INTERNATIONAL DECEMBER 2009

INTERNATIONAL DECEMBER 2009

• Nepal’s Ministerial meeting was held at Kaala Pathar near Everest Himalayas. PM Madhav Kumar and his 23 ministers participated in the meeting. This meeting was held to convey the affects of Himalayas’ melting to their country to the world countries.
  
• Hyderabad has hosted 62nd World Association of Newspapers (WAN IFRA 2009). The 63rd meeting will be held at Beirut, Lebanon.
  
• USA and BRIC countries signed an agreement in Copenhagen on carbon reduction. According to this agreement, rise in temperatures should be restricted to 2 degree centigrade, immediate release of 30 billion dollar for environment help to poor countries. This would be raised to 100 billion dollar by 2020. And carbon dioxide emissions will be monitored.
  
• Iran successfully test-fired an improved version of its Sejil 2medium-range missile with a range of 2000km.
  
• Bolivian President Evo Morales called on world leaders to hold temperature increases over the next century to just 1°C. Mr. Morales also demanded rich countries pay climate change reparations and proposed an international climate court of justice to prosecute countries for climate “crimes”.
  
• Congress chief Sonia Gandhi and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati are among the four Indians named in the Financial Times list of '50 People Who Shaped the Decade'. NRI billionaire Lakshmi Mittal and India-born Pepsico Chief Indra Nooyi are the other two Indians in the league of 50, which among others also features Al-Qaeda chief Osama Bin Laden and US President Barack Obama.
  
• Hotels.com global poll of 10,000 travellers found that the Eiffel Tower is the World's Favourite Landmark. St Peter's Basilica in Vatican City, Rome and India's Taj Mahal, came second and third place respectively. Three American icons - the Golden Gate Bridge, Empire State Building and Statue of Liberty - made up the remainder of the top six spots.
  
• China carried out Death Sentenceof a Britain Citizen, Akmal. He would be the first citizen of a European country to be put to death in China in 50 years.
  
• The Wuhan-Guangzhou high-speed railway with the world’s fastest train journey at a 350-kmph designed speed started operation in China.