71 Issue | Zarb-e-Jamhoor e-Newspaper | 13-19 May, 2012 by Worldwide Events WWE

Independence Day Paraguay - M a y 1 5

Paraguay officially the Republic of Paraguay (Spanish: República del Paraguay, Guaraní: Tetã Paraguái), is a landlocked country in South America. It is bordered by Argentina to the south and southwest, Brazil to the east and northeast, and Bolivia to the northwest. Paraguay lies on both banks of the Paraguay River, which runs through the center of the country from north to south. Due to its central location in South America, it is sometimes referred to as Corazón de América, or the Heart of America. The Guaraní have been living in Paraguay since prior to the arrival of Europeans in the 16th century, when Paraguay became part of the Spanish colonial empire. Following independence from Spain in 1811 Paraguay was ruled by a series of dictators who followed isolationist and protectionist policies. This development was truncated by the disastrous Paraguayan War(1864–1870) in which the country lost 60% to 70% of its population. During a large part of the 20th century the country was ruled by Alfredo Stroessner as one of the longest lived South American military dictatorships. In 1989 Stroessner was toppled and free elections celebrated in 1993. In 1994 Paraguay joined Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay to found Mercosur. As of 2009 the population was estimated at 6.3 million. The capital and largest city isAsunción. The official languages are Spanish and Guaraní, both being widely spoken in the country, with around 92% of the general population speaking Spanish and 98% speaking Guaraní. Most of the population are mestizos. In 2010, Paraguay's economy grew by 14.5%, the largest economic expansion in Latin America and the third fastest in the world, only after Qatar and Singapore. By 2011, economic growth slowed but remained healthy, at 6.4%.

Etymology

The name of the river, Paraguay, is thought to come from Guaraní para, "of many varieties", andgua, "riverine". There is no conclusive explanation for the origin of the name Paraguay, however. The most common interpretations that have been suggested include: "River which originates a sea" 1. The Spanish officer and scientist Félix de Azara suggests two versions: water from the Payaguas 2. (Payaguá-and Payagua-i), referring to natural Payaguas living on the coasts of the river, and the other was due to the name of a great chief called "Paraguaio." The French-Argentine historian and writer Paul Groussac argued that it meant "river that flows through 3. the sea (Pantanal)." The ex-president and Paraguayan politician, Juan Natalicio Gonzalez said it meant "river of the habi4. tants of the sea." fray Antonio Ruiz de Montoya said that it meant "river crowned." 5.

History Pre-Columbian society in the wooded, fertile region which is now Paraguay consisted of seminomadic tribes, who

were recognized for their fierce warrior traditions. These indigenous tribes were members of five distinct language families, and 17 separate ethnolinguistic groups remain today. Europeans first arrived in the area in the early sixteenth century, and the settlement of Asunción was founded on 15 August 1537, by the Spanish explorer Juan de Salazar de Espinosa. The city eventually became the center of a Spanish colonial province, as well as the primary site of the Jesuit missions and settlements in South America in the eighteenth century. Jesuit Reductions were founded, and flourished in eastern Paraguay for about 150 years, until the expulsion of the Jesuits by the Spanish crown in 1767. Paraguay overthrew the local Spanish administration on 15 May 1811. Paraguay's first ruler was the dictator Jose Gaspar Rodriguez de Francia. He ruled Paraguay from 1814, until his death in 1840, with very little outside contact or influence, creating a utopian society based on Rousseau's Social Contract. After his death, Paraguay went through the very brief ownership of various military officers under a new junta, until the secretary Carlos Antonio Lopez, Francia's nephew, declared himself dictator. Lopez modernized Paraguay, and opened it up to foreign commerce. The relationship with Buenos Aires was limited to a non-aggression pact; Paraguayan independence from Argentina was declared in 1842. After Lopez's death, power was transferred to his eldest son, Francisco Solano López in 1862. Lopez's expansionist aims lead to the Paraguayan War in 1864. Paraguay fought against Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay, and was defeated in 1870 after five years of the bloodiest war in South America. According to William D. Rubinstein, "The normal estimate is that of a Paraguayan population of somewhere between 450,000 and 900,000, only 220,000 survived the war, of whom only 28,000 were adult males." Paraguay also suffered extensive territorial losses to Brazil and Argentina. The Chaco War was fought with Bolivia in the 1930s, and Bolivia was defeated. Paraguay re-established sovereignty over the region called the Chaco, but forfeited additional territorial gains as a price of peace. The official narrative of Paraguay's history is fraught with disputes among historians, educators and politicians. The "authentic" version of historical events, wars in particular, varies depending on whether it was written in Paraguay, Argentina, Uruguay, Brazil, Bolivia, Europe, or North America. Both the Colorado Party and Liberal Party maintain distinct official versions of Paraguayan history. During the pillaging of Asuncion (Saqueo de Asunción) in 1869, the Brazilian Imperial Army ransacked and relocated the Paraguayan National Archives to Rio de Janeiro where they have been kept in secrecy, making Paraguayan history in the Colonial and early National periods difficult to study. Between 1904 and 1954, Paraguay had thirty-one presidents, most of whom were removed from office by force. From 1954 to 1989, the country was ruled by Alfredo Stroessner and the Colorado party. The dictator oversaw an era of economic expansion, but at the cost of a poor human rights and environmental record (see "Political History"). Torture and death for political opponents was routine. After his overthrow, the Colorado continued to dominate national politics until 2008. Leftist former bishop Fernando Lugo achieved a historic victory in Paraguay's presidential election of April 2008, defeating the ruling party candidate, and ending 61 years of conservative rule. Lugo won with nearly 41% of the vote, compared to almost 31% for Blanca Ovelar of the Colorado party. The Lugo administration has highlighted the reduction of corruption and economic inequality as two major priorities.

International Day of Families International - M a y 1 5

The International Day of Families is observed on the 15th of May every year. The Day was proclaimed by the UN General Assembly resolution in 1993 (A/RES/47/237) and reflects the importance the international community attaches to families. The International Day provides an opportunity to promote awareness of issues relating to families and increase the knowledge of the social, economic and demographic processes affecting families. In its resolution, the General Assembly also noted that the family-related provisions of the outcomes of the major United Nations conferences and summits of the 1990s and their follow-up processes continue to provide policy guidance on ways to strengthen family-centred components of policies and programmes as part of an integrated comprehensive approach to development. The International Day of Families has inspired a series of awareness-raising events, including national family days. In many countries, that day provides an opportunity to highlight different areas of interest and importance to families. Activities include workshops and conferences, radio and television programmes, newspaper articles and cultural programmes highlighting relevant themes. The 2011's commemoration of the International Day of Families focuses on the "Confronting Family Poverty and Social Exclusion."

Constitution Day Norway - M a y 1 7

Norwegian Constitution Day is the National Day of Norway and is an official national holidayobserved on May 17 each year. Among Norwegians, the day is referred to simply as syttende mai or syttande mai (both meaning May Seventeenth), Nasjonaldagen (The National Day) or Grunnlovsdagen (The Constitution Day), although the latter is less frequent.

Historical background

The Constitution of Norway was signed at Eidsvoll on May 17 in the year 1814. The constitution declared Norway to be an independent nation. The celebration of this day began spontaneously among students and others from early on. However, Norway was at that time under Swedish rule (following theConvention of Moss in August 1814) and for some years the King of Sweden and Norway was reluctant to allow the celebrations. For a couple of years in the 1820s, King Karl Johan actually forbade it, as he thought the celebrations a kind of protest and disregard— even revolt—against Swedish sovereignty. The king's attitude changed slightly after the Battle of the Square in 1829, an incident which resulted in such a commotion that the king had to allow it. It was, however, not until 1833, that anyone ventured to hold a public address on behalf of the day. That year, official celebration was initiated by the monument of the late politician Christian Krogh, known to have stopped the king from gaining too much personal power. The address was held by Henrik Wergeland, thoroughly witnessed and accounted for by a Swedish spy, sent by the king himself. After 1864, the day became more established, and the first children's parade was launched inChristiania, in a parade consisting only of boys. This initiative was taken by Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson, although Wergeland made the first known children's parade at Eidsvoll around 1820. It was only in 1899 that girls were allowed to join in the parade for the first time. By historical coincidence, the Second World War ended in Norway nine days before that year's Constitution Day, on May 8, 1945, when the occupying German forces surrendered. Even if The Liberation Day is an official flag day in Norway, the day is not an official holiday and is not broadly celebrated. Instead a new and broader meaning has been added to the celebration of Norwegian Constitution Day on May 17. The day focused originally on the Norwegian constitution, but after 1905, the focus has been directed also towards the royal family.

History Pre-Columbian society in the wooded, fertile region

which is now Paraguay consisted of seminomadic tribes, who were recognized for their fierce warrior traditions. These indigenous tribes were members of five distinct language families, and 17 separate ethnolinguistic groups remain today. Europeans first arrived in the area in the early sixteenth century, and the settlement of Asunción was founded on 15 August 1537, by the Spanish explorer Juan de Salazar de Espinosa. The city eventually became the center of a Spanish colonial province, as well as the primary site of the Jesuit missions and settlements in South America in the eighteenth century. Jesuit Reductions were founded, and flourished in eastern Paraguay for about 150 years, until the expulsion of the Jesuits by the Spanish crown in 1767. Paraguay overthrew the local Spanish administration on 15 May 1811. Children's parade in front of the Royal Palace, Paraguay's first ruler was the dictator Jose Gaspar Oslo Rodriguez de Francia. He ruled Paraguay from 1814, until his death in 1840, with very little outside contact or influence, creating a utopian society based on Rousseau's Social Contract. After his death, Paraguay went through the very brief ownership of various military officers under a new junta, until the secretary Carlos Antonio Lopez, Francia's nephew, declared himself dictator. Lopez modernized Paraguay, and opened it up to foreign commerce. The relationship with Buenos Aires was limited to a non-aggression pact; Paraguayan independence from Argentina was declared in 1842. After Lopez's death, power was transferred to his eldest son, Francisco Solano López in 1862. Lopez's expansionist aims lead to the Paraguayan War in 1864. Paraguay fought against Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay, and was defeated in 1870 after five years of the bloodiest war in South America. According to William D. Rubinstein, "The normal estimate is that of a Paraguayan population of somewhere between 450,000 and 900,000, only 220,000 survived the war, of whom only 28,000 were adult males." Paraguay also suffered extensive territorial losses to Brazil and Argentina. The Chaco War was fought with Bolivia in the 1930s, and Bolivia was defeated. Paraguay re-established sovereignty over the region called the Chaco, but forfeited additional territorial gains as a price of peace. The official narrative of Paraguay's history is fraught with disputes among historians, educators and politicians. The "authentic" version of historical events, wars in particular, varies depending on whether it was written in Paraguay, Argentina, Uruguay, Brazil, Bolivia, Europe, or North America. Both the Colorado Party and Liberal Party maintain distinct official versions of Paraguayan history. During the pillaging of Asuncion (Saqueo de Asunción) in 1869, the Brazilian Imperial Army ransacked and relocated the Paraguayan National Archives to Rio de Janeiro where they have been kept in secrecy, making Paraguayan history in the Colonial and early National periods difficult to study. Between 1904 and 1954, Paraguay had thirty-one presidents, most of whom were removed from office by force. From 1954 to 1989, the country was ruled by Alfredo Stroessner and the Colorado party. The dictator oversaw an era of economic expansion, but at the cost of a poor human rights and environmental record (see "Political History"). Torture and death for political opponents was routine. After his overthrow, the Colorado continued to dominate national politics until 2008. Leftist former bishop Fernando Lugo achieved a historic victory in Paraguay's presidential election of April 2008, defeating the ruling party candidate, and ending 61 years of conservative rule. Lugo won with nearly 41% of the vote, compared to almost 31% for Blanca Ovelar of the Colorado party. The Lugo administration has highlighted the reduction of corruption and economic inequality as two major priorities.

Children's parades

A noteworthy aspect of the Norwegian Constitution Day is its very non-military nature. All over Norway, children's parades with an abundance of flags form the central elements of the celebration. Each elementary school district arranges its own parade with marching bands between schools. The parade takes the children through the community, often making stops at homes of senior citizens, war memorials, etc. The longest parade is in Oslo, where some 100,000 people travel to the city centre to participate in the main festivities. This is broadcast on TV every year, with comments on costumes, banners etc., together with local reports from celebrations around the country. The massive Oslo parade includes some 100 schools, marching bands, and passes the royal palace where the royal family greet the people from the main balcony. Typically a school’s children parade will consist of some senior school children carrying the school’s official banner, followed by a handful of other older children carrying full size Norwegian flags, and the school’s marching band. After the The kindergarten part of a Children's parade. band the rest of the school children follow with hand sized Also notice the use of the Gákti, the traditional flags, often with the junior forms first, and often behind self clothing of the Sami people. made banners for each form or even individual class. Nearby kindergartens may also have been invited to join in. As the parade passes, bystanders often join in behind the official parade, and follow the parade back to the school. Depending on the community, the parade may make stops at particular sites along the route, such as a nursing home or war memorial. In Oslo the parade stops at the Royal Palace while Skaugum, the home of the crown prince, has been a traditional waypoint for parades in Asker. During the parade a marching band will play and the children will sing lyrics about the celebration of the National Day. The parade concludes with the stationary singing of the national anthem "Ja, vi elsker dette landet" (typically verses 1, 7 and 8), and the royal anthem "Kongesangen". In addition to flags, people typically wear red, white and blue ribbons. Although a long-standing tradition, it has lately become more popular for men, women, and children to wear traditional outfits, called bunad. The children also make a lot of noise shouting "Hurra!", singing, blowing whistles and shaking rattles. In addition to children's parades, there are parades for the public, where every citizen is welcome to join in. These are led by marching bands and often local boy scouts and girl guides, local choirs, etc. This takes place in the early morning or in the afternoon, before or after the school's parade. All parades begin or end with speeches. Both grown-ups and older children are invited to speak. After the parades, there are games for the children, and often a lot of icecream, pop, sweets and hotdogs are consumed.

Russ

The graduating class from the Norwegian equivalent of high school known as russ - has its own celebration on May 17, staying up all night and making the rounds through the community. The russ also have their own parades later in the day, usually around 4 or 5 PM. In this parade, russ will parade through the street with their russcars carrying signs and pickets. They may parody various local and political aspects, although recently this has become less frequent. Russ parades have lately become smaller and smaller due to diligent police discouragement.

Celebration across the country • In Oslo, children from all the city's schools gather to pa- Russ girls during the children's

rade past the Royal Palace, where they and the Royal Family exchange parade in Trondheim. waves and greetings. • In the municipality of Asker, outside Oslo, the children gather outside the residence of the throne heir at Skaugum Estate in the morning (giving the Prince and his family time to attend the parade in Oslo later in the day). • Bergen has its own traditions for the parade, including comic troupes, various local organizations, a children's parade, and the unique buekorps. • In Trondheim, children from all the city's schools parade the streets of Trondheim in the morning. Later in the afternoon, the "Citizens Parade" (Borgertoget) starts. This is a parade where firefighters, sports teams, students associations and other associations are represented. In addition to the children's parades the streets are filled with young and old, turning out in festive attire, and vendors selling ice cream, hot dogs, and lately, kebabs. Although May 17 is the National Day, it is an inclusive kind of nationalism. Therefore any foreigner who happens to be there on this day can expect to have a flag thrust into their hand and is welcome to join in with all activities.

abroad Celebration Syttende Mai is also celebrated in many Norwegian

immigrant communities throughout the world, with traditional foods, sometimes including lutefisk. In the United States and Canada, the local lodges of the Sons of Norway often play a central part in organizing the festivities. One major celebration occurs in Petersburg, Alaska also known as "Little Norway". The town is a Norwegian settlement and strongly retains its roots. The festival occurs the weekend closest to May 17 and includes a parade, Leikarring dancers, herring toss, Norwegian pastries such as lefse and even a pack of Vikings and Valkyries. Another major Syttende Mai celebration occurs in Stoughton, Wisconsin, which is the 2nd largest in The Royal Guard Norwegian Constitution Day the world, and the largest in the U.S. Festivities in- parade. clude canoe racing, two parades, an art fair, a 20mile run that starts in Madison, Wisconsin, and a great deal of bratwurst consumption. The festival features the Stoughton High School Norwegian Dancers, a group that tours the country showcasing traditional ethnic dances of Scandinavia. Smaller Syttende Mai celebrations are held in Norwegian-heritage communities throughout western Wisconsin, Minnesota, and elsewhere in the Midwestern United States. Members of Norway's Parliament Storting travel to Chicago to attend a three-day celebration consisting of a concert, banquet and parade hosted by the Norwegian National League. Spring Grove, Minnesota also hosts a 3 day festival on the weekend nearest to Syttende Mai, while nearby Decorah, Iowa, the home of Nordic Fest and the Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum, also hosts a parade. Other large celebrations are held in the Ballard, Seattle, Washington neighborhood, Poulsbo, Washington, and Bay Ridge, Brooklyn.Epcot's Norwegian Pavilion in Florida, celebrates Constitution Day with numerous flags around the pavilion, as well as parades around the World Showcase Lagoon. The Norwegian community in London holds a May 17 celebration each year in Southwark Park. The celebration is attended by a large number of Norwegians abroad, and includes a small parade, a traditional mass in the church, and the selling of traditional Norwegian foods such as Solo and makrell i tomat, and a lot of Norwegian flags for Norwegians who have left theirs at home. The occasional Russ has also attended the parade. In Orkney, Scotland, 17. May is celebrated by the Orkney Norway Friendship Association in recognition of the islands' strong historic links with Norway. Stockholm, Sweden, has a big celebration with a parade starting at Engelbrektsplan and ending at Skansen, in which more than 10,000 participate every year. The event includes Stockholm's only dedicated 17. May marching band, Det Norske Korps. It is also common for Norwegians living abroad to gather and celebrate. In some countries, typically where the population of Norwegian expatriates is small, the Norwegian embassy or the diplomats' spouses arrange the event.

Henrik Wergeland

The poet Henrik Wergeland is credited with making Syttande/Syttende mai a celebratory day for the children rather than a day of patriotic pride. Actually, the day demonstrates that the children, i.e. the country's future, are the patriotic pride, if we follow Wergeland's thought. Flags and music dominate the day, and there are few military parades. To commemorate his contribution, the russ in Oslo place an oversized hat on his statue near the Norwegian parliament; the Jewish community place a wreath on his grave in the morning as a tribute to his efforts on their behalf.

Military participation

The Royal Guard performs on the main street of the capital city, Oslo. During the parade, the Guard display their drill and musical skills. The marching band of the Royal Guard also attend the children's parade in central Oslo together with the schools' own marching bands, their black uniforms and impeccable drill being a very popular part of the Oslo parade. Forsvarets Musikkorps Vestlandet (Norwegian Armed Forces' Music Corps Western Norway), followed by parts of the military defence is participating the parade of Bergen.

An inclusive holiday

The former Norwegian president of parliament Jo Benkow noted that the day has increasingly become a celebration of Norway's growing ethnic diversity. Several factors have probably contributed to the inclusive nature of the celebration: The central position of the children’s parade, including all lower level school children, and therefore • also their parents in the celebration. The celebration is focused around local schools and their children’s parade. • The children’s parade reaches outwards, trying to cover as many roads as possible in the local com• munity. The low focus on elected government during the celebration. In the capital, for example, the children’s • parade passes the left side of the parliament building, and the president of parliament is allowed to wave to the passing parade from a small balcony, but the main focus of the parade is the Royal Castle and the Royal Family. It must also be noted that the office of president of parliament is mainly ceremonial and administrative, often awarded in the later part of a political career. The prime minister and the rest of the ruling government on the other hand have no official duties during the celebrations. The virtual lack of any military-centred celebration. • One can add that the day should be regarded as an expression of thankfulness, on behalf of the old values freedom, equality and brotherhood, the ideological basis for the constitution, and also on behalf of the circumstances that led up to the constitution. The aspect of "thanksgiving" in the national celebrations of Norway is easily forgotten in the long span of years from 1814.

Día das Letras Galegas Spain - M a y 1 7

Galician Literature Day (Galician: Día das Letras Galegas, Spanish: Día de las Letras Gallegas) is a public holiday observed in Galicia, Spain. Introduced by the Royal Galician Academy in 1963 it is a celebration of the Galician language and its literature. This celebration has taken place on May 17 since 1963. In the year 1991 was declared as a public holiday in al lGalicia. The first celebration took place in 1963 to commemorate the centenary of Cantares gallegos, the first work written in the Galician language by Rosalía de Castro (1837– 1885), who later became one of the most important poets in the history of Galicia. Cantares gallegos was first published on May 17, 1863. Since 1963, each Galician Literature Day has been dedicated to a different writer in the Galician language. This writer must be dead, and is chosen by the Real Academia Galega (Royal Galician Academy). There is only one precedent of a "shared" Day: in 1998, the day was dedicated to Martín Codax, Xohán de Cangas and Mendinho, together with the authors of the medieval songs (cantigas).

Battle of Las Peidras Uruguay - M a y 1 8

The Battle of Las Piedras was fought on May 18, 1811 as part of the Uruguayan struggle for independence.

Backgroud

In 1810, the May Revolution had forced the Spanish to abandon Buenos Aires, but they held on to the Banda Oriental (present-day Uruguay), as Spain moved the headquarters of the Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata to Montevideo. At the beginning of April 1811, the revolutionary José Gervasio Artigas returned to the Banda Oriental with approximately 180 men provided by the Government of Buenos Aires. On April 11, he issued the Mercedes Proclamation, assuming control of the revolution. The Governor of Montevideo and new Viceroy of Río de la Plata, Francisco Javier de Elío, appointed frigatecaptain José Posadas at the head of the forces loyal to Spain. Posadas installed his headquarters at San Isidro Labrador de Las Piedras near Montevideo, to provoke a decisive battle against the revolutionaries. Meanwhile, José Artigas was camped near Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe with an army of a thousand men. The army of Posadas counted 1230 men, of which some 200 would defect to Artigas in the midst of battle. The battle was fought on May 18 at Las Piedras and resulted in a total victory for the revolutionaries. José Posadas capitulated. It was at this occasion that Artigas pronounced his famous sentence "Curad a los heridos, clemencia para los vencidos" (Cure the injured, mercy to the vanquished), an unusual decision in those times, referring to the Spanish wounded and prisoners. One of the casualties on the revolutionary side was Manuel Artigas, nephew of José Artigas. Both armies fought in the name of King Ferdinand VII of Spain.

Importance of the battle

Some historians consider the victory in the Battle of Las Piedras as crucial for the survival of the revolution in Uruguay and Argentina, after the defeats of General Manuel Belgrano in Paraguay and Paraná. After the battle, the Royalists only remained in control of Colonia del Sacramento and Montevideo, which was finally taken by Carlos María de Alvear on June 20, 1814. The day of the battle, May 18, is now an official holiday in Uruguay.

Revival & Unity Day Turkmenistan - M a y 1 8

In Turkmenistan Revival and Unity day on May 18 celebrates Magtymguly’s poetry. In the history of the Turkmenistan people as the bright symbol of the realm of a free and prosperous state that came true. This dream was inspired by Magtymguly’s poems.

History Turkmenistan adopted the Constitution on this day, and celebrates the attribute of the statehood embodying the values of the Turkmenistan nation.

TRADITIONS AND ACTIVITIES Celebrations include many expositions arranged at museums, exhibition halls and libraries in the Turkmenistan cap-

ital with the assistance of the ministry of culture and TV and radio broadcasting. Turkmen artists open the ceremony and celebrations by performing a huge concert. Part of these expositions celebrates Magtymguly, who with his outstanding poetry projected the concerns and desires or ordinary Turkmenistan people turning them into heroes through his work. Not only was he a great poet but an equally impressive singer, philosopher and humanist which has been depicted through paintings at the expositions. The expositions for revival and unity day are to express the activity of Turkmenistan in the world, and promote the Turkmen leader’s policy of peace that has won Turkmenistan high recognition. Turkmen artists enjoy this opportunity to display their work in the expositions from sculptors, painters, writers, carpet makers, jewellery makers and poems of Magtymgulys are displayed. Timed for Revival and Unity day the president of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdymukhammeda has signed an act of pardon to release 1710 people from jail. This amnesty is applied to those that in the opinion of authorities ‘truly repent’ and are ready to start an honourable life. This is the 2nd Amnesty this year, the first pardon was passed in February to coincide with State Flag Day.

Malcolm X Day US - May 19

HUNGARY

Malcolm X (May 19, 1925 – February 21, 1965), born Malcolm Little and also known as El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz was an African-American Muslim minister and human rights activist. To his admirers, he was a courageous advocate for the rights of African Americans, a man who indicted white America in the harshest terms for its crimes against black Americans. Detractors accused him of preaching racism, black supremacy, antisemitism, and violence. He has been called one of the greatest and most influential African Americans in history. Malcolm X's father died—killed by white supremacists, it was rumored—when he was young, and at least one of his uncles was lynched. When he was thirteen, his mother was placed in a mental hospital, and he was placed in a series of foster homes. In 1946, at age 20, he went to prison for breaking and entering. In prison, Malcolm X became a member of the Nation of Islam and after his parole in 1952 he quickly rose to become one of its leaders. For a dozen years Malcolm X was the public face of the controversial group, but disillusionment with Nation of Islam head Elijah Muhammad led him to leave the Nation in March 1964. After a period of travel in Africa and the Middle East, he returned to the United States, where he founded Muslim Mosque, Inc. and the Organization of AfroAmerican Unity. In February 1965, less than a year after leaving the Nation of Islam, he was assassinated by three members of the group. Malcolm X's expressed beliefs changed substantially over time. As a spokesman for the Nation of Islam he taught black supremacy and advocated separation of black and white Americans—in contrast to the civil rights movement's emphasis on integration. After breaking with the Nation of Islam in 1964—saying of his association with it, "I was a zombie then ... pointed in a certain direction and told to march"—and becoming a Sunni Muslim, he disavowed racism and expressed willingness to work with civil rights leaders, though still emphasizing black self-determination and self defense.

Early years

Malcolm Little was born on May 19, 1925, in Omaha, Nebraska, the fourth of seven children to Earl Little and Louise Norton. His father was an outspoken Baptist lay speaker. He supported Pan-African activist Marcus Garvey and was a local leader of the Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA). Malcolm never forgot the values of black pride and self-reliance that his father and other UNIA leaders preached. Malcolm X later said that three of Earl Little's brothers, one of whom was lynched, died violently at the hands of white men. Because of Ku Klux Klan threats, the family relocated in 1926 to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and shortly thereafter to Lansing, Michigan. Earl Little, who was dark-skinned, was born in Reynolds, Georgia. He had three children from his first marriage: Ella, Mary, and Earl Jr.—and seven with his second wife, Louise: Wilfred, Hilda, Philbert, Malcolm, Reginald, Yvonne, and Wesley. Louise Norton Little was born in Grenada. Because her father was Scottish, she was so light-skinned that she could have passed for white. Malcolm inherited his light complexion from his mother and maternal grandfather. Initially he felt his light skin was a status symbol, but he later said he "hated every drop of that white rapist's blood that is in me." Malcolm X later remembered feeling that his father favored him because he was the lightest-skinned child in the family; however, he thought his mother treated him harshly for the same reason. One of Malcolm's nicknames, "Red", derived from the tinge of his hair. According to one biographer, at birth he had "ash-blonde hair ... tinged with cinnamon", and at age four, "reddish-blonde hair". His hair darkened as he aged, yet he also resembled his paternal grandmother, whose hair "turned reddish in the summer sun." The issue of skin and hair color took on very significant implications later in Malcolm's life. In December 1924, Louise Little was threatened by klansmen while she was pregnant with Malcolm. She recalled that the klansmen warned the family to leave Omaha, because Earl Little's activities with UNIA were "spreading trouble". After they moved to Lansing, their house was burned in 1929; however, the family escaped without physical injury. On September 8, 1931, Earl Little was fatally struck by a streetcarin Lansing. Authorities ruled his death an accident. The police reported that Earl Little was conscious when they arrived on the scene, and he told them he had slipped and fallen under the streetcar's wheels. The black community in Lansing disputed the cause of death, believing there was circumstantial evidence of assault. His family had frequently been harassed by the Black Legion, a white supremacist group that his father accused of burning down their home in 1929. Some blacks believed the Black Legion was responsible for Earl Little's death. One of the adults at the funeral told eight-year-old Philbert Little that his father had been hit from behind and shoved under the streetcar. Though Earl Little had two life insurance policies, his family received death benefits solely from the smaller policy. The insurance company of the larger policy claimed that his father had committed suicide and refused to issue the benefit. The payout from the insurance policy was $1,000 (comparable to about $15,000 in 2010 dollars), and the probate court awarded Louise Little a monthly "widow's allowance" of $18. She rented space in the garden to raise more money, and her sons would hunt game for supper. In 1935 or 1936, Louise Little began dating an African-American man. A marriage proposal seemed a possibility, but the man disappeared from their lives when Louise became pregnant with his child in late 1937. In December 1938, Louise Little had a nervous breakdown and was declared legally insane. The Little siblings were split up and sent to different foster homes. The state formally committed Louise Little to the state mental hospital at Kalamazoo, Michigan, where she remained until Malcolm and his siblings secured her release 24 years later. Malcolm Little was one of the best students in his junior high school, but he dropped out after a white eighth-grade teacher told him that his aspirations of being a lawyer were "no realistic goal for a nigger." Years later, Malcolm X would laugh about the incident, but at the time it was humiliating. It made him feel that there was no place in the white world for a career-oriented black man, no matter how smart he was. After living with a series of foster parents, Malcolm moved to Boston in February 1941 to live with his older half-sister, Ella Little Collins.

Nation of Islam

When Little was released from prison in 1952, he had more than a new religion. He also had a new name. In a December 1950 letter to his brother Philbert, Little signed his name as Malcolm X for the first time. In his autobiography, he explained why: "The Muslim's 'X' symbolized the true African family name that he never could know. For me, my 'X' replaced the white slave master name of 'Little' which some blue-eyed devil named Little had imposed upon my paternal forebears." Shortly after his release from prison, Malcolm X visited Elijah Muhammad in Chicago, Illinois. In June 1953, Malcolm X was named assistant minister of the Nation of Islam's Temple Number One in Detroit. Soon, he became a full-time minister. By late 1953, Malcolm X established Boston's Temple Number 11. In March 1954, he expanded Temple Number 12 inPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania. Two months later Malcolm X was selected to lead Temple Number Seven in Harlem, and he rapidly expanded its membership. The FBI had opened a file on Malcolm X in 1950 after he wrote a letter to President Trumanstating his opposition to the Korean War and declaring himself to be a communist. It began surveillance of him in 1953, and soon the FBI turned its attention from concerns about possible Communist Party association to Malcolm X's rapid ascent in the Nation of Islam. During 1955, Malcolm X continued his successful recruitment efforts on behalf of the organization. He established temples in Springfield, Massachusetts (Number 13); Hartford, Connecticut (Number 14); and Atlanta, Georgia (Number 15). Hundreds of African Americans were joining the Nation of Islam every month. Beside his skill as a speaker, Malcolm X had an impressive physical presence. He stood 6 feet 3 inches (1.91 m) tall and weighed about 180 pounds (82 kg). One writer described him as "powerfully built", and another as "mesmerizingly handsome ... and always spotlessly well-groomed".

Johnson Hinton incident:

Malcolm X first came to the attention of the general public after the police beating of a Nation of Islam member named Johnson Hinton. On April 26, 1957, two police officers were beating an African-American man with their nightsticks when three passersby who belonged to the Nation of Islam tried to intervene. They shouted: "You're not in Alabama or Georgia. This is New York!" One of the officers began to beat one of the passersby, Johnson Hinton. The blows were so severe, a surgeon later determined, that they caused brain contusions, subdural hemorrhaging, and scalp lacerations. All four men were arrested and taken to the police station. A woman who had seen the assault ran to the Nation of Islam's restaurant. Within a few hours, Malcolm X and a small group of Muslims went to the police station and demanded to see Hinton. The police captain initially said no Muslims were being held there, but as the crowd grew to about 500, he allowed Malcolm X to speak with Hinton. After a short talk, Malcolm X demanded that Hinton be taken to the hospital, so an ambulance was called and Hinton was taken to Harlem Hospital. Hinton was treated and released into the custody of the police, who returned him to the police station. By this point, about 4,000 people had gathered; the police realized there was the potential for a riot and called for backup. Malcolm X went back into the police station with an attorney and made bail arrangements for the other two Muslims. The police said Hinton could not go back to the hospital until he was arraigned the following day. Malcolm X realized things were at a stalemate. He stepped outside the station house and gave a hand signal. The Nation of Islam members in the crowd silently walked away. The rest of the crowd dispersed minutes later. One police officer told the editor of the New York Amsterdam News: "No one man should have that much power." The following month, the Bureau of Special Services and Investigation of the New York Police Department (NYPD) began its surveillance of Malcolm X. The NYPD's Chief Inspector asked for information from the police department in every city where Malcolm X had lived, and from the prisons where he had served his sentence. In October, when a grand jury declined to indict the officers who had beaten Hinton, Malcolm X wrote an angry telegram to the police commissioner. In response, undercover NYPD officers were placed inside the Nation of Islam.

Marriage and family:

Malcolm X met Betty Sanders in 1955. She had been invited to listen to his lecture, and she was very impressed by him. They met again at a dinner party. Soon Sanders was attending all of Malcolm X's lectures at Temple Number Seven. In mid 1956, she joined the Nation of Islam and changed her name to Betty X. Malcolm X and Betty X did not have a conventional courtship. One-on-one dates were contrary to the teachings of the Nation of Islam. Instead, the couple shared their "dates" with dozens, or even hundreds of other members. Malcolm X frequently took groups to visit New York's museums and libraries, and he always invited Betty X. Although they had never discussed the subject, Betty X suspected that Malcolm X was interested in marriage. On January 12, 1958, he called from Detroit and asked her to marry him, and they were married two days later in Lansing, Michigan. The couple had six daughters. Their names were Attallah, born in 1958 and named after Attila the Hun; Qubilah, born in 1960 and named after Kublai Khan; Ilyasah, born in 1962 and named after Elijah Muhammad; Gamilah Lumumba, born in 1964 and named afterPatrice Lumumba; and twins, Malikah and Malaak, born in 1965 after their father's assassination and named for him.

The Hate That Hate Produced:

After a 1959 television broadcast in New York City about the Nation of Islam, The Hate That Hate Produced, Malcolm X became known to white Americans. Representatives of the print media, radio, and television frequently asked him for comments on issues. By the late 1950s, Malcolm X had acquired a new name, Malcolm Shabazz or Malik elShabazz, although he was still widely referred to as Malcolm X. In September 1960, Fidel Castro arrived in New York to attend the meeting of the United Nations General Assembly. He and his entourage stayed at the Hotel Theresa in Harlem. Malcolm X was a prominent member of a Harlembased welcoming committee made up of community leaders who met with Castro. Castro was so impressed by Malcolm X that he requested a private meeting with him. At the end of their two-hour meeting, Castro invited Malcolm X to visit him in Cuba. During the General Assembly meeting, Malcolm X was also invited to many official embassy functions sponsored by African nations, where he met heads of state and other leaders, including Gamal Abdel Nasser of Egypt, Ahmed Sékou Touré of Guinea, and Kenneth Kaunda of the Zambian African National Congress. From his adoption of the Nation of Islam in 1952 until he broke with it in 1964, Malcolm X promoted the Nation's teachings, including that black people are the original people of the world, that white people are "devils", that blacks are superior to whites, and that the demise of the white race is imminent. While the civil rights movement fought against racial segregation, Malcolm X advocated the completeseparation of African Americans from white people. He proposed the establishment of a separate country for black people as an interim measure until African Americans could return to Africa. Malcolm X also rejected the civil rights movement's strategy of nonviolence, and instead advocated that black people use any necessary means of self-defense to protect themselves. Malcolm X's speeches had a powerful effect on his audiences, generally African Americans who lived in the Northern and Western cities, who were tired of being told to wait for freedom, justice, equality and respect. Many blacks felt that he articulated their complaints better than the civil rights movement did. Malcolm X has been widely considered the second most influential leader of the Nation of Islam after Elijah Muhammad. He was largely credited with the group's dramatic increase in membership between the early 1950s and early 1960s (from 500 to 25,000 by one author's estimate, or from 1,200 to 50,000 or 75,000 by another's). He inspired the boxer Cassius Clay (later known as Muhammad Ali) to join the Nation of Islam. (though like Malcolm X himself, Ali later left the group to become a Sunni Muslim). Many white people, and even some blacks, were alarmed by Malcolm X and the things he said. He and the Nation of Islam were described as hatemongers, black supremacists, violence-seekers, and a threat to improved race relations. Civil rights organizations denounced Malcolm X and the Nation as irresponsible extremists whose views were not representative of African Americans. Malcolm X was accused of being antisemitic. Malcolm X was equally critical of the civil rights movement. He described its leaders as "stooges" for the white establishment, and he once described Martin Luther King, Jr. as a "chump". He criticized the 1963 March on Washington, which he called "the farce on Washington". He said he did not know why black people were excited over a demonstration "run by whites in front of a statue of a president who has been dead for a hundred years and who didn't like us when he was alive".

Ho Chi Minh's Birthday Vietnam - May 19

Hồ Chí Minh (Vietnamese pronunciation 19 May 1890 – 2 September 1969), born Nguyễn Sinh Cung and also known as Nguyễn Tất Thành and Nguyễn Ái Quốc, was a Vietnamese Marxist-Leninist revolutionary leader who was prime minister (1945–1955) and president (1945–1969) of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (North Vietnam). He was a key figure in the foundation of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam in 1945, as well as the People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN) and the Viet Cong (NLF or VC) during the Vietnam War. He led the Việt Minh independence movement from 1941 onward, establishing the communist-governed Democratic Republic of Vietnam in 1945 and defeating the French Union in 1954 at Điện Biên Phủ. He officially stepped down from power in 1955 due to health problems, but remained a highly visible figurehead and inspiration for Vietnamese fighting for his cause – a united, independent Vietnam – until his death. After the war, Saigon, the capital of Republic of Vietnam, was renamed Hồ Chí Minh City in his honor.

Early Life

Nguyễn Sinh Cung was born in 1890 in the village of Hoàng Trù, his mother's hometown. From 1895, he grew up in his father's hometown of Kim Liên, Nam Đàn, Nghệ An Province. He had three siblings: his sister Bạch Liên (or Nguyễn Thị Thanh), a clerk in the French Army; his brother Nguyễn Sinh Khiêm (or Nguyễn Tất Đạt), a geomancer and traditional herbalist; and another brother (Nguyễn Sinh Nhuận) who died in his infancy. As a young child, Nguyễn studied with his father before more formal classes with a scholar named Vuong Thuc Do. Nguyễn quickly mastered Chinese writing, a requisite for any serious study of Confucianism, while honing his colloquial Vietnamese writing. In addition to his studious endeavors, he was fond of adventure, and loved to fly kites and go fishing. Following Confucian tradition, at the age of 10, his father gave him a new name: Nguyễn Tất Thành (“Nguyễn the Accomplished”). Nguyễn’s father, Nguyễn Sinh Sắc, was a Confucian scholar and teacher, and later an imperial magistrate in the small remote district of Binh Khe (Qui Nhơn). He was demoted for abuse of power after an influential local figure died several days after receiving 100 strokes of the cane as punishment for an infraction. In deference to his father, Nguyễn received a French education, attended lycée in Huế, the alma mater of his later disciples, Phạm Văn Đồng and Võ Nguyên Giáp. He later left his studies and chose to teach at Dục Thanh school in Phan Thiết.

Youth & Sports Day Turkey - May 19

19 May the Commemoration of Atatürk, Youth and Sports Day (Turkish: 19 Mayıs Atatürk'ü Anma ve Gençlik ve Spor Bayramı) or simply Youth Day (Gençlik Bayramı), is an annual Turkish national holiday celebrated on May 19 to commemorate Mustafa Kemal's landing at Samsun on May 19, 1919, which is regarded as the beginning of the Turkish War of Independence in the official historiography.

History

Gymnastics Festival:

The first "Gymnastics Festival" (İdman Bayramı) was held at the sport meadow of Kadıköy İttihad Sports (Union Club until 1915) by Erkek Muallim Mektebi (Teachers' College for Boys) with personal enterprise of Selim Sirri Bey (Tarcan), who was the Inspector of the Ministry of Education of the Ottoman Empire at the time. According to some sources, it was held on May 12, 1916, as to Faik Reşit Unat, in May 1916, as to Selim Sırrı Tarcan himself, in April 29, 1916. Selim Sirri Bey had brought a score of the Swedish folk music titled Tre trallande jäntor("Three carolling girls") and collected by Felix Körling. This folk music became "Dağ Başını Duman Almış" marşı with Turkish lyrics written by Ali Ulvi Bey (Elöve) in 1917 and sung in this festival for the first time.

Mustafa Kemal's landing at Samsun:

Fahrî Yâver-i Hazret-i Şehriyâri Mirliva Mustafa Kemal Pasha was assigned as the inspector of the Ninth Army Troops Inspectorate on April 30, 1919 and left Constantinople (Istanbul) with his staffs aboard steamer SS Bandırma for Samsun. After landing at Samsun on May 19, Mustafa Kemal and his staffs left there on May 24 for transferring their headquarters to the village of Karageçmiş in Havza district. According to Hamza Eroğlu, they sang "Dağ Başını Duman Almış" when they were marching from Samsun to Havza, according to Şevket Süreyya Aydemir, they sang this marching song also after leaving Havza to go to Amasya.

Atatürk's later years:

According to İsmet Bozdağ, his best friend Şükrü Kaya, who was the Minister of the Interior at the time, told him that: On May 19, 1936, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk made conversation with his close friends; Şükrü Kaya, Ruşen Eşref Ünaydın, Kılıç Ali, Salih Bozok, Mehmet Seydan, Nuri Conker in the Dolmabahçe Palace. Atatürk asked them "Do you know what today is?" They replied, "the third day of the occupation of Izmir", "Ankara meeting", "Ismet Pasha telegraphed from Lausanne", "Golden Horn Conference", "Turco-British negotiations over Iraq", "Progressive Republican Party was banned" ... even Atatürk's close friends couldn't remember Mustafa Kemal's landing at Samsun. Atatürk said "Let them in hell. So...this is something that, this is the liberation of country. Still they cannot find. Since after all Şükrü Kaya said "Is this day when you left Istanbul?", Atatürk said "You came closer...the day we landed at Samsun." And then Atatürk said "Actually this is the festival that you'll celebrate." Next year, "May 19" was celebrated with Şükrü Kaya's arrangement. Until then, "May 19" wasn't given any special meaning, besides his expression "Gentlemen, I landed at Samsun on the nineteenth day of May of year 1919. This was the general state of affairs:" in Nutuk. With the Law No. 3466 dated June 20, 1938, "May 19" was officialized as the Festival of Youth and Sports. "Dağ Başını Duman Almış" marşı was announced as Gençlik ve Spor Bayramı Marşı (March of the Festival of Youth and Sports, Gençlik Marşı).

Atatürk's birthday Atatürk was born in 1881. But his birth date is not known. In one of his speeches, he declared that he feels his birthday is May 19.

Ex pa nding t he Sc ope of Ge r m a n– H unga r ia n M ilit a r y C oope r a t ion (Online 09 May) Defence Minister Csaba Hende held discussions with C h r i s t i a n Schmidt, the Parliamentary State Secretary of the German Federal Ministry of Defence on the opportunities of expanding the scope of German–Hungarian military cooperation. At the meeting the two partners discussed the possibility of an agreement on logistics, which (photo: Mária Krasznai-Nehrebeczky) will become a timely issue with the planned troop withdrawal f r o m Afghanistan in 2014. The Hungarian– German military diplomacy relations are outstandingly good. These relations have increased further in intensity over the last few years, mainly thanks to ongoing cooperation in the areas of opera- (photo: Mária Krasznai-Nehrebeczky)

tions in Afghanistan and Kosovo. The HDF Provincial Reconstruction Team (HUN PRT), – which is deployed in Afghanistan – has received Kevlar helmets and operational laptops among other things from the German side. The Hungarian Defence Forces make a medical “professional staff” available to help the Germans in Afghanistan and Kosovo. The German politician arrived for a twoday visit in Budapest at Csaba Hende’s invitation. On Thursday he gave a presentation on the current issues of security policy at the German-language Gyula Andrássy University Budapest (AUB).

Discussion between Hungarian and German Parliamentary State Secretaries (Online 09 May) On May 2. István Simicskó, the Parliamentary State Secretary of the Ministry of Defence received C h r i s t i a n the Schmidt, Parliamentary State Secretary of the German Federal Ministry Defence. of Their discussion focused on the operational cooperation of the two countries in Afghanistan, and the German and Hungarian systems of vol- (photo: Mária Krasznai-Nehrebeczky) unteer reserve. the armaments cooperation between The primary goal of Christian Germany and Hungary. Schmidt’s visit to Hungary was to de- The main topics of the discussion velop bilateral military relations and

with István Simicskó, the Parliamentary State Secretary of the Ministry of Defence included the exc e l l e n t operational cooperation between the two in countries Afghanistan, the armaments cooperation and the Hungarian and German volunteer sysreserve tems. It was stated that the two State Secretaries would closely cooperate in the future and further strengthen the excellent relations between the two countries.

Hungary to hold nationwide clean-up campaign (Online 08 May) Hungary will hold a nationwide environment clean-up campaign on June 2, the second time after last year's initial event, the farm minister told a press conference on Tuesday. Volunteers, representatives of civil groups, communities and local governments are invited to join the Teszedd (You Pick It Up!) 2012 programme to Photo: Gergely Botár be held between As a co-organiser, the Interior Min8am and 6pm on the day, Sandor istry will provide trucks and excavaFazekas said. tors to help the clean-up together with

3,750 people who are enrolled in the state's public work programme, Sandor Pinter, the Interior Minister, said. Other organisers include the Justice Ministry, the National Waste Management Authority and the National Civil Guards. The first-ever national cleanup last year was joined by 160,000 volunteers, Bence Retvari, state secretary at the Justice Ministry said.

Jewish Heritage of Hungary Public Endowment (MAZSÖK) to continue its operation with new board of trustees (Online 08 May) The Metropolitan Court of Appeal has registered MAZSÖK’s new board of trustees on a final and absolute basis. The Jewish Heritage of Hungary Public Endowment was established by the Government of the Republic of Hungary in 1997 for the purpose of honouring its international legal commitments undertaken in the Paris Peace Treaty. The renewed board of trustees enjoys the full support of every participant of the Jewish Community Round Table and the Government. As a result, a series of negotiations and a legal procedure ongoing for more than a year has been closed, in consequence of which there are no more

obstacles to the smooth operation of the public endowment. The members of the new board of trustees were appointed, based on the nominations of Jewish organisations, from among the candidates of Hungarian and international Jewish organisations and outstanding representatives from the realm of science and public life. The founder (Government) is represented by 2 members on the board. The Government has renewed its dialogue with Jewish communities, in the spirit of which it conducts regular consultations with members of the Jewish communities. The Jewish Community Round Table was set up within the boundaries of consulta-

tions. Also as a result of ongoing consultations for several months, the Government approved the agreement on the 2012 restitution payments to Jewish religious communities in Hungary. The purpose of the Jewish Heritage of Hungary Public Endowment (MAZSÖK) is to enable individuals who were exposed to any suffering on account of their Jewish origin in consequence of laws conceived in a fascist spirit, their descendants and the communities organised by them to reorganise their religious, cultural and educational organisations, to reinforce their Jewish identity and to improve the social situation of those in need.

Strategic Communication Is Important (Online 08 May) The work of the HDF Provincial Reconstruction Team (HUN PRT) is a significant contribution to the positive image of what the Regional Command North and the ISAF troops are doing in Baghlan Province, Maj.-Gen. Erich Pfeffer, the commander of t h e (photo: HUN PRT-12.) Afghanistan-based International Se- the Hungarian assistance with the curity Assistance Forces Regional flood control operations. Command North (ISAF RC N) said on At the meeting, the commander of the HUN PRT – together with political adhis visit to the Hungarian camp. On his first official visit to Camp Pan- visor (POLAD) Dr. József Nyerki – innonia, Maj. Erich Pfeffer was briefed formed the guest about the by PRT Commander Lt.-Col. János Hungarian standpoint on the transiSomogyi on the completed missions tion. Erich Pfeffer stressed that strateof the Hungarian contingent, the se- gic communication is a key element curity situation in Baghlan Province in the transition process. It is imporand the CIMIC and other develop- tant to make the Afghan people unment projects in progress. They dis- derstand the necessity of transition. cussed the disaster which is He said the joint formulation and copresently striking the province and ordinated transmission of the relevant

messages were h i g h priorities.Provincial governor Monshi Abdul Maiid also joined the discussion, and spoke highly of the successful cooperation between ISAF and the Afghan forces. He pointed to the role of the HUN PRT in this cooperation and in paving the way for the transitionrelated works. “This joint work and close coordination go a long way towards implementing transition in the province. Stability is important for Afghan people, and it cannot be achieved without a strong government”, the governor emphasized. At the end of his visit Maj.-Gen. Erich Pfeffer noted that although the HUN PRT is a relatively small organization, its work is a significant contribution to the positive image of what the RC N and the ISAF troops are doing in Baghlan province.

Viktor Orbán announces government reshuffle 11 (Online Prime May) Minister Viktor anOrbán nounces longpredicted changes in his government on public radio. Mihály Varga replace will Tamás Fellegi as Hungary's chief negotiator with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the EU from 1 Mr. June. Varga is currently Minister of State at the Prime Minister's Office and Vicepresident of Fidesz, and was Finance Minister from 2001 to 2002 under the previous Orbán government. Mr. Orbán justified the decision by saying that Mr. Fellegi has completed the work assigned to him. ‘He has accomplished a very difficult task, and I am grateful for the work

he has done. The whole country owes him a debt of gratitude: in the midst of a barrage of opposition he brought us to a position in which we are able to begin negotiations with the IMF and the EU on expansion of financial options open to Hungary,’ said the Prime Minister. Mr. Orbán believes that the political aspect of this task is complete, negotiations

will commence, and now there is a need for a in specialist economics. János Lázár – currently leader of the Fidesz parliamentary group – will become of Minister State for the Prime MinisOffice, ter's where he will joined by a further two ministers of state. Antal Rogán, Mayor of Budapest’s cityfifth centre district and chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Economic Affairs, will replace Mr. Lázár as the leader of the 226-strong Fidesz parliamentary group. Next week Zoltán Balog – up until now Minister of State for Social Inclusion – will start work as the new Minister for Human Resources.

Amendment of media law before parliament (Online 11 May) On behalf of the Government, the Minister of Public Administration and Justice presented to Parliament the proposed amendments to certain laws related to media services and press products. The Ministry announced already in April that, in acknowledgement of the decision of the Constitutional Court, they would present the proposed amendments to the legislation in order to achieve full harmony with the Fundamental Law. The proposed amendments serve to comply with the decision of the Constitutional Court. As is known, Tibor Navracsics, Minister of Public Administration and Justice announced on 21 March that the Government will seek the Constitutional Court’s detailed interpretation of the provisions of the Fundamental Law concerning the freedom of the press in the context of the December decision of the Constitutional Court which declared certain provisions of the media regulation unconstitutional and determined the date of annulment as 31 May 2012. At the end of the procedure initiated by the Government, however, the Constitutional Court came to the conclusion in its decision in April that the questions

raised in the Government’s motion cannot be answered within the competence of the Constitutional Court regarding the interpretation of the Fundamental Law; a decision on these questions falls within the legislator’s responsibility. Accordingly, the Government presented its proposed amendments to Parliament today. According to the amendments submitted to Parliament, the media authority will not in the future have the power to investigate the enforcement of human rights, human dignity, the right to privacy and the rights of interviewees in the context of content regulation in the case of the written press and Internet media as the already existing means in civil and criminal law available in the Hungarian legal system are sufficient for the protection of these rights. The proposed amendments reinforce the protection of the information sources of journalists. One proposed amendment allows media content providers and persons engaged in employment or any other work-related legal relationship with them to keep confidential the identity of their source of information. At the same time, the proposed amendment makes it possible for a court of law to oblige the persons above to

reveal their information source in the interest of the investigation of criminal offences, in particularly justified cases as defined by law. The competence of the media commissioner will also undergo changes.According to the relevant proposed amendment, the commissioner’s quasi-authority powers would only be upheld in the area of electronic telecommunication services where, however, issues regarding the restriction of the freedom of the press do not arise. These powers of the commissioner will be abolished in respect of media services and press products; the commissioner will only be able to initiate consultations with the relevant professional organisations on the basis of a complaint and will draft a (nonpublic) report at the end of his/her investigation. The decision of the Constitutional Court evaluated the publication of the report as a restriction on the freedom of the press. The commissioner may not investigate the activities of media content providers. As the commissioner will not exercise quasi-authority powers in the future in this area, his/her proceedings will not qualify as a restriction on the freedom of the press.

Meeting of the ministers for development cooperation (Online 11 May) Meeting of the ministers for development cooperation at the Foreign Affairs Council will be held in Brussels on the 14 May, 2012. Hungary will be represented by Ambassador Péter Györkös, Permanent Representative of Hungary to the EU. The topics of the meeting are the future of the EU development policy, EU budget support to third countries, reflection on the EU’s collective development aid targets, Burma/Myanmar and preparations for Rio+20. Ministers will adopt council conclusions on the future priorities of the EU’s development policy (Agenda for Change), Budget Support, Policy Coherence for Development and a

renewed EU-Pacific Development Partnership. Conclusions will also be adopted on the Annual Report on the EU’s Development Aid Targets. In connection with Burma/Myanmar, ministers will debate the future EU development programmes in the country, coordination amongst Member States and possibilities for joint programming. Finally, a short discussion is foreseen on the development aspects of preparations for the Rio+20 conference, and on food security issues regarding the Horn of Africa. Regarding the EU’s Development Targets, Hungary remains committed to achieve 0,33% ODA/GNI by 2015. In 2011, Hungary achieved 0,11%,

making it one of the nine Member States succeessful in raising their ratio despite the budgetary constraints. During the discussions, Hungary will highlight that while most Member States were forced to undertake austerity measures, maintaining the collective ODA-level still makes the EU the largest ODAdonor internationally. Contributions of new Member States to the European Development Fund (EDF) and the high percentage thereof in their ODA-levels could further modulate the overall picture, therefore the EU’s overall ODA-levels in 2015 could give a more positive outlook than the projections of the European Commission.

The Government submitted to parliament the bills on formerly announced tax measures (Online 11 May) Earlier today the government has submitted to the National Assembly the bills about the implementation of the telecom tax, the financial transaction duty and the uniform insurance tax. In case the proposal is approved, the new telecom tax – in order to secure the stability of the 2012 Budget – will be implemented as early as the middle of this year. The levy planned to be paid is 2 HUF on each minute from its beginning and every SMS/MMS. According to the submitted bill, the tax shall be paid by the telecom services provider. The proposition pro-

vides 10 minutes of tax-free usage monthly per every phone number and limits the payable amount to 700HUF for private customers and 2500HUF for corporate customers. The financial transaction duty is set to be implemented from 2013. The general duty rate is planned to be 0.1 percent. The duty would be levied on certain postal or bank transactions of private and corporate customers (i.e.: drawing and paying in cash, bank transfers, direct debit mandate payments, bank card purchases and postal cash transactions). In case the proposal is approved, the financial services provider is obliged to

pay the duty. The government intends to introduce a new and compact tax in order to replace the three taxes which insurance companies currently pay by implementing the uniform insurance tax. The new taxes fit well into the policy of the government which aims to reduce liabilities on incomes and increase them on sales and consumption. Furthermore, revenues from the taxes will make the Budget calculable for the next couple of years and beyond.

J á n o s Á d e r, t h e n e w H u n g a r i a n president, has entered in office (Online 10 May) "Today, there is He said Hungarians were naturally again a need for compromise. For open to the world. "That is what compromise not in the superficial po- feeds our culture, that is the basis of litical sense of the word, but in a our way of thinking and that is the deeper sense. What I mean by com- source of our will to change things. promise is that we Hungarians must That is what explains why this small finally come to terms with each other, nation has found itself so often at the for this is the only way to achieve centre of the great shifts in global inner peace," Ader said in front of the history," he said. "There was a time presidential Sandor Palace, bringing when we were a bastion protecting up as an example the era of Ferenc Europe, and there were also times Deak (1803-1876), the "wise man of when we showed the road for the the nation" who helped mastermind rest of the continent to follow," he the Austro-Hungarian Compromise said, referring to the 1956 revolution, the dismantling of the Iron Curtain of 1867. He said this time round compromise and the "peaceful transition to liberty would not require superhuman ef- and independence". "We Hungarians have always harforts. "It is enough to simply change the boured the goodwill and the ability to way we do certain things. If we apply rebuild what was destroyed by othequal standards. If we show respect ers, to reunite what was torn apart, towards one another. If we r e s p e c t achievements, as an example to follow, always measured according to each person's abilities, rather than in comparison with some impossible ideal," he said. Ader said he was prepared to live up to his duty of representing the inand terests values of Hungarians. János Áder (fotó: Botár Gergely)

photo: Gergely Botár to regain what we were deprived of," the president said in the presence of high state dignitaries, including former presidents Pal Schmitt and Laszlo Solyom. Ader was elected the fifth president of the republic since Hungary's transition to democracy on May 2 in a secret ballot by 262 votes.

The ne w N a t iona l C or e C ur r ic ulum in the f inis hing s tr a ight (Online 10 May) The National Core Curriculum (NAT) is the second most important document straight after the National Public Education Act that had been completed before the given deadline – Rózsa Hoffmann pointed out at the Tuesday’s press conference in Budapest. As the State Secretary said: „The Core Curriculum represents a fundamental transformation of the public education system.” This document is a return to that regulation, which was an important guideline of school work earlier. The regulation was terminated by the previous government in 2003. „Of course the good and valuable components of the previous Core Curriculum will be retained” – she added. „The National Core Curriculum

(NAT) represents those requirements in education, that every pupil needs to meet as the common culture and language are the symbols of togetherness” – the State Secretary underlined. Rózsa Hoffmann talked about the demands of the society too that had also been included in the Core Curriculum, such as the tuition of the financial literacy. The collection of the framework curriculum is being prepared at a fast pace. These documents include the exact curricula broken down to classes and will be regulated by the Public Education Act. The State Secretary also talked about the next step that will be the making of the school-books in line with the new Core Curriculum. „The

new public education system is due to be launched on 1 September 2013.” – she added. She also stated that the new Core Curriculum was a result of heated discussions with the general public and the professionals. All the controversial issues have been resolved. „The stance of the patronage board indicates this” – she said. At the end of the press conference the State Secretary pointed out the importance of a survey involving 1000 people. The results of this survey will be made available to the press on Friday and will definitely show the huge support of the National Core Curriculum within the society.

Government’s decisions on system of taxes (Online 09 May) The Government has decided to scrap the banking tax and other sectoral crisis taxes; as of the beginning of 2013, one half of the banking tax will be retained in the system, while as of 2014, this tax will be abolished altogether, Minister for National E c o n o m y György Ma- photo: Ernő Horváth tolcsy said on Wednesday at the Governm e n t Spokesperson’s press conference. At the same time he added, if a banking tax is introduced in the EU, the Hungarian Government, too, will consider the re-introduction of this tax. Gove r n m e n t Spokesperson András GiróSzász announced, the György Matolcsy (photo: Ernő Horváth) Government, at its meeting held on W e d n e s d a y, approved the fiscal new measures featured in the Széll Kálmán 2.0 Plan, including the introduction of a telecommunication tax, a fin a n c i a l transaction tax and a standardised insurance tax. With the measures now approved, the deficit of the budget will remain below 3 András Giró-Szász (photo: Ernő Horváth) per cent in the tax, Minister for National Economy next few years, he added. György Matolcsy said at the GovernNo further tax increases are ex- ment Spokesperson’s press conferpected in the case of income-type ence on Wednesday. Certain large taxes; we have reached the level transactions will be exempt from the from which taxes can only come duty, including, for instance, transdownward, Minister for National fers initiated by the National Bank of Economy György Matolcsy said at Hungary, while the State Treasury, the Government Spokesperson’s too, will receive exemption from the press conference on Wednesday. payment of the duty. Private individThe telecommunication tax will be in- uals will not have to pay the duty if troduced as of the first of July, ac- they transfer funds to different according to the Government’s counts of their own within the same Wednesday decision, György Ma- bank. The Minister indicated, the taxtolcsy, Minister for National Economy payer will be the bank which exeannounced at the press conference cutes the transaction. The held after the Cabinet Meeting in Bu- Government approved the Chamber dapest. The Minister for National recommendation, based on which Economy said the first 10 minutes fund movements in excess of HUF 5 will be tax-free, while thereafter a million between companies should at HUF 2 tax will be payable for every all times be conducted by transfer, minute; private individuals will be re- via financial institutions, György Maquired to pay maximum HUF 700, tolcsy said, adding, there will be no while the upper limit will be HUF such obligation for private individu2,500 in the case of businesses. als. The financial transaction duty will be The Government’s decisions 0.1 per cent, and its effect will extend adopted on Wednesday mean that to a range of transactions covering the number of taxes will increase by HUF 130 thousand billion from the three and will decrease by six. As a total annual transactions worth some result, there will be 51 types of taxes HUF 600 thousand billion; the central in the Hungarian taxation system budget will consequently derive a after 1 January 2013, Minister for revenue of HUF 130 billion from this National Economy György Matolcsy

said at the press conference on W e d n e s d a y. He remarked that in June 2010, there were 58 different types of taxes which were reduced to 48, and then last autumn, in the wake of a busy legislative period, the number of taxes increased to 54. According to the Government’s decision adopted on Wednesday, the telecommunication tax will be introduced as of 1 July, however, it will effectively only enter into force from August, the Minister said at the press conference held in Budapest after the Cabinet Meeting. He added, consultations are still ongoing, and “there is maximum leeway for discussing the details”. The Minister for National Economy said the first 10 minutes monthly will be tax-free, in excess of which HUF 2 will be per payable minute; private individuals will pay maximum 700, HUF while the upper limit will be HUF 2,500 monthly in the case of businesses. The tax in question will lie with the r e l e v a n t telecommunication companies. In answer to a question, György Matolcsy said they do reckon with the possibility that companies will attempt to shift this duty onto consumers, however, due to the keen competition on this market, these attempts will fail. György Matolcsy expects, by 2013 they will be able to establish a cooperation scheme with the Hungarian banking system by virtue of which the sector may even avoid paying the entire banking tax expected to be collected next year amounting to HUF 60 billion. The Minister for National Economy said at the press conference on Wednesday if banks extend their lending, they may deduct this from the banking tax; consequently, with an appropriate increase in lending, the banking tax amounting to one half of this year’s HUF 120 billion may even disappear next year. In order to achieve this, banks must engage in more intensive lending and must ensure that both businesses and households have access to credit. This will also stimulate growth, he added.

The first phase of the development of the Esterházy Palace reached its completion (Online 09 May) In the presence of government commissioner Dr. Ferenc Zumbok the completion of the first phase of the touristic development of the Esterházy Palace in Fertőd has been announced. The costs comprising a total of 1,56 billion HUF were covered by the New Széchenyi Plan. The aim was to achieve touristic development of the palace along with the reconstruction of its environment in order to significantly raise the number of visitors. For this purpose

the project has also aimed at establishing cultural, logistic, entertainment and touristic infrastructure in addition to the partial reconstruction of the monument. In this first phase the reconstruction of some parts of the facade, some exhibition halls, the staircases and the formal courtyards have been realized. Moreover, a new car park has been built for the visitors, and the building of the puppet theatre, which can be found in the palace, has been renewed, and new equipments have

been purchased to enhance the experience of the visitors. The nearly 2-billion-HUF contract of sponsorship for the second phase of the reconstruction, which will also be completed in the framework of the New Széchenyi Plan, was signed by Mr. Géza Szőcs, Minister of State for Culture in March. In the second phase the palace itself and its environment will be restored and a new reception building will be raised. The second phase is expected to be ready in the first quarter of 2013.

Ex hibit ion a bout t he Pa k s N uc le a r Powe r Pla nt in Vie nna (Online 09 May) Minister of State for Climate Change and Energy Pál Kovács and Deputy Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency Denis Flory opened an exhibition about the rich and variegated fauna and flora of Paks and the environment-friendly operation and development opportunities of the Paks Nuclear Power Plant on 7 May 2012 in the Central Reception Hall of the United Nation’s Office in Vienna. The exhibition jointly organised by Hungary’s Permanent Mission to the UN, the Ministry of National Development and the MVM Group will be open up to 18 May 2012. “The natural and the built environments exist side by side in complete harmony in Paks. In addition to the fact that the Paks nuclear power plant generates electricity at the low-

est cost, another great advantage is that, unlike fossil technologies, it does not increase the volume of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. These four blocks save nearly as much oxygen as generated by all the forests in Hungary in a year, a volume roughly equivalent to the amount of oxygen breathed in by the total population of the country in a year”, added Minister of State for Climate Change and Energy Pál Kovács of the Ministry of National Development. Relative to other electricity generating power plants, the nuclear power plant causes the least environmental pollution, does not emit hazardous substances or contribute to the global climate change. Currently, we can see no feasible and realistic alternative to the extension of the nu-

clear power plant’s operating time to guarantee Hungary’s safe electricity supply for decades. The inaugural was honoured by the presence of Yukija Amano, Director General of the International Atomic Agency, who will visit Budapest in June this year under a previously agreed arrangement. Minister of State Pál Kovács will represent Hungary as a member delegated to the Board of Governors of the IAEA. The event related to Hungary’s two-year membership carries the message, primarily for diplomats and politicians, of transparency and increasing confidence in the peaceful use of nuclear energy. The exhibition can be visited up to 18 May 2012 upon preliminary registration with UN.

C onfe r e nc e of V4 D e fe nc e M inis t e r s in t he C ze c h R e public (Online 09 May) On May 3 and 4 Defence Minister Csaba Hende attended the Defence Ministerial Meeting of the Visegrád Cooperation (V4) countries in the town of Litomericé in the Czech Republic, which is currently holding the presidency of the Visegrád Group. At their meeting, the Defence Ministers of the Visegrád Cooperation countries – Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Poland – reviewed the results of the Czech V4 presidency period and the directions for further cooperation. They discussed the formation of a new EU

Battle Group, cooperation within the NATO alliance and the possible joint capability development projects of the V4 countries. The EU Battle Group – the most important element of defence cooperation among the V4 countries – is planned to be set up by 2016. Speaking at the meeting, Defence Minister Csaba Hende welcomed Poland’s undertaking the framework nation role for the V4 EU Battle Group. The 3,000+-strong Battle Group will be activated on January 1, 2016 and will be on stand-by during the first half of 2016.

During the discussions the Ministers reaffirmed their commitment that they had already expressed at the NATO Defence Ministerial Meeting in Brussels in April by issuing a joint V4 declaration “Responsibility for a Strong NATO”. The V4 countries continue to strengthen their joint defence capabilities by conducting bilateral, regional and wide-ranging multinational cooperation, increase the interoperability of their armed forces and undertake a more active role in the international community with special regard to NATO and the EU.

Gov e r nm e nt pr ov ide s s ignific a nt a id t o r e infor c e c iv il s e c tor (Online 08 May) The Government has invited tenders worth more than HUF 2.6 billion this year for supporting the operation and professional programmes of civil organisations from the National Cooperation Fund set up for the purpose of providing aid for civil organisations. Parliament created the National Cooperation Fund by virtue of the passage of the new civil sector legislation, the purpose of which is to support the operation of civil organisations and professional activities related to the civil sector. The standardised procedures of the new system, which are far simpler than the tender schemes of the past,

and the guarantees designed to raise funds for the operation of the National Cooperation Fund serve the predictable, stable and balanced operation of organisations. Objectives eligible for aid: professional programmes of organisations operating in the fields of culture, science and research, tradition fostering, audio- and telecommunication, information technology, electronic telecommunication, vocational and adult training, dissemination of information, social dialogue, consumer protection and locality and community development; promoting the reinforcement of civil society and the enhanced social role of civil or-

ganisations; promoting European integration and cooperation in the Carpathian Basin as international activities related to Hungarians beyond the borders; providing aid for civil organisations operating in the fields of the protection of national and ethnic minorities in Hungary and of human and civic rights; promoting the professional programmes of civil organisations operating in the fields of education, skills development, child and youth interest representation, child and youth protection, health preservation, illness prevention, curative and health care rehabilitation, drug prevention, nature conservation and environmental protection.