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“Life itself was only futility, vain words, a squabble of cap and bells. ”
| VBA's Positive News |
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Thai talks aim to curb violence for fasting month
Thai government and Muslim separatist negotiators said Thursday they hope to curb violence in insurgency-wracked southern provinces during the upcoming Muslim fasting month. The two sides issued a statement after holding a round of peace talks in Malaysia seeking an 'expression of sincerity, goodwill, and trust' during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan that begins in July. 'When we commit to peace, we must trust each other. This is the first step,' Nipat Thonglek, a senior member of the Thai government negotiating team, told reporters.
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South Africa: Top accreditation for the UCT Graduate School of Business
The University of Cape Town's Graduate School of Business (GSB) has received accreditation from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), making it one of the few business schools in the world to hold the prestigious title of being 'triple-crown' accredited. Director of the GSB, Walter Baets, stated, 'This has implications not just for the GSB but for business education in South Africa and the African continent more generally. We are showing the world that African business schools can be taken seriously.'
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Europe seeks ways to ease youth unemployment
Economic and labour ministers from France, Germany, Italy, and Spain are meeting in Rome to find a way to reduce record youth unemployment. Italian Premier Enrico Letta has made finding jobs for the young one of the battle cries of his new administration. Businesses are urging governments to lower payroll taxes to create jobs.
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New bridge opens between Bulgaria and Romania
A new bridge linking Bulgaria and Romania across the Danube River was opened Friday with hopes that it will spur growth in one of Europe's poorest regions. The 282 million euros ($375 million) project was backed by 106 million euros from the European Union, which both countries joined in 2007; the rest came from national financing and private investments. The cable-stayed, steel and concrete bridge has two traffic lanes in each direction, a railway line, two pedestrian paths and a bicycle track. Overall, the bridge is 3,598 meters (11,804 feet) long, with 1,791 meters over the river.
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Video of the Day:
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World Round-Up
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Narendra Modi in favour of BJP-JD(U) ties, asks Rajnath Singh to speak to Nitish Kumar
Patna: As the Bihar Chief Minister remains firm on breaking ties with the Bharatiya Janata Party, the Bihar NDA convenor Nand Kishore Yadav and Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Modi have reportedly refused to meet Nitish Kumar. The Bihar Chief Minister had called a meeting with the BJP leaders on Saturday to discuss the JD(U)-BJP ties.
Meanwhile, sources on Saturday said that Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi has asked BJP President Rajnath Singh to make serious attempts to reach out to Nitish Kumar. The BJP has suggested to the JD(U) that it should not break the alliance and should wait till the NDA announces its PM candidate, top BJP sources told CNN-IBN.
The sources also said that 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.
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Astrology
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Aries March 21 to April 19
You might want to take a long, hard look at your legacy. You might have lingering thoughts regarding your past and how you got to where you are today. With Saturn and Neptune in a rare alignment, the time might be perfect for opening up that area of your life and remembering those in your life who left a lasting impression on you and your approach to life. It might feel very encouraging.
Taurus April 20 to May 20
This may be a fruitful time for expressing your thoughts, especially with your partner. You may have differences of opinion, and this may be a harmonious time to see what they are. You may have business associations that could benefit your partner and vice versa. The conversation might simply be about doing the right thing with the right people. This may allow you to be a very positive influence if you can manage to take the high road by emphasizing good values and honesty.
Gemini May 21 to June 20
 You may be working on a long-term project that requires high-quality intellectual concentration. This project may suit your curiosity quite well, even if you become distracted along the way. Expect details, analysis, and perhaps working with in-depth creative photography, video, or editing software. You may also find that if you can remain dedicated to your work, the benefits will far outweigh the time you have invested.
Cancer June 21 to July 22
Your creativity may be linked to learning a new practice. You may find that using new tools adds an entirely new dimension to your work. While the time spent in learning may be time-consuming, you would do well to take the time and see it through. The type of information you may glean from this kind of exposure may serve you well down the road, so take good notes and be alert and ready to receive.
Leo July 23 to Aug. 22
 This may be an opportune time to check with a lawyer to see if you have any documents that require updating. Insurance policies, wills, estates, and the like are valuable, and they simply require updating now and then. You'll be glad you took the time to send out a query to ensure that things are up-to-date. The same may be true for passports and other documents.
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Tax raid tarnishes India's gold industry: association
A raid by dozens of tax inspectors on RiddiSiddhi Bullions, one of India's biggest gold traders, this week has tarnished the reputation of an industry worth more than $70 billion a year and put at risk its access to funding, a bullion importers' group said.
"The jewellers' fraternity, be it small or big, is feeling disgraced that we've been made to look so negative," Mohit Kamboj, president of the Bombay Bullion Association, told a news conference in Mumbai on Friday.
Income tax officials this week swooped on about 50 offices of RiddiSiddhi Bullions, a leading gold importer.
The raid was part of a probe into financial transactions for suspected bogus imports and exports, said Swatantra Kumar Singh, director general of investigations at the tax department.
Prithviraj Kothari, managing director of RiddiSiddhi Bullions, could not be reached by telephone for comment.
He said in an emailed statement to news media that he would cooperate fully with the authorities and described their action as a "routine survey".
The probe coincided with a drive by the government to rein in imports of gold by a country that is already the world's largest buyer of bullion. Gold imports, which hit a monthly record of 162 tonnes in May, are largely to blame for a ballooning current account deficit.
Other jewellers and dealers were also raided in Mumbai's Zaveri Bazaar, a maze of narrow streets and dilapidated shops that is home to India's biggest bullion market, Singh told Reuters in a text message.
He said on June 12 that tax officials had seized about $1.4 million from Kothari's head office in the centre of Zaveri Bazaar and other offices of the company across India.
India's appetite for gold is vast, with imports hitting a record 969 tonnes in 2011. The government moved this month to tame demand with a 50 percent hike in import duty to 8 percent.
India used to ban imports of gold and most of it was smuggled into the country until the 1990s, when controls were relaxed.
Kamboj said the sensation caused by this week's raids had damaged relations between jewellers and banks, which are a major source of funding for an industry largely made up of small, family-run shops that cannot afford to carry large stocks.
"If any jeweller goes to a bank then they are treated as if they are frauds or smugglers," the association president said.
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Don't workout on an empty stomach
Gym-goers and athletes tend to push themselves on empty stomachs in the belief they'll burn up more fat.
Most believe in the theory that exercising on an empty stomach will make the body use up fat reserves and covert it into energy instead of the glucose or carbohydrates that may be readily available from a meal or a drink before the workout.
But while it seems to make sense, research now shows that exercising on an empty stomach doesn't offer any benefit and may actually work against you.
According to a recent report published this year in a fitness journal in the US, it has been established that the body burns the same amount of fat irrespective of whether you eat before or after a workout.
But the problem arises in the fact that dizzy spells notwithstanding, you will lose muscle by exercising in a state of hunger.
The study also found that and without food to help the workout, the intensity of the exercise and the total calorie burn will be reduced. So, that leaves you not only exhausted, but with less muscle and no energy to burn more fat.
The studies found that when people trained with nothing in their stomachs, about 10 percent of the calories they burned came from protein, including muscle.
In an earlier study, researchers had found that eating light before a meal was beneficial. Those who consumed 45 grams of carbohydrates before their workouts ended up eating less through the rest of the day.
Experts now advise a light meal of oats or even a milkshake before a workout will go a long way in extending the benefits of the time spent in a gym.
Those pushing the heavy ones in the hope of building muscle are well advised to go the Dara Singh way of egg 'n' milkshake.
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Virgo Aug. 23 to Sept. 22
An intriguing, in-depth talk with your partner may bring out a completely new side of him or her. Conversations sometimes take on a life of their own. This might be the case as your talk meanders around. You may discover new interests and insights of which you were unaware. Your partner might share hopes and dreams, and you may reply in similar fashion. This may deepen your bond and connection to each other.
Libra Sept. 23 to Oct. 22
Financial matters may occupy part of your day with accounting and other detail-oriented work. The time spent on tightening up your accounts may serve you quite well, especially if you are able to find new ways to save. Areas that might be worth looking at include health care expenses and benefits, including wellness programs and athletic clubs. Health-related topics may require scrutiny, so make time to delve into them a little more deeply.
Scorpio Oct. 23 to Nov. 21
 This may be an excellent time to make plans for a party or other event. You may choose a family event or work toward a fun outing that involves the theater or photography. This type of event may work well to relax and invigorate you as you find new ways to restore yourself. Approaching life with a more open view works much better as you will learn to let things slide off your back instead of building up inside.
Sagittarius Nov. 22 to Dec. 21
Family plans may take up part of your time as you explain your ideas to relatives and seek their support for one of your new projects. You may be in a transitional mode that requires insight from those who know you best. Conversations may reveal how willing your family can be when it comes to offering support and plenty of advice. While ideas may be far-fetched, you may also consider them as just another way of looking at your possibilities.
Capricorn Dec. 22 to Jan. 19
 A group discussion may reveal a new approach to conversations, planning committees, and public relations. This may be a good time for seeking grants, scholarships, and other correspondence that can boost your profile, especially in organizations with which you regularly engage. Collaboration may also be helpful since you may not have all the answers. If you can find a way to get solid advice from others, you may be able to craft your entries in a more enlightened and detailed manner.
Aquarius Jan. 20 to Feb. 18
 This may a day to figure out the budget, once and for all. You may look for hidden money and find that by researching your records, you may find resources that were tucked away. A little extra work in this area may yield just what you have needed. Even though the work may be detailed and time-consuming, you will be happier if you find the gold.
Pisces Feb. 19 to March 20
You may be responsible for teaching a new therapy or training tool. Teaching and traveling together make for a winning combination, even if the journey is long. You may find that an eager audience lifts your spirits and makes the effort worth it in the long run. If you can deliver an important message and have your words and knowledge sink in with others, you may find the situation incredibly gratifying.
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Moral Story
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SMS
“Life has a value only when it has something valuable as its object.”
LOVE & RELATIONSHIPS
"True love doesn't mean being inseparable; it means being separated and nothing changes."
LEADERSHIP & SUCCESS
“No man will make a great leader who wants to do it all himself or get all the credit for doing it.”
A Funny short man & his wife go to a coffee house. Funny short man buys 2 cups of coffee.
Funny Man: Drink quickly... drink quickly... before it gets cold.
Wife: But why...
Funny Man: They charge Rs. 50 for hot coffee and Rs 100 for cold coffee.
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Post-SSC engineering diploma centralized admission process to start from Monday
PUNE: The centralized admission process (CAP) for the first-year post-SSC (Std X) diploma courses in engineering and technology is all set to commence from Monday. The new academic year will begin from July 25 while the cut-off date for all diploma admissions is August 10.
A total of 1,73,467 seats in 482 government-run, aided and private unaided polytechnic institutions across the state will be available for allotment through the centralized process, conducted by the state director of technical education (DTE). The DTE has released a detailed schedule of post-SSC diploma CAP activity which has also been posted on its official website: http://www.dte.org.in/poly2013.
Students, who have cleared their standard X exam conducted by the Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education or equivalent boards with a minimum 35% aggregate marks, are eligible to apply for admission through the CAP.
In all, 69 engineering and technology diploma courses have been listed in the DTE's information brochure for admissions this year. The courses include conventional civil, electrical, mechanical, instrumentation, information technology and computer diplomas, among others.
Other courses include a wide range of off-beat diplomas like apparel manufacturing and design, leather technology, fabrication, fashion and clothing technology, marine, manmade fibre technology, medical electronics, ophthalmic technology, packaging technology, production engineering, production technology, plant engineering and even travel and tourism.
There will be three rounds of admissions through CAP; the first two rounds would require students to furnish separate online preference forms while the third round will be by way of counseling at the designated government polytechnics, to be named in due course by the DTE.
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Brazil face Japan in Confederations Cup opener
BRASILIA: Brazil clash with Japan in Brasilia on Saturday in the opening game of the Confederations Cup, an appetizer for the World Cup, which they will host next year.
The two-week tournament, which ends June 30, gets underway after nationwide protests over higher transport prices and amid resentment over the huge investments made for sporting events while deep social inequality festers.
A three-time winner, Brazil are aiming for a fourth title but face stiff competition from Spain, Italy, Uruguay, Mexico, Nigeria, Japan and Tahiti.
The eight teams are divided in two groups of four, with the two top teams from each group advancing to the semifinals.
If Brazil win Group A, they will then travel to Belo Horizonte -- for a June 26 semifinal against either reigning South American champions Uruguay or African champions Nigeria, assuming current World Cup champions Spain win Group B.
But a young Brazil squad, under Luiz Felipe Scolari and currently in 22nd place in the FIFA rankings, first needs to get past four-time Asian Cup champions Japan.
"We need to beat Japan," coach Scolari said Friday. "Losing the first game puts you in a very uncomfortable position."
Brazil's young prodigy Neymar, who has just signed for Barcelona from Santos, warned that the Japanese, coached by the hugely-experienced Italian Alberto Zaccheroni, should not be taken lightly.
The two teams have met nine times since 1989, with seven wins for the Brazilians and two draws.
The Confederations Cup is seen as a key test of Brazil's readiness to stage its first World Cup since 1950 a year from now.
All eyes will be on Neymar, widely viewed as Pele's heir apparent, who has come under fire from the demanding Brazilian fans for failing to score a single goal in nine games for club and country.
"We are going to do our very best to win, not only to win the Confederations Cup, but more importantly the World Cup (next year)," said the flashy 21-year-old star, with his eccentric, perpetually changing haircut.
On Friday, Scolari, who led the Selecao to a record fifth World Cup in Tokyo 11 years ago, sprang to Neymar's defence, telling reporters: "He does not wear 11 jerseys but one -- he is part of a team.
"He has done what is requested of him with a lot of dedication," he added. "We want him to be a useful, team player -- that is what makes a good player."
The build-up to the tournament has been overshadowed by at times violent demonstrations in several cities over higher mass-transit fares and the high cost of organizing the sporting events.
Police made hundreds of arrests in Sao Paulo, Brazil's business capital, as well as Rio de Janeiro and Porto Alegre after thousands of youths blocked thoroughfares to protest hikes in transport fares.
Authorities in Sao Paulo condemned acts of vandalism by angry youths but also promised an investigation into charges of police brutality.
In Brasilia, 400 homeless activists burned tires and blocked access to the National Stadium, one of the six host arenas for the Confederations Cup, to protest what they see a land grab by authorities to prepare for the major sporting events.
Many people are frustrated at the millions being spent on the football facilities - $475 million dollars for the Brasilia arena alone - rather than on reducing deep social inequality.
Late Friday, 200 people marched peacefully down Sao Paulo's main Avenida Paulista, also to condemn the country's huge investments in the sporting events.
Some 355,000 Brazilians and foreign tourists are expected to watch games in the six host cities: Brasilia, Belo Horizonte, Fortaleza, Recife, Rio and Salvador.
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Enemmy
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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.
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The average person falls asleep in 7 minutes.
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" INSPIRING STORY "
The story of Rantideva
A hand is odorned with daanam rather than with kankanaas. Daanam must be done expecting absolutely nothing in return, admiring the greatness of the dana-grahita, for giving the daata an opportunity to help the grahita.
Stories of great Daatas are huge in number in our Indian history, who gave away everything they had. King Rantideva is well known not only in Bhuloka, but also in the urdhva lokas for his daana gunam.
Rantideva never endeavored to earn anything for himself. He would enjoy whatever he got by vidhi and when atithis came he would give them what they needed.
He gave away everything he had to the poor and underwent considerable suffering, along with the members of his family.
Finally, he and his family members did not even get food and water, yet Rantideva always was always satisfied — a sthita pragnya.
One morning, after fasting for forty-eight days, Rantideva received some water and some paramaannam (paayasam with rice, milk and ghee).
Just when about to eat them, a brahmana atithi arrived. Because Rantideva perceived the presence of the Paramaatma everywhere, and in every living entity, he received the atithi with faith and respect and gave him a share of the paramaannam.
The brahmana ate his share and left the place satisfied.
Thereafter, having divided the remaining paramaannam with his family, Rantideva was just about to eat his own share when another atithi, a shudra arrived.
Seeing the shudra in relationship with the Purushottama, King Rantideva gave him also a share of the paramaannam.
When the shudra went away, another atithi arrived, surrounded by dogs, and said, “O King, I and my company of dogs are very hungry. Please give us something to eat.”
With great respect, King Rantideva offered the balance of the paramaannam to the dogs and the master of the dogs, who had come as atithis.
Thereafter, only the drinking water remained, and there was only enough to satisfy one person, but when the King was just about to drink it, a chandaala appeared and said, “O King, although I am lowborn, kindly give me some drinking water.”
Aggrieved at hearing the pitiable words of the poor fatigued chandaala, Rantideva spoke the following madhura vaakyas. “I do not pray to the Lord for the ashta siddhis, nor for vimukti from samsaara saagaram.
I want to stay among all the living entities and suffer all distresses on their behalf, so that they may be freed from suffering.
By offering my water to maintain the life of this poor chandaala, who is struggling to live, I have been freed from all hunger, thirst, fatigue, trembling of the body, moroseness, distress, lamentation and illusion”.
The trimurtis appeared before Rantideva, satisfied by his daatrutvam and bless him.
They revealed that they had come in the forms of the brahmana, shudra and chandaala in order to test his karuna, daya and daatrutvam.
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When Love and determination work together expect a masterpiece.
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