WHO Report on the Global Tobacco Epidemic, 2009: Implementing smoke-free environments
The report is the second in a series about the extent of the global tobacco epidemic and measures to stop it. It includes the latest global and country figures on the prevalence of tobacco use and on the measures' impacts.The report's theme is "smoke-free environments". WHO chose the theme because of the serious harmful effects of second-hand smoke, which include about 600,000 premature deaths per year, numerous crippling illnesses and economic losses in the tens of billions of dollars.
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In 2009, Amelie Mauresmo announced that she is retiring from the sport at age 30.
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Human Rights Day
10 December
Respect for human rights and human dignity "is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world", the General Assembly declared three years later in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. In 1950, all States and interested organizations were invited by the General Assembly to observe 10 December as Human Rights Day (resolution 423(V)).
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Bhopal Gas Tragedy - 1984
Hundreds of people have died from the effects of toxic gases(MIC - Methyl Iso Cyanate which leaked from a chemical factory near the central Indian city of Bhopal. The accident happened in the early hours of December 3rd at the American-owned Union Carbide Pesticide Plant three miles (4.8 km) from Bhopal.
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Aryabhatta Satellite
Weight : 360 kg
Orbit : 619 x 562 km inclined at 50.7 deg
Lauched by : Soviet Intercosmos rocket.
Objectives : The objectives of this project were to indigenously design and fabricate a space-worthy satellite system and evaluate its perfromance in orbitr.
* to evolve the methodology of conducting a series of complex operations on the satellite in its orbital phasei.
* to set up ground-based receiving, transmitting and tracking systems
and to establish infrastructure for the fabrication of spacecraft systems.
The exercise also provided an opportunity to conduct investigations in the area of spcae sciences. The satellite carried three experiments, one each in X-Ray Astronomy, Solar Physics and Aeronomy.
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