Daily Current Affairs : 12th November 2013

1. World Pneumonia Day was observed on 12 November 2013 across the world to raise awareness of pneumonia. The United Nations (UN) first celebrated the day on 12 November 2009. This year, the theme for World Pneumonia Day will focus on innovation – highlighting innovative solutions to end childhood pneumonia, while at the same time emphasizing that there are existing simple interventions that need to reach the most vulnerable children. 

2. The Union Finance Minister P.Chidambaram released a Commemorative Coin of 20 Rupees a circulation coin of 5 Rupees to mark the culmination of the 125th Birth Anniversary of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad at New Delhi on 11 November 2013.

3. The Union Government of India, the Government of Tamil Nadu and the Government of Puducherry signed the Financing and Project Agreements for World Bank assistance (IDA assistance) of 236 million US Dollar with the World Bank on 11 November 2013. The agreements were signed for Tamil Nadu-Puducherry Coastal Disaster Risk Reduction Project (CDRRP). The objective of the Project is to increase the resilience of coastal communities in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, to a range of hydro-meteorological and geophysical hazards.

4. The Consumer Price Index (CPI) for the month of October rose to 10.09% versus 9.84% in September. The consumer food price inflation was reported at 12.56% versus 11.44% in September. 

5. The Commonwealth Business Forum inaugurated by the President of Sri Lanka Mahinda Rajapaksa in Colombo on 12 November 2013. The Commonwealth Business Forum is a side event being hosted alongside Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting. 

6. Japan pledged to provide $150 million towards reconstruction efforts in Uttarakhand in the wake of devastating floods that hit the Himalayan state in June this year. This was announced at a meeting between External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid and his Japanese counterpart Fumio Kishida on the sidelines of the Asia-Europe Meeting.

7. To help increase foreign direct investment in Tamil Nadu, Japanese overseas development assistance of $130 million has been granted. This is to help quick implementation of infrastructure projects such as roads, power, water and sewer in the State. In addition, $177-million ODA has been given to IIT, Hyderabad to improve education and research environment.

8. T.P. Seetharam, currently India's High Commissioner to Mauritius, has been appointed as the next ambassador to the United Arab Emirates. An Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer of 1980 batch, Seetharam is expected to take up his assignment shortly. 

9. Ratan P Watal, a senior IAS officer was appointed as the Secretary of Department of Expenditure in the Union Ministry of Finance on 11 November 2013. He will be a successor of RS Gujral, an officer of the 1979 of Haryana cadre, who will retire from the post on 30 November 2013. 

10. Delhi Metro Rail Corporation and the Embassy of Sweden on 9 November 2013 jointly unveiled a Nobel Memorial Wall at Rajiv Chowk metro station, Delhi. The aim of exhibiting this wall is to spread awareness about all the Nobel Laureates of India, with a focus on Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore.

11. The Vice President of India, M. Hamid Ansari released a book entitled Momentous Times on the 175 years of Times of India at a function in New Delhi on 11 November 2013. The Momentous Times is the fine collection and is the quick glimpse of a selective history. The book is an effort of the Times of India Group.

12. Chetna Vijay Sinha, Director, Mann Deshi Mahila Bank and Mann Deshi Foundation, on Monday bagged the 2013 India Social Entrepreneur of the Year award by The Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship, a sister organisation of the World Economic Forum, in partnership with Jubilant Bhartia Foundation.

13. Haryana joins hands with Cargill to launch food bank. Haryana launched its first food bank to support various feeding programmes in Gurgaon and nearby areas on Monday. The food bank is being supported by global food major Cargill and India Food Banking Network (IFBN), initiated by Sam Pitroda, Advisor to Prime Minister on Public Information Infrastructure and Innovations.

14. The Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) on 11 November 2013 held a grand felicitation ceremony to honour Sachin Tendulkar, also known as Little Master. Sachin Tendulkar is scheduled to play his last test match soon. MCA also formally renamed the Kandivili ground as the Sachin Tendulkar Gymkhana Club.

15. South Africa defeated Pakistan 4-1 in the One-Day International series in UAE on 11 November 2013. In the final match at Sharjah, the South Africa defeated Pakistan by 117 runs to win the series. 

16. Mohammed Siddikur of Bangladesh won the 50th edition of Indian Open golf tournament on 10 November 2013 at the Delhi Golf Club (DGC), New Delhi. It was his second Asian Tour title after Brunei Open victory in 2010. The tournament carries a cash prize of 1.25 million US dollars. This win catapulted him from ninth to third on the Order of Merit.

17. The first Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) squadron was commissioned Tuesday by Western Naval Command chief Vice Admiral Shekhar Sinha in kochi. The ALH, named Dhruv, is the first indigenously designed and manufactured helicopter built by the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited. The newly commissioned squadron would be known as the Indian Naval Air Squadron (INAS) 322. 

18. Novak Djokovic on 11 November 2013 retained the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals title after defeating the number one, Rafael Nadal. 
 
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