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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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Cuban dissident blogger free to leave, starts world tour
Cuban dissident blogger Yoani Sanchez set off on a three-month, dozen-nation world tour Sunday, after a new law eliminated the exit permit that had been required of islanders for five decades and was denied to her around 20 times in recent years. Ted Henken, a professor of Latin American studies at New York's Baruch College who studies social media and civil society in Cuba, said letting prominent dissidents travel is a 'calculated risk'. 'The fact that Yoani is now flying to ... Brazil is going to be something that is written about as a sign of something changing,' Henken said. 'And that's positive.'
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European Union eases sanctions on Zimbabwe
The European Union is easing sanctions against Zimbabwe in light of an agreement by the country's political parties on a draft constitution and the announcement of a referendum on it. Foreign ministers from the 27 EU countries meeting Monday in Brussels said that, 'recognizing the significance of these advances,' the EU was immediately suspending the travel ban it had imposed on six members of the government. It also removed sanctions from 21 other people and one company.
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German economy shows growth
German's central bank says the country's economy is on track to avoid a recession as it shows signs of growth in the first three months of the year. The Bundesbank says in its monthly report out Monday that increasing business optimism and easing fears about the government debt crisis among the 17 European Union euro countries mean business may become more willing to invest and expand. That means that 'a plus in total economic production can be expected for the first quarter of 2013'.
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India: The Kumbh Mela experience improves well-being research shows
Research at the Kumbh Mela found that the event 'actually increases peoples' mental and physical well-being', showing the 'importance of networks and groups in sustaining our health'. The pilgrims, the study says, reported better well-being after the Mela compared to a sample of people who did not attend it.
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World Round-Up
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President stresses women empowerment
Gender disparity in the country can be tackled only through proactive intervention in areas such as economic empowerment of women, building of adequate social and physical infrastructure and improving women’s role in governance, said President Pranab Mukherjee on Monday.
Presenting the Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development for 2011 to Ela Ramesh Bhatt of Self Employed Women’s Association (SEWA) at Rashtrapati Bhavan here, Mr. Mukherjee said empowerment of women was the key to not only meeting the objective of gender equality but also to eliciting full participation in nation-building.
Congratulating Ms. Ela Bhatt, the President said her life and work was reflective of the philosophy and ideals espoused by the late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. The prize bestowed upon Ms. Bhatt “is a tribute to her unflinching zeal towards the betterment of women in society and progress of humanity”.
Expressing hope that Ms. Bhatt’s example would spur many more initiatives in the country and elsewhere, the President said there was a need to strengthen the systems and processes that facilitated women to take control and claim ownership of their lives.
“Rural backwardness can be addressed only through concerted efforts to create equality in access and unearth the potentialities hidden in people. Ms. Bhatt’s work has underscored this approach to socio-economic upliftment,” he said. “Women comprise 48.5 per cent of our total population. Though the overall sex ratio has increased by 7 points during the decade 2001 to 2011, the ratio of 940 females per 1,000 male population in 2011 is [a] disappointing figure and reflects the distance that remains in achieving true equality.”
The President said that as poor women were often incapacitated to act individually, social mobilisation for their economic redemption was a critical necessity. “Participatory institution building through self-help groups has been found to be one of the most effective tools for the empowerment of women in developing countries. As on 31st March 2012, there were around 63 lakh all-women self-help groups in India that had combined bank savings of more than Rs. 5,100 crore. The number of such self-help groups is increasing, with a growth rate of 9.2, 14.8 and 3.3 per cent during 2009-10, 2010-11 and 2011-12 respectively,” he pointed out.
Story of leadership
Speaking on the occasion, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said the government’s own efforts at empowerment would also benefit from studying the working of SEWA. “This is particularly true, for example, for the National Rural Livelihood Mission, which seeks to organise the members of nearly 7 crore households, including women, across 6 lakh villages into self-help groups,” he said.
Praising Ms. Bhatt’s efforts, Dr. Singh said: “The story of Ela Ben and SEWA is not just a story of organising poor women for economic empowerment. It is also the story of women’s rights and protection of women. It is the story of holistic empowerment of the poor, for ensuring them equality and rights guaranteed under the Constitution, for ensuring timely delivery of entitlements and for countering all forms of discrimination. Above all, it is a story of leadership.”
Dr. Singh expressed hope that Parliament would “urgently” pass amendments to strengthen criminal laws dealing with sexual offences against women. “It is indeed a matter of shame that, notwithstanding the gains we have made, incidents of violence and sexual offences against women are on the increase.”
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Astrology
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Aries March 21 to April 19
Expect plenty of creative and spiritual drive today. The Sun and Neptune will embrace in the area of your chart that rules imagination and devotion. Not only will you believe that everything is possible, but you'll have an opportunity to test your conviction as you move forward on a behind-the-scenes project that may require blind faith. Since your compassion will be aroused now, you may also elect to work on a charitable project.
Taurus April 20 to May 20
You may receive a dose of inspiration from a pal today that fuels you to continue toward the attainment of a personal goal. This friend will have a positive attitude that is downright contagious - and will be exactly what you need. You might also be involved in a humanitarian effort that will help ease the suffering of a large group of people now. Don't doubt for one minute that you will make an incredible difference. You will.
Gemini May 21 to June 20
 Today you might be in the spotlight for a significant achievement. The Sun and Neptune will embrace at the top of your chart, offering an opportunity for a dream to come true in your professional world. You may receive news of an honor, award, or a promotion. You may also feel incredibly uplifted today by your boss. He or she will make it clear that VIPs have nothing but complete faith in your talent and potential.
Cancer June 21 to July 22
A trip overseas might be on the horizon. If you decide to schedule one, it's likely to include travel near or on water - possibly even a cruise to an exotic locale. Now, more than ever, you may yearn to take that dream vacation you've put off due to various life circumstances. Ask yourself if you really need to delay this any longer. If not, today will be a perfect time to take inspired action and get packing!
Leo July 23 to Aug. 22
 Although you may feel quite positive about a potential investment opportunity, be sure that you're not viewing it through rose-colored glasses. Obtain all the facts and be sure to practice due diligence before you hand over your money to any fund. You may be totally correct in your optimism, but at the same time, you don't want to look back at this decision and feel vulnerable about the outcome because you didn't make an informed decision.
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Maruti Suzuki India bets big on Gujarat wheels
Labour problems in Haryana are forcing major automakers, including Hero MotoCorp and Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India (HMSI), to follow in the footsteps of leading carmaker Maruti Suzuki India Ltd (MSIL) to invest in Gujarat for expansion.
MSIL has already put the Gujarat plant on fast track with an investment of Rs 4,000 crore. The company will start construction at Bechraji in Mehsana district of north Gujarat next month and is expected to start production by mid 2015.
The company also purchased land at a second location in Gujarat for its fourth factory with a capacity of about 750,000 units a year which will be operational by 2017. The Gurgaon and Manesar factories in Haryana have been producing 17.5 lakh cars per annum.
FROM THE MAGAZINE: India Inc's attitude towards contract workers changing
MSIL chairman R.C. Bhargava told MAIL TODAY: "One of the main advantages is the proximity to the port. We would be using the port to expand our exports to the Middle East. It will also help expand exports to Europe.
We have land at two locations and in future it would be just like the Gurgaon and Manesar plants. In the first phase, we expect the capacity to be up to 250,000 units."
Even while Bhargava did not mention the labour problem as the reason for moving out of Haryana, according to reports, the company is already hiring people from Gujarat and other places outside Haryana.
Hero MotoCorp, which is also facing labour problems at its plant, has already signed an agreement for its fifth plant in Gujarat with a total capacity of 1.2 million units a year.
The company plans to invest Rs 1,100 crore in the venture. Hero MotoCorp has already acquired 130 acres out of the 250 acres proposed for the plant.
The land acquisition process, which was delayed due to the Assembly elections, is back on track and the company expects to complete the work on the factory ahead of the deadline.
HMSI is in talks with the Gujarat government for buying land at two locations which are close to the port. "Gujarat has become a preferred destination for many auto companies.
"We are exploring opportunities here but we cannot say anything at the moment," HMSI president and chief executive officer Keita Muramatsu had said in an earlier interaction.
"After the violence at one of the units at Manesar, the problems are simmering again in this belt," D.S. Rawat, secretary general, Assocham said.
Labour unions, patronised by various political parties, are difficult to handle and strikes are frequent in the area.
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How to use meditation for pain relief?
With its origins in ancient religious and spiritual traditions, meditation is a widely used mind-body practice used even today, to complement medical procedures and treatments.
Although, used mostly for relaxation and stress reduction, meditation-based therapy is increasingly offered in medical centers and clinics today to manage pain and reduce anxiety prior to surgeries. Surprised? Recent studies have shown that frequent practice of meditation can lead to significant control of pain. Read on to know how meditation alters your pain perception and quells pain even better than some of the most powerful drugs.
Meditation and common forms
The term meditation refers to a set of techniques wherein a person minimizes the activity of the mind without altering the level of alertness. Broadly, the technique has been categorized under five basic categories:
Mantra meditation
This comprises the Transcendental Meditation techniques, Clinically Standardized Meditation and Relaxation Response. In this process, by repeatedly using a sound or phrase, a person focuses to achieve a state of perfect consciousness.
Mindfulness meditation
This form of meditation involves focusing on what you experience while performing the technique like the very flow of your breath.
Yoga
Here, a person attempts to achieve a state of calmness by combining bodily postures with controlled breathing. Tai-Chi - A form of Chinese martial arts, the technique is performed using self-paced series of movements in a slow-graceful manner along with deep breathing. Qi gong - This involves a combination of meditation, breathing exercise, relaxation and physical movements.
Meditation and pain management: In the past, meditation has been explored extensively for its effects on stress reduction and other similar clinical functions. However, researchers have now identified another significant health benefit of the technique that suggests that it is actually possible to overcome debilitating pain with the help of meditation. What's more, some of these studies have also suggested that the pain-relieving effects of meditation might be even more effective than morphine.
Back in April, 2011, a study by the researchers at the Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center indicated that a person can attain at least 40 per ent decrease in pain intensity and 57 per cent in pain unpleasantness merely by practicing these techniques regularly. This decrease in pain was found to be much higher than with morphine or other pain-relieving drugs. With the help of magnetic resonance imaging, the brain activity of study participants after meditation demonstrated how the technique increased the activity of certain areas which are responsible for pain perception.
Despite such findings, scientists were unable to ascertain the actual mechanism of this phenomenon until now. According to a recent research published at the Brain Research Bulletin, investigators from Harvard, MIT and Massachusetts General Hospital have identified a possible answer. They suggested that the explanation probably lies in alpha waves manipulation in the brain.
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Virgo Aug. 23 to Sept. 22
Your relationship with someone close may leave you feeling as if you're walking on air. You might forge an alliance in business, and if so, this may be a person you put on a pedestal. Remember that your new partner is only human and quite capable of being flawed. If you go into this arrangement with your eyes open, you won't feel disappointed if any obstacle presents itself down the road. Still, it looks like an excellent proposition. Consider it carefully.
Libra Sept. 23 to Oct. 22
If you find it difficult to concentrate on any detail oriented work assignment today, consider putting it on the shelf. Instead, work on something that will allow your imagination to flow. The Sun and Neptune will connect, opening up your creative spirit but also temporarily shutting down your ability to focus on the minutiae required in certain projects. Alternatively, you may extend compassion to a co-worker if you discover that he or she is going through a difficult time. You'll want to help.
Scorpio Oct. 23 to Nov. 21
 Love is in the air! If you're single it's possible that you'll meet someone who has a hypnotic effect on you. You'll notice a strong spiritual connection and might even feel as if you've met a soul mate. Either way, you'll want to explore the romantic potential between you and this new flame because there is every indication that it'll be phenomenal. If attached, you and your new partner may enjoy a romantic midweek date night together. Your heart will be open.
Sagittarius Nov. 22 to Dec. 21
Expect plenty of domestic tranquility today, thanks to a gorgeous alignment between the Sun and Neptune in your home and family sector. Together, these planets will illuminate everything peaceful about your environment, and as a result, you'll truly feel as if your home is your sanctuary now. Also, there will be exceptional harmony between you and a relative. You'll support one another and will feel a stronger sense of unconditional love.
Capricorn Dec. 22 to Jan. 19
 If you're in a creative writing field, you'll have an exceptionally productive day. Your imagination and mind will work beautifully together to create written work that will be nothing less than inspiring. Also, you may hear positive news from a sibling that has to do with one of his or her dreams coming true. You'll feel thrilled for your brother or sister, and this news may also bode well for you. Regardless, you'll relish in your sibling's success.
Aquarius Jan. 20 to Feb. 18
 If you feel as if money has been slipping through your fingers, today you might have a breakthrough in at least identifying where the trouble is. You might, for example, not realize that an innocent expense is taking away more funds than you initially realized. There might be more than one culprit, and now will be a good time to face whatever holes there might be in your budget. You'll fix them easily once you're aware.
Pisces Feb. 19 to March 20
You might feel extra sensitive, and it'll be easy for others to see your true feelings. The Sun and Neptune will link up in Pisces, offering an opportunity for you to exude considerable warmth and empathy to someone in need. This will be a good time to express unconditional love in its truest form. Your heart will be in the right place and your ability to make a true difference to someone in need will not go unrewarded.
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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.”
A Funny husband was returning home after cremating his wife.
He sees heavy lightning and thunderstorm in the sky.
Funny Husband thinks: She must have reached there.
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Assam HSLC, HS exams begin in state
GUWAHATI: The High School Leaving Certificate (HSLC) exam, Assam High Madrassa (AHM) exam and Higher Secondary exam began in the state on Monday. Over 3,84,705 candidates of HSLC/AHM and 2.37 lakh candidates of HS from all over state appeared in the exam under 824 centres. Moreover, from this year, Secondary Education Board of Assam (Seba) has introduced the optical mark recognition attendance sheet which would be sent to the board by respective centres on a daily basis.
Chairman of Seba Shantikam Hazarika said, "Computerized attendance sheets have been introduced from this year to make the process smooth. Previously, the centres used to send us the attendance sheet at the end of all the exams, which created a lot of problems for us. From this year, the OMR attendance sheets have to be sent by the centres to the board daily."
The total number of regular and private candidates appearing for the HSLC exam is 3,74,964 and 9,741 candidates are appearing for high madrassa exam. "We are happy that the first exam passed off peacefully. Moreover, there are video recording facilities at more than 50 sensitive and hypersensitive centres. The centres will also sent the exam copies direct to the evaluation zones we have given them secret numbers," said the controller of Seba Nayan Jyoti Sarmah.
Principal and centre in-charge of Cotton Collegiate School, Utpala Goswami, said, "In our centre, we have 138 students appearing for the HSLC exams. In higher secondary, a total of 393 students from all three streams are appearing from our centre and students from six other schools are appearing from our centre."
Deepika Devi, the principal of Ulubari Higher Secondary School, said, "Altogether 605 students have appeared from our centre in HSLC and 273 students of HS took their exam from here. Under our centre, a total of 4 junior colleges and schools are there and in HSLC there are 13 other schools. As the number of candidates is more, we took Government School, Rajghar, as another venue."
"The paper was very easy and I am expecting letter marks in Assamese," said Jitul Sharma of Cotton Collegiate, who appeared in the HSLC exam.
Chairman of Assam Higher Secondary Education Council (AHSEC), Moshin Ali, said, "A total 1,98,422 candidates are appearing from the arts stream, 21,493 from science stream and 15,759 candidates from commerce. There are total 768 centres all over the state and in Kamrup (metro) there are 35 centres. This time, we have included one section of grammar comprising 20 marks. For students of food poisoning, we have made arrangements of sick beds in Dimoria College and there are total of 11 students and one from Molaibari College."
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Dhoni and Clarke as different as chalk and cheese
While Michael Clarke is imaginative and has led from the front, MS Dhoni seems clueless and defensive in Tests. TOI deconstructs the leadership styles of the two skippers.
MS Dhoni
UPSIDE: A calm and collected approach to the game has earned him the tag of 'Captain Cool', a sobriquet he richly deserves. In a potentially volatile series against the aggressive Aussies, Dhoni's unflustered demeanour could be an asset as he leads a side that can at best be described as "work in progress".
Beneath his disarming smile lies a tough-as-nails character, who is known to play the game hard. He asks for no quarter and concedes none, reflecting a new-age mantra that puts a premium on getting the job done.
He may have slipped down the popularity charts following three humiliating series losses, including the one against England at home, but remains a fearless competitor on the field who believes in leading from the front.
Having played a significant role in India's rise to No 1 in Test rankings, Dhoni knows what it takes to get there and remains the best bet to inspire the young brigade and take them to the next level even as India eye a revival in fortunes.
DOWNSIDE: In the longer format which often resembles a cat-and-mouse game, Dhoni has frequently let things drift. His inability to think out-of-the-box raises questions about his tactical acumen and has hurt the team's cause.
His intuitive, hands-off style of captaincy is better suited to shorter formats which encourage calculated risk-taking. In Tests, where strategising is key to winning key battles, Dhoni's aloofness on the field has often left youngsters, especially bowlers, looking a trifle lost when rivals are on top.
Michael Clarke
UPSIDE: The Australian captain, who sets very high standards for himself, believes in leading by example. His mission statement - to win every game - soon after taking over the reins from Ponting in 2011, is reflected in Australia's strong revival amidst a cumbersome rebuilding process. Captaincy seems to have brought out the best in Clarke, who made a whopping 1595 runs in 11 Tests in 2012.
Australia won eight Tests, drew three and lost just one. The fact that he is not only his side's best batsman, but also their best player of spin bowling, adds to his stature.
DOWNSIDE: Fiercely competitive and overtly ambitious, the Australian captain can be very demanding. He sets very high standards for himself on the field and expects his players to measure up to them. His go-for-glory approach backfired spectacularly against South Africa, in Cape Town (2011), when the Aussies were bowled out for 47 -- their fourth-lowest total and lost the Test.
An erstwhile member of the 'Ugly Aussie' brigade and Australian cricket's "glamour boy", Clarke, is under pressure to not only shake off that image, but also build one a legacy as a leader along the lines of his immediate predecessors - Ricky Ponting, Steve Waugh and Mark Taylor.
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Zila Ghaziabad
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Zila Ghaziabad
Movie Name : Zila Ghaziabad
Release Date : February 22, 2013
Genre : Action, Thriller
Producer : Vinod Bachan, Showman International
Director : Anand Kumar
Music Director : Pritam
Cast : Sanjay Dutt, Arshad Warsi, Vivek Oberoi, Minissha Lamba, Ravi Kishan, Paresh Rawal, Sunil Grover
Synopsis:
Along with Dutt, the cast of Zila Ghaziabad includes leading actors like Arshad Warsi,Vivek Oberoi, Paresh Rawal, Minissha Lamba, Geeta Basra, Charmi Kaur, Ravi Kishan, Ashutosh Rana, Divya Dutta, Zarina Wahav and Sunil Grover.
The movie is a hard hitting action thriller based on the political and underworld scenario of GHAZIABAD and is being directed by Anand Kumar.
The story is based on the true story of the gang war between two powerful rival groups of Gujjar, which took place in the 90s in Ghaziabad. One led by Satbir Gujjar (Vivek Oberoi) and the other led by Mahender Fauji Bainsla Gujjar(Arshad Warsi), with an police officer Pritam Singh (Sanjay Dutt) in between all of this
Zila Ghaziabad will release on 22nd February, 2013.
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Most lipsticks contain fish scales.
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" INSPIRING STORY "
Five More Minutes
While at the park one day, a woman sat down next to a man on a bench near a playground. “That’s my son over there,” she said, pointing to a little boy in a red sweater who was gliding down the slide.
“He’s a fine looking boy” the man said. “That’s my daughter on the bike in the white dress.”
Then, looking at his watch, he called to his daughter. “What do you say we go, Melissa?” Melissa pleaded, “Just five more minutes, Dad. Please? Just five more minutes.”
The man nodded and Melissa continued to ride her bike to her heart’s content. Minutes passed and the father stood and called again to his daughter. “Time to go now?”
Again Melissa pleaded, “Five more minutes, Dad. Just five more minutes.” The man smiled and said, “OK.” “My, you certainly are a patient father,” the woman responded.
The man smiled and then said, “Her older brother Tommy was killed by a drunk driver last year while he was riding his bike near here. I never spent much time with Tommy and now I’d give anything for just five more minutes with him.
I’ve vowed not to make the same mistake with Melissa. She thinks she has five more minutes to ride her bike. The truth is, I get Five more minutes to watch her play.”
Moral: Life is all about making priorities, and family is one and only priority on top of all other, so spend all time you can with loved ones.
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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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