Nearly half global patent filings of China
According to WIPO’s annual World Intellectual Property Indicators (WIPI) report, China accounted for nearly half global patent filings in 2018.
Major highlights
- In all, innovators worldwide filed 3.3 million patent applications (up 5.2% for a ninth straight yearly increase), 3 million trademark applications, and 1.3 million industrial design applications.
- Asia has become a global hub for innovation. Asia accounted for more than two-thirds of all patent, trademark and industrial design applications in 2018.
- China ranked first in all three categories and had as many patent filings as the next 10 places combined, including Japan (3rd), South Korea (4th) and the European Patent Office (5th).
- China accounted for nearly half of global patent filings last year, with a record 1.54 million applications, led by telecoms and computer technology. Number of patents filed by China increased by 11.6 % in 2018 from 2017.
- The US ranked second with almost 600,000 patent applications, down 1.6 percent on the previous year and the first drop in a decade.
- Going Online as Leaders
Union Minister of Tribal Affair announced the second phase of Going Online as Leaders (GOAL).
Crucial highlights
- Going Online as Leaders (GOAL) is a Facebook program in association with Union Ministry of Tribal Affair.
- It was launched in March 2019.
- It aims at inspiring, guiding and encouraging tribal girls from across India to become village-level digital young leaders for their communities.
- GOAL connects underprivileged young tribal women with senior expert mentors in the areas of business, fashion and arts to learn digital and life skills.
- In the second phase, the Ministry of Tribal Affairs and Facebook together will digitally mentor 5000 young women in India’s tribal dominated districts. The program will include weekly one-to-one mentoring sessions, focused on digital literacy, entrepreneurship and online safety.
- Mt Paektu
North Korea/Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s (DPRK) state news agency KCNA released a series of photographs showing Kim Jong Un riding a white horse to the sacred mountain called Paektu.
Why in news?
- Paektu Mountain is also known as Baekdu Mountain, and in China as Changbai Mountain.
- it is an active stratovolcano. The volcanic mountain last erupted over 1,000 years ago.
- It is situated at the border between North Korea and China.
- At a height of 2,744 m (9,003 ft), it is the highest peak in the Korean peninsula.
- A large crater lake, called Heaven Lake, is in the caldera atop the mountain.
- It is considered sacred by the Koreans since they treat it to be the spiritual origin of the Korean kingdom, where the founder was born.
- The Kim family legitimises their rule over DPRK by referring to the “Mount Baekdu Bloodline” (the mountain is also referred to as Baekdusan). A reference to the mountain is made in the South Korean national anthem as well.
- EX EASTERN BRIDGE-V
Indian Air Force is participating in a Bilateral Joint exercise with Royal Air Force Oman (RAFO), named EX EASTERN BRIDGE-V
- It is scheduled from 17-26 Oct 19, at Air Force Base Masirah.
Why in news
- The last exercise, EX EASTERN BRIDGE-IV was held in 2017 at Jamnagar. For the first time, MiG-29 fighter aircraft will be participating in an International Exercise outside India.
- IAF contingent comprises of MiG-29 and C-17 aircraft. MiG-29 will be exercising with Royal Air Force Oman’s Eurofighter Typhoon, F-16 and Hawk. The exercise will enhance inter-operability during mutual operations between the two Air Forces and will provide an opportunity to learn from each other’s best practices.
- The participation of Indian Air Force in the exercise will also promote professional interaction, exchange of experience and operational knowledge.
- Besides strengthening bilateral relations, it will also provide a good opportunity to the air-warriors to operate in an international environment.
- Van Dhan Internship Programme
Union Minister of Tribal Affairs launched the “Van Dhan Internship Programme” organised by TRIFED under Ministry of Tribal Affairs.
About:
- 18 interns (to be called Minister’s interns) from some of the reputed Institutes of Rural Management/ Management Institutions/ Institutes of Social Work/ Social Services of the country are participating in the “Van Dhan Internship Programme”.
- The period of internship is 6 months (extendable developing upon the need of the organisation).
- These interns have been selected to work in various districts in tribal areas on Van Dhan programme. They will support the TRIFED activities on livelihood promotion, value addition of NTFTs, marketing and credit linkages.
- China leases an entire Pacific island for 75 years
A Chinese company has signed an agreement to lease an entire island in the Solomon Islands.
About:
- The Solomons’ Central Province made a “strategic cooperation agreement” on Tulagi island with the state-owned China Sam
Enterprise Group for the development of the special economic zone.
- The agreement with China Sam mentions developing a refinery on the island, but its potential for dual use as a Chinese military base is certain to raise concerns with the United States and Australia.
- Recently, China and the Solomons officially established diplomatic relations after China persuaded the impoverished Pacific nation to sever ties with Taiwan and become its ally. Days later another Taiwan loyalist in the region, Kiribati, did likewise.
Tulagi island
- Tulagi, an island about two square kilometres with a population of 1,200, is the site of a former Japanese naval base and was the scene of fierce fighting in World War II.
- The island of Tulagi served as a South Pacific headquarters for Britain and then Japan. During Second World War, its natural deepwater harbour across from Guadalcanal was coveted by the military.