1) North Korea fires short range missiles
- North Korea test-fired five short-range missiles into the sea on 8th February in its second such weapons test this year, a South Korean defense official said, amid dimming prospects for the resumption of high-level talks between the rival countries.
- The missiles, fired from a North Korean coastal town, flew about 200 kilometers (125 miles) before landing in waters off the country`s east coast, a South Korean Defense Ministry official said on condition of anonymity, citing department rules.
- North Korea routinely tests missiles, rockets and artillery, but the latest launches came with the two Koreas at odds over terms for a possible summit meeting between their leaders. The two countries last month floated the idea of the summit, which would be the third such meeting since they were divided 70 years ago.
2) Sailing vessel Mhadei logs 1, 00,000 miles
- Indian Navy Sailing Vessel Mhadei has sailed 1,00,000 nautical miles, a major feat for a sail boat used for adventure and training. Commander Dilip Donde became the first Indian to accomplish a solo circumnavigation around the globe in a sail boat. He set sail from Mumbai on August 19, 2009 and returned on May 19, 2010 with four halts.
- Later, in April 2013, Lt. Commander Abhilash Tomy completed the first unassisted, non-stop, solo circumnavigation by an Indian in a sail boat. INSV Mhadei with five sails and weighing 23 tonnes was built by Aquarius Fiberglas Pvt Ltd. in Goa and delivered to the Indian Navy in 2009.