09 April 2016 Current Affairs
Sri Lanka Announces Resumption of Chinese Colombo Port City project
Sri Lankan Government has formally announced the resumption of work on the stalled Chinese Colombo Port City project. The announcement was made in the Joint Statement by China and Sri Lanka at the conclusion of the official state visit of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe to Beijing. Both sides will use the Chinese initiative to develop a 21st Century Maritime Silk Road to advance infrastructure development in Sri Lanka. China has pledged fresh support to the Sri Lanka in infrastructure development. Both sides will also advance development the China-Sri Lanka Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations, promote joint ventures and expand cooperation in the areas of economy, culture, science and technology.
“China, Pakistan Launched Joint Air Force Exercise”
Pakistan and China have launched a joint bilateral air force exercise named Shaheen (Eagle) 5 in Pakistan. This is the fifth edition of such drill between the two countries that will take place from April 9 to 30, 2016. This edition of exercise seeks to boost bilateral relations between all-weather friends China and Pakistan. Shaheen-4 i.e. fourth edition of the bilateral exercise was held in China last in 2015. It had featured fighters, fighter bombers as well as airborne early warning and control aircraft.
Pakistan Successfully Test-Fires Anti-Ship ‘Zarb’ Missile
Pakistan has test fired anti-ship surface to sea “Zarb” missile from the coastal areas successfully on 9 April. It hit its target in the Arabian Sea after it was fired from a strategic point located at a coastal area. The missile was formally inducted into Pakistan Navy‘s defence system soon after the test. Zarb means hit in Urdu language. It is the Chinese C-602.Missile which is export version of the YJ-62. The C-602 is claimed to have a range of 280 kms and weighs around 300 kg.
IIT- Kharagpur Won National IP Award
The IIT (Indian Institute of Technology)-Kharagpur has won the National Intellectual Property (IP) Award in the academic institutes category. The institute will be awarded the prize Top Academic Institute for Patents 2016 by the Union Ministry of Commerce and Industry on the occasion of World IP Day. IIT- Kharagpur’s ‘100 patents drive’ initiative had played pivotal role for winning this award. Under it IP Portal was launched to simplify the process of patent filing by students as well as professors who have done some substantial research within the institute.