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krisluke
    23-Mar-2011 19:59  
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WHAT IS UN ?



UN Logo
The UN emblem shows the world held in the “olive branches of peace”.



 

 


PhotoThe United Nations officially came into existence on 24 October 1945, when the UN Charter had been ratified by a majority of the original 51 Member States. The day is now celebrated each year around the world as United Nations Day.

The purpose of the United Nations is to bring all nations of the world together to work for peace and development, based on the principles of justice, human dignity and the well-being of all people. It affords the opportunity for countries to balance global interdependence and national interests when addressing international problems.


There are currently 192 Members of the United Nations. They meet in the General Assembly, which is the closest thing to a world parliament. Each country, large or small, rich or poor, has a single vote, however, none of the decisions taken by the Assembly are binding. Nevertheless, the Assembly's decisions become resolutions that carry the weight of world governmental opinion.

The United Nations Headquarters is in New York City but the land and buildings are international territory. The United Nations has its own flag, its own post office and its own postage stamps. Six official languages are used at the United Nations - Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish. The UN European Headquarters is in the Palais des Nations, Geneva, Switzerland. It has offices in Vienna, Austria and Economic Commissions in Addis Ababa in Ethiopia, Amman in Jordan, Bangkok in Thailand and Santiago in Chile. The senior officer of the United Nations Secretariat is the Secretary-General.

 
 
krisluke
    23-Mar-2011 19:54  
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ABOUT  NATO.

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) was formed in Washington on 4 April 1949. Made up of nations from North America and Europe, 12 independent countries originally signed the North Atlantic Treaty. The treaty's purpose was to commit each signatory country to the peace and security of all other members. A total of 28 countries are now members.

Since the Cold War ended, the structure of the treaty has been redesigned. The emphasis is now maintaining peace through the treaty's political and military guidelines. Other countries who are not members of NATO also cooperate, although sometimes unsuccessfully, with treaty guidelines. Apart from peacekeeping between countries and deterring war, NATO also acts in the area of crisis management. NATO has guidelines set out in order to prevent conflict between countries and to help resolve any crisis.

 

Examples of the treaty in action include the reversal of ethnic cleansing in Kosovo. When hundreds of thousands of Kosovan people fled their country in 1999 due to repression by the government, they were left homeless. NATO helped the refugees return safely to their homeland. NATO also assisted in rebuilding homes and lives in Kosovo. They were also instrumental in developing a democratic society in which the refugees should be able to live in peace.

Russian relations are also a top issue for NATO. The establishment and maintenance of peaceful relations with the Ukraine and throughout Central and Eastern Europe are a high priority. The Alliance, as the group of members is known, has been achieving these peace-keeping goals for over 50 years.

Since World War II, the treaty has been the only security organization to combine the United Stated and Canada with Europe. After the war ended, Europe was able to rebuild itself thanks to the written agreement by NATO. The treaty ensures that any threat of war to Europe is also seen as a threat to the United States.


The NATO treaty ensured that each country would reciprocate these understandings. Political solidarity was thus obtained by all members of NATO. Each country promised to take a share in the others' security.

In the years since the treaty was signed, other initiatives have been formed as a result of NATO. In 1991, the North Atlantic Cooperation Council (NACC) was formed, and in 1994, the Partnership for Peace (PFP) took place. In 1997, the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council (EAPC) built new structures of alliance and agreement between other countries.

COUNTRIES IN NATO.

19
Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Turkey, United Kingdom, U.S.

26 (Since the introduction of 7 Eastern European Countries in 2004)

Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States

COUNTRIES NOT IN NATO

Finland, Austria, Ireland, Yugoslavia, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Malta, and Sweden are the traditionally neutral countries.

During the Cold War, there were also the Warsaw Pact countries, of course, which consisted of the Soviet Union, Bulgaria, Romania, East Germany, Poland, Hungary, and Czechoslovakia. Albania was originally a member, but withdrew in 1968, and declared themselves a neutral country. Currently, Albania is a member of NATO.


// fact sheet Smiley, NATO might olso stand for No Action Talk Only Alliance...

 
 
krisluke
    23-Mar-2011 15:41  
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media corp actress in singapore military uniform  ...Smiley  do you know who ?
 

 
krisluke
    23-Mar-2011 15:31  
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SINGAPORE, March 23 (Reuters) - Singapore's annual inflation eased to 5 percent in February, below January's 5.5 percent, raising doubts the central bank will further tighten monetary policy at its next review in April.

The city-state's consumer price index in February was unchanged from January on a seasonally adjusted basis, the Department of Statistics said.

 

COMMENTARY:

WAI HO LEONG, ECONOMIST AT BARCLAYS CAPITAL

'Lower certificate of entitlement (COE) prices in the month of February helped to drive transport inflation lower, pushing down the headline figure. But this is not that important a factor for the upcoming monetary policy meeting.'

'What's more crucial is services costs, for example education and recreation. We expect services costs to continue to rise because of a tight labour market. This means core inflation will move higher, which will be a concern for the government and we may start to see this in the next few months.'

 

PENN NEE CHOW, AN ECONOMIST AT UNITED OVERSEAS BANK

'That's a bit of a surprise because the market was expecting higher. But generally the inflationary pressures will still be sustained, at least for the first half of the year, on the increase in food prices, as well as wage pressures.

'We had a call for monetary tightening in April, we will be monitoring that to see whether that impacts on our view.'

'The resultant oil price on the unrest in the Middle East could drive up oil-related inflation, and the Japanese case might affect the food supply. The nuclear situation could see Japan turning more to oil as a more conventional source of power generation, so that could also have some impact, but seeing as to how things are sort of easing in Japan, the impact is not that significant.'

 

KIT WEI ZHENG, AN ECONOMIST AT CITIGROUP

'It's the COE (certificate of entitlement) that has come down but we are seeing sequential increases in all other categories. The medium-term inflation risk is rising because of a very tight labour market.'

'We expect some form of tightening of monetary policy in April.'

Singapore controls the number of cars on its road by regulating the number of COEs (certificate of entitlements) and changes in COE prices is due to government policy as well as underlying demand.

 

MARKET REACTION

- The Singapore dollar was trading at S$1.2653 against the U.S. dollar, from S$1.2641 before the announcement.

 

- The benchmark FTSE ST Index was up 0.5 pct at the mid-session break before the data was released.

 

CONTEXT

- According to a Reuters survey, February inflation had been expected to come in at 5.4 percent year-on-year.

- The government also said core inflation, as measured by the central bank, eased to 1.8 percent in February from a year ago, compared 2 percent in January.

- Singapore last month raised its 2011 inflation forecast to 3-4 percent from the previous 2-3 percent, and said inflation could reach 5-6 percent in the months ahead before moderating in the latter part of the year.

- Several economists have said the city-state may refrain from further monetary tightening at its next policy review in April to see if problems in Japan and the Middle East threaten the global economic recovery.

- The CPI rose by 2.8 percent for the whole of 2010.

- The Monetary Authority of Singapore manages monetary policy by steering the local dollar against a basket of currencies. Its current policy stance is for a gradual and moderate appreciation of the Singapore dollar.

 

(Reporting by Kevin Lim Eveline Danubrata and Charmian Kok Editing by Saeed Azhar) Keywords: SINGAPORE ECONOMY/INFLATION

(Kevin.Lim@thomsonreuters.com)

 

COPYRIGHT

 

Copyright Thomson Reuters 2011. All rights reserved.
 
 
krisluke
    23-Mar-2011 15:08  
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The nepal Smiley

 
 
krisluke
    23-Mar-2011 15:06  
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Was Spain involve ? ?? Smiley

 

 
krisluke
    23-Mar-2011 15:04  
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how about russia, i mean NAVY ?  Smiley

 
 
krisluke
    23-Mar-2011 15:02  
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consider the japan ? ?? Smiley

 
 
krisluke
    23-Mar-2011 15:00  
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The italy and romania Smiley
 
 
krisluke
    23-Mar-2011 14:58  
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usa and uk, i think.Smiley
 

 
krisluke
    23-Mar-2011 14:54  
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  France is the strongest among the three Smiley
 
 
krisluke
    23-Mar-2011 14:49  
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krisluke
    23-Mar-2011 14:43  
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PRC  military force Smiley
 
 
krisluke
    23-Mar-2011 14:28  
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Tombstone, coffin found at construction site in Yishun



 
The tombstone and coffin were found while workers were carying out excavation works at a residential site in Yishun. (Yahoo! Photo).

The tombstone and coffin were found while workers were carying out excavation works at a residential site in Yishun.  …



 

The discovery of a tombstone and coffin at a construction site in Yishun on Monday has some residents living in the area spooked.

Construction workers were excavating a site at the foot of Block 711, Yishun Avenue 5 when they made the grim findings. The construction works were part of the HDB's lift upgrading programme.

The tombstone indicated that the deceased, Madam Sim Seok Inn, died in 1971 at the age of 83. Some clothes were found buried near the coffin.

Some residents have expressed their alarm over the discovery of the tomb.

While there was nothing to worry about, Zali H M, 57, said he would still try to avoid the area. " I will walk away from the lift. Maybe walk around it," said the retiree.

However, the main question going through his mind and some of the other residents is: " Why is there even a coffin here?"

According to a spokesman for the National Environment Agency (NEA), the burial site of the tombstone " may have been where a cemetery was once sited and then exhumed for public housing development by the HDB in the late 70s to the early 80s" .

" Upon completion of the investigation and the confirmation that the site is indeed within the cemetery, HDB will carry out the necessary exhumation with a permit from NEA," she added.

Still, other residents expressed their shock over the finding. Housewife and mother of two children Norasmah, 40, immediately asked, " Why didn't they find it when they built these flats?"

Her sister, a 34-year-old housewife who wanted to be known as Anita, felt that checks should be done to ensure that there are no more coffins left underground.

She added, " If you find one, there might be others. Something should be done to appease the spirit."

Team supervisor of the lift upgrading project, Mohan, 35, said that offerings were made after the discovery with joss sticks and candles seen at the site.

Other residents though were unfazed by the incident.

One of them was Steven Lim, 48, a swimming instructor who said, " She has been dead for so long, so what is there to be scared about?

" If there were to be any hauntings, it would have happened long time ago. Why wait until now?"

Wu You Jin, 65, echoed the sentiments above, saying in Mandarin, " As long as your conscience is clear, you have nothing to worry about."

A police spokesman confirmed that a call was received around 12:30pm on Monday about a tombstone and some coffin remains being found at a construction site. He added that the matter has since been referred to NEA for action.

In March 2007, heavy rain uncovered some 34,000 earthenware urns under a hill near Block 299 at the junction of Yishun Avenue 2 and Yishun Ring Road. A marble memorial tower nearby indicated that it was a burial ground.

Most of the urns were then reburied while remains from the broken urns were put in new containers and placed in the hollow space under the plaque in the centre of the memorial tower.
 
 
niuyear
    23-Mar-2011 14:00  
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West fight libya becos of ??    Oil or gold.

  Rabbit

Rabbits year 's  disasters are those of  'left over'  by    Tigers.......Cloud should clear soon for the rabbits to hop and be lively again.....LOL!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

krisluke      ( Date: 23-Mar-2011 12:50) Posted:



It could be physical gold kept in the treasure box. just unload to the black market will do.

A war of no head and tail. Gaddafi claims that he is fighting the rebel that was linked to The terrorists. Then USa together with france and Uk air strike libya. Quite weird. But I think this war is not about fast thingy. may drag longer, it from my past observation. 1-2 years ? ?? perhaps maybe a YES...

 

 
Salute
    23-Mar-2011 13:09  
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may be NATO should negotiate with him that when he dies, they will built a golden coffin and the reminder golds lets distribute among the poor in Libya...............a perfectionist me again
 
 
yummygd
    23-Mar-2011 13:09  
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yeah im confused too...why in e world FRANCE? I mean...huh where did they pop up from.

No offence to french out there. but the americans are always joking....the french soliders will sell u their guns touting" dropped once,shot 0"

krisluke      ( Date: 23-Mar-2011 12:50) Posted:



It could be physical gold kept in the treasure box. just unload to the black market will do.

A war of no head and tail. Gaddafi claims that he is fighting the rebel that was linked to The terrorists. Then USa together with france and Uk air strike libya. Quite weird. But I think this war is not about fast thingy. may drag longer, it from my past observation. 1-2 years ? ?? perhaps maybe a YES...

 
 
Salute
    23-Mar-2011 13:06  
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look at his pic, a real mad dog. His overwhelm by his assets that's why is so brutal and out of sense. look at those lady bodyguides, they must be something wrong but no one says anything.

irk, very iree person adn personality
 
 
krisluke
    23-Mar-2011 12:50  
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It could be physical gold kept in the treasure box. just unload to the black market will do.

A war of no head and tail. Gaddafi claims that he is fighting the rebel that was linked to The terrorists. Then USa together with france and Uk air strike libya. Quite weird. But I think this war is not about fast thingy. may drag longer, it from my past observation. 1-2 years ? ?? perhaps maybe a YES...
 
 
niuyear
    23-Mar-2011 12:31  
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How is he going to sell his gold with his assets being frozen? 

We could provide new water set up system to him, he in exchange, give us his gold..........hahaha!

krisluke      ( Date: 22-Mar-2011 19:05) Posted:

Gaddafi sitting on tonnes of Gold



Col. Gaddafi sitting on tonnes of Gold

The International community has sanctioned Col. Muammer Gaddafi and frozen his assets with an aim at cutting off his funding. But the Libyan Strongman is sitting on tonnes of Gold

The Libyan central bank, which is under Col Gaddafi’s control, holds 143.8 tonnes of Gold, according to the latest data from the International Monetary Fund, although some suspect the true amount could be much, much more.

Those reserves, among the top 25 in the World, are worth more than US$6.5B at the current price, enough to field and cover a small army of mercenaries for months or even years.

While many central banks hold their Gold reserves in international vaults in London, New York or Switzerland, Libya’s Bullion is in Country, said people familiar with the country’s activities in the Gold market.

US and European governments have frozen billions of dollars in Libyan assets, as sanctions have hit the Central Bank, Sovereign Wealth Fund and the State Oil Company.

Never the less, Libya’s Gold reserves could provide Col. Gaddafi with a lifeline, if he can sell them. To raise large amounts of money, bankers said, Col Gaddafi would have to transport the bullion out of Libya, that may be a bit difficult.

The political turbulence in the MENA region, besides helping boost the price of Gold to a record 1,444 oz, has highlighted the property that has for centuries made Gold so appealing to bandits, players, investors and dictators alike: it does not rely on a government for its value. Stay tuned…

Paul A. Ebeling, Jnr.

 
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