Current Affairs for IAS Exams - 5 July 2015

Current Affairs for IAS Exams – 5 July 2015

:: National ::

DoT panel denied Facebook's Internet.org; ok with Airtel Zero

A DoT panel on net neutrality is learnt to have opposed projects like Facebook's Internet.org, which allow access to certain websites without mobile data charges, while suggesting that similar plans such as Airtel Zero be allowed with prior clearance from Trai.
The panel has stated however that "collaborations between telecom operators and content providers that enable such gate-keeping role to be played by any entity should be actively discouraged", sources said. Telecom Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad had directed the Department of Telecom (DoT) to form a panel on net neutrality and give its recommendation on the matter.
Net neutrality implies that equal treatment be accorded to all Internet traffic and no priority be given to an entity or company based on payment to content or service providers such as telecom companies, which is seen as discriminatory.
The neutrality debate heated up in India after telecom operator Airtel launched a platform, Airtel Zero, that would allow free access of some websites on it network. However, the companies were asked to pay Airtel for joining the platform.
Internet.org, on the other hand, is a Facebook-led initiative which aims to bring 5 billion people online in partnership with tech giants like Samsung and Qualcomm as well as mobile operators. In India, it had tied up with Reliance Communications.
Sources said the DoT panel has stated that this project has been criticised for violating net neutrality principle and favouring Facebook's own services over its rivals.
Facebook, however, at various forums has said that the project is pro- Internet access and hence does not violate the principle.

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:: International ::

GREEK SAYS NO TO EU

Greeks voted overwhelmingly "No" on Sunday in a historic bailout referendum, partial results showed, defying warnings from across Europe that rejecting new austerity terms for fresh financial aid would set their country on a path out of the euro.
With nearly a fifth of the votes counted, official figures showed 60.4 percent of Greeks on course to reject a bailout offer from creditors that was the official issue of the ballot.
The figures showed the Yes vote drew 40.1 percent. An official projection of the final result is expected at 1800 GMT.
Officials from the Greek government, which had argued that a 'No' vote would strengthen its hand to secure a better deal from international creditors after months of wrangling, immediately said they would try to restart talks with European partners.
Many of Athens' partners have warned over the past week that a 'No' vote would mean cutting bridges with Europe and driving Greece's crippled financial system into outright bankruptcy, dramatically worsening the country's 5-year-long depression.
In Brussels, EU officials said there would be no comment until the final results are announced.

UNCHARTED

A 'No' vote would leave Greece and the euro zone in uncharted waters. Unable to borrow money on capital markets, Greece has one of the world's highest levels of public debt. The International Monetary Fund warned last week that it would need massive debt relief and 50 billion euros in fresh funds.

:: Business ::

Centre to convert 90,000 kms NH into green corridors

The government will convert 90,000 kms of country's national highways into green corridors, for which it is planning to create at least 1,000 contractors responsible for planting trees.
"We have taken a decision that one per cent of cost in construction is for tree plantation and other things.
We are going to create 1,000 contractors in the country.
They will have their own nurseries. They will plant new trees and create a green area on national highways," Road Transport & Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari has said.
India's road network of 33 lakh kms is the second largest in the world and consists of 92,851 kms of National Highways, which constitute only 1.7 per cent of the road network but carry about 40 per cent of the total road traffic.

:: Sports ::

Hockey World League: Britain crush India by 5-1

India were thumped 5-1 by Great Britain in the third place playoff at the Hockey World League (HWL) Semifinals at the Brasschaat Municipal Park in Antwerp, Belgium on Sunday.
For Britain, Alastair Brogdon, Chris Griffiths, Ashley Jackson, Adam Dixon and skipper Barry Middleton got on the scoresheet, while only Rupinder Pal Singh scored for the losers.
India managed to get some possession back but the passes lacked accuracy and did not help much in finding the equaliser. But, at the other end, Griffiths led his team ahead with an instinctive flick after latching onto a pass from Nick Catlin.