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“There is no passion to be found in settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living.”
| VBA's Positive News |
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Hungary destroys genetically modified corn
Hungarian officials have taken the unusually strong step of destroying some 1,000 acres of corn which was found to be genetically modified, reports the Russian source RT.com. A new law enacted in the country in March mandates that seeds must be evaluated as being genetically altered before sale to farmers, as GMOs are banned in Hungary due to health and environmental concerns. The country's government instead opted to plough in the affected corn to prevent further GMO contamination.
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BYD's electric taxis hit Hong Kong roads with big ambitions
Warren Buffett-backed Chinese carmaker BYD Co Ltd rolled out Hong Kong's first electric taxi fleet on Wednesday, marking a milestone for its all-electric battery car that highlights its promise and its limitations. 'We expect to increase the number of e6 taxis in Hong Kong to 5,000 in three years,' said Liu Xueliang, general manager of BYD Asia Pacific sales, after the company announced it is making a push in the former British colony to encourage the use of its all-electric e6 taxi.
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US: Dow, S&P 500 end at record highs again, Google jumps
Stocks rose on Wednesday, with the Dow and S&P 500 hitting new all-time highs in a broad market rally as the recent upward momentum persisted. The Nasdaq also hit its highest level since November 2000. The day's gains were broad, with nine of the S&P 500's 10 sectors ending higher. The broad market index has recorded 15 new closing highs this year.
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Indonesia extends forest-clearing ban for two years
Indonesia has approved a two-year extension to a landmark ban on clearing primary rainforests and peatlands, officials said Thursday. Environmentalists praised the move but said the government must do more to curb the nation's burgeoning production of greenhouse gases. President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono signed the decree on Monday to continue the 2011 moratorium, which barred new logging and palm oil plantation permits under a $1 billion deal with Norway, said his environment adviser, Pungki Agus Purnomo. He said the ban will preserve 64 million hectares (158 million acres) until 2015.
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Video of the Day:
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World Round-Up
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UP: Varun Gandhi stakes claim to his father's legacy in Sultanpur
Sultanpur: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Varun Gandhi is staking claim to his father's legacy.
Addressing a rally in Sultanpur, a Congress bastion, on Thursday, the BJP General Secretary made an emotional appeal to voters. This came even as the UP government is facing flak for allegedly letting him off in the 2009 hate speech cases.
Varun Gandhi's first public meeting came in Sultanpur, the same district that elected his cousin Rahul to Parliament, and not so far away from Raebareli where Sonia Gandhi fights her elections. "I have come to Sultanpur, I have come home," Varun Gandhi said.
A homecoming it was of sorts as his father Sanjay Gandhi entered the electoral field for the first time in 1977 from Amethi, which is a part of the Sultanpur district.
Thirty-six years on, it is Varun's posters which are plastered across the city including one with one Sonu Singh, who has many cases pending against him in Sultanpur. Singh has recently joined the BJP.
In his first appearance here in Sultanpur, Varun dropped enough hints about shifting base in the coming elections. "The children of Sultanpur are like my own children. I will try to bear the burden of the people here," Varun said.
Though recently elevated to the General Secretary's post, Varun has found himself in the middle of another controversy. The CD case of the last elections have resurfacing with allegations that witnesses against him were influenced.
The UP government which was quiet till now has under pressure decided to appeal against the verdict that exonerated him in the hate speech case.
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Astrology
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Aries March 21 to April 19
As Pluto and Uranus prepare to square off, you may feel the tension brewing, either inside you on a personal level or in your professional life. Personal freedom has been your mantra since Uranus entered independent Aries in 2010, and you may feel the need to push back if you feel like you're being encroached on. Blow off steam today by giving yourself a social outlet - you're likely to have more fun than you expected to!
Taurus April 20 to May 20
You've had a lot on your plate lately, which has kept you busy. If you need a break, it's an ideal day to do something special for yourself that you don't normally do and get great results, with your ruler, Venus and Uranus joining up today. No need to demolish your schedule and make yourself more stressed. Looking for something fun that's out of the ordinary has real potential to not only rejuvenate you but also generate a surprising amount of inspiration and spark of creativity.
Gemini May 21 to June 20
 Your charm and wit are sure to attract the attention of interesting people today without having to lift a finger as Venus and Uranus share their celestial flirt. Someone special may have a surprise in store for you today. It's also a perfect day for creating your own happening by getting out into the social scene. Whether you want to meet someone new or just have a fun evening with your own gang, it's bound to be a great time.
Cancer June 21 to July 22
You may get career guidance or inspiration from an unexpected guardian angel today, especially if you're willing to confidently be true to yourself in what you're offering and not just go the safe, expected route. As Pluto and Uranus build up to square off again, you may feel pressure from someone to follow the rules and not rock the boat. However, if you're compromising your true self too much, you may have to rebel a little to get needed elbow room.
Leo July 23 to Aug. 22
 Look around for possibilities to meet new people today; someone may catch your eye because of his or her unique perspective on things. Talking to that person may inspire you and help you broaden your own perspective into new territory in ways you might not have been open to otherwise. Social encounters of all kinds today may be even more rewarding than usual. Keep the mood and conversation light and fun to make the most of whatever company you find yourself in.
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Sibal clears use of options for M&A deals
Foreign investment in Indian firms is all set to get a boost as government has decided to move ahead with a proposal to allow "put" and "call" options in share purchase agreements to permit listed companies to buy or sell equity at a predetermined price in future.
Under the Securities Contracts (Regulations) Act (SCRA), put and call options are treated as derivatives and are not permitted outside stock exchanges. The unlisted companies, however, can go for put and call options.
"Strategic investors as well as private equity funds will benefit from the decision," said Bhavin Shah, partner KPMG India, while commenting on the decision of the Law Ministry to approve the proposal which has been pending for the past several months.
According to Avinash Gupta, Leader, Financial Advisory Services, Deloitte India "this will definitely create a positive sentiment among investors... We will have to wait for notification to see the finer points".
The proposal to permit put and call options in the share purchase agreement was cleared by Telecom Minister Kapil Sibal within a day of his assuming additional charge of the Law Ministry. The proposal will come into force after approval by Finance Ministry and Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi).
Sibal told reporters that he cleared the proposal along with Finance Ministry's request for conciliation of tax dispute with British telecom giant Vodafone.
"Put" option gives shareholder the right to sell a certain amount of shares at a specific price and within a given time-frame. In "call" option, the buyer has the right to purchase specific amount of shares at a certain price and specified time.
The Law Ministry's nod to the proposal comes at a time when the government takes steps to promote investments.
Finance Minister P Chidambaram, who is travelling the world to sell India's growth story, has been assuring the investors about India's commitment to economic reforms.
Once approved, Shah said, "put and call options become enforceable contracts outside exchanges enabling the companies to restructure merger and acquisition deals to suit their requirements."
In view of the ambiguity, investors have been demanding clarity over the issue with a view to facilitating merger and acquisition operations.
In recent times, there have been issues on put and call options in share purchase agreements related to some mega deals including United Spirits-Diageo and Cairn-Vedanta.
The ambiguity over put and call options is also believed to be adversely impacting overall investor sentiment.
According to Gupta, the clarification would encourage conservative investors to incorporate put and call options as part of the share purchase agreements with regard to listed companies.
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Never skip your breakfast
In spite of health experts going blue in the face trying to get people to understand the importance of having breakfast, there are thousands who skip the first (and most crucial) meal of the day citing a motley of reasons.
Dietician Dr Sunita Dube says that having a hearty breakfast helps control excess hunger throughout the day. "Since we technically fast overnight while sleeping, forgoing breakfast adds to this fasting period and may disrupt blood sugar balance and insulin output.
Skipping breakfast also triggers bad eating habits during the day, as cravings ensue and quick-fix fast foods are often eaten. Having breakfast boosts metabolism and increases your energy levels throughout the day. When you miss it, your energy is reduced and physical activity levels decline," reckons Dr Dube.
An ideal, healthy breakfast A healthy breakfast provides 25 per cent of the total energy and nutrients required by the body. "Ideally, your first meal of the day should comprise a perfect combination of carbohydrates, protein and fibre. Make sure you include fruits, whole grains, berries and and good fats. Opt for light and soft idlis with sambhar, plain dosas with green chutney, milk with cornflakes or wheatflakes, vegetable poha or upma with a milkshake and sprouts. Also, include high fibre fruits like apples, papayas, muskmelons, oranges or watermelons," says dietician and sports nutritionist, Deepshikha Agarwal.
What to avoid in the morning l Processed, deep fried or oily food, preserved meat, left over or junk food, cakes, pastries, and only juices are a no-no. l Avoid refined foods like white rice and white bread. Instead opt for whole wheat bread and cereals. Stay away from deep fried pakodas, puris, samosas, doughnuts, cookies, potato chips, candy bars and sodas. l Food items like vada pav, bhajias, wafers, pizzas and French fries are loaded with fat, salt and calories and have very little fibre — keep them at an arm's length.
Disadvantages of skipping breakfast Experts say that skipping breakfast may put you on the fast track to weight gain, heart disease, osteoporosis, irritability or mood swings, menstrual irregularity, low energy levels, low memory and hormonal stress. "A study shows that people who skipped breakfast developed higher bad LDL cholesterol levels, and were less sensitive to insulin than people who ate breakfast every day," says Dr Dube. And for those who skip breakfast in a bid to lose weight, you ought to read this. "People who miss breakfast tend to feel fatigued early on in the day and have low concentration levels, affecting their efficiency. Skipping breakfast also decreases metabolic rate making weight loss difficult. Research proves that people who skip breakfast tend to be heavier than people who eat a healthy breakfast. So, if you're looking forward to losing weight, have a nutritious breakfast to get a healthy start to the day," suggests Dr Agarwal.
Importance of a healthy breakfast in children and teens The amount of food that a child needs varies according to height, built, gender, and activity levels. "Most kids will usually eat the amount of food that's right for them, however, it is up to the parents to ensure that their children have the right foods available to choose from. Eating a meal should be both a healthy and an enjoyable occasion — a fact that many parents overlook when planning a meal for growing children. Good eating habits start from home so be a good role model.
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Virgo Aug. 23 to Sept. 22
Your career may benefit from putting the focus on social contacts. Make friendly connections today with people in high places as Uranus blows kisses to Venus traveling through your career sector. You're great at meeting expectations and playing by the rules, but don't be afraid to confidently show someone what's truly unique about you and what you bring to the table if you want to get noticed. The risk of revealing your unusual perspective is more likely to impress someone today.
Libra Sept. 23 to Oct. 22
What a perfect day for you to create an adventure! Whether you cruise around town or get out of it, make sure to take in some new and unusual sights today as Uranus and Venus align favorably. Take your sweetheart or a good friend on your adventure with you and you will double your pleasure. Be open to meeting someone new, maybe in an unusual way. Whatever you do, leave room for the delightfully unexpected to happen!
Scorpio Oct. 23 to Nov. 21
 You may decide to make an unexpected purchase for fun or perhaps receive an unexpected gift from someone's generosity. Today will be a day for surprises so create one yourself! Your creativity will be high today, so make use of it at work by putting an unusual twist on a project to impress your boss or to simply have more fun at work. Don't be afraid to showcase your talent at work especially - inventiveness will be welcome.
Sagittarius Nov. 22 to Dec. 21
You might not be able to help falling in love again or for the first time with a special someone today. Venus and inventive Uranus will team up to offer pleasant surprises and the excitement from the unexpected tonight. Take someone special out for a shared adventure and allow yourselves to be completely spontaneous - it can't help but fan the flame between you. If you're single, going somewhere new can create the opportunity to meet someone fascinating.
Capricorn Dec. 22 to Jan. 19
 The favorable pairing of Venus and Uranus may spark your creativity today. Channel it productively into home projects, especially if you been waiting for some inspiration to help you get started. Your problem solving skills will also be heightened today. If there's a problem that seems stuck, today might provide an unexpected breakthrough solution. While you often work best independently, a friend or family member may have a unique point of view that can help shed light on the matter as well.
Aquarius Jan. 20 to Feb. 18
 Make room in your schedule for brainstorming and creative thinking today and focus less on mundane tasks, if you can. As your ruler, Uranus, aligns favorably with creative Venus, truly inspired ideas may come your way if you make the space for them and take time to seek them out. Sit down at your blank canvas of choice and simply see what comes, or even better, grab someone to bounce ideas off of as two heads may be better than one.
Pisces Feb. 19 to March 20
Connect with those you call family today. With Uranus and Venus teaming up today there's lots of room for everyone to be themselves and be able to get along well. You may enjoy entertaining in your home tonight and maybe even find an impromptu gathering or party landing at your place! Keep your usual open attitude and let others surprise you tonight. You may see a new side of your loved ones if you all let your hair down.
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Moral Story
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SMS
“Life has a value only when it has something valuable as its object.”
LOVE & RELATIONSHIPS
"True love doesn't mean being inseparable; it means being separated and nothing changes."
LEADERSHIP & SUCCESS
“No man will make a great leader who wants to do it all himself or get all the credit for doing it.”
Husband to wife: Will you re marry. If i die.
Wife: I will live with my sister.
Wife to husband: Will you re marry. If i die.
Husband: I will live with your sister.
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US colleges face enrolment shortfalls, offer discounts: Reports
NEW YORK: Many leading US colleges and universities face a shortfall in enrolment for fall classes and will offer price discounts as they compete for students, in an ever expanding higher education market, according to Forbes. The magazine highlighted 50 public and private US colleges listed in the Princeton Review's "Best Colleges" list that are still accepting students in their 2013 freshman classes.
In their scramble to fill empty seats, colleges are likely to offer significant tuition discounts in the form of grants in a type of free market pricing that goes on behind the scenes, Forbes said.
"There are many more colleges in the United States than is economically viable," wrote Matt Schifrin, managing editor of investing content at Forbes Media. "Many colleges make deals with families, offering significant rebates to their advertised prices."
Among colleges still seeking students for fall classes are Lewis & Clark College in Portland, Oregon, the University of Maryland, College Park, The New School in New York City, Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona, and Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago, according to Forbes.com.
Its list includes more selective schools but the National Association of College Admissions Counselors counts 288 colleges nationwide that have reported vacancies for incoming freshmen this fall.
The rising price of college tuition scares families and parents, but they can get discounts if they look, Schifrin said.
Average tuition and fees alone at private non-profit four-year institutions rose $1,173 or 4.2 percent to $29,056 in 2012-13, according to the college board. The costs are not much lower for out-of-state students at public four-year institutions where the average tuition and fees rose by $883 or 4.2 percent to $21,706.
Although most colleges ask for deposits from accepted students by May 1, Forbes said it's not too late to apply.
Most schools on the list offer grants and scholarships to at least 90 percent of their incoming freshman, with some schools' average grants exceeding $20,000.
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Kings XI Punjab stay alive for another day
DHARAMSHALA: Staying alive was the theme of Kings XI Punjab on a day when the spot-fixing controversy hit the T20 league big-time.
Scorecard | Watch IPL Videos | Match In Pics
Playing under the shadow of the sordid disclosures in Delhi, the home team produced a professional display at the HPCA stadium here but still edged out Delhi Daredevils by seven runs and keep their faint hopes of a berth in the playoffs alive.
Put in to bat, KXIP, aided by useful knocks by Adam Gilchrist, Shaun Marsh and David Miller, posted a handy total of 171/4.
And with their seam bowlers making better use of the conditions, they throttled the already struggling DD batting line-up to notch up their seventh win.
Their chances now rest on Bangalore and Hyderabad losing their remaining games and they themselves defeating Mumbai Indians in their final match here on Saturday afternoon.
The Delhi batsmen continued their miserable run even as they demoted Virender Sehwag to number four.
That ploy did not work as Praveen Kumar and Sandeep Sharma made early dents. It put a lot of pressure on Viru who not for them first time failed to deliver.
And with skipper Mahela Jayawardene struggling to collect runs at a fast clip, it was left to Ben Rohrer to give KXIP a fright with a well-struck half-century.
But once he fell to Piyush Chawla in the final over it was all over for DD, who are now in danger of finishing last should they lose their final match to Pune Warriors.
Sent in to bat, it was Gilchirst who provided a flying start to KXIP. Gilly likes the ball to come onto the bat and he made full use of the bouncy pitch by collecting five fours and two sixes even though he lived a charmed existence.
He and Shaun Marsh put on 60 in 7.3 overs, before Gilchrist was well held by Irfan Pathan off his own bowling. Gilchrist made 42 from 26 balls which set the platform for the likes of Azhar Mahmood and David Miller to launch into a blitzkrieg.
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I Love New Year
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I Love New Year
Movie Name : I Love New Year
Release Date : May 24, 2013
Genre : Rom Com
Producer : Bhushan Kumar, Krishan Kumar
Director : Radhika Rao, Vinay Sapru
Music Director : Pritam
Cast : Sunny Deol, Kangana Ranaut, Navin Choudhary, Tannishta Chatterjee, Prem Chopra, Reema Lagoo, Maya Alagh, Manoj Joshi, Jiten Mukhi, Virag Mishra, Arbaaz Khan.
Synopsis:
I Love New Year is an upcoming romantic comedy film starring Sunny Deol and Kangana Ranaut in the lead. It's a story on what happens between two people in a span of two days over the New Year's Eve.
The movie follows two strangers, a beautiful musician (Kangana Ranaut) and a serious Wall Street banker (Sunny Deol), that have a chance encounter on New Year's Eve that the banker can't seem to remember and the events that come about as a result of the two meeting.
In 2011 directors Radhika Rao and Vinay Sapru announced their intent to begin work on I Love New Year. The film originally had the working title of Happy New Year, but had to change the title due to Shahrukh Khan who also was using the title for a film he was working on during the same time period. Actors Sunny Deol and Kangana Ranaut are starring in the film, with Ranaut stating that she trained over a month in order to gain the correct expressions and body language of a musician. Filming commenced in summer of 2011 at Filmalaya Studios in Mumbai, with the final scenes having to be filmed in New York City.
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11% of people are left handed.
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" INSPIRING STORY "
The Ship of Friendship
A voyaging ship was wrecked during a storm at sea and only two of the men on it were able to swim to a small, desert like island.
The two survivors who have been a good friends, not knowing what else to do, agreed that they had no other recourse but to pray to God.
However, to find out whose prayer was more powerful, they agreed to divide the territory between them and stay on opposite sides of the island.
The first thing they prayed for was food. The next morning, the first man saw a fruit-bearing tree on his side of the land, and he was able to eat its fruit. The other man’s parcel of land remained barren.
After a week, the first man was lonely and he decided to pray for a wife.
The next day, another ship was wrecked, and the only survivor was a woman who swam to his side of the land. On the other side of the island, there was nothing.
Soon the first man prayed for a house, clothes, more food. The next day, like magic, all of these were given to him. However, the second man still had nothing.
Finally, the first man prayed for a ship, so that he and his wife could leave the island. In the morning, he found a ship docked at his side of the island.
The first man boarded the ship with his wife and decided to leave the second man on the island.
He considered the other man unworthy to receive God’s blessings, since none of his prayers had been answered.
As the ship was about to leave, the first man heard a voice from heaven booming, “Why are you leaving your companion on the island?”
“My blessings are mine alone, since I was the one who prayed for them,” the first man answered. “His prayers were all unanswered and so he does not deserve anything.”
“You are mistaken!” the voice rebuked him. “He had only one prayer, which I answered. If not for that, you would not have received any of my blessings.” Tell me,” the first man asked the voice, “What did he pray for that I should owe him anything?”
“He prayed that all your prayers be answered “
Moral: For all we know, our blessings are not the fruits of our prayers alone, but those of another praying for us (Congregational Prayer). Value your friends, don’t leave your loved ones behind.
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“Its important to put a lot of years into your life, but equally important to put a lot of life into your years.”
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