Sultan's Birthday - Jul 15 Brunei Darussalam
Hassanal Bolkiah, GCB GCMG (full name: Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah ibni AlMarhum Sultan Haji Omar Ali Saifuddien Sa'adul Khairi Waddien; born 15 July 1946) is the 29th and current Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam and the lands under its sovereignty. He is also the first and incumbent Prime Minister of Brunei Darussalam. The eldest son of the late Sir Muda Omar Ali Saifuddien III(later the Begawan Sultan) and the late Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Damit (later the Suri Seri Begawan Raja), he succeeded to the throne following the voluntary abdication of his father as the 28th Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam on 4 October 1967.
years and education Early The Sultan was born on 15 July 1946 in Istana Darus-
salam, Brunei Town (now called Bandar Seri Begawan) as Pengiran Muda ("Prince") Hassanal Bolkiah. In 1961 he was bestowed as the Pengiran Muda Mahkota ("Crown Prince") and subsequently as theSultan of Brunei Darussalam on 4 October 1967, after his father had abdicated voluntarily. His coronation was held on 1 August 1968 and thus made him the Yang di-Pertuan ("Head of State") of Brunei Darussalam. Like his father, he has been knighted by Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom, of which Brunei was a protectorate until 1984. The Sultan received high school education at Victoria Institution in Kuala Lumpur, after which he attended the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in the United Kingdom.
Other assets:
In Brunei, mockingly dubbed the "Shellfare State", a reference to the significant influence of the Shell Oil Company, Bruneians have free education and medical services. There are no personal income taxes in Brunei. The Sultan's official residence is the Istana Nurul Iman, with 1,888 rooms, 290 bathrooms, and a floor area of 2,152,782 square feet(200,000 m2). The Istana also houses several offices of government, including that of the Office of the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan, the Office of the Grand Chamberlain as well as the offices within the Prime Minister's Department. Parts of the Ministry of Defence and Ministry of Finance are also located at the palace. The Crown Prince, who is the Senior Minister, also works from offices at the Istana. Hyatt Borneo Management Services and HM The Sultan's flight also maintain offices there.
Rise of Peronism:
The bases of modern Argentina were established by the Generation of '80, a political movement that opposed Mitre and sought to industrialize the country. A wave of European immigration led to the strengthening of a cohesive state, the development of modern agriculture and to a near-reinvention of Argentine society and economy. The country emerged as one of the ten richest countries in the world, benefiting from an agricultural export-led economy as well as British and French investment. Driven by immigration and decreasing mortality the Argentine population grew fivefold and the economy 15fold. However, the National Autonomist Party (PAN) could not meet its original goals of industrialization, and the country stayed as a pre-industrial society. President Juárez Celman faced an economic crisis that generated popular discontent and the Revolution of the Park in 1890, led by the Civic Union. With the resignation of Mitre, the Civic Union became the Radical Civic Union (UCR). Although the Coup d'état failed, Celman resigned from the presidency, starting the decline of the PAN. Conservative élites dominated Argentine politics until 1912, when President Roque Sáenz Peña enacted universal male suffrage and the secret ballot. This allowed the UCR to win the country's first free elections in 1916. President Hipólito Yrigoyen enacted social and economic reforms and extended assistance to family farmers and small businesses. Argentina stayed neutral during World War I. The second administration of Yrigoyen faced a huge economic crisis, influenced by the international Great Depression. The military made a coup d'état and ousted him from power, which began the Infamous Decade. José Félix Uriburu led the military rule for two years.Agustín Pedro Justo was elected with electoral fraud, and signed the RocaRunciman Treaty.Roberto María Ortiz and Ramón Castillo stayed neutral during World War II. Britain supported the Argentine neutrality, but after the attack on Pearl Harbor the United States requested all of South America to join the Allied Nations. Castillo was finally deposed by theRevolution of '43, a new military coup that wanted to end the electoral fraud of the last decade. Argentina declared war to the Axis Powers a month before the end of World War II in Europe. The minister of welfare of the military, Juan Perón, became highly popular among workers. He was fired and jailed, but a massive demonstration forced his liberation. Perón ran for the presidency in 1946, and won by 53,1%. Juan Perón created a political movement known as Peronism. Taking advantage of the import substitution industrialization and the European devastation left by the immediate aftermath of World War II, he nationalized strategic industries and services, improved wages and working conditions, paid the full external debt and achieved nearly full employment. The economy, however, began to decline in 1950. Perón intensified censorship as well as repression: 110 publications were shuttered, and numerous opposition figures were imprisoned and tortured. His wife Eva Perón was highly popular and played a central political role, mostly through the Eva Perón Foundation and the Female Peronist Party, as women's suffrage was granted in 1947. However, her declining health did not allow her to run for the vice-presidency in 1951, and she died of cancer the following year. The military began to plot against Perón in 1955, andbombed the Plaza de Mayo in an ill-fated attempt to kill him. A few months later, Perón resigned during a new military coup, which established the Revolución Libertadora. Perón left the country, and finally settled in Spain.
Political role as Sultan
Under Brunei's 1959 constitution, the Sultan is the head of state with full executive authority, including emergency powers since 1962. On 9 March 2006, the Sultan was reported to have amended Brunei's constitution to make himself infallible under Bruneian law. Bolkiah is also the Prime Minister as well as holding the portfolios of Minister of Defence and Finance. As Minister of Defence he is also the Supreme Commander of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces; an Honorary General in the British and Indonesian armed forces and an Honorary Admiral of the Fleet in the British Navy. He appointed himself as Inspector General of Police (IGP) of the Royal Brunei Police Force. He addressed the United Nations General Assembly on Brunei Darussalam's admission to the United Nations in September, 1984. In 1991, he introduced a conservative ideology to Brunei called Melayu Islam Beraja (MIB) (or Malay Islamic Monarchy), which presents the monarchy as the defender of the faith. He has recently favoured Brunei governmentdemocratization and declared himself Prime Minister and President. In 2004, the Legislative Council, which had been dissolved since 1962, was reopened. His designated successor is his eldest son, Prince Al-Muhtadee Billah.
Titles, styles and honours
Birthday of Crown Prince Haakon Norway - Jul 20
Haakon, Crown Prince of Norway (born on 20 July 1973 in Oslo), with the full name Haakon Magnus, is the heir apparent to the Throne of Norway and the son of the current King, Harald V. He is a member of the House of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg, which is a branch of the House of Oldenburg. In accordance with Norway's agnatic primogeniture succession, he became Crown Prince when his father ascended to the throne in 1991. He has an older sister, Princess Märtha Louise of Norway. When becoming King, he will be known as Haakon VIII. The latest king of this name was his greatgrandfather Haakon VII (r. 1905–1957), and the very first was Haakon I (r. ca. 934–961).
Family and heritage On birth he was named Prince Haakon Magnus, and it was
stressed in the announcement that he would go by the name Haakon. The godparents of Haakon the Crown Prince of Norway are King Olaf V of Norway,Princess Astrid of Norway, Prince Carl Bernadotte, King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden,Queen Margrethe II of Denmark, and Princess Anne, The Princess Royal. As a descendant of King Edward VII of the United Kingdom, Haakon is also in line to the throne of each of the sixteen Commonwealth Realms. He is a third cousin to Charles, Prince of Wales, present heir to the thrones of the Commonwealth Realms. Haakon has one sibling, Princess Märtha Louise (born 1971). In 1990, the Norwegian constitution was altered, granting absolute primogeniture to the Norwegian throne, meaning that the eldest child, regardless of gender, takes precedence in the line of succession. This was not, however, done retroactively (as, for example, Sweden had done in 1980), meaning that Haakon continues to take precedence over his older sister.
Education and military life
Haakon served in the Royal Norwegian Navy undertaking his first-level officer's education at the Norwegian Naval Academy, followed by a year aboard missile torpedo boats and other vessels. He then went abroad, receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from the University of California, Berkeley in 1999. Haakon later attended lectures at the University of Oslo and took the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs' civil servant introductory course in 2001. He completed his education in 2003 at the London School of Economics, where he was awarded an MSc in development studies, specialising in international trade and Africa.
Marriage Haakon married commoner and single mother Mette-Marit
Tjessem Høiby on 25 August 2001, at Oslo Cathedral, who upon her marriage became Crown Princess. Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark was the best man. When the engagement between Crown Prince Haakon and Høiby was announced, many Norwegians felt that the Crown Prince’s choice of wife was inappropriate. This was primarily about her being a single mother, but information concerning her involvement in the Rave scene in Oslo, which included a significant drug-subculture, also added to the controversy. In addition, the father of her child was convicted of drug-related offences. In a heartfelt press conference before the wedding the Crown Princess explained about her past, saying among other things that her youthful rebelliousness might have been stronger than most young people. Although some still find her inappropriate as a future leader of the country, the issue of Mette-Marit's past has largely been laid to rest in Norwegian public discourse.
Issue:
• Her Royal Highness Princess Ingrid Alexandra born on 21 January 2004, in Oslo. • His Highness Prince Sverre Magnus born 3 December 2005 in Oslo.
Royal duties Beginning Tuesday afternoon 25 November 2003, and ending
in the evening of 12 April 2004, Haakon was the country's regent, during the King's treatment for cancer and the subsequent convalescence period. Likewise, Haakon was Norway's regent from 29 March 2005 until the King had fully recovered from the heart surgery he underwent on 1 April. This period ended on 7 June. In addition to his official duties, Haakon has a strong interest in cultural matters. In January 2006, Haakon (along with the Norwegian Royal Family) revised his patronage list. He now has twelve patronage roles in his portfolio including the annual Bjørnson literary festival. The patronage roles will last for five years, after which they will be up for renewal and other groups can apply for Royal support. In 2006, Haakon established Global Dignity with Pekka Himanen and John Hope Bryant. Global Dignity is an independent, non-political organization that promotes the universal right of every human being to lead a dignified life. The Crown Prince and Crown Princess' Humanitarian Fund was established in 2001 in connection with the wedding of the Crown Prince and Crown Princess. The couple announced that they wished for donations to the fund as wedding gifts. The fund allocates funds to humanitarian projects in Norway and abroad. In Norway the fund mainly focuses on projects aimed at improving conditions for children and young people. Abroad, the fund mainly focuses on projects related to health and education.
Grant recipients:
Rise of Peronism:
2011
Academic honours:
2010
In Malay the style and title of the Sultan in full is Kebawah Duli Yang Maha Mulia Paduka Seri Baginda Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar 'Ali Saifuddien Sa'adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Negara Brunei Darussalam. The Sultan received an honorary doctorate from a Russian university. He has also been awarded an Honorary Doctor of Law degree from the University of Oxford,England, and an Honorary Doctor of Letters degree from the University of Aberdeen,Scotland. He received an Honorary Doctorate from the Chulalongkorn University of Thailand. In 2003, he received an Honorary Doctorate Degree in Humanities and Culture from Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), Yogyakarta,Republic of Indonesia. On 27 January 2005, he was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Laws by the National University of Singapore. On 14 April 2011, he was conferred the Honorary Doctorate of Law by King's College London. The scroll for the honorary doctorate was presented by Lord Duoro, the chairman of the Council of King's College London. He was awarded with an honorary doctorate in philoposhy and humanities on 21 April 2011 from Universitas Indonesia, one of the oldest universities in Asia having been established 160 years ago.
Military honours:
The Sultan holds an honorary commission in the Royal Air Force of the United Kingdom as an Air Marshal. He is also an HonoraryAdmiral of the Royal Navy of the United Kingdom, a title given to him by Queen Elizabeth II when he took the salute at the passing out parade of the 2001 summer term at Britannia Royal Naval College, Dartmouth, the Royal Navy's officer-training school in the United Kingdom. He has an English residence at Binfield Manor in Berkshire. In April 2008, he was made an honorary member of the Indonesian Satgas Atbara Special Operations Unit. He holds the rank of Honorary Colonel of Pakistan's Special Service Group (SSG), awarded to him during his visit to the Pakistan Army's SSG headquarters at Cherat. He possesses red beret and paratrooper wings of the Black Hawk paratroopers, presented to him by the Indian Army during his state visit to India.
Constitution Day South Korea - Jul 17
Constitution Day (제헌절) in South Korea is on July 17, the day that the Korean Constitution was proclaimed in 1948. The date was deliberately chosen to match the founding date of July 17 of the Joseon Dynasty.
Background
Although Korea was liberated from Japanese rule at the end of World War II on August 15, 1945, the peninsula was caught in the middle of the Cold War between Russia and the United States and it was only in 1948 when a democratic election for National Assembly members was held separately in South Korea. The elected assembly members set upon creating a constitution, and decided upon a presidential and unicameral system. The constitution was formally adopted and promulgated by President Syngman Rhee on July 17, 1948.
Constitution Day Uruguay - Jul 18
A Constitution of a country is a set of regulations for the administration of that country. The functioning of a government in any country is highly dependent on the country’s Constitution as it specifies the powers, functions, responsibilities and duties of the government and also specifies the rights and duties of citizens of the country. The Constitution of a country may be codified (that is, contained in a single document) or uncodified, and it may be written or it may be unwritten. Uruguay has a codified, written Constitution.
History In Uruguay, Constitution Day is celebrated
on July 18. Uruguay is not the only country to celebrate a Constitution Day- a specific day to commemorate the signing, promulgation or adoption of the Constitution of a particular country is observed in several countries of the world. The Constitution Day of Uruguay is officially known as Jura de la Constitución de la República Oriental del Uruguay. Constitution Day has been observed in Uruguay since 1830, when Uruguay adopted its first Constitution. Presently, it commemorates the Constitution of 1951, which established a collegiate form of government in the country.
Traditions and activities
Constitution Day is a public holiday in Uruguay. Normally, the country’s President, Vice-President, ministers, legislators and common citizens attend the celebrations. The celebrations are marked by playing of the national anthem and speeches made by political leaders. The media coverage of the Constitution Day in Uruguay is exhaustive. Apart from the official celebrations, there are social events organised by the citizens to commemorate the day. Races, parades, rallies, marathons and marches are common events. Participation in such activities is not compulsory, but citizens participate willingly since this is a day of great national pride and glory and commemoration of this day by the citizens of Uruguay is natural. Also, this is a wonderful occasion for the citizens of the country to interact with their fellow countrymen.
Nelson Mandela`s Birthday South Africa - Jul 18
Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela (Xhosa pronunciation: born 18 July 1918) is a South African politician who served as President of South Africa from 1994 to 1999, the first ever to be elected in a fully representative democratic election. Before being elected President, Mandela was a militant anti-apartheid activist, and the leader and co-founder of Umkhonto we Sizwe, the armed wing of the African National Congress (ANC). In 1962 he was arrested and convicted of sabotage and other charges, and sentenced to life imprisonment. Mandela went on to serve 27 years in prison, spending many of these years on Robben Island. Following his release from prison on 11 February 1990, Mandela led his party in the negotiations that led to the establishment of democracy in 1994. As President, he frequently gave priority to reconciliation, while introducing policies aimed at combating poverty and inequality in South Africa. In South Africa, Mandela is often known as Madiba, his Xhosa clan name; or as tata(Xhosa: father). Mandela has received more than 250 awards over four decades.
life Early Nelson Mandela belongs to a cadet branch of the Thembu dy-
nasty, which reigns in theTranskei region of South Africa's Eastern Cape Province. He was born in Mvezo, a small village located in the district of Umtata. He has Khoisan ancestry on his mother's side.His patrilineal great-grandfather Ngubengcuka (who died in 1832), ruled as the Inkosi Enkhulu, or king, of the Thembu people. One of the king's sons, named Mandela, became Nelson's grandfather and the source of his surname. However, because he was only the Inkosi's child by a wife of the Ixhiba clan (the so-called "Left-Hand House"), the descendants of his branch of the royal family were not eligible to succeed to the Thembu throne. Mandela's father, Gadla Henry Mphakanyiswa, served aschief of the town of Mvezo. However, upon alienating the colonial authorities, they deprived Mphakanyiswa of his position, and moved his family to Qunu. Despite this, Mphakanyiswa remained a member of the Inkosi's Privy Council, and served an instrumental role in Jongintaba Dalindyebo's ascension to the Thembu throne. Dalindyebo would later return the favour by informally adopting Mandela upon Mphakanyiswa's death.Mandela's father had four wives, with whom he fathered thirteen children (four boys and nine girls). Mandela was born to his third wife ('third' by a complex royal ranking system), Nosekeni Fanny. Fanny was a daughter of Nkedama of the Mpemvu Xhosa clan, thedynastic Right Hand House, in whose umzi or homestead Mandela spent much of his childhood. His given name Rolihlahla means "to pull a branch of a tree", or more colloquially, "troublemaker". Rolihlahla Mandela became the first member of his family to attend a school, where his teacher Miss Mdingane gave him the English name "Nelson". When Mandela was nine, his father died of tuberculosis, and the regent, Jongintaba, became his guardian. Mandela attended a Wesleyan mission school located next to the palace of the regent. Following Thembu custom, he was initiated at age sixteen, and attended Clarkebury Boarding Institute. Mandela completed his Junior Certificate in two years, instead of the usual three. Designated to inherit his father's position as a privy councillor, in 1937 Mandela moved to Healdtown, the Wesleyan college in Fort Beaufortwhich most Thembu royalty attended. At nineteen, he took an interest in boxing and running at the school. After enrolling, Mandela began to study for a Bachelor of Arts at the Fort Hare University, where he met Oliver Tambo. Tambo and Mandela became lifelong friends and colleagues. Mandela also became close friends with his kinsman, Kaiser ("K.D.") Matanzima who, as royal scion of the Thembu Right Hand House, was in line for the throne of Transkei, a role that would later lead him to embrace Bantustan policies. His support of these policies would place him and Mandela on opposing political sides. At the end of Nelson's first year, he became involved in a Students' Representative Council boycott against university policies, and was told to leave Fort Hare and not return unless he accepted election to the SRC. Later in his life, while in prison, Mandela studied for a Bachelor of Laws from theUniversity of London External Programme. Shortly after leaving Fort Hare, Jongintaba announced to Mandela and Justice (the regent's son and heir to the throne) that he had arranged marriages for both of them. The young men, displeased by the arrangement, elected to relocate to Johannesburg. Upon his arrival, Mandela initially found employment as a guard at a mine. However, the employer quickly terminated Mandela after learning that he was the Regent's runaway ward. Mandela later started work as an articled clerk at a Johannesburg law firm, Witkin, Sidelsky and Edelman, through connections with his friend and mentor, realtor Walter Sisulu. While working at Witkin, Sidelsky and Edelman, Mandela completed his B.A. degree at the University of South Africa via correspondence, after which he began law studies at the University of Witwatersrand, where he first befriended fellow students and future anti-apartheid political activists Joe Slovo, Harry Schwarz and Ruth First. Slovo would eventually become Mandela's Minister of Housing, while Schwarz would become hisAmbassador to Washington. During this time, Mandela lived in Alexandra township, north of Johannesburg.
Day Mandela Mandela Day on his birthday, 18 July, is an annual international day adopted by the United Nations. Individuals,
communities and organisations are asked to donate 67 minutes to doing something for others, commemorating the 67 years that Nelson Mandela gave to the struggle for social justice.
Edgar Degas' Birthday France - Jul 19
Edgar Degas (Hilaire-Germain-Edgar De Gas, 19 July 1834 – 27 September 1917), was a French artist famous for his work in painting, sculpture, printmaking and drawing. He is regarded as one of the founders of Impressionism although he rejected the term, and preferred to be called a realist. A superb draftsman, he is especially identified with the subject of the dance, and over half of his works depict dancers. These display his mastery in the depiction of movement, as do his racecourse subjects and female nudes. His portraits are notable for their psychological complexity and depiction of human isolation. Early in his career, he wanted to be a history painter, a calling for which he was well prepared by his rigorous academic training and close study of classic art. In his early thirties, he changed course, and by bringing the traditional methods of a history painter to bear on contemporary subject matter, he became a classical painter of modern life.
Early life
Degas was born in Paris, France, the oldest of five children of Célestine Musson De Gas, a Creole from New Orleans, and Augustin De Gas, a banker. The family was moderately wealthy. Degas' mother died when he was thirteen, after which his father and grandfather were the main influences on his early life. At age eleven, Degas (in adulthood he abandoned the more pretentious spelling of the family name) began his schooling with enrollment in the Lycée Louis-le-Grand, graduating in 1853 with a baccalauréat in literature. Degas began to paint early in life. By the age of eighteen, he had turned a room in his home into an artist's studio, and in 1853 he registered as a copyist in the Louvre. His father, however, expected him to go to law school. Degas duly enrolled at the Faculty of Law of theUniversity of Paris in November 1853, but made little effort at his studies. In 1855, Degas metJean Auguste Dominique Ingres, whom he revered, and whose advice he never forgot: "Draw lines, young man, and still more lines, both from life and from memory, and you will become a good artist." In April of that same year, Degas received admission to the École des Beaux-Arts, where he studied drawing with Louis Lamothe, under whose guidance he flourished, following the style of Ingres. In July 1856, Degas traveled to Italy, where he would remain for the next three years. In 1858, while staying with his aunt's family in Naples, he made the first studies for his early masterpiece, The Bellelli Family. He also drew and painted numerous copies after Michelangelo, Raphael, Titian, and other artists of the Renaissance but, contrary to conventional practice, he usually selected from an altarpiece a detail that had caught his attention—a secondary figure, or a head which he treated as a portrait.
Liberation Day Nicaragua - Jul 19
Liberation Day is similar to Independence Day. It marks the date of the liberation of a country from occupation by another country, or the date of a revolution that overthrew the existing system in the country and replaced it by another. In Nicaragua, a Central American democratic republic, Liberation Day is observed on July 19th. The day commemorates the flight of the Somoza family from Nicaragua on this day in 1979.
History
The family of Anastasio Somoza had ruled the country as a dictatorship between the years 1937 and 1979. The Somoza family’s coming to power was actually facilitated by the US-influenced pact of 1927 according to which there would be the formation of a National Guard that would replace the small individual armies which had ruled parts of the country for many years. General Sandino was the only Nicaraguan who refused to sign this pact and fought the US Marines for more than five years from his base in the mountains of Las Segovias. When the US Marines finally left the country after an agreement with the guerrilla Sandinistas, the National Guard was left in control of the state and Anastasio Somoza Garcia held the highest position in the National Guard. Somoza’s foresight made him fear a future armed attack from General Sandino, and on basis of this fear, Somoza invited Sandino to a meeting in Managua, and Sandino was assassinated by the National Guard on 21st February, 1934. The dictatorship began of the Somoza family as, after having his most potent rival killed, Somoza took control of the country and destroyed any potential armed revolt. Somoza himself was assassinated by a Nicaraguan poet named Rigoberto López Pérez, and was succeeded by his eldest son Luis Somoza Debayle. Luis Somoza’s brother Anastasio Somoza Debayle was made the leader of the National Guard. Luis Somoza died of a heart attack in 1967 and was succeeded by Rene Schick who was more or less a puppet president as Anastasio Somoza held control of the National Guard. Somoza officially took charge of the presidency soon afterwards. Meanwhile, in 1961, Carlos Fonseca, a young student inspired by the ideals of the late General Sandino, formed the Sandinista National Liberation Front which eventually ousted Somoza and took power on 19th July 1979. Somoza abandoned the country and finally landed in Paraguay, only to be assassinated by members of the Argentinian Revolutionary Workers’ Party in September 1980.
Traditions and activities Liberation Day in Nicaragua is taken very seriously and is celebrated enthusiastically by the citizens, most of whom
had witnessed the rise to power of the Sandinista National Liberation Front. The day is celebrated like Independence Day in any other country- with parades, speeches, singing of the national anthem, hoisting of the national flag and even fireworks.
Martyr's Day - Jul 19 Myanmar / Burma
Martyrs' Day is a Burmese national holiday observed on 19 July to commemorate Gen. Aung San and six other leaders of the pre-independence interim government—Thakin Mya, Ba Cho, Abdul Razak, Ba Win, Mahn Ba Khaing and Sao San Tun—all of whom were assassinated on that day in 1947. It is customary for high-ranking government officials to visit the Martyrs' Mausoleum in Yangon in the morning of that day to pay respects. Myoma U Than Kywe led the ceremony of the First Burmese Martyrs' Day on July 20, 1947 in Rangoon.
History On July 19, 1947, at approximately 10:37 a.m., BST, several of
Burma's independence leaders were gunned down by a group of armed men in uniform while they were holding a cabinet meeting at the Secretariat in downtown Yangon. The assassinations were planned by a rival political group, and the leader and alleged master-mind of that group Galon U Saw, together with the perpetrators, were tried and convicted by a special tribunal presided by Kyaw Myint with two other Barristers-at-law, Aung Thar Gyaw and Si Bu. In a judgment given on 30 December 1947 the tribunal sentenced U Saw and a few others to death and the rest were given prison sentences. Appeals to the High Court of Burma by U Saw and his accomplices were rejected on 8 March 1948. In a judgment written by Supreme Court Justice E Maung (1898–1977) on 27 April 1948 the Supreme Court refused leave to appeal against the original judgment. (All the judgments of the tribunal, the High Court and the Supreme Court were written in English. The judgment of the tribunal can be read in "A Trial in Burma" by Dr Maung Maung (Martinus Njhoff, 1963) and the judgment of the High Court and Supreme Court can be read in the 1948 Burma Law Reports.) The President of Burma Sao Shwe Thaik refused to pardon or commute the sentences of most of those who were sentenced to death, and U Saw was hanged inside Rangoon's Insein jail on 8 May 1948. A number of perpetrators met the same fate. Others, who had played relatively minor roles and were sentenced to various terms of imprisonment, also spent several years in prison. The assassinated were: • Aung San, Prime Minister • Ba Cho, Minister of Information • Mahn Ba Khaing, Minister of Industry • Ba Win, Minister of Trade • Thakin Mya, Minister of Home Affairs • Abdul Razak, Minister of Education and National Planning • Sao San Tun, Minister of Hills Regions • Ohn Maung, Deputy Minister of Transport • Ko Htwe, Bodyguard of Razak Tin Tut, Minister of Finance, was seriously wounded but survived. Many Burmese believe that the British had a hand in the assassination plot one way or another; two British officers were also arrested at the time and one of them charged and convicted for supplying an agent of U Saw with arms and munitions enough to equip a small army, a large part of which was recovered from a lake next to U Saw's house in the immediate aftermath of the shooting. Soon after the assassinations, Sir Hubert Rance, the British governor of Burma appointed U Nu to head an interim administration and when Burma became independent on 4 January 1948, Nu became the first Prime Minister of independent Burma. July 19 was designated a public holiday and to be known as Martyr's Day.
Poem for Martyr's Day
Aung San Zarni Born on February 13 was he Born in 1915, son of Lawyer U Hpa Of Natmauk, in Magwe District Mother's name was Daw Suu The year 1947 died he On July 19 everyone wept He is the cause of our Independence He is the father of this nation. The blessings he had given us, the words he had uttered... How can we ever take those out of our minds...
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Arbeidsinstituttet, Buskerud Pøbelprosjektet, Stavanger Gatekunstakademiet, Oslo Kjør for livet, Norway
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"Shonglap", Bangladesh Jovenes emprendedores, Ecuador
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"Vær stolt", Oslo Ungdomsprosjektet HYWA, Bærum
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Fundación Xochiquetzal Fundasion Šusital, Nicaragua
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The good childhood: A collaboration between the Norwegian municipality Karasjok and Lovozero mu nicipality in Russia
2009 2008 2007 2006
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The Church City Mission: A youth project directed by the PMV Centre for health, dialogue and devel opment (Oslo, Norway) The AIDS Centre, “Project Bus”, Petrozavodsk, Republic of Karelia, Russia
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Right to Play: A sports and health project (Uganda)
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Yirga Alem Hospital Fistula Unit (Ethiopia) Rehabilitation of child soldiers (Democratic Republic of Congo)
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Norwegian People’s Aid project ”Følgesvennen”, providing companions and provisional guardians to asylum seekers (Asker, Norway) Norwegian Red Cross project “Leksehjelpen”, offering help with homework to pupils from minority back grounds (Oslo, Norway)
2005 2004 2003
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2002
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National Community of Women Living with Aids (Uganda) Education through Sport (Zambia)
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The Vard Model (Haugesund, Norway) Basic education in Alefa Takusa (Ethiopia) Prevention of HIV/AIDS (Mozambique)
2001
Patronages
The intent of the Crown Prince patronage is to raise public awareness of an organization or a specific event that supports a worthy cause. 4H Norge – Norwegian 4H Organization • The Arctic Opera and Philharmonic Orchestra • The Christian Radich Sail Training Foundation • The Ibsen Stage Festival • Nordland Music Festival • The Northern Light Festival • The Norwegian Association against Substance Abuse • The Norwegian Asthma and Allergy Association • The Norwegian Band Federation • The Norwegian Festival of International Literature • The Norwegian International Film Festival • The Norwegian Lifesaving Society • Stavanger Symphony Orchestra • Ultima Oslo Contemporary Music Festival •
Personal interests
The Crown Prince was involved in several sports and seemed to take a particular liking to windsurfing. However, he has not engaged in serious competitions. Haakon is known as a big music fan. When he was younger, he attended music festivals all over Europe, including the Roskilde Festival in Denmark and the Quart Festival in Kristiansand, Norway. He has also been part of Olympics ceremonies. In 1994, the Crown Prince and his father played roles during the opening ceremony inLillehammer. While the King declared open the Games, the Crown Prince lit the cauldron, paying tribute to his father and grandfather having served as Olympians. He attended the opening ceremony in Vancouver.
Honours and awards
National orders and decorations:
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Grand Cross with Collar of the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav ° Grand Cross of the Royal Norwegian Order of Merit ° Defence Service Medal with Laurel Branch ° Royal House Centenary Medal ° Olav V's Commemorative Medal ° Olav V's Jubilee Medal ° Olav V's Centenary Medal ° Royal Norwegian Navy Service Medal ° Norwegian Reserve Officers Federal Badge of Honour Naval Society Medal of Merit in gold ° Oslo Military Society Badge of Honour in Gold °
Foreign orders:
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Austria : Grand Star of the Decoration of Honour for Services to the Republic of Austria Brazil : Grand Cross of the Order of the Southern Cross Bulgaria : Grand Cross of the Order of Stara Planina ° Denmark : Knight of Order of the Elephant ° Estonia : Grand Cross of Order of the Cross of Terra Mariana ° Finland : Commander Grand Cross of the Order of the White Rose ° Germany : Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany ° Italy : Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic ° Japan : Grand Cordon of the Order of the Chrysanthemum ° Jordan : Grand Cordon of the Supreme Order of the Renaissance (Order of Al-Nahda) ° Latvia : Grand Cross 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 ° Netherlands : Grand Cross with swords of the Order of Orange-Nassau ° Poland : Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland ° Portugal : Grand Cross of the Order of Infante Dom Henrique ° Spain : Grand Cross of the Order of Charles III ° Sweden : Knight of the Order of the Seraphim °
Other awards:
• • •
Pakistan : 14 August Committee’s Bridge Building Prize 2011 Olympic Games : Lighter of the Olympic Cauldron; 1994 Winter Olympics in Lillehammer, opened by his father, King Harald V. A horse race bears his name, Kronprins Haakons Pokalløp. It is held every year in June, at Drammen Travpark.
Declaration of Independence Colombia - Jul 20
Colombian Declaration of Independence refers to the historic events which happened on July 20, 1810, in Santa Fe de Bogota, at the time the Viceroyalty of New Granada seceded and the related events around this date that defined the uprising of the Republic of Colombia.
History
An important factor in detonating the events of the independence of Colombia and other countries of South America was the crisis of the Spanish monarchy due to the abdication of King Carlos IV forced by Napoleon Bonaparte in favor of Fernando VII who was also forced to abdicate in favor of Napoleon's brother Joseph Bonaparte. King Joseph was cheered initially by Spanish afrancesados ("Frenchified"), who believed that collaboration with France would bring modernisation and liberty. An example was the abolition of the Spanish Inquisition. However, priesthood and patriots stirred up agitation among the populace, which became widespread after the French army's first examples of repression (Madrid, 1808) were presented as fact to unite and enrage the people. The remaining afrancesados were exiled to France following the departure of French troops. The pro-independence side included both traditionalists and liberals. After the war, they would clash in the Carlist Wars, as new king Ferdinand VII, "the Desired One" (later "the Traitor king"), revoked all the changes made by the independent Cortes, which were summoned in Cádiz acting on his behalf to coordinate the provincial Juntas and resist the French. He restored absolute monarchy, prosecuted and put to death everyone suspected of liberalism, and altered the laws of royal succession in favour of his daughter Isabella II, thus starting a century of civil wars against the supporters of the former legal heir to the throne. The liberal Cortes had approved the first Spanish Constitution on 19 March 1812, which was later nullified by the king. In Spanish America, the Spanish and Criollo officials formed Juntas that swore allegiance to King Ferdinand. This experience of self-government led the laterLibertadores (Liberators) to promote the independence of the Spanish–American colonies.. Together with other Spanish authorities in America, viceroy Antonio José Amar y Borbóndeclared loyalty to the Sevillan Junta. However, the participation of Americans in the juntas was very restricted, and the Junta of Quitofounded in 1809, was hastily repressed. Other major factor besides the institutional crisis was the systematic exclusion of the white americans (also named criollo people) of the public administration, aggravated with the uprising of the House of Bourbon allowing only Spanish-born citizens to such jobs. King Carlos III, as a typical Enlightened absolutist promoted the arts and allowed the expression of the Age of Enlightenment in America, while at the same time maintaining strong political power. His support for the United States Declaration of Independencegenerated the creation of new taxes, causing disturbances such as the Revolt of the Comuneros (New Granada) and the Túpac Amaru II's rebellion. Carlos IV was not very interested in political power, leaving such duties to his ministers, especially Manuel Godoy. Carlos IV was more interested in arts and science subjects and gave very little importance to the American colonies, which were forbidden from trading with other colonies, or countries such as the United Kingdom or the United States of America leaving Spain as their only source of goods and merchandises, although Spain were unable to fulfill the trade demands of the Colonies.
Memorial de Agravios - 1809 (pleading of offenses):
"Memorial de Agravios" was an open letter written by Camilo Torres Tenorio to the Spanish Monarchy criticizing the policy of exclusion of the white Americans, as if they were second class citizens, alleging the rights of the criollo people as "the off springs of the Conquers" and the "legitim heirs of the hegemony", although with great contempt towards the aborigins.The letter has very little effects politically and Torres was executed by hanging later, in 1816.
The first autonomous boards
On August 10, 1809, a group of criollos, led by Juan Pío Montúfar, established an autonomous Government Board in Quito, swearing loyalty to Ferdinand VII, but rejecting the viceregal authorities. The Viceroy of New Granada Antonio José Amar y Borbón considered this a rebellious act, and fearing for similar acts in the country, ordered repraissals against Quito, together with the troops sent by the Viceroy of Peru. The next incident happened in Caracas, on April 19, 1810. The mantuanos, (the rich, criollo elite of Venezuela) together with military and eclessiatic authorities, declared autonomy, again, swearing loyalty to Ferdinand VII but rejecting the viceroyalty. The Cadiz Board of government decided to order the destitution of Amar y Borbon, sending a notification with the royal visitor Antonio Villavicencio, who arrived in Cartagena on May 8. On May 22 in Cartagena de Indias, the Cartagena Board of government was created with similar terms to the previous one. Shortly after, same scenarios surged in Santiago de Cali, Socorro and Pamplona. Finally, Bogota, the central cathedra of the Viceroyalty rebelled on July 20. Initially, the government board declared to Amar y Borbón as president, but shortly after, on July 25, he was deposed and arrested. The spark for this was the flower base incident at local businessman José González Llorente's Bogota residence on the morning of the 20th.
Socorro Constitution – 1809:
From 1809 to 1830 the government failed to remain centralized, due to the lack of a national constitution. Eight separated attempts of constitutions surged in the main populated centres of the country, being the Constitution redacted in Socorro (at the time, Capital city of the Santander Province) the first one to be completed.
flower vase incident Llorente's On the morning of July 20, 1810, Joaquin Camacho went to the residence of the Viceroy Antonio José Amar y Borbón,
requesting response on an application for the establishment of a governing board in Santa Fe, but the refusal of the Viceroy coupled his arrogance, made to proceed to join the fray with the excuse of the loan of a vase. Luis Rubio then went to visit the businessman José González Llorente to borrow the vase, to use it in a dinner for the visiting royal commissioner Antonio Villavicencio, but once Llorente refused to lend the vase with a haughty attitude. In light of this, and as was planned on the previous day, The "criollos" took the vase and broke it to provoke Llorente and thus raised tempers of the people against the Spanish. The "criollos" knew Llorente, being a merchant, would refuse to lend the vase, first because it was for sale and second because he would not lend any objects to the "criollos" to meet fellow "criollos". Subsequently, a group of natives, among whom was Francisco José de Caldas, made a bow of submission to Spain and the Regency Council. In response, Antonio Morales Caldas scolded him for prompting a turbulent response from the people, who tried to attack Llorente. The mayor of Santa Fe, José Miguel Pey, tried to calm the people attacking Llorente, while Jose Maria Carbonell encouraged people to join the protest. That afternoon, a Junta was formed (later called the People's Junta) with José Acevedo as chairman, but the crowds were angered by the Viceroy's decision to be nominated for president, which he accepted. Later, a rally called by Juan Sámano, a Spanish Army officer, would lead to the Junta being reorganized (Acevedo had earlier urged the people to help charge him for lese-majesty). The next day, July 21, the Junta ordered the arrest of Viceroy Aman and his officials (and also for his resignation from the Junta presidency), and on the 25th Aman was forced to resign and was arrested. Five days later, July 26, the Junta declared that its ties to the Seville Regency Council were finally cut.
Liberation Day Guam - Jul 21
The Second Battle of Guam (July 21 — August 10, 1944) was the American capture of the Japanese held island of Guam, a United States territory (in theMariana Islands) during the Pacific campaign of World War II.
Background Guam is the largest of the Marianas, 30 miles (48 km)
long and 9 miles (14 km) wide. It had been a United States possession since its capture from Spain in 1898 until it was captured by the Japanese on December 10, 1941, following the Attack on Pearl Harbor. It was not as heavily fortified as the other Mariana Islands such as Saipan that had been Japanese possessions since the end of World War I, but by 1944 it had a large Japanese garrison. The Allied plan for the invasion of the Marianas called for heavy preliminary bombardment, first by carrier aircraft and planes based in the Marshall Islandsto the east, then once air superiority was gained, close bombardment by battleships. Guam was chosen as a target because its large size made it suitable as a base for supporting the next stage of operations towards thePhilippines, Taiwan and the Ryukyu Islands; the deep-water harbor at Aprawas suitable for the largest ships; and the two airfields would be suitable forB-29 Superfortress bombers. The invasion of Saipan was scheduled for June 15, 1944, with landings on Guam tentatively set for June 18. The original timetable was optimistic, however. A large Japanese carrier attack and stubborn resistance by the unexpectedly large garrison on Saipan led to the invasion of Guam being postponed for a month.
Battle Guam, ringed by reefs, cliffs, and heavy surf, presents a formidable challenge for an attacker. But despite the obsta-
cles, on July 21, the Americans landed on both sides of the Orote peninsula on the western side of Guam, planning to cut off the airfield. The 3rd Marine Division landed near Agana to the north of Orote at 08:28, and the 1st Provisional Marine Brigade landed near Agat to the south. Japanese artillery sank 20 LVTs, and inflicted heavy casualties on the Americans, especially on the 1st Provisional Marine Brigade, but by 09:00 men and tanks were ashore at both beaches. The 77th Infantry Division had a more difficult landing. Lacking amphibious vehicles, they had to wade ashore from the edge of the reef where they were dropped by their landing craft. The men stationed in the two beachheads were pinned down by vicious Japanese fire, making initial progress inland quite slow. By nightfall the Americans had established beachheads about 2,000 meters deep. Japanese counter-attacks were made throughout the first few days of the battle, mostly at night, using infiltration tactics. Several times they penetrated the American defenses and were driven back with heavy loss of men and equipment. Lieutenant GeneralTakeshi Takashina was killed on July 28, and Lieutenant General Hideyoshi Obata took over the command of the defenders. Supply was very difficult for the Americans in the first days of the battle. Landing ships could not come closer than the reef, several hundred yards from the beach, and amphibious vehicles were scarce. However, the two beachheads were joined up on July 25, and the Orote airfield and Apra harbor were captured by July 30. The counterattacks against the American beachheads, as well as the fierce fighting, had exhausted the Japanese. At the start of August they were running out of food and ammunition and had only a handful of tanks left. Obata withdrew his troops from the south of Guam, planning to make a stand in the mountainous central and northern part of the island. But with resupply and reinforcement impossible because of American control of the sea and air around Guam, he could hope to do no more than delay the inevitable defeat for a few days. Rain and thick jungle made conditions difficult for the Americans, but after an engagement at Mount Barrigada from August 2 to August 4, the Japanese line collapsed; the rest of the battle was a pursuit to the north. As in other battles of the Pacific War, the Japanese refused to surrender, and almost all were killed. On August 10, after 3 long weeks of bloody and ferocious fighting, organized Japanese resistance ended, and Guam was declared secure. The next day, Obata committed ritual suicide.
Aftermath
A few Japanese soldiers held out in the jungle. On December 8, 1945, three U.S. Marines were ambushed and killed. On January 24, 1972, Sergeant Shoichi Yokoi was discovered by hunters. He had lived alone in a cave for 27 years. After the battle, Guam was turned into a base for Allied operations. Five large airfields were built by the Seabees, and B-29 bombers flew from the island to attack targets in the Western Pacific and on mainland Japan. Four U.S. Marines were awarded the Medal of Honor for their heroic actions during the Battle of Guam: PFC Luther Skaggs Jr., PFC Frank Witek(posthumously), PFC Leonard F. Mason (posthumously) and Captain (later General) Louis H. Wilson, Jr.. Liberation Day continues to be celebrated on Guam every July 21.
National Day Belgium - Jul 21
Leopold I (Leopold George Christian Frederick; German: Leopold Georg Christian Friedrich; Prince of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld, later Prince of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, Duke of Saxony; 16 December 1790 – 10 December 1865) was from 21 July 1831 the first King of the Belgians, following Belgium's independence from the Netherlands. He was the founder of the Belgian line of the House of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha. His children includedLeopold II of Belgium and Empress Carlota of Mexico. He was also an uncle of Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom. He was born in Coburg and died in Laeken.
Early life He was the youngest son of Francis, Duke of Saxe-
Coburg-Saalfeld, and CountessAugusta ReussEbersdorf, and later became a prince of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha after Saxe-Coburg acquired Gotha from Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg in 1836 and yielded Saalfeld toSaxe-Meiningen. In 1795, as a mere child, Leopold was appointed colonel of the Izmaylovsky Guards Regiment in Russia. Seven years later, he became a major general. When Napoleonic troops occupied the Duchy of Saxe-Coburg in 1806 Leopold went to Paris. Emperor Napoleon I offered him the position of adjutant, but he refused. Instead, he took up a military career in the Imperial Russian Cavalry. He campaigned against Napoléon and distinguished himself at the Battle of Kulm at the head of his cuirassier division. In 1815, at the age of 25, Leopold reached the rank of lieutenant general in the Imperial Russian Army. In Carlton House on 2 May 1816, he married Princess Charlotte of Wales, the only legitimate child of the British Prince Regent (later King George IV of the United Kingdom) and therefore second in line to the British throne, and was created a British field-marshal and Knight of the Garter. On 5 November 1817, Princess Charlotte delivered a stillborn son; she herself died the following day. Had she lived, she would have become Queen of the United Kingdom on the death of her father, and Leopold presumably would have assumed the role later taken by his nephew, Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, as Prince Consort of the United Kingdom, and never been chosen to reign as King of the Belgians. Despite Charlotte's death, the Prince Regent granted Prince Leopold the British style of Royal Highness by Order in Council on 6 April 1818. In 1828–1829, Leopold was involved romantically during several months with the actress Caroline Bauer, who enjoyed a striking resemblance with Charlotte. Caroline was a cousin of his advisor Baron Christian Friedrich von Stockmar. She came over to England with her mother and took up residence at Longwood House a few miles from Claremont House. Halfway through 1829, the liaison was over, and the mistress and her mother returned to Berlin. Many years later, in memoirs published after her death, she declared that she and Leopold had engaged into a morganatic marriage and that he had bestowed upon her the title of Countess Montgomery. He would have broken this marriage when the possibility arose that he could become King of Greece. The son of Baron von Stockmar denied that these events ever happened, and sure enough no records were found of a civil or religious marriage, nor of an ennobling of the actress.
King of the Belgians Leopold turned down the throne of Greece. After Belgium
asserted its independence from the Netherlands on 4 October 1830, the Belgian National Congress considered several candidates and eventually asked Leopold to become King of the newly-formed country. He was elected on 4 June and accepted and became "King of the Belgians" on 26 June 1831. He swore allegiance to the constitution in front of the Saint Jacob's Church at Coudenbergh Place in Brussels on 21 July 1831. This day became the Belgian national holiday.Jules Van Praet would become his personal secretary. Less than two weeks later, on 2 August, the Netherlands invaded Belgium. Skirmishes continued for eight years, but in 1839, the two countries signed the Treaty of London establishing Belgium's independence. With the opening of the railway line between Brussels and Mechelen on 5 May 1835, one of King Leopold's fondest hopes—to build the first railway in continental Europe—became a reality. In 1840, Leopold arranged the marriage of his niece, Queen Victoria, the daughter of his sister, Princess Victoria of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld, to his nephew, Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, son of his brother, Ernest I, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. Even before she succeeded to the throne, Leopold had been advising the then-Princess Victoria by letter, and after her accession, he was one of the great influences on her in the early days of her monarchy. In 1842, Leopold tried unsuccessfully to pass laws to regulate female and child labor. A wave of revolutions passed over Europe after the deposition of his father-in-law, King Louis-Philippe, from the French throne in 1848. Belgiumremained neutral, mainly because of Leopold's diplomatic efforts. He was the 649th Knight of the Order of the Garter in 1816, the 947th Knight of the Order of the Golden Fleece in Spain in 1835 and the 35thGrand Cross of the Order of the Tower and Sword. On 11 October 1850, Leopold again lost a young wife, as Queen Louise-Marie died of tuberculosis at age 38. Leopold also had two sons, George and Arthur, by a mistress, Arcadia Meyer (née Claret). George was born in 1849 (before the death of Queen Louise-Marie), and Arthur was born in 1852. After Leopold's death, each of the two sons was created Freiherr von Eppinghoven (in 1862), and in 1863 Arcadia was created Baronin von Eppinghoven. On 10 December 1865, the King died in Laeken at the age of 74. He lies buried in the Royal Vault at the Church of Our Lady of Laeken.
HUNGARY Orbán backs Azerbaijan gas (Online 11 HunJul) gary will be looking for ways of delivering Azeri gas to the west through Central Euthe rope, state secretary at the Prime Minister’s Office in charge of external relations said on Saturday during Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s visit to Azerb a i j a n . Speaking in the capital Baku, Péter Szijjártó said Orbán believes Hungary and Europe must diversify their energy supplies. Hungary currently imports 80 per cent of its natural gas, most of it from Russia, and wishes to reduce dependence on a single source by procuring natural gas from as many sources as possible. Orbán told the Crans Montana Forum in Baku that the EU should develop closer ties with the Caspian region, and Azerbaijan in particular, to secure the bloc’s energy supplies. He also called for north-south delivery systems to complement the already existing east-west pipelines
built during the communist era. The only operating pipeline running south is the one between Szeged and Arad in Romania. However, the pipeline only supplies Romania with natural gas and would need modifications on the Romanian side for gas to be pumped in the opposite direction. Szijjártó used the planned Nabucco pipeline as an example, a project that has been a major topic for the last ten years. Nabucco West would run from Turkey through Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary and end in Austria. An agreement to push the project forward has been signed by the leaders of the five countries. However, it is
exnot pected to be completed before 2017. During the e a r l y months of 2012 there were fresh doubts over the Nabucco project due to perceived changes in the political stability of the region. H o w e v e r, week last Azerbaijan’s Shah Deniz consorII tium, led by British Petroleum and Norway’s Statoil, announced it has selected the Nabucco pipeline as one of two potential routes to deliver Caspian gas to Western Europe. This was seen as a major boost, and potentially a life saver, for the project. Back in 2007 Russian state energy firm Gazprom announced its rival South Stream pipeline project, and Hungary is one of several transit countries to have since signed up. The pipeline would enable Russia to export natural gas to southern Europe, bypassing its troublesome intermediary Ukraine. Construction of the pipeline is expected to begin in December.
Hungarian An-26 Wins Trophy in Fairford (Online 12 Jul) The organizers of the Fairford Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT) 2012 had another busy day on Friday, July 6 well. as While the piwere lots practicing flying under a cloud low the base, of panel judges in the “Concours d’Elegance’ competition went round (photo: István Tőrös) the on ground to see the aircraft on display. safety equipment. The 16 air attachés and their four The Hungarian aircrew received the civil assistants had a difficult time, as strict judges in a “Hungarian style”, they had to decide by scoring which wearing highwayman-style shirts and was the best aircraft on ground dis- vests on top of their uniforms, which play at the Royal International Air Tat- expresses the resourceful and manytoo 2012. The panel of judges gave sided character of the “people of the or took away scores not only for the Plains” among the soldiers of the sky. external appearance of the aircraft The winners of the noble competition but also for the required markings ‘Concours d’Elegance’ were anand the presence or absence of nounced on Friday in the late
evening hours: a Sea heliKing copter in the military aircraft catea gory, Breitling DC3 in the civil aircraft category, while in the Over All category, the HungarAn-26 ian a s w awarded the Skylift 2012 Trophy! The judges’ decision is the recognition of the veteran aircraft and the Hungarian crew. The F-16 fighter with the tiger-striped painting on it, which was competing with the An-26 for such a long time, could be no more than a “teenager” in comparison with the Hungarian aircraft, whose logged flight hours are increasing month by month. Even aircraft of the same type in NATO would have a hard time surpassing its 22,000 flight hours!
The H unga r ia n D e f e nc e For c e s A lwa y s N e e d Ex c e lle nt N C Os (Online 12 The Jul) armed forces rely on the NCOs and are held together by the NCOs who carry them their on Deback, fence MinisCsaba ter Hende said at the NCO swearing-in ceremony which was held in Buon dapest S a t u r d a y, July 7. More than 150 freshly (photo: Mária Krasznai-Nehrebeczky) graduated sergeants took their oath of service the first batch of students to pass out in Szent György Square, Buda Cas- of it. The Academy has the important tle in the presence of the leaders of mission of laying the necessary founthe Ministry of Defence and the Hun- dations for shaping the identity of the garian Defence Forces. Sgt. Balázs NCO corps.” Prech, a radar technician graduate Csaba Hende pointed out that the was appointed to read out the text of NCOs provide the backbone of the military. “The armed forces rely on the oath. the After pledge, the Minister of Defence greeted the soldiers just sworn in. In his speech, C s a b a reHende the called military reevents lated to the historic places and pointed out (photo: Mária Krasznai-Nehrebeczky) that the soldiers sworn in at the ceremony have the mission of renewing you, it is you who hold them together Hungary and the system of national and carry them on your back. You are defence within it. For two years now, responsible for the enlisted personall servicemembers of the Hungarian nel. You teach them the military proDefence Forces have been working fession, the life lived in discipline, its towards this goal in their places and requirements and beauty. When the order is issued, you must always be positions. “Our efforts are beginning to show ready to lead and to execute the astask.” signed the first substantial results”, he added. These include all the things The Minister pointed out that “If you for your country everything you do we have done in order to renew the training of military leaders. An exam- are required to do, if your men see you take service seriously, that ple is the establishment of the HDF NCO Academy, and you have been everything will go on track almost as
a matter of course, and you will be successful and happy in your vocation. I ask and expect you to love your homethe land, Hungarian Defence F o r c e s which serve it and the enlisted men you are responsible for.” The Minister stressed that this was an important moment in the life the nation, as it means that there are brave men and women who undertake to defend and serve it unconditionally, without question. This is an important moment in the life of the Hungarian Defence Forces too, because the armed forces always need excellent NCOs who underthe stand objective and sense of mistheir and sion, are able to live up to it in everyday life doing by service – by performing their duties with preciand sion commitment, with due humility and humanity, bravely and cleverly. “May you be able to draw strength from this great and huge moment in the difficult hours of your career so that you can keep to this oath. May God help you along this path!”, Csaba Hende closed his speech. This year Sgt. Gergely Fehér, a student of surface-to-air missile systems received the dagger of honor named after Kálmán Kéri. The dagger of honor goes to a single graduate every year in recognition of his or her excellent scholastic record.
We shall not yield ground on property tax and asset tax: Mihály Varga (Online 13 Jul) "Property tax and asset tax may be put on the table at IMF-EU talks, but Hungary will not yield ground on these", Mihály Varga Minister without portfolio responsible for the international loan negotiations said to commercial television TV2 on Friday. Mihály Varga stated, "At the talks we shall draw attention to previous Constitutional Court decisions", adding that "Hungary is currently unable to introduce a tax such as the property tax because conditions are not suit-
able, and the Constitutional Court has also made a decision to this effect". With regard to flat-rate tax, he said that it would be in place in a "pure form" for the first time from 2013. He added that the government would ask the IMF to wait and see what this system could achieve. He also recalled that IMF professional materials had previously also mentioned that a flat-rate system of taxation improves economic competitiveness. According to the Minister without
portfolio, the crisis will not last forever and the Hungarian system of taxation will then enable the economy to grow faster and create more jobs. Mihály Varga reiterated that Hungary was seeking a precautionary credit line from the IMF. He said, the country could finance itself at the moment but given the European economy's current situation, it cannot be foreseen whether this will change or not. Varga added, the deal would be concluded in autumn.
A positive turn in industrial production (Online 13 Jul) In May 2012 according to workday-adjusted statistics the volume of industrial production increased by 1.9 percent in comparison to the same period of the previous year and seasonally and workday-adjusted data also signal a significant expansion of 3.2 percent. Unadjusted figures also show a more favourable result than the statistics of April: in May there was a decline of only 0.4 percent compared to the level of one year ago. Among the sectors of the national economy the output of the manufacturing industry has been practically unchanged, energy industry output declined by 7.6 percent, but production in mining and quarrying – a relatively less significant sector – increased by 8.3 percent in May 2012 compared to the corresponding period of the previous year. Within the manufacturing industry
there was expansion in seven sub sectors: among the more significant ones the manufacturing of transport equipment was up by 9.1 percent due to the exceptionally dynamic growth of 18 percent of motor vehicle manufacturing and the output of food, beverages and tobacco products increased by 12.4 percent. On the other hand, however, in May as well as in April the greatest contributor to the decline of total industrial output was the 14.2 percent contraction of the largest sub sector of computer, electronic and optical products manufacturing. Statistics consequently imply that although the moderation in demand for communication equipment, electronic consumer goods and fuels could not be entirely offset by the exceptionally favourable expansion in transport equipment and food industry output in May as yet, but in comparison to the level of
April it could compensate more for contracting sub sectors. If one takes a closer look at the sales side, industrial exports in May 2012 increased by 1.7 percent in contrast to a decline of the previous month. This result was the consequence of the 11.6 percent growth of transport equipment exports and the 4.8 percent decline of the exports of computers, electronic and optical products manufacturing. Domestic sales were down by 3.3 percent in May 2012 compared to the level of one year ago, however domestic sales of manufacturing industry increased by 0.3 percent in the observed month. It has been a favourable sign, nonetheless, that total orders were higher by 24.6 percent in comparison to the base of one year ago.
Zoltán Balog at the EPSCO Council (Online 12 Jul) Minister of Human Resources Zoltán Balog is attending the Informal meeting of Ministers for Employment, Social Affairs, Health and Consumer Affairs (EPSCO) on 12-13 July, organized by the Cyprus presidency of the EU Council of Min-
isters. EU leaders in Employment and Social Affairs will examine possible forms of cooperation with social partners, civil organizations and local governments, aimed at eradicating poverty and boosting employment.
EU Member States will discuss national experiences and opportunities for EU-level progress. The Hungarian government will also be represented by Secretary of State for Employment Sándor Czomba.
Expansion of Chinese-Hungarian Business Relations Expected (Online 11 Jul) "Mutual high-level meetings, professional discussions and forums between China and Hungary are achieving the required results and business relations between the two countries are expected to expand", said Deputy State Secretary of the Ministry of Rural Development Katalin Tóth at the conference organised in Budapest by the Commercial Centre of the Chinese Ministry of Agriculture and the Hungarian Kincsem Agricultural Cooperative. The Deputy State Secretary for Parliamentary, Social and International Affairs emphasised that the two countries' public administration and economic participants must make further efforts, which primarily assumes taking an active role. "1.5 billion people live in China, meaning that the food supply of 20 percent of the world's population must be provided for", noted the State Secretary in her speech.
"China contributes some 10.7 percent of the world's food production, while it consumes 23 percent of the good produces and so requires continuous imports. Hungary's natural conditions are excellent, and it produces healthy foods that comply to the highest export requirements and whose export to China may be increased", stressed the Deputy State Secretary. She also added that Hungary has an interest in high-level forms of cooperation that are not limited simply to the mutual exchange of goods. For this reason the Ministry of Rural Development is actively working to promote the building of direct relationships between the two country's economic players. The Deputy State Secretary reminded those present that ChineseHungarian political and economic relations have developed extremely intensively in recent years. Katalin Tóth stressed that Chinese-Hungar-
ian agricultural diplomacy relations have also gained significant momentum, noting that there is continuous cooperation between the Hungarian Ministry of Rural Development and the Chinese Ministry of Agriculture. As an example, she mentioned that Minister for Rural Development Sándor Fazekas had held talks in Peking with Chinese Deputy Minister for Agriculture Niu Dun, Minister for Water Resources Chen Lei and with the ministerial-level Director of the Quarantine Bureau in April. In addition, the Hungarian-Chinese Agricultural Workgroup, which coordinates agricultural relations between the two countries, meets for regular sessions, the last one having been held in Budapest this May. Katalin Tóth announced that Chinese Deputy Minister for Water Dong Li would be visiting Hungary in September, at which time the 3rd Hungarian-Chinese Water Workshop would also be held.
R e s our c e s f or t he J ob Pr ote c t ion A c t ion Pla n a r e s e c ur e d (Online 11 Jul) As a result of the Job Protection Action Plan, tax liabilities of employees and small enterprises will decline by 300bn HUF. Taking into consideration that that the proportionate flat rate personal income tax system left 500bn HUF at taxpayers and families, and levies on the profits of small enterprises have been reduced by 150bn HUF, together with the measures announced lately which total 300bn HUF and are aimed at cutting burdens the tax liabilities on employment will be almost
1000bn HUF lower. The foremost objective of the government with the Job Protection Action Plan is to secure existing jobs, but as advocacy groups during negotiations with them have pointed out hiring could also pick up as a consequence of the programme. Such measure which eases the tax burden of employees and small enterprises by almost 1000bn HUF has been nonexistent under the previous governments, therefore the government is justified to expect that the
substantially lower taxes will be paid by those at issue. In order to secure the resources for the Job Protection Action Plan the government anticipates that the National Tax and Customs Administration of Hungary – just as it achieved extra revenues of 40bn HUF last year – will further improve the efficiency of tax collection this year. The latter step, in turn, will contribute to securing the amount of 300bn HUF required for the programme in the budget.
Hungary plans to hold World C o n f e r e n c e o n Wa t e r (Online 10 Jul) "Water is a priority issue for Hungary, and so the country has undertaken to provide the venue for a World Conference on water in autumn 2013", announced Deputy State Secretary of the Ministry of Rural Development Katalin Tóth at the session of the Parliamentary Committee on Sustainable Development. During her report on the Rio+20 UN Conference, the Deputy State Secretary said that the two most important topics of the discussions were the relationship between the green economy and sustainable development, and the strengthening of the institutional system for sustainable development.
"Finalisation of the closing document was only possible with great difficulty and significant compromises because of the differing standpoints of the various countries. The document adopted by the Conference includes significantly fewer concrete measures and commitments than expected", explained the Deputy State Secretary. "The most important issue for Hungary was that the various dimensions of sustainable development gain equal emphasis within the closing document, and priority areas also included the reduction of poverty and the issue of food security", she stated, adding "Similarly to the other UN member states, Hungary may
also not be fully satisfied with the achievements of the Conference." "Together with the other members of the "Friends of Water" Steering Group, Hungary kept the issue of water on the agenda continuously, and it is in relation to this that we undertook to organise the World Conference on Water", said Katalin Tóth. The members of the Hungarian delegation at the environmental summit held in Rio de Janeiro between June 20 and 22 included Minster for Rural Development Sándor Fazekas, Deputy State Secretary for Parliamentary, Social and International Relations Katalin Tóth, and Deputy State Secretary for Water Péter Kovács.
PM Vik t or Or ba n m e t wit h A ls t om (Online 10 Jul) The French delegation was headed by President-CEO Patrick Korn, and Prime Minister Orban was accompanied by National Development Minister Zsuzsanna Nemeth, Economy Minister Gyorgy Matolcsy and Budapest Mayor Istvan Tarlos. The meeting was aimed at discussing opportunities for cooper-
ation between Hungarian industrial units and the French conglomerate. The first Metropolis train delivered by Alstom was presented at the Puskas Ferenc Stadium metro station today and can be viewed by the public until 8 pm. The trains, bought by the Hungarian Government for a total sum of 150 million Euros, will be put into
service on metro line 2 in early September. A contract with Alstom was signed in May 2006 for producing 22 metro carriages to be used on metro line 2 and an additional 22 carriages to be used on metro line 4, which is still under construction.
Hungary welcomes the successful runoff of the General elections in Libya (Online 10 Jul) The people of Libya have exercised their democratic right to vote for the first time after decades on July 7th, 2012. At these historic elections they have selected their future leaders with a high turnout. Hungary welcomes the fact that in spite of the attempts to disrupt the elections votes were successfully cast in 98% of the constituencies.
The people of Libya defeated dictatorship and achieved freedom at the cost of severe losses. The current elections, the fairness of which was monitored by international observers – including the Hungarian Embassy -, the European Union, and civil society organisations on the ground, was a milestone in the efforts of the Libyan people to create peace, sta-
bility, and democracy in their country. Hungary has firmly supported the people of Libya in their struggle for democratic transition since the beginning. The Hungarian Government is committed to building close relations with the new Government of Libya to be formed after the elections.
US-Hungarian cooperation for the training of future leaders (Online 10 Jul) The Ministry of Public Administration and Justice, the Institute of International Education (IIE) and the US corporation GE held a joint conference on Monday on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the GE Foundation’s Scholar-Leaders scholarship programme. The eight Hungarian winners of the GE Foundation’s Scholar-Leaders scholarship programme were announced at the event. Minister of State for Social Relations Zoltán Kovács, US Ambassador to Budapest Eleni Tsakopoulos Kounalakis and György Zolnai, Chair-Chief Executive of Budapest Bank handed over the awards to the students. Minister of State Zoltán Kovács highlighted at the award ceremony that, in addition to traditions, the experience and knowledge of a country’s international partners are also very important. Today’s young generation, whose members were born after the change of regime, will create their own traditions with their scholarships, travels and experience gained in the employ of international corporations. In order for Central and Eastern-Europe to become an even more attractive investment target on the foundations of a multi-faceted, international managerial concept, the Ministry of Public Administration and Justice is committed to cooperating with the business and non-profit sectors in innovative talent fostering pro-
grammes that are designed to boost competitiveness. US Ambassador Eleni Tsakopoulos Kounalakis said that the US corporation GE with a great history wishes to give something back to the community in which it operates, and the scholarship programme is an example of this. She encouraged scholarship holders themselves to ponder what they can do for their community because every country needs active citizens who shape and develop the fate of the nation. At the same time, she also encouraged students to study in the United States. György Zolnai said that this programme concentrates on the future and helps students build relations with members of the business community. After the award ceremony, the IIE organised a round-table discussion on the training of the future’s Eastern-Central-European executives. The GE Foundation Scholar-Leaders scholarship programme was created to give participating students a chance to develop their managerial skills with the aid of financial and professional support and to contribute to the development of a regional managerial generation that is competitive also by international standards and serves the best interests of the community. As part of the programme implemented with the participation of Hungarian, Polish, Czech and Ro-
manian universities, the regional camp of GE Foundation ScholarLeaders scholarship holders will increase by 32 students this year, and will reach 430 in total. The scholarship programme was first announced at five Hungarian universities in 2002 (Budapest Corvinus University, Budapest Technical and Economics University, Miskolc University, Pécs University of Sciences and Pannon University) amongst students in their second year studying economics, management, engineering and technology. Thanks to the success of the Hungarian initiative, the programme was launched in Poland in 2003, in the Czech Republic in 2004 and finally in Romania in 2006. In 2012, applicants from 20 universities from the above-mentioned four countries were eligible for scholarship grants based on their outstanding study results, extracurricular activities and other special skills (e.g. active role in student groups, voluntary work, community work, managerial skills). Within the framework of the programme, the students selected on the basis of a system of stringent criteria are awarded a grant of one thousand five hundred euros a year over a period of two years and also attend a regional managerial skills development seminar in the summer.
7th Budapest Pride event in Budapest (Online 09 Jul) The 7th Budapest Pride March, an event which boasts a long history, took place in Budapest in early July. The first organized LGBTI film festival (1993) was preceeded by a picnic in 1992. The significant traditions of the Pride Festival have gradually intertwined with film and other artistic programmes. One of the Pride event organizers, Szilvia Nagy told MTI "there have never been so many participants previously" compared to this year. She added that they felt safe owing to the effective measures of the National Police Force. Budapest Police spokeswoman Katalin Fanni Horvath told MTI that "The march ended peacefully, without the necessity for police interven-
tion". In relation to the circumstances of the event, Amnesty International’s Budapest office declared that „The march took place in a peaceful and positive atmosphere. We are thankful for the organizers, the participants and the dedicated service of the National Police Force.” The Pride March was the final part of the week-long Pride film and cultural festival. During the festival beside other programmes a film called Pride was screened that was mainly about people in Belgrade who had attempted to organize a similar event, but were not supported by either the National Police or public opinion. According to ILGA Europe’s Rainbow Europe Map & Index 2011, the legal status of the LGBTI community is
ranked highest in Hungary among all neighbouring countries. Hungary also achieved a great result in the overall comparison. The European countries were measured according to a scale ranging from -7 to 17, where the value of -7 means gross violations of human rights and discrimination, while the value of 17 represents the full respect of human rights and equality. In this comparison the worst country ranks -4, and the best achieved a score of 12,5, while Hungary ranks seventh. Consequently, in addition to achieving the highest score among its neighbours, Hungary also occupies a distinguished position in the overall map.
World Meeting of Hungarian Schools in Budapest (Online 09 Jul) The World Meeting of Weekend Hungarian Schools concerned with the language teaching of Hungarians living beyond the borders and the preservation of their cultural identity began in Budapest. Some 100 Hungarian teachers are coming to the one-week event from 4 continents. Weekend Hungarian schools operating world-wide promote the preservation of the identity of Hungarians living beyond the borders and the development of formal and informal education beyond the borders and help Hungarians living outside Hungary to re-learn and to practise Hungarian. Some 100 Hungarian teachers are coming to the meeting from the following countries from 4 continents: Argentina, Australia, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, United Kingdom, Finland, France, Greece, Italy, Switzerland, Slovenia, Austria, Holland, Germany, Romania, Sweden,
Serbia, Slovakia, United States, Canada, etc. The event was opened by Deputy Prime Minister Tibor Navracsics, who drew attention to the fact that the loss of language is a realistic threat in a number of territories beyond the borders, and weekend schools therefore take on special significance. The weekend schools are assisted by the Budapest-based Balassi Bálint Institute and, in cooperation with Hungarian language teachers around the world, they jointly seek to find the points of reference that may arouse the interest of third- or fourthgeneration young people of Hungarian descent or may help retain contact with the motherland in the case of children who moved abroad together with their parents just a few years ago. In addition to language teaching issues, attendees of the meeting will conduct a professional dialogue on the techniques of com-
munity building, cultural programmes and the opportunities offered by education via the Internet. In addition to the some 10 million Hungarian citizens that live in Hungary, another 4.5 to 5 million Hungarians live beyond the borders around the world; most of them in the Hungarian-inhabited territories of the neighbouring countries and a further 1.5 million in other countries (in Western-Europe, United States, etc.). Mass emigrations occurred after World War II and in the wake of the 1956 revolution when hundreds of thousands of Hungarians left the country. It is their descendants who successfully maintain contact with Hungary, preserve their culture and learn the Hungarian language thanks to the weekend Hungarian schools that operate world-wide also at present.
Saving Lives in Afghanistan (Online 09 Jul) On July 7 at 18:30 the deputy police chief of Baghlan Province informed the commander of the HDF Provincial Reconstruction Team (HUN PRT) stationed in Afghanistan that a magnetic improvised explosive device (IED) had been emplaced on a tanker truck on the main road in the town of Pol-e Khumri, 2.5 kilometers from Camp Pannonia. Led by the commander, the Quick Reaction Force (QRF) and the EOD technicians of the Hungarian contingent quickly deployed to the scene where they cordoned off the area and cooperated with the EOD technicians of the Afghan national security forces (ANSF) until successfully removing the IED after more than three hours of intensive work. There were 16,000 liters of kerosene inside the tank of the tanker truck. Through their action, the Hungarian soldiers have thwarted a bomb attack that would have claimed around 1,500 lives. The ANSF have launched an investigation into the incident. Currently there are 340 Hungarian soldiers deployed in Afghanistan as
part of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF). They are there to implement development projects and build infrastructure through which they can substantially improve the Afghan people’s living circumstances after the withdrawal of NATO combat forces. The Hungarian Defence Forces Provincial Reconstruction Team (HUN PRT) started work in August 2004 in Camp Julien, near Kabul. The Light Infantry Company was tasked with patrolling, protection of designated facilities, search and rescue and convoy escort. From 2006 on, the Hungarian contingent took over responsibility for NATO’s Provincial Reconstruction Team in Baghlan Province. The mission has to provide the population with drinking water and proper health care, and also to participate in local infras t r u c t u r a l developments and the establishment of the systems of public ad-
ministration, education, agriculture and judiciary. In April, the Defence and Foreign Ministers of NATO agreed that all combat forces would be withdrawn from Afghanistan by the end of 2014. At the meeting in Brussels, the member states agreed on the specific stages of the transition, which is to be implemented until 2014. Speaking at the Chicago NATO Summit in May, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán praised the work done by the Hungarian forces in Afghanistan. “The Hungarian soldiers have done a great job and earned widespread recognition for Hungary”, he stressed.