A 28-feet Nataraja statue made of 8 metals (Ashtadhatu: gold, silver, lead, copper, tin, mercury, iron and zinc) using ‘lost-wax’ casting method is meant to be placed in front of the venue of the G20 Leaders’ Summit.
Lost Wax Technique
Nataraja Bronze sculpture –
- Belongs to the medieval era
- Originated in South India under the patronage of the Chola Dynasty (12th century CE)
- Lord Shiva is encircled in a prabhamandala, i.e. the circle of fire.
- Upper right hand holds damaru (hand drum that made first sounds of creation).
- Upper left hand holds agni (fire that will destroy the universe).
- Lower right hand makes abhayamudra (gesture that allays fear).
- Dwarf-like figure being trampled by his right foot represents apasmara purusha (illusion, which leads mankind astray).
- Front left hand, pointing to his raised left foot, signifies refuge for troubled soul.
First case of Zika virus has been reported in Mumbai, Maharashtra.
Zika virus –
- Transmitted primarily by Aedes mosquitoes (bites mostly during the day)
- It also transmits dengue, chikungunya and yellow fever.
- It is associated with Guillain-Barré syndrome, neuropathy and myelitis in adults and children.
- 1st identified – Uganda in a Rhesus macaque monkey.
- Transmission – Mother to fetus during pregnancy, sexual contact, transfusion of blood and blood products, and organ transplantation.
- No vaccine is yet available for its prevention.
- In 2016, it was declared by WHO as Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) under the WHO’s International Health Regulations (IHR), 2005.
What is PHEIC and IHR?
- According to IHR, an outbreak qualifies as a PHEIC if it’s unusual or unexpected, has potential for international spread, and requires an immediate international response.
- IHR, 2005 is a binding international legal agreement involving 196 countries across the globe, including all the Member States of WHO.
National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) is providing ‘cloud’ skills training to 1,500 learners under Project AMBER (Accelerated Mission for Better Employment and Retention).
Project AMBER –
- Aim – To train 30,000 youth, 50% of whom will be women.
- Implemented jointly with Generation India Foundation and Amazon Web Services India Private Limited.
- Part of SANKALP programme
SANKALP –
- A World Bank loan assisted skill training schemes which focuses on improvement of quality, strengthening of instruments.
- Ministry – Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE)
Global Biodiversity Framework Fund (GBFF) ratified and launched at 7th assembly of Global Environment Facility (GEF) in Vancouver, Canada.
GBFF –
- Aim – To finance the implementation of Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF).
- GBFF Council – 16 from developing countries; 14 from developed countries; 2 Members from the countries of central and eastern Europe and former Soviet Union.
- Decisions of GBFF Council are to be taken by consensus, along the lines of the GEF Instrument.
- Financial management: World Bank as the Trustee of the GBFF.
- Similar to the Capacity-Building Initiative for Transparency (CBIT) Trust Fund, Least Developed Countries (LDCs) Fund, Special Climate Change Fund, and Nagoya Protocol Implementation Fund (NPIF).
KMGBF –
- Adopted at COP15 (held in Montreal) to UN Convention on Biological Diversity.
- KMGBF has set 23 targets to be achieved by 2030 which include 30% conservation of land and sea, 50% reduction of invasive species, raising at least $200 billion per year etc.
India’s ‘goldilocks’ scenario rests on corporate earnings growth trajectory, notes HSBC.
Goldilocks scenario –
- Refers to an ideal situation where there is a steady growth.
- Economic growth is neither too high (hot) to trigger inflation and nor too low (cold) for a slowdown.
- Features –
- Low rate of unemployment
- Steady GDP growth rate
- Relatively low retail inflation and interest rates
- Goldilocks phase is usually temporary in nature.
- It sets in typically after an adverse shock to the economy, during the recovery and growth period.