Current Affairs (Sci & Tech)

India successfully test-fires Dhanush, Prithvi-II missiles  In an exercise to further sharpen its missile teeth, India on Friday successfully test-fired two indigenously developed, nuclear capable ballistic missiles, both having a strike range of 350 kms, from separate locations off the Orissa coast. US Shuttle Discovery makes historic last landing The oldest and most travelled space shuttle, Discovery, on Wednesday landed back on Earth after its final space flight and will now end its days as a museum piece to delight the crowds. India successfully test-fires Interceptor missile India successfully test-fired indigenously developed interceptor missile, capable of destroying any incoming hostile ballistic missile on Sunday from Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Wheeler Island off Orissa coast. DRDO develops technology to detect life trapped under debris Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) has developed a special technology to detect human beings trapped under the debris of buildings after earth quakes or land slides. India to have own satellite navigation system by 2015 India will launch seven satellites in the next four to six years to develop its own version of the Global Positioning System (GPS) for enhancing surveillance capabilities and improving accuracy of its weapon systems. US removes ISRO and DRDO from entities list The US has removed nine Indian space and defense related companies including those from ISRO and DRDO from its export control 'Entity List' in an attempt to expand high technology trade and strategic cooperation with India. Solar energy use in cell towers can reduce CO2 emission: Study Use of diesel generators in cellphone towers leads to a staggering five million tonnes of annual carbon emissions in India and there is a need to replace them with solar panels, says a new study. IAF inducts India's first Light Combat Aircraft 'Tejas' Inching closer to modernisation with self sufficiency, India's first homegrown supersonic fighter jet, the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) 'Tejas', was handed over to the IAF by Defence minister, A K Antony after the Initial Operational Clearance.

Russia launched Glonass satellite Russia has successfully launched a next-generation navigation satellite for its Glonass global communication system. The Glonass-K satellite was hauled into orbit from the northern Plesetsk space centre by the upgraded Soyuz 2-1b launcher, featuring advanced digital avionics and a more powerful Fregat upper stage. The new satellite has a longer design life, more navigation channels and is smaller than previous Glonass-M spacecraft. Australia's biggest cyclone in a century named Yasi shattered entire towns, terrifying locals but causing no confirmed fatalities hit mainly in the Queensland State. China launches its first ocean economic zone To expand its resource base from the land to the bottom of the ocean, China has launched its first USD 38.6 billion ocean economic zone The Shandong Peninsula Blue Economic Zone, (SPBEZ) is to be set up at coastal province of Shandong. The economic zone covers all the offshore waters of Shandong Province with an area of 159,500 square kilometers. The programs covered agricultural technology, new energy utilisation, international logistics, tourism and culture, said Fei Yunliang, head of the construction office of the economic zone. International Summit on Water A two-day International Summit on Water organised by Indian Water Works Association, Bangalore Centre, jointly with MECON Ltd., a Government of India enterprise, will commence here on February 11. MGNREGS to get biometric database The Centre proposes to create a biometric database of all workers covered under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme. It will be used to authenticate work applications, work-site attendance and wage payments The First Urine Bank in India has started in a village Musiri near Tiruchi,Tamil Nadu. The Gigantic Industrial exhibition 'win-2011' organised at Istanbul from feb 3-6. India been named as "Partner Country" for the exhibition over 44,000 firms and 60 other countries took part in the show.