Facebook to acquire WhatsApp
1.Facebook on Thursday said it has reached a "definitive agreement" to acquire mobile messaging firm WhatsApp for approximately $16 billion, including $4 billion in cash and about $12 billion worth of Facebook shares.
2.However, the ultimate cost of the deal is likely to be about $19 billion as "the agreement also provides for an additional $3 billion in restricted stock units to be granted to WhatsApp’s founders and employees that will vest over four years subsequent to closing."
3.WatsApp will continue to operate independently and retain its brand, while its co-founder and CEO Jan Koum will join Facebook Board of Directors, the social networking firm said in a statement.
4.WhatsApp’s core messaging product and Facebook’s existing Messenger app will continue to operate as standalone applications.
5.The acquisition supports Facebook and WhatsApp's shared mission to bring more connectivity and utility to the world by delivering core internet services efficiently and affordably. The combination will help accelerate growth and user engagement across both companies, it added.
Parliament passed Street Vendors Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending Bill
1.Parliament on 19 February 2014 passed the Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) bill-2014. The Bill provides protection of livelihoods rights, social security of street vendors, regulation of urban street vending in the country and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto. The Rajya Sabha adopted the bill by a voice vote and without discussion and earlier it was adopted by Lok Sabha on 6 September 2013.
2.The Street Vendors Bill aims at protect the rights of the urban street vendors and regulating street vending activities. It also aims towards creation of a conducive atmosphere where street vendors will be eligible to carry out their business in a fair and transparent manner, without fear of eviction and harassment.
K Rehman Khan inaugurated Minority Cyber Village in Rajasthan
1.India’s first Minority Cyber Village was inaugurated by the Minister for Minority Affairs K Rehman Khan on 19 February 2014 in Chandoli in Alwar district of Rajasthan.
2.Chandoli has been selected as the first village for the pilot project as it holds more than 80 percent of minority population and also because the minorities of the Mewat region is still backward in education. The project will be carried in other areas after the success of the pilot project.
India and Bahrain signed Agreements to expand Cooperation in Key Areas
1.India and Bahrain on 19 February 2014 signed three agreements in New Delhi during the state visit of Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, King of Kingdom of Bahrain to India. The two sides signed the agreements with a decision to expand their cooperation in key areas that includes trade and business.
2.The agreements were signed in the presence of Manmohan Singh, the Prime Minister of India and King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa.
Vice President released a book entitled Public Issues Before Parliament
1.Hamid Ansari, the Vice President of India on 19 February 2014 released a book entitled Public Issues Before Parliament written by Vijay Darda at a function in New Delhi.
2.The book is a summarization of the significant contributions made by Vijay Darda during his stint as a Member of Parliament. The book is dedicated to the common who considers Parliament as an embodiment of his hopes and aspirations.
3.During the release of the book, the Vice President said that the now Parliament is becoming a place of public agitation. He also opined that there cannot be an interchange between the venue of agitation and venue of debate. This remark was made by him in the backdrop of the incident of use of pepper spray in the Lok Sabha that took place in the third week of February 2014 and the scenes witnessed in the state Assembly of Jammu and Kashmir.
People are free to adopt children irrespective of religious background: SC
1.Supreme Court of India on 19 February 2014 ruled that people are free to adopt children irrespective of their religious background. This ruling of the Apex Court has paved the way for adoption of a child by people hailing from Muslim community even though it is not allowed under their personal law.
2.The decision was made by the three-Judge bench of Supreme Court headed by the Chief Justice of India, P Sathasivam and Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justice Shiva Kriti Singh. The bench held that the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2006 is a small step towards the concept of Uniform Civil Code mentioned in Article 44 of the Constitution of India.
3.The Court in its direction also said that the law has entitled adoption by people belonging to any religion and any person, who does not submit himself to personal law can adopt a child.
MGI released the report From Poverty to Empowerment
1.McKinsey Global Institute (MGI) released the report titled From Poverty to Empowerment: India's imperative for jobs, growth and effective basic services on 19 February 2014. The report praising the reduction in poverty in India from 45% in 1994 to 22% in 2014 has suggested for creating a new national vision for economically empowering the people living in poverty.
2.For realizing the vision, McKinsey Global Institute (MGI) has created the Empowerment Line. The Empowerment Line is an analytical framework that determines the level of consumption required to fulfill eight basic needs—food, energy, housing, drinking water, sanitation, health care, education, and social security—at a level sufficient to achieve a decent standard of living rather than bare subsistence.
Khajuraho Dance Festival began at Khajuraho in MP
1.The World famous Khajuraho Dance Festival began at Khajuraho, Madhya Pradesh on 20 February 2014. The Dance Festival will be celebrated from 20 to 26 February 2014.
2.The aim of the Khajuraho Dance Festival is to promote cultural heritage and traditional dances of India. The Dance festival is organized by the Kala Parishad under the Madhya Pradesh government.
3.Live performances of classical dances like Kathak (Uttar Pradesh), Kuchipudi (Andhra Pradesh), Odissi (Odisha), Bharatnatyam (Tamil Nadu), Manipuri (Manipur) and Mohniattam (Karnataka) will be the major attractions.
About Khajuraho
The Khajuraho in Chattarpur district of MP is famous for its group of temples that were built during the Chandela Dynasty between 950 AD and 1150 AD and famous for its archaeological excellence.
Khajuraho has the largest group of medieval Hindu and Jain temples, famous for their erotic sculptures.
In 1986 UNESCO designated the group of Khajuraho temples as a world heritage site.
WB and UNICEF launched campaign about safe drinking water and Sanitation
1.West Bengal government and United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) launched a campaign on 20 February 2014 to educate people about safe drinking water and safe sanitation practices.
2.The campaign is meant to generate demand for improved water supply in unreached habitations and gradually provide access to piped water supply for all by 2020. The week-long campaign will be observed from 20 to25 February across all the districts, blocks and gram panchayats.
3.Various entertainment activities like street play, magic show, puppet show, motivational songs, skits performances by local artists etc will be orgainsed during Gram Mela in each block to educated people.
4.Inadequate access to safe water and sanitation services, coupled with poor hygiene practices, kills and sickens thousands of children every day, and leads to impoverishment and diminished opportunities for thousands more.
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