“The fool doth think he is wise, but the wise man knows himself to be a fool.” VBA's Positive News US, Cuba restart migration talks after two-year break The United States and Cuba resumed immigration talks in Washington on Wednesday after a two-year hiatus and US officials said they had again pressed for the release of jailed American contractor Alan Gross. The last migration roundtable between the United States and Cuba was in January 2011 when officials met in Havana.    Peru to provide free solar power to its 2 million poorest citizens The country of Peru is looking to provide free electricity to over two million of its poorest citizens by harvesting energy from the sun. The first part of the programme aims to provide solar systems to 500,000 extremely poor households in areas that lack even basic access to the power grid.    South Africa, world unite to celebrate Madiba legacy  At 8 am on 18 July, millions of South Africans, including learners from the country's schools, prominent artists, and personalities, united their voices in song to wish the Nelson Mandela good health and a blessed day -- a gesture of love and appreciation that was broadcast on national TV and by most radio stations. US stocks: S&P, Dow hit records as earnings roll out  The Dow and S&P 500 scaled fresh heights on Thursday, boosted by better than expected results from Morgan Stanley and United Health, while investors looked to a second day of congressional testimony by Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke. Speaking before Congress on Wednesday, Bernanke stressed the timeline for winding down the Fed's stimulus programme was not set in stone.      Video of the Day:

World Round-Up

Political + BJP gears up for Lok Sabha polls, announcement on 11 committees       New Delih: Gearing up for the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has on Thursday set up 11 committees which will focus on various aspects of electioneering, including organising rallies and reaching out to the youth. The decision was taken at the Parliamentary Board meeting in New Delhi which was Chaired by BJP President Rajnath Singh, the meeting was attended by Gujarat Chief Minister and BJP's newly appointed campaign committee chief Narendra Modi, senior party leader LK Advani and the top brass. The party is yet to name election in-charges and campaign heads for the Assembly polls to be held in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Delhi this year. Sources said senior BJP leader LK Advani proposed that former BJP president Nitin Gadkari be made the election in-charge of all the four poll- bound states. But later sources said that Gadkari will be given Delhi. Sources also that Gadkari was not inclined to head Delhi but wanted Rajasthan. According to the sources, the four poll-bound states will be divided among the top party leaders -- Sushma Swaraj, Arun Jaitley, Venkaiah Naidu and Nitin Gadkari. The ground work for these committees was prepared at four-hour marathon one-on-one meeting between BJP President Rajnath Singh and Modi on Wednesday night, sources said. The Parliamentary Board, where L K Advani was also present, deliberated for about two hours over the allocation of responsibilities among party general secretaries and other senior leaders in run up to the general elections next year. Eleven committees are to be set up and an announcement in this regard is likely to be made on Friday, sources said. These will deal with conduct of rallies, public meetings; preparation of the manifesto; publicity literature, advertisement and media management; reaching out to various sections of the society- youth, women, professionals, rural and urban voters; campaign through social media; campaign programme of leaders and their travel plans; logistics and so on. While general secretaries have been given charge of states and organisational responsibilities, the new list is likely to be about their roles and functions. An attempt has been made to ensure a collective role for all the senior leaders and to ensure that no feathers are ruffled, sources said. The Parliamentary Board had earlier authorised the BJP President and Modi to form these committees and appoint the members. The views of the Board will be given due respect while finalising the names, sources said. This is the first board meeting after a series of meetings Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat had with the BJP leadership. The Parliamentary Board, the party's highest decision-making forum, also discussed the party's strategy for the Monsoon Session of Parliament beginning on August 5. The Food Security Ordinance and the state of the economy are prominent issues that the BJP plans to take up in the session. Astrology   Aries March 21 to April 19 Mercury will start moving forward again while in a tension with Uranus. Avoid making decisions based on impulsive or rebellious urges as they may be temporary. However, this will be the perfect time to take action on long-range plans you've been contemplating for a while, especially if you're willing to bet big on something close to your heart. As a practical example, if you've been contemplating purchasing or refinancing your home or making an investment in land, now may be the right time for a positive long-term outcome.                                     Taurus April 20 to May 20 If you feel overwhelmed by the information or possibilities you have now in front of you, look to a practical-minded partner or a friend to help you sort through and make sense of your options. You'll need honest, no sugar-coated feedback in order to get to the truth of what you really want versus what you think you should want. Honest and vulnerable talk from your heart can also help you forge a deeper and more stable relationship with an important someone.                                     Gemini May 21 to June 20 It may be easier to find or ask for the money to put toward a serious project if you've got a mind to do so. As Mercury starts moving forward again, ask for what you want, not just what you think can get. If you're willing to put a lot on the line, in willpower, hard work, and enthusiasm, projects that seem difficult or impossible can see long-term progress as long as you can keep at it.        Cancer June 21 to July 22  Your motivation will be at an all-time high - put it toward a tangible creative project that you're passionate about, or consider planning a vacation that you've been longing to take. Enthusiasm and drive can be motivating but don't just rely on them alone. Take your plans for self-fulfillment seriously by investing real effort into something for yourself that can create long-term joy. Mercury will start moving forward in your sign today, Cancer. Share your hopes and plans with someone you love, even if it's just out loud to yourself.                                                         Leo July 23 to Aug. 22  You may find that you seem to be a little more lucky than usual lately, especially if you focus on the way things have been working out. It can be easy to overlook the seamless ways the universe comes through for you. As Mercury starts to move forward again today, trust your intuition and follow it, but don't assume your point of view is the only right one. Insightful information may come from unexpected sources today.            BUSINESS+VE                                                                              Bihar midday meal tragedy raises concerns about food security bill      Raipur/Patna: The deaths of at least 23 children who were poisoned after eating a free school meal has triggered an outcry over food safety just as the ruling Congress party is set to launch an ambitious plan to feed 800 million poor, with an eye on elections due within a year. Congress leader Sonia Gandhi‘s national subsidised food project includes free school meals and expands existing handouts to make it probably the biggest welfare initiative since India gained independence in 1947. “It’s a political move designed to garner support for Congress among the poor, which has been its traditional constituency,” said Zoya Hasan, a professor at the School of Social Sciences in New Delhi’s Jawaharlal Nehru University. The National Food Security Ordinance aims to give five kg of cheap grain every month to 800 million people and more than doubles the reach of the existing subsidised food system, whose failings still mean the country is home to a quarter of the world’s hungry. But the school tragedy in Bihar, highlights the potential dangers of rolling out a major food distribution scheme without strict monitoring of supplies and quality and having to hand responsibility to local authorities, many of whom have weak administration. In Bihar, the children’s deaths prompted protesters to burn effigies of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, chanting slogans denouncing the state government and setting fire to vehicles. “This terrible tragedy will hopefully serve as a wake-up call for them,” said Reetika Khera, development economist and social activist, adding programmes like this need to be administered at the local level. Currently, nearly half of India’s annual rice and wheat supplies are lost to rot or corruption, and while deaths from contaminated food are rare, many of the country’s poor are offered substandard food, sometimes containing stones and grit. “This (tragedy) does throw light on food quality in public programmes,” said Dipa Sinha, Right to Food researcher and activist. “It is clearly a failure of monitoring and accountability.” Under Gandhi’s food welfare plan, grain distribution will be devolved to local communities, but critics say few details have been revealed and question how the scheme will be administered. The Bihar tragedy may raise more questions over Gandhi’s plan. The Congress party, which controls only half of India’s 28 states, won the last two elections after introducing populist policies such as a rural jobs plan and a $12.5 billion farmer loan waiver. The food security bill, Gandhi’s pet project, was approved on July 3 using executive orders, usually reserved for urgent policy. Gandhi plans to launch the programme on 20 August, the birthday of her late husband and former prime minister, Rajiv. Parliament must decide whether to agree or reject the measures within six weeks of the next session’s start on Aug 5. While opposition parties and some government allies complained about the decision to use an executive order to drive the plan through, the bill is expected to be approved. HEALTH+VE                                                              5 simple ways to maintain good eyesight     Your eyesight deteriorates from the time you are born. Your eyesight at two years was better than your eyesight at 10 years. Your eyesight today is better than your eyesight will be next month. But the changes are too gradual for any of us to notice unless we take a vision test. Even though eyesight deterioration is inevitable, you can slow down the process. Here are six easy tips for you to maintain good eyesight. Eat carrots During World War II, the British Royal Air Force spread a story about how a skilled fighter pilot named John 'Cats Eyes' Cunningham had a steady diet of carrots and how it helped him see in the dark while flying at night. This story sparked the belief that carrots "improved" or "cured" eyesight problems. Even though that has been classified as an old wives' tale, carrots are in fact beneficial to your eye health. Carrots contain beta-carotene, a nutrient that the body turns into vitamin A, which will in turn help preserve your eyesight. Pop vitamins A, C, E, and zinc If you can't stomach the thought of chopping down a single baby carrot, let vitamin pills come to the rescue! While vitamins won't restore your eyesight, they will definitely slow down aging of your eyes, especially cataracts or macular degeneration. Doctors believe that any type of vitamin is beneficial for the health of your eyes, but vitamins A, C, E, and zinc have definitely been proven to help keep your eyesight healthy. You can score a bottle of zinc capsules on ebay.com Exercise your eyes Exercising the muscles behind your eyes will help strengthen your eye movement and increase blood circulation to your eyes. While the exercises won't miraculously improve your eyesight, they will reduce eyestrain and help your eyes work better. Livestrong.com has an excellent list of eye muscle exercises you can try at home. Wear sunglasses with high UV protection UV rays - and even sunlight that bounces off reflective surfaces like snow or sand - can harm your eyes. They're known to increase your odds of getting cataracts, macular degeneration, or pterygium (when the tissue that lays over the white of the eye grows into the cornea). The best way to prevent any of those eye-related problems from happening is to wear sunglasses with high UV protection. Opt for sunglasses that block 99% to 100% of both UVA and UVB rays. Not only would those sunglasses protect you from harmful UV rays, they'll also reduce eye strain from bright conditions and protect your eyes from flying debris. Keep the light right at all times It's pretty much common knowledge that if the room is too dark, your eyes will strain to read or see whatever you're doing. If you find yourself having a hard time seeing or reading something, brighten up the lighting in the room. That will immediately relax your eyes.         Virgo Aug. 23 to Sept. 22  Take the time to lay out a thorough and detailed plan to make a long-term goal a reality. Don't worry if you think you will end up needing to change it or tweak it as you start to get closer to your goal. Of course you will! Yet, getting it all planned out in painstaking detail will get you in the mindset of it becoming a reality as well make it almost impossible for you not to take action once you've broken it down into bite-sized pieces.                               Libra Sept. 23 to Oct. 22 Besides identifying what training you want to advance your career, how are you going to pay for it? This may be the big question on your mind today. As Saturn has traveled through your financial sector since last October, you've been more conscientious about your resources. Although career advances can lead to greater income, they usually require an investment before the payoff, which can feel risky, but Jupiter, Mars, and Neptune will urge you to trust that the payoff will be worth it!   Scorpio Oct. 23 to Nov. 21 Take advantage of the harmonious alignment of Mars, Saturn, and Neptune, which encourages you to make a wish come true for yourself by making real plans sooner rather than later. Saturn in your sign, Scorpio, has had you working hard, and it must be about time for a vacation! Forget weekend getaways; make it a life-changing one that you've yearned to do. After all, with you, it's all or nothing, and with Jupiter throwing his lot into the mix, make it all and then some!                       Sagittarius Nov. 22 to Dec. 21 Capitalize on the triple planet power of Mars, Saturn, and Neptune by taking concrete steps toward a goal that's seemed too much like a pipe dream to be real. Whatever it is, you're like to need resources to be able to do it, so if you've been considering any kind of savings plan or investment, this will be the perfect time for it. If you already have investments that are growing, ask your financial expert if it will also be a beneficial time to think of investing more into them for exponential growth.                                                  Capricorn Dec. 22 to Jan. 19 Find someone encouraging, nurturing, and motivating to help you accomplish a long-term goal. It has been documented that having even one person with whom you share your goal can increase your chances of success. Even though you're very independent and focused, tap this resource! You may also find it helpful to seek out support on a broader scale if there are organizations or even informal community groups who share your kind of goal. Don't be shy - talk about it and you will continue to remember why you want it and stay motivated.                                Aquarius Jan. 20 to Feb. 18  Mercury, the planet of information exchange, will begin moving forward, which should make things flow more smoothly with work and errands. If you're willing to take big strides now to lay the groundwork for a big career goal, the pay-off could have long-lasting results. Make sure you have a clear and practical definition of the big goal so that major efforts now lead to the ends you are hoping for. If this is a first step, it may feel like a doozy, but trust that you'll land on your feet!                            Pisces Feb. 19 to March 20  Although you are great at going with the flow, today's union of Mars, Saturn, and Neptune provides an ideal time to think about taking steps toward something you want in the long-term. Instant and easy fun can provide momentary joy, but planning toward a fantasy vacation or investing in a meaningful education can create transformative experiences that last the rest of your life. Take steps toward the latter as Saturn will lend discipline. Start making concrete plans today.                                Moral Story     SMS     “Measured by miles U r far away… Measured by thoughts U r close to me… Measured by closed eye U r with me… But measured by heart U r always in me…”      LOVE & RELATIONSHIPS     "True love doesn't mean being inseparable; it means being separated and nothing changes."       LEADERSHIP & SUCCESS        “Leaders think and talk about the solutions. Followers think and talk about the problems.”              Teacher to Student: Kid, your essay on "My  Dog" is exactly the same as  your brother's. Did you Student: No, teacher, it's about the same dog!

EDUCATION +VE UG counselling to begin soon at Allahabad University         ALLAHABAD: The authorities of Allahabad University have constituted committees for conducting admissions. The committees would announce the counselling schedule for BA, BSc and BCom on July 19. Director of admission cell B N Singh said that the final dates of counseling would be announced on July 19. BSc counselling may commence from July 22. It would be held at Pravesh Bhawan, Chatham Line, from 8.30 am to 11.30 am. Singh said that each candidate clearing the entrance test had to come with documents like admit card (original), one set each of high school marksheet and certificate and intermediate marksheet. They would have to bring original transfer/migration certificate with weightage certificate and testimonials. The result of PGAT-2013 is ready it would be send to respective departments in the next couple of days and admissions in PG courses could be completed within the first week of the next month. It would be ensured that the university website would be updated daily for the benefit of students living in other cities. Meanwhile, the chairman of BA-LLB (Hons), five-year integrated course said that the revised time of reporting for admission at the course would be 9:00 am to 11:00 am and counselling would begin from 12 noon onwards. SPORTS +VE Smith has last Ashes laugh on England: Press     SYDNEY: Steve Smith, once the butt of the England team's jokes, had the last laugh as Australia started and finished well in the second Ashes Test, newspapers said on Friday. Scorecard England, boosted by Ian Bell's third hundred in successive Ashes matches, fought back from an early collapse at Lord's on Thursday. Yet just when it seemed England had regained control, part-time leg-spinner Smith took three wickets for 18 runs in six overs late in the day to reduce England to 289 for seven at stumps, having been in dire straits at 28 for three. Australia's press made much of Smith's late contribution coming into the attack after the team's regular bowlers had failed to force home their early advantage. "England teased Steve Smith during the last Ashes series about being in the Australian team for his jokes. But the home team wasn't laughing after Smith's raw leg spin caused a late flurry of wickets at Lord's," Fairfax Media's Chloe Saltau said. "Smith succeeded where the regular bowlers failed, capturing three English scalps including that of Australia's nemesis, Ian Bell, as England collapsed from 4-271 to 7-289 at stumps." Saltau said although leg-spin was Smith's second skill nowadays, he could still bamboozle with the ball and was a much-improved cricketer than when he last played against England as an unorthodox-looking batsman. The Australian's Wayne Smith mused that "if a bowler not in Australia's original Ashes squad could star as a batsman in the Trent Bridge Test, why not an initially overlooked batsman as a bowler at Lord's?" Australia looked down and out at 117 for nine in last week's Nottingham Test when left-arm spinner Ashton Agar, a late addition to the touring party, blitzed 98 in a world record last-wicket stand to put them momentarily in front. "The situation was starting to look almost as dire for Australia at Lord's when, with England threatening to take the match by the scruff of the neck, Michael Clarke tossed the ball to Steve Smith, a specialist batsman who was also a selectorial afterthought," said The Australian writer. "By the time Smith had finished, Australia was not only back in the game but, as at Trent Bridge, marginally in the lead, with England limping to stumps." Seamer Ryan Harris also came in for praise, playing his first Test in more than a year after recovering most recently from shoulder surgery to claim 3-43 from 20 carefully managed overs. "It was felt that if Australia could just get him there, his quality as a new ball bowler would work out," The Australian columnist Gideon Haigh wrote. "If that meant a retinue of medicos travelling just behind him, in the fashion of a support crew in the Tour de France, then so be it. And so yesterday it proved." The Melbourne Age's Greg Baum singled out Clarke's captaincy and shrewd bowling changes for Australia's successes. "At first, Clarke was a King Midas. Everything he touched turned to wickets," Baum said. "Displeased with James Pattinson's erring line with the new ball, he reassigned it after two overs to Shane Watson, who immediately trapped Alastair Cook. Three times Clarke's change of bowler would produce an immediate wicket." The Daily Telegraph's Malcolm Conn added: "More inspired captaincy from Michael Clarke has dragged Australia back into the second Test."     Issaq Issaq   Movie Name :   Issaq   Release Date :   July 26, 2013 Genre :  Drama Producer : Shailesh R Singh, Dhaval Gada Director :   Rajshree Ojha Music Director :  Krsna, Sachin Gupta, Jigar Cast : Prateik Babbar, Rajeshwari Sachdev, Makrand Deshpande, Neena Gupta, Prashant Narayanan, Sudhir Pandey, Prashant Kumar, Amit Sial, Vineet Kumar, Yuri Suri, Malini Awasthy, Amyra Dastur, Ravi Kissen.   Synopsis: Issaq is a new upcoming bollywood Romantic Love story Type movie directed by Mr. Manish Tiwary and produce by the Shailesh Singh & Dhaval Gada. This is the new love story movie, After aashiqui 2 people are moving towards Romantic love type movie. This is basically a Love story of two couple, who love to each other and fight for their love, so movie is so intresting and hope people like this movie. One of the latest news about this movie is that this movie launch new faces in bollywood that is Prateik Babbar and Amyra Dastur. The actress in Issaq movie 2013 is looking so good and cute, here latest pics are not available right now as available we provide you. So this is a movie based on Naxel activities, people hold Arms for fighting. Also this movie features a love story also like other incient movies Heer-Ranjha, Juliaer-ceasor and more other love story. So it is intresting to see the end of this movie that they both they or not. The trailer of this movie is officially launched on 31 May 2013.              Most lipsticks contain fish scales. " INSPIRING STORY "   The greatest gift is Love       A woman came out of her house and saw 3 old men with long white beards sitting in her front yard. She did not recognize them. She said, “I don’t think I know you, but you must be hungry. Please come in and have something to eat.” “Is the man of the house home?”, they asked. “No”, she said. “He’s out.” “Then we cannot come in”, they replied. In the evening when her husband came home, she told him what had happened. “Go tell them I am home and invite them in!” The woman went out and invited the men in. “We do not go into a House together,” they replied. “Why is that?” she wanted to know. One of the old men explained: “His name is Wealth,” he said pointing to one of his friends, and said pointing to another one, “He is Success, and I am Love.” Then he added, “Now go in and discuss with your husband which one of us you want in your home.” The woman went in and told her husband what was said. Her husband was overjoyed. “How nice!!”, he said. “Since that is the case, let us invite Wealth. Let him come and fill our home with wealth!” His wife disagreed. “My dear, why don’t we invite Success?” Their daughter-in-law was listening from the other corner of the house.   She jumped in with her own suggestion: “Would it not be better to invite Love? Our home will then be filled with love!” “Let us heed our daughter-in-law’s advice,” said the husband to his wife. “Go out and invite Love to be our guest.” The woman went out and asked the 3 old men, “Which one of you is Love? Please come in and be our guest.”   Love got up and started walking toward the house. The other 2 also got up and followed him. Surprised, the lady asked Wealth and Success: “I only invited Love, Why are you coming in?” The old men replied together: “If you had invited Wealth or Success, the other two of us would’ve stayed out, but since you invited Love, wherever He goes, we go with him.   Wherever there is Love, there is also Wealth and Success!”

“It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it.”