|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ability may get you to the top, but it takes character to keep you there.
| VBA's Positive News |
|
|
Latvia: The eurozone member-elect whose growth is the envy of them all
In five years Latvia has been from boom to bust and, relatively speaking, back to boom. The third poorest country in the EU, it is also the fastest growing, notching up 5 per cent growth last year without social unrest. The European commission and the European Central Bank (ECB), in their 'convergence reports' last week, gave a green light to Latvia to join in January. EU finance ministers are expected to rubberstamp that decision next month. Ratings agency Standard & Poor's responded by raising its rating on the country's debt this week.
|
UN celebrates 50 years of invaluable contributions by women to human space flight
The United Nations has commemorated the first space flight by a woman over 50 years ago and the contributions by women to that endeavour since then, hailing these 'trailblazers' as powerful role models for young women and men worldwide. It was on 16 June 1963 that cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova became the first woman to fly into outer space aboard the Vostok-6 spacecraft, making history in a 70-hour flight during which she orbited the Earth 48 times.
|
Virtual exhibition challenges Muslim women stereotypes
A new virtual exhibition is helping counter stereotypes and prejudices about Muslim women. Muslima: Muslim Women's Art & Voices aims to share and amplify the stories and art of Muslim women across the world. Recently launched by International Museum of Women (IMOW) -- an online social action museum, the exhibition features the creativity, courage, and passion of contemporary Muslim women.
|
US researchers explore deep Caribbean reefs
Scientists with the Smithsonian Institution have discovered at least one new fish species at a deep reef off Curacao while conducting a yearlong project to gather data on temperature and biodiversity for monitoring climate change effects in the Caribbean. The discovery occurred in recent weeks off the southern edge of the Dutch Caribbean island as scientists used a submarine to explore depths up to 1,000 feet (305 meters).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
World Round-Up
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rajnath Singh reaches out to Sharad Yadav as Nitish Kumar remains firm on breaking ties
Patna: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is adamant on breaking ties with the Bharatiya Janata Party over Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi's elevation.
Sources close to the Janata Dal United told CNN-IBN that Nitish Kumar will not relent till the BJP declares that Modi will not be named NDA's PM candidate for the 2014 Lok Sabha elections.
The BJP, however, is trying hard to save its ties with the JD(U). Sources said BJP President Rajnath Singh has reached out to JD(U) chief Sharad Yadav and has asked him to convince Nitish Kumar to change his stand.
But Nitish Kumar has reportedly already informed the BJP President about calling off the alliance.
But Sharad Yadav might make another effort to convince Nitish Kumar. He is likely to meet the Bihar Chief Minister on Saturday evening to decide the fate of their party's alliance with the BJP.
The split between the BJP and the JD(U) was precipitated after the former elevated Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi as its 2014 campaign incharge at its recently-concluded National Executive meet in Goa.
The JD(U) has openly voiced its opposition to Modi for his alleged failure to protect Muslims during the 2002 Gujarat riots.
After BJP patriarch LK Advani resigned in protest against Modi's promotion, the JD(U) said the alliance was on ventilator support. The Congress, too, added fuel to the fire by saying its doors were open to "secular parties".
Meanwhile, Nitish Kumar confirmed on Friday that the ties between his party and the BJP were not good. "The circumstances are difficult, and in this difficult situation what we have to do, we have to decide.
On one hand, people are suggesting to continue with the alliance since it is an old alliance. On the other hand, the circumstances are difficult," he said.
He also did not restrain himself from taking a dig at the BJP either. "Someone has rightly said, they pray for our life and yet supply us with poison," he remarked.
Nitish Kumar's JD(U) is in power in Bihar as part of a coalition government with the BJP. Ever since the fallout, Nitish has been searching for allies and independent MLAs to boost his strength within the Bihar Assembly.
He needs four supporters to reach the majority mark in the Assembly. On Friday, an independent MLA claimed that he had been approached by the party.
"There is a possibility that the JD(U) will split with the BJP in Bihar over Narendra Modi's recent elevation in the party.
They called me about joining the party and said that I would get the ministry of my choice and then I will get the party's MP ticket," MLA Dilip Verma said.
Nitish Kumar has also been in talks with other regional leaders like West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee and Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik for a Third Front which, for a long time, has been the clarion call of parties opposed to the Congress and the BJP.
|
|
|
Astrology
|
|
Aries March 21 to April 19
The front part of this week will be spectacular. Your guardian planet is Mars, and on June 16, Mars will send a special message to Uranus, planet of surprises, now in Aries. This makes Sunday and Monday fantastic days to travel. Love and fun will be in the air on the luckiest day of the year, June 19, when Jupiter will conjunct the Sun. Romance will be best on and just prior to June 19, June 17 and 18. Travel will increase your luck even more. Additionally, a love letter or text that you receive may set your heart on fire.
Taurus April 20 to May 20
This week, you are likely to poke the pinata, with a world of goodies about to fall all over you. Financially, you may make an unexpected killing in a financial deal you've been discussing, now that Mars is in perfect angle to Uranus. Moreover, with Jupiter moving close to the Sun on June 19, the luckiest day of the year, you will likely see financial benefits from business travel or from trips to see family or to view property. You'll find the first days of the week will be your best financially and also for receiving staunch, almost unconditional family support.
Gemini May 21 to June 20
 Your ship has come in, dear Gemini. This week could be so spectacular that developments may change the direction of your life. The Sun and Jupiter will have their annual meeting on June 19 - the luckiest day of the year - and for the first time in twelve years, the Sun and Jupiter will meet in Gemini. The days falling before this day, June 16-18, will be equally strong too, as the beneficial energy will still be building, giving you more presence and good fortune than you've seen in ages. Plan an important meeting for early in the week. Also, on Sunday, June 16 or Monday, June 17, a friend may be instrumental in seeing you make quite a bit of money.
Cancer June 21 to July 22
A fortunate phase is starting up next week, dear Cancer, when Jupiter enters Cancer for the first time in over a decade, to stay for a full year. This week, Jupiter will meet with the Sun in the last degrees of Gemini, close enough to bring out-of-this-world news to those Cancers born early in the sign, from June 22-25. If your birthday is named, be ready. Mars will signal Uranus in a friendly way, too, bringing sudden, upbeat news about your career by Monday, June 17. If you are attached, you will be making a big decision by the coming weekend thanks, to the approaching full moon of June 23.
Leo July 23 to Aug. 22
 This week you are about to see how dearly a close friend believes in you and wants to see you do well. With the meeting of the Sun and Jupiter, June 19, producing the luckiest day of the year in your house of people and events, you are about to have an amazingly social week. Be sure to be out and about, circulating to your heart's content. Very early in the week you may find yourself at the airport to travel to a big event, such as for a wedding, reunion, or trade show, at a location far from home. It's a wonderful week, and one of the high points of the year.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Infosys braces for stormy AGM today, Murthy’s return irks investor advisory firm
Co-founders and the board of India’s second-largest global software major Infosys Ltd are bracing for a stormy 32nd annual general meeting (AGM) – over a “son rise” - today.
Though analysts and market watchers hailed the dramatic return of its iconic co-founder NR Narayana Murthy as executive chairman from June 1 to steer the fortunes of the beleaguered IT bellwether, the appointment of his son Rohan Murthy as his executive assistant did not go well with the $7-billion company’s investors and industry observers.
Moreover, Institutional Investor Advisory Services (IiAS), an investor advisory firm, believes that by reappointing Murthy, Infosys has compromised on the very principles it so strongly advocated during its rise to the top, according to a CNN IBN report.
The argument is that Murthy’s appointment has led to amendments to at least three key principles of Infosys:
1. the retirement age for executives and non-executives
2. that founder children do not take up executive roles.
3. bringing back the post of executive chairman, which had been done away with at Murthy’s retirement.
Amit Tandon, managing director, Institutional Investor Advisory Services, told the Business Standard that Murthy’s return is a move that turns the clock back for the company. “Having trumpeted their corporate governance practices, one expected higher standards from this company,” he said.
The sudden manner in which Murthy was reinstated through a board meeting called on the basis of a shareholder notice too has raised eyebrows.
Even market regulator Sebi has sought details from Infosys about a board meeting held on the day founder N R Narayana Murthy was re-appointed to an executive role in the company.
“Why didn’t Infosys inform stock exchanges that they have received a notice from a shareholder and they are likely to take it to the board on June 1, because then they had the knowledge? They can’t say this board meeting was convened all of a sudden on June 1. I don’t think these two things are going together, it can’t be sudden,” Anil Singhvi, founder director of IiAS told CNN IBN.
The other issue IiAS has raised has to do with the re-appointment of two independent directors – Omkar Goswami and DM Satwalekar.
IiAS argues that Goswami has been on the Infosys board for 13 years and Satwalekar for 16 years – more than the maximum nine years allowed by the company. So if the two can no longer be counted as independent directors, only 44 percent of the Infosys board is independent whereas it should be 56 percent.
IiAS is also opposed to the re-appointment of BSR & Co as auditors of the company as they have been auditors for 15 years and no auditor rotation has happened in seven years.
IiAS, however, supports proposals to re-appoint SD Shibulal, R Seshasayee and Srinath Batni as directors and the appointment of Leo Puri to replace Sridhar Iyengar.
Murthy’s return to the helm also abruptly cuts short the five-year tenure of outgoing non-executive chairman K.V. Kamath, who will be a lead independent director on the board.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Avoid these foods to avoid constipation
Constipation is an uncomfortable condition. Previously, we covered the foods that you must eat on a regular basis to tackle constipation.
On the other side of the healthy-unhealthy food spectrum, there are also some popular foods that you should avoid if you want to stay away from constipation. We give you 5 foods to exclude from your diet.
Processed food: Whether it is frozen foods or burgers and pizzas, it is going to make your mornings hard to get through, literally. When food is preserved and ready to eat, vital nutrients are drained out, plus the ingredients used are cheap. For example, all purpose flour or maida is used practically in all pizzas, breads and instant noodles.
Bottomline: Processed food has less fiber hence they linger in your system causing discomfort.
Bakery goodies: Nankhatais, kharis and tea biscuits are rich in sugar and fat. They may go well with tea and coffee, but lack fiber. But there's a solution to these good old treats, increase your fiber intake, and balance it out.
Bottomline: Sugar may go straight to your thigh, but it can also be the cause of constipation.
Red Meat without supplementing meals with vegetables: If you consume pork or beef regularly, without veggies on the side, you may have already experienced constipation. Make it a habit to accompany this precious chunk of meat with salad, cooked vegetables, and whole grain cereal; something that is rich in fiber.
Bottomline: Guess how long it takes to digest meat? No, you're wrong, it takes 90 hours to partially digest meat.
Caffeine: So no one can give up coffee, black tea and colas. They give you the much needed buzz to start your day and keep you going through strenuous meetings, commutes, and just about everything else. Unhealthy dependency aside, caffeine dehydrates the human body and dehydration is one of the main causes of constipation.
Bottomline: If you're addicted to caffeine, it's better to cut down and supplement it with food rich in fiber.
Oily food: Chips and fast foods are tempting, even for those who are determined to eat healthy. But the more oily and salty your food is, the higher your chances of developing some digestive health issues as you cross over from your 20s to the 30s. Foods that are deep fried and soaked in oil like French fries slows down the digestive process.
Bottomline: Fight your cravings and every time you feel tempted to order a round of French fries make sure you drink enough water and eat enough veggies before or after.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Virgo Aug. 23 to Sept. 22
Your career is on the rise, dear Virgo. The Sun and Jupiter will join forces in your tenth house of career success / prestige / honors this week, so look your best. All eyes will be on you. You may be interviewed by the press or meet with a very high level person. Also this week, energy planet Mars, now in the same dazzling career part of your chart, will signal Uranus. This may trigger a large advance, commission, royalty, licensing fee, or bonus for you. Some sort of large one-time payment will surprise and delight you. In all, this will be a landmark time for professional matters and money, especially June 17, 18, and 19.
Libra Sept. 23 to Oct. 22
A sensational week lies ahead, and the good news starts rolling in the week's first few days. On Sunday, June 16 through Wednesday, June 19, Mars will be in ideal angle to Uranus, planet of surprise, so you may hear good news about higher travel, international commerce, immigration matters, higher education, and publishing / broadcasting opportunities. By June 19 Jupiter will conjoin the Sun, the luckiest day of the year. Be sure to act in one or two days BEFORE June 19 arrives, to catch the energy as it mounts!
Scorpio Oct. 23 to Nov. 21
 You're now in an important financial week, even stronger than anything you've seen in prior weeks. Life can't always be this sweet, but while it is, hurry to finish a deal that you feel holds the great potential. When Jupiter (good fortune, happiness) conjoins the Sun on June 19, it brings the luckiest day of the year. June 17 and 18, days leading to this day, will be just as special. Your career is on fire, so press forward. Compensation involving bonus, royalty, commission, company benefits, or approvals for loans / investments should be generous now. After June 19, your money vibrations will fade. Make the most of them now!
Sagittarius Nov. 22 to Dec. 21
If you were planning to get engaged or wed, this would be the week to do it! With Jupiter, planet of happiness, to meet with the Sun, it's a divine week to promise your love forever. You can also sign a contract this week for a business partnership, and if you are ready to sign, do so June 17, 18, or 19. Long distance travel is coming up as a big possibility, too, this week. Could it be a honeymoon? Possibly! It also may be a trip you take with your business partner to see a client far from you, even possibly overseas. It's a strong week, and you'll also be on the same page with your personal partner, making life very special indeed.
Capricorn Dec. 22 to Jan. 19
 An assignment coming in now should thrill you and be just your cup of tea. With Jupiter aligning with the Sun, June 19, the project on your desk will allow you to showcase your talents in a very effective way. Take it seriously - it may lead to a promotion in October and allow you to make a name for yourself. If self-employed, you may now bring in very lucrative new business, so plan to have presentations on June 17, 18, or 19 for best luck. Do you need to hire recruits for your department? Do so on the days just listed. In matters of health and/or fitness, you have the best possible outlook for feeling better and for medical procedures your doctor wants you to do to go well.
Aquarius Jan. 20 to Feb. 18
 Your outlook for romance could not be better! Jupiter, giver of gifts, luck and even miracles, will meet in your house of true love on June 19, making all the days this week that fall on and before this day to glitter and glow. If finding new love is high on your list, you must circulate this week. Jupiter, the good fortune planet, will have his annual meeting with the Sun on June 19 - the luckiest day of the year. This year, these two heavenly bodies will meet in your house of true love, in the ideal sign for Aquarius - Gemini. Wow! Your creative efforts and collaborations will do exceptionally well, too. This week has your name written all over it!
Pisces Feb. 19 to March 20
In the front part of the week to come, you are about to see enormous family support and financial luck. An inheritance may come through when the courts finalize the disbursement of funds from an estate, or you may make quite a superb real estate deal, and this would be true whether you buy or sell the property. Any kind of initiative related to your home (or vacation home), such as to renovate, do repairs, or fix things up, is bound to go well, especially if you agree to the deal in the first part of this week. Jupiter will meet with the Sun on June 19, bringing on the luckiest day of the year. Financially, things should go better than you ever expected. Stay optimistic!
|
|
|
|
Moral Story
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.”
Museum Watchman: That's a 500 year old statue you have broken.
Funny Short Man: Thanks God! I thought it was a new one.
|
|
|
|
|
|
DU cutoffs unlikely to rise for English, economics, commerce
NEW DELHI: Here's some good news for Delhi University aspirants. There is unlikely to be any major increase in cutoffs for commerce, English and economics this year. These subjects are the top gainers in the seat re-appropriation process, meaning that the number of seats available in them has increased substantially.
However, Delhi University officials said cutoffs would not decrease due to a 10% increase in the number of high scorers at class XII level. In fact, cutoffs for BTech courses are likely to see a significant increase.
Under its new four-year-undergraduate programme, DU will discontinue courses like BA, BSc and BCom and re-appropriate the seats to other bachelor programmes. These courses used to have around 15,000 seats of the total 54,000 seats across colleges.
According to the updated seat strength, commerce has the highest intake, followed by English, economics and mathematics. The commerce intake has been increased to 12,455 from 6,500 in 2012, while the English intake will be 4,375 this year against 3,500 last year. The intake in economics will rise by nearly 1,200 seats to 4,302 this year. The mathematics intake will be 3,250.
"These subjects got the maximum of the re-appropriated seats because the majority of the BA seats were distributed among economics, English and political science, while the BCom programme's 6,000 odd seats went to the commerce programme. Similarly the biggest gainers because of the discontinuation of BSc programme are physics and chemistry," said dean of students' welfare J M Khurana.
"Cutoffs will not see any major changes and definitely no decrease if we go by the number of high scorers in class XII and the increased applications in DU," said Khurana. "While it is unlikely that the cutoffs will dip anywhere, it is also a fact that there is hardly much scope for any significant increase as well," said principal of SRCC, P C Jain.
But according to the DSW's office, BTech courses are likely to see a significant increase in cutoffs owing to the large number of applicants with high scores. "This year BTech in electronics, computer science, food technology and even polymer science is likely to see a jump in cutoff as many engineering aspirants would prefer to join the four-year programme in DU rather than opt for a private college with exorbitant fees," said Khurana.
DU colleges will stat issuing the cutoffs by the end of this month with the first cutoff to be declared on June 27. Timely action may save historic Yamuna bridge.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Saina Nehwal in semifinals of the Indonesia Open
HYDERABAD: Pushed to the wall, Saina Nehwal roared back to enter the semifinals of the Indonesia Open Super Series Premier in Jakarta on Friday.
However, it was curtains for the Indian challenge in men's singles as RMV Gurusaidutt and Ajay Jayaram bowed out in the quarterfinals. While Guru lost to Tommy Sugiarto of Hong Kong 21-19, 11-21, 10-21, Jayaram was ousted by Marc Zwiebler of Germany 16-21, 15-21.
After clinching the first game easily, Saina was tested in the second but managed to prevail over Caroline Marin of Spain 21-16, 21-19 in the quarterfinals. Trialing 16-19 in the second game, Saina secured five consecutive points to silence the world No. 27.
"It was a nice experience. The new generation players are proving to be tough customers. I was a little cautious as she is a lefty and thus decided to play a safe game against her," Saina told TOI.
A bit weary after the tough encounter on Thursday, Saina, who is yet to return to full fitness, exploited the weaknesses of the Spaniard. Though Marin came with a clear plan of not allowing the Indian near the net, Saina, a great player at the net, managed to surprise the inexperienced Marin with some delightful cross court drives.
Sensing that the left-handed Marin was a bit vulnerable on her right side, Saina fired a few low half-smashes to the rival's backhand side and extracted a few points. Marin matched the Indian till the half-way stage in the first game. The world No. 2 quickly realized the gameplan of Marin and tried to change the pace of the game by engaging her in rallies. She slowly went ahead at 14-12 and widened the margin to 19-15.
Marin began on a confident note in the second. A tired Saina caught up with Marin at 10-10 but after a couple of strokes landed wide, Saina lost the momentum.
She soon widened the margin to 15-19. The Indian was back in the game with a powerful overhead smash that just landed in the backhand corner. Saina will now meet Juliane Schenk in the semifinals on Saturday.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Enemmy
|
|
|
|
Enemmy
Movie Name : Enemmy
Release Date : June 21, 2013
Genre : Crime, Thriller
Producer : Yogeeta Bali
Director : Ashu Trikha
Music Director : Bappa Lahiri, Gourov Dasgupta
Cast : Suniel Shetty, Kay Kay Menon, Mithun Chakraborty, Mahaakshay Chakraborty, Johny Lever, Uvika Chaudhary, Zakir Hussain, Mumait Khan, Akshay Kapoor, Priyanka Upendra.
Synopsis:
A thriller set against the backdrop of the battle between the Mumbai mafia and cops, Enemmy is the story of four intrepid CID officers (Suniel Shetty, Kay Kay Menon, Johny Lever and Mahaakshay), who are entrusted with the responsibility of cracking down on the underworld and cleaning up the city by any and all means possible.
When the four cops initiate an investigation and manage to nab Mukhtar Memon (Zakir Hussain), a crime lord, everyone heaves a sigh of relief. However, the relief is short-lived and after a brief spell of peace, the gang wars start again, shocking everyone.
Deciding to up the ante, the dynamic political leader R.G, who had unleashed the CID sleuths, sends in a CBI officer (Mithun Chakraborty) to Mumbai to get to the bottom of things. However, what the officer discovers is that the gang-war is merely a façade to find out about a heist, in which two truckloads of hard cash were stolen from Memon, who will stop at nothing to get his money back.
The question is...who is crazy enough to steal from the king of the city
underworld? Thus begins a cat-and-mouse game between the characters of the
film that keeps the story line interesting right to the logical end of the film.
|
| |
|
|
|
|
Unless food is mixed with saliva you can't taste it
|
|
" INSPIRING STORY "
The Wet Pants
There is a nine-year-old kid sitting at his desk and all of a sudden, there is a puddle between his feet and the front of his pants are wet.
He thinks his heart is going to stop because he cannot possibly imagine how this has happened. It’s never happened before, and he knows that when the boys find out he will never hear the end of it..
When the girls find out, they’ll never speak to him again as long as he lives.
The boy believes his heart is going to stop; he puts his head down and prays this prayer, “Dear God, this is an emergency!
I need help now! Five minutes from now I’m dead meat.” He looks up from his prayer and here comes the teacher with a look in her eyes that says he has been discovered.
As the teacher is walking toward him, a classmate named Susie is carrying a goldfish bowl that is filled with water. Susie trips in front of the teacher and inexplicably dumps the bowl of water in the boy’s lap.
The boy pretends to be angry, but all the while is saying to himself, “Thank you, Lord! Thank you, Lord!”
Now all of a sudden, instead of being the object of ridicule, the boy is the object of sympathy. The teacher rushes him downstairs and gives him gym shorts to put on while his pants dry out.
All the other children are on their hands and knees cleaning up around his desk. The sympathy is wonderful.
But as life would have it, the ridicule that should have been his has been transferred to someone else – Susie. She tries to help, but they tell her to get out. “You’ve done enough, you klutz!”
Finally, at the end of the day, as they are waiting for the bus, the boy walks over to Susie and whispers, “You did that on purpose, didn’t you?”
Susie whispers back, “I wet my pants once too.”
Moral:
All of us go through all good and bad things in life.
We should always remember how we felt when we were in same condition and should not mock others for being in it.
Always try to understand their situation as if you are in it and help much as possible praying to god that today you are in a condition to help someone who needs it.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
At one point in your life you either have the thing you want or the reasons why you don't.
|
|
|
