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All life is an experiment. The more experiments you make the better.
| VBA's Positive News |
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At start of visit to China, UN chief highlights partnership for peace, stability
Meeting with Chinese leaders in Beijing on 19 June, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon discussed a range topics central to the agenda of the United Nations regarding peace and security, human rights and development, as well as the situation in Syria and the Korean peninsula. In talks with President Xi Jinping, Mr Ban commended China for its commitment to multilateralism, its strong support to the United Nations and the country's expanding role and contribution to the organization's work, including its engagement in addressing climate challenges.
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US: Solar chargers for mobile phones debut in New York City
New York City unveiled the first of 25 free solar charging stations for mobile phones on Tuesday, installed in response to Superstorm Sandy, which wiped out power and forced residents to walk miles to charge their phones. The Street Charge stations are New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg's latest answer to flaws in infrastructure and operations exposed by the historic storm. Located throughout the city's five boroughs, the charging stations are part of a public-private partnership with AT&T, according to a news release. Powered by solar panels, they will work day or night, in sun or shade, the statement said.
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Scottish crime at lowest levels since 1974
Crime has fallen to a 39-year low, with homicide, violence, and possession of an offensive weapon all down sharply in Scotland. Homicides were down by a quarter, attempted murder and serious assault fell 22 per cent, and robbery was down 18 per cent. The recession has not led to the rise in thefts that many people predicted. Police have also been more successful at investigating crimes, with 51 per cent 'cleared up' -- where there is enough evidence to decide whether to bring a prosecution -- compared with 49 per cent in each of the previous three years.
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Afghanistan: Taliban offer to free US soldier as part of peace negiotions - AP exclusive
The Afghan Taliban are ready to free a US soldier held captive since 2009 in exchange for five of their senior operatives imprisoned at Guantanamo Bay as a conciliatory gesture, a senior spokesman for the group said Thursday. The offer to exchange US Army Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl for the Afghan detainees came as an Afghan government spokesman said President Hamid Karzai is now willing to join planned peace talks with the Taliban -- provided that the Taliban flag and nameplate are removed from the militant group's newly opened political office in Doha, the capital of the Gulf state of Qatar. Karzai also wants a formal letter from the United States supporting the Afghan government. On Thursday, the 'Islamic Emirate' nameplate had been removed from the Taliban office.
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Video of the Day:
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World Round-Up
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Uttarakhand floods: BJP chief asks party workers to donate funds
New Delhi: The Bharatiya Janata Party on Friday expressed concern over the devastation caused by the floods in Uttarakhand with party president Rajnath Singh asking workers to donate funds for relief.
After returning from a tour of the affected areas, Singh called for relief work on a large scale.
"He has appealed to the BJP workers and the people, especially the traders and trade organizations, to come forward at this moment of national calamity and cooperate in providing relief," the BJP said in a statement. Funds for relief are being collected by the BJP as the "BJP Disaster Relief Fund".
Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi tweeted that he is going to Uttarakhand on Friday. Sources said he will spend the night in Dehradun and do an aerial survey on Saturday.
BJP leader M Venkaiah Naidu donated Rs 50 lakh from his MPLAD Fund for the flood victims and their families.
Several pilgrims from Andhra Pradesh are stranded in parts of Uttarakhand. Naidu demanded that this "unprecedented nature's fury be declared a national calamity".
He spoke to Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde to impress upon him the need to extend all possible assistance, including logistical support in terms of additional choppers and other such instruments to rescue those stranded.
BJP spokesperson Prakash Javadekar referred to a proposed foreign trip by Uttarkhand Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna and said it is good that he has cancelled it.
Helpline numbers:
Uttarkashi: 01374-226126, 226161
Chamoli: 01372-251437
Tehri: 01376-233433
Rudraprayag: 01732-1077
The ITBP helpline and control room numbers: 011-24362892, 9968383478
Army medical emergency helpline numbers: 18001805558, 18004190282, 8009833388
Uttarakhand Helpline numbers: 0135-2710334, 2710335, 2710233
Railway helpline numbers at Haridwar: 09760534054/09760534055;
Dehradun: 01352622131;
Rishikesh: 01352434167
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Astrology
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Aries March 21 to April 19
Good fortune Jupiter's move into Cancer on June 25 this week will stay until July 16, 2014. This is big news for you, for Jupiter will work hard to improve your living situation. If you have to move, Jupiter will see to it that you find a space you'll love, one that is sunny and large. Do not settle for anything less than ideal. If you don't have to move, you will be able to fix up your present space in ways that will thrill you. Mercury will begin to retrograde this week too, from June 26 to July 20.
Taurus April 20 to May 20
In the coming week, and in the year ahead, you'll do more traveling, thanks to Jupiter in Cancer as of June 25, to stay through July 16, 2014. You'll find your accommodations charming - possibly even luxurious. You may need a new car, and if so, study the different models, but do not buy your car now, as Mercury will be out of phase from June 25 to July 20. Mercury retrograde periods are never the time to acquire electronics or machines or to make any expensive purchases. New car models will appear in July through October, and with Mercury retrograde now, chances are good that you'll find a model later that you'll like more and that will fit your needs better.
Gemini May 21 to June 20
 Your finances are due to see a major uptick, thanks to the arrival of good fortune Jupiter in your house of earned income on June 25. Jupiter will remain in this sector a full year, but next month - July - may be the best time to ask for a raise. Your increase in income will be directly related to ventures and discussions you had seeded from June 2012 to June 2013. Mercury, your ruler, will go retrograde this week from June 26 to July 20, so talks may proceed slowly. Be patient and refrain from signing contracts until after July 20.
Cancer June 21 to July 22
You have suffered from a number of frustrating circumstances over the past several years, so being a Cancer has not been easy. Now, your luck is about to change in a thrilling way. Jupiter, the giver of gifts and luck, will arrive in Cancer on June 25, after an absence of twelve years. Jupiter's will be at your side for the coming twelve months, until July 16, 2014, and will bring you noticeable gains on several fronts. You will be happier, and will often find yourself at the right place at the right time. VIPs will go out of their way to help you, and you will likely travel far in the coming year, most likely overseas.
Leo July 23 to Aug. 22
 Jupiter will change signs this week, an annual event, and will move into the most strategic and private places in your chart. Think deeply about what you hope to accomplish in your coming golden year that will extend next year, from July 2014 to August 2015. During that time, good fortune Jupiter will tour Leo, crowning you the cosmic favorite. Since we only get about eight such visits of Jupiter in our lifetime, you would be wise to think about your goals, and if you feel you have outgrown some, draw up new ones.
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Parekh warns against turning realty loans into home loans
MUMBAI: HDFC chairman Deepak Parekh has raised concerns over lenders structuring commercial real estate loans as home loans and sought to draw the attention of regulators to unhealthy business practices.
The warnings from the veteran of home loan industry comes at a time when the Reserve Bank of India relaxed risk weightage on loans to commercial real estate for housing.
"Construction finance should not, through any innovative structuring, be available to developers at the rate of interest being offered on individual home loans," said Parekh in his statement in the corporation's annual report.
"Borrowers must not be blinkered into believing that there are no risks when developers offer to pay interest on a borrower's loan for a specified period.
Borrowers have to be cautious because in the event of a developer delaying payment, the credit bureau reports will reflect this in the borrower's records, thereby impacting his or her credit worthiness," he added.
Parekh, who had earlier warned of a housing price bubble, once again said that home prices are inflated.
"At the cost of perhaps now sounding like a broken record, I continue to hold the stance that increasing supply is the only way home prices can come down in India. Even in Tier II and Tier III cities, home prices are inflated," he said.
For a lender, home loans are a better credit option than construction loans. This is partly because RBI encourages home loans through lower capital requirement.
"As a basic tenet, construction finance entails higher risks and therefore such risks have to be built into the pricing. Further, complete up-fronting of construction finance to developers, even before the ground is broken, is dangerous," said Parekh.
According to Parekh, regulators need to be vigilant and have their ear to the ground. "Red flags must be raised if schemes or products are detrimental to the system as a whole.
Unhealthy business practices can infiltrate into the system due to the herd mentality instinct and business compulsions. However, such breeding grounds must be nipped in the bud," he said.
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Are you getting enough fruits?
Fruits are delicious, juicy, fun to eat and healthy ingredients for great desserts; but are you getting enough fruits in your daily diet?
We use a lot of skin care products that boast of properties and vitamins from fruits, but why do we still select creams over natural fruits? Let's take a look at how many fruits you need to eat every day before you can say that you are getting enough fruits in your daily diet.
Based on a study in 2010 reported by the Dietary Guidelines of America, you need 1.5 - 2 cups of fruits daily, but 'the amount depends on the number of calories per day recommended for your healthy weight.'
(Via) Also, it is recommended that you eat five servings of fruits and veggies a day, but it depends on your age and gender: Women between the ages of 19-50 should eat 7-8 servings, while men should eat 8-10 servings.
And for those above 50, men and women should consume seven servings of fruits and vegetables a day.
All this preaching is in good spirit. Fruits help fight cancer, obesity and heart disease. Fruits provide nutritional vitamins. Certain fruits contain a good amount of natural sugar and fluids, which also keep us hydrated.
Fruits are rich in fiber, and are great for bowel movement and weight loss. It is also advised that you consume fruits whole, instead of skinned or juiced.
Tips on how to make fruits a part of your daily diet:
Since two cups of fruits are the norm, you can break this down into four servings a day; for instance, breakfast, mid day, mid evening and after dinner.
Avoid fruits from cans that mention preservatives like artificial sugar or high levels of salt, or processed fruits in the form of juices. Opt for fresh fruits as their nutritional value is higher. Try different seasonal fruits from time to time.
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Virgo Aug. 23 to Sept. 22
Two big events are coming up this week. The first has to do with your guardian planet, Mercury, going out of phase from June 26 to July 20. During this time, you will need to hold back on making big purchases. It is also not a time to sign contracts. The second big event happening this week is the monumental move of Jupiter into Cancer, to fill your house of friendship and social groups for nearly thirteen months, from June 25, 2013, to July 16, 2014.
Libra Sept. 23 to Oct. 22
Mercury will begin to retrograde in your career, so if you've been having talks, people you need to see may suddenly be out of town or strangely indecisive. As frustrating as this condition may be for you, it would be best not to press for answers. In the meantime, you may get a second career offer or think of questions that will be important for you to ask. The other major event this week will be the impending move of good fortune Jupiter to Cancer, to fill your house of career. You've not had Jupiter to help you in regard to professional matters since 2001-2002, so this is new and wonderful news.
Scorpio Oct. 23 to Nov. 21
 You are about to see heightened activity in your ninth house of long-distance travel, people based abroad, international commerce, and immigration, visas, and citizenship. The same house also rules publishing and broadcasting, higher education and legal matters. One of the areas is about to bring exceptionally good news as opportunity opens up. The new moon next month on July 8 will push things to a higher stage. Be ready to roll up your sleeves.
Sagittarius Nov. 22 to Dec. 21
You are about to come into a year filled with financial opportunity, and it all starts this week. Jupiter, your ruling planet and giver of gifts and luck, will enter your house of other people's money on June 25, to stay until July 16, 2014. In coming months, you will do well with bankers and other money types, whether you need a loan or mortgage, venture capitalists, or are given a large check as commission, royalty, or bonus. Or you may be given a scholarship, grant, or inheritance. There are many possibilities, and any of them will leave you feeling richer than you are now.
Capricorn Dec. 22 to Jan. 19
 This is a big week for everyone, for Jupiter, the lucky planet is about to move into a new sign, Cancer, for the first time in twelve years. This will turn your attention to coupling up for love or collaborating for business reasons. Undoubtedly, the coming year, starting June 25, you will start to see your best luck by working with a middleman, or by having someone represent you, the way an agent or lawyer would do for her clients.
Aquarius Jan. 20 to Feb. 18
 Jupiter, the giver of gifts and luck - the planet that brings happiness - will now move to your sixth house of work assignments, giving you the edge to get plum assignments that will be the envy of your co-workers and friends. If you need to hire workers for the office or to help you at home, Jupiter will allow you to find enthusiastic, qualified applicants. The sixth house also rules the steps you take to improve your health, and with Jupiter, also called the great healer, there, you can develop a sensible program that works for you..
Pisces Feb. 19 to March 20
You may have won the cosmic lottery when it comes to romance, for this week, on June 25, Jupiter, the great planet of good fortune, will enter fellow water sign Cancer, and fill your house of true love. Once there, Jupiter will help you to boost your love life until July 16, 2014. If single, you will have the best chance you've had to find your one true love in more than a decade, and if attached, you may choose to have a baby, for this phase will be an ideal time to get pregnant. All Pisces will travel more and socialize for more fun.
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Moral Story
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SMS
I can trust my friends These people force me to examine myself, encourage me to grow.
LOVE & RELATIONSHIPS
“Well, it seems to me that the best relationships - the ones that last - are frequently the ones that are rooted in friendship. You know, one day you look at the person and you see something more than you did the night before. Like a switch has been flicked somewhere. And the person who was just a friend is... suddenly the only person you can ever imagine yourself with.”
LEADERSHIP & SUCCESS
Leadership is solving problems. The day soldiers stop bringing you their problems is the day you have stopped leading them. They have either lost confidence that you can help or concluded you do not care. Either case is a failure of leadership.
School Teacher: What is common between Buddha, Jesus, Mahavir and Guru Nanak Dev Ji?
Student: All of them were born on Indian centre govt holidays!
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IIM, IIT study helps doctors manage time efficiently
AHMEDABAD: The ever increasing load of patient care is putting severe constraints on doctors' time for teaching and research. Professors from the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad (IIM-A) and the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT-B) have carried out a study to help doctors in a teaching hospital manage their time better.
The study - Planning the Activities of Doctors in a Teaching Hospital by IIM-A professors Debjit Roy and K V Ramani, and IIT-B professor Sahil Narang has drawn out alternate timetables for doctors to help them perform a variety of teaching, research, seminar, and in-patient care activities in addition to managing outpatient volumes.
For the study, the team focused on the Christian Medical College Hospital in Vellore, where doctors' daily workload has grown primarily due to large patient volumes. The hospital handled a daily load of 5,000 outpatients, 2,000 inpatients, and 125 surgeries and large student intake per year - about 2,000 students in various health disciplines. Ineffective doctor activities plan often resulted in missed activities, long duration of stay for patients, more than 10 hospital hours per day for doctors, and low patient satisfaction levels.
The study proposes alternate plans for doctors' activities without compromising on their involvement in other activities and maintaining the same quality of patient service. "The period of stay of outpatients as well as doctors' hospital hours are reduced substantially, mutually benefiting both the hospital and the patients," said the study.
For example, the timetable suggests that if the patient load is up to 400 per day and the consultation time is between 15 and 20 minutes, then two full OPD days per week would be the best. Two full days OPD cycle is also preferable if the patient load increases to 500 per day. The problem arises only if the patient load is increased to 500 per day and the consultation time is also increased, then the four half-day OPD schedule would be best.
If the hospital follows four half days of OPD schedule, then, clearly the patients are able to get over with their OPD treatment in much less time than before, as in one week now, they can receive consultation four times rather than two times.
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Athletics: Usain Bolt wins Jamaican 100 title to reach worlds
KINGSTON: Two-time Olympic reigning sprint double champion Usain Bolt won the 100-metre title at the Jamaican Athletics Championships on Friday night to qualify for August's World Championships.
Bolt, who broke free from the pack after 60 metres, shut it down as he crossed the line in 9.94 seconds, with rising star and training partner Kemar Bailey-Cole second in 9.98 and Nickel Ashmeade third in 9.99.
Ashmeade is the training partner of Tyson Gay, who ran 9.75 to win at the US Track and Field Championships earlier Friday.
Bolt, when asked about Gay's impressive run, said, "trials is always to make the team, because it's at the (world) championships it really matters. I had ran 9.63, 9.58, so I have set the (worlds qualifying) standard already.
"It was all about getting through it injury free and that's what I had done," Bolt said.
Gay and Bolt figure to have a showdown in the 100 at the World Championships in August at Moscow along with defending champion Yohan Blake of Jamaica.
Blake did not run in the Jamaican meet because of a right thigh injury, but as a reigning champion, Blake will still be eligible to run at the worlds despite not competing this week at the Jamaican trials.
Considering what elements of his race needed work, Bolt said, "a lot more things to work on, my start and my drive phase need some more work."
Asafa Powell, who has struggled all season with injuries, finished a disappointing seventh in 10.22.
In the women's 100m, Kerron Stewart won in 10.96 ahead of Sherone Simpson in 11.03 with Schillonie Calvert third in 11.07.
"It was a good time, because I had not dipped under 11 seconds all season, but I knew it was in me," Stewart said.
In the men's 400m hurdles, Leford Green won in 49.20 ahead of Annsert Whyte in 49.30 with Isa Phillips third in 49.59.
Francine Simpson won the women's long jump with a leap of 6.35m.
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Ghanchakkar
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Ghanchakkar
Movie Name : Ghanchakkar
Release Date : June 28, 2013
Genre : Romance, Comedy
Producer : Ronnie Screwvala, Siddharth Roy Kapur
Director : Rajkumar Gupta
Music Director : Amit Trivedi
Cast : Emraan Hashmi, Vidya Balan, Rajesh Sharma, Namit Das.
Synopsis:
Ghanchakkar movie is a quasi-realistic urban comedy-thriller highlighting the absurdity of certain real human situations.
Emraan plays the title character in Ghanchakkar - a suave, master safe cracker wants to retire from a career in crime, he decides to team up with two dangerous criminals to commit one last heist.
A bank robbery that will ensure that he never has to worry about money again! Everything goes according to plan.
Sanju is given the task of hiding the money till things cool down and the booty can be split.
Two months later the associates return to collect their share of the loot, but Sanju refuses to even recognize them! What dangerous game is Sanju playing?
Ghanchakkar is a crazy, quirky rollercoaster suspense ride that will surprise, shock and entertain the audience at every turn.
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'Topolino' is the name for Mickey Mouse Italy.
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" INSPIRING STORY "
The Three Types of People
A teacher shows three toys to a student and asks the student to find out the differences. All the three toys are seemed to be identical in their shape, size and material.
After keen observation, the student observes holes in the toys. 1st toy it has holes in the ears. 2nd toy has holes in ear and mouth. 3rd toy has only one hole in one ear.
Than with the help of needle the student puts the needle in the ear hole of 1st toy. The needle comes out from the other ear.
In the 2nd toy, when the needle was put in ear the needle came out of mouth. And in the 3rd toy, when the needle was put in, the needle did not come out.
First toy represent those people around you who gives an impression that they are listening to you, all your things and care for you. But they just pretend to do so.
After listening, as the needle comes out from the next ear, the things you said to them by counting on them are gone.
So be careful while you are speaking to this type of people around you, who does not care for you.
Second toy represent those people who listens to you all your things and gives an impression that they care for you.
But as in the toy, the needle comes out from mouth.
These people will use your things and the words you tell them against you by telling it to others and bringing out the confidential issues for their own purpose.
Third toy, the needle does not come out from it. These kinds of people will keep the trust you have in them. They are the ones who you can count on.
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A life spent making mistakes is not only more honorable, but more useful than a life spent doing nothing.
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