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OPINION

Facebook-WhatsApp deal: Is paying Rs 1 lakh crore for a free app, a

masterstroke or a mahablunder?

Fanta Singh was informed that Facebook had acquired WhatsApp, the messaging app, for

$16 billion. Fanta was hard of hearing and did not believe his ears. He asked his friend to

repeat, which he did: Facebook was paying Rs 1 lakh crore to buy WhatsApp. On hearing

this, Fanta Singh began to laugh hysterically! Later he said, "Arre, what a bewakoof that

Zuckerberg paaji is! Does he have bhains buddhi (buffalo brains)? Why did he pay Rs 1 lakh

crore for an app that is free?"

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/30868126.cms?utm_source=contentofinte

rest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst

Inflation-targeting monetary policy has failed in West and failing in India too

Financial deregulation is pilloried as the villain that ignited the global financial crisis. But

John B Taylor of Stanford has argued that one of the factors was loose monetary policy in the

US and deviated from his celebrated rule. This appears to have been the case after the

dotcom bust of 2000, as the accompanying table indicates. US' potential GDP is assumed to

be 3.5%, and the core inflation target as 2%. All numbers are quarterly year-on-year

averages.

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/31071173.cms?utm_source=contentofinte

rest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst

Slowing growth is stressing corporate vulnerabilities and deteriorating bank

asset quality

Is India's economy out of the woods? Is economic growth about to return to the days of 8-9%

annual increases? In the recently published 2014 IMF country report for India, we examine

these questions and conclude that while near-term risks have receded, vulnerabilities

remain high. Structural impediments to growth and persistently high inflation are key

concerns.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/opinion/edit-page/Slowing-growth-is-stressing-

corporate-vulnerabilities-and-deteriorating-bank-asset-quality/articleshow/31118905.cms

Welcome to Advertising

I received an email from a young college student interested in a career in copywriting,

asking me how she could prepare herself for the exciting and glamorous world of

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advertising. I sat back and gauged the half decade Ive spent so far in this profession. What

follows is a crash course in preparing yourself for advertising.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/opinion/edit-page/Welcome-to-

advertising/articleshow/30913998.cms

BJP makes good case to change mechanics of caste-based

reservation as society hasn't remained unchanged

Sanjay Paswan, head of BJP's scheduled caste morcha, feels there is a case to be made for

revisiting the mechanics of reservation for dalits with the aim of widening and deepening

benefits among them. It is a welcome move. Reservation on caste basis started during the

days of British Raj and was extended by independent India. Given reservation's long history,

there is a convincing case to revisit some of its aspects. This is not to say that caste-based

reservation should be discontinued right away, but there is an urgent need to bring it in

sync with social changes.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/opinion/edit-page/BJP-makes-good-case-to-

change-mechanics-of-caste-based-reservation-as-society-hasnt-remained-

unchanged/articleshow/31056894.cms

Politicking on capital punishment

None of the parties that endorsed the move to release the seven convicts has come out on

the larger controversy over the abolition of capital punishment in India.

http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/politicking-on-capital

punishment/article5730074.ece

Poor maintenance of submarines and warships is crippling Indias

navy

Six months after a massive explosion sank a submarine, Sindhurakshak, a fire inside

another, Sindhuratna, and the immediate resignation of navy chief Admiral D K Joshi are a

grim reminder that all is far from well with India's navy. Joshi's prompt resignation, owning

moral responsibility, is praiseworthy.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/opinion/edit-page/Poor-maintenance-of-

submarines-and-warships-is-crippling-Indias-navy/articleshow/31119136.cms

Government spends Rs 3.65 to deliver food worth Re 1, so citizens

pinch pennies

Aggregate central subsidies in 2012-13 on items as varied as food and bank loans to farmers

totalled to Rs 2.57 trillion. After adding to this subsidies bill the spending on many of the

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Manmohan Singh government`s pet projects such as those concerning education and

sanitation, final tally runs into more than another trillion rupees. Despite this scale of

spending there has been little effort to measure its impact.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/opinion/edit-page/Government-spends-Rs-3-65-

to-deliver-food-worth-Re-1-so-citizens-pinch-pennies/articleshow/31119068.cms

India Needs Creative Leadership

The various streams of culture which have poured into the Indic region have not only

created a suitable opportunity for arriving at a new cultural synthesis, but have necessitated

its emergence. If handled with creative leadership, the presence of conflicting elements in

Indian life can be utilised for bringing about a rich world-culture, which shall not only

rejuvenate and harmonise Indian life, but will also give a new tone to the life of the whole

world.

http://timesofindia.speakingtree.in/spiritual-articles/new-age/india-needs-creative-

leadership

From austerity to growth

In a noticeable change in its stance, the G-20, comprising the worlds biggest economies, at

the recent meeting in Sydney decided to shift emphasis from championing austerity to

promoting growth at a time when the financial crisis in seen to be receding.

http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/from-austerity-to-growth/article5733355.ece

Ian Chappell suggests replacing M S Dhoni with Virat Kohli as Indias Test

skipper

Former Australian skipper Ian Chappell's assessment that M S Dhoni should be replaced

by Virat Kohli as the Test captain for Team India is right on the money. The recent tours of

New Zealand and South Africa have not helped Dhoni's abysmal track record on foreign soil.

Out of 23 overseas Tests that Dhoni has captained, he has won only five, lost 11 and drawn

seven. Having lost four successive Test series abroad, it is time that a suitable replacement

Test skipper is found.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/opinion/edit-page/Ian-Chappell-suggests-

replacing-M-S-Dhoni-with-Virat-Kohli-as-Indias-Test-skipper/articleshow/30957141.cms

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POLITICS

Telangana

After Lagadapatis Pepper Spray stint about a fortnight ago, the bill for separate Telangana

was finally passed in the lower house on 18th of Feb amid TV blackout and in the upper

house on 20th. Back at home, the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh Kiran Kumar Reddy who

resigned from his post and from the Congress found his loyalists deserting as the bill was

passed. Kiran Kumar who was against the bifurcation of state is planning to start a new party.

Meanwhile, following the resignations in the state cabinet, the Cabinet proposed to impose

Presidential Rule over forming a new government. Actor turned politician Chiranjeevi was

previously being considered for the CM post. Since the Lok Sabha elections cannot be

postponed, there will be common elections for Andhra Pradesh and the division will take

place only after the elections. This has been done in order to give the political parties time

to retrieve lost political ground on account of Telangana creation.

Seemandhra might be having multiple mini-capitals instead of a single State capital.

Telugu Desam Party (TDP) president N. Chandrababu is confident of forming a government

in Seemandhra and Telangna. He alleged Congress of dividing the state to target TDP.

http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/29th-state-just-a-signature-

away/article5709524.ece

Politics playing:

Will the attempts of Congress be successful?

Congress commenced its talks with Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS), which is under the

leadership of K Chandrasekhar Rao, looking for an alliance with soon to be created

Telangana. This alliance depends on the number of seats TRS will get.

The same day prospective ally of Congress, Ramvilas Paswan led Lok Janshakti Party,

threatened to join BJP- led NDA.

Did RJD split?

On 24th Feb Lalu Prasad- led Rashtriya Janta Dal split when the speaker received a letter in

which13 of RJDs 22 MLA expressed their wish to join Janata Dal(United). Their resignation

was accepted. But 7 of these MLAs said that its a part of some conspiracy and that their

signatures on the letter were forged. A section of the party leaders of RJD blame Bihar CM

Nitish Kumar of this conspiracy in order to protect his minority Government.

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On 25th Feb, nine of these MLAs returned and Mr. Prasad alleged the speaker for not

complying with Anti defection Act, 1985 as he did not verify the resignation from the MLAs,

Mr. Prasad also accused Nitish Kumar of conspiring to split.

TDM joined BJP, anger in Muslim community

Telugu Desam Party tilt towards BJP especially its prime ministerial candidate, Narendra

Modi has sent an anger wave amongst the Muslim community. On Wednesday this tie up

with BJP became official. Zakir Hussain Khan, the only MLA of LJP, has already quit the party

citing protests in his constituency

Many other leaders of the party are also planning to do the same.

General Elections

With Kejriwal kick starting AAPs election campaign from our very own Rohtak on last

Sunday, the 23rd, bringing the election mood into the city; we have also been made the

spectators for the ritual courtship of Political Parties throughout the country that happens

before every General Election.

As Congress started talks with TRS leader KCR, the Ram Vilas Paswan lead JSP threatened to

leave UPA and join BJP lead NDA. In Bihar, the Lalu lead opposition RJD took a hit when 13

rebel MLAs joined ruling party JD (U) with 9 of them returning the very next day. BJP is

trying to get TDP as an ally.

www.thehindu.com/news/national/congress-reaches-out-to-trs-ljp-cosying-up-to-

bjp/article5722139.ece

http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/split-in-rjd-as-13-mlas-break-away-

from-party/article5722631.ece

www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/lalu-marches-to-

assembly/article5725282.ece

Rajiv Convicts Release

After the Supreme Court commuted the death penalty of the convicts of Rajiv Gandhi

assassination to life sentences, the Tamil Nadus Chief Minister Jayalalitha promised to free

the convicts. The Supreme Court then again stayed the freeing of the convicts.

http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/supreme-court-stays-release-of-4-rajiv-case-

convicts/article5732016.ece

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Naval Admiral Resignation

Hours after reported fire on INS Sindhuratna killing two officers onboard, Admiral D.K.Joshi

resigned on this Wednesday, the 26th. INS Sindhuratna is the third submarine accident after

the explosion of INS Sindhurakshak last August that killed 18 officers, followed by the

grounding of INS Sindhughosh last month. Vice Admiral Shekar Sinha, Vice Admiral Anil

Chopra and Vice Admiral Satish Soni are the main contesters.

http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/i-was-firm-on-taking-responsibility-says-admiral-

joshi/article5732779.ece

Italy recalled its envoy in India as the Marines Case is still lagging; even though the incident

took place nearly two years ago.

SC agreed to hear the Centres application to provide 4.5% reservation for Muslims within

the OBC quota in education and employment.

Union Finance Minister P. Chidambarams estimate for Indias 2014-15 food subsidy bill of

Rs. 115,000 crore in the interim budget is twice more than Indias poverty gap, the cost of

pushing all households above the poverty line if cash transfers were used instead.

AAP convener, Arvind Kejriwal, in a letter dated 22nd February has questioned Rahul

Gandhis silence on Reliances decision to hike gas price to $8 from April.

Reliance Industry in return said that all the allegations of AAP are baseless

International

Ukraine authorities have issued an arrest warrant for ousted president Victor

Ynaukovych over mass murder of protestors killed in recent clashes; and flagged off a

presidential campaign amid a widening rift between Russia and West over the regime

change in the former Soviet state. Parliament wants the case to be tried by International

Criminal Court even as the whereabouts of the fugitive leader remain unknown.

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BUSINESS NEWS

Sahara- SEBI

This started back in 2011 when SEBI restricted the promoters and directors of Sahara group

companies from raising any capital through the issue of securities including any form of

securities. Sebi directed Sahara firms to immediately refund the money collected through

sales of optionally fully convertible debentures (OFCDs) with annual interest of 15%.. A

Supreme Court bench ruled in favour of Sebi and ordered the two Sahara companies to

return its OFCD investors the full outstanding amount with interest. Sahara missed the

repayment deadline and finally Sahara Chief, Subrata Roy was arrested in Lucknow on

Friday, after evading for two days a non-bail able warrant issued by the Supreme Court for

his failure to appear before it in a case of non-refund of Rs 20,000 crore to investors.

http://www.dnaindia.com/money/report-the-curious-case-of-subrata-roy-highlights-of-the-

sahara-sebi-story-1965591

Fall in GDP

The decreasing industrial output and investment slowdown led to further decrease in GDP

from an expected 4.9 percent to 4.7 percent. Government started the year with an

assumption of nearly 6.1% growth. This growth performance was however higher than the

downward revised GDP growth of 4.4 per cent in same quarter fiscal last year.

http://in.reuters.com/article/2014/02/28/india-gdp-idINDEEA1R09H20140228

http://www.business-standard.com/article/economy-policy/q3-gdp-at-4-7-economy-heads-

towards-worst-year-in-decade-114022800966_1.html

http://in.reuters.com/article/2014/02/17/india-budget-highlights-idINDEEA1G04E2014021

New Market Opportunity for Indian Companies

"Indian companies are looking for new markets. In such a scenario, Bahrain is the ideal

investment destination, and going ahead, there is expected to be more mutual dependency

between the two," Kamal Ahmed, transport minister and acting CEO, Bahrain Economic

Development Board (BEDB), Bahrain. As Bahrains whole economy is dependent on oil, it

now wants to grow in all the sectors, inviting Indian companies to invest across all the

sectors. Addressing out this opportunity Ahmed pointed out it as gateway to the trillion-

dollar Gulf market.

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http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/Bahrain-seeks-Indian-

investment-across-sectors/articleshow/30803872.cms

New areas to be included in CSR rules

The govt. expects a significant step up in spending on CSR projects by companies. So the

govt. included following major areas: eradicating hunger, poverty, malnutrition and

promoting preventive healthcare, promoting sanitation and availability of safe drinking

water, promoting education, promoting gender equality, ensuring environmental

sustainability, protection of national heritage, Prime minister Relief fund. The list is waiting

for the approval of Law Ministry to be used in full fledged manner.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/Corporate-Social-

Responsibility-rules-soon-will-include-10-major-areas/articleshow/30822317.cms

Mt. Gox

Mt. Gox, once the world's biggest bitcoin exchange, filed for bankruptcy protection in

Japan on Friday, saying it may have lost nearly half a billion dollars worth of the virtual coins

due to hacking into its faulty computer system. Angry investors have been seeking answers

for what happened to their holdings of cash and bitcoins on the unregulated Tokyo-based

exchange. The company was looking for 2020 Tokyo Olympics. The exchange had liabilities

of 6.5 billion yen, dwarfing its total assets of 3.84 billion yen, the company said. It had

127,000 creditors in bankruptcy, just over 1,000, who are Japanese.

http://in.reuters.com/article/2014/02/28/bitcoin-mtgox-bankruptcy-

idINDEEA1R06J20140228

Auction of Coal blocks after the Coalgate scam

India has invited bids for three coal blocks containing reserves of about 499.4 million

tonnes. Last year, the government had allocated 17 coal mines to commercial entities owned

by central and state governments, including four to NTPC. The first round of auction is

completed. It had planned to auction 54 blocks with an estimated reserve of about 18 billion

tonnes. Two of the blocks on offer are in Jharkhand. Jhirki & Jhirki (West) of East Bokaro

coalfields have a geological reserve of 267.91 million tonnes of coking coal suitable for steel

plants. The method of auctioning is provided for the fully explored coal blocks. The policy

provides for production-linked payment on a rupee-per-tonne basis, plus a basic upfront

payment of 10% of the intrinsic value of the coal block.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/Coal-block-auctions-begin-

with-three-mines/articleshow/31075187.cms

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CORPORATE KNOW-HOW

HSBC (Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation)

A multinational banking and financial services company.

Headquarter is in London, England, United Kingdom

Founded in London in 1991 by the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation to

act as a new group holding company the company refers to both the United Kingdom

and Hong Kong as its "home markets".

Founder: Thomas Sutherland

Executive Director and Group CEO: Stuart Thomson Gulliver

Group Chairman, HSBC Holdings: Douglas Flint

CEO, HSBC India: Stuart Milne

Country head (Chairman) HSBC India: Naina Lal Kidwai , She is also director at

HSBC Asia Pacific.

Oracle Corporation

American multinational computer technology corporation

Headquarter is in Redwood City, California, United States.

Founder(s): Larry Ellison, Bob Miner, Ed Oates

Chairman: Jeff Henley

CEO: Larry Ellison

President: Safra Catz , Mark Hurd

CEO and MD Oracle financial services software ltd. : Mr. Chaitanya M Kamat also

known as Chet Kamat.

Wal-Mart

American multinational retail corporation, its a family-owned business by

the Walton family

It is world's second largest public corporation( Fortune Global 500 list in 2013),

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Headquarter: Bentonville, Arkansas, U.S.

Founded: in 1962, Rogers Arnsas, U.S

Founder: Sam Walton

CEO: C. Douglas Mcmillon

Chairman :S. Robson Walton

Unilever

AngloDutch multinational consumer goods company

Headquarter: London, England and Rotterdam, Netherlands

Founded: in 1929

Founder(s): Antonius Johannes Jurgens, Samuel van den Bergh and William Hulme

Lever, 2nd Viscount Lever Hulme

Chairman: Michael Treschow

CEO: Paul Polman

Hindustan Unilever is owned by Unilever ( 67% controlling share in HUL)

HUL, India's largest Fast Moving Consumer Goods Company

Founded: in 1932

Headquarter: Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

Chairman: Harish Manwani

CEO and MD: Sanjiv Mehta

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SPORTS

IOC moots multi-city Olympics from 2020

The Olympic Games, known by the name of its host city, may turn into a multi-city event

from 2020. With the quadrennial event becoming prohibitively expensive to host in recent

times, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) is mulling the possibility of joint bids in

the future.A proposal in this regard was sent to Olympic associations during the Sochi

Games and a decision will be taken in December in Monaco. According to the proposal, in

order to "infuse more creativity and diversity" into the Games, "several cities in one country

or cities in two or more countries" could be allowed to jointly bid for the Games. Post the

economic slowdown, it has become increasingly difficult for a single country to pull off a

showpiece event of this stature. Moreover, successful joint bidding of premier tournaments

like the football World Cup and Euro may also have prompted IOC to think on those lines.

The proposal also has a lot to do with IOCs plan to host the Olympics in emerging

economies.

Basketball

NBA:

Lebron James, lead Miami Heat to a 108-82 victory over New York Knicks, even as he played

unhindered by a mask to protect his broken nose.

http://scores.espn.go.com/nba/recap?gameId=400489738

Football

UEFA Champions League:

Football club Manchester United hit new lows as it scripted a 0-2 loss against Olympiakos in

the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie

http://www.theguardian.com/football/2014/feb/25/olympiakos-manchester-united-

champions-league-match-report

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Tennis

Dubai Open:

Roger Federer stuns Novak Djokovic at Dubai Open With a thumping victory over rival

Novak Djokovic, Federer is all set to meet the big-hitting Czech Tomas Berdych at the Dubai

Championshps Final

http://www.smh.com.au/sport/tennis/roger-federer-stuns-novak-djokovic-at-dubai-open-

20140301-33s4c.html#ixzz2ugxpEOKs

Cricket

Asia Cup:

Sri Lanka defeated India by two wickets in the fourth match of Asia Cup 2014, played at Khan

Shaheb Osman Ali Stadium, Fatullah, Bangladesh

http://indianexpress.com/article/sports/cricket/asia-cup-2014-that-man-kumara-

sangakkara-again/

TRIVIA

Before the Partition of India, the country comprised of several princely states. In 1947, 562

states alone were outside of British India.

Since April 2009, 9 Android versions have been developed under a confectionery-

themed code name: Cupcake (1.5), Donut (1.6), Eclair (2.02.1), Froyo (2.22.2.3),

Gingerbread (2.32.3.7), Honeycomb (3.03.2.6), Ice Cream Sandwich (4.04.0.4), Jelly

Bean (4.14.3), and KitKat (4.4).

Any month that starts on a Sunday will have a Friday the 13th in it.

To know more check the links given..