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“I have learned that success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he has had to overcome while trying to succeed. ”
| VBA's Positive News |
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Norway's $710 billion wealth fund back on top form in 2012
Norway's sovereign wealth fund, one of the world's biggest investors, grew by around $100 billion in 2012, sealing one of its best years on record as it benefited from the striking upturn by stock markets. Known as the 'oil fund', it invests revenue from Norway's lucrative oil industry for the country's future. It is now worth around $710 billion, 40 percent more than the value of the entire Norwegian economy.
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US: Futures up sharply on strong jobs data
US stock futures rose sharply and the Dow Jones industrial average is likely to push higher into record territory Friday after the government released surprisingly strong jobs numbers and said that the unemployment rate dipped to a four-year low. Employers added 236,000 jobs last month, far exceeding economist predictions. The unemployment rate broke out of a stubborn range of 7.8 per cent or above since September, falling to 7.7 per cent.
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US: Small business hiring edges up in February, says National Federation of Independent Business
US small business employment edged up in February, adding to signs of an improvement in labour market conditions. 'Labor market indicators improved, suggesting that there will be modestly better job creation and unemployment numbers. A continued rebound in the labour intensive housing industry will help a lot,' the National Federation of Independent Business said in a statement.
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A week-long Thai Elephant Day celebration coinciding with CITES CoP16 in Thailand
NThe Department of National Parks, Wildlife, and Plant Conservation is organizing a week-long Thai Elephant Day celebration from 9 to 15 March 2013, coinciding with the 16th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, known in short as CITES CoP16.
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Video of the Day:
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World Round-Up
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Beni Prasad Verma joins swelling list of VIPs given Z-plus security
New Delhi: More politicians are getting "Z-plus" security and the new entrants include Union Minister Beni Prasad Verma and BSP MP Brajesh Pathak months after the list of VIPs in this category was pruned during P Chidambaram's tenure as Home Minister.
Verma, the Steel minister, was provided with the enhanced security cover, after he claimed he was receiving threatening calls.
Asked whether the Z-plus security was justified for him, Verma cited his frequent visits to steel plants and mines in Naxal-hit Chattisgarh and receiving threatening calls. He claimed that he had been provided security since early 90's and was downgraded for some period during which he had started receiving telephone calls prompting the Government to upgrade his security.
"I am also seen as opponent of (Samajwadi Party Chief) Mulayam Singh Yadav and there are political rivalries," he said.
Chidambaram during his tenure as Home Minister had also ensured that the list of VIPs enjoying enhanced security is properly scrutinised. As a result, several politicians, retired bureaucrats and some journalists lost the security cover.
However, after Chidambaram's departure from the Home Ministry, politicians have again queued up for enhanced security cover. Some of them have been specific in asking for para-military commandos of their choice, officials associated with the developments said today.
The Home Ministry issued a directive for providing commando security cover to Verma following an "analysis" of various inputs suggesting that he faces a high security threat, they said.
The security cover to Verma, MP from Gonda, will be provided by a special commando squad of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), a paramilitary force under the Home Ministry.
Under Z-plus category, the VIP concerned is covered by at least 20 personnel at any given point of time besides guards at home. Verma will have a mobile security team which means that the commandos will move with him even when he leaves the borders of the national capital.
The CISF's VVIP security wing is known as Special Security Group (SSG). Brajesh Pathak, a BSP politician and Rajya Sabha MP, also enjoys Z-plus security cover which was withdrawn during the previous pruning exercise.
A total of 37 VIPs/VVIPs are under the CISF security cover at present and those under the 'Z plus' category of the central force include Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi
Singh, Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal, Punjab Revenue minister Bikram Jit Singh Majithia, UP politician Amar Singh (Z category in Delhi) and Chairman of the Anti-terrorist front MS Bitta. The national capital has the highest number of security personnel on VIP-guarding duties in the country after Punjab and more than a dozen policemen guard each of the 427 VIPs, who are being given security in Delhi.
According to the "Data on Police Organisations in India-2012", prepared by the Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPR&D), while there is one policeman in Delhi for every 253 common citizens, there are 5,183 policemen deployed for giving protection to 427 high-profile people in Delhi.
The protected persons include ministers, MPs, MLAs, judges and bureaucrats. The report reflects that for 14,842 protected people nationwide, 47,557 police personnel have been deputed for their security for more than six months at a stretch.
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Astrology
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Aries March 21 to April 19
The new moon in Pisces today will encourage creative thinking and diving into your imagination, but it will not be just to escape from whatever you have on your to-do list. Mars will move into Aries shortly after the new moon peaks, motivating you to take action on whatever it is you've imagined. The new moon is a time for renewal - new ideas, new goals, and new perspectives - and this will be the time not just to contemplate something new but to initiate it. Act now on what you want to create.
Taurus April 20 to May 20
Today's new moon in Pisces will make the next two weeks a ripe time for renewing or making new connections in your social circle. Say yes to an invitation to socialize with people who engage in activities you are interested in trying, even if it's a little out of your comfort zone. As a Taurus, you enjoy the sense of security and pleasure that the life-as-expected gives you, but if you need inspiration, let someone help you ease into something new today.
Gemini May 21 to June 20
 Today's new moon in Pisces will be a ripe time for envisioning new directions or changes you want to make to your career path. You first must think of it to do it, so what have you been dreaming of? It might be something you have dismissed as foolish or out of reach. Mars' entry into Aries shortly after the new moon peaks will encourage action, not just static contemplation. Reach out to others who have either done what you are contemplating or who might have useful ideas for you.
Cancer June 21 to July 22
The Pisces new moon today may have you thinking about a recurring longing to return to school, whether formally to pursue a degree or simply to expand your knowledge and perspective on a topic of special interest. The grand vision of it may seem overwhelming, but Mars' entry into Aries suggests that a simple action will be all it will take to start gaining momentum. The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step, and today will be ripe for taking it.
Leo July 23 to Aug. 22
 If you are in the midst of a personal and/or creative project, a huge boost of inspiration may come your way as the new moon in Pisces peaks today. Lock yourself in a room and let yourself get lost in the moment without trying to control how you express your creativity - the muse will speak. If you are not in the midst of a project, you may find by the end of the day that you will become so when inspiration strikes. If you feel stuck, go somewhere new for a walk or a drive to dislodge creative blocks.
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BlackBerry India MD Sunil Dutt resigns
NEW DELHI: BlackBerry, which was earlier called Research In Motion, announced that its India managing director Sunil Dutt has resigned. He leaves the company with immediate effect.
Varghese Thomas, corporate communications director at BlackBerry India, told TOI, "In the interim, Rick Costanzo, executive vice president for global sales, will take over the leadership of the team in India as (the company) starts the search for a new sales lead as soon as possible." Dutt's resignation comes at a time when the company is going through a critical phase following the launch of BlackBerry Z10, a new smartphone with which it hopes to win back market share from Apple's iPhone and Android devices.
"Sunil Dutt has left his position as managing director, BlackBerry India, with immediate effect. We wish Sunil well for the future. India is an extremely important market for BlackBerry and our aim is to continue to build on our recent momentum with the launch of BlackBerry 10," said Thomas.
BlackBerry 10 is the new operating system for the BlackBerry phones. The company has developed it with an aim to take on Google's Android and Apple's iOS that powers iPhone. In the last few years, BlackBerry's market share has declined sharply as consumers opt for full-touchscreen phones running on operating system developed by Apple and Google.
The number of units shipped by BlackBerry was so low in India in Q4, 2012 that the company did not even feature in the top five smartphone vendors in a report published by IDC.
BlackBerry launched Z10 in India on February 25. In January, Dutt told TOI that BlackBerry 10, which powers Z10, was akin to the new beginning for the company.
The device has received praise from technology reviewers and bloggers for its new user interface but the availability of apps remained a concern. In India, it has also been criticized for having a very high price of over Rs 43,000 while smartphones like Samsung Galaxy S III and HTC One X are available for around Rs 30,000.
On Friday BlackBerry CEO Thorsten Heins told Bloomberg that he was surprised by how well the Z10 sold in India after its debut. He claimed that five days' worth of inventory sold out in just two days. "I got an emergency call from my manager from India saying, 'I'm sold out after two days,'" said Heins. "So now we're scrambling to reload those channels."
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Passive Thai yoga, your way to a healthy life
It's great to have a workout routine, and even better if you religiously stick to it, but a routine, however innovative, can run you out of steam in no time.
By introducing some variations to your existing regime or taking up a completely different physical activity every fortnight you could make life interesting, and your workouts more worthwhile. We keep believing that by exercising hard we can tone our muscles, attain flexibility and maintain a healthy lifestyle, but lose hope when we can't get over the weight loss plateau, and wonder why our body has stopped responding to exercise.
For those into yoga, this might come as a natural progression as a few sessions of passive Thai yoga bodywork can set you on the right track to regaining your form and fitness. A 2500-year-old tradition of massage that originated in India during the time of the Buddha and later moved to Thailand with the spread of Buddhism, passive Thai yoga involves yoga-like stretches in addition to a whole range of massages and acupressure to enhance the fluidity of the body while ridding it of stress.
What is passive Thai yoga
Under the guidance of an expert therapist you are made to stretch and perform various yoga postures on a futon. But the most important aspect of passive Thai yoga is the blend of massage and acupressure to lighten the body, induce oxygen supply and release blockages. And like any Thai massage, this one too is performed over comfortable clothing and makes no use of creams and oils. Elaborating further, Mumbai-based yoga and massage therapist, Samanta Duggal says, "The therapist uses his hands, knees, legs and feet to move you into a series of stretches that aim at both relaxing and energising the body."
Benefits
A single session of Thai yoga can ease muscle tension, reduce stress levels, increase agility of the joints, not to mention, pump energy into the body. Says Samanta, "Thai massage can be used as preventive medication, and is also an alternative therapy for problems such as sciatica, spondylitis, arthritis, migraines, indigestion, and even menstrual dysfunction. Also called Thai yoga massage, it works on unblocking the meridians or energy channels in our body. In yoga, this is achieved through various asanas, whereas in Thai yoga massage, we do it with acupressure, joint manipulation and mild stretches."
Samanta, a practising yoga and massage therapist for a decade now, conducts workshops in Mumbai on passive Thai yoga in which she teaches both novices and enthusiasts the art of massage combined with some yogic asanas. Typically, a two hour session has you partner up with the therapist where you are taught to receive and give out a few valuable Thai massage techniques for relaxation and easing frazzled nerves in the areas of the body like neck, shoulders, back and feet. Before commencing the massage therapy, you are made to warm up with a few rounds of Suryanamaskar to get energy flowing into your body. Says she, "My classes are open to people at all levels of fitness, whether beginner or expert. The idea is to create somatic awareness of us holding tension in various pockets of our bodies and letting them go."
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Virgo Aug. 23 to Sept. 22
A new relationship or renewal of an existing relationship will be the theme for you with today's new moon in Pisces. If you feel let down in your expectations or hopes about an important relationship, consider what you want instead. Then, use the thrust of Mars' entry into Aries during this new moon to take action. Be kind and fair but also direct and clear about what you want from someone. That likely will initiate an entirely new level of connection with him or her.
Libra Sept. 23 to Oct. 22
You may feel inspired to make a change in your life that allows you to live and feel healthier. An overhaul to your physical, mental, or spiritual practices may be on the list with the inspiration available at this month's new moon in Pisces. Mars will enter Aries during this new moon period, so use that initiating power to act right away and get momentum going on your ideas. Ask a friend or a partner to participate in your plan to double your motivation.
Scorpio Oct. 23 to Nov. 21
 Your creativity and imagination have been running at high levels, but Mars' entry into Aries will inspire you to shift things into high gear and act on one of your ideas. Today's new moon in Pisces will emphasize a burst of creativity, but don't worry if you can't tell yet what it is that you're creating. Hold the intention in your mind and heart, and then take an action that feels intuitively right to you. It'll start to take shape as you go.
Sagittarius Nov. 22 to Dec. 21
Today's new moon may prompt you to think about the kind of supportive environment you need to thrive and whether your home life gives you that kind of support. In Pisces, the new moon is a time to envision what could be. Allow yourself to think about your ideal home situation so that you know what changes you might make to get what you want. Mars' entry into Aries just after the new moon peaks will lend you motivation to daydream and to act on what you think up over the next two weeks.
Capricorn Dec. 22 to Jan. 19
 A brainstorming session might be very productive today as the new moon in Pisces will provide a boost to creativity, inspiration, and the desire to adopt a fresh perspective. You may seek out mental stimulation as if you just can't get enough, which may translate to an active mind or an active body caught up in a very busy day. Mars will enter Aries just after the new moon peaks, which may shift your motivation and focus to home projects.
Aquarius Jan. 20 to Feb. 18
 Today's new moon influence may prompt you to examine your monthly budget. While you might think about making cuts to your spending, the new moon will be in expansive and imaginative Pisces, so you might want to think about creative ways to increase your income. Looking for a variety of ways to boost your finances might also inspire you, and with Mars entering Aries just after the peak of the new moon, the ideas you brainstorm might inspire you to act on one or more of them right away.
Pisces Feb. 19 to March 20
You might have focused on an important aspect of yourself as the planets have piled up in Pisces over the past month. Today the new moon in Pisces, paired with Mars entering Aries, may prompt you to act on something you have wanted to do for yourself. Consider this action as the first step on the path to an investment in yourself. Investments require you to contribute something of value to create something more valuable. You are your best investment.
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Moral Story
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SMS
“The greatest results in life are usually attained by simple means and the exercise of ordinary qualities. These may for the most part be summed in these two: common-sense and perseverance..”
LOVE & RELATIONSHIPS
Good relationships are like trees
They demand attention & care in the beginning
but once they blossoms
they provide U shade in all situations of life .
LEADERSHIP & SUCCESS
“I don’t know what your destiny will be, but one thing I know; the only ones among you who will be really happy are those who
will have sought and found how to serve.”
A: Did you hear that a baby was fed on elephant's
milk and gained twenty pounds in a week.
B: That's impossible. Whose baby?
A: An elephant's.
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Gauhati University's foreign languages dept written off
GUWAHATI: The department of foreign languages at Gauhati University is facing a severe deficit of facilities due to lack of a concrete and visionary approach on the part of the administration.
With mushrooming of various institutes imparting certified courses in foreign languages like French, Spanish, Russian and others, the department is also seeing a slump in enrolment of students besides facing difficulty in recruiting adequate faculty members. Add to this the growing notion that foreign languages should be learnt in adjunct to one main course of study as pursuing a language does not provide an edge in the competitive world.
"The department of foreign languages is the most neglected department of the university. This can be attributed to the fact that there is a common perception that foreign language courses are not important in the educational curriculum. Because of this, there is a lack of concrete decision-making and policies at the administrative level," said Kandarpa Das, head of foreign languages department.
Instead of developing the department to meet the demands of a new-age educational approach the varsity is using the lack of students and teachers as an excuse to let it wallow in this condition.
When the department of foreign languages was opened way back in 1968, it was the first of its kind in the region. It started off with offering a one-year certificate course in Russian. At present, according to the university website, the department offers undergraduate as well as post-graduate courses. At the undergraduate level, the department offers a self-financed intensive course in French (three years). At the post-graduate level, there's a PhD programme, a postgraduate certificate in French (one year), and a PG diploma in French (one year).
Das also said that unlike the metro cities where there is a demand for foreign languages, there is no such interest in languages here. "At present, we have one faculty member for French and one for Russian. There is a need to increase the classroom capacity. There are only 20 students enrolled in the French courses. At present, there are 12 PhD scholars, and till now we have only 10 PhD holders. There is no plans to develop the courses or the department," said Das.
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Olympic medallist Vijender Singh hit by heroin ring link charges
CHANDIGARH/NEW DELHI: Olympic medalist Vijender Singh got a nasty punch on Friday after being linked to a Rs 130 crore heroin haul and cops said the suspects included his friend and sparring partner, national level boxer Ram Singh, who was detained and interrogated by Punjab police.
The Beijing bronze medal-winning boxer immediately denied any links with suspected druglord Anoop Singh Kahlon, accused of stashing 26kg of heroin in an apartment in Zirakpur, on the outskirts of Chandigarh. Cops raided the apartment after getting information from Kahlon, who was arrested on March 3. He told cops that he knew the champion and Ram Singh.
Singh was detained and questioned by the police on Friday after it was found he drove Vijender's Ford Endeavour to Kahlon's Zirakpur apartment, where the keys to the boxer's SUV were found. The Endeavour is registered in Vijender's wife's name.
In all, 26kg of heroin was recovered in two consignments, including 16 kg in the flat belonging to the Canadian NRI and drug kingpin Kahlon late on Thursday. Another 10kg of drugs was found in a Hyundai Accent, belonging to Kahlon, parked outside the flat. Kahlon and his accomplice Rocky were arrested by the police from neighbouring Fatehgarh Sahib district on March 3 on drug trafficking charges.
"We've not yet established the role of either Vijender or Ram Singh," said senior superintendent of police Hardyal Singh in Fatehgarh. "But we can confirm that both Vijender and Ram knew Kahlon and his accomplice, Rocky. We have evidence of this, but we cannot disclose this now," he added.
Ludhiana DIG MH Farooqui told reporters, "Many sportspersons have figured in drug rackets in the past. In this racket, too, some sportspersons are involved. Even Kahlon is a former shot putter." Vijender, a DSP rank officer with Haryana police, denied links with Kahlon. "I do not know the person in question and I am not involved with him in anyway. I may have met him but don't know him personally or directly."
The 27-year-old middleweight boxer said he had lent his SUV to Ram Singh, who shares his room at the National Institute of Sports (NIS) in Patiala. Ram Singh is a Punjab police head constable.
"My name is unnecessarily being dragged in this drug smuggling scandal," Vijender said. "TV channels are talking about the car link but nothing was recovered from it. I was in Mumbai for two days when the raid took place and my wife Archana had dropped me at the Chandigarh airport on Tuesday. The car is registered in her name and sometimes my friends in boxing circles use it when I am away," Vijender told TOI on Friday.
Asked why his SUV was parked outside the flat in Zirakpur, Vijender said, "Ram Singh is a good friend and helps me in training. He took the keys in my absence. I tried calling him after learning about all this but his phone was switched off. I meet a lot of people who can claim to know me. I have never done anything wrong. I am ready for an investigation. I am sure the truth will come out," he said.
Four people including Kahlon have been arrested so far. SSP Hardyal did not confirm if there was recovery of drug from Vijender's SUV. However, in separate recoveries, SSP Hardyal said cash worth Rs 1 crore, Rs 8.7 lakh, and drugs used in rave parties were recovered. "These are separate recoveries. The fresh drugs are those used by celebrities in parties," he said.
When Vijender, who gave India its first Olympic medal in boxing in 2008, was asked if all this would affect his training, he said, "There will be slight distraction but then such is life, there are ups and downs." Late on Friday, fresh drug recoveries and two more arrests took place: Two Mohali-based men, Manpreet Singh and Gabbar Singh, were arrested with Rs 1 crore cash and 20 kg of chemicals and 2 kg heroin on them. These raids follow Kahlon's questioning.
The police said Jagdish Bhola, a former Punjab Police cop and a wrestler, is the kingpin of the entire racket. There is a Delhi connection as well, as many of the drugs in fresh recoveries were meant for rave parties.
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Mere Dad Ki Maruti
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Mere Dad Ki Maruti
Movie Name : Mere Dad Ki Maruti
Release Date : 15 March 2013
Genre : Drama
Producer : Ashish Patil
Director : Ashima Chibber
Music Director : Sachin Gupta
Cast : Saqib Saleem, Rhea Chakraborty, Ram Kapoor, Prabal Panjabi, Ravi Kishan.
Synopsis:
Y-Films are ready with their latest release Mere Dad Ki Maruti, which stars Saqib Saleem and Rhea Chakraborthy, with Ram Kapoor as the Dad. It looks to be a fun caper during the wedding season in Chandigarh where the Maruti goes missing and it is up to Saleem to get it back. The album is expected to be the baap of all music albums, with Sachin Gupta at the helm and Panjabi MC making a guest appearance with his song ‘Haay’. The album is unabashedly entertaining and there’s not a dull moment throughout these tracks. Sachin Gupta has created an album that works with the young-theme and managed to do something new with the stock Bhangra numbers that we often here.
I was immediately excited from the initial trailer to hear the full, Punjabiyan Di Battery, and it’s a funky track that launches you on the dance floor from the opening tumbhi strands. Honey Singh chimes in with his safer rap verses, and then the real star of the show emerges – Mika. This is a much better song where Mika can show off his vocal prowess and some of the usual swagger. It’s a real feat to have Singh and Mika on the same track and they don’t sound like they are trying to outdo each other too much. The arrangements are fabulous, and the tempo keeps the party going right until the bridge where it speeds up. Kumaar’s lyrics are quirky and celebrate all that Punjabi spirit which is complemented by Mika and Honey Singh’s vocals. Keep this on your most played list.
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the names of all continents both start and end with the same letter.
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" INSPIRING STORY "
Face difficulties positively
This parable is told of a farmer who owned an old mule. The mule fell into the farmer’s well. The farmer heard the mule praying or whatever mules do when they fall into wells.
After carefully assessing the situation, the farmer sympathized with the mule, but decided that neither the mule nor the well was worth the trouble of saving.
Instead, he called his neighbors together, told them what had happened, and enlisted them to help haul dirt to bury the old mule in the well and put him out of his misery.
Initially the old mule was hysterical! But as the farmer and his neighbors continued shoveling and the dirt hit his back, a thought struck him.
It suddenly dawned on him that every time a shovel load of dirt landed on his back, HE WOULD SHAKE IT OFF AND STEP UP!
This he did, blow after blow. “Shake it off and step up…shake it off and step up…shake it off and step up!” He repeated to encourage himself.
No matter how painful the blows, or how distressing the situation seemed, the old mule fought panic and just kept right on SHAKING IT OFF AND STEPPING UP!
It wasn’t long before the old mule, battered and exhausted, stepped triumphantly over the wall of that well!
What seemed like it would bury him actually helped him . . . all because of the manner in which he handled his adversity.
THAT’S LIFE! If we face our problems and respond to them positively, and refuse to give in to panic, bitterness, or self-pity.
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“There are two types of people who will tell you that you cannot make a difference in this world: Those who are afraid to try and those who are afraid you will succeed ”
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