Daily Current Affairs : 9th-10th November 2013

1. 25-year-old Venezuelan TV presenter, Gabriela Isler crowned Miss Universe in Moscow. She emerges the winner from a total of 86 contestants at the show. Last year's winner Olivia Culpo of the United States placed a diamond crown on the head of Isler. Isler's triumph was the seventh Miss Universe win for Venezuela. Manasi Moghe from India had been shortlisted for the top 10 finalists of Miss Universe 2013 but failed to win the crown.

2. 19^th eight day long Kolkata International Film Festival begins today. 189 films from 63 countries will be screened at 13 venues. The focus of this year’s festival is on South-East Asian films. Besides screening of films, noted Actress Sharmila Tagore will deliver the Satyajit Ray memorial lecture during the festival.

3. Noted Rajasthani writer Vijaydan Detha passed away on 10 november 2013 at Borunda in Jodhpur district of Rajasthan. He was 87. Popularlly known as Bijji, Vijaydan Detha wrote more than 800 short stories. He was a recipient of Padma Shri and Sahitya Akademi Award.

4. An Indian-origin doctor, Rahul Jindal has been selected for prestigious "Outstanding American by Choice" award for his valuable contribution to US heatlh sector. He is a transplant surgeon and philanthropist. The initiative recognises naturalised citizens who have made significant contributions to both their community and their adopted country.

5. Parvinder Sohi Behuria, a Senior 1977 batch IRS officer was appointed as the Secretary General of National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on 8 November 2013. Behuria was appointed in the rank and pay of the secretary. She is the successor of Ashok Sahu, a 1975 batch officer of Indian Economic Service, following his retirement.

6. An English book on the introduction to Urdu poetry by Hyderabad-based writer Anees Ayesha was launched at the Singapore Writers Festival on 8 November 2013. Zafar Anjum translated the book into English.

7. UNESCO on 8 November 2013 suspended the voting rights of the United States (US) and Israel. The suspension happened as the two countries stopped paying the dues to the United Nations (UN’s) cultural arm from two years in the protest over the grant of full membership to the Palestinians. The funding to UNESCO started in October 2011 because of the laws of US, which prohibits it to pay the dues to any UN agencies giving recognition of the Palestinians demand for their own state. The fund from Israel was pulled out because it objected the one-sided attempts of Palestinians to be recognized of its statehood.

8. India and Kuwait agreed to expand cooperation in key areas including energy and investment. In delegation level talks between Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh PM of Kuwait, Sheikh Jaber Al- Mubarak Al- Hamad Al- Sabah five pacts were signed to strengthen bilateral cooperation.

9. The 7th India-Republic of Korea Joint Commission Meeting (JCM) was held in New Delhi on 8 November 2013. The two nations conducted a comprehensive review of bilateral relations, which have been upgraded to a Strategic Partnership and have acquired range and depth over the past few years.

10. India and Japan on 9 November 2013 decided to further strengthen their cooperation in the maritime sector as a part of the overall robust bilateral relations. The two countries agreed to enhance their interaction through the existing forums and through port-to-port exchanges. This was decided during the visit of Union Minister of Shipping G.K. Vasan, to Japan. 

11. The three-day talks between six world powers (P5 nations plus Germany) and Iran held in Geneva failed to reach an agreement on latter’s nuclear programme. The talks ended on 8 November 2013. The divisions emerged among the USA and European allies on the final day of the talks as France implied that the proposal under discussion failed to sufficiently neutralize the threat of an Iranian nuclear bomb.

12. Jamaat-e-Islami, the largest Islamic party of Bangladesh is no longer a registered political party and its registration with the Election Commission, has been cancelled. Move came after the High Court on August 1 had declared the registration of Jammat, illegal on the grounds that some of the provisions in its Charter ran counter to the country's Constitution and the Representation of People Order.

13. Nigeria lifts FIFA Under-17 Football World Cup; defeats defending champions Mexico by 3-0.

14. Indian women's hockey team bags silver in Asian Champions Trophy tournament at Kakamigahara, Japan.15. ICC Test Cricket Rankings : R. Ashwin tops ICC test cricket All-rounders' rankings. Ashwin leap-frogged Shakib Al Hassan of Bangladesh and Jacques Kallis of South Africa with 81 rating points. South Africa’s A.B.Devilliers and Dale Steyn lead the ranking list among the batsmen and the bowlers respectively. In the overall team ranking, India is in third place behind South Africa and England.

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