GK and Current Affairs Updates

For the third time, the New Zealand All Blacks are the Rugby Union World Champions. Rugby union is a veritable religion in New Zealand, the ins and outs of the All Blacks side featuring in just about every national news bulletin. This was the one of the biggest achievements for New Zealand as it is the victory over Australia.The Rugby World Cup is a men's rugby union tournament contested every four years between the top international teams. The tournament was first held in 1987, when the tournament was co-hosted by New Zealand and Australia.

 Top seed Roger Federer beat his old rival Rafael Nadal in three sets to  claim his seventh Swiss Indoors title.It was the 17-time Grand Slam  winner's sixth title of the season and the 88th of his career.Roger  Federer holds the record for most singles titles, having won the  tournament seven times, in 2006–2008, 2010–2011 and 2014–2015.
About Swiss Indoor:
1. It  is a professional men's tennis tournament played on indoor hard courts.
2.  It is held annually at the St. Jakobshalle in Basel, Switzerland, in October, since 1995.

BrahMos supersonic cruise missile testfired from INS Kochi, hits the target. Last 2 trials were also successful from INS Kolkata in June 2014 and February 2015.
This missile provides the much-needed teeth to one of the most modern indigenous destroyer. 
Features :
1. Supersonic speed in a through the flight leading to the shorter flight time, consequently ensuring lower dispersion of targets.
2. Non-interception by any known weapon in the world.
3. Compared to existing missiles, Brahmos has : 3 times more velocity 9 times more kinetic energy 4. "Fire and Forget" principle of operation.
5. It can be launched from ships, land and submarines.

 Hero MotoCorp founder and doyen of Indian two-wheeler industry,  Brijmohan Lall Munjal, passed away after a brief illness at the age  of 92.
 Some points about Mr.Brijmohan:
 a. Brijmohan Lall Munjal was born in 1923 at Kamalia in present-  day Pakistan. 
b. He worked at the Army Ordnance Factory after completing his formal education before moving to India after partition.
c. He along with his brothers founded Hero Cycles in Ludhiana (Majestic Auto Limited) in 1956.  
d. Now,Hero MotoCorp is the world’s largest two-wheeler company now for the 14th year in a row.
Hero MotoCorp :
a. It is an Indian motorcycle and scooter manufacturer based in New Delhi, India. 
b. The company is the largest two wheeler manufacturer in India.
c. Slogan 'Fill it – Shut it – Forget it' that emphasized the motorcycle's fuel efficiency helped the company grow at a double-digit pace since inception.
d. The Brand Trust Report published by Trust Research Advisory has ranked Hero Honda in the 7^th position among the most trusted brands in India.
e. It received the 'Best value for Money Bike Maker' and 'Best Advertising' in Two Wheelers Category at the Auto India Best Brand Awards 2012.

India has secured 7th position this time. Survey showed that India's brand value has witnessed highest increment from the last year. India is the second most valued among BRICS after China, followed by Brazil, Russia and South Africa.  
Reasons for increment : Increasing Business climate due to formulation of various policies and the slogan 'Incredible India' also worked well.
Top 5 countries are :
1. United States
2. China
3. Germany
4. UK
5. Japan
The nation brand valuation is based on five year forecasts of sales of all brands in each nation and follows a complex process. The Gross domestic product (GDP) is used as a proxy for total revenues.

According to a ranking that uses data from the United Nations, the World Bank and the World Health Organization Singapore is the world’s healthiest country.
Ranking was based upon the:
1. Mortality rates in each country,
2. The proportion of young people smoking and 
3. The number of immunizations.
Top 3 countries are :
1. Singapore
2. Italy 
3. Australia
India secured 103^rd position.
Survey report: global rise in the level of consumption of healthy food like fruits and vegetables, along side an increasing intake of unhealthy junk food.
3 bottom most or least healthy countries:
1. Swaziland
2. Lesotho
3. Democratic Republic of Congo.

China has dropped its controversial one-child policy, allowing all couples to have two children for the first time in more than three decades.
Reason for the ease: severe labour shortage ,ageing population.
One child Policy: official program initiated in the late 1970s and early’80s by the central government of China.Its purpose was to reduce the growth rate of China’s enormous population.

Kalavari, the first of Scorpene class submarine set afloat in the Mumbai naval dockyard.It is manufactured at Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd (MDL).
Features : diesel propulsion , an additional air-independent propulsion (AIP) system.
Strengths: a. ability to launch an attack on the enemy using precision-guided weapons,underwater or on surface.b. can undertake multifarious missions including anti-surface warfare, anti-submarine warfare, intelligence gathering,etc. Air-independent propulsion: Air-independent propulsion (AIP) is any technology which allows a non-nuclear submarine to operate without the need to access atmospheric oxygen.

BCCI secretary Anurag Thakur has announced the location of Asia Cup which is Bangladesh in 2016 and India in 2018.He said Since India would host World T20 next year, the Asia Cup T 20 will serve as an ideal preparatory tournament for Asian nations. The four Asian Test nations -- India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh -- also decided to contribute 2 per cent of their annual income to ACC for development of cricket in emerging nations. 
About Asia Cup - 
a. It is an international men's One Day International cricket tournament.
b. It was established in 1983.
c. It is  to be held every two years.
d. The first tournament was held in 1984 in Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates.
e. Last 5 tournament hosting Nations : 2008-Pakistan                                                            2010-Sri lanka 2012,2014,2016 - Bangladesh.

BCCI secretary Anurag Thakur has announced the location of Asia Cup which is Bangladesh in 2016 and India in 2018.He said Since India would host World T20 next year, the Asia Cup T 20 will serve as an ideal preparatory tournament for Asian nations. The four Asian Test nations -- India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh -- also decided to contribute 2 per cent of their annual income to ACC for development of cricket in emerging nations. 
About Asia Cup - 
a. It is an international men's One Day International cricket tournament.
b. It was established in 1983.
c. It is  to be held every two years.
d. The first tournament was held in 1984 in Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates.
e. Last 5 tournament hosting Nations : 2008-Pakistan                                                            2010-Sri lanka 2012,2014,2016 - Bangladesh.