Rome
Rome, the headquarters of food and Agriculture Organization, witnessed FAO Summit on climate, energy and food on June 5, 2008. The representatives from 193 member states of the FAO attended the threeday long summit. All the representatives of various countries stressed on the huge rise in the food production.
Lucknow
Lucknow has become Asia’s first and World’s second city where DNA bank has been set up. Dr. Saeed Ahmed has established this DNA bank in public-private partnership at Lucknow, the capital of Uttar Pradesh.
Bonn
The latest round of UN-sponsored climate change negotiations under the United Nations Framework Convention on climate change was held in Bonn, Germany from June 2 to June 13, 2008. 2000 representatives from 170 countries participated and shared the views in convention.
Dubai
A new 80 storey skyscraper, that will be the world’s first building in motion with revolving floors that make it moveable and an evershifting shape, would be built in Dubai, UAE.
ViennaThe Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) Meeting was organized in Vienna, Austria on October 24, 2008. The member countries of OPEC took decision to curtail its daily production of oil by 1·5 million barrels in order to checkmate the declining crude oil prices.
Beijing
Beijing witnessed the Seventh Asian–Europe Meeting (ASEM) on October 24, 2008. The member countries decided to increase the coordination and cooperation in the field of trade and commerce between European and Asian Countries.
Pune
The third Commonwealth Youth Games were held in Pune from October 12 to 18, 2008. About 2000 athletes from different commonwealth nations participated in nine sporting events.
Washington DC
The meeting of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund was organized in Washington DC on October 12, 2008.
Yangon
The ASEAN–UN International Pledging conference on cyclone Nargis started on May 25, 2008 in Yangon, Myanmar. 360 delegates from across the globe attended the conference. The conference was aimed at providing help and relief to the people of Myanmar, who have been devastated in the cyclone Nargis that rocked the country a few days earlier.
Kobe
The G-8 Environment Ministers meeting was held in Kobe, Japan from May 24 to May 26, 2008. Environmental Ministers from the G-8 member countries and developing nations gathered at Kobe to carry on efforts for a post-Kyoto Protocol Agreement on climate change.
Eindhoven
The 5th European Thermal Science Conference (Eurothern) 2008 was organized in Eindhoven, the Netherlands from May 18 to May 22, 2008. Eurothern is aimed at augmenting cooperation, in Thermal Sciences and Heat Transfer among European countries.
Beijing (China)The 29th edition of the Olympic Games was held in Beijing (China). These Olympic Games ended on August 24, 2008. 10,708 athletes from across the globe took part in these games. China, the host country, grabbed the first place in medal tally replacing USA.
Chandigarh
The Directorate of Economics and Statistics (Statistical cell) declared Chandigarh as the city of the highest per capita income in the country in its report of the ‘Annual Statistics of State Domestic Product/Per Capita Income’ released on September 16, 2008.
Rawanda
Rawanda, an African nation, decided to adopt English as its language of international communication and as the language taught in its schools. Rawanda abandoned French as one of its official languages. The government of Rawanda made this decision public on October 14, 2008.
Dushanbe (Tajikistan)
Dushanbe remained in news for hosting the one day summit of the Shanghai Corporation Organisation (SCO) on August 28, 2008.
Hyderabad (Andhra Pradesh)
The IAS and allied services probationers trained at the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration in Mussoorie will now be trained at the ‘Dr. Marri Chenna Reddy HRD Institute' in Hyderabad.
Kathmandu (Nepal)
Kathmandu, the capital city of Nepal, hosted the two day power summit 2008 during September 23–24, 2008. This power summit, 2008 was organized by PTC, India. 300 delegates from India, Nepal and other countries participated in this summit and shared their views. The Summit was aimed at preparing the roadmap for harnessing 10,000 MW of power in the upcoming 10 years in Nepal.
Islamabad (Pakistan)
A huge and severe blast took place at the Marriot Hotel in Islamabad on September 20, 2008. The blast, caused by an explosives-Laden truck, claimed the lives of 53 people. More than 250 people were seriously injured in the blast. A number of foreign nationals including the Czech Republic envoy to Pakistan also lost their lives in the blast.
Mainz
The 13th Gren Keleasing Rapid World Chess Championship was held in Mainz, Germany. Defending Champion Viswanathan Anand of India claimed this Chess Championship beating Norwegian prodigy Magnus Carlsen by a 3–1 margin on August 4, 2008 at Mainz.
Krishnapatnam
Krishnapatnam in Andhra Pradesh has been developed as a modern deep water and high production port to fulfil the requirement of increasing trade and commerce in the region. Krishnapatnam port will become the largest container terminal in India by 2011.
Akwali (Rajasthan)
The Geological Survey of India has set up a Core Library of minerals at Akwali village in Jhunjhunu district of Rajasthan. This is the first library of its type in the country.
Nha Trang
The 57th edition of the Miss Universe contest, 2008 was hosted by Nha Trang (Vietnam). Miss Venezuela Dayana Mendoza claimed the crown of Miss Universe, 2008 beating 15 final contestants from the countries across the globe on July 14, 2008.
New Delhi
The first Meeting of SAARC Ministers of Science and Technology was organised in New Delhi on September 16, 2008. During the meeting, a declaration of the Ministers to promote Science and Technology in the development of the region was adopted. The meeting agreed to put into operation The SAARC Science Caravan that went into an expedition to all SAARC member countries to promote science and technology amongst the people of the region.
IcelandThe Global Peace Index Survey declared Iceland as the most peaceful country in the world. The survey was published on May 20, 2008.
New Delhi
New Delhi hosted the third India, Brazil and South Africa (IBSA) summit. The IBSA summit concluded on October 15, 2008. The leaders of the three developing countries agreed to enhance cooperation among the three member countries of IBSA in various socio-economical fields.
Kashmir
Kashmir came into news when it was connected from rest of the country by the Railways on October 11, 2008 when Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh flagged off the first ever train in the Kashmir Valley at the Nowgam station of Srinagar, Kashmir. The Kashmir Rail Link Project costs Rs. 11,200 crore. This rail link project was aimed at increasing transport facilities and promoting tourism environment in the valley.
Sanand
Sanand (25 km away from Ahmedabad) came into news when the Gujarat government allocated 1,100 acres land to Tata Motors for its Nano Car Project at the prevailing market price. An agreement in this regard was signed on October 7, 2008 between Tata Group and the Gujarat Government.
Wenchuan County
Wenchuan County in Sichuan province in South Western China was the epicentre of the earthquake which struck China on May 12, 2008, killing around 1 lakh people.
YekaterinburgYekaterinburg (Russia) was the place where the foreign ministers of Russia, China and India met for the eighth time to take a common stand on major global issues. The grouping is known as the RIC troika.
Mt. Everest
Mt. Everest came into news when Olympic flame reached the top of 8,848 metre mountain peak on May 8, 2008 by the climbers comprising both Chinese and Tibetans.
LabuttaLabutta is a town of Myanmar situated in the low-lying Arrawaddy (Irrawaddy) delta. It was the worst hit area by the cyclone ‘Nargis’ which struck southern Coast of Myanmar on May 3, 2008. The tidal waves washed away the homes in the entire town.
Heixiazi Island
Russia and China signed boundary pact and unveiled the boundary markers between Russia and China for the border’s eastern section on Heixiazi Island on October 14, 2008.
Baglihar450 Megawatt Baglihar power project at Chanderkote in Ramban district of Jammu was inaugurated by the Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh on October 10, 2008.
Lima
In Lima (The capital of Peru) the APEC (Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit) was held in the month of November 2008.
Mumbai
Terror wreaked havoc killing around 200 people in last week of November 2008 when foreign-sent terrorists captured Taj Mahal Hotel, Nariman House and Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST) on 27 November, 2008 which were liberated after 62-hour Operation Tornado launched by Indian security forces.
Kilinochchi
Fierce battle raged between Tamil Tigers and Sri Lankan forces near Kilinochchi which is the administrative headquarters and the bastion of LTTE. Sri Lankan Army has claimed that it is close to capturing this LTTE base.
DenverDenver is a place in the U.S.A. where historic convention of Democratic Party of the U. S. A. was held in which Barack Obama, (now President of America) an African-American black negro accepted his historic nomination for presidency of World’s most powerful country on August 29, 2008.
Singur
Irked at constant intimidation of its work-force by those opposed to the Tata Nano Car Project at Singur (Bengal) where Tata Industries have already invested Rs. 1500 crore, Tata threatened to pull out and thus evacuated its manpower from Singur.
Kandhamal
Kandhamal district of Orissa witnessed communal flare-up after a senior leader of an organisation was shot dead, triggering reaction against a particular community in which a number of people were killed and hundreds of people were displaced.
S. Ossetia
It is the break away province of Georgia, which owes its allegiance to Russia. Encouraged by the U.S.A. and its European allies, Georgia attacked S. Ossetia in order to absorb it which Russia foiled by making fiercest attack on Georgia causing thousand of casualties.
Toyako
The 34th G 8 Summit 2008 was organised in Japan’s Toyako city situated on the northern island of Hokkaido prefecture from July 7 to July 9, 2008.
Surat
Panic gripped Surat—the diamond hub of India—when a number of live bombs were discovered and defused by the security forces on July 29 and 30, 2008; thereby saving it from big human tragedy.
Singapore
ASEAN Regional Forum meeting was held in Singapore in the last week of July 2008.
Yongbyon
The Cooling tower at the Yongbyon complex suspected to be the nerve centre of North Korea’s plutonium based nuclear weapons programme, was brought down on June 27, 2008 by the country as part of its commitment to international community to end its nuclear programme.
JeddahThe meeting of oil producing and consuming countries was held in Saudi Arabia’s port city of Jeddah on June 22, 2008 to evolve a mechanism that would regulate oil prices.
Gingee
Gingee Taluk of Villupuram district (TN) came into news when two rock art sites, two caverns with Jaina bed and dolmens were discovered within a radius of 25 km on the hillocks behind the Gingee’s fort (Villupuram, TN).
Merseille
This is the place in France where 9th India-European Union Summit was held in last week of September 2008.
GodhraGodhra came into news when Nanavati Commission submitted first part of its report, on the train fire burning in Godhra (2002); in September 2008.
New Delhi
The national capital of India was rocked by a number of blasts which occurred in the second week of September 2008 causing a number of casualties.
JiuquanChina successfully launched its Shenzhou-7 space-craft from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre in Gansu province on September 25, 2008.
Preah Vihar Temple Site
Tension was created between Cambodia and Thailand regarding claim on an ancient temple—Preah Vihear temple site–245 km north of Cambodian capital Phnom Penh in July 2008, which regional neighbours feared could turn violent.
ColomboThe 15th SAARC Summit was held in Colombo, Sri Lanka on August 2-3, 2008. It concluded with the SAARC leaders expressing deep concern over the serious threat posed by terrorism to the peace, stability and security of the region and emphasizing the need for strongest possible cooperation in fighting terror and trans-national organised crime.
Pozanan (Poland)
It is a place in Poland where United Nations Talks on climate change were held recently from December 1 to 2, 2008.
Harare
The cholera outbreak in Zimbabwe killed more than 575 people and infected over 12,700 others with Capital Harare, the worst affected area in recent times.
Bangladesh
Elections were held in Bangladesh in the last week of December 2008 after seven year, in which Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League emerged victorious and Sheikh Hasina became the new Prime Minister of Bangladesh.
Greece
Fierce riots erupted recently in Greece due to the public anger on Government failure to control economic recession, rising unemployment and poverty.
Santiago De Cuba
The 15 member nations Caribbean bloc (Caricom) summit was held in Santiago de Cuba in the second week of December 2008.
Belgaum
Curtains came down on the Sino-Indian Joint Military exercise and Training Hand-in-Hand on December 12, 2008 in Belgaum. The exercise began on December 6, 2008.
Greenland, Antarctica and Alaska
The New NAS satellite data shows that more than two trillion tonnes of land ice have melted in Greenland, Antarctica and Alaska since 2003.
Pushep
A small village in Tamil Nadu’s Nilgiris hills, Pushep was selected for setting up a Neutrino Observatory (INO) by the Atomic Energy Commission.
Kalpakkam
Kalpakkam Nuclear Power plant in Tamil Nadu was declared as ‘no fly zone’ by the Union Government of India just to prevent any 9/11 kind of aggression on this sensitive atomic centre.
Guwahati (Assam)
Guwahati, Assam witnessed serial blasts on New Year’s day in which five persons including a boy and a woman killed and 50 persons were injured. The Police belived that United Liberation Front of Asom was behind these attacks.
Johannesburg (Sourth Africa)The 58th Miss World contest was organized in Johannesburg on December 13, 2008. Russian beauty Ksenya Sukhinova emerged as the winner of the contest. South Africa became the first country to have hosted this contest for six times.
Muridke
The Pakistan government on January 25, 2009, took full control of the headquarters of Jamat-Ud-Dawa situated at Muridke (near Lahore). The Jamat-Ud-Dawa is blamed to have a pivotal role in Mumbai terror attacks.
Mumbai
The Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon 2009 men’s race was held in Mumbai on January 18, 2009 in which Keny’s Kenneth Mungara emerged champion.
Global Vipassana Pagoda
Global Vipassana Pagoda is the world’s largest stone dome in Gorai near Mumbai. It has been modeled on the lines of Shwe Dagon Pagoda in Yangon. The dome standing at an imposing 325 feet with a diameter of 25 feet is in its final stages of completion. There are no supporting pillars for the dome.
Mullaithivu
Dealing a devastating blow to LTTE Sri Lankan troops on January 25, 2009, captured the garrison town of Mullaithivu which was the last strong hold of the LTTE with the military asserting that 25 year old ethnic conflict was now practically over.
Ezhimala
Ezhimala in Kerala came into the news when Prime Minister of India, Dr. Manmohan Singh inaugurated the Naval Academy of Ezhimala on January 8, 2009. The inaugural function of the Naval academy at Ezhimala was attended by the defence minister Mr. A. K. Antony, the chief of the naval staff Admiral Sureesh Mehta and the Chief Minister of Kerala. Ezhimala is located near Kannur district of Kerala. This naval academy will be the largest naval academy of Asia.
Pilkhana
Bangladesh Rifles headquarters in Pilkhana (Dhaka) recently came into news when a mutiny broke out in the border force with renegade soldiers holding their top officers hostage and killing them over an apparent salary dispute.
Swat Valley
In order to buy peace in the troubled Swat Valley in North West Frontier Province, the Pakistani government has done an agreement with Maulana Sufi Muhammad—the head of the banned tahreek Nifaz-Sharia Mohammadi to implement the Islamic Justice System in big chunk of NWFP.
Nithari
The first verdict in the gruesome Nithari killings which involved the brutal murder of 19 children came in February 2009. These killings evoked so much interest and widespread notice across the country.
Rome, the headquarters of food and Agriculture Organization, witnessed FAO Summit on climate, energy and food on June 5, 2008. The representatives from 193 member states of the FAO attended the threeday long summit. All the representatives of various countries stressed on the huge rise in the food production.
Lucknow
Lucknow has become Asia’s first and World’s second city where DNA bank has been set up. Dr. Saeed Ahmed has established this DNA bank in public-private partnership at Lucknow, the capital of Uttar Pradesh.
Bonn
The latest round of UN-sponsored climate change negotiations under the United Nations Framework Convention on climate change was held in Bonn, Germany from June 2 to June 13, 2008. 2000 representatives from 170 countries participated and shared the views in convention.
Dubai
A new 80 storey skyscraper, that will be the world’s first building in motion with revolving floors that make it moveable and an evershifting shape, would be built in Dubai, UAE.
ViennaThe Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) Meeting was organized in Vienna, Austria on October 24, 2008. The member countries of OPEC took decision to curtail its daily production of oil by 1·5 million barrels in order to checkmate the declining crude oil prices.
Beijing
Beijing witnessed the Seventh Asian–Europe Meeting (ASEM) on October 24, 2008. The member countries decided to increase the coordination and cooperation in the field of trade and commerce between European and Asian Countries.
Pune
The third Commonwealth Youth Games were held in Pune from October 12 to 18, 2008. About 2000 athletes from different commonwealth nations participated in nine sporting events.
Washington DC
The meeting of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund was organized in Washington DC on October 12, 2008.
Yangon
The ASEAN–UN International Pledging conference on cyclone Nargis started on May 25, 2008 in Yangon, Myanmar. 360 delegates from across the globe attended the conference. The conference was aimed at providing help and relief to the people of Myanmar, who have been devastated in the cyclone Nargis that rocked the country a few days earlier.
Kobe
The G-8 Environment Ministers meeting was held in Kobe, Japan from May 24 to May 26, 2008. Environmental Ministers from the G-8 member countries and developing nations gathered at Kobe to carry on efforts for a post-Kyoto Protocol Agreement on climate change.
Eindhoven
The 5th European Thermal Science Conference (Eurothern) 2008 was organized in Eindhoven, the Netherlands from May 18 to May 22, 2008. Eurothern is aimed at augmenting cooperation, in Thermal Sciences and Heat Transfer among European countries.
Beijing (China)The 29th edition of the Olympic Games was held in Beijing (China). These Olympic Games ended on August 24, 2008. 10,708 athletes from across the globe took part in these games. China, the host country, grabbed the first place in medal tally replacing USA.
Chandigarh
The Directorate of Economics and Statistics (Statistical cell) declared Chandigarh as the city of the highest per capita income in the country in its report of the ‘Annual Statistics of State Domestic Product/Per Capita Income’ released on September 16, 2008.
Rawanda
Rawanda, an African nation, decided to adopt English as its language of international communication and as the language taught in its schools. Rawanda abandoned French as one of its official languages. The government of Rawanda made this decision public on October 14, 2008.
Dushanbe (Tajikistan)
Dushanbe remained in news for hosting the one day summit of the Shanghai Corporation Organisation (SCO) on August 28, 2008.
Hyderabad (Andhra Pradesh)
The IAS and allied services probationers trained at the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration in Mussoorie will now be trained at the ‘Dr. Marri Chenna Reddy HRD Institute' in Hyderabad.
Kathmandu (Nepal)
Kathmandu, the capital city of Nepal, hosted the two day power summit 2008 during September 23–24, 2008. This power summit, 2008 was organized by PTC, India. 300 delegates from India, Nepal and other countries participated in this summit and shared their views. The Summit was aimed at preparing the roadmap for harnessing 10,000 MW of power in the upcoming 10 years in Nepal.
Islamabad (Pakistan)
A huge and severe blast took place at the Marriot Hotel in Islamabad on September 20, 2008. The blast, caused by an explosives-Laden truck, claimed the lives of 53 people. More than 250 people were seriously injured in the blast. A number of foreign nationals including the Czech Republic envoy to Pakistan also lost their lives in the blast.
Mainz
The 13th Gren Keleasing Rapid World Chess Championship was held in Mainz, Germany. Defending Champion Viswanathan Anand of India claimed this Chess Championship beating Norwegian prodigy Magnus Carlsen by a 3–1 margin on August 4, 2008 at Mainz.
Krishnapatnam
Krishnapatnam in Andhra Pradesh has been developed as a modern deep water and high production port to fulfil the requirement of increasing trade and commerce in the region. Krishnapatnam port will become the largest container terminal in India by 2011.
Akwali (Rajasthan)
The Geological Survey of India has set up a Core Library of minerals at Akwali village in Jhunjhunu district of Rajasthan. This is the first library of its type in the country.
Nha Trang
The 57th edition of the Miss Universe contest, 2008 was hosted by Nha Trang (Vietnam). Miss Venezuela Dayana Mendoza claimed the crown of Miss Universe, 2008 beating 15 final contestants from the countries across the globe on July 14, 2008.
New Delhi
The first Meeting of SAARC Ministers of Science and Technology was organised in New Delhi on September 16, 2008. During the meeting, a declaration of the Ministers to promote Science and Technology in the development of the region was adopted. The meeting agreed to put into operation The SAARC Science Caravan that went into an expedition to all SAARC member countries to promote science and technology amongst the people of the region.
IcelandThe Global Peace Index Survey declared Iceland as the most peaceful country in the world. The survey was published on May 20, 2008.
New Delhi
New Delhi hosted the third India, Brazil and South Africa (IBSA) summit. The IBSA summit concluded on October 15, 2008. The leaders of the three developing countries agreed to enhance cooperation among the three member countries of IBSA in various socio-economical fields.
Kashmir
Kashmir came into news when it was connected from rest of the country by the Railways on October 11, 2008 when Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh flagged off the first ever train in the Kashmir Valley at the Nowgam station of Srinagar, Kashmir. The Kashmir Rail Link Project costs Rs. 11,200 crore. This rail link project was aimed at increasing transport facilities and promoting tourism environment in the valley.
Sanand
Sanand (25 km away from Ahmedabad) came into news when the Gujarat government allocated 1,100 acres land to Tata Motors for its Nano Car Project at the prevailing market price. An agreement in this regard was signed on October 7, 2008 between Tata Group and the Gujarat Government.
Wenchuan County
Wenchuan County in Sichuan province in South Western China was the epicentre of the earthquake which struck China on May 12, 2008, killing around 1 lakh people.
YekaterinburgYekaterinburg (Russia) was the place where the foreign ministers of Russia, China and India met for the eighth time to take a common stand on major global issues. The grouping is known as the RIC troika.
Mt. Everest
Mt. Everest came into news when Olympic flame reached the top of 8,848 metre mountain peak on May 8, 2008 by the climbers comprising both Chinese and Tibetans.
LabuttaLabutta is a town of Myanmar situated in the low-lying Arrawaddy (Irrawaddy) delta. It was the worst hit area by the cyclone ‘Nargis’ which struck southern Coast of Myanmar on May 3, 2008. The tidal waves washed away the homes in the entire town.
Heixiazi Island
Russia and China signed boundary pact and unveiled the boundary markers between Russia and China for the border’s eastern section on Heixiazi Island on October 14, 2008.
Baglihar450 Megawatt Baglihar power project at Chanderkote in Ramban district of Jammu was inaugurated by the Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh on October 10, 2008.
Lima
In Lima (The capital of Peru) the APEC (Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit) was held in the month of November 2008.
Mumbai
Terror wreaked havoc killing around 200 people in last week of November 2008 when foreign-sent terrorists captured Taj Mahal Hotel, Nariman House and Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST) on 27 November, 2008 which were liberated after 62-hour Operation Tornado launched by Indian security forces.
Kilinochchi
Fierce battle raged between Tamil Tigers and Sri Lankan forces near Kilinochchi which is the administrative headquarters and the bastion of LTTE. Sri Lankan Army has claimed that it is close to capturing this LTTE base.
DenverDenver is a place in the U.S.A. where historic convention of Democratic Party of the U. S. A. was held in which Barack Obama, (now President of America) an African-American black negro accepted his historic nomination for presidency of World’s most powerful country on August 29, 2008.
Singur
Irked at constant intimidation of its work-force by those opposed to the Tata Nano Car Project at Singur (Bengal) where Tata Industries have already invested Rs. 1500 crore, Tata threatened to pull out and thus evacuated its manpower from Singur.
Kandhamal
Kandhamal district of Orissa witnessed communal flare-up after a senior leader of an organisation was shot dead, triggering reaction against a particular community in which a number of people were killed and hundreds of people were displaced.
S. Ossetia
It is the break away province of Georgia, which owes its allegiance to Russia. Encouraged by the U.S.A. and its European allies, Georgia attacked S. Ossetia in order to absorb it which Russia foiled by making fiercest attack on Georgia causing thousand of casualties.
Toyako
The 34th G 8 Summit 2008 was organised in Japan’s Toyako city situated on the northern island of Hokkaido prefecture from July 7 to July 9, 2008.
Surat
Panic gripped Surat—the diamond hub of India—when a number of live bombs were discovered and defused by the security forces on July 29 and 30, 2008; thereby saving it from big human tragedy.
Singapore
ASEAN Regional Forum meeting was held in Singapore in the last week of July 2008.
Yongbyon
The Cooling tower at the Yongbyon complex suspected to be the nerve centre of North Korea’s plutonium based nuclear weapons programme, was brought down on June 27, 2008 by the country as part of its commitment to international community to end its nuclear programme.
JeddahThe meeting of oil producing and consuming countries was held in Saudi Arabia’s port city of Jeddah on June 22, 2008 to evolve a mechanism that would regulate oil prices.
Gingee
Gingee Taluk of Villupuram district (TN) came into news when two rock art sites, two caverns with Jaina bed and dolmens were discovered within a radius of 25 km on the hillocks behind the Gingee’s fort (Villupuram, TN).
Merseille
This is the place in France where 9th India-European Union Summit was held in last week of September 2008.
GodhraGodhra came into news when Nanavati Commission submitted first part of its report, on the train fire burning in Godhra (2002); in September 2008.
New Delhi
The national capital of India was rocked by a number of blasts which occurred in the second week of September 2008 causing a number of casualties.
JiuquanChina successfully launched its Shenzhou-7 space-craft from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre in Gansu province on September 25, 2008.
Preah Vihar Temple Site
Tension was created between Cambodia and Thailand regarding claim on an ancient temple—Preah Vihear temple site–245 km north of Cambodian capital Phnom Penh in July 2008, which regional neighbours feared could turn violent.
ColomboThe 15th SAARC Summit was held in Colombo, Sri Lanka on August 2-3, 2008. It concluded with the SAARC leaders expressing deep concern over the serious threat posed by terrorism to the peace, stability and security of the region and emphasizing the need for strongest possible cooperation in fighting terror and trans-national organised crime.
Pozanan (Poland)
It is a place in Poland where United Nations Talks on climate change were held recently from December 1 to 2, 2008.
Harare
The cholera outbreak in Zimbabwe killed more than 575 people and infected over 12,700 others with Capital Harare, the worst affected area in recent times.
Bangladesh
Elections were held in Bangladesh in the last week of December 2008 after seven year, in which Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League emerged victorious and Sheikh Hasina became the new Prime Minister of Bangladesh.
Greece
Fierce riots erupted recently in Greece due to the public anger on Government failure to control economic recession, rising unemployment and poverty.
Santiago De Cuba
The 15 member nations Caribbean bloc (Caricom) summit was held in Santiago de Cuba in the second week of December 2008.
Belgaum
Curtains came down on the Sino-Indian Joint Military exercise and Training Hand-in-Hand on December 12, 2008 in Belgaum. The exercise began on December 6, 2008.
Greenland, Antarctica and Alaska
The New NAS satellite data shows that more than two trillion tonnes of land ice have melted in Greenland, Antarctica and Alaska since 2003.
Pushep
A small village in Tamil Nadu’s Nilgiris hills, Pushep was selected for setting up a Neutrino Observatory (INO) by the Atomic Energy Commission.
Kalpakkam
Kalpakkam Nuclear Power plant in Tamil Nadu was declared as ‘no fly zone’ by the Union Government of India just to prevent any 9/11 kind of aggression on this sensitive atomic centre.
Guwahati (Assam)
Guwahati, Assam witnessed serial blasts on New Year’s day in which five persons including a boy and a woman killed and 50 persons were injured. The Police belived that United Liberation Front of Asom was behind these attacks.
Johannesburg (Sourth Africa)The 58th Miss World contest was organized in Johannesburg on December 13, 2008. Russian beauty Ksenya Sukhinova emerged as the winner of the contest. South Africa became the first country to have hosted this contest for six times.
Muridke
The Pakistan government on January 25, 2009, took full control of the headquarters of Jamat-Ud-Dawa situated at Muridke (near Lahore). The Jamat-Ud-Dawa is blamed to have a pivotal role in Mumbai terror attacks.
Mumbai
The Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon 2009 men’s race was held in Mumbai on January 18, 2009 in which Keny’s Kenneth Mungara emerged champion.
Global Vipassana Pagoda
Global Vipassana Pagoda is the world’s largest stone dome in Gorai near Mumbai. It has been modeled on the lines of Shwe Dagon Pagoda in Yangon. The dome standing at an imposing 325 feet with a diameter of 25 feet is in its final stages of completion. There are no supporting pillars for the dome.
Mullaithivu
Dealing a devastating blow to LTTE Sri Lankan troops on January 25, 2009, captured the garrison town of Mullaithivu which was the last strong hold of the LTTE with the military asserting that 25 year old ethnic conflict was now practically over.
Ezhimala
Ezhimala in Kerala came into the news when Prime Minister of India, Dr. Manmohan Singh inaugurated the Naval Academy of Ezhimala on January 8, 2009. The inaugural function of the Naval academy at Ezhimala was attended by the defence minister Mr. A. K. Antony, the chief of the naval staff Admiral Sureesh Mehta and the Chief Minister of Kerala. Ezhimala is located near Kannur district of Kerala. This naval academy will be the largest naval academy of Asia.
Pilkhana
Bangladesh Rifles headquarters in Pilkhana (Dhaka) recently came into news when a mutiny broke out in the border force with renegade soldiers holding their top officers hostage and killing them over an apparent salary dispute.
Swat Valley
In order to buy peace in the troubled Swat Valley in North West Frontier Province, the Pakistani government has done an agreement with Maulana Sufi Muhammad—the head of the banned tahreek Nifaz-Sharia Mohammadi to implement the Islamic Justice System in big chunk of NWFP.
Nithari
The first verdict in the gruesome Nithari killings which involved the brutal murder of 19 children came in February 2009. These killings evoked so much interest and widespread notice across the country.
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