National - Social/Political (Minor Issues) 1st to 10th august

DD, AIR can't implement TRAI proposal by 2013”

With Prasar Bharati setting 2017 as the deadline for itself to shift completely to the digital mode, it might not be possible to implement the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India's recommendation to phase out analogue television by 2013, Information and Broadcasting Minister Ambika Soni, said.
Doordarshan is actively converting to digital,” Ms. Soni said. The Centre sanctioned over Rs.1,500 crore to digitalise both Doordarshan and All India Radio under the 11th Five Year Plan. However, since this involved a timetable lasting till 2017, she felt the TRAI recommendations may not be immediately viable.

I am a practising Hindu: Julia

Pretty Woman Julia Roberts has converted to Hinduism in the hope of having a peaceful life in her next incarnation, and the Hollywood superstar regularly visits temples with her family to “chant, pray and celebrate.”
The 42-year-old American actor, who was born to Baptist and Catholic parents, is now a practising Hindu after visiting India while shooting her upcoming movie Eat, Pray Love, reported the Daily Telegraph.

3-member committee to probe charges

The Commonwealth Games Organising Committee formed a three-member panel to probe allegations of irregular financial transactions with a little-known U.K.-based company.
Organising Committee secretary-general Lalit Bhanot told journalists here that the panel formed by chairman Suresh Kalmadi includes Jarnail Singh, OC chief executive officer; G.C. Chaturvedi, special director general-finance; and Gurjyot Kaur, chief vigilance officer.
“The committee will look into the issue of money paid to AM Car and Van Limited and the Ministry of External Affair's contention about the letters issued by the Indian High Commission in the United Kingdom.”

What is a Meta university?

A meta university is first proposed by Charles M Vest. It focuses on collaborative learning and collaborative knowledge production, operating on a web-based platform. This suggestion, of course, builds on ideas currently in practice such as Open Courseware, digital academic repositories and networks for higher learning.
Globally, as universities ponder their future, many of them are considering this model—but India is eminently suited to take the first steps towards a global meta-university. Precisely because India’s eminent knowledge institutions are part of a public system, and are now being brought together as a network.

The dispute over Babli (a.k.a Babhali) project between AP and Maharashtra

Andhra Pradesh had taken the matter on the Babhali barrage to court in 2005, a year after the construction began, apprehending that it would be denied its due share of Godavari water. In an interim order in 2007, the apex court said Maharashtra could continue with the construction of the barrage but not install the 13 gates, which form the most crucial part as their height determines how much water can be stored.
Babhali barrage is being constructed on Godavari around 83 km from Nanded. Maharashtra claims the barrage will extend water supply to 58 villages and irrigate 7,995 hectares of land. Andhra Pradesh has claimed that the construction of the barrage will alter the natural flow of Godavari in that state and affect agriculture in the river basin. It has also claimed that the dam was being constructed within the backwaters of Pochampad dam and in violation of the Godavari Water Dispute Agreement of 1975.
The Babhali Project was cleared in 1995, but its construction began only in 2004.
Leaders from Andhra Pradesh have claimed that Maharashtra has gone ahead with the construction of the barrage and thus violated the apex court’s interim orders.

KM Mathew

This chief editor of Malayala Manorama daily and a doyen of Indian media industry, passed away. He was 93. Mathew was a former Chairman of Press Trust of India.
He is survived by three sons — Mammen Mathew, Philip Mathew and Jacob Mathew — and daughter Thankam. His wife Annamma Mathew had predeceased him.
Mathew had played a key role in making Malayala Manorama one of the major Indian language dailies after he took over the reins of the media house a few decades ago.