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“In the end, it's not going to matter how many breaths you took, but how many moments took your breath away”
| VBA's Positive News |
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New Zealand telecoms plan $60m fiber-optic cable
Three New Zealand telecommunications companies say they plan to jointly build a new $60 million fibre-optic cable connecting New Zealand with Australia. Telecom, Vodafone, and Telstra announced Tuesday they hope to complete the undersea Internet-powering cable by the end of next year. The companies say it will improve the country's notoriously slow Internet speed and boost the economy.
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German employment reaches highest level since reunification
German employment is at its highest level since reunification more than 20 years ago, the Statistics Office said on Tuesday, boosting hopes that domestic demand will offset weaker exports in Europe's largest economy.
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German investor optimism up, easing recession fear
Investor optimism about the German economy rose in February, according to a closely watched survey, raising hopes that the country may avoid a recession. The ZEW institute's index, released Tuesday, rose to 48.2 points from 31.5 in January. It was the third monthly increase in a row and above the 36 points expected by market analysts.
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US lawmakers visit Cuba in effort to improve relations
A delegation of American lawmakers led by Vermont Senator Patrick Leahy arrived in Cuba on Monday. The trip, which included five Senators, was the first to the Communist-run island by high-level US politicians since President Barack Obama's re-election in November. Leahy said the aim of the trip is to work toward better relations between the two countries. He said many Americans agree US policy in place for decades has become anachronistic.
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World Round-Up
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Britain's Cameron to voice regret for Jallianwala Bagh massacre
David Cameron will on Wednesday become the first serving prime minister to voice regret about one of the British Empire's bloodiest episodes in India and will lay a wreath at Amritsar, scene of a notorious massacre of unarmed civilians.
The 1919 slaughter, known in India as the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, was described by Mahatma Gandhi, the father of the Indian independence movement, as having shaken the foundations of the British Empire.
A group of soldiers opened fire on an unarmed crowd without warning in the northern Indian city after a period of unrest, killing hundreds in cold blood. Cameron's visit and expression of regret for what happened will stop short of an apology - but will make it clear he considers the episode a stain on Britain's history that should be acknowledged.
The gesture, coming on the third and final day of a visit to India aimed at drumming up trade and investment, is likely to be seen as an attempt to improve relations with Britain's former colonial possession and to court around 1.5 million British voters of Indian origin ahead of a 2015 election.
Before his visit, Cameron said there were ties of history between the two countries, "both the good and the bad". "In Amritsar, I want to take the opportunity to pay my respects at Jallianwala Bagh," he said, referring to the site of the massacre.
Cameron is expected to visit Amritsar's Golden Temple, a place of pilgrimage for Sikhs, and to inscribe his thoughts about the killings in the visitor book.
When asked to comment on Britain's colonial past, he said: "I would argue it's a strength, not a weakness. Of course there are sensitive issues, sensitive events, but actually the fact that Britain and India have this history, have a shared culture and a shared language, I think, is a positive."
The British report into the Amritsar massacre at the time said 379 people had been killed and 1,200 wounded. But a separate inquiry commissioned by the Indian pro-independence movement said around 1,000 people had been killed.
Brigadier-General Reginald Dyer, the man who gave the order to fire, explained his decision by saying he felt it was necessary to "teach a moral lesson to the Punjab".
Some in Britain hailed him "as the man who saved India", but others condemned him. India became independent in 1947. Many historians consider the massacre a turning point that undermined British rule of India.
It was, they say, one of the moments that caused Gandhi and the pro-independence Indian National Congress movement to lose trust in the British, inspiring them to embark on a path of civil disobedience.
"Monstrous event"
Other British politicians and dignitaries - though no serving prime minister - have expressed regret about the incident before. In 1920, Winston Churchill, then the secretary of state for war, called the Amritsar massacre "a monstrous event", saying it was "not the British way of doing business".
On a visit to Amritsar in 1997, Queen Elizabeth called it a distressing episode, but said history could not be rewritten. However, her husband, Prince Philip, courted controversy during the visit when he questioned the higher Indian death toll.
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Astrology
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Aries March 21 to April 19
The Sun and three planets are concentrated in your astrological sector of nighttime and behind-the-scenes activities now. You likely will work odd hours and experience periods of sleeplessness. The positive side of this cosmic line-up is that you may be more intuitive now and have a very active dream life. Keep a journal by your bedside to write down inspiring thoughts and fresh ideas provided to you by the cosmos on awakening.
Taurus April 20 to May 20
Expansive Jupiter in Gemini will activate your planetary fields of money, investments, and other forms of personal resources. The more creative options available to you in your daily work, the greater your cash flow will be now. You likely will realize more than one source of income, as well as emotional support and encouragement from friends. Research reinvestment opportunities for financial returns, as the stars suggest this will be a good way to grow profits.
Gemini May 21 to June 20
 Two major cosmic themes may be activated during your workday, or where you volunteer, or in other public activities. The first may be a rewarding sense that you and those around you are engaged in events that express your highest humanitarian values and ideals. The second might be confusing because of mixed messages from management or a sense that someone in your own group may be treated unfairly. You will not take the lead in any of these discussions but base your actions on your employer's policies.
Cancer June 21 to July 22
Your moon ruler in Cancer today will enhance your intuition and sensitivities. You will be inspired to nurture others and be kind to yourself. You may make progress in one of your favorite self-development projects that involves a physical, intellectual, or spiritual personal goal. You'll also make an important decision about one of your many creative outlets that may have been a hobby but now seems more like hard work. If making music is involved, the practice schedules may need to be downsized.
Leo July 23 to Aug. 22
 Today you can benefit from expanding your intellectual and spiritual horizons. You might explore higher education studies or visit with members of a culture that is new to you. You might also enroll in a foreign language class or make reservations for a distant vacation. The positive instructions from a spiritual leader that lives far from you might be transmitted through a faith community. Opportunities for this kind of learning can also come through reading the works of a spiritual leader.
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Premji follows Buffett, Gates to become first Indian to sign Giving Pledge
Wipro’s Azim Premji is following in the footsteps of Warren Buffet and Bill Gates to become the first Indian to dedicate a majority of his wealth to philanthropy by signing up for the Giving Pledge. The billionaire founder of the IT company is scaling up efforts to improve the quality of the education system in India through the Azim Premji Foundation.
The Giving Pledge was formed in 2010 to encourage the wealthiest in the US to give a part of their wealth towards philanthropic activities. However, Buffett now wants to widen the group’s function outside the US to India and China. In a letter for the first international “Giving Pledge” conference, founded by Bill Gates and Warren Buffet, Premji said his Foundation currently has 800 people spread across India working in some of the poorest regions of the country. “The Foundation plans to scale up to 4,000-5,000 people over the next five years.”
According to a release from the Giving Pledge, 12 new pledge signatories joined the cause, including Premji, Hasso Plattner and Vladimir Potanin, bringing the total to 105 families committed to the pledge, which is collectively worth $500 billion. Richard Branson is also one of the 12 overseas signatories. Premji has donated 8.7 percent of the total stock of Wipro from his personal stock for philanthropy in 2010, which formed the endowment for this foundation. Currently, Premji is the third-richest Indian as his wealth is estimated to be about Rs 87,000 crore.
“The developments of the past two years have given me confidence in our scaled up and institutional strategy. Even as we execute this strategy, I am aware that ensuring stable funding source is critical for its success. I am committed to transferring more of my wealth to scale up the Endowment of the Foundation,” he said in a statement to the Economic Times.
In 1966 Premji dropped out from his studies at Stanford due to his father’s sudden death (though he completed his Engineering degree in 2000) and came back to India to run the small family business. “As Wipro became a globally successful IT Services firm, I began to seriously consider what I should do with my wealth, which had accrued from the success and market capitalisation of the company”, Premji said. “I became convinced that markets, public systems and philanthropic initiatives all had a significant role to play if the country was to have inclusive development, and that we needed to work purposefully towards establishing a more humane, equitable and ethical society for all our citizens,” he added.
It was this purpose that made him decide he must focus his philanthropic initiative on trying to help improve the Public Education System in India, beginning with primary schools, for he strongly believed education is perhaps the most important social institution to empower individuals and shape a better society. Premji said in 2009, they reviewed the experience and strategy at the Foundation and decided to scale up work and deepen support to the public schooling system by creating institutions, including those at district and state-level which work on capacity development of teachers and other people in the public education system, and also on other related academic and managerial issues.
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A-Z of superfoods for weight loss
Take inspiration from this list of nutritious and delicious superfree foods and watch the pounds drop off without sacrificing on taste.
According to the British Nutrition Foundation, eating fruits and vegetables, which are low in energy density (i.e they provide fewer calories per gram) has been shown not to just help lose weight but also to keep it off long term.
This means you can eat as much of them as you fancy without having to weigh, count or measure them. Dr Jacquie Lavin, Head of Nutrition and Research at a slimming centre, reveals, "By filling one third of your plate with 'Superfree' foods (most fruit and vegetables) and making them your first choice between meals, you'll satisfy your appetite without feeling guilty and naturally limit your energy intake without counting a single calorie. It's a great way to enjoy a really healthy diet while making your weight loss easy."
Ais for apple, which contains slow-acting sugars to keep you fuller longer. Bis for blueberries, rich in healthy compounds, said to help prevent obesity. Cis for carrots. Natural sugars make them sweet. Cook whole before chopping. Dis for damsons that belong to the plum family and lower blood cholesterol levels. Eis for eggplant or aubergines, they contain dietary fibre, helping digestion. Fis for figs, which are high in cholesterol-lowering pectin and a source of calcium. Gis for grapes, said to do wonders for high blood pressure and cholesterol. His for Hubbard squash, great for healthy skin and good immunity. Iis for iceberg lettuce — its high water content makes it low in
energy density. Jis for jalapeno peppers. Nutritious and spicy, they give zing to recipes. Kis for kiwi. Virtually fat-free and even richer in Vitamin C than oranges. Lis for leek. The Ancient Greeks and Romans said leeks were therapeutic.
Mis for melon, which contains an enzyme that reduces stress. Nis for nectarines. One large nectarine provides your whole day's Vitamin C. Ois for onions. Experts say just two or three a week can help your health. Pis for peppers, with three times the Vitamin C of citrus fruits. Qis for quince, related to apples and pears. Ris for raspberries. Ask your local vendor to get you some. Sis for strawberries. Absolutely jampacked with Vitamin C. Tis for tomatoes. The red colour comes from super healthy antioxidant lycopene. Uis for ugli fruit. Exotic hybrid of grapefruit, orange and tangerine. Vis for vine leaves. Fantastic source of iron to boost your energy levels. Wis for watercress. High in Vitamin B to improve mental function. Xis for Xigua (watermelon). Refreshing on a summer's day. Yis for yellow plums. All types of plums are packed with goodness. Zis for zucchini. They're 90% water and low in calories.
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Virgo Aug. 23 to Sept. 22
You'll likely concentrate on the individuals and groups with which you have contractual relationships. While at your job, you will be helpful to customers, clients, and business partners. You also may be helpful to business associates that manage money for your employer or personal funds for you. Back at home, your true love may need extra attention. You may go above and beyond your job description and make a good impression by your dedication.
Libra Sept. 23 to Oct. 22
You will receive support from individuals who want to be helpful today. This may be your significant other as well as various health maintenance professionals, caregivers, and a variety of contractors. While at work, you may enjoy the benefits of many temporary workers, interns, or others in training. The astrological sector activated in your horoscope also represents domestic pets, so a litter of irresistible puppies might be in your stars too.
Scorpio Oct. 23 to Nov. 21
 Plan regular relaxing breaks for yourself during the day. While you may be determined to stay on task and meet your obligations, the stars suggest that will happen more easily if you stop occasionally to engage in invigorating or social activities. This might include a short walk around the block, a trip to the water cooler for short meet-ups with coworkers, or a quick lunchtime visit to a nearby art gallery.
Sagittarius Nov. 22 to Dec. 21
It's likely that you will try to make important decisions about how to deal with financial change. You could benefit from the advice of others who have had similar experiences. Matters connected with property may be confusing now and may be the source of family disagreements that originate in misinformation. You can be a peacemaker and family hero now by confirming the all relevant facts and helping others reach a mutually agreeable solution.
Capricorn Dec. 22 to Jan. 19
 Your governing planet Saturn is in apparent backward motion today, so you will also want to reverse direction in particular life areas. These include your connections with friends and any groups you belong to and function as part of a collective effort, as well as sports teams, dance and other performance troupes, and focused work teams at your place of employment. You may desire this change in order to have more control over your own efforts or to allow your individual talents to be appreciated.
Aquarius Jan. 20 to Feb. 18
 Today you may feel detached or disinterested in your work or other public activities. You may search for other positions that offer you greater opportunities. The stars reveal a confusing money matter that may not be directly connected with your work but is a factor in your discontent with your current situation. You may find the answers you need through your faith community, an institution of higher learning, publishers, or personal contacts far from your home base and on the Internet.
Pisces Feb. 19 to March 20
The Sun and three planets are showering Pisces with their blessings today. You may experience their cosmic benefits of extra physical energy and optimism. In addition, there will be cosmic potential for additional funds to manifest next week although you might already have spent it by the time it arrives. Your new electronic bookkeeping system may not be tracking your cash flow as expected. It might be time to reread the instruction manual or have an accountant look it over.
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Moral Story
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SMS
“Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment..”
LOVE & RELATIONSHIPS
"True love doesn't mean being inseparable; it means being separated and nothing changes."
LEADERSHIP & SUCCESS
The task of leadership is not to put greatness into people, but to elicit it, for the greatness is there already.
Teacher to Student: Kid, your essay on "My Dog" is exactly the same as your brother's. Did you copy from him?
Student: No, teacher, it's about the same dog!
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Germany happy with response in schools to learning language
NEW DELHI: Encouraged by the success of German language programme in Kendriya Vidyalaya schools across the country, German Ambassador to India Michael Steiner on Tuesday said that in another four years one million students would have learnt the language.
"Our goal is that by 2017, one million Indian students would have learnt, at least, basic German," he told reporters here. Describing the language campaign as an "incredible success", he said so far 300 schools have already introduced German, and the "classes are overrun".
"I have been to KV schools in Delhi, Lucknow and elsewhere and wherever I went, I met with open-minded talented students eager to learn German and they are picking up the language effortlessly. They know language is an asset and a ticket to go global."
The plan is to impart the language in over 1000 KV schools in the country. However, he said more teachers are required to train students in the language and devise ways to ensure that the language is taught in rural areas too. Talking about the 'German year in India' which comes to an end on February 21, he said the results were truly "remarkable" and "we want to make our initiatives sustainable".
Since its opening in September 2011, over 1000 events in the fields of business, education and research have taken place apart from science, culture and politics. In the business alone, over 200 events were held across seven cities. The major ones included 13th Asia Pacific conference of German Business here in October last year.
Five Indo-German urban melas were organised with more than half a million visitors, he said. The German year in India would give way to another new campaign #k GERmany on! with an aim of leveraging on the opportunities gained over the year with the previous campaign and foster greater ties between the two countries. One of the hallmarks of the German year in India was the launch of a new German house for science and research in Delhi.
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AIBA may show green light to Indian boxers soon
BANGALORE: Indian boxers may swing back into action soon with the international boxing federation (AIBA) showing signs of relenting to requests from the country's Olympic bosses that the players' future should not be harmed.
A tele-conference held between International Olympic Committee ( IOC) member in India, Randhir Singh and AIBA chief Dr Ching-Kuo Wu on Tuesday has paved the way for the boxers to return to mainstream, it is learnt.
Wu apparently agreed that boxers could not be held responsible for the Indian federation's faults and has reportedly assured Randhir he would take steps to reverse the ban.
"We explained to Wu that AIBA will have to facilitate Indian boxers' participation in international meets. The ban is hurting them. We told him that they cannot be penalised for what AIBA perceives as the Indian boxing federation's wrongdoings," Randhir told TOI.
In a written request to AIBA on Wednesday, Randhir will officially seek a rollback of the January decision which slammed the door on Indian boxers and coaches from global meets. A formal AIBA communication announcing the end of the ban is expected in a few days.
The news will come as a huge relief to boxers who were looking forward to the Asian season from March before gearing up for some of the big AIBA events from June.
Last month, AIBA barred India's pugilists from international events citing lack of progress in resolving the Indian boxing federation (IABF) imbroglio.
A note from AIBA had stated then that the international body had been left with no choice "but to extend its suspension to all boxers and coaches until such time as this complicated situation has been resolved".
AIBA had banned IABF in December, citing "possible manipulation" in the Indian body's elections held in September.
Initially, the world body allowed the boxers' participation in two events, including the Youth World Championships in Armenia, where Indian officials were told that their federation had been banned at IOC's behest.
Then came the clarification that Indian boxers would be allowed to participate but without the officials. Days later, AIBA hardened its stand by closing down all options.
Even now, with the IABF suspended by the world body as well as India's sports ministry, there are only two options to be exercised in ensuring the boxers' participation in international meets. One is to allow the boxers themselves to forward their entries to tournament organisers or allow SAI to do the job. A clear picture will emerge in the next few days.
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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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Lemons contain more sugar than strawberries.
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" INSPIRING STORY "
Importance of keeping one’s word
We all know that the pandavas left their kingdom for 13 long years for keeping up their word! Well, for Arjuna going away from the bhogas of a king, for the sake of truth, was not new. He did it once well before the aranyavaas. The story goes like this:
The kalyaanam of pandavas with Draupadi was an unusual one. However, it was perfectly according to dharma shastras. Infact Draupadi is one of the greatest pativratas and praised even by Lord Krishna for her Dharma vartana. A few reasons to justify the kalyaanam:
Kunti Devi, the mother of pandavas, who never knew what a lie was, gave her will.
Vyaasa Maharshi, one of the avataar of Lord Vishnu, ordered the kalyaanam to be done.
Lord Shiva, pleased with her tapas, gave a boon to Draupadi to marry the pandavas.
Pandavas, though were five physically, were all amshas of Indra, the King of the Gods. Hence, pandavas were actually one.
Naarada, again an avataar of Lord Vishnu, suggested some rules to be followed by pandavas and Draupadi for living together. This is because, though they were amshas of Gods and Godesses, since they had a human form some addition rules according to dharma shastras needed to be followed. One of the rules was that: Draupadi should spend one year with each of the pandavas and while she was with one of them, no other pandavas should visit the palace where they might be. In case of any breach of their rule, one-year pilgrimage was prescribed by way of penance leaving the kingdom.The pandavas and Draupadi were living happily until one day: a brahmana came running to Arjuna saying that the thieves had stolen his cows. Arjuna wanted to rush with him to catch the thieves but he realised that his bow and arrows were kept in Yudhisthira's palace and he was there in the company of Draupadi. He hesitated for a while, then seeing brahmana's plight he rushed in to Yudhisthira 's palace took his bow and arrows and ran to catch the thieves. After he caught the thieves and punished them, after restoring the cows of the brahmana, Arjuna came back to Yudhisthira and told him about his transgression of the rule.
Yudhisthira, knowing the reason of the breach of their rule, said their is no need for Arjuna to take the pilgrimage. Since it is a mistake committed towards him, and that too for a good reason, he will pardon arjuna . However, Arjuna would never break his word. He immediately set out for a one-year pilgrimage. May be this is why Arjuna is such a favourite sakha of Lord Krishna.
Morals in the Story:
The story shows how important it is to keep up ones word, whether it is of any consequence or not, how much ever difficult it is.
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“When life gives you a hundred reasons to cry, show life that you have a thousand reasons to smile."
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