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Current Affairs 12th November 2025
1. Salmon Rushdie Honored with Dayton Peace Prize Award 2025
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Award Details: The Ambassador Richard C. Holbrooke Distinguished Achievement Award, also known as the Lifetime Achievement Award, is a prestigious recognition of Rushdie's work in promoting peace through literature.
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Literary Merit: Rushdie's award recognizes his literary merit and commitment to peace, joining past recipients like Jimmy Carter, Elie Wiesel, and Margaret Atwood.
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Recent Work: Rushdie's latest work, "The Eleventh Hour," features three novellas and two short stories, marking his 23rd publication.
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Inspiration for Peace: In his acceptance speech, Rushdie emphasized the power of literature to promote peace, saying, "A book cannot stop a bullet. A poem cannot intercept a bomb," but writers can express solidarity with those suffering.
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Overcoming Adversity: Rushdie received the award after publishing his first work of fiction since being stabbed on a New York lecture stage in 2022, showcasing his resilience and dedication to his craft.
2. Sergio Gor Sworn In as US Ambassador to India
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Youngest Ambassador: At 38, Sergio Gor is the youngest US Ambassador to India, making him a key player in strengthening US-India relations.
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Strategic Partnership: Gor's appointment highlights the growing significance of the US-India partnership in maintaining regional stability and promoting economic collaboration, particularly in countering China's influence in Asia.
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Trade and Economy: Gor aims to enhance bilateral trade, remove regulatory bottlenecks, and promote investment and innovation through joint ventures, focusing on sectors like semiconductors and renewable energy.
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Diplomatic Experience: Before becoming Ambassador, Gor served as Director of Presidential Personnel in the Trump administration, overseeing over 4,000 posts, and has met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other senior officials.
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Strengthening Ties: Gor's swearing-in ceremony, attended by President Donald Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance, underscores the priority Washington places on its relationship with New Delhi, aiming to advance strategic interests and expand trade ties.
3. India Unveils First MWh-Scale Vanadium Flow Battery at NTPC
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India's First MWh-Scale Vanadium Flow Battery: The 3 MWh Vanadium Redox Flow Battery (VRFB) system is a major milestone in India's journey towards long-duration energy storage (LDES) solutions, enhancing renewable energy integration and grid resilience.
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Advanced Technology: The VRFB uses vanadium ions in different oxidation states to store chemical energy, offering a longer lifespan (over 20 years), high recyclability, and scalability, making it a promising alternative to traditional lithium-ion batteries.
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Inauguration and Collaboration: The system was inaugurated by Power Minister Manohar Lal at NTPC NETRA, with senior officials from the Ministry of Power and NTPC in attendance, showcasing India's capabilities in innovation and technology.
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Renewable Energy Integration: The VRFB will support NETRA's microgrid operations, providing full-day energy autonomy and moving the campus closer to self-sufficiency, aligning with India's vision of increasing renewable energy in its energy mix.
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Indigenous Technology: The project demonstrates 100% indigenous technology and a supply chain independent of foreign components, reducing dependence on imported materials and promoting energy security.
4. 6th India-Vietnam Army Exercise VINBAX Begins
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Objective: The exercise aims to enhance interoperability and share best practices in UN peacekeeping operations, promoting regional stability and security.
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Participation: The Indian delegation is led by Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh, while the Vietnamese contingent is headed by Deputy Chief of General Staff Senior Lieutenant General Phung Si Tan.
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Focus Areas: The exercise focuses on joint military capabilities, engineering tasks, medical support, and disaster management, aligning with India's Act East Policy.
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Significance: VINBAX reinforces India's strategic engagement with Southeast Asia and showcases its commitment to regional security and defence diplomacy.
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History: The exercise series, initiated in 2018, alternates between India and Vietnam, with the previous edition held in Ambala, Haryana, in 2024.
5. Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar Wins Silver at ISSF World C'ship
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World Record Equalled: Tomar equalled the world record in the qualification round with a score of 597-40x, showcasing his exceptional shooting skills.
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Silver Medal: He secured the silver medal in the men's 50m rifle 3 positions event, finishing behind China's Yukun Liu with a score of 466.9.
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Consistency and Composure: Tomar's performance demonstrated his world-class consistency and composure under pressure, earning him a spot in the finals.
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Olympic Experience: As a two-time Olympian, Tomar has represented India at the Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 Olympics, solidifying his position as a top shooter.
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India's Medal Tally: Tomar's silver medal contributed to India's second position in the medal tally, with three gold, five silver, and three bronze medals .
6. Taiwan’s Olympic Medallist Tai Tzu-ying Announces Retirement from Badminton
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Legendary Career: Tai Tzu-ying's career spans over a decade, with notable achievements including Olympic silver medals, Asian Games gold, and three All England Open titles.
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Injury-Battled Retirement: Her decision to retire stems from persistent knee injuries, which affected her performance and forced her to withdraw from matches.
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Emotional Farewell: Tai expressed gratitude to fans and badminton, saying, "A beautiful chapter has come to an end. Thank you, badminton, for everything you have given me."
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Tributes Pour In: Rivals and friends, including PV Sindhu and Ratchanok Intanon, paid heartfelt tributes, praising her skill, sportsmanship, and impact on the sport.
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Legacy Continues: Tai held the world No. 1 ranking for 214 weeks, leaving behind a legacy of artistry, resilience, and inspiration for future generations.
7. Shailesh Chandra Becomes First Indian to Lead OICA
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A Milestone for India: Chandra's appointment highlights India's growing influence in the global automotive landscape, marking a significant milestone for the country's automotive sector.
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Leadership Role: As OICA President, Chandra will lead industry alignment on harmonizing safety and crash standards, scaling interoperability for EV charging, and promoting sustainable battery sourcing and recycling.
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Tata Motors Connection: Chandra is the Managing Director and CEO of Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles Limited and Tata Passenger Electric Mobility Ltd, where he has played a pivotal role in turning around the passenger vehicle business and advancing India's electric mobility ecosystem.
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Global Representation: OICA represents 36 national associations of motor vehicle manufacturers, and Chandra's appointment underscores the organization's global representation and commitment to sustainable mobility.
8. David Szalay Wins 2025 Booker Prize for His Novel "Flesh"
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A Unique Storytelling Style: "Flesh" is a propulsive and hypnotic novel that explores the life of István, a man who rises from humble beginnings in a Hungarian housing estate to the exclusive circles of London's ultra-wealthy.
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Awards and Recognition: The novel has received widespread critical acclaim, with judges describing it as "spare, disciplined, urgent, honest, and heartbreaking".
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Author's Background: David Szalay was born in Montreal to a Canadian mother and a Hungarian father, grew up in London, and now lives in Vienna.
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Previous Recognition: Szalay was previously shortlisted for the Booker Prize in 2016 for his book "All That Man Is".
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Prize Details: The Booker Prize is one of the most prestigious literary awards, established in 1969, and Szalay's win comes with a £50,000 prize.
9. World Pneumonia Day observed on 12th November 
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Global Impact: Pneumonia affects millions of people globally, with the highest burden in low- and middle-income countries.
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Prevention and Treatment: Vaccination, nutrition, and access to healthcare are crucial in preventing and treating pneumonia.
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Vulnerable Groups: Children under five, older adults, and those with weakened immune systems are most susceptible to pneumonia.
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Awareness and Action: The day aims to promote awareness, advocacy, and action to combat pneumonia and reduce its impact.
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Theme: Each year, World Pneumonia Day focuses on a specific theme to drive efforts towards pneumonia prevention and control.
10. Renowned Telugu poet and lyricist Ande Sri passed away
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Telangana State Anthem: Ande Sri penned the iconic state song "Jaya Jaya He Telangana", which was officially adopted by the Telangana government.
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Literary Contributions: He was a celebrated poet and writer, known for his powerful words and unwavering dedication to social causes, inspiring countless people during the Telangana statehood movement.
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Self-Taught Poet: Ande Sri never attended formal school but rose to become a powerful voice in Telangana's cultural landscape, earning recognition as a true champion of the common man.
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Awards and Recognition: The Telangana government has decided to confer the Padma Shri award posthumously on Ande Sri, and a Memorial Park will be established in his memory.
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