in politics. He was active in the Children's Unionand the Democratic Youth League (DYL), taking part in study groups of Marxist political theory and other literature. In September 1957 he became vice-chairman of his middle school's DYL branch. He pursued a programme of anti-factionalism and attempted to encourage greater ideological education among his classmates.

Kim is also said to have received English language education at the University of Malta in the early 1970s, on his infrequent holidays in Malta as guest of Prime Minister Dom Mintoff.

The elder Kim had meanwhile remarried and had another son, Kim Pyong-il (named after Kim Jong-il's drowned brother). Since 1988, Kim Pyong-il has served in a series of North Korean embassies in Europe and is the North Korean ambassador to Poland. Foreign commentators suspect that Kim Pyong-il was sent to these distant posts by his father in order to avoid a power struggle between his two sons.

Birthday of King Harald V Norway - F e b 2 1

Harald V (born 21 February 1937) is the king of Norway. He succeeded to the throne of Norway upon the death of his father Olav V on 17 January 1991. The son of the then-Crown Prince Olav and of Princess Märtha of Sweden, Harald was born at the Crown Prince Residence at Skaugum, Akershus, Norway. A member of the House of Schleswig-Holstein-SonderburgGlücksburg, originally from Northern Germany, Harald became the first Norwegian-born prince since Olav IV, who was born in 1370.

Harald V is the formal head of the Church of Norway and the Norwegian Armed Forces. He has two children, Crown Prince Haakon and Princess Märtha Louise. His grandchildren are Maud Angelica (2003), Leah Isadora (2005), Emma Tallulah (2008), Princess Ingrid Alexandra (2004), and Prince Sverre Magnus (2005). Harald has two older sisters: Princess Ragnhild of Norway, Mrs. Lorentzen, (Ragnhild Alexandra, born Oslo, 9 June 1930), who lives in Brazil, and Princess Astrid of Norway, Mrs. Ferner, (Astrid Maud Ingeborg, born Oslo, 12 February 1932), who lives in Oslo. He is 8th in line in the line of succession to the headship of the House of Schleswig-Holstein-SonderburgGlücksburg. He is the great-grandson of Edward VII of the United Kingdom, and 68th in line to the British throne. He is a paternal second cousin to Elizabeth II and the late Princess Margaret and also a maternal first cousin to Baudouin of Belgium and his successor Albert II of Belgium.

Childhood and education Prince Harald was born in Skau-

gum. The young prince was baptised in the Royal Chapel in the Royal Palace in Oslo on 31 March

by Bishop Johan Lunde. In 1940 the entire royal family had to flee their homes because of the German invasion. The dramatic journey northbound was marked by the Germans' repeated attempts to kill the King through bombing. It was deemed safer for the family to split up. The King and Crown Prince Olav would remain in Norway and the Crown Princess was to make her way to Sweden with the three children.

The latter party reached Sweden on the night of 10 April, but although Crown Princess Märtha was Swedish-born, they encountered problems at the border station. According to Princess Astrid and others who were present, they were admitted only after the driver threatened to ram the border gate. Another account does not describe the escape so dramatically. However when the King and Crown Prince inquired of Swedish foreign minister Christian Günther whether they could sleep one night in Sweden without being interned, they were denied. Prince Harald spent the following days in Sälen before relocating to Prince Carl Bernadotte's home in Frötuna on 16 April. On 26 April the group moved to Drottningholm in Stockholm. Accounts tell us that King Gustaf V had an amicable relationship with his Norwegian guests, but the topic of the war in Norway was not to be raised. However, influential Swedish politicians including Minster of Justice Westman wanted the Crown Princess and Prince Harald to be sent back to Norway so he could be proclaimed King by the Germans. After the King and Crown Prince had to leave Norway on 7 June they felt Sweden might not be the best place for the rest of the family. They started planning for them to be relocated to the USA. On 17 August the Crown Princess and her children left for the USA from Petsamo, Finland, aboard the ship American Legion. Harald and his mother and sisters lived in Washington, D.C., during the war, while his father, Prince Olav, and his grandfather, King Haakon, stayed in London with the Norwegian government-in-exile. One of the notable events he remembers from that time is standing behind Franklin D. Roosevelt when he was sworn in for his fourth term on the South Portico of the White House in 1945. Such childhood experiences are reflected in a trace of an American accent when he speaks English. The Doris Kearns Goodwin book No Ordinary Time: Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt and the Home Front in World War II contains a picture of the King (Then Prince) playing with FDR's dog, Fala, on the North Lawn of the White House in 1944. Prince Harald visited Norwegian servicemen on training in the United States. The prince also visited outside America, travelling north to visit Norwegians training in Canada's "Little Norway" in Ontario, Canada. He attended The White Hall Country School from 1943. Prince Harald returned to Norway along with his family at the war's end in 1945. In the autumn of 1945 he was enrolled in third grade of Smestad skole as the first royal to attend a public school. In 1955 he graduated from Oslo katedralskole and in the autumn of that year, Harald began studies at the University of Oslo. Later he attended the Cavalry Officers' Candidate School at Trandum, followed by enrollment at the Norwegian Military Academy, from which he graduated in 1959. In 1960, Harald entered Balliol College, Oxford where he studied history, economics and politics. He was a keen rower during his student days at Oxford. In 1960 he also made his first official journey abroad, visiting the United States in connection with the fiftieth anniversary of the American Scandinavian Foundation.

Harald attended Council of State for the first time on 27 September 1957 and took the oath to the Constitution of Norway on 21 February 1958. In the same year, he also served as regent in the King's absence for the first time.

Harald married a commoner, Sonja Haraldsen, at Oslo Domkirke in Oslo on 29 August 1968, a marriage that sparked much public controversy. The couple have two children, Princess Märtha Louise and His Royal Highness Crown Prince Haakon, heir to the Norwegian throne. The King heads the government meetings at Oslo Palace every Friday (Council of State). He also has weekly meetings with the Prime Minister and the Foreign Minister. He receives foreign envoys, and opens parliament every September. According to the Norwegian constitution, he appoints his government. Since 1884 parliamentarism has been in place in Norway, so the government has to have support from ParThe King liament. appoints the leader of the parliamentary block with majority as prime minister. When the parliamentary situation is unclear the king relies on the advice of the president of Parliament and the sitting prime minister.

He travels extensively throughout Norway and makes official state visits to other countries. An avid sailor, Harald represented Norway in the events of yachting Olympic Games in Tokyo in 1964 and in Mexico City in 1968 and the Munich 1972. The Crown Prince carried the Norwegian flag at the open- 15 February: The King and Queen are presented with the Governing parade of the 1964 ment's gift for their 75th anniversaries: a series of exhibitions entiSummer Olympics. In 1994, both the King and tled Crown Prince Haakon played roles during the opening ceremony of the Lillehammer Olympics. The King declared opened the games, while the Crown Prince lit the cauldron, paying tribute to both the King and his grandfather as Olympians. The King has also represented Norway at opening ceremonies of Olympic Games, among them Torino and Beijing. However, he wasn't present in Vancouver, the Crown Prince attended instead. With his sailing crew he won World Championship bronze, silver and gold medals, in 1988, 1982, and 1987, respectively. In July 2005, the King and his crew aboard the royal sailboat Fram XV won the gold medal at the European Championships in Sweden.

In the 2007 World Championship the King obtained a sixth place. Twice during recent years King Harald has been absent as ruler owing to hospitalization and convalescence: in December 2003 to mid-April 2004 due to urinary bladder cancer, and in April to early June 2005 due to aortic stenosis (for details see "The King's health", below). Crown Prince Haakon served as the country's regent on both occasions.

Positions as King of Norway and honorary titles As King of Norway:

The King is the nominal head of the Church of Norway.

He is a Four-star General, an Admiral and formally the Supreme Commander of the Norwegian Armed Forces. The infantry battalion His Majesty the King's Guard are considered the King's and the Royal Family's bodyguards, they guard the Royal residences, including the Royal Palace and the Crown Prince Residence at Skaugum, as well as the Royal Mausoleum at Akershus Castle.

Honorary titles:

In the British Army, the King was the final Colonel-in-Chief of the Green Howards. It remains to be seen whether there will continue to be an active association between the 2nd Battalion, Yorkshire Regiment (Green Howards) and the Norwegian Royal Family. He is also an honorary Colonel in the British Royal Marines.

The King is a Knight of the Garter, and is The Grand Master of the Order of St. Olav. He is also a Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order, and a recipient of the Royal Victorian Chain as well as numerous other orders of chivalry.

The King is patron of the Anglo-Norse Society in London, together with Queen Elizabeth II. He is also patron of the Norwegian-American Foundation (Norge-Amerika Foreningen) and the Norse Federation(Nordmanns-Forbundet) in the United States.

He received the hon- 29 January: King Harald attends the consecration of Atle Sommerorary degree Doctor of Civil Law from Oxford feldt, the new Bishop of the bishopric of Borg (Photo: Linn Cathrin University in 2006 (as Olsen / Scanpx) did his father, King Olav, in 1937, and his grandfather, King Haakon, in 1943). The King has earlier been appointed an honorary doctor of law by the University of Strathclyde (1985) in Scotland and by Waseda University (2001) in Japan (2001). He is also an honorary fellow at Balliol College, Oxford.

King Harald V is Honorary President of the Offshore Racing Congress and also the Co-President of Honour of the International Sailing Federation with the King Constantine II of Greece.

He holds the degree of Prince of the Holy Roman Empire due to his old German ancestry.

Other ours:

HealthOn 1 December 2003, King Harald was announced to be suffering from bladder cancer. A successful

operation took place on 8 December at Norway's National Hospital, Rikshospitalet, in Oslo: his bladder was removed and a new one constructed. The King was then on sick leave from all official duties.

Crown Prince Haakon was Norway's regent during King Harald's illness and convalescence. The King resumed his duties on 13 April 2004.

The King was once known to be a chain-smoker, but quit that habit entirely when he was diagnosed with cancer.

On 1 April 2005 Harald underwent successful heart surgery, an aortic valve replacement, correcting his aortic stenosis. It had been known for some time that he had this condition; however, until early 2005 it had only been of a moderate degree. During the three-hour operation atRikshospitalet the doc tors also performed a coronary bypass procedure on the King. On 10 April it was announced that the King had also undergone a pericardiocentesis to treat a complication of surgery, a pericardial effusion (an accumulation of fluid around the heart).

After the two operations in the spring of 2005, King Harald remained on sick leave for almost two months, Crown Prince Haakon again substituting as the country's regent. The King returned to work on 7 June, a date which carried particular significance in 2005, with Norway celebrating the centennial of the dissolution of the 1814–1905 union with Sweden. The King recuperated well enough to win the European Championships in ocean sailing just three months after his latest operation.

Following advice from his personal physician, King Harald finally decided in late 2005 to scale down his official duties, primarily effected by taking Wednesdays off and trying to keep weekends free as much as possible. However, he planned to continue attending weekend sports events of interest, and to lead Friday Cabinet meetings and carry out other constitutional duties.

Patronages The Royal Norwegian Society of Sciences and Letters

The National Rifle Association of Norway The Norwegian Association of UN Veterans The Norwegian Reserve Officers’ Federation Norges Militære Kameratforeningers Forbund ("The Norwegian Federation of Military Associations") The Norse Federation The Norway-America Association Det Nasjonale Aldershjem for Sjømenn ("The Norwegian Seamen’s Retirement Home") Norsk Anchorite Klubb ("The Norwegian Anchorite Club") The Norwegian Association of Hunters and Anglers The Norwegian Bible Society The Norwegian Seamen’s Church – Church of Norway Abroad The Offshore Northern Seas Foundation The Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra The Norwegian Academy of Technological Sciences Bergen International Festival The Norwegian Cancer Society Lions Clubs International – Norway Nasjonalforeningen for folkehelsen ("The National Association for Public Health") The Norwegian Olympic Committee and Confederation of Sports The Norwegian Choir Association The Norwegian Forestry Society Friends of the Earth Norway/Norwegian Society for the Conservation of Nature Ridderrennet ("The Knights’ Race", a Norwegian skiing event for the blind and mobility impaired) The Norwegian Society for Sea Rescue The Sons of Norway Foundation The American-Scandinavian Foundation The Anglo-Norse Society The Norwegian Lutheran Memorial Church, Minneapolis, Minnesota Skogfjorden, the Norwegian language program of Concordia Language Villages, Bemidji, Minnesota Oslo Militære Samfund

Death Kim Jong-il died of a suspected heart attack on 17 December 2011 at 08:30 while travelling by train to an area

outside Pyongyang. He was succeeded by his youngest son Kim Jong-un, who was hailed by the Korean Central News Agency as the "Great Successor". The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) report that during his death, a fierce snowstorm paused and the sky glowed red above the sacred Mount Paektu. The ice on a famous lake also cracked so loud, it seemed to shake the Heavens and the Earth.

Kim Jong-il's funeral took place on December 28 in Pyongyang, with a mourning period lasting until the following day. South Korea's military was immediately put on alert after the announcement and its National Security Council convened for an emergency meeting, out of concern that political jockeying in North Korea could destabilise the region. Asian stock markets fell soon after the announcement, due to similar concerns.

On January 12, 2012 North Korea called Kim Jong-il the "eternal leader" and announced that his body will be preserved and displayed at Pyongyang's Kumsusan Memorial Palace. Officials will also install statues, portraits, and "towers to his immortality" across the country. His birthday of February 16 has been declared "the greatest auspicious holiday of the nation", and has been named the Day of the Shining Star.

Random Acts of Kindness Day U.S. - F e b 1 7

Independence Day Gambia - F e b 1 8

The Republic of The Gambia, commonly referred to as The Gambia, or Gambia is a country in West Africa.

Gambia is the smallest country on mainland Africa, surrounded by Senegal except for a short coastline on the Atlantic Ocean in the west.

The country is situated around the Gambia River, the nation's namesake, which flows through the country's centre and empties into the Atlantic Ocean.

Its area is 11,295 km² with an estimated population of 1,700,000.

On 18 February 1965, Gambia gained independence from the United Kingdom and joined theCommonwealth of Nations. Banjul is Gambia's capital, but the largest conurbations areSerekunda and Brikama.

Gambia shares historical roots with many other West African nations in the slave trade, which was the key factor in the placing and keeping of a colony on the Gambia River, first by thePortuguese and later by the British. Since gaining independence in 1965, Gambia has enjoyed relative political stability, with the exception of a brief period of military rule in 1994.

Thanks to the fertile land of the country, the economy is dominated by farming, fishing, and tourism. About a third of the population lives below the international poverty line of US$1.25 a day.

History

Arab traders provided The Gambia's first written accounts in the 9th and 10th centuries. During the 10th century, Muslim merchants and scholars established communities in several West African commercial centres. Both groups established trans-Saharan trade routes, leading to a large trade in slaves, gold, ivory (exports) and manufactured goods, etc. (imports).

By the 11th century or the 12th century, the rulers of kingdoms such as Takrur (a monarchycentered on the Senegal River just to the north), ancient Ghana and Gao, had converted to Islam and had appointed Muslims who were literate in the Arabic language as courtesans. At the beginning of the 14th century, most of what is today called Gambia was part of the Mali Empire. The Portuguese reached this area by sea in the mid-15th century, and they began to domA map of James Island and Fort Gambia. inate overseas trade.

In 1588, the claimant to the Portuguese throne, António, Prior of Crato, sold exclusive trade rights on the Gambia River to English merchants. Letters patent from Queen Elizabeth I confirmed the grant. In 1618, King James I of England granted a charter to an English company for trade with Gambia and the Gold Coast (now Ghana). Between 1651 and 1661 some parts of Gambia were under Courland's rule, and had been bought by Prince Jacob Kettler, who was a Polish-Lithuanian vassal.

During the late 17th century and throughout the 18th century, the British Empire and the French Empirestruggled continually for political and commercial supremacy in the regions of the Senegal River and the Gambia River. The British Empire occupied Gambia when an expedition led by Augustus Keppel landed there—following the Capture of Senegal in 1758. The 1783 First Treaty of Versailles gave Great Britain possession of the Gambia River, but the French retained a tiny enclave at Albreda on the river's north bank. This was finally ceded to the United Kingdom in 1856.

According to its current president Yahya Jammeh, Gambia "is one of the oldest and biggest countries in Africa that was reduced to a small snake by the British government – [which] sold all our lands to the French".

As many as three million slaves may have been taken from this general region during the three centuries that the transatlantic slave tradewas operated. It is not known how many slaves were taken by inter-tribal wars or Mexican traders before the transatlantic slave trade began. Most of those taken were sold by other Africans to Europeans; others were prisoners of inter-tribal wars; some were victims sold because of unpaid debts; and others were simply victims of kidnapping.

Traders initially sent slaves to Europe to work as servants until the market for labour expanded in the West Indies and North America in the 18th century. In 1807, the United Kingdom abolished the slave trade throughout its Empire.

It also tried, unsuccessfully, to end the slave trade in Gambia. Slave ships intercepted by the Royal Navy in the Atlantic were also returned to The Gambia, with Liberated Slaves released on MacCarthy Island far up the Gambia River where they were expected to establish new lives. The British established the military post of Bathurst (now Banjul) in 1816. In the ensuing years, Banjul was at times under the jurisdiction of the British Governor General in Sierra Leone. In 1888, Gambia became a separate colony.

An agreement with the French Republic in 1889 established the present boundaries of Gambia. Gambia became a British Crown Colonycalled British Gambia, divided for administrative purposes into the colony (city of Banjul and the surrounding area) and the protectorate (remainder of the territory). Gambia received its own executive and legislative councils in 1901, and it gradually progressed toward self-government. Slavery was finally abolished in 1906.

During World War II, Gambian troops fought with the Allies of World War II. Though these soldiers fought mostly in Burma, some died closer to home and there is a Commonwealth War Graves Commission cemetery in Fajara (close to Banjul). According to the current presidentYahya Jammeh, "when Germany was about to defeat Britain, not only were Gambians conscripted and forced to go and fight in Britain, but also..." Banjul contained as an airstrip for the U.S. Army Air Forces and a port of call for Allied naval convoys. President of the United States Franklin D. Roosevelt visited by air and stopped overnight in Banjul en route to and from the Casablanca Conference (1943) inMorocco, marking the first visit to the African continent by an American President.

After World War II, the pace of constitutional reform increased. Following general elections in 1962, the United Kingdom granted full internal self-governance in the following year. The Gambia achieved independence on February 18, 1965, as a constitutional monarchy within theBritish Commonwealth of Nations. Shortly thereafter, the national government held a referendum proposing that an elected president should replace The Gambian monarch (Queen Elizabeth II) as the head of state. This referendum failed to receive the two-thirds majority required to amend the constitution, but the results won widespread attention abroad as testimony to Gambia's observance of secret balloting, honest elections, civil rights, and liberties. On April 24, 1970, Gambia became a republic within the Commonwealth, following a second referendum. Prime Minister Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara became the Head of State.

The Gambia was led by President Dawda Jawara, who was re-elected five times. The relative stability of the Jawara era was shattered first by an attempted coup in 1981. The coup was led by Kukoi Samba Sanyang, who, on two occasions, had unsuccessfully sought election to Parliament. After a week of violence which left several hundred people dead, Jawara, in London when the attack began, appealed to Senegalfor help. Senegalese troops defeated the rebel force.

In the aftermath of this attempted coup, Senegal and Gambia signed a Treaty of Confederation in 1982. The goal of the Senegambia Confederation was to combine the armed forces of the two states and to unify their economies and currencies. After just a short stretch of years, Gambia permanently withdrew from this confederation in 1989.

In 1994, the Armed Forces Provisional Ruling Council (AFPRC) deposed the Jawara government and banned opposition political activity. Lieutenant Yahya A.J.J. Jammeh, chairman of the AFPRC, became head of state. The AFPRC announced a transition plan for return to democratic civilian government. The Provisional Independent Electoral Commission (PIEC) was established in 1996 to conduct national elections. The PIEC was transformed to the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) in 1997 and became responsible for registration of voters and conduct of elections and referendums. In late 2001 and early 2002, the Gambia completed a full cycle of presidential, legislative, and local elections, which foreign observers deemed free, fair, and transparent, albeit with some shortcomings. President Yahya Jammeh, who was elected to continue in the position he had assumed during the coup, took the oath of office again on 21 December 2001. Jammeh'sAlliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction (APRC) maintained its strong majority in the National Assembly, particularly after the main opposition United Democratic Party (UDP) boycotted the legislative elections.

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Norway - Grand Master of the Royal Norwegian Order of St Olav - Grand Cross with collar of the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav Norway - Grand Master of the Royal Norwegian Order of Merit - Grand Cross Norway - St Olav's medal 26 January: King Harald attends the Norwegian championships in Norway - Defence Service Medal with Laurel Nordic diciplines at Voss Branch Norway - The Royal House Centenary Medal Norway - Haakon VIIs Commemorative Medal 1. October 1957 Norway - Haakon VIIs Jubilee Medal 1905–1955 Norway - Haakon VIIs Centenary Medal Norway - Olav Vs Commemorative Medal of 30. January 1991 Norway - Olav Vs Jubilee Medal Norway - Olav Vs Centenary Medal Norway - Defence Service Medal with three stars Norway - Army National Service Medal with three stars Norway - Krigsdeltakerforbundet Badge of Honour Norway - Norwegian Red Cross Badge of Honour Norway - Norwegian Reserve Officers Federal Badge of Honour Norway - The Naval Society Medal of Merit in gold Norway - Norwegian Shooting Society Badge of Honour Norway - The Norwegian Confederation of Sports Centenary Medal Norway - Norwegian Shooting Society Commemorative Medal in gold Norway - Oslo Military Society Badge of Honour in Gold United Kingdom - Knight of the Order of the Garter Commonwealth realms - Royal Victorian Chain Commonwealth realms - Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order United Kingdom - Honorary Freedom of Newcastle upon Tyne Denmark - Grand Commander of the Order of the Dannebrog Denmark - Knight with Collar of the Elephant Finland - Commander Grand Cross of the Order of the White Rose Iceland - Grand cross with Collar of the Order of the Falcon Sweden - Knight with Collar of the Order of the Seraphim Sweden - Gustaf Vs 90th Anniversary Medal Sweden - HM King Carl XVI Gustaf 50th Anniversary Medal Austria - Decoration of Honour for Merit Belgium - Grand Cross of the Order of Leopold Brazil - Grand Collar of the Order of the Southern Cross Bulgaria - Grand Cross of the Order of Stara Planina 14 - 15 January: King Harald Estonia - The Collar of the Cross of Terra Mariana and Queen Sonja attend the France - Grand Cross of the Légion d'honneur 40th anniversary of Queen MarGermany - Grand Cross 1. class of the Order of Merit of the Federal grethe as Regent of Denmark.

Republic of Germany Here they arrive for the gala Greece - Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Redeemer banquet at Christiansborg Greece - The Royal House of Greece Centenary Medal Hungary - Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit of the Hungarian Republic IOC - The Golden Olympic order Italy - Grand Cross with Collar of the Italian Order of Merit Japan - Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of the Chrysanthemum Jordan - Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of al-Hussein bin Ali Yugoslavia - Order of the Yugoslav Great Star Latvia - Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of the Three Stars Lithuania - Grand Cross of the Order of Vytautas the Great Luxembourg - Grand Cross of the Order of Adolph of Nassau Luxembourg - Grand Cross of the Order of the Gold Lion of the House of Nassau Luxembourg - Medal to commemorate the wedding of Grand Duke Jean and Grand Duchess Josephine-Charlotte Netherlands - Grand Cross of the Order of the Netherlands Lion Netherlands Grand Cross of the Order of the Crown Netherlands - The Order of the Golden Ark Netherlands - Medal to commemorate the enthronement of Queen Beatrix Poland - Grand Cross of the Order of the White Eagle Portugal - Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of St. James of the Sword Portugal - Grand Cross of the Order of Aviz Portugal - Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Infante Dom Henrique Romania - Grand Cross of the Order of the Star of Romania Spain - 1,192nd Knight and Collar of the Order of the Golden Fleece in 1995 Spain - Grand Cross Collar of the Order of Charles III South Africa - Grand Cross of the Order of Good Hope Thailand - Knight Grand Cordon of the Order Chula Chom Klao (First Class) Ireland - Freedom of the City of Cork.

A 230 000 km² area in Antarctica is named Prince Harald Coast in his honour.

In 2007 King Harald was awarded the Holmenkollen medal with Simon Ammann, Frode Estil, Odd-Bjørn Hjelmeset, and his wife Queen Sonja.

Family:

Random Acts of Kindness Day is the name of an unofficial holiday increasingly celebrated around the world by localities or organizations, or nationwide, in order to encourage acts of kindness. The original founder of Random Acts of Kindness Day is unknown. The holiday is celebrated annually in the United States on February 17 and in New Zealand on September 1. In New Zealand, RAK day began at a national level in 2005 by Josh de Jong, Marshall Gray, Megan Singleton and Reuben Gwyn. It is not a holiday, rather a national day where the entire country is challenged to do something kind to a friend or stranger for no reason at all.

George Washington (February 22, 1732 – December 14, 1799) was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander in chief of the Continental Army in 1775–1783, and he presided over the writing of the Constitution in 1787. As the unanimous choice to serve as the first President of the United States (1789–1797), he developed the forms and rituals of government that have been used ever since, such as using a cabinet system and delivering an inaugural address. As President, he built a strong, well-financed national government that avoided war, suppressed rebellion and won acceptance among Americans of all types, and Washington is now known as the "Father of his country".

In Colonial Virginia, Washington was born into the provincial gentry in a wealthy, well connected family that owned tobacco plantations using slave labor. He was home schooled by his father and older brother, but both died young, and he became attached to the powerful Fairfax clan, who promoted his career as a surveyor and soldier. Strong, brave, eager for combat and a natural leader, young Washington quickly became a senior officer of the colonial forces, 1754–58, during the first stages of the French and Indian War. Indeed, his rash actions helped precipitate the war. Washington's experience, his military bearing, his leadership of the Patriot cause in Virginia, and his political base in the largest colony made him the obvious choice of the Second Continental Congress in 1775 as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army to fight the British in the American Revolution. He forced the British out of Boston in 1776, but was defeated and nearly captured later that year when he lost New York City. After crossing the Delaware River in the dead of winter, he defeated the enemy in two battles, retook New Jersey, and restored momentum to the Patriot cause. Because of his strategy, Revolutionary forces captured two major British armies at Saratoga in 1777 and Yorktown in 1781. Negotiating with Congress, governors, and French allies, he held together a tenuous army and a fragile nation amid the threats of disintegration and invasion. Historians give the commander in chief high marks for his selection and supervision of his generals, his encouragement of morale, his coordination with the state governors and state militia units, his relations with Congress, and his attention to supplies, logistics, and training. In battle, however, Washington was repeatedly outmaneuvered by British generals with larger armies. Washington is given full credit for the strategies that forced the British evacuation of Boston in 1776 and the surrender at Yorktown in 1781. After victory had been finalized in 1783, Washington resigned rather than seize power, and returned to his plantation at Mount Vernon, proving his opposition to dictatorship and his commitment to republican government.

Washington presided over the Constitutional Convention that drafted the United States Constitution in 1787 because of his dissatisfaction with the weaknesses of Articles of Confederation that had time and again impeded the war effort. Washington became the first President of the United States in 1789. He attempted to bring rival factions together to unify the nation. He supported Alexander Hamilton's programs to pay off all state and national debt, implement an effective tax system, and create a national bank, despite opposition from Thomas Jefferson. Washington proclaimed the U.S. neutral in the wars raging in Europe after 1793. He avoided war with Britain and guaranteed a decade of peace and profitable trade by securing the Jay Treaty in 1795, despite intense opposition from the Jeffersonians. Although never officially joining the Federalist Party, he supported its programs.

Washington's "Farewell Address" was an influential primer on republican virtue and a stern warning against partisanship, sectionalism, and involvement in foreign wars.

Washington had a vision of a great and powerful nation that would be built on republican lines using federal power. He sought to use the national government to improve the infrastructure, open the western lands, create a national university, promote commerce, found a capital city (later named Washington, D.C.), reduce regional tensions and promote a spirit of nationalism. "The name of American," he said, must override any local attachments. At his death, Washington was hailed as "first in war, first in peace, and first in the hearts of his countrymen". The Federalists made him the symbol of their party, but for many years the Jeffersonians continued to distrust his influence and delayed building the Washington Monument. As the leader of the first successful revolution against a colonial empire in world history, Washington became an international icon for liberation and nationalism. His symbolism especially resonated in France and Latin America. Historical scholars consistently rank him as one of the two or three greatest presidents.

Early life (1732–1753)

The first child of Augustine Washington (1694–1743) and his second wife, Mary Ball Washington (1708–1789), George Washington was born on their Pope's Creek Estate near present-day Colonial Beach in Westmoreland County, Virginia. According to the Julian calendar (which was in effect at the time), Washington was born on February 11, 1731 (O.S.); according to the Gregorian calendar, which was adopted in Britain and its colonies in 1752, he was born on February 22, 1732.[Note 1] Washington's ancestors were from Sulgrave, England; his great-grandfather, John Washington, had immigrated to Virginia in 1657.George's father Augustine was a slave-owning tobacco planter who later tried his hand in iron-mining ventures. In George's youth, the Washingtons were moderately prosperous members of the Virginia gentry, of "middling rank" rather than one of the leading families.

Washington was the first-born child from his father's marriage to Mary Ball Washington. Six of his siblings reached maturity including two older half-brothers, Lawrence and Augustine, from his father's first marriage to Jane Butler Washington and four full-siblings, Samuel, Elizabeth (Betty), John Augustine and Charles. Three siblings died before becoming adults: his full-sister Mildred died when she was about one, his half-brother Butler died while an infant and his half-sister Jane died at the age of 12 when George was about 2. George's father died when George was 11 years old, after which George's half-brother Lawrence became a surrogate father and role model. William Fairfax, Lawrence's father-in-law and cousin of Virginia's largest landowner, Thomas, Lord Fairfax, was also a formative influence.

Washington spent much of his boyhood at Ferry Farm in Stafford County near Fredericks- Th s 1772 pa n ng by Pea e o burg. Lawrence Washington inherited another family property from his father, a plantation he on the Potomac River which he later named Mount Vernon. George inherited Ferry Farm Wash ng on as co one o upon his father's death, and eventually acquired Mount Vernon after Lawrence's death.

V rg n a Reg men s he ear The death of his father prevented Washington from crossing the Atlantic to receive an edknown por ra es ucation at England's Appleby School, as his older brothers had done. He attended school in Fredericksburg until age 15. Talk of securing an appointment in the Royal Navy was dropped when his mother learned how hard that would be on him. Thanks to Lawrence's connection to the powerful Fairfax family, at age 17 George was appointed official surveyor for Culpeper County in 1749, a well-paid position which enabled him to purchase land in the Shenandoah Valley, the first of his many land acquisitions in western Virginia. Thanks also to Lawrence's involvement in the Ohio Company, a land investment company funded by Virginia investors, and Lawrence's position as commander of the Virginia militia, George came to the notice of the new lieutenant governor of Virginia, Robert Dinwiddie. Washington was hard to miss: at about six feet two inches (188 cm; estimates of his height vary), he towered over most of his contemporaries.

In 1751, Washington traveled to Barbados with Lawrence, who was suffering from tuberculosis, with the hope that the climate would be beneficial to Lawrence's health. Washington contracted smallpox during the trip, which left his face slightly scarred, but immunized him against future exposures to the dreaded disease. Lawrence's health did not improve: he returned to Mount Vernon, where he died in 1752. Lawrence's position as Adjutant General (militia leader) of Virginia was divided into four offices after his death. Washington was appointed by Governor Dinwiddie as one of the four district adjutants in February 1753, with the rank of major in the Virginia militia. Washington also joined the Freemasons in Fredericksburg at this time.

French and Indian War (1754– life Adult 1758) The Crown Prince of Norway served as deputy of the King from the day he was 18 years of age. Crown Prince In 1753, the French began expanding their military control into the "Ohio Country", a ter-

Personal life

There is no official information available about Kim Jong-il's marital history, but he is believed to have been officially married once and to have had three mistresses. He has four known children: • Kim Jong-nam (son) • Kim Sul-song (daughter) • Kim Jong-chul (son) • Kim Jong-un (son) Kim's first mistress, Song Hye-rim, was a star of North Korean films. She was already married to another man and with a child when they met; Kim is reported to have forced her husband to divorce her. This relationship, started in 1970, was not officially recognized. They had one son, Kim Jong-nam (born 1971) who is Kim Jong-il's eldest son.

Kim kept both the relationship and the child a secret (even from his father Kim Il Sung) until Kim ascended to power in 1994. However, after years of estrangement, Song is believed to have died inMoscow in the Central Clinical Hospital in 2002.

Kim's official wife, Kim Young-sook, was the daughter of a high-ranking military official. His father Kim Il-Sung handpicked her to marry his son. The two have been estranged for some years. Kim has a daughter from this marriage, Kim Sul-song (born 1974).

His second mistress, Ko Young-hee, was a Japanese-born ethnic Korean and a dancer. She had taken over the role of First Lady until her death — reportedly of cancer — in 2004. They had two sons, Kim Jong-chul, in 1981, and Kim Jong-un (also "Jong Woon" or "Jong Woong"), in 1983.

After Ko's death, Kim lived with Kim Ok, his third mistress, who had served as his personal secretary since the 1980s. She "virtually acts as North Korea's first lady" and frequently accompanied Kim on his visits to military bases and in meetings with visiting foreign dignitaries. She traveled with Kim Jong Il on a secretive trip to China in January 2006, where she was received by Chinese officials as Kim's wife.

He reportedly had a younger sister, Kim Kyong-hui (김경희).

George Washington's Birthday U.S. - F e b 2 2

Patrilineal descent Harald's patriline is the line from which he is descended father to son.

Patrilineal descent is the principle behind membership in royal houses, as it can be traced back through the generations - which means that if Harald V were to choose an historically accurate house name it would be Oldenburg, as all his male-line ancestors have been of that house.

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Egilmar I of Lerigau, dates unknown Egilmar II of Lerigau, d. 1142 Christian I of Oldenburg, d. 1167 Moritz of Oldenburg, d. 1209 Christian II of Oldenburg, d. 1233 John I, Count of Oldenburg, d. 1275 Christian III, Count of Oldenburg, d. 1285 John II, Count of Oldenburg, d. 1314 Conrad I, Count of Oldenburg, 1300–1347 Christian V, Count of Oldenburg, 1340–1423 Dietrich, Count of Oldenburg, 1398–1440 Christian I of Denmark, 1426–1481 Frederick I of Denmark, 1471–1533 Christian III of Denmark, 1503–1559 John II, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg, 1545–1622 Alexander, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg, 1573–1627 August Philipp, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Beck, 1612–1675 Frederick Louis, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Beck, 1653–1728 Peter August, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Beck, 1696–1775 Prince Karl Anton August of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Beck, 1727–1759 Friedrich Karl Ludwig, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Beck, 1757–1816 Friedrich Wilhelm, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg, 1785–1831 Christian IX of Denmark, 1818–1906 Frederick VIII of Denmark, 1843–1912 Haakon VII of Norway, 1872–1957 Olav V of Norway, 1903–1991 Harald V of Norway, b. 1937 Her Highness Princess Märtha Louise, born on 22 September 1971. She was married to Ari Behn, born on 30 September 1972, on 24 May 2002. They have 3 daughters: Maud Angelica Behn, born 29 April 2003 Leah Isadora Behn, born 8 April 2005 Emma Tallulah Behn, born 29 September 2008 His Royal Highness Crown Prince Haakon Magnus, born on 20 July 1973. He married Mette-Marit Tjessem Høiby, born 19 August 1973, on 25 August 2001. She has a son from a previous relationship, Marius Borg Høiby, born 13 January 1997. They have 2 children: Her Royal Highness Princess Ingrid Alexandra, born 21 January 2004, Hereditary Princess of Norway His Highness Prince Sverre Magnus, born 3 December 2005

National Democracy Day Nepal - F e b 1 9

National Democracy Day (Rashtriya Prajatantra Divas) is being held in Nepal every 19th of February in honor of the late King Prithvi Narayan Shah, The Great led the country in achieving freedom from the Rana regime. It is observed as a non-working day to all the offices of the government.

History

Before achieving its independence on the latter part of the 18th century, Nepal was diverse and divided into different independents states under different leaders and was then ruled by Bahadur San. However, the opportunistic Ranas saw this condition of Nepal as an opening to enter the Palace and place the government in their hands. Janga Bahadur Rana even became Prime Minister on 1947. During this administration, a lot of massacres and abusive acts were committed by the Ranas, shamming the whole Palace and the whole of Nepal. The People of Nepal experienced a life full of nightmares while under the ruling power of the Ranas. The royal family has taken away a lot of opportunities to the people of the nation while the members of their family were enjoying the extravagance and abundance that they had from the highest office. Anomalies such as corruption, discrimination and violent behaviors have ruled the country during this period of Nepali history. In the efforts of the people to free themselves from this kind of government, a lot of courageous souls have established groups to expel the Rana government and bring back the equality and fair treatment in the whole country. It is in this crucial time that the four martyrs of Nepal were made known which inspired the citizens even more to continue what they were fighting for. The power of the people continued to become stronger and intact. And after 104 years of struggle, Nepal finally triumphed over the Ranas on 1951. Since then, the Nepalese yearly commemorates the 19th of February as Democracy Day to reminisce all the people’s efforts that brought back good governance in the whole country.

Celebrations Every year during Democracy Day, people of Nepal celebrate with worships and prayers to give respect and honor

to the heroes of their Democracy. Most government organizations and independent groups hold several activities and rallies all over the country as well. Part of the tradition also is that the people illuminate their home and establishments with lights and hold fireworks displays during the night of the celebration.

Mother Language Day Worldwide - F e b 2 1

International Mother Language Day is an observance held annually on 21 February worldwide to promote awareness of linguistic and cultural diversity and multilingualism. It was first announced by UNESCO on 17 November 1999. Its observance was also formally recognized by the United Nations General Assembly in its resolution establishing 2008 as the International Year of Languages.

International Mother Language Day originated as the international recognition of Language Movement Day, which has been commemorated in Bangladesh (formerly East Pakistan) since 1952, when a number of students including the students of the University of Dhaka were killed by the Pakistani police in Dhaka during Bengali Language Movement protests.

History On 21 March 1948, Mohammed Ali Jinnah, the

Governor general of Pakistan, declared that Urdu would be the only official language for both West and East Pakistan. The people of Shaheed Minar, or the Martyr's monument, located East Pakistan (now Bangladesh), having at Dhaka University Campus, Bangladesh, commother language Bangla, started to protest against this. On 21 February 1952, (8th Fal- memorates the sacrifice for Bangla Language on 21 gun 1358 in the Bangla calendar), students in February 1952 the present day capital city of Dhaka called for a provincial strike. The government invoked a limited curfew to prevent this and the protests were tamed down so as to not break the curfew. The Pakistani police fired on the students despite these peaceful protests and a number of students were killed. Four of them were Abdus Salam, Rafiq Uddin Ahmed, Abul Barkat and Abdul Jabbar.

International observances The Linguapax Prize is presented annually on International Mother Language Day.

UNESCO sets the theme for each International Mother Language Day and holds related events at its headquarters in Paris on or around 21 February each year.

In 2008, the International Year of Languages was formally launched on International Mother Language Day.

ritory also claimed by the British colonies of Virginia and Pennsylvania. These competing claims led to a war in the colonies called the French and Indian War (1754–62), and contributed to the start of the global Seven Years' War (1756–63). Washington was at the center of its beginning. The Ohio Company was one vehicle through which British in- Wash ng on en arged he house vestors planned to expand into the territory, opening new settlements and building trading posts for the Indian trade. Governor Dinwiddie received orders from the British govern- a Moun Vernon a er h s marment to warn the French of British claims, and sent Major Washington in late 1753 to r age deliver a letter informing the French of those claims and asking them to leave. Washington also met with Tanacharison (also called "Half-King") and other Iroquois leaders allied to Virginia at Logstown to secure their support in case of conflict with the French; Washington and Tanacharison became friends and allies. Washington delivered the letter to the local French commander, who politely refused to leave.

Governor Dinwiddie sent Washington back to the Ohio Country to protect an Ohio Company group building a fort at present-day Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania but before he reached the area, a French force drove out the company's crew and began construction of Fort Duquesne. A small detachment of French troops led by Joseph Coulon de Jumonville, was discovered by Tanacharison and a few warriors east of present-day Uniontown, Pennsylvania. Along with their Mingo allies, Washington and some of his militia unit then ambushed the French. What exactly happened during and after the battle is a matter of some controversy, but the immediate outcome was that Jumonville was injured in the initial attack and then was killed...whether tomahawked by Tanacharison in cold blood or somehow shot by another onlooker with a musket as the injured man sat with Washington is not completely clear. The French responded by attacking and capturing Washington at Fort Necessity in July 1754. However, he was allowed to return with his troops to Virginia. Historian Joseph Ellis concludes that the episode demonstrated Washington's bravery, initiative, inexperience and impetuosity. These events had international consequences; the French accused Washington of assassinating Jumonville, who they claimed was on a diplomatic mission. Both France and Britain were ready to fight for control of the region and both sent troops to North America in 1755; war was formally declared in 1756.

Braddock disaster 1755:

In 1755, Washington was the senior American aide to British General Edward Braddock on the ill-fated Monongahela expedition. This was the largest British expedition to the colonies, and was intended to expel the French from the Ohio Country. The French and their Indian allies ambushed Braddock, who was mortally wounded in the Battle of the Monongahela. After suffering devastating casualties, the British retreated in disarray; however, Washington rode back and forth across the battlefield, rallying the remnants of the British and Virginian forces to an organized retreat.

Commander of Virginia Regiment:

Governor Dinwiddie rewarded Washington in 1755 with a commission as "Colonel of the Virginia Regiment and Commander in Chief of all forces now raised in the defense of His Majesty's Colony" and gave him the task of defending Virginia's frontier. The Virginia Regiment was the first full-time American military unit in the colonies (as opposed to parttime militias and the British regular units). Washington was ordered to "act defensively Forens c recons ruc on o or offensively" as he thought best. In command of a thousand soldiers, Washington was a disciplinarian who emphasized training. He led his men in brutal campaigns against Wash ng on a age 45 the Indians in the west; in 10 months units of his regiment fought 20 battles, and lost a third of its men. Washington's strenuous efforts meant that Virginia's frontier population suffered less than that of other colonies; Ellis concludes "it was his only unqualified success" in the war.

In 1758, Washington participated in the Forbes expedition to capture Fort Duquesne. He was embarrassed by a friendly fire episode in which his unit and another British unit thought the other was the French enemy and opened fire, with 14 dead and 26 wounded in the mishap. Washington was not involved in any other major fighting on the expedition, and the British scored a major strategic victory, gaining control of the Ohio Valley, when the French abandoned the fort. Following the expedition, Washington retired from his Virginia Regiment commission in December, 1758. He did not return to military life until the outbreak of the revolution in 1775.

Lessons learned:

Although Washington never gained the commission in the British army he yearned for, in these years the young man gained valuable military, political, and leadership skills. He closely observed British military tactics, gaining a keen insight into their strengths and weaknesses that proved invaluable during the Revolution. He demonstrated his toughness and courage in the most difficult situations, including disasters and retreats. He developed a command presence—given his size, strength, stamina, and bravery in battle, he appeared to soldiers to be a natural leader and they followed him without question. Washington learned to organize, train, drill, and discipline his companies and regiments. From his observations, readings and conversations with professional officers, he learned the basics of battlefield tactics, as well as a good understanding of problems of organization and logistics. He gained an understanding of overall strategy, especially in locating strategic geographical points. Historian Ron Chernow is of the opinion that his frustrations in dealing with government officials during this conflict led him to advocate the advantages of a strong national government and a vigorous executive agency that could get results; other historians tend to ascribe Washington's position on government to his later American Revolutionary War service.[Note 2] He developed a very negative idea of the value of militia, who seemed too unreliable, too undisciplined, and too short-term compared to regulars. On the other hand, his experience was limited to command of at most 1000 men, and came only in remote frontier conditions that were far removed from the urban situations he faced during the Revolution at Boston, New York, Trenton and Philadelphia.

Between the wars: Mount Vernon (1759–1774) On January 6, 1759, Washington married the wealthy widow Martha Dandridge Custis. Wash ng on ra

y ng h s roops

Surviving letters suggest that he may have been in love at the time with Sally Fairfax, he Ba e o Pr nce on the wife of a friend. Nevertheless, George and Martha made a compatible marriage, be- a cause Martha was intelligent, gracious, and experienced in managing a slave plantation.

Together the two raised her two children from her previous marriage, John Parke Custis and Martha Parke Custis, affectionately called "Jackie" and "Patsy" by the family. Later the Washingtons raised two of Mrs. Washington's grandchildren, Eleanor Parke Custis and George Washington Parke Custis. George and Martha never had any children together — his earlier bout with smallpox in 1751 may have made him sterile.

Washington proudly may not have been able to admit to his own sterility while privately he grieved over not having his own children. The newly wed couple moved to Mount Vernon, near Alexandria, where he took up the life of a planter and political figure.

Washington's marriage to Martha greatly increased his property holdings and social standing, and made him one of Virginia's wealthiest men.

He acquired one-third of the 18,000 acre (73 km²) Custis estate upon his marriage, worth approximately $100,000, and managed the remainder on behalf of Martha's children, for whom he sincerely cared. He frequently bought additional land in his own name and was granted land in what is now West Virginia as a bounty for his service in the French and Indian War. By 1775, Washington had doubled the size of Mount Vernon to 6,500 acres (26 km2), and had increased the slave population there to more than 100 persons. As a respected military hero and large landowner, he held local office and was elected to the Virginia provincial legislature, the House of Burgesses, beginning in 1758.

Washington lived an aristocratic lifestyle—fox hunting was a favorite leisure activity. He also enjoyed going to dances and parties, in addition to the theater, races, and cock fights. Washington also was known to play cards, backgammon, and billiards. Like most Virginia planters, he imported luxuries and other goods from England and paid for them by exporting his tobacco crop. Extravagant spending and the unpredictability of the tobacco market meant that many Virginia planters of Washington's day were losing money. (Thomas Jefferson, for example, would die deeply in debt.)

Washington began to pull himself out of debt by diversifying his business interests and paying more attention to his affairs. By 1766, he had switched Mount Vernon's primary cash crop from tobacco to wheat, a crop that could be sold in America, and diversified operations to include flour milling, fishing, horse breeding, spinning, and weaving. Patsy Custis's death in 1773 from epilepsy enabled Washington to pay off his British creditors, since half of her inheritance passed to him.

A successful planter, he was a leader in the social elite in Virginia. From 1768 to 1775, he invited some 2000 guests to his Mount Vernon estate, mostly those he considered "people of rank." As for people not of high social status, his advice was to "treat them civilly" but "keep them at a proper distance, for they will grow upon familiarity, in proportion as you sink in authority.". In 1769 he became more politically active, presenting the Virginia Assembly with legislation to ban the importation of goods from Great Britain.

In 1754 Lieutenant Governor Dinwiddie had promised land bounties to the soldiers and officers who volunteered to serve during the French and Indian War. Washington tried for years to get the lands promised to him and his men. Governor Norborne Berkeley fi- Dep c on by John Trumbu o nally fulfilled that promise in 1769-1770, with Washington subsequently receiving title to 23,200 acres near where the Kanawha River flows into the Ohio River, in what is now Wash ng on res gn ng h s comwestern West Virginia. m ss on as commander- n-ch e

American Revolution (1775–1787)

Although he expressed opposition to the 1765 Stamp Act, the first direct tax on the colonies, he did not take a leading role in the growing colonial resistance until protests of the Townshend Acts(enacted in 1767) became widespread. In May 1769, Washington introduced a proposal, drafted by his friend George Mason, calling for Virginia to boycott English goods until the Acts were repealed. Parliament repealed the Townshend Acts in 1770. However, Washington regarded the passage of the Intolerable Acts in 1774 as "an Invasion of our Rights and Privileges". In July 1774, he chaired the meeting at which the "Fairfax Resolves" were adopted, which called for the convening of a Continental Congress, among other things. In August, Washington attended the First Virginia Convention, where he was selected as a delegate to the First Continental Congress.

Commander in chief:

After the Battles of Lexington and Concord near Boston in April 1775, the colonies went to war. Washington appeared at the Second Continental Congress in a military uniform, signaling that he was prepared for war. Washington had the prestige, military experience, charisma and military bearing of a military leader and was known as a strong patriot. Virginia, the largest colony, deserved recognition, and New England—where the fighting began—realized it needed Southern support. Washington did not explicitly seek the office of commander and said that he was not equal to it, but there was no serious competition. Congress created the Continental Army on June 14, 1775. Nominated by John Adams of Massachusetts, Washington was then appointed Major General and Commander-in-chief.

Washington had three roles during the war. In 1775-77, and again in 1781 he led his men against the main British forces. Although he lost many of his battles, he never surrendered his army during the war, and he continued to fight the British relentlessly until the war's end. He plotted the overall strategy of the war, in cooperation with Congress.

Second, he was charged with organizing and training the army. He recruited regulars and assigned General von Steuben, a German professional, to train them. He was not in charge of supplies, which were always short, but kept pressuring Congress and the states to provide essentials. Washington had the major voice in selecting generals for command, and in planning their basic strategy. His achievements were mixed, as some of his favorites (like John Sullivan) never mastered the art of command. Eventually he found capable officers, like General Nathaniel Greene, and his chief-of-staff Alexander Hamilton. The American officers never equaled their opponents in tactics and maneuver, and consequently they lost most of the pitched battles. The great successes, at Boston (1776), Saratoga (1777) and Yorktown (1781), came from trapping the British far from base with much larger numbers of troops.

Third, and most important, Washington was the embodiment of armed resistance to the Crown—the representative man of the Revolution. His enormous stature and political skills kept Congress, the army, the French, the militias, and the states all pointed toward a common goal. By voluntarily stepping down and disbanding his army when the war was won, he permanently established the principle of civilian supremacy in military affairs. And yet his constant reiteration of the point that well-disciplined professional soldiers counted for twice as much as erratic amateurs helped overcome the ideological distrust of a standing army.

Victory at Boston:

Washington assumed command of the Continental Army in the field at Cambridge, Massachusetts in July 1775, during the ongoing siege of Boston. Realizing his army's desperate shortage of gunpowder, Washington asked for new sources.

American troops raided British arsenals, including some in the Caribbean, and some manufacturing was attempted. They obtained a barely adequate supply (about 2.5 million pounds) by the end of 1776, mostly from France. Washington reorganized the army during the long standoff, and forced the British to withdraw by putting artillery on Dorchester Heights overlooking the city. The British evacuated Boston in March 1776 and Washington moved his army to New York City.

Although highly disparaging toward most of the Patriots, British newspapers routinely praised Washington's personal character and qualities as a military commander. These articles were bold, as Washington was enemy general who commanded an army in a cause that many Britons believed would ruin the empire.

Defeat at New York City and Fabian tactics:

In August 1776, British General William Howe launched a massive naval and land campaign designed to seize New York. The Continental Army under Washington engaged the enemy for the first time as an army of the newly independent United States at the Battle of Long Island, the largest battle of the entire war. The Amer- Forens c recrea on o Wash ng on a icans were badly outnumbered, many men deserted, and Washington was badly he me o h s rs naugura on as beaten. Subsequently, Washington was forced to retreat across the East River at night. He did so without loss of life or materiel. Washington retreated north from pres den the city to avoid encirclement, enabling Howe to take the offensive and capture Fort Washington on November 16 with high Continental casualties. Washington then retreated across New Jersey; the future of the Continental Army was in doubt due to expiring enlistments and the string of losses. On the night of December 25, 1776, Washington staged a comeback with a surprise attack on a Hessian outpost in western New Jersey. He led his army across the Delaware River to capture nearly 1,000 Hessians in Trenton, New Jersey. Washington followed up his victory at Trenton with another over British regulars at Princeton in early January.

The British retreated back to New York City and its environs, which they held until the peace treaty of 1783. Washington's victories wrecked the British carrot-and-stick strategy of showing overwhelming force then offering generous terms. The Americans would not negotiate for anything short of independence. These victories alone were not enough to ensure ultimate Patriot victory, however, since many soldiers did not reenlist or deserted during the harsh winter. Washington and Congress reorganized the army with increased rewards for staying and punishment for desertion, which raised troop numbers effectively for subsequent battles.

Historians debate whether or not Washington preferred a Fabian strategy to harass the British, with quick shark attacks followed by a retreat so the larger British army could not catch him, or whether he preferred to fight major battles. While his southern commander Greene in 178081 did use Fabian tactics, Washington, only did so in fall 1776 to spring 1777, after losing New York City and seeing much of his army melt away. Trenton and Princeton were Fabian examples. By summer 1777, however, Washington had rebuilt his strength and his confidence and stopped using raids and went for large-scale confrontations, as at Brandywine, Germantown, Monmouth and Yorktown.

1777 campaigns:

In the late summer of 1777 the British under John Burgoyne sent a major invasion army south fromQuebec, with the intention of splitting off rebellious New England. General Howe in New York took his army south to Philadelphia instead of going up the Hudson River to join with Burgoyne near Albany. It was a major strategic mistake for the British, and Washington rushed to Philadelphia to engage Howe, while closely following the action in upstate New York. In pitched battles that were too complex for his relatively inexperienced men, Washington was defeated. At the Battle of Brandywine on September 11, 1777, Howe outmaneuvered Washington, and marched into the American capital at Philadelphia unopposed on September 26. Washington's army unsuccessfully attacked the British garrison at Germantown in early October.

Meanwhile, Burgoyne, out of reach from help from Howe, was trapped and forced to surrender his entire army at Saratoga, New York. It was a major turning point militarily and diplomatically. France responded to Burgoyne's defeat by entering the war, openly allying with America and turning the Revolutionary War into a major worldwide war. Washington's loss of Philadelphia prompted some members of Congress to discuss removing Washington from command. This attempt failed after Washington's supporters rallied behind him.

Valley Forge:

Washington's army of 11,000 went into winter quarters at Valley Forge north of Philadelphia in December 1777. Over the next six months, the deaths in camp numbered in the thousands (the majority being from disease), with historians' death toll estimates ranging from 2000 to 2500 to over 3000 men. The next spring, however, the army emerged from Valley Forge in good order, thanks in part to a full-scale training program supervised by Baron von Steuben, a veteran of the Prussian general staff. The British evacuated Philadelphia to New York in 1778, shadowed

by Washington. Washington attacked them at Monmouth, fighting to an effective draw in one of the war's largest battles. Afterwards, the British continued to head towards New York, and Washington moved his army outside of New York.

Victory at Yorktown:

In the summer of 1779 at Washington's direction, General John Sullivan carried out a scorched earth campaign that destroyed at least 40Iroquois villages throughout present-day central and upstate New York; the Indians were British allies who had been raiding American settlements on the frontier. In July 1780, 5,000 veteran French troops led by General Comte Donatien de Rochambeau arrived at Newport, Rhode Island to aid in the war effort. The Continental Army having been funded by $20,000 in French gold, Washington delivered the final blow to the British in 1781, after a French naval victory allowed American and French forces to trap a British a m V T Y w O m m N Am

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HUNGARY Independence Day St. Lucia - F e b 2 2

Hungary aims to build defence industry

PM Orbán welcomes China’s involvement in Central Europe’s development

Saint Lucia is an island country in the eastern Caribbean Sea on the boundary with the Atlantic Ocean. Part of the Lesser Antilles, it is located north/northeast of the island of Saint Vincent, northwest of Barbados and south of Martinique. It covers a land area of 620 km2 (238 sq mi) and has an estimated population of 173,765 (2009 census). Its capital is Castries. The island nation has been the home of two Nobel laureates, Arthur Lewis and Derek Walcott. It is the nation with the second most such honorees per capita after the Faroe Islands. One of the Windward Islands, it was named after Saint Lucy of Syracuse by the French, the first European colonizers. They signed a treaty with the native Carib peoples in 1660. England took control of the island from 1663 to 1667; in ensuing years, it was at war with France 14 times and rule of the island changed frequently (7 times French and British each). In 1814, the British took definitive control of the island. Because it switched so often between British and French control, Saint Lucia was also known as the "Helen of the West Indies." Saint Lucia has a legal system based on British common law. The judiciary is independent and conducts generally fair public trials. The financial sector has weathered the global financial crisis, but the recession has hurt tourism.

Representative government came about in 1924 (with universal suffrage from 1953). From 1958 to 1962 the island was a member of the Federation of the West Indies. Finally, on February 22, 1979, Saint Lucia became an independent state of the Commonwealth of Nations. The island nation celebrates this every year with a public holiday.

It is also a member of La Francophonie.

History

Europeans first landed on the island in either 1492 or 1502 during Spain's early exploration of the Caribbean.

The island was first settled by the French, who signed a treaty with the local Caribs in 1660. Like the English and Dutch, the French began to develop the island for the cultivation of sugar cane on extensive plantations. After the seven year war between Great Britain and the France-Spanish coalition was brought to an end by the treaty of Paris (10 February 1763) in which the signatories agreed to an exchange of colonial territories. When the British acquired the island trying to use the Caribs as labourers, they imported enslaved Africans as workers. Many of the Caribs died because of lack of immunity to Eurasian diseases, such as smallpox and measles, and as a result of being overworked and maltreated by the Europeans. Caribbean conditions were hard, and many slaves died as well. The British continued to import slaves until they abolished the trade due to the slave and Carib revolutionary wars against them. By that time, people of ethnic African and Carib descent greatly outnumbered those of ethnic European background.

Thereafter Saint Lucia was much contested by the two European powers until the British secured it in 1814. It was part of the British Windward Islands colony. It joined the West Indies Federation (1958–62) when the colony was dissolved. In 1967, Saint Lucia became one of the six members of the West Indies Associated States, with internal self-government. In 1979 it gained full independence under Sir John Compton. Compton, of the conservative United Workers party (UWP), was again prime minister from 1982 to 1996, when he was succeeded by Vaughn Lewis.

Kenny Anthony of the Labour Party was prime minister from 1997 to 2006, when the UWP, again led by Compton, won control of parliament. In May, 2007, after Compton suffered a series of ministrokes, Finance and External Affairs Minister Stephenson King became acting prime minister. He became prime minister after Compton died in September 2007.

People Power Day Philippines - F e b 2 2

The People Power Revolution (also known as the EDSA Revolution and the Philippine Revolution of 1986) was a series of popular nonviolent revolutions and prayerful mass street demonstrations in the Philippines that occurred in 1986, which marked the restoration of the country's democracy. It became a subsequent inspiration for the Revolutions of 1989 that ended communist dictatorships in Eastern Europe. It is sometimes referred to as the Yellow Revolution due to the presence of yellow ribbons during the arrival of Benigno Aquino, Jr.. These protests were the culmination of a long campaign of civil resistance by the people against the 20-year running authoritarian, repressive regime of then president Ferdinand Marcos and made news headlines as "the revolution that surprised the world". The majority of the demonstrations took place at Epifanio de los Santos Avenue, known more commonly by its acronym EDSA, in Quezon City, Metropolitan Manila and involved over 2,000,000 Filipino civilians as well as several political, military, and religious figures, such as Cardinal Jaime Sin. The protests, fueled by a resistance and opposition of years of corrupt governance by Marcos, occurred from February 22–25, 1986, when Marcos fled Malacañang Palace to the Hawaii and conceded to Corazon Aquino as the legitimate President of the Philippines.

(Photo: Mária Krasznai-Nehrebeczky) ( O n l i n e 11 F e b ) “The Hungarian defence industry has not been but will be”, Minister o f D e fe n ce C sa b a Hende stated at th e o p e n i n g o f th e conference “Security Market 2013– 2014” on Tuesday, F e b r u a r y 11 i n Bu d a p e st.

l e ve l .

Csaba Hende said th a t “ to th e s e n si ble limit of possibilities, we have to equip our own a r m e d fo r ce s w i th products of the domestic industry.” The reason is that if we procure from Spain an item of military

sociation of Police Science and the Biztonsagpiac.hu Co., László Garamvölgyi, President of the National Crime Prevention Council stressed that the knowledgeb a se d i n fo co m m u nications society of the 21st cen-

Photo: Barna Burger (Online 13 Feb) China could play a crucial role in the of modernisation Central Europe's infrastructure, Prime Viktor Minister Orbán said in his lecture held at Beijing's Academy of Social Sciences.

The Prime Minister argued that the Central European region’s infrastructure is “not com-

development in its seven-year next budget, China has the opportunity to get involved in such projmodernising ects.

In his address, the Minister Prime for new called strategies to regain Europe’s competitiveness. He said it was important to stabilise the European currency, and

reforms in 2010, which now resulted in a growing economy, reduced state debt, a public finance deficit below 3 percent, the introduction of a flat tax system and record high employment.

He said if Hungary succeeds that will also strengthen Europe.

He also referred to Hungary's good ge-

Background and History

Ferdinand Marcos was elected president in 1965, defeating incumbent Diosdado Macapagal by a very slim margin.

During this time, Marcos was very active in the initiation of public works projects and the intensification of tax collections. Marcos and his government claimed that they "built more roads than all his predecessors combined, and more schools than any previous administration". Amidst charges of vote buying and a fraudulent election, Marcos was reelected in 1969, this time defeating Sergio Osmeña Jr. Marcos's second term for the presidency, however, was marred by allegations of widespread graft and corruption. The increasing disparity of wealth between the very wealthy and the very poor which made up the majority of the country's population led to the rise of crime and civil unrest around the country. These factors, including the formation of the New People's Army, an armed revolt that called for the redistribution of wealth and land reform in the Philippines, and a bloody Muslim separatist movement in the southern island of Mindanao led by the Moro National Liberation Front, contributed to the rapid rise of civil discontent and unrest in the Philippines. Marcos was barred from running for a third term as president in 1973, so on September 23, 1972, by virtue of a presidential proclamation (No. 1081), he declared martial law, citing rising civil disobedience as justification. Through this decree, Marcos seized emergency powers giving him full control of the Philippine military and the authority to suppress the freedom of speech, the freedom of the press, and many other civil liberties. Marcos also dissolved the Philippine Congress and shut down media establishments critical of the Marcos government. Marcos also ordered the immediate arrest of his political opponents and critics. Among those arrested were Senate President Jovito Salonga, Senator Jose Diokno, and Senator Benigno Aquino Jr., the staunchest of his critics and the man who was groomed by the opposition to beat Marcos in the 1973 elections. Marcos would also abolish the Philippines' 1935 constitution and replace it with a parliamentary-style government (the Batasang Pambansa) along with a new constitution written by him. With practically all of his political opponents arrested and in exile, Marcos' pre-emptive declaration of martial law in 1972, and the ratification of his new constitution through political coercion, enabled him to effectively legitimize his government and hold on to power for another 14 years beyond his first two terms as president. At a period when the Cold War was still a political reality, Marcos's dictatorship ensured the political support of the United States by Marcos' promise to stamp out communism in the Philippines and by assuring the United States of its continued use of military and naval bases in the Philippines. Throughout his presidency, Ferdinand Marcos had set up a regime in the Philippines that would give him ultimate power over the military and the national treasury, as well as set up a personality cult. Following his declaration of martial law on September 21, 1972, Marcos immediately began to embezzle money from the government and order the military to kill any political competition against him. As a result, the Philippine economy began to tumble greatly, and the nation lost its competitive edge in Southeast Asia. He also ordered many stores, hotels, schools, universities, and other public places to place his Presidential picture prominently or otherwise their facilities were shut down. The media frequently "eulogized" Marcos through public service announcements and news reports. Even billboard advertisements across the country were replaced with his propaganda messages on justifying his regime's actions. Marcos also ordered the shutdown and takeovers of businesses in the country, then put these businesses either under the government control, or under the control of Marcos cronies. Several groups of people, however, even within the government, conspired throughout the term of the Marcos regime to overthrow him. They were led by the popular public figure, incarcerated opposition senator Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino Jr, who Marcos accused as leaning to a left-wing solution.

While gaining popularity amongst the Filipino people for his stance against Marcos, Aquino was eventually forced to seek exile in the United States for health and safety reasons. However, in 1983, Ninoy Aquino announced of his plans to return to the Philippines as a challenge to Marcos's government. Within the military and the police, disillusioned junior officers silently conveyed their grievances. This led to the formation of the Reform the Armed Forces Movement (RAM), Soldier of the Filipino People (SFP), and Young Officers Union (YOU). RAM which was lead by graduates of the Philippine Military Academy Class of '71, Lt. Col. Gringo Honasan, Lt. Col. Victor Batac, and Lt. Col. Eduardo Kapunan, found an ally and mentor in the Defense Secretary Juan Ponce Enrile.

World Thinking Day Worldwide - F e b 2 2

February 22 is World Thinking Day or just Thinking Day for Girl Guides and Girl Scouts around the world. It is a day to think about the meaning of Guiding and Scouting and about Scouts and Guides in all the countries of the world. Many troops use it as an opportunity to study about other countries and cultures. Donations are collected for the Thinking Day Fund which supports projects to help Guides and Scouts around the world. February 22 was chosen as it was the birthday of Scouting founder Robert Baden-Powell and of Olave Baden-Powell, his wife and World Chief Guide.

On the nearest weekend to World Thinking Day, Girl Guides and Girl Scouts from across the world come together on ScoutLink to chat with each other and celebrate their Founders. Others are involved with Thinking Day on the Air (TDOTA) using amateur radio. Some World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts member organizations use it as an opportunity to do projects with their 'twin' organization, such as Canada and Dominica. One tradition is that every Scout or Guide, ex-Scout or ex-Guide, places a candle in their window that night at dusk:- "This is my little Guiding Light, I'm going to let it shine." It is also a tradition to send letters or postcards to other Scout and Guides before Thinking Day. In 2009, 2010 and 2011 a postcard campaign was organized by the Ring deutscher Pfadfinderverbände, Ring Deutscher Pfadfinderinnenverbände, Lëtzebuerger Guiden a Scouten, Swiss Guide and Scout Movement, Pfadfinder und Pfadfinderinnen Liechtensteins and Pfadfinder und Pfadfinderinnen Österreichs.

How it started

"Thinking Day was first created in 1926 at the fourth Girl Guide/Girl Scout International Conference held at Girl Scouts of the USA's Camp Edith Macy (now called Edith Macy Conference Center). Conference attendees decided that there should be a special day for Girl Scouts and Girl Guides from around the world to "think" of each other and give thanks and appreciation to their "sister" Girl Scouts. The delegates chose February 22 as the date for Thinking Day because it was the mutual birthday of Lord Baden-Powell, founder of the Boy Scout movement, and his wife, Olave, who served as World Chief Guide." "To emphasize the global aspect of Thinking Day, members at the 30th World Conference, held in Ireland in 1999, changed the name from Thinking Day to World Thinking Day."

Hungary and Turkmenistan sign agreement on economic cooperation

(Photo: Mária Krasznai-Nehrebeczky) He told the audience that earlier 35-40,000 people h a d w o r ke d i n th e fi e l d o f H u n g a r i a n d e f e n c e i n d u s t r y, which had designed inventions of international renown, and had had significant export incomes fr o m th e i r sa l e o n the world market.

In consequence of the 1989 change of regime, howe v e r, t h e H u n g a r ian defence i n d u s t r y, w i t h i t s successful companies, fell apart, and the pool of e xp e r ts sca tte r e d .

Csaba Hende said that the last four years were also about rebuilding the defence industry step by ste p . Th e M i n i ste r pointed out that during the last four years, four defence industry companies of the Ministry of Defence were able to co m e u p w i th se veral products that have a promising future. For example, they include drones (unm a n n e d a e r i a l ve hicles, U AV s ) , water purification equipment and a recently introduced mobile laboratory with the highest security

e q u i p m e n t , l e t ’s sa y a m o r ta r co sting 100 euros, it will create jobs and tax revenues for the Spanish i n d u s t r y. A t t h e same time, if the sa m e m o r ta r co sting 100 euros were manufact u r e d i n H u n g a r y, 50 euros of the cost would immediately return to the Hungarian budget. “That is why they try to choose the domestic opportunity whenever possible”, he added.

The Minister pointed out that security is the most important value that the state can give to its citizens. He stressed that in order to be able to guarantee security, it is important to have all those involved coopera te , i n cl u d i n g so l diers, policemen, vigilantes, the s t a ff s o f t h e d i s aster management directorate, th e p r i so n se r vi ce and the defence i n d u str y.

Speaking at the conference co-organized by the Federation of Management and Scientific Associations (GTTSZ), th e H u n g a r i a n As-

tu r y p l a ce s a ve r y high value on cr i m e p r e ve n ti o n .

András Csóti, Director-General of the National Headquarters of the Hungarian Prison Service pointed out that last year there had not been any successful prisoner escapes in Hungarian prison service institutions. He said it was an important result that at the end of last year the National Assembly passed a law which would enter into force next January and would provide a new basis for the operation of prison service. He also noted that they are planning to create more than 3,000 new prison spaces in the next two years, so they can solve the biggest problem of Hungarian prison service, which is overcrowding.

Fu r th e r m o r e , th e y are already negotiating about the establishment of a distance trial system, and they are also planning to set up a system of electronic remote surveillance, And r á s C só ti sa i d .

Photo: Barna Burger pleted”, with important links missing in the North-South direction, or a lack of modern railway connection between Budapest and Warsaw.

Since the European Union will earmark much less for Central European infras t r u c t u r a l

urged deeper integration between Eurozone member states, to this end, he proposed the introduction of a banking and budgetary union.

He also stressed that the region regarded the crisis as an opportunity, in light of which Hungary started to seek

ographical position, its skilled workforce and governmental achievements, and said that if the government can further reduce taxes and ensure the cheapest energy in Europe, the country could have one of the most competitive economies on the continent.

Hungary contributes HUF 280 million to European Water Polo Championships (Online 12 Feb) The Hungarian Government is contributing direct funding of 280 million forints (EUR 907,000) to the 2014 European Water Polo Championships, Minister of State for Sports István Simicskó said at a press conference on Wednesday.

The championship starts in Budapest on 13 July.

Mr. Simicskó said that hosting this prestigious event shows once again that Hungary is fully capable of organising internationallevel competitions

and expressed his hope that the European Championships will satisfy fans of the sport.

Dénes Kemény, Chairman of the Hungarian Water Polo Federation said the funding was provided in addition to the one million euros received for marketing rights, which was obtained through a stateguaranteed loan. He said the renovation of the main venue, the Alfréd Hajós National Swimming Stadium, will start next month.

Co-chairman of the organising commit-

tee György Beck dispelled rumours that the best seats had already been sold, adding that ticket sales are proceeding according to a pre-determined schedule and that the organisers are also considering adding two mobile grandstands, should there be a need for them.

At the press conference, the organisers unveiled the EC’s mascot – a yellow frog – and announced that the championship’s official website is now on line.

Hungarian ambulance service gets modern command centre

H unga r ia n v e hic le m a nuf a c t ur ing s e c t or pr oduc e s 1 0 pe r c e nt of GD P

Photo: Gergely Botár (Online 14 Feb) An agreement on economic cooperation was signed between Hungary a n d Tu r k m e n i s t a n

by State Secretary for Foreign A ff a i r s a n d E x t e r nal Economic RePéter lations Szijjártó and Turkmen Deputy ForMinister eign Berdi Matiyev in Bu d a p e st.

At a press briefing following the signc e r e m o n y, ing Secretary State said Szijjártó building more dybusiness namic ties with Central Asia is crucial in Hungary's Opening towards the Ea s t Po l i cy.

Tu r k m e n i s t a n o ffers ample opporfor tunity busiHungarian nesses, he said, the highlighting se cto r s o f a g r i cu l ture or food ind u s t r y. H e a d d e d that further agreeare exments

to be pected signed in June, during a visit to Hungary by the Pr e si d e n t o f Tu r kmenistan, which w i l l e n su r e i n ve stprotection ment eliminate and d o u b l e ta xa ti o n .

According to the pact, a joint economic committee be estabwill lished, which will have its first session in autumn 2014. are onThere going negotiations on exchange programmes as well, within the frameof which work Hungarian universities will host 20 students as of September 2014, the State Secreta r y a n n o u n c e d .

He also stressed Turkmenistan may play an important r o l e i n E u r o p e ’s security energy since the county is holding talks w i th th e Eu r o p e a n on Commission

the construction of a gas pipeline.

Foreign Deputy Berdi Minister Matiyev said that a business forum will be organised on the sidelines of upcoming the p r e si d e n ti a l v i si t.

Tu r k m e n i s t a n h a s t h e w o r l d ’s t h i r d fo u r th l a r g e s t n a tural gas reserve and its government wishes to modernise its oil and gas industries in which Hungarian firms will be w e l c o m e to g e t i n v o l ve d . is Tu r k m e n i s t a n third H u n g a r y ’s important most trading partner in the Central Asian region. A number of Hungarian companies are sucin the cessful c o u n t r y, f o r i n Richter stance, has leading posit i o n i n t h e Tu r k e n m pharmaceutical i n d u str y.

The Defence Policy Directors of the Visegrad states (V4) met in Budapest

(Photo: Tünde Rácz) ( On l i n e 1 2 Fe b ) The Defence Policy Directors of the Vi s e g r a d sta te s ( V4 ) m e t i n Budapest on 1011 F e b r u a r y 2 0 1 4 for the second time under the Hungarian V4 p r e si d e n c y.

The objective of the meeting was

The head of the Hungarian Deleg a t i o n , M r. P é t e r Siklósi, Assistant State Secretary for Defence Policy and Planning of the Ministry of Defence hosted M r. J a n H a v r a n e k C z e c h a n d M r.

Marcin Kazmierski Polish Defence

the Directors agreed on the m a i n m e ssa g e s o f the two documents which could be finalized on the meeting of D e fe n ce M i n i ste r s i n M a r ch .

They also touched upon the Memorandum of Understanding on the

(Photo: Tünde Rácz) to prepare the V4 Defence Ministerial to be organized on 13-14 M a r c h i n Vi s e g rad, discussing the documents serving the strengthening of V4 d e fe n ce p o l i cy a n d d e fe n ce p l a n ning cooperation, the annual V4 exe r c i se s a s w e l l a s topical issues of the V4 EU Battlegroup (BG) to be o n s ta n d - b y i n th e fi r st h a l f o f 2 0 1 6 .

Policy Directors a n d M r. D a l i b o r Pavolka, Head of Defence Policy D e p a r tm e n t o f th e Sl o va k M o D .

Based on the decision of V4 Heads of Government the participants discussed t h e L o n g Te r m Vi sion of V4 defe n ce co o p e r a ti o n a n d l a i d d o w n th e fr a m e w o r k o f a V4 defence planning cooperation. During the meeting

establishment of the V4 EU BG, the tasks related to the setup of the BG a s w e l l a s th e details of the annual V4 military e xe r ci s e s d e ci d e d by the Heads of Government. The two-day event was concluded by a discussion about the recent issues related to defence policy a n d o p e r a ti o n s .

The Hungarian Foreign Ministry continues its cooperation with NGOs

Photo: Máté Nagy (Online 11 Feb) Péter Wintermantel, Deputy State Secretary in charge of Global Affairs, had a meeting with the representatives of Hungarian NGOs involved in international development cooperation and humanitarian aid on February 11, 2014. The Hungarian Deputy State Secretary stressed that NGOs played a vital role in the implementation of Hungary’s development policy. He added that the Foreign Ministry advocates continuous dialogue with NGOs so as to make them successful in the area of international develop-

ment.country, for instance, Richter has leading position in the Turkmen pharmaceutical industry.

The NGOs were briefed about the role of the European Union – and of Hungary as a member state – in the elaboration of the post2015 framework for development. The UN working group for sustainable development goals (SDGs), which is co-chaired by Hungary, will be submitting a proposal for the UN General Assembly in September. As regards the European Year of Development (EYD) in 2015, the Foreign Ministry will be consulting

with its NGO partner organizations in working out the national framework for the EYD 2015.

Mr Wintermantel also informed his partners about the plan of the Hungarian government to host a regional meeting, in 2015, as a preparation for the World Humanitarian Summit, which will be held in Istanbul in 2016. The Deputy State Secretary in charge of Global Affairs invited the Hungarian NGOs involved in humanitarian aid projects to take an active role in preparing that regional meeting.

Photo: Károly Árvai the last three years bulances. The de(Online 13 Feb) The Hungarian am- of the previous ad- velopment of the also inbulance service will ministration the am- system

Photo: Ministry for National Economy ( O n l i n e 11 F e b ) H u n g a r y ’s v e h i c l e manufacturing industry produced some EUR 18bn l a s t y e a r, w h i c h amount constitutes 18 percent o f to ta l H u n g a r i a n manufacturing industry output, 10 percent of Hung a r y ’s G D P a n d

The Minister str e sse d th a t o ve r the past year there was a positive U-turn not only in the Hungarian economy a s w h o l e , b u t a l so within the vehicle manufacturing sector. In Septemb e r, O c t o b e r a n d November 2013

a te 9 5 0 n e w j o b s.

As a result of the new investment p r o j e ct, e a ch ye a r 17 million tires will be produced a t th e n e w fa ci l i ty which is planned to be completed in summer 2014 and reach full capacity production by 2015. With this

Photo: Károly Árvai service cludes the modernbe much more effi- bulance of 60 cient in the future, didn’t get any new ization thanks to the new cars, in the past ambulance stations integrated command three years 120 new as the construction centre software, ambulances have of 22 new ones.

State Minister for been put into serv- The entire project is financed by the EuHealth Miklós Szóc- ice. ska said at a press At the press confer- ropean Union at a conference on ence five new am- cost of 10.9 billion Tuesday. The new bulance cars have forints (EUR 35 milcommand software also been shown lion). The command is currently being in- which are already software alone will stalled and opera- compatible with the cost 1.92 billion tors receive their new command soft- forints (EUR 6.17 ware and which are million). training.

Photo: Ministry for National Economy Mr Szócska re- just the first batch of H a n - minded that while in a total 200 new am18 percent of total v e h i c l e m a n u f a c - p r o j e c t , Hungarian e x - t u r i n g o u t p u t w a s k o o k ’s i n v e s t m e n t p o r ts, M i n i ste r fo r u p b y 2 7 p e r c e n t , i n H u n g a r y t o t a l s Hungarian diaspora model is N a ti o n a l Eco n o m y 2 8 p e r ce n t a n d 2 1 m o r e t h a n E U R outstanding M i h á l y Va r g a s a i d p e r c e n t y e a r - o n - 8 8 0 m i l l i o n . T h e n o w a - (Online 11 Feb) relations with dias- right track. She a t t h e c e r e m o n y year, respectively, c o m p a n y fo r p r e se n ti n g th e w h i l e f o r t h e e n - d a y s h a s m o r e Zsuzsanna Répás, pora compatriots is added that the Hun“ Aw a r d f o r S u c - t i r e y e a r o f 2 0 1 3 t h a n 2 6 0 0 e m - Deputy State Secre- a vital essence of garian government in t h e tary for Hungarian cultural links, since is always open to cessful E n t e r - t h e s e c t o r ’s p e r - p l o y e e s C o m m u n i t i e s these relationships similarly useful exi m - co u n tr y. prises”, the first formance which change of experiby 2 0 T h e “ S M E o f t h e Abroad of the Min- are such event this proved M a g - istry of Public Ad- strengthen their al- ences. percent.

Mihály Month”, ye a r. and legiance to the Both sides exMihály Va r g a Va r g a s t a t e d t h e y a r m e t F i n o m ö n - ministration the pressed their willp o i n t e d o u t t h a t f a c t t h a t c u r r e n t l y tö d e Bt, h a s b e e n Justice has met with motherland ingness to w i n n e r s o f t h i s t h e r e a r e 7 0 0 v e - a m a n u f a c t u r i n g Ibrahim Makolli, the most.

Répás dis- cooperate further, m o n t h ’s “ I n v e s t o r h i c l e m a n u f a c t u r - sector supplier for Minister for Dias- Ms of the M o n t h ” , e r s i n t h e c o u n t r y castings products, pora Affairs of the cussed the current taking into account a n n u a l Republic of Kosovo. state of the Hungar- the good relations “SME of t h e shows how crucial w i t h Makolli ian diaspora briefly, between the two Month” and “Start- t h e s e c o m p a n i e s t u r n o v e r o f s o m e Ibrahim HUF 3bn a n d spoke of at the as the most impor- countries. They reu p o f t h e M o n t h ” a r e fo r H u n g a r y. awards were re- The M i n i s t e r c l i e n t s s u c h a s meeting that he tant steps of the marked that they l a t e d t o v e h i c l e a d d e d t h a t i n N o - m a r k e t - l e a d i n g considers the Hun- Hungarian govern- are still open to diaspora ment to conserve strengthen these m a n u f a c t u r i n g . v e m b e r 2 0 1 2 t h e c o m p o n e n t m a k e r garian Th e y a r e H a n ko o k G o v e r n m e n t o f K n o r r - B r e m s e . model as an exem- the strength of rela- ties both on ecoTi r e , a c o m p a n y H u n g a r y c o n - T h e c o m p a n y e x - plary one and this is tions between mem- nomic and cultural w h i c h h a s p i c k e d cluded a Strategic p o r t s m o r e t h a n why it is particularly bers of the diaspora levels. Regarding all Hungary as the lo- P a r t n e r s h i p 8 5 p e r c e n t o f i t s important for him with fellow country- of these, Ibrahim that he could get in- men. The positive Makolli invited Ms cation for its first Agreement w i t h p r o d u cts. factory outside Hankook Ti r e , Aw a r d e e o f t h e formation on the feedback from the Répás to a personal A s i a w h e r e m o r e w i n n e r o f t h e “ I n - “ S t a r t - u p o f t h e matter personally. diaspora indicates exchange of experiN o w He emphasized that that the work what ences in Kosovo. than 12 million vestor of the Month”, tires are produced M o n t h ” a w a r d i n Te c h n o l o g i e s , r e - the maintaining of was started it is on each year; Mag- January 2014. In searches and desuch yarmet Finomön- the history of velops H unga r y la unc he s pr ogr a m t o pr otöde Bt, a n H a n k o o k Ti r e t h e i n n o v a t i v e t h e r a m ot e r e a ding a m ong t he y oung enterprise w i t h ye a r 2 0 1 3 w a s a n - p e u t i c a l a n d m e d will read books to a p p l i a n c e s (Online 11 Feb) The tions and NGOs. annual turnover of o t h e r milestone ical is Mr. Halász said dif- underprivileged chile q u i p m e n t Government s o m e H U F 3 b n a s a d e ci si o n w a s a n d a n d 2 0 0 e m p l o y - m a d e t o l a u n c h a w i t h w h i c h u s e r s spending 120 mil- ferent aspects of the dren and teachers i n c r e a s e lion forints (EUR program will pro- will receive help ees; and Now development proj- may Technologies Ltd., e c t o f E U R 3 1 3 their quality of life 390,000) on pro- mote classical and with methodology. h e a l t h c a r e grammes and ten- contemporary litera- The Petőfi Literary the d e v e l o p e r, m i l l i o n (HUF and among others, of 97bn) in R á - w o r k e r s a n d p r o - ders designed to ture, encourage un- Museum (PIM) is young d e r p r i v i l e g e d often involved in m a y encourage an innovative calmás. This new fessionals wheelchair c o n - p r o d u c t i o n h a l l i s o b t a i n i n t e l l i g e n t people to read, Min- children to read, drives to promote ister of State for and may be a reading, including a tr o l l e r m o d u l e . e x p e c t e d t o c r e - d e vi ce s.

Culture János means of nurturing recent book exHalász said at a young talents. change and charity Out s t a nding pe r f or m a nc e by the press conference on One such initiative book collection t our is m s e c t or in 2 0 1 3 Thursday. encourages children drive, in addition to ( On l i n e 1 0 Fe b ) As a r e su l t o f p o s - p l o y e r s p r o v i d i n g He said that read- from the 8-16 year which will announce According to data itive figures con- fringe b e n e f i t s ing, and through it, age group to share a tender for threecompiled and pub- c e r n i n g d o m e s t i c t h r o u g h t h e s y s - literacy, are con- their reading experi- minute adverts by l i sh e d b y th e H u n - tourists, which ad- t e m t o t a l s s o m e tributing factors to ence via the Inter- young people to growth net, e.g. social promote reading garian C e n t r a l v a n c e d m o n t h f o r 2 3 t h o u s a n d . T h e economic S t a t i s t i c a l O ff i c e m o n th , th e w e i g h t M i n i s t r y f o r N a - but reading can only media, blogs or file and will also open a ( KSH ) , 8 .8 m i l l i o n a n d g r o w t h o f t h e t i o n a l E c o n o m y become popular for sharing. The Hun- t h o u g h t - p r o v o k i n g g u e sts sp e n t 2 2 .8 s e c t o r r e a c h e d w e l co m e s th e fa ct the young genera- garian Reading As- exhibition entitled million t o u r i s m t h a t o f f o r e i g n t h a t o w i n g t o t h e tion if it offers them sociation is also “Women who read experiences. launching several are dangerous?” on n i g h t s a t H u n g a r - t o u r i s t s i n 2 0 1 3 . d e c i s i o n o f e m - real ian c o m m e r c i a l L a st ye a r, 4 .5 m i l - p l o y e r s u n t i l D e - The program will be programmes, within 1 April. a c c o m m o d a t i o n s lion domestic cember 2 0 1 3 a joint effort by gov- the framework of volunteers in 2013. Parallel tourists s p e n t a l m o s t 9 0 8 t h o u - ernment organisa- which to the almost 5 10.9 tourism sand employees p e r c e n t i n c r e a s e n i g h ts i n H u n g a r y, c o u l d use the Gr owing r e c ognit ion for the D is a s o f t h e n u m b e r o f a f t e r b o t h i n d i c a - recreation card all t e r M a na ge m e nt A ut hor it y guests a n d t o r s h a v e g a i n e d o ve r th e co u n tr y. new government, it According to György tourism n i g h t s , so m e 5 p e r ce n t.

C u r r e n t l y, t h e (Online 10 Feb) r e v e n u e s o f c o m - T h e o u t s t a n d i n g amount avaialable Recognition of the was necessary to Bakondi, the results m e r ci a l a cco m m o - i n c r e a s e r e g a r d - f o r s e r v i c e s i s Disaster Manage- improve the Disas- of surveys show d a t i o n s w e r e a l s o i n g t h e d o m e s t i c H U F 2 8 b n o n t h e ment Authority has ter Management Au- that these achieveand to ments are also acup by 10 percent tourism s e c t o r C a r d s , o f w h i c h increased due to the thority by l a st ye a r. h a s i n d i s p u t a b l y s o m e H U F 4 . 5 b n fact that those in provide the neces- knowledged A s a s i g n o f t h e b e e n t h e c o n s e - w i l l e x p i r e o n 3 1 trouble regularly ex- sary legal environ- society, thanks to perience the help ment for it to carry which recognition of improved prof- quence of SZÉP May 2013. the Disaster Mani t a b i l i t y o f e n t e r - C a r d s . C o m p a r e d I n 2 0 1 3 , 4 . 4 m i l - provided by these out its duties. prises active in to HUF 44bn in lion f o r e i g n professionals – Par- The Authority was agement Authority State also able to partici- has increased sigt h i s s e c t o r a v e r - 2 0 1 2 , t h e C a r d s g u e s t s s p e n t 11 . 9 liamentary Károly pate in international nificantly and growage prices edged boosted the rev- million t o u r i s m Secretary numbers of u p b y 3 p e r c e n t i n e n u e s o f e n t e r - n i g h ts a t co m m e r- Kontrát said at the cooperation to avert ing 2013, while gross prises in t h e c i a l a c c o m m o d a - Disaster Manage- and manage disas- volunteers help their r e v e n u e s p e r a va - t o u r i s m s e c t o r b y ti o n s. Th e n u m b e r ment Authority's an- ters – said Director work. This was esassessment General György pecially proven durialable r o o m some HUF 68bn in o f f o r e i g n g u e s t s nual Bakondi. ing the Danube ( r e v PA R ) s o a r e d 2 0 1 3 , signalling and r e l a t e d meeting. by some 10 per- 54 percent in- tourism n i g h t s Recognition of the He added that by flood last summer. ce n t. c r e a s e i n u s a g e . w a s a l s o u p b y Disaster Manage- 2013, a steady and Emphasis was also As fa r a s th e n u m - L a s t y e a r, t h e s o m e 5 p e r c e n t . ment Authority has balanced organisa- put on public inforb e r o f g u e s t s a n d n u m b e r o f c o n - In l i g h t o f p r e l i m i - increased due to the tional structure had mation: a new moestablished bile application was to u r i sm n i g h ts a r e t r a c t s c o n c l u d e d n a r y d a t a , o n t h e fact that those in been concerned, al- with S Z É P b a s i s o f t h e n u m - trouble regularly ex- that helped to in- developed that has though 2012 was ( S z é c h e n y i ber of t o u r i s m perience the help crease public safety already been downalready a year of Recreation) Card nights, m o s t provided by these and to improve pre- loaded by 55 thouactivities. sand users. record results, service p o i n t s g u e s t s c a m e f r o m professionals – Par- ventive State With the help of the Among the serious every i n d i c a t o r r e a c h e d 5 2 t h o u - G e r m a n y, A u s t r i a liamentary Secretary Károly latter, the number of disasters of last could be further sand, and t h e a n d Ita l y.

Kontrát said at the fires decreased by year, György i m p r o ve d i n 2 0 1 3 . n u m b e r o f e m Disaster Manage- fifty per cent com- Bakondi mentioned Authority's an- pared to the year the summer flood B uda pe s t m ilit a r y hos pita l r e c e iv e s ment nual assessment before. According to and the extreme t r a um a s im ula tion unit meeting. the Director Gen- weather in March. In to improve the trauma The Ministry of Inte- eral, the work of the connection with the (Online 11 Feb) On medical sector.

Thursday, the Bu- Mr. Hende said that unit and reduce waiting rior's Parliamentary Disaster Manage- latter, he added that State Secretary em- ment Authority was although 57 settledapest Military Hospi- when the current ad- times. tal opened a clinical ministration took over Minister of State for phasised that peo- characterised by ments and 153 Miklós ple in Hungary can personal and organ- roads were blocked simulation unit for the from the Socialist-Lib- Healthcare training of medical per- eral government, the Szócska said that the feel more secure isational stability by the snow, everysonnel, where they can hospital inherited the hospital had under- today than in 2010. that also helped to thing was back to learn treating injuries entire spectrum of taken a pioneering role He added than in strengthen people's normal within three ranging from everyday healthcare and military by hosting to the simu- 2010, following the positive approach days. trauma to the most ex- problems, exacerbated lation unit, which will inauguration of the towards Hungary. treme battlefield by corruption and a benefit the entire Hunconfused hierarchy. He garian healthcare syswounds.

At the opening of the added that while the tem. He also said that H unga r y we lc om e s t a lk s on r e unifinew unit, Defence Min- most critical problems the current Governc a t ion in C y pr us since been ment inherited a medister Csaba Hende have said that the unit will solved, there is still a ical training system (Online 14 Feb) The Min- continuing the negotia- taking part in the UN peacekeeping mission enable the training of lot of work to be done. that has been severely istry of Foreign Affairs of tions on reunification. doctors and nurses, He said the number of compromised by the Hungary welcomes that Hungary is committed to (UNFICYP) since 1993.

Anastasiades, promoting a comprehen- Hungary supports the efwho can thereafter be patients treated by the previous administra- Nicos deployed in war zones, hospital has increased tion. Mr. Szócska said President of the Republic sive, enduring and fair forts aimed at developing Cyprus, and Derviş solution in Cyprus on the the direct relations bedisaster areas or for- by 17 percent while the the new unit had been of Eroğlu, leader of the basis of the UN Security tween the Greek Cypriot eign missions while at financial deficit has established at a cost of Turkish Cypriot commu- Council decisions and and the Turkish Cypriot the same time serving been almost halved. 62 million forints (EUR nity, have agreed on the the EU norms. This is communities. the training needs of He also said the up- 202,000). joint declaration about why Hungary has been the entire Hungarian coming tasks would be