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“Life itself was only futility, vain words, a squabble of cap and bells. ”
| VBA's Positive News |
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American Samoa bans shark fishing to save species
American Samoa is banning shark fishing in its waters in hopes of stopping the population's decline. The rules taking effect this week make it illegal to catch or possess sharks within three nautical miles of the shoreline. The ban extends to three species of reef fish. Doug Fenner, who monitors sharks for the Department of Marine & Wildlife Resources, says the rules cover most of the territory's coral reefs and will prevent shark trafficking.
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Canada factory sales climb in September on aerospace orders
Canadian manufacturing sales grew in September from August due mainly to a sharp rise in the volatile aerospace sector, Statistics Canada said on Thursday. Production in the aerospace product and parts industry surged 43 per cent in September, the biggest jump since May. Figures for this sector tend to have a disproportionate influence on manufacturing data because of the size of the orders and lengthy production period.
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France avoids recession; GDP up in Q3
Franceavoided falling into recession in the third quarter, official figures showed Thursday. The French economy, Europe's second-largest, hasn't recorded growth since the third quarter of last year and had been widely expected to start its slide into recession in the third quarter. Instead, Insee, the national statistics agency, said GDP rose 0.2 per cent in the July to September period from the previous quarter.
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Peru economy grows 5.94 per cent in September
Peru's economy grew 5.94 per cent in September from the same month a year ago, official data showed on Thursday, driven by strong domestic demand and an uptick in mining activity. In August, the economy grew 6.33 per cent from a year earlier, the INEI statistics agency said. The Andean economy, which has boomed for much of the past decade, is forecast to grow around 6 per cent this year, one of the fastest paces in Latin America. The government expects growth will again top 6 per cent in 2013. Growth has cut unemployment.
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Video of the Day:
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World Round-Up
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Ahead of Winter Session, PM hosts dinner for UPA leaders
New Delhi: UPA allies will dine tonight at 7 Race Course Road as their host, the Prime Minister, attempts to consolidate his government's strategy ahead of the Winter Session of Parliament. He needs to do a head count to ensure that if the politically-contentious issue of foreign direct investment in retail is voted on, the government is on the right side of 273 in the Lok Sabha. Of the allies, the DMK, which with 18 MPs now makes up the second-largest contingent in the ruling alliance after the Congress, has refused to say just yet what its stand will be on FDI. Its numbers are crucial because Mamata Banerjee's walkout with her 19 MPs in September left the government in a minority.
Ms Banerjee's Trinamool Congress exited the government in protest against its new reforms push that included reducing subsidy on fuel and the move to allow FDI in retail, and now leads a demand that Dr Manmohan Singh test his strength in Parliament. The party has already given notice for a discussion on the issue and says it also intends to move a No-Confidence Motion against the government. Ms Banerjee's contention is that the government allowed FDI in retail through an executive decision after the Trinamool had withdrawn from the coalition, and therefore a major policy was introduced by a minority government, which it says, is unacceptable.
Ms Banerjee is now on the same side as arch rival, the Left, which too has given notice seeking a debate followed by a vote on FDI in both Houses of Parliament. The main Opposition party, the BJP, has indicated that it will be happy to support any move to test the government's strength on the issue. While the government does not have to seek a vote to endorse its FDI decision, the BJP and others argue that overwhelming opposition to the policy makes a vote obligatory. The party has also lined up other issues like corruption and price rise to attack the government within this session and a major concern right now is whether Parliament will be allowed to function. The last few sessions have seen days of adjournment and little work transacted.
The Prime Minister's survival strategy depends heavily on Mulayam Singh Yadav's Samajwadi Party (22 MPs) and Mayawati's BSP (21 MPs), who provide external support to the UPA government. On an FDI vote too, Dr Singh will need their benevolence; he has already hosted Mr Yadav and his son Akhilesh Yadav at dinner and Ms Mayawati at Sunday lunch last week. Neither has seemed anxious to destabilise the government, though both like to occasionally remind the ruling Congress about their importance by talking about the possibility of early elections. Mulayam Singh Yadav has been a vocal opponent of FDI in retail, but has also said that his more immediate concern is keeping what he calls "communal forces," read the BJP, at bay. In such, his best option if FDI is voted upon, would be to abstain.
The DMK's M Karunanidhi has so far refused to spell out what his party will do. "Let the DMK's stand remain a suspense. Only a movie with suspense does well," he said earlier this week amid reports that the party would explore how to avoid voting against the government without undermining its own stand - it has said it will continue to protect the interests of traders and small vendors, a powerful vote bank in Tamil Nadu that says FDI in retail is a sell-out by the government. The DMK is said to be considering not taking a stand at all by possibly walking out before a vote. Ms Mayawati remained vague on her party's stand on FDI issue after her lunch with the Prime Minister on Sunday. "Whenever such a situation crops up, ask us this question (then). Why do you want our response in advance?" she asked. She had, however, earlier said that she was amenable to being convinced about the benefits of FDI in retail.
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Astrology
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Aries March 21 to April 19
You may want to rein in your personality for a few days while Uranus and Mars square off against each other. These two highly charged planets deliver quite a punch if they are not harnessed properly. Uranus has been setting you off on new journeys for some time and will continue to do so. As Mars your ruler enters into your career sector, you would do quite well to focus your energy on career improvement through education and travel.
Taurus April 20 to May 20
You may want to follow up with an insurance company or other source of outside money to see if they have completed your request yet. Where your money comes from or what you owe will be favorable topics during this time. You may be surprised by the speed with which your inquiry is answered. This may indicate closure to a long-term claim for which you have been waiting, offering a welcome blast of relief.
Gemini May 21 to June 20
 Consider introducing your partner to your business pals. They may have more in common than you previously thought, and you will deepen that connection in both areas of your life. It could be that you arrange a lunch meeting and bring some interesting new ideas to the table for discussion. You likely will enjoy seeing if your instincts are right.
Cancer June 21 to July 22
You may witness major changes at work. You might be assigned to a new territory or client base, which may be a rich opportunity to expand your reach. Someone in your workplace possibly will see your potential for bringing a new energy to the scene. That singular quality may serve you quite well if you open up and express yourself fully. Your intuition likely will be helpful. Trust it.
Leo July 23 to Aug. 22
 The time may be right to stretch your mind. You may be especially well served through an educational endeavor at this time. Classes, investigations, and anything that piques your curiosity may be worthwhile. The theme of the time will favor expansion, so travel, training, and adventure may speak to your current interests. It might be wise to seize any opportunity to learn anything new.
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Centre is ready to handhold stressed sectors, says FM
"We have written to the RBI and hope that the RBI will pick up the thread and finalise the guidelines and start receiving the application," Mr Chidambaram said
Open to handholding the stressed sectors, Finance Minister P. Chidambaram, on Thursday, said the government would work out a strategy to assist industry segments reeling under the impact of economic slowdown. “If the economy improves and growth improves, the sectors (which are not doing well) will recover. But, in the meanwhile, we will have to do some handholding and try to help these sectors recover”, he said while addressing a press conference after meeting the heads of public sector banks here. The government would have to look at rising non-performing assets (NPAs) sector-wise and find ways and means to help them, he said, adding the “NPA was reflection of the slowdown in the economy”. The NPAs of the public sector banking group had increased by 0.98 per cent in the one-year period ending September 2012 mainly on account of the stress being faced in sectors such as infrastructure, steel, construction, textile, food process and telecom infrastructure, the Minister said.
On the positive side, Mr. Chidambaram said housing and automobile sectors had been doing well on back of decline in EMIs. The Minister said the government would soon finalise capital infusion for the PSU banks and the beneficiaries would include Indian Overseas Bank, Central Bank of India and Bank of Maharashtra. The government had proposed to inject Rs.15,000 crore of capital in PSU banks.
Banking licences
Referring to the issue of new banking licences, Mr. Chidambaram said he had written to the Reserve Bank of India to initiate the process of issuing guidelines and start accepting the licences pending approval of the Banking Regulation Amendment Act by Parliament. Stating that slowdown was a temporary phenomenon, the Minister said the “situation is not alarming” and would improve with recovery and bad loans would become standard accounts. “A bit of handholding (is needed) to help the sectors or the industry or the unit to tide through this difficult period...and when the economy recovers, these accounts will indeed become standard accounts”, he added.
Kisan Credit Cards
Referring to the issues concerning the farming sector, Mr. Chidambaram said all Kisan Credit Cards (KCCs) would be converted into ATM cards and that agriculture sector credit disbursal target of Rs.5.75 lakh-crore, up from Rs.4.75 lakh-crore in the last fiscal, would be met. A new draft of the credit guarantee scheme would be placed before the Cabinet in the next seven to ten days, the Minister added.
Non-performing assets
On the issue of NPAs in the banking sector, Mr. Chidambaram said the RBI guidelines permitted restructuring of loans. “Just because an account has become an NPA, it does not mean that it cannot be restructured. In fact, it (RBI guidelines) allows for restructuring of an account. I think all the chairpersons are sensitive to this matter, and am sure we will see through this difficult period (till) the economy recovers and the accounts become standard accounts”, he added.
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Don't workout on an empty stomach
Gym-goers and athletes tend to push themselves on empty stomachs in the belief they'll burn up more fat.
Most believe in the theory that exercising on an empty stomach will make the body use up fat reserves and covert it into energy instead of the glucose or carbohydrates that may be readily available from a meal or a drink before the workout. But while it seems to make sense, research now shows that exercising on an empty stomach doesn't offer any benefit and may actually work against you.
According to a recent report published this year in a fitness journal in the US, it has been established that the body burns the same amount of fat irrespective of whether you eat before or after a workout. But the problem arises in the fact that dizzy spells notwithstanding, you will lose muscle by exercising in a state of hunger.
The study also found that and without food to help the workout, the intensity of the exercise and the total calorie burn will be reduced. So, that leaves you not only exhausted, but with less muscle and no energy to burn more fat.
The studies found that when people trained with nothing in their stomachs, about 10 percent of the calories they burned came from protein, including muscle.
In an earlier study, researchers had found that eating light before a meal was beneficial. Those who consumed 45 grams of carbohydrates before their workouts ended up eating less through the rest of the day.
Experts now advise a light meal of oats or even a milkshake before a workout will go a long way in extending the benefits of the time spent in a gym. Those pushing the heavy ones in the hope of building muscle are well advised to go the Dara Singh way of egg 'n' milkshake.
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Virgo Aug. 23 to Sept. 22
You may discover something unique about your family while working around the house. You might stumble on it while cleaning out a closet. This may lead you on a trail to uncover even more, which may be an intriguing twist on a family secret. If you harness this energy and use it to your advantage, you may be surprised at the benefits that come your way.
Libra Sept. 23 to Oct. 22
Say how you feel with a good heart-to-heart talk. Current energy might find you completely willing to open up and pour out your thoughts to your partner. You will not know if he or she is willing to reciprocate, however, until you try - but you may certainly feel as if the time is right. In fact, you may be champing at the bit to get your feelings out. It may be best to follow your instincts on this one.
Scorpio Oct. 23 to Nov. 21
 You may find that today will be an ideal time for creative financial planning. If so, the universe may be in a very favorable alignment for you. You may feel particularly motivated to find a very unusual and clever arrangement that allows you to feel pleased about your choice while still making money. It might be that you find an environmental investment that satisfies all of your agendas and brings in profit at the same time.
Sagittarius Nov. 22 to Dec. 21
Unusual and unexpected events may happen in and around your home. You may be motivated to make repairs or set things straight. As a result, you may be out gathering paint samples and other ideas for decorating. You may seem quite driven in this activity, so you may stumble upon a unique method for decorating or taking care of a new addition. You may also decide quite suddenly to shift your plans dramatically in a new direction.
Capricorn Dec. 22 to Jan. 19
 The time may be beneficial for wrapping up projects. You may be quite motivated to put things to rest and start something new. As a result, you may find yourself writing proposals or term papers that are part of a requirement that needs to be filled. Emails, grants, and other forms of correspondence may be quite important right, so pay attention and get the facts straight so you are not faced with surprises.
Aquarius Jan. 20 to Feb. 18
 Your skills as a group facilitator may be in the spotlight today as you try to search for funds to support one of your pet projects. You may be pleasantly surprised by what comes your way, especially when you look in unusual places for support. Your investments possibly will deliver a payload that goes over your expectations or you may find a new method for soliciting money from others. You may want to focus on how you get your money.
Pisces Feb. 19 to March 20
You may leave an imprint on those for whom you work. Your drive and desire to do things differently might turn heads. Stepping outside of the usual box might serve you quite well during this period. If you can temper your drive with a touch of diplomacy, you might actually get your way. You may see your true mission and will be unafraid to pursue it.
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Moral Story
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SMS
“Life has a value only when it has something valuable as its object.”
LOVE & RELATIONSHIPS
"True love doesn't mean being inseparable; it means being separated and nothing changes."
LEADERSHIP & SUCCESS
“No man will make a great leader who wants to do it all himself or get all the credit for doing it.”
Husband and wife had enough fight and after wife was very angry and told. I am going to my parents house and give you a divorce.
Husband to wife: Don't try to please me talking sweets things.
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Cell formed to spur govt colleges for NAAC accreditation
BHOPAL: The higher education department has recently formed a state-level quality assurance cell (SLQAC) with the objective of encouraging government colleges to go for accreditation from the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC). Of 353 government colleges in the state, only 98 are accredited with the NAAC.
The NAAC, a national autonomous body of the University Grants Commission (UGC), is set up to monitor the performance of educational institutions on the basis of a few parameters, including standard of education, facilities, quality of staff and infrastructure among others. However, it has been noticed that several institutions do not take the accreditation from the NAAC in the absence of proper awareness, higher education department sources said.
The SLQAC will hold workshops and seminars to teach educational institutions about the benefits of having accreditation from the NAAC. "The cell which is formed for the first time will help government run higher educational institutions to receive the accreditation of NAAC," said SLQAC's coordinator and joint director of the department, K M Jain.
When asked about the reason of forming the cell, Jain said, "After taking recognition from the NAAC, the government institutions would be able to attract students in large numbers."
Regarding the working process of the SLQAC, Jain said the cell would regularly organise camps and other events to spread awareness about NAAC in government educational institutions.
"Besides motivating institutions for NAAC, the SLQAC's primary objective would be to resolve problems faced by institutions," Jain said. Citing an example he said a few government colleges demanded more teaching faculties which was resolved by launching ambassador professors' scheme.
Claiming several benefits of NAAC, Jain said: "The NAAC accredited institutions may come to know its strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities through an informed review process. Besides, different agencies can fund the accredited institutions comfortably as they would have all informations about the institutions on the basis of NAAC accreditation," Jain added.
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Parupalli Kashyap in quarters of China Open with comeback win
HYDERABAD: Staring down the barrel, Parupalli Kashyap made a splendid comeback to advance to the men's singles quarterfinals of the Li Ning China Open Super Series Premier in Shanghai on Thursday.
Kashyap downed Tien Minh Nguyen of Vietnam 12-21, 22-20, 21-14 in one hour and nine minutes.
The Hyderabadi is the only Indian left in the fray after the two doubles teams - Tarun Kona/Arun Vishnu and Pranaav Jerry Chopra/Sikki Reddy -lost their second round matches.
The two teams succumbed without a fight. While Tarun and Arun lost to top seeds Mathias Boe and Carsten Mogensen of Denmark 10-21, 8-21 in men's doubles, Pranav and Sikki suffered a straight game loss (11-21, 15-21) against Riky Widianto and Puspita Richi Dili of Indonesia in the mixed event.
Kashyap looked clueless in the first game as Nguyen opened with a 3-0 margin. Despite the best efforts of the Indian, the Vietnamese managed to maintain at least a two-point lead throughout the first game.
Kashyap made rapid progress in the second and even cruised ahead to 15-10 at one stage. But Nguyen caught up at 17-17 and looked all set to wrap up the issue when he was leading 20-19.
Kashyap saved a match point at this crucial juncture and went on to win the game at 22-20 to stay alive.
The unseeded Indian was at ease in the decider. Nguyen, who is seeded seventh in the tournament, lost his rhythm and was in the contest only till 8-8.
Kashyap broke free from here and was leading 11-8 at the mandatory change of courts.
He then widened the margin to 17-11 with a five-point burst from 12-11 and never looked back.
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Talaash
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Talaash
Movie Name : Talaash
Release Date : November 30, 2012
Genre : Suspense, Drama
Producer : Farhan Akhtar, Ritesh Sidhwani, Aamir Khan
Director : Reema Kagti
Music Director : Ram Sampat
Cast : Aamir Khan, Rani Mukherji, Kareena Kapoor, Shernaz Patel, Raj Kumar Yadav, Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Vivek Madan.
Synopsis:
It is after Sarfarosh (1999) that Aamir gets to don the khaki again and looks like he isn’t playing the goody-two-shoes cop this time. Complete with a roguish stubble, Aamir will take on the bad guys as a Crime Branch officer in Reema Kagti’s film. Shooting for ‘Talaash’, also starring Rani Mukerji and Kareena Kapoor, has already begun. In fact, Aamir, Rani and Kareena have already started attending workshops as part of their preparation for their roles. In an interview with The Indian Express, Kagti revealed that a few months before casting Khan in the film, she had approached him with another project. Later, Rani Mukerji and Kareena Kapoor were signed on to star opposite Khan. Prior to the start of principal photography, the actors attended acting workshops and signed a non-disclosure agreement. The principal photography for the film started in March 2011 with Khan and Mukerji in Mumbai. For a scene involving Khan and Kapoor, it was reported that both the actors would shoot in a red-light district. However, Kagti dismissed it and explained that it wouldn't be safe to do so. The scene was later shot at the Leopold Cafe on Colaba Causeway. The film's second phase continued with the entire cast in Pondicherry and was completed by the end of August. The final phase was expected to commence the following month in Khopoli with an underwater shot. Due to visibility problems, it was cancelled and later filmed at an undisclosed water studio in London. The filming was completed by November 2011 after some of the remaining shots were executed at the Bandstand Promenade.
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the names of all continents both start and end with the same letter.
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" INSPIRING STORY "
The story of Rantideva
A hand is odorned with daanam rather than with kankanaas. Daanam must be done expecting absolutely nothing in return, admiring the greatness of the dana-grahita, for giving the daata an opportunity to help the grahita. Stories of great Daatas are huge in number in our Indian history, who gave away everything they had. King Rantideva is well known not only in Bhuloka, but also in the urdhva lokas for his daana gunam. Rantideva never endeavored to earn anything for himself. He would enjoy whatever he got by vidhi and when atithis came he would give them what they needed. He gave away everything he had to the poor and underwent considerable suffering, along with the members of his family. Finally, he and his family members did not even get food and water, yet Rantideva always was always satisfied — a sthita pragnya. One morning, after fasting for forty-eight days, Rantideva received some water and some paramaannam (paayasam with rice, milk and ghee). Just when about to eat them, a brahmana atithi arrived. Because Rantideva perceived the presence of the Paramaatma everywhere, and in every living entity, he received the atithi with faith and respect and gave him a share of the paramaannam. The brahmana ate his share and left the place satisfied. Thereafter, having divided the remaining paramaannam with his family, Rantideva was just about to eat his own share when another atithi, a shudra arrived. Seeing the shudra in relationship with the Purushottama, King Rantideva gave him also a share of the paramaannam. When the shudra went away, another atithi arrived, surrounded by dogs, and said, “O King, I and my company of dogs are very hungry. Please give us something to eat.” With great respect, King Rantideva offered the balance of the paramaannam to the dogs and the master of the dogs, who had come as atithis. Thereafter, only the drinking water remained, and there was only enough to satisfy one person, but when the King was just about to drink it, a chandaala appeared and said, “O King, although I am lowborn, kindly give me some drinking water.” Aggrieved at hearing the pitiable words of the poor fatigued chandaala, Rantideva spoke the following madhura vaakyas. “I do not pray to the Lord for the ashta siddhis, nor for vimukti from samsaara saagaram. I want to stay among all the living entities and suffer all distresses on their behalf, so that they may be freed from suffering. By offering my water to maintain the life of this poor chandaala, who is struggling to live, I have been freed from all hunger, thirst, fatigue, trembling of the body, moroseness, distress, lamentation and illusion”. The trimurtis appeared before Rantideva, satisfied by his daatrutvam and bless him. They revealed that they had come in the forms of the brahmana, shudra and chandaala in order to test his karuna, daya and daatrutvam.
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“Never tell your problems to anyone...20% don't care and the other 80% are glad you have them.”
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