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“Don’t try to understand everything because sometimes it is not meant to be understood, but to be accepted.”
| VBA's Positive News |
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President Obama seeks end to perpetual US 'war on terror'
Twelve years after the 'war on terror' began, President Barack Obama wants to pull the United States back from some of the most controversial aspects of its global fight against Islamist militants. Pakistan said that it appreciated Obama's acknowledgement that force alone did not work, adding that the root causes of terrorism had to be addressed. After launching costly wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the United States is tiring of conflict. While combating terrorism is still a high priority for the White House, polls show by large margins that Americans' main concerns are the economy and domestic concerns such as healthcare.
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US President Obama lifts ban on Guantanamo transfers to Yemen
President Barack Obama is lifting his self-imposed ban on transferring Guantanamo Bay detainees to Yemen, where a leadership upheaval has improved the country's security. Lifting the ban is a step toward Obama's goal of closing the Navy-run prison in Cuba since nearly 100 of the 166 terrorist suspects held there are from Yemen and have had nowhere to go even if they had been cleared for transfer.
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Yemen welcomes Obama decision on Gitmo transfers
Yemen is welcoming President Barack Obama's decision to lift his ban on the transfer of Yemeni prisoners from the US detention centre at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. In a statement released Thursday shortly after Obama announced the step, the Yemeni Embassy said it appreciated the switch. It said Yemen would work with the US to ensure the safe return of Yemeni detainees to Yemen and continue efforts to rehabilitate and reintegrate them into society.
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Bees start to buck trend of decline in UK wildlife
It has been a mixed bag for wildlife this week. In a rare piece of good news for pollinators, a study has shown that, in Europe, wild insects and plants are bouncing back after decades of decline. The pollinator study, led by Bill Kunin of the University of Leeds, UK, found that the years between 1950 and 1989 saw drastic decreases in the richness of species in Belgium, the UK and the Netherlands. But since 1990, lost or new species have reappeared at sampled sites indicating that, for many, the decline has halted or even begun to reverse.
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Video of the Day:
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World Round-Up
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Direct Taxes Code Bill in Monsoon session: Chidambaram
Mumbai: The Direct Taxes Code (DTC) Bill, which aims to overhaul the over 50-year-old I-T Act, is almost ready and will be taken up in the Monsoon session of Parliament, Finance Minister P Chidambaram said on Friday.
"I am just writing the Direct Taxes Code. We will introduce it in the Monsoon session. We have another week's work on that," he said.
The Finance Minister was in Mumbai to attend the Silver Jubilee celebrations of market regulator SEBI.
The DTC Bill was introduced in Parliament in 2010 and was referred to the Standing Committee on Finance headed by senior BJP leader Yashwant Sinha.
Among other things, the Committee had suggested raising the income tax exemption limit to Rs 3 lakh as against Rs 2 lakh proposed in the original DTC Bill. On corporate tax, it recommended that the rate be retained at 30 per cent.
The Income Tax Act was enacted in 1961. Responding to a suggestion on the need for a simple tax laws, Chidambaram said: "I dont know what a simple tax code is.
The point is a tax code cannot be written in five pages. A tax code will run into few hundred pages...I don't think you can write a simple tax code."
He said India's Income Tax Act or all the pages related to direct taxes is only a fraction when compared the number of pages that are there in the United States. Referring to his recent meeting with OECD members, he said the member-countries had asked a team to work on 'base erosion and profit sharing'.
"Why? Because we find every company, almost every company is finding innovative ways for not to pay tax, not to pay tax in the source country, not to pay tax in the resident country.
If companies don't pay tax, how the government raise revenues?," he said.
Chidambaram further said in advanced economies, Parliamentary committees admonishing multi-national companies and "in developing countries, we find multi-national companies admonishing governments".
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Astrology
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Aries March 21 to April 19
You may be standing at a crossroads where you see great potential, yet you may have unfinished business lingering. This may simply be tying up loose ends. You may need just a bit of effort to finish. You could be so close that you can almost grab that idea and run with it, but not until you check your facts and sources. This can be a particularly helpful time to review details and make sure all the paperwork is in order before you sign off on any contracts.
Taurus April 20 to May 20
You may find yourself drawing a line in the sand with your associates. Maybe they have been asking too much of you, and you may need to take a stand. In the long run, this may actually work quite well for you, as you may gain new respect as a result. If you can state your opinions directly and with balance, you may do much better in the long run and you can gain credibility along the way.
Gemini May 21 to June 20
 There could be confusion surrounding a recent project at work. You may not have gotten all the details required to see it through. It may have nothing to do with you but somehow you may be called upon to find the missing piece. No worries, though, as you have a fine eye for detail and are especially adept at righting the wrong. This may require a little extra effort on your part but the results could prove to be quite helpful.
Cancer June 21 to July 22
Recent training you received may still be a bit cloudy to you. You may have lingering questions that a simple conversation may be able to solve. The same holds true for traveling or any discussions surrounding spirituality. You might need to air your thoughts or dig a little deeper to find the answer. You may feel as if the answer is in there; it's just a matter of asking the right question to the right person.
Leo July 23 to Aug. 22
 A legal matter that may involve the family or home probably needs your attention today. This could be something as simple as an overlooked bill or a document required for a financial transaction. By the same token, you may be deep in the midst of solidifying a legal matter that requires the attention of several family members. This should be an opportune time to investigate the documentation or agreements with a much greater scrutiny. Your intellect may be in tune with the matter, and you may be quite keen to solve it.
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Holding the 56.11 support level is crucial for the rupee
The US dollar – Indian rupee (USD-INR) pair has hovered around support for a long time, unable to catch a sustainable bounce. In the week to 24 May, it briefly breached the 56 level to reach 56.04 before dropping back. In case the 56.11 level is broken the pair can go all the way up to 57 levels.
The INR has not been able to recover from its inherent weakness against the dollar. Let us look at a few factors that should have worked in favour of the rupee but it has not. First, the high interest rate differential between the US dollar and the Indian rupee. With the US dollar paying nearly zero interest, the rupee should have been a prime candidate for carry trades.
Carry trade is a situation where people sell the low interest rate currency in favour of the high interest rate one. So in this case investors should have bought the Indian rupee by selling the dollar to earn the higher interest rate. The demand for the rupee then pushes up its value against the US dollar. In fact, the Indian rupee earns a higher interest rate than euro and yen too, but still does not command a premium.
This is a sad state for the INR. One of the reasons could be that real interest rates in India are negative given the inflationary situation – though this appears to be abating. This essentially means that the real value of the rupee even after paying the high interest rate gets eroded each day. Inflation, on the other hand, is very tame in the US.
The factor that shows the inherent weakness of the INR against the USD is that the quantitative easing by the Federal Reserve has no discernible impact on the value of the rupee. The Fed has been printing the dollar in gay abandon and the consequent increase in the supply of the greenback should have reduced its value substantially against the Indian rupee. But nothing of the kind has happened.
On the contrary, the INR has continued to be weak. One of the reasons could be the continued growth in the Reserve Bank of India’s deficit financing. So the increase in the supply of dollars due quantitative easing is being matched by an increase in the INR’s money supply due to deficit financing.
Now we are reaching a situation where there is debate in the Federal Reserve on whether to ease the dollar printing presses and reduce the liquidity accommodation to the economic system. Increased talks on tightening the dollar supply will surely lead to a rise in the greenback’s value and a fall in the rupee’s. It could also lead to a fall in the stock market, which may result in a selling spree by foreign institutional investors in India. That will not only push the Indian stock markets down, but a demand for dollars to repatriate profits will cut the value of the rupee.
The best way to strengthen the INR is to unleash a supply side revolution with lower taxes, less regulation and a small government. Such a policy will unleash the entrepreneurial spirits of the Indian economy which will increase the production of goods and services. Increased supply will mean lower prices, which essentially means the real value of the INR increases.
Till we see a real increase in supply of goods and services, we should expect long term weakness in the INR. The low of the INR was a little above 57 against the USD. If that level is breached there is no support level in price and we could see a sustained long term drop in the currency.
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Ways to beat holiday weight gain
Just when you've finally managed to get your weight under control, boom comes the holiday season. We can't blame you for a li'l indulgence. We will tell you ways to get rid of the excess weight. All you have to have is focus and discipline. Happy Working Out!
The few weeks filled with holiday feasting and no work-out regime become a dire threat to your increasing waistline. Wellness expert Namita Jain says, "Most people find it very difficult to get back into their strict exercise and diet right after the holidays. But it is crucial to motivate yourself to exercise to get back into shape."
The hardest part about exercise is getting started. So, make your fitness programme fail-proof with this simple DIY guide.
Go easy
It is important to start with a routine which is easier. Since getting back to strenuous working out is difficult, starting on a simpler one will boost your confidence. Start going to the gym four to five times a week and concentrate more on cardio than weights.
Innovate
Try and bring fun elements to your work-out regime. Include rope jumps or hula hoop in between your work-out to make it interesting. If you find it boring to do the same exercises every day, change your routine. Take a walk, cycle or go for a swim.
Stress buster
Stress plays a huge role in gaining weight during the holidays. Excess stress hormones in the body encourage the storage of fat. Find something that you enjoy doing. Practice yoga or meditation. If you find it difficult to gym for an hour or 45 minutes at a stretch, make your resolution more attainable by devoting just about half an hour daily.
Get enough sleep
Sleep is a must. Sleep deprivation leads to several hormonal problems, one of them being weight gain. When you are tired, unhappy or dissatisfied, you tend to eat more and exercise less. Experts say that when you are not well rested, you don't want to move and that essentially leads to fewer calories burnt.
Eat healthy
Foods that are loaded with carbohydrates are a major source of problem. Not only does it play havoc on your blood sugar level, but also produces insulin which triggers weight gain in your body. Jain says, "Include fibre in your diet. Fibre fills you up and helps you lose weight. Good choices are veggies, fruits, whole grain cereals, unpolished rice and whole grain bread."
Stay hydrated
Drink at least eight glasses of water every day. Also consume high water content fruits like watermelon, oranges, pineapples, tomatoes and cucumber which help in the reduction of weight.
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Virgo Aug. 23 to Sept. 22
This may be a day when you will need to clarify a topic with your partner. You may be coming at the same conversation from two different angles and a simple restatement may help clear up any confusion. This may be especially the case with any sort of written communication, so things like misunderstood text messages, voicemails and the like are areas that may require clarity. This may also be a time when you want to state your intentions differently. Have you changed your mind about something? An honest and open talk might be just what's needed.
Libra Sept. 23 to Oct. 22
You may want to keep an eye on your fiscal responsibilities under these skies. There may be confusion lingering that may require your balanced hand to straighten. This may be especially true in areas of personal health or in charitable service while working with others. This can be viewed as an opportunity to right a wrong or bring clarity to a nagging misunderstanding. It may be important to attend to your well-being. A good workout can do wonders for clearing your head when making decisions.
Scorpio Oct. 23 to Nov. 21
 Saturn has been working you hard lately, and when all is complete, you'll be quite glad he has. Saturn brings forth a strong sense of doing the right thing, so it is valuable to have that vibe working on your behalf. One of the best methods for using that power can come through your creative efforts. This may be an excellent time to bring much-needed clarity to a project. If you apply the constructive and honest message of accountability to your work, you may be quite amazed at how well it all clicks.
Sagittarius Nov. 22 to Dec. 21
You may be on the brink of a significant family event. A wedding may be in the works or perhaps a discussion that includes family members. This may be a matter of clarity, so it may be wise to state your case clearly and make concessions, if necessary. The ultimate goal may be to bring harmony and responsibility together when making a family-oriented decision. You may not be able to satisfy all of the people all of the time, but you can satisfy many or most of them.
Capricorn Dec. 22 to Jan. 19
 If you are working with others currently, it may be prudent to take time to be certain everyone involved is on the same page. The whole project or conversation will go much easier if you can get everyone to agree on the final result. E-mails, text messages, and other correspondence may be critical pieces for getting the dialogue moving in the right direction. If any ambiguity exists, you know that it will surely bring things to a grinding halt. It may be best to clear the air before you go any further.
Aquarius Jan. 20 to Feb. 18
 You may find a disparity with regard to your finances, particularly with paychecks and work-oriented payouts. You may need to investigate and find the reason. It may be a simple oversight or other confusion that was transcribed incorrectly. If you can chase down the reason and find the source, you may be able to solve the situation quite agreeably. This may be your best solution in the long run anyway. While you may not want to be sold short, you also may not want to create unnecessary concern.
Pisces Feb. 19 to March 20
Clarity may your most important asset throughout the day as Neptune and Saturn work together to bring you new exposure. If you are in the public eye or teaching, you may want to be certain that your message gets across in the appropriate manner. If there is any uncertainty or ambiguity, you may want to clear it up as effectively as you can, so that your material can be understood by all in your audience. Your reputation may be at stake, so any steps you take to be clearer will be important.
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Moral Story
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SMS
“To live is the rarest thing in the world. Most people exist, that is all.”
LOVE & RELATIONSHIPS
When one loves somebody everything is clear -- where to go, what to do -- it all takes care of itself and one doesn't have to ask anybody about anything.
LEADERSHIP & SUCCESS
Be known for pleasing others, espcecially if you govern them...Ruling other has one advantage: you can do more good than anyone else.
Hitler says,
"There is no word like IMPOSSIBLE in my dictionary"
Sardar says:Ab bolne se kiya fayidah?
"Jub kharidi thi tab hi check karna tha na":D
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US institutions imparting training to Indian students: M Pallam Raju
RAJAHMUNDRY (AP): Some prominent US educational institutions are imparting industrial training to students in India under the Centre's Technical Education Quality Improvement Programme (TEQIP), human resource development minister M Pallam Raju on Friday said.
Under the initiative, training is provided to students who have passed polytechnic and engineering courses, based on their understanding of the subject and as per the needs of industry.
The first phase of the World Bank-sponsored TEQIP, launched in 2003 and completed in 2009, has been implemented with the aim of improving quality of technical education in the country.
On the future course, Raju said, "Eight educational projects have been identified under the Manmohan Singh-Barack Obama Global Learning Initiative programme and another eight projects will be identified by June."
The minister said that necessary steps were being taken for setting up triple-IT and Kendriya Vidyalayas in East Godavari district of the state.
Raju said that irrespective of many ups and downs on economic front, the country is maintaining the growth rate at 6 per cent under Congress-led UPA government.
He announced without elaborating that as many as 300 model schools will come up across 3,500 educationally backward blocks in the country.
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Betting not solely IPL's problem: Rahul Dravid
KOLKATA: The spot-fixing scandal might have left the IPL's reputation in shreds and severely dented his own team's image but Rajasthan Royals skipper Rahul Dravid said no good can come out of banning the Twenty20 league altogether as there are a "lot of positives about it".
Watch IPL Videos
"You've to deal with the challenges. If you completely throw away the tournament, it's like throwing away the baby with the bath water," Dravid said after Rajasthan's ouster from the IPL following a four-wicket loss to Mumbai Indians in the second qualifier on Friday.
"We need to sort the issue out rather than make big statements like cancel the IPL. Because there're some real good positives that have come out of it."
The former India skipper, who retired after 16 years of International cricket, further said the menace of fixing has been there in the past as well.
"We don't stop International cricket because of that. If that yardstick was used, we should stop all cricket. It's a question of correcting some of the challenges. An issue of betting is not only about the IPL. We have seen in the past that the issue has been there in International cricket," Dravid said.
"The cricket is great. There is no doubt about it. I've always said the IPL is a fantastic tournament. There are a lot of positives about it. But there are challenges in the IPL as well as we've seen in the last week or 10 days. Not only this, there are other challenges that come up from time to time and that need to be dealt with.
"Truth always sets you free. I really hope that in anything you just get to the truth and get to the bottom of it. Whatever and however painful maybe."
The spot-fixing scam came to surface after the arrest of Royals trio of S Sreesanth, Ankeet Chavan and Ajit Chandila and it opened a can of worms.
Dravid said IPL was a "unique" experience for him but he hoped cricket will come out winners tomorrow.
"This tournament needs a great final. We had a great game today and it went down to the wire. After all that has happened, as long as we get a great game of cricket irrespective of whoever wins, hopefully cricket will come out winning," Dravid said.
Dravid said it was a difficult phase for his team, something which it had not experienced before.
"It was unique in that sense. You plan for a lot of things... you plan for failing, you know how to deal with that. But when stuff like this comes up you don't know...," he said.
"It was quite challenging. But I was lucky to have good support staff and good spirit in the team. While it was a challenge I'm happy to get over it in some ways.
However, he said it would take some time to get over the shock of what has happened.
"We had to get ready and play this game but after we go back to our houses, the whole thing will take some time to get used to."
The loss of Chavan and Chandila hurt the team's cause as it struggled to put up a formidable attack on turning Eden and Dravid said the side missed a wicket-taking spinner.
"As you saw today, having spinners in the middle does make a big difference. Unfortunately we did not have that wicket-taking spinner today," Dravid conceded.
Dravid refused to predict his favourites for Sunday's final between Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians and said it would be an evenly-contested duel.
"Both are really very good sides and evenly-balanced. Mumbai Indians have a couple of good spinners so is Chennai. It's a hard one to pick. CSK have done over the years -- with five finals. They know how to play in finals. They play really well. But Mumbai Indians have some match-winners as well. It's a tough one to call. I just hope that we have a great game."
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Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani
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Movie Name : Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani
Release Date : May 31, 2013
Genre : Rom Com
Producer : Karan Johar, Apoorva Mehta
Director : Ayan Mukerji
Music Director : Pritam
Cast : Ranbir Kapoor, Deepika Padukone, Aditya Roy Kapur, Kalki Koechlin.
Synopsis:
When Dharma Productions announced YEH JAWAANI HAI DEEWANI no one expected it to be hyped the way it is at this stage. Despite boasting of the successful reunion of Ranbir Kapoor and young talented, director Ayan Mukerji, after WAKE UP SID, the film was more in the news for its lead stars, real life ex-couple, Ranbir-Deepika, back together on the big screen.
However it was Pritam's music, especially Badtameez Dil, (and Ranbir's dancing!) that just took the nation by storm and hyped the movie to great heights. So let's check out the audio which is being touted as the first real blockbuster album of the year.
It's all out fun, frolic, celebration and innocent naughtiness that one encounters in the chartbusting party trumpet loaded number, 'Badtameeez Dil', that is so very addictive that even when one fails to grab the mad gibberish but highly endearing lyrics at one go, still one gets instantly hooked to it. Benny Dayal is outstanding and it's his show all the way, although Shefali Alvares does join him briefly and does a good job. The song is already a chartbuster and is appealing to one and all, eight to eighty!
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Chewing gum while peeling onions will keep you from crying.
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" INSPIRING STORY "
Give time to our family
After 21 years of marriage, my wife wanted me to take another woman out to dinner and a movie. She said, “I love you, but I know this other woman loves you and would love to spend some time with you.”
The other woman that my wife wanted me to visit was my MOTHER, who has been a widow for 19 years, but the demands of my work and my three children had made it possible to visit her only occasionally.
That night I called to invite her to go out for dinner and a movie. “What’s wrong, are you well?” she asked.
My mother is the type of woman who suspects that a late night call or a surprise invitation is a sign of bad news.
“I thought that it would be pleasant to spend some time with you,” I responded. “Just the two of us.” She thought about it for a moment, and then said, “I would like that very much.”
That Friday after work, as I drove over to pick her up I was a bit nervous. When I arrived at her house, I noticed that she, too, seemed to be nervous about our date.
She waited in the door with her coat on. She had curled her hair and was wearing the dress that she had worn to celebrate her last wedding anniversary.
She smiled from a face that was as radiant as an angel’s. “I told my friends that I was going to go out with my son, and they were impressed, “she said, as she got into the car. “They can’t wait to hear about our meeting.”
We went to a restaurant that, although not elegant, was very nice and cozy. My mother took my arm as if she were the First Lady.
After we sat down, I had to read the menu. Her eyes could only read large print. Half way through the entries, I lifted my eyes and saw Mom sitting there staring at me.
A nostalgic smile was on her lips. “It was I who used to have to read the menu when you were small,” she said.
“Then it’s time that you relax and let me return the favor,” I responded. During the dinner, we had an agreeable conversation – nothing extraordinary but catching up on recent events of each other’s life.
We talked so much that we missed the movie. As we arrived at her house later, she said, “I’ll go out with you again, but only if you let me invite you.” I agreed.
“How was your dinner date?” asked my wife when I got home. “Very nice. Much more so than I could have imagined,” I answered.
A few days later, my mother died of a massive heart attack. It happened so suddenly that I didn’t have a chance to do anything for her.
Some time later, I received an envelope with a copy of a restaurant receipt from the same place mother and I had dined. An attached note said: “I paid this bill in advance.
I wasn’t sure that I could be there; but nevertheless, I paid for two plates – one for you and the other for your wife. You will never know what that night meant for me.
I love you, son.” At that moment, I understood the importance of saying in time: “I LOVE YOU” and to give our loved ones the time that they deserve.
Nothing in life is more important than your family. Give them the time they deserve, because these things cannot be put off till “some other time.”
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“You can’t live your life for other people. You’ve got to do what’s right for you, even if it hurts some people you love.”
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