Current Affairs for SSC CGL Exams - 21 August 2015

:: International ::

Google,s net neutrality interest in India

• Internet giant Google could be on the side of forces working towards thwarting net neutrality in India. The company has allegedly been trying to prevent the Internet and Mobile Association of India, a body that represents internet firms in India, from opposing Zero Rating, the practice of letting users access select applications/websites free of data charges by striking deals with telecom operators.

• According to a report by MediaNama, a news and analysis website that focuses on digital and telecom sectors in India, Vineeta Dixit, a member of Google's public policy and government relations team, pushed for removal of any mention of 'Zero Rating' from the IAMAI's submission to the Department of Telecom, in response to its report. The website mentions that it has access to copies of the emails.

• As per the report, Dixit's email to the IAMAI government relations committee asked for the removal of any reference to Zero Rating arguing that there was no consensus among internet companies on the issue. The email is dated 14 August 2015.

• In its report, the DoT had opposed Zero Rating plans from content providers like Facebook and had said that "content and application providers cannot be permitted to act as gatekeepers and use network operations to extract value in violation of core principles of Net Neutrality, even if it is for an ostensible public purpose."

• It had said that partnerships between telecom operators and content providers that enable gatekeeping should be actively discouraged, opposing Facebook's Internet.org.

Intel releases Stephen Hawking’s speech software for free

• Stephen Hawking’s speech system has been released by Intel to the public for free as an open source code.

• The company is hoping that developers will use it and expand its application to a wider range of disabilities.

• The Assistive Context-Aware Toolkit (ACAT) facilitates the use of computers by differently-abled users with very little movement and was developed to help Prof.

• Hawking, who has amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) communicate by translating his facial movements into text.

:: Sports ::

Saina Nehwal Back as world Numero uno

• It was double delight for Saina Nehwal on Thursday. The World Championships silver medallist regained the No. 1 rank - surging 2,180 points ahead of Carolina Marin - and also struck a landmark deal with management company IOS Sports & Entertainment.

• Saina's deal is worth Rs 25 crore over two years. IOS also manages top sportspersons like Suresh Raina, MC Mary Kom, Sushil Kumar and Vijender Singh.

• Saina said she was delighted at her new association with IOS. "I am happy to join them. I am sure they will take care of the deals and I just have to worry about the game and do well," she said. "I have been performing well on the international circuit but always felt that the management of my brand image, logistics plus commercial activities was not being done in the best professional way.

• Having seen how IOS has built MC Mary Kom as a big brand in the industry, I was convinced that I should allow them to manage my portfolio too. That was the major reason for deciding to join hands with IOS," said Saina.

• The shuttler was also excited to be back on the top of the world rankings. She secured the No. 1 rank for the first time on April 2 but remained there only for five weeks. However, this time round, the Indian will enjoy a longer reign.

• With 82,792 points, Saina is 2,180 points ahead of world champion Carolina Marin. Third placed Tzu Ying Tai of Chinese Taipei is over 12,000 points behind the Indian.

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