Danish International Development Agency

Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA), is the brand used by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark when it provides humanitarian aid and development assistance to other countries, with focus on developing countries. There is no distinct Danida organisation within the Ministry.
Origin of name.
The organisation's name was originally DANAID. In Greek mythology, the Danaids were daughters of Danaus who killed their husbands and were condemned to fill a bathtub with water to wash away their sins. Because the buckets they were given to do this were actually sieves, they worked for all eternity in Tartarus without making any progress. For this reason, the aid agency's name was changed from DANAID to DANIDA at the last minute when this unfortunate connotation was discovered. The term Danida appeared in 1963.
Overview.
Denmark has been granting development assistance since the end of the Second World War. It is one of the five countries in the world that meets the United Nation's target of granting 0.7% of gross national income (GNI) in development assistance. In 2011 Denmark disbursed roughly DKK:15.753 billion (US$2.98 billion) in development assistance to countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Middle East, and Denmark's European Union neighbors. In 2009, DANIDA worked in close association with the Indian Government's Padmasree award winner, K.Viswanathan, and the prestigious institution Mitraniketan. Furthermore, DANIDA works in collaboration with many Danish NGOs such as Global Medical Aid. According to the OECD, 2019 official development assistance from Denmark increased 2.5% to USD 2.5 billion.
Focus areas.
DANIDA focusses on four areas of interest:
As of 2015, DANIDA was involved in a total of 73 countries and regions across the world, with 21 countries of high priority. Most of the priority countries are among the poorest of the world, located in Africa and Asia.
The sectors receiving the largest amount of financial bilateral support is government and civil society, and humanitarian aid, at roughly 28% and 14% respectively.
Most of the goals of DANIDA's projects gets fulfilled, with an annual success rate between 79% and 88% since 2005.
History.
Danish development assistance in the 1950s was nearly exclusively channeled through the United Nations. In 1962, Denmark established its first bilateral development assistance programme for developing countries under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In 2010, about 40% of Denmark’s bilateral assistance went to social sectors, including education and health. Danida also works in collaboration with the United Nations, the World Bank, regional development banks and the European Union.


Liadi (Hasidic dynasty)

The Liadi branch of the Chabad Hasidic movement was founded after the death of the third rebbe of Chabad, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneersohn. The group was one of several groups that sought to succeed Rabbi Menachem Mendel, whose death created a dispute over his succession. The group was led by its founder, Rabbi Chaim Schneur Zalman, a son of Rabbi Menachem Mendel.
A branch of Chabad.
After the death of Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneersohn, several of his sons independently assumed the role of rebbe. Rabbi Chaim Schneur Zalman assumed the role of rebbe in the town of Liadi, the same town his great-grandfather, Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi (the first rebbe of Chabad-Lubavitch), was rebbe. Rabbi Chaim Schneur Zalman was succeeded by his son, Rabbi Yitzchak Dovber. Yitzchak Dovber's brother-in-law, Rabbi Levi Yitzchak became a rebbe in the town of Sirotin (Siratshin). He and his brother-in-law were the last rebbes of the Liadi branch of Chabad.


Free Speech Week

Free Speech Week (FSW), formerly known as "National Freedom of Speech Week", is a national event that recognizes free speech and press in the United States. Free Speech Week is observed during the third full week of October each year. According to its organizers, "the goal of Free Speech Week is to raise public awareness of the importance of free speech in our democracy – and to celebrate that freedom."
Concept.
Free Speech Week is an opportunity for individuals and organizations to undertake independent projects and activities related to free speech. The celebration is designed to raise awareness of free speech issues and encourage a broad audience to openly express themselves. Free Speech Week involves the participation of many partnering organizations, creating a multi-faceted celebration of free speech.
History.
The Media Institute, a nonprofit organization located in Arlington, Virginia introduced the idea for Free Speech Week in 2003. The idea was an outgrowth of the Institute's "Cornerstone Project", a First Amendment program that concluded in 2003. In 2005, the Institute asked the National Association of Broadcasters Education Foundation (NABEF) to collaborate on the inaugural week. The two organizations called themselves “founding partners” and conducted National Freedom of Speech Week as a “joint effort.”
In the 2005 inaugural celebration, five "partnering organizations" were included: the American Association of Advertising Agencies, American Bar Association, Americans for the Arts, the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia, and the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Since 2005, partners have included media companies and major trade associations representing broadcasters, cable operators, newspapers, and the recording industry. Many university departments of communication and law schools have also participated as "educational partners."
In 2011, the name was shortened to “Free Speech Week.” The Media Institute created a Free Speech Week Advisory Council in 2012 to increase the reach and impact of Free Speech Week. On July 30, 2012, the Institute announced that Robert Pittman, CEO of Clear Channel Communications Inc., agreed to serve as chairman of the advisory council.
Politics and Ideology.
Free Speech Week is neither a political event nor an ideological platform. According to the organizers, “Free Speech Week is designed as a unifying celebration, elevating the vision of the Founding Fathers above the political fray and recognizing free speech as something we can all believe in and cherish.”
Funding and Trademarks.
Specific Free Speech Week activities (e.g., contests, seminars, exhibits) are funded by the organizations that conduct them.
The week’s original title, “National Freedom of Speech Week,” was recognized by the United States Patent and Trademark Office as a mark owned by The Media Institute in March 2008. The Patent and Trademark Office also recognized the Free Speech Week slogan, “Free Speech: The Language of America,” as a protected mark owned by The Media Institute. However, the Institute has always pursued a policy of “open licensing,” allowing others to use both marks without charge.


Mario Vella

Mario Vella (born 1953 in Tripoli) is a Maltese philosopher, economist and politician. He was Governor of the Central Bank of Malta from 2016 to 2020.
Biography.
Studies and academic career.
Vella was born to a Maltese family in Tripoli, Libya, and lived his boyhood within the Italian community there. He started his education at a Catholic school in Tripoli, then returned to Malta with his family and attended De La Salle College at Cottonera.
Vella studied philosophy at the Royal University of Malta, social economy with a major in sociology at the London School of Economics and Political Science, and international political economy at Humboldt University of Berlin in East Germany. His professional and academic interests have focused on economic development and foreign direct investments.
In Malta, after teaching Italian and sociology in public schools, Vella taught political economy and social development for about twenty years at the University of Malta.
In 2005 Vella was visiting professor in foreign direct investment and development at the Università Cattolica di Milano and at the University of Urbino. Between 2007 and 2012 he was visiting professor at Edinburgh Napier University.
Professional and political career.
Since the times of Labour premier Karmenu Mifsud Bonnici, in 1979-1980 and then from 1984 to 2000, Mario Vella served at the Malta Development Corporation (MDC), up to chief executive officer. During the 1987-1996 governments of the Nationalist Party, Vella was relieved of his leadership duties at the MDC since, according to Daphne Caruana Galizia, he was considered unfit and not to be trusted, as responsible for the development of a protected economic system based on import substitution via high tariffs or import bans. Vella stayed in his post, albeit with no duties, for 9 years. He returned to the helm of the MDC (first as Policy and Planning Coordinator, and soon after as CEO) in 1996-1998 at the time of Alfred Sant's Labour government, during which years he supported the rise of Joseph Muscat in the party.
According to Daphne Caruana Galizia, Vella has been Joseph Muscat's mentor since his young age, and inspired Muscat's PhD thesis, written during Muscat's MEP term. Vella's work is referenced in the thesis, and it is alleged by Caruana Galizia that he might have himself authored certain parts of it.
From 1994 till 2000, Mario Vella also served in a political position as President of the Malta Labour Party. As reported by Joseph Muscat, Vella influenced the party manifesto for the 1996 Maltese general election, in particular as regards economics, in which the party to give the same attention to domestic-oriented small enterprises than to larger export-oriented companies. Also for this, Mario Vella was chosen by Prime Minister Alfred Sant to reform the Malta Development Corporation. The result was the establishment of the Institute for the Promotion of Small Enterprise (IPSE), in which Joseph Muscat was also employed.
In 1998, with the return of the Nationalists to government, Mario Vella left the MDC and switched to the private sector, working as director of foreign direct investment services for the consulting firm Grant Thornton in Malta.
In 2013 Vella was appointed by the new Labour government as chairman of the MDC's successor organisation, the national economic development and investment promotion agency, Malta Enterprise, where he served for 3 years. He was replaced in the post by Mario Galea.
In December 2014, Mario Vella was conferred the title of "Cavaliere dell'Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana".
Governor of the Central Bank of Malta.
In June 2016, after former deputy governor Alfred Mifsud withdrew his candidacy, Mario Vella was appointed by the Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat for a 5-year term as Governor of the Central Bank of Malta. His nomination raised criticism by the opposition as well as by three Labour ministers (including his future successor Edward Scicluna), who would have preferred the more bipartisan choice of Rene Saliba. In 2017, Central Bank employees complained with the media that the new Governor’s Award Scheme was at risk of political bias, as its selection panel included two former General Workers' Union officials. Growing politicisation of the Central Bank employees, with promotions handed out to Labour-leaning officials, had been reported since 2013.
As Governor, Vella was a member of the Governing Council of the European Central Bank, an Alternate Governor for Malta in the International Monetary Fund, and a member of the Board of Governors of the Malta Financial Services Authority. He was also ex officio member of the Malta Council for Economic and Social Development, and a trustee of the University of Malta Research, Innovation and Development Trust.
Vella is also a regular contributor to the Times of Malta and maintained a personal blog from 2008 to 2012.
Philosophical works.
Vella's area of specialisation in philosophy is chiefly critical analysis.
In part, Vella’s philosophy is deconstructivist, tenaciously exposing the internal conflicts that tend to undercut the asserted meaning of any text. But this is not all. It is also contextualist.
To Vella’s mind, in order to be acceptable, philosophy must begin from, and build on, the socio-political and historical context. Neither philosophy nor the history of philosophy can rise above power and history. Doing philosophy means taking political positions for or against historically concrete structures of power, and the forces struggling for power within society.
"Reflections in a Canvas Bag" (1989).
"Reflections in a Canvas Bag" (1989) is Vella's major philosophical book. The book is a critique of the philosophy of Peter Serracino Inglott in general, and of his book "Beginning Philosophy" (1987) in particular. However, it is also a sort of invitation (or instigation) to do philosophy by starting from history (as Vella does) rather than from theory (as Serracino Inglott does). History here is understood in the sense of Marx’s historical materialism.
When published, the book was quite exceptional for it uncharacteristically dealt with the analysis and criticism of another Maltese philosopher, and a living one at that - a first since Angelo Pirotta's investigation into the philosophy of Anastasio Cuschieri in the early 20th century.
Poetry and short stories.
Sometimes Vella ventures to publish some of his poetry or short stories in Maltese or in English. One example would be those in "Wara r-Repubblika" (1979). However, this does not seem to be very common. Here is one of his poems:
Editorial work.
Though Vella sometimes contributes something of his thought to the following editorial works, of course his personality is seen more in the style and content chosen of these publications.


Anwar Ali (banker)

Anwar Ali (died 5 November 1974) was a Pakistani economist who was the third governor of the Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency. He headed the agency from 1958 to his death in 1974. Ali also held several positions at the ministry of finance in India and Pakistan and at the International Monetary Fund.
Biography.
Ali was born in India into a Muslim family. He migrated to Pakistan and became a Pakistani national. He received a master's degree in Lahore. He served as the undersecretary in the Ministry of Finance in India, deputy undersecretary in the Ministry of Finance in Pakistan and director of the National Bank in Pakistan.
Then he settled in the United States. He joined the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in 1954 and was named the director of the Middle East department of the IMF. He left the IMF in 1958. The same year he was appointed by Crown Prince and Prime Minister Faisal as the governor of the Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency. Ali developed annual report systems and established the investment department of the agency.
Ali was married and the father of two. He died at age 61 during an official visit on 5 November 1974 in Washington D.C. following a heart attack in late October. There he met with the officials of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund. Ali's successor was Abdulaziz Al Quraishi, the first Saudi to head the agency.


Park Seung

Park Seung (Korean: 박승; Hanja: 朴昇; born February 16, 1936) is a Korean economist who most recently served as a Governor of the Bank of Korea from 2002 to 2006. Before becoming a governor of the Bank of Korea, he was a professor at Chung-Ang University, a president of Korea Economic Association (1999-2000), a senior secretary to the President for Economic Affairs under the Office of the President, and a minister of Ministry of Construction (1988-1989).
Early life and education.
Park was born in Gimje, North Jeolla Province, as the second son of six kids under his mother, Kang Sinyong and father, Park Hyunsik. After graduating from the Department of Economics at Seoul National University in 1961, Park worked at the Bank of Korea between 1961 and 1976. He obtained his Master's and Ph.D. degree in Economics from the State University of New York at Albany in 1974. His dissertation is titled “Development Effect of Foreign Capital in the Labor Surplus Economy”.
Career.
After obtaining his Ph.D. degree, he returned to the Bank of Korea. During 1974–1975, he led the Economic Advisory Group for Saudi Arabia, which was commissioned by the Korean government. In 1976, he was hired as a professor in the Department of Economics at Chung-Ang University. He held positions at the university as a dean of College of Political Science and Economics (1984), a dean of Graduate School (1988), and in 1999, he became an elected president of Korea Economic Association.
Under the regime of President Roh Tae Woo, he served as a senior secretary to the President for Economics Affairs under the Office of the President, and as a minister of the Ministry of Construction. He was behind successfully planning and implementing the first-ever project for building five new towns in Korea, including Bundang and Ilsan in Gyeonggi Province. This was part of a larger attempt to carry out the provision of two million housing units in the midst of a housing shortage crisis, proposed during President Roh's presidential campaign.
He returned as a professor to the Department of Economics at Chung-Ang University in 1990 and continued teaching at the university until his retirement in 2001. In 2002, he was named by then-president Kim Dae-jung as the Governor of the Bank of Korea and the chairperson of the Monetary Policy Committee. During his appointment, he was a proponent of the independence of the central bank. His effort propelled the National Assembly to pass the amendment of the Bank of Korea Act in 2003, which stipulated that the vice-governor of the central bank sit on the Monetary Policy Committee and the central bank decide on its own budget except for expenses on salary and wages. He attempted to redenominate the Korean currency to the ratio of 1,000:1, but the effort did not come to fruition.
Personal life.
Park donated to his alma mater, Baekseok Elementary School to build a library with an auditorium, and to another one of his alma mater, Iri Technical High School. He was awarded the Distinguished Alumni Award on June 4, 2004, from his alma mater, the State University of New York at Albany. On May 19, 2007, he received the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Humane Letters at the Spring Commencement. During the 19th presidential election of the Republic of Korea in 2017, he aided in President Jae-in Moon’s election as the chairman of his advisory committee.
He has been married to Youngha Kwon since 1963 with two sons and three daughters.
Books.
Park has published 11 books in Korean. His most notable publication is "The Theory of Economic Development", published in 1977, which was widely used as a college textbook for 30 years in Korea.


B. L. Deekshatulu

Bulusu Lakshmana Deekshatulu (born 31 October 1936, India) is an Indian academic who has made important contributions to Digital Image Processing and Control Theory. He is a Fellow of The World Academy of Sciences, Fellow of Indian National Science Academy, The National Academy of Sciences, India, Indian Academy of Sciences, Indian National Academy of Engineering, National Academy of Agricultural Sciences, and IEEE.
He was a recipient of Padma Shri conferred by the Government of India. He worked at the Indian Institute of Science as a Professor, National Remote Sensing Centre of Indian Space Research Organisation as a Director and Distinguished Scientist. He also worked as a Director, Centre for Space Science Technology Education in Asia & the Pacific - affiliated to UN-Dehradun as a Founding Director. He was the Chairman Board Governing Council of National Institute of Technology, Warangal.
He is currently the Chairman of Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University, College of Engineering, Hyderabad. He is also a Distinguished Fellow at the Institute for Development and Research in Banking Technology, Hyderabad.
Research.
He has contributed in the fields of Digital Image Processing, Remote Sensing, Control Systems, Artificial intelligence, Computer science, Computer vision, Machine learning, Game theory, Power systems, Pattern recognition, Neural networks. He designed and fabricated for the first time in India, gray scale and color drum scanners for computer picture processing that has won him NRDC Award.
Professional.
Bulusu served as


William F. Allen (New York politician)

William Fitch Allen (July 28, 1808 – June 3, 1878) was an American lawyer and politician.
Life.
He was born on July 28, 1808, in Windham County, Connecticut, the eldest son of Abner Harvey Allen and Cynthia Palmer, a sister of the mother of Sanford E. Church. He graduated from Union College in 1826. Then he studied law in the office of John C. Wright at Esperance, New York, and in the office of C. M. and E. S. Lee at Rochester, New York. He was admitted to the bar in 1829, and commenced practice in partnership with George Fisher at Oswego until 1833. In 1834, he formed a partnership with Abraham P. Grant which continued until his election to the New York Supreme Court. He was Supervisor of the Town of Oswego in 1836 and 1837.
Allen was a Democratic member of the New York State Assembly in 1843 and 1844. From 1845 to 1847, he was United States Attorney for the Northern District of New York. He was a Justice of the New York Supreme Court from 1847 to 1863, and sat ex officio on the Court of Appeals in 1854 and 1862. In 1863, he removed to New York City and resumed the practice of law there.
He was New York State Comptroller from 1868 to 1870, elected at the New York state election, 1867; and re-elected at the New York state election, 1869. He resigned this office in June 1870.
At the New York special judicial election, 1870, he was elected to the New York Court of Appeals, and in July 1870 became one of the first judges of the new court upon its re-organization after the amendment of the State Constitution in 1869. He remained on the bench until his death on June 3, 1878, in Oswego, New York.


John Petherbridge

John D. Petherbridge (22 August 192025 October 2013) was an Australian public servant and diplomat.


Pension Protection Act of 2006

The Pension Protection Act of 2006 (), 120 Stat. 780, was signed into law by U.S. President George W. Bush on August 17, 2006.
Pension reform.
This legislation requires companies who have underfunded their pension plans to pay higher premiums to the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) and extends the requirement of providing extra funding to the pension systems of companies that terminate their pension plans. It also requires companies to analyze their pension plans' obligations more accurately, closes loopholes that previously allowed some companies to underfund their plans by skipping payments, and raises the cap on the amount employers are allowed to invest in their own plans. This will allow employers to deduct more money using the pension tax shield in times of high profits.
It requires actuaries to use the equivalent of the projected accrued benefit cost method for determining annual normal cost.
Other elements:
Charitable organization reform.
The Pension Protection Act also reformed several types of tax-exempt charitable organizations including donor-advised funds, private foundations, and supporting organizations.
Supporting organizations.
The Pension Protection Act cracks down on supporting organizations, particularly Type III supporting organizations. The Act applies further regulations and penalties that takes away several of the privileges that supporting organizations have over private foundations, such as applying private foundation law of excess benefit transactions, excess business holding rules, and pay out requirements.
Tax savings.
Public Safety Officers.
One tax benefit allowed under the pension protection act is that qualified retired "Public Safety Officers" may exclude from income the cost of health insurance. The exclusion is shown on the tax return as simply subtracting the exclusion from the figure shown on the 1099-R form, and placing the smaller figure on the pension income line on the 1040. The text literal "PSO" must be written on the dotted line to the left of the figure. IRS Pub 575 has more details.
Public safety officers include police, firefighters, emergency medical technicians, and many types of federal and state employees dealing with criminals.
Early withdrawal penalty exceptions.
The PPA tells the Secretary of Treasury to provide further exceptions to the 10% penalty on withdrawing from a retirement account before reaching proper retirement age. In particular, some penalty exceptions are narrowly defined to only covering IRA accounts, excluding 401(k) and other plans.
Inherited IRAs.
The PPA provides a new mechanism for an IRA to be passed on to a non-spouse beneficiary. Transferring an IRA account this way can allow better control over when to withdraw (and pay taxes on) the IRA funds. An IRA account can only be passed on once, and it is not directly transferred into the beneficiary's account. Instead, a special IRA account with the heading " "Deceased Name" For the Benefit of "Beneficiary Name" " is made to keep the transfer.
Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation.
The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) is a federal corporation created under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. It currently guarantees payment of basic pension benefits earned by 44 million American workers and retirees participating in over 29,000 private-sector defined benefit pension plans. The agency receives no funds from general tax revenues. Operations are financed largely by insurance premiums paid by companies that sponsor pension plans and by investment returns.
The 1985 case National Foundation, Inc. (now Waterstone) v. United States, was instrumental in defining the standards used for Donor Advised Funds. Some of the standards that were included in the 2006 act include:
Amendments.
On December 23, 2008, P.L. 110-458 (H.R. 7327), the Worker, Retiree, and Employer Recovery Act of 2008, was signed into law by the President. The Act makes technical corrections related to the PPA of 2006.
The Cooperative and Small Employer Charity Pension Flexibility Act (S. 1302; 113th Congress) is a proposed amendment that would make permanent an existing exemption from the Pension Protection Act of 2006 for a few small groups. Approximately 33 different plans would be affected. The bill's sponsors, such as Senator Pat Roberts, indicated that the exemption from the Pension Protection Act (PPA) that would be granted under this bill was needed because "the PPA was meant to protect employee pensions, but in the case of rural cooperatives and charities, it jeopardizes plans for employees." Senator Harkin criticized the PPA for forcing charity organizations to divert funds away from the services they provide. S. 1302 passed the Senate on January 28, 2014.


United Nations Security Council Resolution 962

United Nations Security Council resolution 962, adopted unanimously on 29 November 1994, after considering a report by the Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali regarding the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF), the Council noted its efforts to establish a durable and just peace in the Middle East.
The resolution decided to call upon the parties concerned to immediately implement Resolution 338 (1973), it renewed the mandate of the Observer Force for another six months until 31 May 1995 and requested that the Secretary-General submit a report on the situation at the end of that period.


Labasa Mill Tramway

The Labasa Mill Tramway is a narrow gauge railway with a gauge of in the northeast of Vanua Levu, the second largest island of Fiji.
Operation.
The railway is operated from 1894 to today for the transportation of cane from the farms to the Labasa Mill for crushing..
Locomotives.
In 1957 the following locomotives were used:


Drawback

Drawback, also known as duty drawback is the refund of duties, certain taxes, and certain fees collected upon the importation of merchandise into the United States. Refunds are only allowed upon the export/destruction of the imported merchandise or a valid substitute, or the export/destruction of a certain article manufactured from the imported merchandise or a valid substitute. Claimants may be the importer, exporter, or intermediate party within the drawback transaction.
Claimants can recover the following duties, taxes and fees paid on the imported merchandise:
North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) Drawback.
Drawback on merchandise exported to Canada or Mexico subject to NAFTA can be claimed per the guidance in 19 C.F.R. 181. Unused merchandise that is exported in the same condition as imported may be filed under 19 U.S.C. 1313(j)(1) and 19 C.F.R. 190. Claims under NAFTA may be filed on merchandise entered into the U.S. on or before June 30, 2020. Claims under 19 U.S.C. 1313(c) retail returns substitution may not be filed under NAFTA; retail returns direct identification are allowed.
United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement (USMCA) Drawback.
Drawback on merchandise exported to Canada or Mexico subject to USMCA can be claimed per the guidance in 19 C.F.R. 182. Unused merchandise that is exported in the same condition as imported may be filed under 19 U.S.C. 1313(j)(1) and 19 C.F.R. 190. Claims under USMCA may be filed on merchandise entered into the U.S. on or after July 1, 2020.
Filing Instructions.
Claims under 19 U.S.C. 1313(d) must be filed within 3 years from the date of export of the manufactured article. For all other provisions, a claim must be filed within 5 years from the date of import of the imported merchandise.
Claimants may self-file (claimants must possess the software to interface with CBP), use a licensed Customs Broker to file, or utilize a service provider. Brokers, service providers, and software vendors can be found on CBP.gov. Drawback claims must be submitted electronically to one of four drawback offices for processing: Newark/New York, Houston, Chicago, or San Francisco. Claimants may select any drawback office for processing regardless of the port of merchandise import. Claims must be filed through CBP's Automated Broker Interface (ABI); claimants can not file through the ACE portal. Claimants are required to provide the data defined in the drawback CATAIR, which can be found on CBP.gov. General instructions can be found on CBP.gov in the ACE Business Rules, section 14.
Privileges. CBP allows three “privileges” that enhance drawback claim processing: accelerated payment (an upfront estimated payment of drawback per 19 C.F.R. 190.92), waiver of the requirement to file CBP Form 7553 for prospective exports (19 C.F.R. 190.91), and waiver of the requirement to file CBP Form 7553 for past exports (19 C.F.R. 190.36). Claimants must submit an application for a privilege, which must be approved by a drawback office before a privilege can be used. Claimants may use either the generic privilege application sample found on CBP.gov, or provide the data elements defined in the specific regulation.
Manufacturing Rulings for Claims Filed Under 19 U.S.C. 1313(a)/(b). Claimants who use imported merchandise, or a valid substitute, to manufacture a drawback article for export/destruction must have an approved ruling prior to being approved for drawback. CBP has preapproved several common manufacturing processes as “general” rulings (found in Appendix A of 19 C.F.R. 190) that any claimant may use provided their manufacturing process falls within the manufacturing process described therein. If a claimant’s manufacturing process does not meet the requirements of a general ruling, they must request a specific ruling from CBP Headquarters per 19 C.F.R. 190.8. Claimants may file a drawback claim utilizing provisional ruling number 99-99999-999 while waiting for a ruling approval, but in such cases, CBP will not pay drawback or accelerated payment until a claimant’s ruling request has been approved.
Notice of Intent to Export or Destroy (NOI). Per 19 C.F.R. 190.35, exporters are required to notify CBP prior to the export of unused or rejected merchandise subject to drawback. Notification is made by submitting CBP Form 7553 to the CBP office of examination, which is usually the port of export. Once the requirements of the NOI have been met, the merchandise may be exported, and the executed Form 7553 is included with the drawback claim. The requirements in 19 C.F.R. 190.35 may be waived per the conditions outlined in 19 C.F.R. 190.36 or 19 C.F.R. 190.91.
For merchandise that will be destroyed, an NOI must be submitted to CBP prior to destruction per the requirements in 19 C.F.R. 190.71. Notification is made by submitting CBP Form 7553 to the CBP office of examination, which is usually the port where the destruction will occur.
Technical Assistance. CBP has personnel dedicated to assisting filers successfully transmit their claims. Claimants may contact an ABI rep by sending an email to clientrepoutreach@cbp.dhs.gov.
Public Law 114-125.
On February 24, 2015, drawback law was updated via “The Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act of 2015” (TFTEA) which modernized the drawback statutes and regulations. The final rule was published in the Federal Register on December 18, 2018.
References.
U.S. Statutory Reference: 19 U.S.C. 1313
U.S. Regulatory Reference (TFTEA): 19 C.F.R. Part 190 (supersedes 19 C.F.R. Part 191)
Drawback filing instructions at CBP.gov
Customs Rulings Online ; include the term 'drawback' in the search field.


GSAT

The GSAT (Geostationary Satellite) satellites are India's indigenously developed communications satellites, used for digital audio, data and video broadcasting. As of 5 December 2018, 20 GSAT satellites of ISRO have been launched out of which 14 satellites are in service.
History.
The GSAT series of geosynchronous satellites is a system developed by ISRO with an objective to make India self-reliant in broadcasting services. The repertoire of 10 GSAT satellites, a total of 168 transponders (out of which 95 transponders are leased out to provide services to the broadcasters) in the C, Extended C and Ku-bands provides services to telecommunications, television broadcasting, weather forecasting, disaster warning and search and rescue operations.
List of active satellites.
This is a list of GSAT current satellites with their outcome.


Suez (company)

Suez S.A. was a leading French multinational corporation headquartered in the 8th arrondissement of Paris, with operations primarily in water, electricity and natural gas supply, and waste management. Suez was the result of a 1997 merger between the "Compagnie de Suez" and "", a leading French water company. In the early 2000s Suez also owned some media and telecommunications assets, but has since divested these. According to the "Masons Water Yearbook" 2004/5, Suez served 117.4 million people around the world. The company conducted a merger of equals with fellow utility company Gaz de France on 22 July 2008 to form GDF Suez (called Engie since 2015). The water and waste assets of Suez were spun off into a separate publicly traded company, Suez Environnement.
History.
Suez was (and remains, through GDF Suez) one of the oldest continuously existing multinational corporations in the world, with one line of corporate history dating back to the 1822 founding of the (literally: General Dutch Company for the favouring of industry) by King William I of the Netherlands (see Société Générale de Belgique). Its form prior to the GDF merger was the result of nearly two centuries of reorganisation and corporate mergers. Its most recent name comes from the involvement of one of its several founding entities – the "Compagnie universelle du canal maritime de Suez" – in building the Suez Canal in the mid-19th century.
Merger with Gaz de France.
On February 25, 2006, French Prime minister Dominique de Villepin announced the merger of Suez and Gaz de France, which would make the world's largest liquefied natural gas company. The revenue of GDF was around 22.4 billion euros in 2005, compared to 41.5 billion for Suez. The CGT trade-union called the merger a "disguised privatization."
On 3 September 2007, Gaz de France and Suez announced agreed terms of merger. The deal was conducted on the basis of an exchange of 21 Gaz de France shares for 22 Suez shares via the absorption of Suez by Gaz de France. The French state holds more than 35% of shares of the merged company, GDF Suez. As a consequence of the conditions posed by the European Commission with regards to allowing the merger, on 29 May 2008 Suez sold its Belgian gas supplier Distrigas to the Italian company Eni for €2.7 billion. On 22 July 2008 the group GDF Suez, a company of €74 billion of annual turnover, was officially created.


Akhtar Hassan Khan Gorchani

Akhtar Hassan Khan Gorchani (born 1 August 1958 in Lal-garh, Rajanpur District, Punjab) is a Pakistani diplomat and former intelligence official. He graduated from Government College, Lahore in 1976. He sat in the competitive exam for the Central Superior Services in November 1980. He was assigned to the Police Service of Pakistan.
During his tenure in the police, he received a Bachelor of Law degree and a Master of Arts degree in Political Science. He served in various capacities in the provinces of the Punjab and Sindh. As Assistant Superintendent of Police, he was posted at Tank (NWFP), Layya, Jhang, and Wazirabad (Punjab). As SP and SSP he served as SP-Punjab Constabulary, Additional SP Multan; SP Lodhran; SP Traffic (Highways), Multan; SSP Sukkur; Jacobabad; Hyderabad; Thatta; Gujranwala; and West Karachi; Deputy Director, FIA, Rawalpindi and Faisalabad.
In 2003 he joined Pakistan's delegation to the United Nations peace mission in Kosovo. After returning to Pakistan, he held posts as Deputy Inspector General of Police, Larkana and Regional Police Officer Multan before becoming Police Chief in Karachi. In July 2012 he was named Director General of the Intelligence Bureau. Soon afterwards, he became Minister for Community Affairs at the Embassy of Pakistan in Washington D.C.
He is author of "The Sindh Police, brief history & developments" published by Oxford University Press in 2007.


Augvald

Augvald (Old Norse: "Ogvaldr") was a semi-legendary Norwegian petty king portrayed in the legendary Norse sagas. If considered historical, reconstructed estimates based on saga information would have Augvald living some time in the 7th century AD. His kingdom was said to have been based in Jøsursheid, somewhere in the interior of south-western Norway. After a number of naval battles he succeeded in conquering the islands off the western coast of Rogaland. He subsequently moved his kingdom's seat to the north-east of Karmøy, the largest of those islands and adjacent to the strategically important Karmsund strait, to a site later given the name Avaldsnes, after the king. Augvald's kingdom further expanded to incorporate parts of what is today south-western Hordaland.
Augvald had several daughters, including two who notably fought alongside him as so-called shield-maidens, or female warriors. He owned and worshipped a sacred cow, which he always kept with him, believing he owed his victories to the cow and the power of its milk. Augvald was killed during a battle with his rival Ferking, the native king of western Karmøy, with whom his story is interlinked.
Sources.
Norse sagas telling parts of the story of Augvald include the "Saga of Olaf Tryggvason" (both by Snorri Sturluson in Heimskringla and by Oddr Snorrason), the "Saga of Half & His Heroes" and the "Flateyjarbok". He also appears in the later "Historia rerum Norvegicarum" and other works of the Icelandic historian Thormodus Torfæus, who lived and worked in Kopervik, Karmøy. In addition, Augvald is mentioned in the Avaldsnes parish register, and in local Karmøy legends. Scholars have been very sceptical about the reliability of the legendary sagas, which were dismissed as being of little value even in the early 20th century, before the establishment of general source criticism. The legendary sagas' value as sources has not been re-evaluated in recent times.
Name.
Augvald's name (originally "Ogvaldr") later spelled as "af Awaldzstadom" in Aslak Bolt's cadastre (Norwegian "Aslak Bolts Jordebok") (A.B 52), later abbreviated to "Ofstad" (as recorded in Professor Ole Ryghs publicly commissioned study of old personalnames, titled "Gamle Personnavne i Norske stedsnavne", has been interpreted in several different ways, although usually taken to mean a combination of the words "awe" and "violence" (old norse "Agi" + "valdr") or "awe" + "reign", meaning something like "respect-reign" or "Fear-reign" or "he who is held in awe," derived from the West-Nordic "agi" meaning holy unrest and tremor.
Other interpretations include "the ruler of the coast", with "ogð" meaning stretch of coastline, or "the ruler of the island", with "ogn" meaning dangerous waters/island, which would imply that the king's name might originally have been either Ogðvaldr or Ognvaldr. It has also been suggested that Augvald was probably an epithet gained in adulthood rather than a given name, and there has been speculation that Augvald was actually Harald Agdekonge. Some historians have alternatively suggested that Augvald could have been a title, possibly shared by many, rather than the name of a single individual, but the saga's account of Augvald may still have centred on one particularly notable individual.
Descendants.
Among King Augvald's descendants, with the family name now spelled House of Ofstad, an abbreviation of House of Awaldzstadom is Olav Ofstad, a scholar of conflict studies and visiting fellow at Oxford University and as a royal descendant of king Augvald, also a prince.
The tradition concerning king Augvald's claimed descent from the old norse pantheon, has been continued in the family up to present time, as prince Olav Ofstad`s father, was indeed named Odin Ofstadwhich would perhaps best be interpreted as meaning something akin to "Odin "Fear-reign""
Background.
The sagas do not say when Augvald lived, but an early suggestion by Torfæus placed Augvald in the 3rd century AD. Modern estimates have been made based on two of his reported descendants, Geirmund and Håvard Heljarskinn, who are said to have settled Iceland as "old men" when Harald Fairhair consolidated his power in Norway. According to an estimate by Marit Synnøve Vea based on generation-cycles of 30 years (though she notes 25 years might be more accurate), Augvald would have lived in the Migration Period, with slightly varied interpretations around 580–630, around 600 or in the early 7th century. Arnfrid Opedal has considered a shorter generation-cycle of 20 years, which would place Augvald 90 years later, at the end of the 7th century.
To justify their right to rule, Norse royal families, among other things, traced their bloodlines back to divine creatures. As a member of the West-Nordic royal families, Augvald traced his ancestry back to the ancient giant Fornjót (likely another name for Ymir). According to the sagas, Augvald was the son of Rognvald, in turn the son of Rugalf, son of Gard Agdi, son of Nór—a direct descendant of Fornjót. Augvald originally had his throne at "Roga" in "Jøsursheid". Historian P. A. Munch located the name Jøsureid in Kviteseid in western Telemark, and thus placed Augvald's kingdom in the mountains between Rogaland and Telemark, concluding that the kingdom had stretched to western Telemark. Per Hernæs has on the other hand identified Jøsursheid as an old name for the moorland within Jøsenfjorden in Hjelmeland, although he questions whether conditions in the area could have allowed for the rise of a great chieftain such as Augvald.
Described as battle-hungry, Augvald carried out raids into foreign territory, gaining great wealth and honour as a result. After a series of successful naval battles, he went on to conquer the land of the "Holmrygr" ("island-Rugi") people, based on the islands off the western coast of Rogaland. He banished the former chieftains from the newly conquered land, and set up his new base at the most favourable location on Karmøy, the largest island in Rogaland. The site he chose was later named Avaldsnes, after Augvald. Based on archaeological findings, it is believed that the ambitions of the increasingly powerful Norwegian chieftains of the time were influenced by the Merovingian Franks, and especially Dagobert and his empire. As a builder of dynasties, Augvald has also been compared to Clovis.
Convinced that his cow was responsible for his victories, Augvald worshipped it and always kept it by his side. He also believed that the cow's milk provided special strength and vitality. According to some accounts, the cow's name was Audhumla (after Auðumbla), and it wore a golden collar around its neck.
Augvald had several daughters, including two who were female warriors, known as shield-maidens (), and who fought alongside their father in all his battles. Augvald's (unnamed) queen also gave birth to a son, Jøsur, when Augvald was away hunting with his men. Jøsur was raised by Augvald's earl Gunnvald on Stord.
Rivalry with Ferking and death.
Augvald had set up his base in the north-eastern part of Karmøy, but the western part of the island was still ruled by another king, Ferking. The two were not enemies at first, but that changed after Augvald and his men attended a midwinter sacrificial banquet in Ferkingstad. What started as a friendly visit turned sour, and Augvald returned home with his men, leaving his daughters held captive at Ferkingstad.
Ferking apparently could not tolerate Augvald's overlordship of Karmøy, and he went north with his army, meeting Augvald and his army at Skeie, near Avaldsnes. In the resulting battle there many fatalities, but no clear victor. The conclusive battle took place at the Field of Stava ("Stavasletta"), near Ferkingstad. Ferking and his men hid between two gorges, waiting for Augvald to appear. In the fierce battle that followed Augvald and his cow were among the many who lost their lives. When his two daughters saw that Augvald was dead, they jumped into a river and drowned.
According to Snorri Sturluson, Augvald was killed by a man named Varin, although the "Flateyjarbok" says it was someone called Dixin. The "Saga of Half & His Heroes" names Augvald's killer as "Hækling's men", which possibly only refers to caped men.
Aftermath.
According to historical sources, Augvald and his cow were taken from the battlefield and buried at Avaldsnes. In his "Saga of Olav Tryggvason", Oddr Snorrason writes that Tryggvason excavated two mounds on Karmøy, revealing the bones of a man in one and those of a cow in the other. Local legends contradict Augvald's burial at Avaldsnes, stating instead that he was buried in Ferkingstad, on the south side of the 12th-century churchyard. A large memorial stone, still standing, was raised outside the churchyard in memory of Augvald.
In the generations following Augvald's death two royal dynasties appear to fight over the same region, the "Vikar dynasty" of Agder and Rogaland, and the "Jøsur dynasty" of Hordaland and Rogaland. If Augvald was indeed Harald Agdekonge, as suggested by some modern historians, Vikar and Jøsur could have been two warring brothers. In any event, Augvald's son Jøsur became king of Rogaland after his father's death, and reconquered parts of Hordaland. He was in turn succeeded by his son Hjør, who was buried in Rogaland. Hjør's son, Hjørleiv the Womanizer, was king of Hordaland and Rogaland, and mounted expeditions to Bjarmaland and Denmark. He eventually also captured a kingdom in Zealand, in Denmark. Hjørleiv's son Half appears as the protagonist in the "Saga of Half & His Heroes".
Family tree.
The following tables show the most common rendering of the family tree attributed to Augvald in the various sagas, including his ancestors and descendants.


Ciskei

Ciskei (, or ) was a nominally independent state—a Bantustan—located in the southeast of South Africa. It covered an area of , almost entirely surrounded by what was then the Cape Province, and possessed a small coastline along the shore of the Indian Ocean.
Under South Africa's policy of apartheid, land was set aside for black peoples in self-governing territories. Ciskei was designated as one of two homelands, or “Bantustans,” for Xhosa-speaking people.
Ngqika (Rharhabe) Xhosa people were forcibly resettled in the Ciskei, and Gcaleka Xhosa were settled in the Transkei, the other Xhosa homeland. Unlike the other Bantustans, including Transkei, which saw itself as a Xhosa homeland, Ciskei has been described as having “absolutely no basis in any ethnic, cultural, or linguistic fact whatsoever,” despite efforts by the Ciskei authorities to create a distinctive “Ciskeian” identity.
In contrast to the Transkei, which was largely contiguous and deeply rural, and governed by hereditary chiefs, the area that became the Ciskei had been made up of a patchwork of “reserves,” interspersed with pockets of white-owned farms. In Ciskei, there were elected headmen and a relatively educated working-class populace, but there was a tendency of the region's black residents—who often worked in East London, Queenstown, and King Williams Town—to oppose traditional methods of control. These differences have been posited as the reason for two separate homelands for the Xhosa people being developed, as well as the later nominal independence of Ciskei from South Africa, than Transkei.
After its creation, large numbers of blacks were expelled from designated white areas in the Cape Province by the Apartheid government to Ciskei, in particular, “non-productive Bantus”—women with dependent children, the elderly, and the infirm—and it was also treated as a reservoir of cheap black labour. The diaspora of the Ciskei Xhosa is due to the settler colonialism, and internal wars between the Xhosa.
Ciskei had a succession of capitals during its existence. Originally, Zwelitsha served as the capital, with the view that Alice would become the long-term national capital. However, it was Bisho (now spelled "Bhisho") that became the capital until Ciskei's reintegration into South Africa.
The name Ciskei means “"on this side of the Kei River",” and is in contrast to the nearby Bantustan of Transkei.
History.
By the time Sir John Cradock was appointed governor of the Cape Colony in 1811, the Zuurveld region had lapsed into disorder, and many white farmers had begun abandoning their farms. Early during 1812, on the instructions of the governor, Lieutenant-Colonel John Graham forced 20,000 Xhosa to cross the Fish River. Subsequently, 27 military posts were erected across this border, which resulted in the establishment of the garrison towns of Grahamstown and Cradock.
At the end of the 19th century, the area known as British Kaffraria between the Fish and Kei rivers had been set aside for the "Bantu," and was known as the Ciskei from then on. Europeans gave the name "Ciskei" to the area to distinguish it from the "Transkei", the area north of the Kei.
After the Union of South Africa formed in 1910, the “Bantu” rights of occupation remained unclear, and differed from colony to colony within South Africa. The Native Lands Act of 1913 demarcated the reserves in the Union, and made it illegal to sell or lease these lands to Europeans (except in the Cape Colony). General Hertzog pursued his segregation policy, and subsequently passed the Native Trust and Land Act in 1936. This act effectively abolished the right of the Cape “Bantu” to buy land outside of the existing reserves.
The boundaries of the Ciskei region changed as land was added and excised. A notable excision was the removal of the Glen Grey and Herschel Districts, and their allocation to the newly independent Transkei, with the populations of the districts moving into the rest of Ciskei to retain their South African citizenship (which was subsequently lost when Ciskei became independent).
By the 1970s, the South African government decided on the final boundaries of Ciskei, as a consolidated area, through the amalgamation of existing reserves allocated to Ciskei, and the purchase of intervening white-owned land. This amalgamation reduced the total length of Ciskei's borders, making them easier for the South African government to police, as well being an attempt to create a more viable area for the homeland.
Independence.
In 1961, Ciskei became a separate administrative region, and in 1972, was declared self-governing under the rule of Chief Justice Mabandla, who was then followed by Lennox Sebe. Mabandla was a Fengu, a group that had allied itself with the British in the frontier wars, and were better educated as a result of historically embracing colonial education. Further embittered by the policies of “retribalisation” by the apartheid authorities, the Rharhabe became resentful, and asserted their position, which culminated in the election of Sebe—although Sebe later abandoned his anti-Fengu rhetoric.
In 1978, it became a single-party state under the rule of Sebe. In 1981, following an independence referendum in 1980, it became the fourth homeland to be declared independent by the South African government, and its residents lost their South African citizenship. However, there were no border controls between South Africa and Ciskei.
Black people who were found to be living without permits in white areas or farms in South Africa, often for generations, were forcibly relocated to Ciskei by Apartheid authorities, generally from "black spots" in the neighbouring “white corridor,” and moved into squalid resettlement camps. A 1983 study by Rhodes University found that 40% of the children in one camp suffered from wasting caused by malnutrition, and 10% suffered from kwashiorkor. In another camp at Thornhill, 50% of the children died before the age of 5. Typhoid epidemics also broke out in the resettlement camps, which were often isolated, located far from urban areas, and lacked health facilities, sanitation, and schools. The forced relocations of blacks to the Ciskei resulted in high population densities in the homeland, a situation that persists to the present day.
On several occasions, the Ciskei government imposed collective punishment on communities that opposed its rule, and people fled the Bantustan back into South Africa proper, because of the harassment and denial of government services to dissenters.
In common with other Bantustans, its independence was not recognised by the international community. Sebe once claimed that the State of Israel had granted official recognition to Ciskei, but the Israeli Foreign Ministry denied this.
Ciskei-Transkei hostilities and "Operation Katzen".
In 1986 and 1987, Transkei, a larger, wealthier, and more populous entity, undertook a series of military raids on Ciskei, and attempted to seize control of Ciskei. One of these raids was an attack on leader Lennox Sebe's compound, with the apparent goal of taking him hostage, in order to force a merger of the two Bantustans. Transkei had previously granted sanctuary to Lennox Sebe's estranged brother, Charles, the former head of Ciskei's security forces, who had been imprisoned in Ciskei on charges of sedition, in addition to previously kidnapping Lennox Sebe's son. The South African government ostensibly intervened to warn the Transkei government off. However, during a later meeting of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, it was revealed that the plan to amalgamate the Transkei and Ciskei into a proposed "Xhosaland", as well as the freeing of Charles Sebe from prison, had been carried out by South African security forces linked to the Civil Cooperation Bureau, in order to consolidate an anti-ANC front in the Eastern Cape region, as part of the abortive "Operation Katzen".
Coup d'état.
In 1990, Brigadier Oupa Gqozo deposed Sebe and ruled as a dictator—despite an initial promise of a swift return to civilian rule. During 1991 and 1992, many of the legal foundations of apartheid in South Africa were removed, undermining the rationale for the homelands' continued existence. The African National Congress pressed strongly for them to be reincorporated into South Africa. This was opposed by Gqozo and the other homeland leaders.
Bisho Massacre.
On 7 September 1992, the Ciskei Defence Force fired into a crowd (led by Ronnie Kasrils, Cyril Ramaphosa, and Chris Hani) of ANC members, and demanded the removal of Gqozo. 28 people were killed, and hundreds injured in the Bisho massacre outside the sports stadium in Bisho, the small capital of Ciskei.
Annexation.
Gqozo refused to participate in the negotiations to agree to a post-apartheid constitution for South Africa, and initially threatened to boycott the first non-racial elections. This became unsustainable, and in March 1994, Ciskei government workers went on strike for fear of losing their job security and pensions in the post-apartheid era. The police then mutinied, prompting Gqozo to resign on 22 March. The Transitional Executive Council (TEC) appointed two administrators, who took control of the homeland to ensure security until the elections could be held the following month. The TEC also blocked the South African government from deploying the paramilitary Internal Stability Unit (ISU) of the South African Police force, as the unit was suspected of fomenting violence in other parts of the country after the Ciskei military had threatened to open fire on the ISU if it entered the territory.
On 27 April 1994, Ciskei and all of the other homelands were reincorporated into South Africa, after the first post-apartheid elections. Along with Transkei, Ciskei became part of the new Eastern Cape Province, with its capital becoming the capital of the new province, and the former territory of the Ciskei forming parts of the Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality, the Chris Hani District Municipality, and the Amathole District Municipality—as of 2016.
Districts in 1991.
Districts of the province, and population at the 1991 census.


Intesa Sanpaolo

Intesa Sanpaolo S.p.A. is an Italian international banking group. It is Italy's largest bank by total assets and the world's 27th largest. It was formed through the merger of Banca Intesa and Sanpaolo IMI in 2007, but has a corporate identity stretching back to its first foundation as Istituto Bancario San Paolo di Torino in 1583.
In 2020 the bank served approximately 14.6 million customers in Italy and 7.2 million customers in Eastern and Central Europe, the Middle East and North Africa through several brands such as CIB Bank, VÚB Banka and Bank of Alexandria.
By 2010 its assets had grown to US$877.66 billion, ranking 26th in "Forbes Global 2000". The company is a component of the Euro Stoxx 50 stock market index.
History.
Banca Intesa and Sanpaolo IMI, the two banks that merged in 2007 to create Intesa Sanpaolo, were themselves the product of many mergers. Cariplo and Banco Ambrosiano Veneto merged in 1998 to form Banca Intesa. The following year Banca Commerciale Italiana joined the group. Sanpaolo IMI was born in 1998 following the merger of Istituto Bancario San Paolo di Torino, which specialized in retail banking, and IMI (Istituto Mobiliare Italiano), an investment bank.
Banca Intesa.
The oldest part of the banking group is Cariplo Sp.A.. which traces its roots to the Austrian Empire household savings bank Cassa di Risparmio delle Provincie Lombarde which was established in 1823 in Milan. The "cassa di risparmio" was started by an Italian philanthropic group, the Central Committee of Charity; a response by the government to the hard economic times of the early 19th century. In the early 20th century the bank helped Italian companies in the North obtain capital during and after World Wars 1 and 2, chiefly under the guidance of Giordano Dell'Amore. Banking reforms in 1990 started by Giuliano Amato (Amato Law; ) led to the restructuring/reorganization of banks by forcing the government to relinquish control of them (the result was a more market-driven bank that focused less on social programs/social causes were abandoned).
Cariplo SpA was formed in 1991 when Cassa di Risparmio delle Provincie Lombarde (sold by Ente Cassa di Risparmio delle Provincie Lombarde ) merged with its subsidiary IBI. Banco Ambrosiano Veneto originated with Nuovo Banco Ambrosiano and Banca Cattolica del Veneto which merged in 1989. The bank increased in size during the 1990s due to numerous acquisitions (Citibank Italia, Banca Vallone di Galatina and European securities dealer Caboto among others).
Banca Commerciale Italiana.
Banca Commerciale Italiana (BCI) started in 1894 as a corporate loans lender operating in the commercial industry of Northern Italy. In 1994 Mediobanca purchased an interest in BCI (ironically BCI was one of the 3 banks that formed Mediobanca almost 50 years earlier). BCI tried to acquire Banco Ambrosiano Veneto the same year but was spurned by shareholders who wouldn't accept the US$1.13 billion offer. In 1999 Italy's largest bank Unicredit Group at the time, attempted a hostile takeover of BCI but failed due to Mediobanca's interest in the company (Mediobanca wanted to merge Banca di Roma with BCI)
BCI merged with the former Banca Ambrosiano and Cariplo in 1998 to form a financial institution renamed Banca Intesa in 2003.
Sanpaolo IMI.
Sanpaolo IMI was formed in 1998 when Istituto Bancario San Paolo di Torino (founded in 1563) and Istituto Mobiliare Italiano (IMI) merged, (IMI itself was established in 1931) in a US 37.8 billion dollar deal.
Intesa Sanpaolo.
In January 2007, Banca Intesa and Sanpaolo IMI, two of the three largest bank of Italy, officially merged.
As part of the authorization of the merger, the Italian Competition Authority (AGCM) forbid Intesa Sanpaolo to open any new branches for two years in the provinces of Udine and Gorizia (Friuli – Venezia Giulia region), provinces of Rovigo and Padua (Veneto region), Aosta Valley, provinces of Biella and Alessandria (Piedmont region), Province of Bolzano (South Tyrol), Province of Bologna (Emilia-Romagna region), Province of Pavia (Lombardy region), Province of Naples (Campania region), Province of Imperia (Liguria region), provinces of Sassari and Cagliari (Sardinia Island), Province of Rieti (Lazio region), province of Terni (Umbria region), Province of Pesaro-Urbino (Marche region), Province of Pescara (Abruzzo region) and Province of Catanzaro (Calabria region).
The French banking group Crédit Agricole started to spin off from Intesa Sanpaolo, by acquiring Cariparma, FriulAdria in 2007 and Carispezia in 2011, as well as branches from Intesa Sanpaolo. In 2012, Crédit Agricole sold all the shares of Intesa Sanpaolo.
In December 2007, Cassa di Risparmio di Biella e Vercelli was also sold to Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena for €399 million.
In 2008, Intesa Sanpaolo acquired Banca CR Firenze. In December 2008, Cassa di Risparmio di Fano was sold to Credito Valtellinese.
In 2009, group acquisitions included a 30% interest in business info company MF Honyvem, and an increased stake in Alitalia – Compagnia Aerea Italiana up to 33.3% Even though the bank was rumoured to have been working with the government to keep Air France from acquiring a stake in Alitalia, Air France eventually acquired 25%. Alitalia – Compagnia Aerea Italiana sold part of its stake in the airline to Etihad Airways in 2015.
From 2012 to 2013, Intesa Sanpaolo wrote down the value of the investment in Banca delle Marche (a minority interest of 5.84% share capital) for a total of €90 million (€18 + 72 million), as well as €26 million for a minority stake in Cassa di Risparmio della Provincia di Chieti in 2014. The shareholders of the banks were bail-in in the rescue plan in 2015.
In 2014, Cassa di Risparmio di Venezia and Banca di Credito Sardo were absorbed into Intesa Sanpaolo. The 2014–17 business plan of the bank stated that the banking group would simplify their legal structure.
In 2015, local banks Banca Monte Parma, Banca di Trento e Bolzano, Cassa di Risparmio di Civitavecchia, Cassa di Risparmio di Rieti and Cassa di Risparmio della Provincia di Viterbo were absorbed into Intesa Sanpaolo. Banca dell'Adriatico and Casse di Risparmio dell'Umbria were planned to be absorb by Intesa Sanpaolo in mid-2016. A unified website was also used for the remaining retail banks of the group in 2016.
In 2016–17, the banking group also sold their non-core businesses, such as the 0.49% ordinary shares of Visa Europe in cash plus share deal; Intesa Sanapolo Card and subsidiary Setefi to Mercury (the parent company of Istituto Centrale delle Banche Popolari Italiane) for €1.035 billion and 4.88% shares of Bank of Italy to the bank's shareholders Compagnia di San Paolo, Fondazione Cariplo and the pension funds of the group for €366 million.
On 26 June 2017, as part of a government-funded bailout of the depositors (and the bail-in of the investors of the failed banks), Intesa Sanpaolo acquired the good assets of Banca Popolare di Vicenza (BPVi) and Veneto Banca, including some of the subsidiaries such as Banca Apulia and Banca Nuova. The branches of BPVi and Veneto Banca would at first became branches of Intesa Sanpaolo, but some of them would be closed down in the near future for efficiency, as Intesa Sanpaolo was also one of the major banks in the Veneto region which the failed banks based. In October 2017, the plan to absorb Banca Nuova into Intesa Sanpaolo was also announced. In December 2017, the plan to absorb Cassa di Risparmio del Friuli Venezia Giulia was announced.
On 6 February 2018, 10 further mergers were announced in the 2018–2021 business plan: Banco di Napoli. Banca CR Firenze, CR Pistoia e della Lucchesia, CR Veneto, Carisbo, Cariromagna, Banca Apulia, Banca IMI, Banca Prossima and Mediocredito Italiano.
On 5 October 2020 was announced Intesa Sanpaolo's private bank arm has reached an agreement to buy a 69% in Swiss-based bank REYL & Cie.
Major shareholders.
Intesa Sanpaolo's shareholders with more than a 3% stake
Many shareholders of the group were the former owner (foundation) of the saving banks that were acquired by Intesa and Sanapaolo IMI through shares swap. For example, as of 31 December 2013, Fondazione Carisap (Ascoli) held 0.3537% shares, Fondazione Carisbo (Bologna) held 2.023%, Fondazione Cariparma (Parma, now part of Crédit Agricole Group) held 0.67%, Fondazione Carispezia (La Spezia, now part of Crédit Agricole Group) held 0.25%, Fondazione di Venezia (Venice) held 0.33215%.
Corporate Governance.
Intesa Sanpaolo has a single-tiered corporate governance system in which the Board of Directors alone are in charge of strategic supervision and control. The latter duty is carried out by the Management Control Committee instead of the Board of Directors itself. The bank adopted this single-tiered system in April 2016, replacing the former two-tiered structure. Previously, the supervisory board exercised control and strategic management functions, whereas the management board oversaw the management of the company’s business. The supervisory board was appointed by shareholders in their annual meeting. It supervised the activities carried out by the management board and, in particular, approved the main strategic initiatives proposed by the management board. The management board appointed one of its members to be the CEO.
Board of directors.
Members were appointed on 27 April 2016 for the following financial years: 2016, 2017 and 2018.
Financial information.
Table with a comparison of Intesa Sanpaolo financial performance over the last years.
Business Units.
The group's operations are segmented into 7 parts
Subsidiaries.
In addition to its strong presence in Italy, Intesa Sanpaolo has branches and representative offices around the world. The Group also directly controls many foreign banks, especially in Central-Eastern Europe and Middle East and North Africa, with around 1,600 branches and about 8.3 million clients operating in retail and commercial banking.


Taxation in Latvia

In Latvia, taxes are levied by both national and local governments. Tax revenue stood at 28.1% of the GDP in 2013. The most important revenue sources include income tax, social security, corporate tax and value added tax, which are all applied on the national level. Income taxes are levied at a flat rate of 23% on all income. A long range of tax allowances is given including a standard allowance of €900 per year and €1980 per year for every dependent.
Social security contributions are levied on all employment income and are mandatory for most workers. The employee pays 11% of the wage, while the employer contributes 24.09%. There was no maximum ceiling for social security in year 2013 because of the economic crisis, but the ceiling was reinstated in 2014 at €46,600 of yearly income. The standard rate for VAT is 21%; for medications and heating expenses, a reduced rate of 12% applies. Some goods and services are also exempt from VAT, this include education, medical care, financial transactions and rent.
Excise taxes apply on different luxury goods and things harmful to the environment. Wine is subject to excise duty of €64.03 per 100 litres. Coffee is subject to excise at €142.29 per 100 kg.
Taxation in Latvia has gone through major reforms since leaving the Soviet Union in 1991 and making a transition from a centrally run economy to a market economy. The fiscal system in Latvia in the early 1990s was similar to other former communist states with high public spending (45-50% GDP) and a tax system that relied on tax base definitions characteristic of central planning. Since then a long range of reforms has been made, including introducing VAT in 1992 and social security contributions.


Sassov (Hasidic dynasty)

The Sassov (also Sassow) Hasidic dynasty began with Rabbi Moshe Leib Erblich of Sassov (1745–1807), a disciple of Rabbi Dovber of Mezeritch, the disciple of the Baal Shem Tov, the founder of Hasidism.
Sassov was located in Eastern Galicia, and is now in Ukraine.
Subsequent Sasover Rebbes.
There was a Sassover Rebbe in Monsey, New York, Grand Rabbi Yaakov Tzvi Erblich (d. 2020), who was a son of Grand Rabbi Moshe Yehudah Erblich (d. 1991), Sassover Rebbe, son of Grand Rabbi Yaakov Tzvi Erblich, Porosover Rebbe, son of Grand Rabbi Yekusiel Shmelka Erblich (1800–1861), son of Rebbe Moshe Leib Sassover (1745–1807), founder of the Sassov dynasty.
Grand Rabbi Yoel Meir Erblich of Elizabeth, NJ leads a neo-hassidic following and is beloved by hassidim and non-hassidim alike. He is known for his wide ranging knowledge of the entire corpus of revealed and hidden Torah, and for the unassuming manner in which he conducts his hassidic court. His lineage is as follows: Son of Grand Rabbi Baruch Erblich, son of Grand Rabbi Moshe Yehudah Erblich (d. 1991), Sassover Rebbe, son of Grand Rabbi Yaakov Tzvi Erblich, Porosover Rebbe, son of Grand Rabbi Yekusiel Shmelka Erblich (1800–1861),son of Grand Rabbi Alter Morderchai, son of Grand Rabbi Shmelka, son of Rebbe Moshe Leib Sassover (1745–1807), founder of the Sassov dynasty.
Family of Mahari"m Erblich.
The wife of Grand Rabbi Yoel Meir, Rebbetzin Bryna, is unusual for a Hassidic Rebbetzin, in that she descends from a non-Hasidic background, and holds a PhD in human biology.
The daughter of Mahari”m HaKadosh, Maiden of Sassov, Rebbetzin Shoshana Shifra shtlit”a, is well known in her own right as an expert in tora teachings, possibly preeminent in her generation. A “baalas ruach haKodesh,” she is sought out for her wisdom and counsel.
In the late 19th century, the descendants of Rabbi Moishe Leib of Sassov had become rabbis in other cities. The town people found themselves without a Rebbe. They asked Rabbi Sholom Rokeach, known as the Sar Shalom of Belz, for guidance as to whom to appoint as Rebbe. He advised them to nominate his grandson, Rabbi Shlomo, who, although not from the lineage of the Sassover dynasty of Rebbe Moshe Leib, appropriated the title "Rebbe of Sassov". Rabbi Shlomo's father was the first Rebbe of Alesk and his mother was the daughter of the Sar Shalom. Rabbi Shlomo died in 1919. Rabbi Lipa Meir Teitelbaum, a great-grandson of Rabbi Shlomo "of Sassov" and the founder of Kiryat Yismach Moshe in Ganei Tikva, in Israel, was the "Sassov"-Keretzky Rebbe. In his first marriage, he was the son-in-law of Rabbi Joel Teitelbaum of Satmar. He died in March 1966, and was subsequently succeeded by his two sons (both from his second marriage to Rebbetzin Bluma): Grand Rabbi Yoseph Dovid Teitelbaum, the "Sassover Rebbe" in Kiryat Yismach Moshe and a son-in-law of Grand Rabbi David Moshe of Kretchnif (Rabbi Yoseph Dovid was a disciple of the previous Klausenberger Rebbe) and Rabbi Chanoch Henoch Teitelbaum, the "Sassover Rebbe" in Monsey, New York.
COVID 19 Controversy.
In December 2020, Rabbi Yosef Dovid Teitelbaum made a statement discouraging vaccination against COVID 19, and stated that "the doctors are murderers."
In response, Grand Rabbi Yoel Meir Erblich shlit"a announced that this opinion flies in the face of the true Sassover tradition, medical science, and common sense, and the true murderers are those who oppose vaccination. Grand Rabbi Erblich further stated that it is a great mitzva to be vaccinated.


Korczyna, Podkarpackie Voivodeship

Korczyna is a village in Krosno County, Subcarpathian Voivodeship, in south-eastern Poland. It is the seat of the gmina (administrative district) called Gmina Korczyna. It lies approximately north-east of Krosno and south of the regional capital Rzeszów.
The village has a population of 6,000.
Jewish History in Korczyna.
Korczyna had a vibrant Jewish community before the Holocaust. Though the Jewish Study Centre and synagogue are no longer present, the Korczyna Jewish Cemetery is still present in the outskirts of Korczyna.


Telecel Zimbabwe

Telecel Zimbabwe is one of Zimbabwe's mobile telecommunications network service providers. Headquartered in Harare, Telecel Zimbabwe is the third largest mobile telecommunications network service provider in Zimbabwe with the government of Zimbabwe being the major shareholder. Telecel is the first mobile phone network in Zimbabwe to attain ISO 9001: 2000 certification.
History.
Telecel Zimbabwe began operating in 1998. It was formed as a partnership between Telecel International, which is a subsidiary of Cairo-based Orascom Telecom Company, a telecommunications company with operations in Europe, Africa, Asia, the Middle East and North America which in turn is owned by telecommunications giant Vimpelcom, and the Empowerment Corporation, which is a consortium of Zimbabwean business organisations.
Shareholding.
Telecel shareholding consists of James Makamba, through Kestrel Corporation, the Indigenous Business Women Organisation, but the shareholding is personalised through Jane Mutasa's Selporn Investments, Zimbabwe Miners’ Federation, Affirmative Action Group, War Veterans’ Association and Zimbabwe Farmers’ Union. Government of Zimbabwe owns 60% shareholding through ZARnet which it bought from Telecel International.
At one point the regulatory authority, the Posts and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (Potraz), cancelled the company's licence because of the failure to reduce the foreign shareholding. However, the company appealed against this. In 2013 its licence was renewed for a further 20 years but on the understanding that steps would be taken to alter the shareholding. The country's Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment Act also requires foreign ownership of Zimbabwean companies to be limited to a maximum of 49%, with the remaining 51% being in the hands of indigenous Zimbabweans.
The chairman of Telecel Zimbabwe is Dr. James Makamba, who represents the Empowerment Corporation on the board of directors.
Network Coverage.
Telecel's network coverage covers more than 85% of the country, including all its towns, cities and tourist resorts, as well as many smaller centres and rural areas.
Products and services.
Telecel offers voice services as well as 3G data services. Some of the products and services as well as value added services currently on offer include:
Telecel launched to its subscribers an electronic wallet service called telecash. telecash, a mobile financial service.
Criticisms and Controversies.
Telecel has come in for criticisms on a number of fronts, mostly due to issues related to its licensing, shareholding structure and use of foreign consultants and suppliers, as well as its slowness in complying with local empowerment legislation. It has also been criticised by one of its competitors for competing in a manner it considers unfair by lowering its prices through various promotions to a level that other networks find difficult to compete with.
Licence.
Telecel's licence was renewed in July, 2013 for a 20-year period. Controversy came from the fact that Telecel's shareholding had not yet met the 49% - 51% split in favour of local shareholders as required by Zimbabwe's Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment Act. Telecel has said it plans to rationalise the shareholding from the current 60% - 40% split in favour of foreign ownership to the minimum requirement of 51% or more in favour of local shareholding.
Employment of foreigners.
Telecel has in the past come under criticism in the local Press and from the Affirmative Action Group, an indigenisation lobby group, for making use of the services of expatriates in jobs which, it is argued, could be done by Zimbabweans.
There was criticism in particular over the appointment of foreigners to the chief executive post. This criticism died down after, in July 2012, Telecel appointed as chief executive Francis Mawindi, a Zimbabwean chief executive officer who had been previously France Telecom Orange head of business operations for global services in the Americas based in New York, in the United States.
There has been criticism too of the secondment of foreigners from Orascom to fill other key positions at Telecel Zimbabwe. Telecel says these are consultants on time-limited contracts whose role in part is to pass on their skills and experience to Zimbabwean personnel.
Dispute between Telecel Zimbabwe and Econet Wireless.
In mid-2013 there was a delay in the time between when Telecel's original licence expired and when its new licence was issued. It continued operating during this period.
Econet then issued a public statement in which it stated that because Telecel did not hold a current licence it was under no obligation to interconnect it with its network. It went on to point out that it had spent a considerable sum on its licence and suggested that the fact that Telecel had not yet paid its licence fee enabled Telecel to engage in unfair competitive practices.
Telecel subsequently obtained its licence and Econet had to interconnect with its network once more.
Telecel has argued that the real reason for being disconnected was because Econet was feeling the pressure from Telecel's aggressive promotions which were eating into their market share and to disrupt Telecel's massive subscriber base growth rate.
Corporate Social Responsibility.
Telecel Zimbabwe has a corporate social responsibility programme that is focused on education for children, especially those who come from disadvantaged backgrounds or have physical disabilities.
Among the children's institutions that receive assistance from Telecel are Jairos Jiri Centre, Ruvimbo School, Sibantubanye Special School, Shungu DzeVana Trust and Mother of Peace orphanage in Mutoko.
Telecel has also been involved in providing school furniture and sports equipment for disadvantaged schools throughout Zimbabwe.
In addition to assistance for children with disabilities, Telecel also provides ad hoc event-based sponsorships. The most recent ad hoc sponsorship was the lighting of the Victoria Falls bridge in time for the UNWTO General Assembly in August 2013. The general assembly was co-hosted by Zambia and Zimbabwe.
In addition to children in need, Telecel sponsors many arts and cultural activities. One notable sponsorship is the Telecel Harare International Festival of Arts (HIFA) Main stage. Telecel also sponsors drag racing, jazz festivals, and the Kariba International Tiger fishing tournament (KITFT).


Agreement on Net Financial Assets

The Agreement on Net Financial Assets (ANFA) is an agreement between European Central Bank (ECB) and national central banks (NCB) concerning the
purchase of sovereign debt (financial assets) by the central banks.
By end of 2015 the total amount of such purchases had risen to around €560 billion.
In a press conference on 3 December 2015, Mario Draghi, President of the ECB, declared that
such purchases are "often (...) very hard to understand" but denied claims of any monetary financing by NCBs.
In the beginning, details of the treaty had not been published. Critics demanded the agreement to be disclosed. However, according to ECB this was not necessary because ANFA "is an internal technical document".
Only on 5 February 2016, the agreement was published by the ECB along with an updated version of the questions and answers document
Hans-Werner Sinn, the President of the Ifo Institute for Economic Research criticized that ANFA “allows states to print money in their own basement which is recognized as lawful money in other countries.”


Joint Support Group

The Joint Support Group (JSG) is a covert military intelligence unit of the British Army Intelligence Corps. It was established in 2007 as Operation Banner concluded and following the Stevens Inquiry into allegations of collusion between the former Force Research Unit and Protestant paramilitary groups.
Role.
The Joint Support Group is tasked with obtaining intelligence by secretly penetrating terrorist organisations through the recruitment and running agents and informants. The JSG works closely with the Secret Intelligence Service, the Security Service, and United Kingdom Special Forces.
Deployment in Iraq.
The Joint Support Group was active during the Iraq War in running Iraqi double agents and worked closely with the Special Air Service and Delta Force as part of Joint Special Operations Command Task Force Black by providing intelligence for counterterrorism operations. The killing of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi in June 2006 and the rescue of Norman Kember were both enabled by intelligence obtained by JSG. JSG intelligence also supported Operation Marlborough.
Deployment in Afghanistan.
JSG was deployed to the War in Afghanistan and reportedly provided intelligence for the capture of 65 Taliban commanders during the Helmand province campaign.
Structure.
JSG consists of a headquarters element, a training wing, and 4 squadrons. Each squadron contains around 100 operatives.
Selection and training.
The Joint Support Group recruits men and women of any rank from the British Army, the Royal Air Force, and the Naval Service up to the age of 42. Volunteers must pass a two-week pre-selection course followed by four months at the Joint Intelligence Training Group at RAF Chicksands.


Prestat

Prestat Ltd is one of London's oldest chocolate shops. It has been awarded two Royal Warrants: from Her Majesty The Queen and Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother.
History.
Prestat Ltd was established in 1902 by French émigré Antoine Dufour. The Dufour family created the chocolate truffle in Chambéry in France in December 1895 but it only became widely available when the new creation was brought to England by Antoine Dufour with the opening of the first Prestat shop in South Molton Street in central London.
Antoine Dufour, for reasons uncertain, named his business Prestat after Pierre Prestat who was his wife's first cousin and some of the earlier packaging has the company's name as P. Prestat. Antoine Dufour opened a further two shops, one at 405 Oxford Street and a second at 28 St Swithin's Lane in the City of London financial district.
Antoine Dufour passed the business on to his son Tony Dufour who ran Prestat through to the late 1950s. The difficulties of trading during the Second World War led to the closure of the Oxford Street and St Swithin's Lane stores and Tony Dufour eventually sold the business to brothers Neville and Maxwell Croft.
The company received royal warrants as purveyors of chocolates to Queen Elizabeth II in 1975 and to Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother in 1999.
Nominated as one of the world's top three chocolate shops by "The Economist" in 2003 Prestat's current flagship store is at 14 Princes Arcade, Piccadilly, and in March 2009 Prestat opened within the Chocolate Hall of Harrods. Its current range of packaging is the work of designer and artist Kitty Arden, who in 2000 collaborated with Lulu Guinness, the handbag designer, to create a limited edition handbag in the design of the Prestat shop.
The company products are now sold in leading stores (including Harrods, Selfridges, Liberty & Co. and John Lewis Partnership) and fine food shops throughout the UK. Prestat exports its chocolates to countries including Japan, Australia, Singapore, Dubai, Switzerland, Germany and the Netherlands. The company has been owned by the Italian firm Domori part of the Illy Group since 15 March 2019.
Notable customers.
Prestat has had a long history of celebrity customers from the actress Sarah Bernhardt in the 1910s through to Sir John Gielgud and Dame Peggy Ashcroft in the 1950s, Princess Diana in the 1990s and Stephen Fry, Adrian Lester, and Peter Mandelson today.
Roald Dahl, author of "Charlie" and "The Chocolate Factory", made Prestat truffles central to his racy novel "My Uncle Oswald". In this novel, a scheming temptress seduces numerous geniuses and royalty of the 20th century with a love-potion inserted into Prestat truffles.


ICCREA Banca

ICCREA Group known formerly as Istituto Centrale delle Casse Rurali ed Artigiane, is a central institution of Italian credit unions and rural saving banks. The holding company of the group was ICCREA Holding (from 1995 to 2016), while ICCREA Banca, ICCREA BancaImpresa and several companies were subsidiaries. However, ICCREA Banca revered merger with ICCREA Holding in mid-2016, as part of the banking reform of Italy. The co-operative banks of Italy would create strong central banks (Cassa Centrale Banca had also applied to be another central bank) with power to recapitalize individual co-operative bank.
Shareholders.
The share capital was represented by 21,954,905 ordinary shares with a par value of €51.65 each with a total value of €1,133,970,843.55


Outline of Ukraine

The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to Ukraine:
Ukraine – country in Eastern Europe. Formerly part of the Soviet Union. Ukraine has long been a global breadbasket because of its extensive, fertile farmlands. In 2011, it was the world's third-largest grain exporter with that year's harvest being much larger than average.
Geography of Ukraine.
Geography of Ukraine
Ukraine is located in the south-east part of Europe. The capital city of Ukraine is Kyiv, located in north-central Ukraine. The country is bordered by the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov and the country of Russia and Belarus.
Regions of Ukraine.
Regions of Ukraine
Ecoregions of Ukraine.
List of ecoregions in Ukraine
Administrative divisions of Ukraine.
Administrative divisions of Ukraine
Provinces of Ukraine.
Provinces of Ukraine
Districts of Ukraine.
Districts of Ukraine
Municipalities of Ukraine.
Municipalities of Ukraine
Demography of Ukraine.
Demographics of Ukraine
Government and politics of Ukraine.
Politics of Ukraine
Branches of the government of Ukraine.
Government of Ukraine
Judicial branch of the government of Ukraine.
The judicial system of Ukraine consists of four levels of courts of general jurisdiction:
Level 4 – Supreme Court of Ukraine.
Supreme Court of Ukraine – the court of final appeal, covers all cases
Level 3 – High administrative courts.
High courts with specialized jurisdiction
Level 2 – Appeals Courts.
Appeals courts of Ukraine
Level 1 – Local courts of general jurisdiction.
Local courts of general jurisdiction of Ukraine – includes criminal and civil jurisdiction
Foreign relations of Ukraine.
Foreign relations of Ukraine
International organization membership.
International organization membership of Ukraine
Ukraine is a member of:
Law and order in Ukraine.
Law of Ukraine
Military of Ukraine.
Military of Ukraine
Local government in Ukraine.
Local government in Ukraine
History of Ukraine.
History of Ukraine
Culture of Ukraine.
Culture of Ukraine
Sports in Ukraine.
Sports in Ukraine
Economy and infrastructure of Ukraine.
Economy of Ukraine
Education in Ukraine.
Education in Ukraine
Health in Ukraine.
Health in Ukraine


Caradog ap Gruffydd

Caradog ap Gruffydd (died 1081) was a Prince of Gwent in south-east Wales in the time of Gruffydd ap Llywelyn and the Norman conquest, who reunified his family's inheritance of Morgannwg and made repeated attempts to reunite southern Wales by claiming the inheritance of the Kingdom of Deheubarth.
Background & Lineage.
The family's stronghold was the Kingdom of Glywysing and the Kingdom of Gwent, and Caradog was the grandson of the King of Glywysing, Rhydderch ab Iestyn who had been able to take over the throne of Deheubarth from 1023 until his death in 1033. Caradog's father Gruffydd ap Rhydderch, after receiving the Lordshop of Caerleon in 1031, also inherited Glywysing, and became King of Deheubarth in 1045, in the same year as Gruffyd's second cousin Cadwgan ap Meurig, inherited the Kingdom of Gwent from his father Meurig ap Hywel. Both of them were co-descendants of Owain, son of Morgan Hen "the Old", the last ruler of a unified Kingdom of Morgannwg.
Gruffyd ap Rhydderch was said to be a powerful king who stoutly resisted raids by the Danes and attacks by Gruffydd ap Llywelyn. However in 1055 Gruffydd ap Llywelyn killed him in battle and took Deheubarth, campaigning through upper Gwent with an army of Welsh, Saxons and Danes to defeat Ralph, Earl of Hereford.
Early career.
After Gruffyd ap Llywelyn's victory in battle near Glasbury in 1056, by 1057 Gruffyd was recognized as King of Wales and Caradog received Caerleon. From the family's stronghold in Gwent, Caradog appears to have been able to add his Morgannwg inheritance during his early career. After the defeat of Gruffyd ap Llylewyn by Harold Godwinson in 1063, old lineages in the south were restored, with Caradog becoming ruler of Glywysing at about the same time as Maredudd ab Owain ab Edwin, the male-line heir of Hywel Dda, became ruler of Deheubarth.
Contest over Gwent.
Harold Godwinson subsequently began to build a hunting lodge in Portskewet. In 1065 Caradog attacked and destroyed Harold's hunting lodge, going on to ravage the district with his forces. Then, after Harold's defeat at the Battle of Hastings, the Normans sacked south-east Wales and parts of Gwent in response to Eadric's Herefordshire rebellion in alliance with the Welsh prince of Gwynedd (and Powys), Bleddyn ap Cynfyn. King Maredudd of Deheubarth decided not to resist the Norman encroachment on Gwent and was rewarded with lands in England in 1070, at the same time as the chronicler Orderic Vitalis noted in his "Historia Ecclesiastica" that a Welsh king named "Caducan" (Cadwgan ap Meurig) suffered defeat in battle at the hands of William FitzOsbern, 1st Earl of Hereford.
Contest for Deheubarth.
Caradog thereafter set out to emulate his father and grandfather by adding Deheubarth to his realm. In 1072 he defeated and killed King Maredudd of Deheubarth in a battle by the Rhymney River. In 1074 Caradog took over control over what was left of the war-ravaged Kingdom of Gwent from Cadwgan ap Meurig.
In 1078 Caradog won another victory over Rhys ab Owain, who had succeeded Maredudd as prince of Deheubarth, killing him too. By 1081 he had forced the new prince of Deheubarth, Rhys ap Tewdwr to flee to St David's Cathedral.
However the situation was changed by the arrival from Ireland of Gruffudd ap Cynan, who was aiming to seize the throne of Gwynedd from Trahaearn ap Caradog. Rhys ap Tewdwr and Gruffudd ap Cynan met at St David's Cathedral and made an alliance with the blessing of the Bishop of St Davids.
Killed at the Battle of Mynydd Carn.
Caradog countered this by himself making an alliance with the King of Gwynedd, Trahaearn ap Caradog. The two factions met in battle at Mynydd Carn, about a day's march north of St David's. Caradog and his ally Trahaearn were both killed.
Succession.
Caradog left a son, Owain ap Caradog, who contented himself with the rule of Gwynllwg and was the founder of the line of the Lords of Caerleon, while Iestyn ap Gwrgant became King of Morgannwg.


Sophia McIntyre

Sophia McIntyre is an Australian diplomat who was appointed Ambassador to Spain in June 2020.
McIntyre graduated from the University of Sydney with a Bachelor of Laws and a Bachelor of Arts. She completed a graduate diploma in foreign affairs and trade at Monash University.


Hunter v. City of Pittsburgh

Hunter v. Pittsburgh, 207 U.S. 161 (1907), is a landmark case that established the supreme sovereignty of a state over its municipalities.
Background.
In 1906, Pennsylvania passed a law permitting the joining of adjacent municipalities if, during an election regarding the issue, the majority of all votes passed approve the union. Subsequently, the City of Pittsburgh filed in state court to begin the process of an election regarding joining with the City of Allegheny, Pennsylvania. Allegheny pushed back but was turned down in court.
The election was allowed to continue, and a majority of all voters in the two cities combined voted for joining. However, the vast majority of voters in Allegheny voted in opposition, and most of the votes in favor came from Pittsburgh. However, because the majority of the total votes were in favor, the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania ruled the union constitutional under Pennsylvania law. Plaintiffs appealed under the United States Constitution's Contract Clause (Article 1, Section 10, Paragraph 1) and the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.
Decision.
The United States Supreme Court unanimously ruled that the Pennsylvania law violated neither Article I nor the Fourteenth Amendment of the Constitution. Some important lines from the opinion concerning the supremacy of states over the municipalities include the following:


Alahis

Alahis (or Alagis) (fl. 680–689) was the Arian duke of Trent and Brescia before becoming king of the Lombards after his successful rebellion in 688. He did not rule long, however.
His first rebellion against King Perctarit failed in 680, but the king captured, pardoned, and released him. He rebelled again in 688 when Perctarit's son Cunipert succeeded. He forced Cunipert to a castle on an island in the middle of Lake Como, but his rule was burdensome and tyrannical, and so he lost the support of the people. Finally, in 689, Cunipert issued forth with the men of Piedmont and defeated Alahis and the men of Venetia at the Battle of Coronate, on the Horn of the Adda, near Lodi. Alahis was defeated and slain in battle.


Insurance Regulatory Authority of Uganda

The Insurance Regulatory Authority of Uganda (IRAU) is a government agency mandated to "ensure the effective administration, supervision, regulation and control of the business of Insurance in Uganda".
Location.
The headquarters of IRAU are located in the Legacy Towers Complex at 5 Kyaddondo Road on Nakasero Hill in the Kampala Central Division. The coordinates of the IRAU headquarters are 0°19'49.0"N, 32°34'41.0"E (Latitude:0.330278; Longitude:32.578056).
In March 2018, construction began on Insurance Towers, a 13-floor skyscraper to house the headquarters of IRAU. The building is being built by Roko Construction Company Limited, at a cost of USh28.4 billion (approx. US$7.6 million). Completion is expected in September 2019.
History.
The agency was created in 1997 by an Act of Parliament. This followed the liberalization and privatization policies of Uganda's government, which ended its direct provision of goods and services and the adoption the role of supervisor and regulator.
Administration.
The policy-setting, seven-member board of directors is chaired by Isaac Nkote Nabeta. The seven-person Senior Management Team is led by Kaddunabbi Ibrahim Lubega, the chief executive officer, who also sits on the board.
Recent developments.
In July 2014, IRAU directed every insurer in the country to form separate companies dealing in life business (life policies, annuities, etc.) and general business (liability, automobile, general risk, etc.). The objective was to prevent a downturn in one type of business from spreading risk across the entire industry. Also, foreign insurance companies were instructed to have no more than two non-Ugandans in their top management, with one of the top two being Ugandan. That same regulation also required at least half the members of the board of directors of each insurance company to reside inside Uganda. These measures were aimed at encouraging the development of local talent and capacity building within the industry. Businesses were given until 1 January 2015 to comply.