World Last Week: 18 Aug’14 – 24 Aug’14

• India to be launch pad for Amazon’s plan to deliver packages using drones, deliveries may start by Diwali

Founded by billionaire entrepreneur Jeff Bezos, US-based Amazon, is challenging Flipkart for leadership of India’s online retail market.

• India’s e-commerce poised at $43 bn in 5 years

The multi-category section is on fire this year. The largest pie of the online retail ecosystem is drawing the eyeballs and maximum risk capital.

• Ice bucket challenge may change the way money is raised by charitable organizations

The ice bucket challenge’s phenomenal success is making other charitable organizations rethink how they connect with a younger generation of potential donors.

• PM Modi backed five-member think tank to replace Planning Commission

The new panel will most likely be led by former union minister Suresh Prabhu, with free market economists Bibek Debroy and Arvind Panagariya.

• 3 reasons why increasing food prices could be here to stay

The 3 big reasons of rising prices are all structural in nature, and fixing them will take some hard and balanced reforms.

• RBI plans to introduce plastic currency notes next year

Many countries have tried using polymer-based currency notes, though these are costlier than cotton-fibre based paper currency.

• Flipkart gets an offline retail push from employee feedback

Flipkart opened ‘Fliptomania’, its first brick-and-mortar store in Bangalore after employees called for company-branded products on ‘sticker’.

• Markets @ record highs; top ten stocks which can give up to 34% return in 1 year

Markets have been on a roll of late, hitting fresh record highs consistently, supported by strong global liquidity & easing of geo-political concerns.

• Narendra Modi says ‘digital revolution is about to begin'; showcases his vision

PM said that his vision of a ‘digital’ India encompasses a time when common man is able to track government’s work from his mobile phone.

• Oil relief for Modi government? Fall in crude prices may cut import bill by $8 billion

Deutsche Bank says, “We estimate that every $10/bbl fall in oil price reduces India’s annualized oil import bill by $10 bn & fuel subsidy by $5.6 bn.”

Source: Economictimes.com