Third India – Africa Forum Summit (AIFS III)

From – 26/10/2015 To 29/10/2015

At New Delhi

Senior officials level meeting – Jointly organised by the African Union and Government of India.

India Africa Forum Summit Oct. 2015 Logo

Insightful, imaginative logo – Maps of India and Africa and a Lion – King of the Jungle found in both regions – on the background of a diamond

(See a video about making of the logo)

Click here to see the detailed list of all African Union countries.

Shaping a more equitable world order is considered a major challenge before India and Africa.  Emphasis on shared history.

From our struggle against colonialism and apartheid, we have emerged to jointly accept the challenges of a globalizing world. Even as we combat with common threats – the threat from international terrorism; the scourge of poverty, disease, illiteracy and hunger; the challenge of climate change – and collectively promote the socio-economic advancement of all our people, we believe that India and Africa traverse the same path, share the same values and cherish the same dreams.

http://www.iafs.in/home.php

A special website was created for the summit.

The third edition of the four day IAFS summit which will take place during 26th-29th October 2015 enables consultations at the highest political level between the heads of government of 54 nations across Africa and the Indian government to give a new thrust to our age-old partnership. It provides an opportunity to not only reflect on the past, but to define the road ahead in tune with the times we live in.

The First Africa-India Forum Summit was held in 2008 in New Delhi, India, while the Second Africa-India Forum Summit took place in 2011 at the headquarters of the African Union in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.  Watch videos about first two summits on YouTube.

Also check the AU agenda 2063.

 

 

UN Peace keeping missions worldwide

Currently there are 16 peace keeping missions and one special political mission in Afghanistan.

United Nations Peacekeeping helps countries torn by conflict create the conditions for lasting peace. We are comprised of civilian, police and military personnel.

As of 31 March 2015, our workforce in the field consisted of:

  • 93,743 serving troops and military observers
  • 13,122  police personnel;
  • 5,277 international civilian personnel (31 December 2014);
  • 11,678 local civilian staff (31 December 2014);
  • 1,846 UN Volunteers.

128 countries contributed military and police personnel.

The UN does not have its own military force; it depends on contributions from Member States.

In addition to maintaining peace and security, peacekeepers are increasingly charged with assisting in political processes; reforming judicial systems; training law enforcement and police forces; disarming and reintegrating former combatants; supporting the return of internally displaced persons and refugees.

Out of the 16 peace keeping operations

1 is in the Caribbean – Haiti,

9 in African continent (South Sudan, Western Sahara, Darfur, Abyei, DR Congo, Central African Republic, Liberia, Cote d’Ivoire and Mali.)

1 in India and Pakistan,

4 – one each in Syria, Lebanon, Cyprus, Middle East,

1 in Europe (Kosovo)

Since 1948 UN has undertaken 71 peace keeping operations.

For further details refer to this site

Pune University – CSDS, Delhi Election survey

Prof. Dr. Suhas Palshikar
Prof. Dr. Suhas Palshikar

Students of Dr. T. K. Tope Night College participated in an election survey as field investigators.  The survey was a part of the ongoing research activity of the CSDS – Centre for the study of developing societies, (http://www.csds.in/) Delhi, a research organisation in collaboration with the Department of Politics and Public Administration, Savitribai Phule Pune University, Pune. (http://www.unipune.ac.in/dept/mental_moral_and_social_science/politics_and_public_administration/default.htm)

It was conducted twice in the year 2014.  First was before the Loksabha elections in March 2014 and second was in October 2014 before the Maharashtra Vidhansabha elections (State Legislative Assembly elections.)

Workshop in Dr. T. K. Tope Night College.

Field investigators were given systematic training before going to the field for actual survey.  Two such workshops were conducted in Dr. T. K. Tope Night College on 16th Feb. 2014 and 19th March 2014 before the Loksabha elections.  Prof. Shubharaj Buwa along with Kedar Deshmukh conducted the workshop.  Students from SNDT College, Churchgate and Uran College also participated in the survey.

principal-vb-rokade-226x300
Principal V. B. Rokade

The survey was conducted in assembly constituency areas of Mumbai, Thane and Raigad districts.  It was possible to conduct the workshop because of the kind cooperation and guidance  of Principal V. B. Rokade of Dr. T. K. Tope Night College.

Kirti College Workshop

kirti_1
Principal Magare of Kirti College and Prof. Nitin Birmal from Pune University department of Politics and Public Administration.

In October 2014 before the Vidhansabha elections another  workshop was conducted at the the Kirti College Dadar.  Prof. Nitin Birmal from Pune University and Principal Magare of  Kirti College guided students.

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Mohan Kamble, Joshi and 4 other students (all in the first row) attended the workshop in Kirti College, Dadar.

Field investigators faced many difficulties while conducting the survey.  It was much easier to conduct interviews in slums and rural areas but it was very difficult to get access in apartments in urban areas.

Term End

This term officially ended yesterday (21st October 2015).  However to compensate a holiday we took during the Ganesh festival the College will function on 23rd October.  Last paper of second and fourth semester ATKT examination is scheduled on that day.  From 24th onwards till 15th November it’s Diwali vacation.   College will reopen on 16th November 2015.

About MH17 Crash

Published on Oct 13, 2015

Video about the Dutch Safety Board’s investigation into the causes of the crash of flight MH17 on 17 July 2014 in the eastern part of Ukraine and the Board’s investigation into flying over conflict zones. The video was based on the Dutch Safety Board’s investigation reports, which were published on 13 October 2015.