Ratan Watal appointed as the new Expenditure Secretary ..
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.
Ratan P Watal is an IAS officer of 1978 batch of Andhra Pradesh Cadre. At present he is serving as the Secretary in the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy. Meanwhile, he has been appointed in the Department of Expenditure with immediate effect as the Officer on Special Duty (OSD).
Oscar Fernandes Inaugurated the Two Day International Seminar on Road Sector ...
Oscar Fernandes, the Union Minister for Road Transport & Highways inaugurated the two day International Seminar on Experience gained in PPP Project in Road Sector – The Way Forward, in New Delhi on 11 November 2013. The seminar was organised jointly by the Indian Roads Congress (IRC), Government of France & World Road Association (PIARC).
It is important to note that the Union Government of India planned to construct green field expressways. During the 2 days program, highly useful and meaningful discussion & deliberations will be carried out by the experts who have come from different parts of the world and different stakeholders.
In the seminar, there will be sharing of experience, expertise and wisdom by the stalwarts in the road sector, which in turn will lead to new workable suggestions & recommendations.
Novak Djokovic won Barclays ATP World Tour Final after defeating Rafael Nadal...
Novak Djokovic on 11 November 2013 retained the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals title after defeating the number one, Rafael Nadal. The world number two Djokovic, won 6-3, 6-4 at the O2 Arena in London. The ATP world tour took place from 4 to 11 November 2013.
He earned 1923000 US dollar as prize money and 1500 Emirates ATP Rankings points, while Nadal earned 1013000 US dollar and 1000 points as he dropped to a 10-4 record in finals in 2013.
Earlier, Djokovic won the same title in the year 2008 and 2012. This is the fifth time, when number 1 versus number 2 in the final in 44 years. They were:
2013: Number 2 Djokovic defeated Number 1 Nadal
2012: Number 1 Djokovic defeated Number 2 Federer
2010: Number 2 Federer defeated Number 1 Nadal
1986: Number 1 Lendl defeated Number 2 Becker
1983: Number 2 McEnroe defeated Number 1 Lendl
Djokovic extended his unbeaten run to 22 matches as he claimed the season-ending title for the third time. With this win, he became the seventh player to win the year-end championship at least three times namely Roger Federer (six titles), Ivan Lendl and Pete Sampras (five each), Ilie Nastase (four), and Boris Becker and John McEnroe (three each).
India Signed Financing and Project Agreements with World Bank for Disaster Management....
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 function took place at North Block, New Delhi.
Major Highlights of the Agreements
• The Financing Agreement was signed by Nilaya Mitash, Joint Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs on behalf of Government of India and Onno Ruhl, Country Director, World Bank on behalf of the World Bank.
• The Project Agreement was signed by Gagandeep Singh Bedi, Secretary, Revenue Department, Government of Tamil Nadu on behalf of Government of Tamil Nadu and Deepak Kumar, Project Director, Project Implementing Agency, Government of Puducherry on behalf of Government of Puducherry.
• 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 along with improving project implementation entities’ capacity to respond promptly and effectively to an eligible crisis or emergency.
• The Project will have five components, which are- (i) Vulnerability Reduction; (ii) Sustainable Fisheries; (iii) Capacity building in Disaster Risk Management; (iv) Implementation Support; and (v) Contingency Emergency Response.
Expected Results of the Project
• The Project is expected to result in (i) increased community resilience and preparedness in coastal areas; (ii) improved multi-hazard resilient coastal infrastructure; (iii) enhanced performance of and livelihood opportunities from fisheries with increased safety at sea; (iv) increased institutional capacity for risk mitigation and response at the state level.
• The primary beneficiaries of the project would be approximately 150 coastal villages that would benefit from the risk mitigation infrastructures.
• Further, the project would enable a local reform process, which will ensure an improved performance in the marine fisheries sector, characterised by a sustainable flow of social and economic benefits to coastal fisheries communities and a healthy marine environment.
• Over 17000 families are expected to benefit from the construction of in-situ permanent multi-hazard resilient houses.
• Through a disaster management curriculum development for schools and training institutions, the project has the potential to benefit a large community of school children and trainees.
• It is Specific Investment Loan for a period of 5 years. The implementing agencies are Government of Tamil Nadu and Government of Puducherry.
President of Philippines declared state of National Calamity ....
President of Philippines, Benigno Aquino on 11 November 2013 declared a state of national calamity to speed relief efforts for victims of Typhoon Haiyan. Leyte and Samar are the much suffered provinces of the country as it suffered massive destruction and loss of life. About 10000 people were killed in Philippines.
Tacloban is one of the worst affected cities, as more than thousands of people have been displaced after the high winds and floodwaters.
About the Typhoon Haiyan
Super Typhoon Haiyan is a category-5 super typhoon to hit Philippines on 8 November 2013 leaving behind many people dead. It also injured many people in the city of Tacloban on Leyte Island. This was one of the most powerful typhoons to hit Philippines. It pushed winds up to 300 kilometers an hour. The typhoon forced millions of people to flee to safe places.
World Pneumonia Day observed on 12 November...
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.
About Pneumonia
Pneumonia is a form of acute respiratory infection that affects the lungs, making breathing painful and limiting oxygen intake. Pneumonia is the biggest killer of children under age five worldwide. Nearly one in five global child deaths result from pneumonia every year. In 2012, 1.1 million children under five died from pneumonia, the bulk of whom were less than 2 years old. The impact of pneumonia is worst among the poorest and most marginalized children.
Finance Ministry Released Commemorative Coins on Birth Anniversary of Abul Kalam Azad ...
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.
2013 marked the culmination of 125th Birth Anniversary of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad. Maulana Azad was one of India’s most prominent freedom fighters, who espoused the cause of an undivided India. He was the first Minister of Education of India and was also awarded country’s highest civilian award, the Bharat Ratna in 1992.
On that occasion, two commemorative coins were brought out by the Ministry of Finance.
The Vice President of India Released a Book Entitled Momentous Times.....
Momentous Times by Times of India Group
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.
About the Momentous Times
• 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.
• The book brings together 175 landmark events, from 1838 to 2013, as seen through the eyes of Times of India.
• The book provides a glimpse on how dramatically our country has changed in this one-and-three-quarter century.
The Commonwealth Business Forum Inaugurated by the President of Sri Lanka....
The Commonwealth Business Forum was 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.
In the Commonwealth Business Forum, an 11-member high-level Business Mission from India will take part. The delegation is led by S. Gopalakrishnan, President of CII and also includes Rahul Bajaj, who presided over the first session of the forum on The Commonwealth, Indian Ocean and SAARC: Building New Partnerships.
About the Commonwealth Business Forum (CBF)
• The Commonwealth Business Forum is the two-day forum that started on 12 November 2013 and will conclude on 14 November 2013.
• It is organised in conjunction with the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM).
• The forum is the business event in Commonwealth, which will bring together Heads of Government, Ministers, and top business leaders from around the world.
• The CBF is co-organised by the Commonwealth Business Council (CBC) and the Government of Sri Lanka.
Mohammed Siddikur won Indian Open Golf Tournament 2013.....
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. Siddikur scored a total of 274 to edge past his Indian friends Anirban Lahiri and SSP Chowrasia to win the tournament. Mohammad Siddikur Rahman was born on 20 November 1984. He is a Bangladeshi professional golfer who plays on the Asian Tour. He is known as Tiger Woods of Bengal.
UN Court ruled for Cambodia in Thailand border row...
The UN’s International Court of Justice ruled on 11 November 2013 that the area around a flashpoint ancient temple on the Thai border belongs to Cambodia.
The International Court of Justice interpreted a 1962 ruling saying that “Cambodia had sovereignty over the whole territory of the promontory of Preah Vihear temple”.
In 2012, the ICJ ruled that both countries should withdraw forces from around the ancient Khmer temple, which is perched on a clifftop in Cambodia but is more easily accessed from the Thai side. Thailand does not dispute Cambodia’s ownership of the temple, a UNESCO World Heritage site, but both sides laid claim to an adjacent 4.6-square-km piece of land.
At least 28 people have been killed in outbreaks of violence since 2011 over the ownership of the patch of land next to the 900-year-old Preah Vihear temple.
About Preah Vihear Temple
The Preah Vihear Temple is a Khmer Hindu temple situated atop a 525-meter cliff in the Dângrêk Mountains of Cambodia. The temple complex runs 800m along a north-south axis. It was built mainly during the 11th and 12th centuries during the reigns of the kings Suryavarman I (and Suryavarman II).
Ownership of the temple by Cambodia has been under dispute from neighbouring Thailand. In 1962 the International Court of Justice in The Hague ruled that it belonged to Cambodia.
The Preah Vihear temple was made a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2008
South Africa Defeated Pakistan to Clinch ODI Series 4-1 in UAE....
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.
The two teams will play Twenty20 internationals in Dubai on 13 November 2013 and 15 November 2013. During the match, South African batsman De Villiers hit 115 off 102 deliveries with 10 fours and three sixes, which took the team to a total of 268 runs for seven in 50 overs.
With the century, De Villiers also became the fastest South African to reach 6000 ODI runs from 147 innings.
Mumbai Cricket Association Felicitated Sachin Tendulkar; Renamed Kandivili Ground....
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.
Sachin Tendulkar, in the meanwhile, explained that MCA was one of the best platforms for the next generation for learning cricket with right coaching and facilities. In the meanwhile, the MCA also formally renamed the Kandivili ground as the Sachin Tendulkar Gymkhana Club.
Legendary batsman Sachin Tendulkar on 10 October 2013 announced his decision to retire from Test cricket after playing his landmark 200th Test match against the West Indies in November 2013. Previously, Sachin Tendulkar announced retirement form one day cricket on 23 December 2012 and from Twenty20 cricket format on 26 May 2013.
Indian Navy commissioned first Advanced Light Helicopter squadron at Kochi ...
Indian Navy on 12 November 2013 commissioned the first Advanced Light Weight Helicopters Squadron at Southern Command, Kochi, Kerala.
This squadron of Advanced Light Weight Helicopters will help Indian Navy for search and rescue operations during night hours in a more effective manner. The Navy has transformed Dhruv helicopters into an advance search and rescue helicopter according to the requirements.
The newly commissioned Squadron named Indian Naval Air Squadron (INAS) 322 is an exclusive group of Dhruv Helicopters, which was designed and manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. Bangalore.
The Dhruv helicopters are being operational at INAS Garuda, the Naval Air Station at Kochi since March 2002 and being used for missions including rescue operations. It has proven her mettle in many rescue operations during the last nine years. Dhruv is one among the few helicopters in the world, which is capable of night search and rescue operations over the sea.
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