As gloomy skies and cold winds sent many Bengalureans scurrying to the safety and warmth of their homes during the weekend, hordes of ardent comic lovers rushed in a different direction - towards the Bengaluru Comic Con! The sixth edition of the event, held at KTPO, saw a galaxy of superheroes descend on the city and hobnob with their fans. From Batman and Superman to manga characters and our very own Baahubali, people showcased their creative best when it came to cosplaying characters. The best-dressed ones won attractive prizes on both days.

International personalities like Gavin Aung Thang, cartoonist and creator of the popular cartoon blog Zen Pencils; John Layman, comic book writer, known for writing the comic book series Chew; Scott Hampton, illustrator of iconic properties as Batman, Sandman, Black Widow, Hellraiser and Star Trek and Tabitha Lyons, international pro-cosplayer, attended the event and took special sessions. The show also featured creators from all over India, such as Abhijeet Kini, Aniruddho Chakraborty, Sailesh Gopalan, Saumin Patel, Vivek Goel, Rajeev Tamhankar, Sumit Kumar and more.

Says Vivek Goel, "I feel this is probably the biggest pop culture event happening in India which is something of an eye-opener for the general public regarding the awesomeness of comic books and related stuff. It has created a good market for people like us, whose job is to make comics, comics and more comics."

"Comic Con has been a wonderful platform that enabled me to interact with the people who read and enjoy my comics. It was a truly enriching experience in terms of motivating myself to keep creating," says Sailesh Gopalan.

Apart from exclusive experiential and gaming zones, the event also saw live performances by standup comedians and web stars, Sahil Shah from East India Comedy and Naveen Richards from Them Boxer Shorts.

The experiential zones include a first-of-its-kind Star Wars Fan Experience, Amazon Prime Video Zone and the Graphic India Zone. At the AXN Experience Zone, fans are indulging in engaging and exciting activities for its iconic shows like The Voice, Sherlock, Vikings, Ray Donovan and Breaking Bad while at the WWE Special Fan Experience, enthusiasts can become a WWE Star with the official championship belt! The stores selling merchandise were also a huge draw.

Asked about his thoughts on the show as well as the city, Scott Hampton says," Jennifer and I love love love this show! The city is so vibrant and the crew of Bangalore Comic Con are the best Ive ever encountered. Also the fans are incredible."

With winter almost here, wardrobes have already been updated and modified by Bengalureans to suit the weather as well as to stay up to date with the latest trends. It is a time for experimentation for many.

Metrolife spoke to a few young Bengalureans to find out about their favourite winter trends and their must-have clothing items and
add-ons.

Anoushka Bhaumik
Student

"Winter fashion for me is all about staying warm, cosy and yet being trendy. My wardrobe would include a jazzed up sweater. It could sport embellishments, prints or patch work. Another favourite is the turtleneck; it is warm, classy and never goes out of style. Winter is the perfect time to also play around with layers. A long coat with high waisted pants or a scarf with a jacket would look great. Different lengths of jackets and textures of materials can be mixed and matched. Knitted sweaters are a great pick for a sophisticated yet simple look; they can be paired with fitted pants and a little flashy jewellery. Winter is also the time to bring out the good old boots, which complement many looks."

Tenzin Sonam
YouTuber

"Winter is the time to wear my favourite bomber jackets, blazers and preppy sweaters which were stuck in my closet for ages. I also love using scarves and stoles to accessorise my outfits which not only gives it a wintery look but also keeps me warm and cosy. The colour palette of most of my outfits sticks to neutral tones like nude, beige, pinks, pastels, white etc. Usually I prefer not to wear bright-coloured outfits in winter."

Utsa Chatterjee
Fashion blogger and
part-time model

"Winter is not my favourite season. It is quite gloomy so I usually go for bright colours to lift my mood and stand out in the crowd. The only reason I look forward to winter is because of the winterwear. I love wearing oversized jackets and my personal favourites are long jackets. It is a classic and looks great on everyone. Long jackets can be paired with a variety of pants, leggings or boots to create a new and chic look every time."

Music and dance reviews

Anniversary of Sursagar

Sursagar celebrated the 36th Varshikotsav with two music concerts - a vocal and an instrumental recital at the Chowdiah Memorial Hall last Sunday. It is a reputable Hindustani Sangeetha Sabha which organises music concerts regularly along with a music festival on its anniversary every year. It organises the series Living Legends and Budding Masters besides distributing scholarships to young aspirants.

The curtains came down on the 36th Varshikotsav with a grand vocal recital by Vidushi Shubha Mudgal. She has been trained by Pandit Ramashraya Jha (Ramrang) and received guidance from Pandit Vinaya Chandra Mandgavya and Pandit Vasant Thukar. She is known for her Khayal, Thumri and Dadra besides pop music. She is a well-deserving recipient of several awards and titles including Padma Shri and Gold Plaque Award (Chicago International Film Festival).

Aneesh Pradhan, who accompanied Shubha Mudgal on tabla, is a disciple of Nikhil Ghosh and a versatile percussionist. He is also a recipient of Aditya Birla Kalakiran Award and Natyadarpan Award. Sudhir Nayak, who supports her on harmonium, is a disciple of Pandit Tulasidas Borkar and has accompanied stalwards of the field.

With this background, a large number of connoisseurs eagerly waited to listen to Vidushi Shubha Mudgal and she didnt disappoint them. Chayanut, the opening raga, had an arresting quality. The raga was moulded into an essay of aesthetic finesse through two compositions. The raga was further embellished with a rich variety of phrases. Shankara was as refreshing as ever. The impact was further enhanced through a Thumri and Bhajan. The vocal had an arresting quality, unhustled grace and tempered modulation, enriching the delineation. The tabla Saath was not only complementary to the vocal but was also inspiring, while the harmonium was played with good understanding.

Kala Nadam

Kathak, Kuchipudi and Odissi, apart from Bharatanatyam recitals, were held at the 18th edition of the Kala Nadam of the Nadam and the proceeds were presented to the Child Rights Trust.

Radhika Shetty, who gave the inaugural dance of the festival, is a disciple of Padmini Ramachandran of Natya Priya and has performed in India and abroad. She opened her programme with a composition of Dr M Balamuralikrishna in the raga Hamsadhwani. She performed Krishnashtakam in ragamalika beautifully. She concluded with a Ashtapadi, which was again on Krishna! Of course Radhika performed with confidence and grace.

Speed and style in Kuchipudi

Six students of Reva University under the direction of Dr Vasanth Kiran presented Glimpses of popular compositions in Kuchipudi, every episode completing with a Salam Daru. Two young girls performed on the brass plate with ease and assurance. The Goudamalhar keerthane Sarasamukhi and a thillana of Dr Vasanth Kiran came in the end. With a sparkling display of Nritha and fast movements, but little loud at times, they tried to capture the attention of the audience.

Expectations betrayed

Tribhuwan Maharaj belongs to the lineage of the legendary Kalka-Bindadin Gharana of Lucknow. He is the son of Pandit Jaikishan Maharaj and the grandson of Birju Maharaj. Currently, Tribhuwan Maharaj works with the Birju Maharaj Parampara Training Institute.

Tribhuwan Maharaj opened his Kathak recital with a Ganesh Vandana pleasantly. It was followed by That, Amad, Paran - all with evocative footwork. In the Laksh, paran, Tihay, etc and jugalbandi with tabla. He performed with practised ease and was grammatically correct, but did not meet the expectations of connoisseurs.

Mysore V Subramanya

In a country that swears by the bitter-sweet beverage, Indias leading chaiwala Tata Global Beverages, is venturing into new areas, while maintaining, and even improving its expertise in serving tea. As the worlds second largest tea company, TGBL serves nearly 15 lakh cups of tea every day in a beverage market that boasts of 70% tea drinkers.

With a variety of brands, including Tata Tea, Tetley, Good Earth, Vitax, Joekels, Jemca and Teapigs in its cup, TGBL is now a Rs 6,780-crore company (Consolidated revenue as on March 2017) with prominent presence in the UK, the US, the Middle East, South Africa and Poland, as part of its strategic alliances.

In India, Tata Tea enjoys a 21.4% share in the Rs 23,000-crore market. However, it must be noted that the branded tea market is estimated at Rs 15,000-crore. Over 30 years in the business have made TGBL an expert in tea, and the company is now ready to bring its expertise to the consumers table, quite literally, with the launch of Tata Cha. The promising venture, which has been piloted in Bengaluru, marks the entry of TGBL in the quick service restaurant (QSR) space.

Discussing the initiative in question alongside several others with DH, Tata Global Beverages India Regional President Sushant Dash said, "Indians are today waking up to a nascent yet formidable eating outdoors culture, making food services one of the most promising business sectors in India. Tata Cha wants to be a part of this trend and through this pilot launch, test consumer proposition; the business model and its feasibility. At the core of this venture for TGBL, is the motivation to enhance the appeal for tea to make it more vibrant, amassing popularity among millennials."

Cup of joe for TGBL

As much as India loves its tea with all sorts of spices and condiments, the country does not take its coffee lightly. TGBLs approach with coffee was simply inverse. Having entered into a 50:50 joint venture with famed coffeehouse chain Starbucks, the company announced its participation in the Indian coffee market in 2012.

Starbucks entered India as as Starbucks Coffee A Tata Alliance. As of today, the brand has nearly 90 stores across India. In another step to get closer to the Indian consumers coffee experience, TGBL announced its entry into the branded instant coffee business with Tata Coffee Grand in November 2015. Globally, the company has brands like Grand, Eight OClock and map under its umbrella.

While traditional beverages remain at the core of TGBLs business, the company is actively participating in the rapidly evolving beverage culture. Offering his take on the companys diversification plans, Dash states, "We will continue to pursue aggressive growth through base business rejuvenation, innovation and category expansion. Health and wellness continues to be a key focus area, and our recent innovations are built around this trend. We are also premiumising our brands by creating enhanced beverage experiences for consumers through vitamin enhanced teas, tea blends specially crafted to meet regional preferences, and branded coffee."

Some of the companys latest launches include Tetley Super Green - tea fortified with vitamins, Tata Teaveda - tea with the goodness of ayurvedic ingredients, Tata Tea Elaichi and Tata Coffee Grand. The most distinct brand for TGBL, in terms of innovation, would be Fruski. "We have started with the Fruski pilot in the NCR. It is a ready-to-drink green tea-based iced tea, which is available in mango and orange flavours. The response has been great," he says.

"We believe that the health trend is here to stay, and we want to participate in it with more innovation. But we understand that taste is primary. So we will work accordingly," adding, "In the past few years, we have seen the green tea portfolio grow from ground-zero to contribute to a significant share of the revenues. Green tea and functional beverages are now areas of growth opportunity. The health and wellness segment continue to be a priority. With fortified teas, green teas, teas with ayurvedic ingredients, like Tetley Super Green and Tata Tea Teaveda, we are bullish on growth opportunities here."

Moreover, the company is keen on premiumising. In the current market scenario, wherein consumers have access to innumerable brands and varieties of products, differentiation has become a necessity to pique consumer interest.

Where premiumising means moving towards expensive products, it also entails products that come with value additions.

"Premiumising our products is an area of opportunity. We are tapping into this by introducing new products under our portfolio. For instance, Tata Coffee Grand is the first coffee to offer decoction crystals that help retain aroma. Further, significant research went into creating a product that integrates Ayurvedic wellness in a manner suited to the various palates. Teaveda is an endeavour in that direction." Interestingly, Tetley was the first to introduce the drawstring teabag.

Nourishing growth

Beyond the average Indians daily beverage requirements, TGBL is catering to another basic need -- water -- with premiumisation being the key diffrentiator in this category. With an objective to disrupt the hydration market, TGBL entered into a yet another joint venture with PepsiCo India, to set up NourishCo, in 2010.

NourishCo has Himalayan (mineral water), Tata Water Plus (nutrient water) and Tata Gluco Plus (re-hydration solution) in its portfolio to compete in the under-penetrated Rs 4,200 crore market for water in India. To strengthen its game, the company had recently announced plans to set up about 70 plants across the country.

In fact, in the quarter ended September 2017, the companys branded business increased to Rs 1,507.4 crore from Rs 1,434.7 crore a year-earlier, while non-branded business saw a marginal decrease from Rs 204.1 crore to Rs 197.4 crore.

Putting future plans on the boil

On the manufacturing front, having made a conscious decision to exit production, and concentrate on marketing tea several years ago, TGBL Chairman N Chandrasekaran had said that the company is looking at ways to tackle the problems arising from its interests in its plantation associates.

TGBL owns 41% stake (Rs 61 crore) in Amalgamated Plantations, which has 24 tea estates in Assam and North Bengal. It owns 28.5% (Rs 12.33 crore) in Kanan Devan Hills Plantations, which has seven estates. It also has some plantation interests in Sri Lanka through Estate Management Services, a joint venture with Pyramid Wilmar Plantations. Stating that the company has no intention of returning to the business of plantations, Chandrasekaran had said that a call will soon be taken by the company in this regard.

Even as it continues to innovate and introduce new products across markets, Tata Global Beverages is committed to maintaining value and volume market leadership in India. As a market leader, the company has witnessed continued growth, both in topline as well as market share over the last five years.

In India, Tata Tea is the market leader, and Tetley pioneered green tea. The company has expressed that it has ambitious plans for both these brands.

Bullish on its debut in the QSR space, Dash says, "Tata Cha will serve freshly boiled tea, one perfect cup at a time, with an aim to optimise the out of home tea drinking experience coupled with snacks that will bring back nostalgic moments. We are here to build a strong presence and the investments that we make will be towards that purpose."

Further, in line with industry trends, wherein one can witness a shift towards natural, health-based and non-carbonated beverages, TGBL, alongside local and international players like Dabur India, PepsiCo and Coca-Cola, has committed to grow its own health segment with green tea and Ayurveda at the forefront of innovation. A lions share of the countrys beverages market is eaten by tea and coffee; ddd to that -- the potential that the appeal of natural, herbal and Ayurvedic additives -- it brews the perfect cup for todays progressive Indian. Looks like Tata Global Beverages is getting its recipe right, yet again!

When Venture Capitalists (VCs) invest in startups, they are aware of risks involved in returns- it might be either mind-boggling or they might end up taking a lot of losses.

But VC hits are much talked about and at the same time, not all predictions come true. Some venture capital firms make successful exits and it shows the growth of the startup ecosystem.

CB Insights recently came out with a report, in which it had analysed 21 of the biggest VC hits of all time to learn about what those home runs have in common.

For each company, CB Insights dove into the numbers they posted before their IPOs and acquisition, the driving factors behind their growth, and the roles of their most significant investors.

According to the report, Facebooks $22 billion acquisition of WhatsApp in 2014 was (and still is) the largest private acquisition of a VC-backed company ever. It was also a big win for Sequoia Capital, the companys only venture investor, which turned its $60 million investment into $3 billion.

When firms invest with that kind of conviction, they get a large share of ownership - as opposed to when they join a deal with a crowded field of other VCs, the report said.

Nagaraja Prakasam, Angel Investor and Founding Angel, IAN Impact, says, successful exits have been happening. "A startup raises funds from angel investors, and when it starts scaling up, it again raises Series A, B, C and so on. Series A investors come forth to buy shares of angel investors and they can do so or partially exit from the startup. When they keep on raising, the value of investors go up. When companies cant scale, there is no increase in valuation," says Prakasam.

Groupons IPO in 2011 was the biggest IPO by a US web company since Google had gone public in 2007. Groupon was valued at nearly $13 billion, and the IPO raised $700 million. At the end of Groupons first day of trading, early investor New Enterprise Associates 14.7% stake was worth about $2.5 billion. But the biggest winner from that IPO was Groupons biggest shareholder, Eric Lefkofsky, says the report, as he amassed 21.6% of the company by the time of the IPO, 1.5x more than the second-largest investor NEA, and 2.8x what co-founder and CEO Andrew Mason received.

Recently, Snapchats IPO was much hyped and talked about in investment circles, as the company witnessed the second-highest valuation at exit of any social media and messaging company since 1999. The stake held by VC firm Benchmark Capital Partners during the IPO time became worth about $3.2 billion. The IPO also capped a highly productive series of deals for Lightspeed Venture Partners, whose investment of about $8 million grew to be worth $2 billion.

Successful exits

Indian Angel Network (IAN) has been getting good returns and exits from its portfolio companies. It has had successful exits from 14 companies.

Some of its marquee investee companies include, WebEngage (6x in 15 months of investment), Druva (giving 17x over 30 months), Stayzilla ( 21x over 30 months), Box8 (~3x over 4 years), Consure (10x over 40 months).

Recently, IAN Founder Padmaja Rupare said they had a successful cash exit from Sapience and that the investors received handsome returns. In 2010, it invested $350,000 in Sapience, which recently received a majority investment from Credit Suisse Asset Managements NEXT Investors.

She had told that it is necessary for investors to exit so that they can plough back more money into startups and that the industry can develop and evolve.

Mentioning about exit cycle, KPMG Enterprises Venture Pulse Q3 2017, a quarterly report on the venture capital market globally, which was released recently, said on a quarterly basis, completed exit volume is certainly subsiding, while the Q317 exit tally of $13.9 billion remains within historical bounds, although below the mean of the prior three years, which stood at $22.65 billion.

It pointed out that Venture-backed exits have definitely entered a cyclical decline for now. The pressing question is the duration of the decline and how the later stages of the exit cycle may allow for the mature crop of late-stage, venture-backed companies that are highly valued on paper to finally realise their gains.

Chief Statistician TCA Anant is not only sanguine about Indias economic growth being even better in the third and fourth quarters, he also sees an upward revision in the September quarter GDP numbers going forward. His optimism is based on a more robust manufacturing performance in the coming months as also construction, real estate and services. In an exclusive interview with Annapurna Singh of DH, Anant speaks at length. Edited excerpts:

Two major employers -- agriculture and construction -- have not fared well. You still sound positive about the future economic growth trajectory?

In 2016-17, India saw a number of structural adjustments being put in place. We saw the real estate sector regulation. Then, there was demonetisation which led to currency replacement. Thereafter, in the first part of 2017-18, we saw the implementation of GST. Now all of these major structure policy initiatives have worked themselves out in the system and are going to contribute to improved growth in the future. We have already seen that in the manufacturing sector numbers for the September quarter.

But crude prices are again on the rise. Can they play spoilsport?

Oil prices have held at this level for the last eight months or so and the expectation is that they will hold or at least not return to the levels at which they were in 2011-12 or 2012-13. My general sense of the global price scenario is that it is going to stay at this level. I do not expect commodity prices to shoot up until global demand picks up considerably and leads to a shortfall in commodity market.

But global demand is expected to pick up since the global recovery is in the process?

Yes, but it is nowhere close to the levels reached when the commodity prices shot through the roof. There is enough scope for recovery in the next few years to come and the global recovery will actually add to Indias recovery rather than us worrying about the price situation. The overall production in agriculture is much better than the average of the last five years. The prospects of growth in manufacturing and services are good. Major structural changes have been put in place which will improve the general efficiency of business so the possibility of growth are on a multifarious levels.

Construction has not done all that good despite government expenditure being front loaded this year?

Somehow there is tendency to view the front loading of government expenditures as negative. But a lot of analysis has shown that the previous practice, where the government expenditure was being lumped in the last quarter, created severe impediments in implementation of projects including in construction. This year the government has presented the Budget early so as to permit early launch of construction projects and early release of money. This will mean much smoother implementation of government projects throughout the year. The government expenditure on capital formation has been good and when the full year data comes in, it will prove that. The challenge is construction activity in private sector. It has not been that good. This is because of enormous institutional problems plaguing the real estate sector. This problem persisted due to weak institutional structure, weak governance, a lot of litigation and so on. Those were sought to be addressed by the new regulatory regime which was put in place last year. That will lead to long term solution in the construction and real estate sector.

Manufacturing has done well but it may be because of festive demand

Manufacturing poor performance in the first quarter was because of GST anticipation. People had shut down production. Now in the second and third quarters because of the festive season, production usually picks up. But this time, we will see in both third and fourth quarters an improved production not only on account of festive season but also on account of the fact that the postponed production of pre-GST period will also come back into the system. As of now, not all postponed production has come back.

Export growth is flat at 1.2% at a time when global recovery is taking place?

There are many factors behind export slowdown. This quarter had seen exporters adapting to a new tax regime. Much of that has already been implemented. It is likely that some of the benefits will start flowing onto exports also in coming quarters.

But dont you think there are some structural problems in exports and we are losing even to Vietnam and Bangladesh now?

I am not in a position to look at the sectoral factors. In terms of larger macro policy initiative, the new tax regime will on the whole benefit exporters as they will get much greater clarity and also there will be a uniform market for procurement.

Finance Minister says 10% growth is still a challenge. Do you subscribe to the view?

Well, 10% is a long way. I think a lot of work needs to be done to reach that level. That is the level which we should certainly aspire for.

We are still working with the 2011-12 base year for GDP calculation. When are we expected to shift to 2017-18?

We are in the process of revising our base year. But it involves a lot of data collection. Some of that has already been initiated, some is in the process. As and when all the data are compiled, we will be in a position to shift to a new base year.

We do not have a regular flow of data on employment. How much of a problem is that for you?

Earlier the data for unemployment came every five years. But we have initiated a new survey for regular data but the first set of numbers from that will come by the end of 2018.

Amazon.com Inc has announced a flurry of new machine learning features for its Amazon Web Services cloud computing business, raising its challenge to Silicon Valleys biggest tech firms for the lead in artificial intelligence.

The new offerings will enable AWS customers to develop and quickly "train" their own artificial intelligence algorithms, build software applications capable of translating language on the fly, analyse video, and scan text for trends or key phrases.

Artificial intelligence (AI) refers to machines carrying out tasks that are normally associated with human intelligence. Machine learning (ML) is a subset of AI in which sophisticated computer algorithms are developed to recognise patterns in large volumes of data to solve problems on their own.

For example, with two of the new AWS features a company could quickly transcribe customer phone calls and then analyse the text for customer sentiment.

Already Apple Inc, Facebook Inc, Amazon and other top tech companies are developing and using AI for their own products, but the new offerings from AWS could make it easier and more affordable for startups and less tech-savvy enterprises to implement AI technology.

The product announcements, made at AWSs annual conference in Las Vegas, cap off a year in which Amazon released 1,300 new AWS features, up from a little more than 1,000 in 2016.

Leveraging MI tools

"As always, Amazon is making it easier for companies to get started using new technologies," said Mikhail Naumov, co-founder of DigitalGenius, a London-based customer service startup that uses AI.

"Now they are making it easier for companies of all sizes to leverage powerful ML tools in their business."

Despite being the pioneer and dominant player in the cloud computing market, AWS is playing catch-up to chief rivals Microsoft Corp and Alphabet Incs Google when it comes to new AI offerings, several of which will not be generally available until sometime in 2018.

Microsoft, for example, offered Translator, a direct competitor to the new Amazon Translate, as far back as 2011.

And Google Cloud Platform introduced the Google Natural Language API, a rival to the new Amazon Comprehend, last November. Throughout 2017, both Microsoft and Google announced AI services that rival those unveiled recently by AWS.

"If Amazon can offer products that are just good enough, it can use its leading position," said Chris Nicholson, CEO of Skymind, a San Francisco startup that provides AI solutions for enterprises. Among Amazons AI announcements is Amazon SageMaker, which lets companies build and quickly train machine learning algorithms.

A game of leapfrog

It also announced Amazon Rekognition Video, which uses AI to detect objects and faces in customers video content; Amazon Transcribe, which turns audio into text; Amazon Translate, which translates text; and Amazon Comprehend, which analyses text for sentiment and key phrases.

"We expect the big three to continue to play a game of leapfrog over the next several years as the enterprise moves from experimental to industrialisation of AI and machine learning," said Ken Corless, a principal in Deloitte Consultings cloud engineering practice.

"Given their market share, AWSs announcements are significant as they are signaling to the market that they will not cede this space to Microsoft or Google."

An arbitration court ordered smartphone pioneer BlackBerry Ltd to pay $137 million to Nokia to settle a payment dispute and the Canadian company said it would pursue a separate patent infringement case against the Finnish firm.

The International Court of Arbitration ruled earlier last week that BlackBerry had failed to make certain payments to Nokia under a patent licence contract, BlackBerry said.

The ruling, in a previously undisclosed disagreement over a smartphone technology licensing deal signed in 2012, highlights the financial risks technology companies face from disputes over intellectual property, which are sometimes resolved through confidential arbitration processes unknown to investors.

BlackBerry won a $940 million payout from chipmaker Qualcomm Inc earlier this year in a similar case of disputed payments.

BlackBerry has previously said it is looking to generate more revenue from its portfolio of some 40,000 patents by licensing them to other technology companies, and in November said that US-based Marconi Group would help it license out a broad range of its patents.

It is often difficult for investors to value a companys patent portfolio given the opaque nature of licensing deals and disputes.

"Patent issues are going to come up from time to time and as one-offs," said Todd Coupland, an analyst at CIBC World Markets. "Getting in front of them, unless there is some detail, is going to be tough."

BlackBerry disclosed in February that it had filed separate patent infringement complaints against Nokia, alleging that several of the Finnish network equipment makers base stations and related software infringed on 11 of its patents.

Nokia, which sells these products to telecom operators, said in a statement that it believes those infringement claims "are without merit."

BlackBerry said it would take a GAAP charge on its results, but did not say when the ruling would hit its financials.

Nokia said a significant portion of the amount awarded had already been recognised in its financials.

Nokia sold its once-dominant phone business in 2014, sticking to its network equipment business and broad patent portfolio.

It has licensed technology to smartphone makers Samsung Electronics, Apple, Xiaomi Technology and LG Electronics.

In response to the suggestions and feedback received from the Public, corporates and intermediaries, the government has recently increased the maximum age of joining the National Pension System (NPS) from 60 to 65 years for Indian citizens.

Perhaps the increase in life expectancy of people in India and the fact that an increasing number of people above the age of 60 years are leading an active life and are either employed in the private sector or working on their own must have prompted the government to increase the maximum entry age to 65 years in the private sector i.e in the all citizens model and corporate model.

Existing Guidelines on NPS

To recap, NPS was started in 2004 for government employees and extended to all citizens in 2009 to help people save regularly and provide for their financial security and stability during their old age so that they can live with dignity and pride.

Under the existing guidelines, any citizen of India between 18 and 60 years can join the NPS.

A subscriber can open two different types of account under NPS - Tier I (pension account) and Tier II (Withdrawable and no tax benefits).

The minimum contribution in Tier I account is Rs 6,000 per financial year and there is no ceiling on the maximum contributions in a year.

However, an individual can claim tax benefits only in Tier I account up to a maximum of Rs 1,50,000 under Sec 80C. He can also claim an additional tax benefit of Rs 50,000 under Sec 80 CCD (1B).

A subscriber also has a choice of Investment options (Auto or Active), Asset Classes i.e. Equity, Corporate Bond, Government Bond and Alternative Infrastructure Funds and 8 Pension Fund Managers. Here is the lowdown on investment options:

Active Choice

In this investment option, the subscriber can choose where his contribution is to be invested, based on personal preference. The Subscriber has to choose the PFM, Asset class as well as percentage allocation to be done in each of them.

There are four Asset Classes (Equity, Corporate Bond, Government Bond and Alternative Infrastructure Fuds) from which the allocation is to be specified under single PFM.

However, percentage contribution value cannot exceed 50% for Equity Scheme and 5% for Alternative Infrastructure Fund.

Auto Choice-Life Cycle Fund

Under this option, the Scheme Setup (scheme as well as allocation ratio) will be determined by the system based on the age of the subscriber at the time of registration.

Auto Choice is the best option for a subscriber who wants to automatically reduce exposure to more risky investment options as he gets older. As his age increases, the individuals exposure to equity and corporate debt gradually decreases.

Depending on the risk appetite of the subscriber, there are three different options available within Auto Choice - Conservative, Moderate and Aggressive. The exposure to equity decreases while the exposure to G-secs increases as the subscriber gets older.

As per the new guidelines, a subscriber joining the NPS after 60 years would be eligible to continue in the system as well as contribute till the age of 70 years. Further, he will also have the same investment choice and fund manager choice as is available now for other subscribers below 60 years of age.

Exit conditions under new guidelines

The guidelines on percentage of annuity that has to be bought out of the lump sum under normal exit and premature exit is the same as it is for subscribers below 60 years.

Normal exit: An exit after three years will be deemed as normal exit and the subscriber will have to buy at least 40% of the lump sum as annuity and withdraw the remaining corpus.

Premature exit: A subscriber exiting before three years will be deemed as premature exit in which case he will have to buy at least 80% of the corpus as annuity and withdraw the rest.

Exit due to death: The entire corpus will be paid to the borrower.

(The writer is a fromer banker, and is currently with Manipal Academy of Banking, Bengaluru)

Wise men say, money often works for people who work at it. As we juggle between our various financial commitments and priorities, there are a number of factors that one has to keep in mind when building an investment portfolio, your current financial situation, liquidity, short, medium and long-term financial goals, your risk profile, tax considerations, etc. We are always on the lookout for attractive investment opportunities to invest our hard-earned money.

In this quest to build ourselves a surplus for the future, one must not overlook the importance of liquidity. While we plan for the future, it is just as essential to ensure that we have immediate access to a part of our capital in case of any unforeseen situation.

On an average a customer keeps 2-4 months of fixed expenses as contingency kitty. Over the years, the humble savings bank account has been among the most trusted options to maintain this kitty liquidity. A savings bank account scores over liquid funds or term deposits as customers have the flexibility to deposit, instant access to funds at any time and simplicity of taxation.

In general, people tend to treat the money in their savings bank accounts as idle money. Money that does not earn them any return. However, in the present times, this simple liquidity instrument is gaining popularity among savers, who not only seek the comfort of accessing their money at will but also seek superior returns. If you choose wisely, your savings account can also earn you more money.

It is true that many private and public sector banks have recently reduced interest rates on savings accounts to 3.5%. However, there are banks which continue to offer higher interest rates on savings account balances up to 6% per annum risk-free return on your savings account balance. On an daily balance of more than Rs 1,00,000, one can earn over 1.7 times the return with zero risk, by simply choosing a higher paying savings account at the right bank!

This is especially beneficial in a falling interest rate environment - interest rates on the one-year term deposit have fallen to 6.5% in 2017 from 9.1% in 2014, while those on the three-year term deposit have reduced from 8.75% to 6.25% during the same period.

Reaping the benefits of up to 6% per annum on savings account balances at a time when interest rates are on a downward trajectory is an excellent opportunity to let your money work that extra harder for you. Additionally, to get the 6% advantage, a customer doesnt have to visit a branch or complete complex documentation. A savings bank account can now be opened in under 5-minutes from your smartphone or on the web.

From a tax perspective too, interest income earned from a savings account up to Rs 10,000 is exempted from tax under section 80TTA. While investment options like liquid funds have a complex taxation structure based on the tax slab of the individual and time frame for which the funds are held. In a nutshell, a savings account can be an important tool in your portfolio when used in a prudent manner. Choosing the right savings account, can help you make your money work and earn for you.

(The writer is Senior Executive Vice President & Head, Retail Liabilities, Investment & Payment Products, Kotak Mahindra Bank)

Actor Shivarajkumar is getting to play some very exciting roles. If he slipped into the role of an Army officer in Mass Leader, he is now seen as a man who wants to bring about a change in the system in Mufti. He is also playing very unique roles in his next two projects - Tagaru and The Villain. The actor is enjoying the opportunity to don characters that he has never played before and wishes to work on films that are both entertaining and thought-provoking.

In an interview with Nina C George, Shivarajkumar gets candid about his work.

What impressed you about Mufti?

My character in Mufti has a different shade. It is nothing like what one saw in Mass Leader.

Tell us about your character?

The character I play is called Ranagaulu and he portrays a system. I like the way director Narthan has embellished my character. The power and strength of my character lies not only in the dialogues but also in the body language, voice modulation and expression. The director has played on my looks and expressions to convey the message.

How do you interpret the title?

The word mufti normally refers to policemen in plain clothes. We usually see politicians wearing khadi and when they appear in a different type of costume, we say that they are in mufti. Here, the director has tried to commonise that word and relate it to normal people.

Was it easy for you to emote your character?

Most characters need improvisation but here I could easily relate to the character after Narthan narrated it to me.

Not everybody gets an opportunity to play such a role and I am glad that I got one.

How do you connect your role with that of Sriimuralis character?

Like I had mentioned earlier, my character portrays a system and Sriimurali comes face-to-face with that system. How does that system respond to him? And how Sriimuralis character becomes one with the system. This is what connects the two characters. The characters are not shot in the regular predictable format. The audience will be able to tell the difference in the way the characters have been styled.

On working with Sriimurali...

Theres a lot of change in Sriimurali. He has become more polished and now has a more subtle style of performing.

He knows exactly how much to act and where not to act.

You are seen doing a lot of action sequences in Tagaru. Tell us about it?

My character in Tagaru is supposed to portray a mix of power and emotion. The beauty of the action sequences is that they have not been simply created to fit into the frame. It naturally flows into the script and the narration.

On working with Sudeep in The Villain...

Theres a richness about the way the story has been shot. Both Sudeep and I portray very powerful characters, so much so that the audience will be left wondering who the real villain is.

When Venture Capitalists (VCs) invest in startups, they are aware of risks involved in returns- it might be either mind-boggling or they might end up taking a lot of losses.

But VC hits are much talked about and at the same time, not all predictions come true. Some venture capital firms make successful exits and it shows the growth of the startup ecosystem.

CB Insights recently came out with a report, in which it had analysed 21 of the biggest VC hits of all time to learn about what those home runs have in common.

For each company, CB Insights dove into the numbers they posted before their IPOs and acquisition, the driving factors behind their growth, and the roles of their most significant investors.

According to the report, Facebooks $22 billion acquisition of WhatsApp in 2014 was (and still is) the largest private acquisition of a VC-backed company ever. It was also a big win for Sequoia Capital, the companys only venture investor, which turned its $60 million investment into $3 billion.

When firms invest with that kind of conviction, they get a large share of ownership - as opposed to when they join a deal with a crowded field of other VCs, the report said.

Nagaraja Prakasam, Angel Investor and Founding Angel, IAN Impact, says, successful exits have been happening. "A startup raises funds from angel investors, and when it starts scaling up, it again raises Series A, B, C and so on. Series A investors come forth to buy shares of angel investors and they can do so or partially exit from the startup. When they keep on raising, the value of investors goes up. When companies cant scale, there is no increase in valuation," says Prakasam.

Groupons IPO in 2011 was the biggest IPO by a US web company since Google had gone public in 2007. Groupon was valued at nearly $13 billion, and the IPO raised $700 million. At the end of Groupons first day of trading, early investor New Enterprise Associates 14.7% stake was worth about $2.5 billion. But the biggest winner from that IPO was Groupons biggest shareholder, Eric Lefkofsky, says the report, as he amassed 21.6% of the company by the time of the IPO, 1.5x more than the second-largest investor NEA, and 2.8x what co-founder and CEO Andrew Mason received.

Recently, Snapchats IPO was much hyped and talked about in investment circles, as the company witnessed the second-highest valuation at exit of any social media and messaging company since 1999. The stake held by VC firm Benchmark Capital Partners during the IPO time became worth about $3.2 billion. The IPO also capped a highly productive series of deals for Lightspeed Venture Partners, whose investment of about $8 million grew to be worth $2 billion.

Successful Exits

Indian Angel Network (IAN) has been getting good returns and exits from its portfolio companies. It has had successful exits from 14 companies.

Some of its marquee investee companies include, WebEngage (6x in 15 months of investment), Druva (giving 17x over 30 months), Stayzilla ( 21x over 30 months), Box8 (~3x over 4 years), Consure (10x over 40 months).

Recently, IAN Founder Padmaja Ruparel said they had a successful cash exit from Sapience and that the investors received handsome returns. In 2010, it invested $350,000 in Sapience, which recently received a majority investment from Credit Suisse Asset Managements NEXT Investors.

She had told that it is necessary for investors to exit so that they can plough back more money into startups and that the industry can develop and evolve.

Mentioning about exit cycle, KPMG Enterprises Venture Pulse Q3 2017, a quarterly report on the venture capital market globally, which was released recently, said on a quarterly basis, completed exit volume is certainly subsiding, while the Q317 exit tally of $13.9 billion remains within historical bounds, although below the mean of the prior three years, which stood at $22.65 billion.

It pointed out that venture-backed exits have definitely entered a cyclical decline for now. The pressing question is the duration of the decline and how the later stages of the exit cycle may allow for the mature crop of late-stage, venture-backed companies that are highly valued on paper to finally realise their gains.

Globally, six out of 10 startups die in the early stage, and VCs are quite selective before investing in startups. Venture Catalysts (VCats) co-founder and president Apoorv Ranjan Sharma says, "Ours is a three-level due diligence process. Of the 300 applications we receive every month, three startups get shortlisted and two get funded. Strong diligence is performed to recognise startup promoters capabilities and background. On top of that to reduce further risk, we also facilitate one-year incubator support."

Is there anything called right time to exit? Yes, says Sharma. "There are instances where a tech company gets obsolete in 6 -12 months time, hence if the exit doesnt happen at the right time, there are high chances of investors losing money. Also, there are cases when you exit with 5x to 200x returns. The exit starts anywhere between 1 year and 3 years time if the company seems to be well-performing . If non-performing, then an early call should be taken," he adds.

June 15, 2014 is an unforgettable day for the Netherlands hockey fans, for the wrong reasons. Hosts of the Hockey World Cup, the nation awaited a perfect climax as their side marched into the final for the first time since 1998. Fans thronged the Cars Jeans Stadion in The Hague in great anticipation. But in a span of 70 minutes, joy turned into agony as the Australians not just defeated the Oranje but massacred them. The 6-1 pasting left the Dutch Hockey Federation (KNHB) totally bruised.

News reports then emerged that there was lack of communication amongst team members and barriers were placed by some elements. Fearing things could get worse, KNHB turned to a trusted hand - Max Caldas - to first stabilise and then bring about a revamp. The Argentine-turned-Dutch had won the 2012 London Olympics gold and 2014 World Cup at The Hague with the womens team and his deeds were highly appreciated.

The burly Caldas took up the challenge instantly and set foot in Bhubaneswar for the Champions Trophy where the Netherlands finished fifth. Caldas recognised the reason why the Netherlands were failing was that there wasnt any bonding in the side and players hesitated to voice their opinions. The only thing the team shared was the dressing room.

Caldas, who delivers motivational speeches during his free time, then took the squad on a tour of South Africa early 2015 where the main priority was to get the team to talk freely. He ensured everyone voiced their opinions and they all felt comfortable in each others company. Slowly the bond of old that made the Dutch sides of the past amongst the most feared teams returned.

"One of the things that we decided was if we wanted to play better on the pitch, we had to understand each other better," Caldas offered during a candid interaction at the ongoing Hockey World League Final in Bhubaneshwar. "We wanted to involve ourselves better as players towards the programme. That is what we have been trying to do every day, even when we are here. That is what we have been doing, try to be very honest and a very close group. If things need to be said, good or bad for the right reasons, the group will say it. Thats what we have been reinforcing every day. Keep talking amongst each other and this trip is no different. Yes, we are happy with the way the group is developing. This tournament gives us the change to develop that (bonding) some more.

"I think the job of the coach is to be of service to the players, you need to help them understand where they can be. It is not about what I want or need, it is about what they aspire to be, what they want to achieve as hockey players and our job is to act as facilitators to the players. It is really not about me or my ego, it is all about the players. It is also about the staff and how best I can be of service in the right way. Of course, you have your own ideas and stuff you want to bring through but thats secondary. Its mainly about the players. Thats pretty much my philosophy," added Caldas, who represented Argentina in the 1996 and 2004 Olympic Games. Caldas, who was appointed Knight in the Order of Orange-Nassau for his contribution towards the growth of womens hockey during his early coaching years, feels the Dutch media can be very critical and that sometimes can be detrimental on the team. "To be honest, I dont read the papers. I understood as I got along in my job as the national coach that people have opinions and I am not here to change their opinion. Respect it instead of losing energy in not agreeing with a piece in the paper. I just dont read it. I think thats a healthy way to go about it. It worked for me. And the Dutch do demand medals (from all competitions). Thats one of the things Ive started to change when I became the national mens coach.

"We have the most of everything - the most number of pitches, the most clubs and most players in the world on the mens side and we underperform. Our last World Cup win is 1998, Olympics was in 2000. Surely, you dont expect us to win every tournament because other teams also play to win. Every team here can win but if you look at our resources and results, theres a big difference. Thats what I tried to do in the beginning and now we are on the right track."

While professionally Caldas has hit the right notes more often than not, personally hes suffered a setback but has taken it on the chin and soldiered on gracefully. He married Alyson Annan, considered one of the greatest female hockey players, but separated within two years after the Sydney Olympics. Caldas later came to know that Annan, who now coaches the Dutch womens team, found love in former Netherlands womens team captain Carole Thate. Annan later married Thate. That was also the time when Caldas personal form dipped and he migrated to the Netherlands in search of greener pastures.

Caldas felt every experience in life hands out a lesson. "No, it (the separation) didnt affect me. I am married to a beautiful woman now. Ive got four kids and a dog so I have a really lovely life in Holland with my wife. I was married to a woman who happened to be a hockey player so theres a big difference in that. I think every experience in your life makes you…takes you to where you are now. I dont have any regrets, you learn from things and you move along, understand yourself better so yeah, its a part of my life I dont want to forget or dont want it buried. It is what it is. I made the choice to be there. Thats a part of what makes you who you are now. Thats the way I see it."

Eager to learn new things, Caldas has always maintained an open mind. That perhaps is why he was successful with the womens team and is getting the mens team back on track.

Half a million fans - by current, suspiciously optimistic, estimates - will descend on Russia next year for what Gianni Infantino, FIFA president, has already decreed will be the "best" World Cup in history.

Every single fan, he has decided, will have "an amazing experience." Billions of dollars have been spent on new, or renovated, stadiums to host the finest players in the world: Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, Neymar and Kylian Mbappé. Russias president, Vladimir Putin, on Friday promised a "major sporting festival of friendship and fair play."

And now, at last, we know how it will all kick off. This great celebration of soccer, this era-defining event, the most watched sporting event in the world, will get underway at Moscows Luzhniki Stadium on June 14, with the almost elemental collision of the 63rd- and 65th-best teams the planet can offer.

Applause rippled across the floor of the hall at the Kremlin State Palace when it was confirmed that Saudi Arabia - officially the weakest of all the teams who had to qualify for next years World Cup, according to FIFAs rankings - would face Russia, officially the weakest of all the teams in next years World Cup, in the tournaments opening game.

It might have been relief from the locals in the crowd, of course: there has been no little concern that Russias team is so poor that it might do what the revelations of the ongoing FIFA corruption trial in New York and the allegations of widespread state-sponsored doping could not: make Putin regret bringing the World Cup to Russia in the first place.

Still, the applause felt odd, misplaced. By almost any measure, Russia-Saudi Arabia is an anticlimax of an opening game: the weakest, in terms of the rankings of the two teams, in World Cup history. It is not the sort of game that lived up to pomp of the ceremony that preceded it, complete with a traditional Russian dance troupe.

But it is fitting, given how the rest of the draw panned out. For the first time, FIFA had changed the way the World Cup groups were drawn, pooling teams according to their ranking, rather than on a geographical basis. The moves main effect was to protect most of the tournament favourites from meeting one another.

Indeed, only in two groups are notional heavyweights drawn together: Spain meets Portugal in Group B, while Belgium encounters England in Group G. The prospect of drama in either group, though, was quelled when the identities of their other opponents were revealed. Spain and Portugal will expect to get past Morocco and Iran; England and Belgium should be too strong for Tunisia and Panama, a World Cup debutante. In the head-to-head games, nobody should suffer a knockout blow.

France, Brazil and Germany did even better. It is a convention among athletes and coaches alike that you never risk belittling an opponent - pretty much every coach who faced the news media after the draw uttered some variation on the phrase "there is no such thing as an easy game" - but for those three, in particular, it must have been tempting to break it.

All three have precisely the sorts of groups that they would have drawn for themselves: Peru, Australia and Denmark for the French; Serbia, Switzerland and Costa Rica for Brazil; Mexico, Sweden and South Korea in with the reigning champion, Germany.

Of all the top seeds, in fact, only Argentina had cause to leave Moscow a little dispirited. Jorge Sampaolis team stuttered through qualifying, its fearsome attack blunted surprisingly - and troublingly - easily until Messi conjured a hat trick in Ecuador to ensure his country would go to Russia. Still, its fragile confidence could have done without the prospect of Croatia, Nigeria and Iceland lurking in Group D.

That such a lineup could constitute the toughest of all the groups is indicative of the other major change - one not effected, at least directly by FIFA - that influenced the way the draw played out.

Qualifying for this tournament proved, decisively, that there has been a shift in the nature of international soccer. Italy, the Netherlands, Chile and the United States are not here; Iceland, Peru and Panama are. Major nations can no longer coast into the World Cup. Smaller countries, with a decent crop of players, a gifted coach, and a sense of purpose, can overturn the odds.

The change has made for some wonderful stories over the last two years, but this was its flip side: a tournament short on groups of death and seismic encounters between superpowers.

As Gareth Southgate, the England manager, rightly said, it is when the draw is over that "everything comes alive." It is when fans start to map out where their team will go, and whom it might face in the knockout rounds, when a black-and-white tournament is flooded with color.

This is a little different. The 2018 World Cup has the look of a slow-burner. The first two weeks will be intriguing, rather than explosive; some of the lesser lights will have a moment to shine. Only in the latter stages will the fireworks start. FIFA is unlikely to object to a tournament that, if things go to form, could throw up quarterfinals between Portugal and France, Brazil and England, Spain and Argentina and Germany and Colombia.

It is an approach with just one attendant danger. All tournaments hinge on how the host country copes when its team is eliminated. If it loses interest, the event itself can lose some of its fizz.

That is a particular risk with Russia, where official support for the World Cup is rooted in a desire to project national pride, and power, to the world. If that wanes, the electricity of the tournament might go with it. "Russia is warm and welcoming," Infantino said. "Everyone will be able to celebrate football with the Russian people." The question, apart from what "everyone" means, is how long that will last.

So perhaps the applause that greeted confirmation of the opening game was not from the Russians, but from FIFA. Russia is in a group with Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Uruguay. Not a cakewalk, by any means, but not a Calvary, either. Enough, certainly, to reassure the host that it will not be thrown out of its own party too early.

Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal were already on vacation, but a throwback mens tennis season ended in throwback fashion last Sunday with the captain Yannick Noah leading another French Davis Cup celebration at home.

Noah, 57, wears spectacles and has gray hair now. The dreadlocks are gone along with some of his relentlessly positive energy. His albums do not sell like they used to in France. Not all of his players even want his input during matches. But enough of Noahs power of persuasion clearly remains intact along with his good fortune.

Consider this: France won its first Davis Cup in 16 years without having to defeat a singles player ranked in the top 40 all season. That is a reflection of this injury-riddled phase in the mens game and also the latest testimony to the Davis Cups diminished status. For the games biggest stars, winning it just once is now typically enough in light of all the other less draining and more lucrative demands on their time.

As it is so often in this era, it was easy to feel differently about the Davis Cups significance if you were there in person. The Stade Pierre Mauroy in Lille was packed with 27,000 fans for three straight days - just as it was in 2014 when Federer, Stan Wawrinka and the Swiss spoiled the French fete in the final.

Neither Federer nor Wawrinka has bothered to play in a non-relegation match since then. But the French have kept chasing "La Coupe Davis," which has been a shiny object of desire in their country since the 1920s when the Four Musketeers - Rene Lacoste, Henri Cochet, Jean Borotra and Jacques Brugnon - pried it away from Bill Tilden and the United States.

In 1991, Noah, who was winding down his playing career, helped put an end to a 59-year drought for France as captain of the team featuring Guy Forget and Henri Leconte that upset Pete Sampras, Andre Agassi and the Americans in Lyon.

It was a memorable victory when Davis Cup was still a priority for the games biggest talents. It was an even more indelible party as Noah, a pop singer as well as a French Open champion, led a conga-line dance to "Saga Africa," a song from his recent album.

Since then, France had won the Cup twice more away from home, most recently in 2001 in Australia. This years celebration also had an anti-podean air as Noah and his players and staff performed their bicep-flexing version of the haka, a Maori war dance, in the locker room shortly after Lucas Pouille overwhelmed Steve Darcis 6-3, 6-1, 6-0 in the fifth and final match of a 3-2 victory over Belgium.

"There is nothing more beautiful," said Pouille, wiping away the tears after the victory scrum on court had broken up. Pouille does not have much frame of reference. This generation of French players has long been considered one of the countrys most talented, but until now the veterans Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Richard Gasquet, Gaël Monfils and Gilles Simon had yet to win a major singles title or the Davis Cup.

Although Tsonga and Gasquet won points in the final, it took a younger, less experienced Frenchman to finish off the quest. Noah could have picked Gasquet for the decisive singles match, but he stuck by Pouille, who had been picked apart in straight sets by David Goffin on day one. Noahs move turned out to be the right one, and it will be intriguing to see where Pouille, just 23, and mens tennis go from here.

Next years first Grand Slam tournament, the Australian Open, is shaping up as a clash of generations. There is Federer, ranked No 2 at age 36 and still near his best on relatively quick surfaces like the cushioned acrylic hard courts in Melbourne. He won the title in January by defeating Nadal and coming back from 1-3 down in the fifth set. That was undoubtedly the match of the year on multiple levels.

Often paired with Federer because of their long yin-and-yang rivalry, Nadal, 31, is, in fact, part of the same tennis generation as Wawrinka, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray. Wawrinka is 32. Djokovic and Murray are 30, and all plan to return in 2018 from six-month injury breaks of their own. That sort of extended hiatus worked to relaunch Federer in 2017. It would come as no big surprise if it did the same for Djokovic or Murray. Age 30 is no barrier in tennis anymore. A record 43 players age 30 or over finished in the top 100 this year.

But the younger set has momentum.

It was not just Pouille who closed out 2017 in style. Three players in their mid-20s made big moves by seasons end: Grigor Dimitrov, 26, beat Goffin, 26, to win the ATP Finals. Jack Sock, 25, won his first Masters 1000 event to qualify for the ATP Finals. All three are in the top 10 and could do major damage in 2017, as could Milos Raonic, 26, and Kei Nishikori, 27, if they, too, are able to return to health.

Then there are the power players in their early 20s: Alexander Zverev, 20, and Nick Kyrgios, 22. Zverev is already ranked No. 4, but for now he is still developing the staying power required for best-of-five-set tennis and has yet to advance past the fourth round in a major. Kyrgios, still prone to physical breakdowns and mental lapses, did not get past the second round in a major in 2017.

Still, both players clearly have the talent to keep 2018 from turning into another throwback season. Will they? Or will Federer, Nadal, Djokovic, Murray or Wawrinka hold off the challengers and give us more of the same? The beginning of the answer will come in Melbourne in less than two months time.

Half-finished venues and an air of unpreparedness raise an uncomfortable question for Indonesia: will it be ready for next years Asian Games?

With less than nine months to go, earthmovers and cranes dot construction sites and plans for logistics remain hazy, pointing to a frantic build-up to the event in August. Turbulent preparations for major events are nothing new: the 2004 Athens Olympics stadium was only completed weeks before the opening ceremony, and Brazils 2014 World Cup went ahead in unfinished venues.

Indonesia had its own problems with the 2011 Southeast Asian Games -- which, like the Asian Games, were split between Jakarta and Palembang in South Sumatra -- following corruption scandals and a deadly stampede at the football final.

But the Asian Games are on a different scale altogether: 9,500 athletes in 40 different sports, compared to 28 for the last Olympics, and held in two different cities for the first time in the events history.

With at least one venue, the velodrome in Jakarta, not expected to be ready until June, chief organiser Erick Thohir admitted the schedule was "a bit tight" for the 30 trillion rupiah ($2.2 billion) Games.

But Thohir, the media tycoon who is president of Inter Milan and owns DC United, pledged that Indonesia will be ready to host its biggest sports event yet from August 18 to September 2.

"Actually were doing something thats impossible but became possible," he said this week during an official media visit and venue tour. "Were still in progress but we will make sure that the (work) is finishing up and we will make everything ready on time," he added.

Hosting the Asian Games is an ambitious endeavour for any country, as underlined in 2014 when Vietnam pulled out as hosts of the upcoming tournament, citing concerns over preparations and the heavy financial burden.

Indonesia, facing five years to prepare rather than the usual seven, then opted to bring the Games forward from 2019 to 2018 to avoid a clash with national elections, losing another year. A change of president in 2014 slowed efforts to push forward the project, as has repeated tinkering with the sporting schedule.

"We hope that this (sporting programme) is not changing any more -- hope for us and pray for us," said an exasperated Harry Warganegara of the Games organising committee, INASGOC.

In sleepy South Sumatra, an hours flight from Jakarta, large parts of Palembangs Jakabaring Sport City remain a building site, permeated with the screech of angle-grinders and smoke from bonfires on nearby wasteland.

At the bowling venue, teams of carpenters are laying down chipboard underflooring for the 40 bowling lanes, while piles of bricks and debris are heaped on the dirt forecourt outside. Nearby, the skeletons of unfinished buildings stand next to the white grandstand at the rowing venue, which will be the "best... in the world", according to provincial governor Alex Noerdin.

"(The venues are) not ready 100 percent," admitted the ambitious Noerdin, who also hopes to attract a MotoGP motorbike race to Palembang, and jokes that he even has his eye on the Olympics.

"Some infrastructure is under construction, so apologies for the traffic jams, for so many cars everywhere," he said.

"But we promise you, six months before the Asian Games Palembang will be the most beautiful city in Indonesia."

At the Palembang athletes village, originally built for the 2011 SEA Games, workers are painting curbstones black and white and an unidentified man is asleep in one of the bedrooms.

Meanwhile the Jakarta athletes village, seven tower blocks housing 5,400 small apartments, is nearing completion but backs on to a foul-smelling, toxic black river. The target seems to be that Indonesia will be more or less ready for the Games, and that they will be held without too many of the organisational hitches that often plague major events. But for many Indonesians, holding the competition at all is already a triumph for a country which has weathered severe difficulties since independence in 1945 to become one of the worlds biggest emerging economies.

"Not only do we want to host something for the international audience, but also we want to build something for the people of Indonesia. I think thats something thats important for Indonesia," said Thohir.

"We want to show Indonesia has really changed over the past 50 years... the image we want to show is the transformation of Indonesia."