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All action results from thought, so it is thoughts that matter.
| VBA's Positive News |
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Russian President Putin signs US-Russia visa pact
Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed the ratification of an agreement with the United States that substantially eases the visa regime for both countries' citizens. The agreement allows Russians and Americans to get three-year multi-entry visas under which they can stay for up to six consecutive months. Easing the labourious and limiting visa system is expected to boost business contacts between the countries and improve tourism.
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US, Germany stress cooperation to end euro crisis
US Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner and his German counterpart, Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble, stressed the need for coordinated action Monday in the face of the eurozone debt crisis and faltering global growth, but left open what joint steps Europe and the United States would take to shore up the world economy in the coming months. Mr Geithner travelled to the German North Sea island of Sylt for informal talks with Finance Minister Schaeuble, before heading on to meet Mario Draghi, the President of the European Central Bank, later Monday.
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Colombia: Cocaine production drops by 25 per cent
Production of pure cocaine in Colombia declined by 25 per cent in the last year, according a United States government survey of drug production. Drug czar Gil Kerlikowske, director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, said Monday that potential cocaine production in the South American country has dropped by 72 per cent since 2001.
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Afghan ice cream sweetens business appetite
In a nation wrenched by decades of war, perhaps it is of no surprise that one of Afghanistan's most successful brands manufactures what is sorely lacking from the conflict-scarred landscape: joy. The Herat ice cream factory in western Afghanistan is a world away from intensifying violence in a war that has dragged on into its 11th year.
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World Round-Up
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Team Anna regrets attack on media
Anna Hazare’s indefinite fast entered the third day on Tuesday with the anti-graft activist regretting the attack on media by his supporters and warned that he will call off his fast if they again indulge in violence.
Team Anna member Arvind Kejriwal, who is also fasting, apologised for the misbehaviour with media but sought to blame media house owners, saying they have to decide whether they are with the country or with corrupt people.
Before Mr. Hazare and his close aides took the dais, some supporters shouted slogans against the media.
A scuffle broke out between Team Anna supporters and mediapersons on Monday night at Jantar Mantar, where Mr. Hazare is on an indefinite fast. Team Anna member Shanti Bhushan’s allegation that media was not projecting the protest in proper light allegedly led to the brawl.
The Broadcast Editors’ Association (BEA) had condemned the incident and demanded an apology from Team Anna.
Regretting the attack on media, Mr. Hazare told his supporters on Tuesday morning that he “felt sad” after hearing about the attack on media accusing them of not giving proper coverage to the indefinite fast on corruption issues.
“If you indulge in violence, remember that the government can crush us in two days. They have the strength and laws to do that. In future, if these things happen again, at that moment I will call off this agitation. I don’t approve of this. Let media do their work. Don’t bother about what they do,” he said.
He said if the media coverage is not the right way, they should not blame media but should introspect and see if there is any problem with the activists that such reports are coming. “It’s wrong to blame media. I regret that some people have misbehaved with the media,” he said.
Apologising to the media, Mr. Kejriwal said the protest should continue with calmness and non-violence. “We cannot tolerate such behaviour,” he said.
However, he said media house owners need to make their own choices whether they want to support government in their wrong deeds or want to join the mission of service of nations.
Another Team Anna member Manish Sisodia said they were ashamed of what happened yesterday. “Our fight is not with the media,” he said.
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Astrology
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Aries March 21 to April 19
Expect an emotional turn of events between you and a close pal. If your bond has grown sour over recent months, one of you possibly may decide to end the friendship. If this is the case, you probably have known in your heart that you are walking along different paths now and that each of you will be better off continuing along your respective directions. Also, today's full moon may help you bring a close dream to fruition.
Taurus April 20 to May 20
A career breakthrough will be possible today, thanks to a brilliant full moon that will shine in the area of your chart that rules honor and success. You might receive a reward or major recognition for your accomplishments, and you also might be in the spotlight today for at least one significant contribution in your industry. It may be that the boss will notice you today.
Gemini May 21 to June 20
 If you are in the publishing or advertising industry, you possibly will work on the final touches to a project. Whatever message you are ready to spread, you likely will have the best team possible to help you accomplish this. Also, if you are involved in any legal matter, a significant development likely will occur, possibly substantial enough to help bring a resolution to the matter once and for all.
Cancer June 21 to July 22
An important financial matter is likely to reach culmination. If you have been waiting to hear news about an investment, settlement, or tax matter, you can expect answers now. Although you may not receive everything according to the terms you hoped for, at the same time you might experience a certain amount of relief at being able to put this situation behind you. Recognize that you will have the capacity to focus on new opportunities.
Leo July 23 to Aug. 22
 Expect your attention to focus on a close relationship. You and someone close likely will have an emotionally charged conversation, and it may be difficult to separate your feelings from any logical decision making. A full moon will fall in your partnership sector today, and with this energy sometimes a relationship comes to an end. If things have been going well, however, you and your mate possibly will forge a deeper commitment than before.
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Sri City metro car unit of Alstom to be on stream in September
France-based transport major Alstom Transport, which has bagged a Rs.1,431-crore order for 42 train sets from Chennai Metro Rail Ltd., (CMRL) will open its metro car manufacturing facility at Sri City in Andhra Pradesh bordering Tamil Nadu in September this year.
With the work on Chennai metro progressing fast, Alstom has planned to source initial train sets from its manufacturing facility in Brazil for testing purposes even as the Sri City facility is expected to roll out the first train set in January 2014, according to Henri Poupart-Lafarge, President of Alstom Transport worldwide.
Mr. Henri told a team of visiting Indian journalists in Paris recently that Alstom would spend about 30 million euro to create the facility on 52 acres in Sri City. He said the facility, besides catering to the requirements of Chennai Metro, would cater to the fast-growing metro rail markets in India as well as Asia Pacific. He said the site design and construction was based on technology shared from Alstom’s global manufacturing facilities as well as its major transport hub in Lapa in Brazil from where the first few metro cars for Chennai Metro would be sourced.
Customer need
A consortium of Alstom Transport SA and Alstom India had bagged the order from CMRCL in August 2010 for supply of 42 standard-gauge metro train sets, each set comprising four cars, totalling 168 cars. Explaining the rationale behind setting up the facility in India, Mr. Henri said the move showed Alstom’s responsiveness to customers’ needs and requirements and to create products suited for Indian markets.
The new facility would also be a centre of excellence for metro trains in India, Mr. Henri said. Alstom has planned up to 80 per cent of localisation for sourcing inputs even as the company will source some inputs such as traction from its Coimbatore facility and signalling software from its Bangalore facility. Mr. Henri noted that the urban market was stronger than the mainline railway market in India which is why Alstom is having the factory near Chennai.
State-of-the-art design
The CMRL order to Alstom requires the latter to supply train sets with state-of-the-art car design, light weight, made of stainless steel with three-phase AC drive. The cars will feature automatic train protection and operation facilities. These cars will also have electronic route map, public address system, passenger emergency intercom, video surveillance and CCTV. The trains will run on 25 kV through an overhead catenary system.
Each train set will be provided with a first-class seating section in the coach near the train operator’s cab even as the four-car train set will be designed for future convertibility to a six-car rake. The maximum allowable operating speed of the train set will be 80 kmph with maximum speed of 90 kmph. A four-car train set can accommodate 1,276 passengers.
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Why do men avoid veggies
Researchers have shed light on why men refrain themselves from vegetarian products.
Researchers have revealed that consumers are influenced by a strong association of meat with masculinity.
"We examined whether people in Western cultures have a metaphoric link between meat and men," write authors Paul Rozin ( University of Pennsylvania), Julia M. Hormes ( Louisiana State University), Myles S. Faith ( University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill), and Brian Wansink ( Cornell University).
The answer, they found, was a strong connection between eating meat—especially muscle meat, like steak—and masculinity.
In a number of experiments that looked at metaphors and certain foods, like meat and milk, the authors found that people rated meat as more masculine than vegetables.
They also found that meat generated more masculine words when people discussed it, and that people viewed male meat eaters as being more masculine than non-meat eaters.
Most of the studies took place in the United States and Britain, but the authors also analyzed 23 languages that use gendered pronouns. They discovered that across most languages, meat was related to the male gender.
"To the strong, traditional, macho, bicep-flexing, All-American male, red meat is a strong, traditional, macho, bicep-flexing, All-American food," the authors write.
"Soy is not. To eat it, they would have to give up a food they saw as strong and powerful like themselves for a food they saw as weak and wimpy."
If marketers or health advocates want to counteract such powerful associations, they need to address the metaphors that shape consumer attitudes, the authors explain.
For example, an education campaign that urges people to eat more soy or vegetables would be a tough sell, but reshaping soy burgers to make them resemble beef or giving them grill marks might help cautious men make the transition.
"In marketing, understanding the metaphor a consumer might have for a brand could move the art of positioning toward more of a science," the authors concluded.
The study has been published in the Journal of Consumer Research.
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Virgo Aug. 23 to Sept. 22
Today's full moon in your health sector may prove a fruitful opportunity to get rid of any unhealthy habits once and for all. Now will be an ideal time to consider giving up caffeine, sugar or any other vice that has prevented you from enjoying a complete sense of well-being. This full moon also will affect you in work matters, so you might finish up a major project that's been emotionally draining.
Libra Sept. 23 to Oct. 22
If you've been dating someone, today's full moon may illuminate a turning point in your relationship. If things have been going well, you and your sweetheart might decide to become exclusive. If, however, you are at a point in this casual match where you realize it probably will not develop, then you might decide to end it. In addition, a creative project might reach fruition and if so, it'll be something to which you feel especially emotionally connected.
Scorpio Oct. 23 to Nov. 21
 It might turn into an emotionally charged day at home, thanks to a powerful full moon in your family sector. You likely will hear news from a family member, and even if it's good news, it'll be something that elicits a strong reaction. If you're involved in any real estate matter, you might finalize a deal or decision now. Remember not to sign off until after Mercury turns direct on August 8, if possible. It'll be worth the wait.
Sagittarius Nov. 22 to Dec. 21
If you have siblings, today you may receive emotionally charged news from one of them. If so, be sure to lend any support your brother or sister might need. It will not necessarily be devastating news but likely will be emotionally significant for him or her. Also, if you're involved in any communications-related project it possibly will reach completion now. Use the remaining Mercury retrograde cycle until August 8 to polish it up.
Capricorn Dec. 22 to Jan. 19
 If you've been developing one of your talents, today's full moon may signal that you're now ready to market it in an innovative way. You'll need to overcome a slight feeling of emotional insecurity first. Try not to give in to self-doubt concerning this gift. You've done everything possible to master this ability, and now it's time to see what you can reap as a result.
Aquarius Jan. 20 to Feb. 18
 It might be impossible to contain your feelings, as a full moon will illuminate the part of your chart that has to do with personality. Your emotions will run deep about anything important to you, and you likely will feel particularly charged about a relationship matter or a personal endeavor. If there's anything you need to release in order to move forward, now will be the time to honestly examine it. You know what the next step is. .
Pisces Feb. 19 to March 20
Today's full moon might illuminate any uneasiness or anxiety that you know needs attention. It will be a perfect time to seek professional guidance from someone who can help you tackle a personal dilemma and if you do, you'll likely forge a positive, trusting relationship with this person. You might also feel a strong need to focus on others, and you'll have a wonderful opportunity to do something charitable for someone else.
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Moral Story
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SMS
Failure comes only when we forget our ideals and objectives and principles.
LOVE & RELATIONSHIPS
“Love is shown in your deeds, not in your words..”
LEADERSHIP & SUCCESS
A leader or a man of action in a crisis almost always acts subconsciously and then thinks of the reasons for his action.
A man phones the librarian at the middle of the night.
Librarian picks the phone."What is it?"
she asked."When will the library open?"
9 am tommorow"said librarian ,
quite annoyed."Not any sooner?"He asked.
"No"she said."What's the hurry to get in
anyways''.
He said,"Who told you about getting in , I want
to get OUT".
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Kendriya Vidyalayas are a model of social inclusion
While the controversy about providing 25 per cent reservation to students from disadvantaged socioeconomic backgrounds in private schools under the Right to Education Act continues, Kendriya Vidyalaya schools might well be an example of how inclusive education can indeed be the norm and an ideal. A member of the Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan told The Hindu that they have been providing 15 per cent reservation to Scheduled Castes and 7.5 per cent reservation for the Scheduled Tribes for many years. He said: “We get applications every year and students are chosen by lottery and are exempted from paying fees.”
The brief
V.M. Karkal, principal of Kendriya Vidyalaya, Jalahalli, said: “Our schools mainly focus on providing education to children of Central government employees (who have transferable jobs). But we have been advertising and trying to fill vaccines for students from low socioeconomic backgrounds.” This is to bring such students into the mainstream, he added.
Another senior Kendriya Vidyalaya principal said: “In each standard we have 160 students, 40 of whom are from the lower socioeconomic backgrounds.”
Confidential process
Shibala Singh, principal of the Kendriya Vidyalaya at DRDO, said that the application process is confidential and details are not revealed to any of the students.
Asked if students are being discriminated against, he said: “We have been following this for years now. We are oriented and trained to see that there is no discrimination.”
Principals from these schools said that filtering the applications and choosing the most eligible student has always been a challenge. A senior principal said that they give preference to those whose parents work for the Central and State governments, and autonomous bodies.
“After these categories are filled, we provide scholarships to students from other backgrounds,” the senior principal added.
A question
However, some students from the low income groups cannot afford to pursue their education in reputed institutions after they finish their school. On this, a senior principal said: “Once students finish their basic education, we believe they are capable of sustaining themselves.”
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Saina Nehwal sails into pre-quarterfinals of London Olympics
LONDON: India's ace shuttler Saina Nehwal cruised into the knockout stage of the women's singles competition after notching up a comfortable straight-game win over Belgium's Lianne Tan in a group stage match on Monday.
The world number five Indian did not need to exert herself and was in complete control of the match as she saw off the Belgium girl 21-4, 21-14 in just 24 minutes at the Wembley arena.
The fourth seed Indian is likely to take on Chinese-born Yao Jie of The Netherlands, ranked 20th in the world, in the knockout stage.
The 22-year-old Indian was in her dominating best as she judged the shuttle well and had better idea of the court. She anticipated the moves of her opponent very easily and took just nine minutes to wrap up the first game in her favour.
Lianne earned a couple of lucky points when the shuttle just kissed the net to fall in Saina's side but beside that she didn't pose any threat to the Indian in the first game.
In the second game, the Belgium girl went all out and tried to create some chances but Saina at no point looked threatened.
Lianne earned her points mostly when Saina faltered with her strokes which went to the nets a few times.
However, the Indian was always in control as she digged in the repertoire of her strokes to move into the break at 11-8.
After the breather, Saina started using her angled drops and tosses to move to the match point at 20-12.
Lianne saved a couple of match points when Saina committed a few unforced errors but the Indian didn't take long as she sealed the issue with a disguised angled drop to cement her place at the pre-quarters.
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Ek Tha Tiger
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Ek Tha Tiger
Movie Name : Ek Tha Tiger
Release Date : August 15, 2012
Genre : Thriller, Romance
Producer : Aditya Chopra
Director : Kabir Khan
Music Director : Pritam
Cast : Salman Khan, Katrina Kaif, Ranvir Shorey, Girish Karnad.
Synopsis:
In the dark world of intelligence and espionage...all information is guarded in the name of national security...But some stories escape the fiercely guarded classified files...stories that become legends.
This is one such story...a story that shook the very foundation of this dark world.
In a government employees' neighbourhood in New Delhi, there lived a rugged, handsome and mysterious bachelor about whom his neighbours knew nothing.
That was because he was India's top spy, an officer with the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), India's external intelligence agency. This man was known even in official corridors as TIGER (Salman Khan).
Tiger is sent on a relatively easy and safe mission to Dublin, Ireland to observe a scientist of Indian origin who is suspected of sharing his research findings with the Pakistan defence establishment. Tiger attempts to meet the scientist but it is not successful. He tries to befriend the scientist's part time home caretaker, Zoya (Katrina Kaif). As Tiger begins to get closer to Zoya...he begins to discover his human side.
For the first time in his life Tiger falls in love....
What follows is a tumultuous journey that Tiger and Zoya embark upon, battling the dark world of intelligence and espionage that forbids its soldiers from falling in love...
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the longest street in the world is Yonge street in Toronto Canada measuring 1,896 km (1,178 miles)
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" INSPIRING STORY "
A little Mouse
Once when a Lion was asleep, a little Mouse began running up and down upon him. This soon wakened the Lion, who placed his huge paw upon him and opened his big jaws to swallow him.
"Pardon, O King!" cried the little Mouse, "Forgive me this time. I shall never repeat it and I shall never forget your kindness. And who knows, but I may be able to do you a good turn one of these days?"
The Lion was so tickled at the idea of the Mouse being able to help him, that he lifted up his paw and let him go.
Sometime later a few hunters captured the King and tied him to a tree while they went in search of a wagon to carry him on.
Just then the little Mouse happened to pass by, and seeing the sad plight in which the Lion was, ran up to him and soon gnawed away the ropes that bound the King of the Beasts. "Was I not right?" said the little Mouse, very happy to help the Lion.
MORAL: Little friends may prove great friends.
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Life is a song - sing it. Life is a game - play it. Life is a challenge - meet it. Life is a dream - realize it. Life is a sacrifice - offer it. Life is love - enjoy it.
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