Seabed 2030
- Seabed 2030 project was launched at the United Nations (UN) Ocean Conference in June 2017.
- It is a collaborative project between the Nippon Foundation of Japan and the General Bathymetric Chart of the Oceans (GEBCO).
- It aims to bring together all available bathymetric data (depth and shape of the ocean floor) to create a map of the world ocean floor by 2030 and make it available to all.
- The bathymetric data is fundamental for understanding ocean circulation, tides, tsunami forecasting, fishing resources, underwater geo-hazards, cable and pipeline routing, mineral extraction, oil and gas exploration.
- The project is aligned with the UN's Sustainable Development Goal 14 to conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources.
- It comprises a global center and 4 regional centers ( Arctic and North Pacific center, Atlantic and Indian Ocean center, South and West Pacific center and Southern Ocean center).
GEBCO
- It is an international group of mapping experts developing a range of bathymetric data sets and data products.
- It operates under the joint auspices of the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) and UNESCO's Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC).
- IHO is an intergovernmental organization, established in 1921 to support safety of navigation and the protection of the marine environment.
- Its secretariat is in Monaco, which coordinates IHO’s programmes.
Click here to know about Intergovernmental Ocenaographic commission.
FAO Council
- Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) was established in 1945 with the objective of eliminating hunger and improving nutrition standards by increasing agricultural productivity.
- Its secretariat is in Rome, Italy.
- Recent Developments - The 160th session of the FAO Council is currently underway in Rome.
- It has approved India’s membership to the Executive Board of the United Nations World Food Program (WFP) for 2020 and 2021.
- It also approved India’s proposal to observe an International Year of Millets in 2023.
- The international endorsement comes in the backdrop of India celebrating 2018 as the National Year of Millets.
- WFP – It was established in 1961 as an experiment to provide food aid through the UN system.
- It is a member of the United Nations Development Group.
Global Hackathon on Artificial Intelligence
- NITI Aayog in partnership with Singapore based Artificial Intelligence (AI) start up going to launch “AI 4 All Global Hackathon”.
- Its objective is to promote awareness and develop solutions to address challenges in AI algorithms and not compromising data privacy.
Sattriya Dance
- Nritya Parva - Sattriya Dance festival is being organised every year to mark the day of recognition of sattriya dance as a classical dance in 2000.
- The dance form was introduced in the 15th century A.D by the great Vaishnava saint – Sankaradeva.
- The word Sattriya is derived from ‘Sattra’, the place of its birth.
- It was once a domain of male monks at the sattras, now it is performed by both men and women.
- It is governed by strictly laid down principles in respect of hastamudras, footworks, aharyas, music etc
- The costumes are usually made of pat - a silk produced in Assam which is derived from the mulberry plant and woven with intricate local motifs.
- Sankaradeva – He was a poet, a playwright, a social and religious reformer.
- His contributions include theatrical performance Ankia Naat, sattriya dance and a form of music called Borgeet, which is sung during the performance of Sattriya.
- He founded “Ekasarana Dharma” – a neo-vaishnavite movement, resulted in an assembly of followers.
50/50 milestone
- International Telecommunication Union (ITU) has recently said that by the end of 2018, world will surpass the 50/50 milestone for internet use.
- It means that for the first time, more than half of the global population will be using internet by the end of 2018.
- This represents an important step towards a more inclusive global information society.
- According to ITU, the world’s richest countries have been showing slow and steady growth in Internet use, from 51% in 2005 to 80% now.
- The development is more dramatic in developing countries where 45% people are currently online, compared to just 7.7% in 2005.
Click here to know about ITU
Source: PIB, The Hindu
