11 September 2015 Current Affair Updates | Daily GK Download

1. An outstanding scientist, J. Manjula has been appointed the first woman Director General of the Defence Research and Development Organization's Electronics and Communication Systems (ECS) cluster. Manjula was the first woman director of the DRDO's Defence Avionics Research Establishment (DARE) from 2014. Manjula will succeed K.D. Nayak.

 

2. Japan has agreed to modernize 400 railway stations across the country while participating in Indian Railways’ USD 140 billion investment over the next five years. A Japanese delegation will soon visit India to study the opportunities for industries in the railway station development plan of railways as the public transporter has identified 400 stations to be upgraded in private investment.

3. Switzerland is the best place in the world to live for those aged 60 and over while India ranks a dismal 71st among 96 countries when it comes to social and economic wellbeing of older people, according to a new report. The Global AgeWatch Index 2015 from HelpAge International, working in partnership with the University of Southampton, found that Switzerland is the best place to live for those aged 60 and over, followed by Norway and Sweden. Germany was the fourth best place for older people to live, Canada stood at fifth. According to the report in India 116.6 million people over 60 are living.

 

4. Defence minister Manohar Parikkar commissioned INS Vajrakosh, the latest establishment of the Indian Navy in Karwar, Karnataka. Karwar is poised to emerge as the Indian Navy’s premier base on the Western seaboard in the not too distant future. Some of the vital naval assets are planned to be based there. INS Vajrakosh will have all the required infrastructure and is manned by specialists to meet these requirements.

5. Brazilian Development Bank (BNDES) and the New Development Bank (NDB) signed a memorandum to strengthen cooperation. The document was signed by BNDES President Luciano Coutinho and one of the vice presidents of the NDB, Paulo Nogueira Batista, at the Brazilian bank's headquarters in Rio de Janeiro.The main aim of the memorandum is the exchange of information and sharing of experiences related to supporting infrastructure projects and initiatives aimed at promoting sustainable development.

 

6. An Indian-origin entrepreneur has been named among the most promising businesswomen of 2015 by Fortune magazine in its annual recognition of 10 women innovators, groundbreakers and game changers. Payal Kadakia is the CEO and co-founder of ClassPass, a two-year-old start-up that gives customers access to thousands of boutique fitness classes in their area. The other honorees this year are Brit Morin, founder and CEO, Brit + Co, Jody Miller, co-founder and CEO of Business Talent Group and Christina Lomasney, president and CEO of Modumetal.

7. Australia's veteran wicketkeeper/batsman Brad Haddin announced his retirement from international cricket at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Brad Haddin is the fourth player to take retirement from Australian team which lost the Ashes series against England. Before Haddin  captain Michael Clarke, opener Chris Rogers and all-rounder Shane Watson has already announced their retirement after losing the Ashes.

8. Chennai native Mahesh Ramanujam has been named the new CEO of the prestigious US Green Building Council (USGBC), a non-profit organisation that promotes sustainability in how buildings are designed, built, and operated. Ramanujam would replace Rick Fedrizzi, the co-founder of USGBC and current CEO after he steps down at the end of 2016.

9. In an important initiative, the Union Govt. set an ambitious literacy target to achieve 100% literacy in villages adopted under the Sansad Adarsh Gram Yojana (SAGY) by March 2016. This announcement was made by Union Human Resource Development (HRD) Minister Smriti Irani during a function. In this function President Pranab Mukherjee felicitated Tamil Nadu as the ‘best performing state’ for its literacy related efforts.

 

10. Andhra Pradesh Govt. created history by taking the first step to link two mighty rivers of the state, Godavari and Krishna. Andhra Pradesh government took first step to link Godavari and Krishna rivers as water from Godavari river was diverted from Tadepudi reservoir to facilitate supply to the Krishna river. This water would later be supplied to the Delta region. About 600 cusecs of water from Godavari has been diverted to Krishna. The linking of Godavari and Krishna is being seen as a major help for the delta region and drought-proofing water-short Rayalaseema region of the state.