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“Ability may get you to the top, but it takes character to keep you there..”
| VBA's Positive News |
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UN stresses importance of honouring treaties between States and indigenous groups
Marking the International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples, United Nations officials urged governments to honour the treaties and agreements established with their indigenous groups, stressing that respecting official policies is the only way to maintain peace and advance development. 'We must ensure the participation of indigenous peoples -- women and men -- in decision-making at all levels,' Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said in his message for the Day, adding that consensual agreements between States and indigenous groups 'enable better understanding of their views and values and are essential for protecting and promoting rights and establishing the political vision and necessary frameworks for different cultures to coexist in harmony'.
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Narrowing trade gap fuels British recovery hopes
Britain's trade deficit narrowed sharply in June while second quarter construction output grew faster than an official estimate, adding to signs the country's economic recovery is moving onto a more sustainable footing. Goods exports to China hit a record high in June and rose more than 20 per cent in the second quarter compared with the same period last year.
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China promotes breast-feeding
China's rates of breast-feeding are among the world's lowest. But health workers and the government are trying to revive the practice, and a drumbeat of safety scares over commercially produced milk is giving them new leverage. Visitors to Internet forums for new parents are posting comments about the benefits of breast-feeding and the potential hazards with formula. Health experts say breast-feeding is the best source of nutrition for newborns, increasing babies' immune systems and reducing their chances of obesity in adulthood. They also say breast-fed children have higher IQs and are less likely to have chronic diseases such as diabetes.
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US: Electric carmaker Tesla shares ride 18 per cent higher on Model S success
Shares in electric sports car maker Tesla Motors Inc jumped 18 percent to a record high on Thursday, after surprisingly strong second-quarter results convinced investors the company has found a route to sustainable profits. The Model S is the best-selling US electric car despite a starting price of more than $70,000. The company sold 5,150 cars in the second quarter and said on Wednesday it expects to reach an annual production rate of 40,000 by late next year as it starts selling in Europe and Asia.
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Video of the Day:
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World Round-Up
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Ratings don't matter, audience reactions do
Some time ago, Rs.100 crore as returns was seen as an unattainable figure for a film.Nowadays, films that do business of this coveted amount are considered as having attained a higher yardstick of success than the rest. This is no different from the silver,golden and diamond jubilee categorisations of films in the years gone by.
It is much like the applause a batsman receives when he reaches 50 or 100 runs. Not that 49 and 99 runs are any less an achievement, but that elusive 100 has become ingrained in our minds as being the milestone.
If you were to take some of the most successful 'golden jubilee' films of the 1970s and 1980s and convert their collections to current value of the rupee, they would all be over Rs.100 crore, or some even more than Rs.200 crore. Sholay was released in the same week as Jai Santoshi Maa. The latter was made at a ridiculously low budget,and sold at perhaps a tenth of the price of the other, but did the same business as the former during its initial release.But as we all know, the former has reached the annals of iconic blockbuster status,and no one talks of the latter. (I just did though.) As we need a terminology to "express" the extent of success, the 'golden jubilee' now has a connotation equivalent to the "Rs.100 crore" figure. All filmmakers are concerned about box office returns,and wish that their films are successful.
I'm certain that prospective producers would bear in mind the financial probabilities of signing up a star that guarantees the elusive Rs.100-crore club. As the era of films running for 25-50 weeks has almost disappeared, success is now talked of in terms of money. And yes, Rs.100 crore is sizeable business. But the mathematics of revenue, expenditure and sale is a complicated one. A film budgeted at Rs.50 crore in making, needs another Rs.15-20 crore for publicity, including interest amount, which raises the cost to Rs.70 crore. To break even, a film must do twice the amount of business as its production cost, so the film has a target of Rs.140 crore. It would be an interesting exercise to tabulate how many films reach this figure. Conversely, there are films made with a limited budget of Rs.12-15 crore that do business of Rs.60-70 crore. That's four times the cost of the film. In comparison to the one that made Rs.100 crore, then, this lowbudget wonder is better.
I hope today's filmmakers don't succumb to the pressure to make a film that reaches the Rs.100-crore target. It would be a travesty if creativity is compelled to bow to the diktat of a prescribed value.Elements introduced in a film through story selection, scripting and its final making are done with the desire of making a film 'entertaining' that is seen by as many people as possible. How that translates to revenue and profitability is a complex matter.
It is much like selecting which story would make the front page of a journal or a newspaper,keeping in mind that the maximum readership is over the weekend. In today's film business format, our first weekend bears equal reason. It has become the barometer of success and standing of a film.
'Ratings' as a term is, to me, an anomaly. Why are five/seven stars an estimate of superiority? Why not 20 or 30 or even 10? Parameters are perhaps indicators, and they follow logic of their own. They are also influenced by how the market reacts.With the emergence of multiplexes and enhanced ticket prices, keeping in mind affordability for the fast-growing middle class, collections have increased, to an extent where your cost recovery is rapid.
With a sizable amount recovered in three days, added with the price for satellite rights available today for immediate television releases, a film has the capacity to take care of most of its expenses. Assessment of the credibility of a film is instantaneous as it reaches across the world in seconds due to today's instant communication.
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Astrology
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Aries March 21 to April 19
You are still under the new moon of August 6 this week, so if single, circulate as much as possible, because this week, romance could be quite enchanting for you. Attached? You will have exceptional opportunities to step out together and grow closer. If you hope to add a baby to your family, have that talk with your partner this week. If you have your children, good news comes from at least one child this week will make you proud. The collaboration between Mercury in and Uranus on Wednesday, August 14 suggests a surprise trip may come up or that you get unexpected news that makes you want to dance on the tables.
Taurus April 20 to May 20
Saturn has been traveling through your seventh house, ruling marriage and all formal partnerships, since October 2012. You may have experienced challenges in getting along with your mate, steady partner, or business associate, whether occasionally or all the time. Saturn will test your commitment to your partner, but the result is not predetermined. If you hope to improve your relationship, you can come up with solutions. If you are in the process of divorce, or are in a court case regarding financial dispute, with Pluto opposed to Jupiter this month, you may run into a fierce disagreement about the final settlement. Be creative in the way you approach finding new solutions.
Gemini May 21 to June 20
 Mercury will be in fine angle to Uranus on Wednesday, August 14, coaxing you to spontaneously travel to places either near or far. Mercury's ideal angle to Uranus is also excellent for coming up with fresh, innovative ideas - set aside to think. Meanwhile, Mars will continue to tour Cancer, so you may find your spending is higher than usual. This outgo will calm down starting August 27. Finally, on Friday, August 16, Venus will enter Libra, sending tender vibrations to your true love sector through September 10.
Cancer June 21 to July 22
Find ways to increase your income, for if you do, your timing will be on target. If you did not ask for a raise last week, do so immediately. The new moon of August 6 will help you to raise your income, but you must ask for your raise, as it is less likely it will arrive without your intervention. On Wednesday, August 14, you are likely to hear sudden good news about an assignment and lucrative payment or commission that will soon be yours. Venus will enter Libra on Friday, August 16, giving you more impetus to make your home look more inviting with pretty touches of a coat of paint, flowers, and accessories.
Leo July 23 to Aug. 22 
The friendly new moon in Leo - the only one of the year that will appear in your sign - appeared last week on August 6 and will still be strong enough to help you further your goals until Friday. Be very assertive, because your efforts now may change your life for the better in your coming birthday year. New moons open doors - it will be up to you to find ways to harness its energy to your advantage. Speak up and take action. Schedule meetings and presentations, and in love, if single, meet new people. You may travel this week too, and if so, it's likely to be to an exotic location. This is a bright week!
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Companies Bill: Here are the pleasure and pain points
India has a brand new company law that's more appropriate for the 21st century and its challenges. With the passing of the Companies Bill , 2012, by the Rajya Sabha on Thursday , which will become the Companies Act, 2013, when formally notified into law, several things change for the Indian corporate sector (Download the full bill here ).
Among them: corporate boards will have to have a third of their members as independent members; some boards will have to include more women; auditors will have to be compulsorily changed after 10 years; spending on corporate social responsibility (CSR) will be mandated for companies of a certain size and minimum profitability; directors of a company will have to become more accountable; and, most important, minority shareholders and depositors in a company can launch class action suits against managements to defend their interests.
The best thing about the new Companies Act is that it is simple, with greater clarity of intent and purpose. It replaces the old law with over 700 conflicting clauses with something shorter and sweeter: 470 clauses and all of it in 309 pages. Not bad for something that will govern all listed and unlisted companies in the country.
However, a modern law does not by itself become a great law, for success depends on implementation. Here are the main issues that will make or mar the success of the new law.
#1: Independent directors: The provision to make companies have one-third of their board members as independent directors is fine in principle. Independent directors (IDs) are also more stringently defined, and their tenures will be limited to two terms adding up to 10 years. IDs can also hold a maximum of 20 directorships.
Sounds good? But there are pitfalls. For three reasons. First, how independent can IDs be when they are appointed and paid for by the promoters? Will promoters appoint truly independent people on boards? Second, are there enough persons available to be appointed as IDs? In theory, yes, because there are no qualifications for becoming an ID. But, in practice, once you tell the prospective person the responsibilities he will bear, the actual number of competent and willing IDs diminishes. Most IDs, in fact, end up adorning corporate boards without the time or commitment to work in the interests of shareholders. Third, if eligible IDs end up taking up 20 directorships each, how can they really serve each of those companies’ shareholders diligently? According to a CNBC TV18 report , Analjit Singh of Max India, for example, attended only one out of 14 board meeting of Dabur in three years, before he resigned. How did he really help protect Dabur’s shareholder interests by remaining absent?
The conclusion: it is good to have many IDs, but corporate governance will need a heavy dose of regulation too to complete the picture .
#2: Corporate social responsibility: Sure, the Bill does not make 2 percent spending on CSR mandatory, but it comes close. As we noted before , the real issue is not in the percentage, but that the bill makes no effort whatsoever to define CSR. The only obligation is to earmark the funds, form a committee, formulate a CSR policy, and spend the cash. If you don’t spend the money, you have to explain why in the annual report. So, it seems the law has no problems whether a company uses profits to help commercial sex workers in Mumbai or build places of worship as part of CSR.
According to a Business Standard study in January, 457 of the 500 companies on the BSE 500 Index will have to provide for CSR, and based on the average net profits for three preceding years, they will have to fork out Rs 6,751 crore in CSR spends. ONGC would have to spend around Rs 405 crore a year and Reliance Rs 377 crore, the newspaper says. Rs 6,751 crore is not a small amount.
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Study says BP drugs may lower Alzheimer’s risk
Common blood pressure drugs may cut the risk of Alzheimer’s disease, according to a new study.
U.S. researchers found beta blockers — prescribed since the 1960s to lower blood pressure — may protect against changes in the brain, which could be signs of Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia.
Having high blood pressure in middle age puts patients more at risk of developing these conditions, as well as heart and circulatory disorders, the Daily Mail reported.
In a study, researchers examined the brains of 774 elderly Japanese-American men after death. They had all taken part in the Honolulu-Asia Aging Study.
Of the men, 610 had high blood pressure or were being treated for high blood pressure.
Among the 350 who had been treated, 15 per cent had received beta blockers alone, 18 per cent had been given beta blockers plus another high blood pressure medication and the rest had received other blood pressure drugs.
The study found that all types of high blood pressure treatments were clearly better at protecting the brain than no treatment, according to preliminary data presented at the American Academy of Neurology’s annual meeting in San Diego.
But men who had been given beta blockers as their only blood pressure medication had fewer brain abnormalities compared with those who had not been treated for hypertension, or those who had received other high blood pressure drugs.
The brains of men who had received beta blockers along with other high blood pressure medication showed an intermediate reduction in brain abnormalities.
“These results are exciting, especially since beta blockers are a common treatment for high blood pressure,” study author Dr. Lon White, of the Pacific Health Research and Education Institute in Honolulu, said.
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Virgo Aug. 23 to Sept. 22
This week should be a relaxed, low-stress week. Enjoy time in a peaceful place so that you can think about your next move. Friends will be enthusiastic about getting together, so plan lunches and dinners while you have the time to see each other. Your friends and casual contacts will be your best source of news and information on a wide variety of topics, both personal and professional, through mid-2014. Some of the advice you receive may protect your interests. For your work, a friend may share industry gossip that may give you a competitive edge.
Libra Sept. 23 to Oct. 22
The amazingly positive career trend that you began with Mars in Cancer several weeks ago continues this week. If you are serious about building a name for yourself in your career, act now. It matters not if you work for others or you are self-employed, as this will be one of your best weeks to shine professionally this year. You seem to do best with an agent or collaborator, so if you have one to help you locate the right position for you, so much the better. If you represent others, as a headhunter, agent, manager or lawyer, as a few examples, you will attract top-notch talent now. Venus enters Libra on August 16, turning up the volume on your charms.
Scorpio Oct. 23 to Nov. 21
 Saturn is now moving through Scorpio, giving the ability to be practical, patient, and realistic. Your mature perspective will be an asset now as you search for a new and better career position. The new moon of last week, August 6, will still exert a strong flow, and will help you uncover opportunities you'll want to examine. You must work fast to make your first initiation now, for this new moon's energy will fade by August 19. Open a conversation with a new employer or ask about a promotion in your present firm. If you are in sales, you may reel in a big client. It takes time to be awarded a great position or to finalize a big deal, but what matters is that you begin now.
Sagittarius Nov. 22 to Dec. 21
Travel and learning about foreign cultures is one of your favorite pleasures, and so the coming week may be just your cup of tea. You may be able to travel to a foreign city now, or, if you cannot get away, you may decide to take interesting college-level classes that engender lots of thinking and debate. If you are waiting for citizenship papers, a visa or green card, this week could bring very good news - make calls. Sagittarians are known to be master storytellers, so if hope to write a best-selling novel, start writing your outline and first chapter this week. Your timing will be right on the money.
Capricorn Dec. 22 to Jan. 19
 Your creative spirit may be getting some well-deserved attention. With four planets in your creative sector, you may find new creative outlets and have a great time in the process. This can be a richly satisfying experience since the spotlight may be shining on your talents today. If you can take advantage of this warm and supportive alignment, you may be quite pleased with the reaction of those who have been watching you grow. The challenges may come from group work, but those may only serve to enhance your experience.
Aquarius Jan. 20 to Feb. 18
 Why not pick up your phone and see what's happening back home? You may have a lot of positive activity in that area of your life as relatives help to renew your spirit and sense of self. There truly is no place like home, so if you can use this opportunity to engage your family, you should be well served. The challenge may come from trying to complete projects at work in time to get back for a gathering. If you can strike that balance between work and home, you may find the effort worthwhile.
Pisces Feb. 19 to March 20
If you started your new health and fitness program, you are on your way to building a better lifestyle. If you didn't start to work out, eat better and improve the amount of sleep you get at the new moon August 6, you still have a chance to begin now, before the energy of that exceptional new moon fades at week's end. On another topic, a good chunk of money may unexpectedly come your way on Tuesday, August 13 or Wednesday, August 14. It seems someone feels you are the perfect one to a lucrative gig and won't take no for an answer. Way to go!
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Moral Story
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SMS
“Success is sweet: the sweeter if long delayed and attained through manifold struggles and defeats. ”
LOVE & RELATIONSHIPS
Good relationships are like trees
They demand attention & care in the beginning
but once they blossoms
they provide U shade in all situations of life .
LEADERSHIP & SUCCESS
“I don’t know what your destiny will be, but one thing I know; the only ones among you who will be really happy are those who
will have sought and found how to serve.”
Patient: Doctor, I have a pain in my eye whenever I drink tea.
Doctor: Take the spoon out of the mug before you drink.
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DU colleges tweak time-tables to deal with space-crunch
NEW DELHI: Delhi University colleges are becoming experts in crowd-control. The real shortage of infrastructure will be felt most intensely when the fourth batch is admitted to four-year undergraduate programme but several institutions are already tweaking their time-tables to ensure they don't buckle under the deluge of students.
At Lady Shri Ram College - where a new academic block is in the works - every teacher will have to take at least one eighth period (4pm to 4.55pm) or two seventh periods in a week. "We've always had norms about time-tables. Earlier we had two mornings and two afternoons but classes got over by 3 pm," says LSR spokesperson Kanika Khandelwal, "Now the hours are longer but we have completely solved space issues this way we try to schedule classes in a way that there are no gaps."
Sri Venkateswara now holds classes on Saturdays for some departments giving them off on weekdays instead. "That has freed up a lot of classrooms," says principal P. Hemalatha Reddy, "The administration staff work on Saturdays and so do I." Commerce and mathematics departments, commanding "lots of volume" now work on Saturdays. But the laboratory work for science classes have been "adjusted to the five weekdays."
But toggling of time-table slots is a lot harder in colleges running in two shifts. For a few hours everyday, Dyal Singh College Morning and Evening - two separate colleges with separate faculty and students - run from the same building. Times tables at these colleges posted on the website bear this out. "The morning classes stretch to 5pm for some courses and the evening ones begin by 2-2:30 pm. Sometimes the same classroom is assigned to two classes from two colleges. This is a regular problem and happens because nobody talks to each other," says Naveen Gaur who teaches physics at the college. It's the same story with Sri Aurobindo College morning and evening where too, timetables overlap for some hours everyday.
Most colleges continue to reel under the weight of massive classes post-OBC-expansion, a situation worsened by over-admission in many places. Students who participated in Wednesday's protest against FYUP say they have to attend classes standing often. "I tell my students," jokes one north campus teacher, "They'll soon have to start walking sideways in the corridors as there isn't enough space to walk normally."
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PV Sindhu loses in World Badminton Championships semifinals
GUANGZHOU: India's rising shuttler PV Sindhu settled for a bronze medal at the World Championships after suffering a straight-game defeat against world number three Ratchanok Inthanon in the semifinals of the prestigious event on Saturday.
World number 12 Sindhu, playing in her maiden World Championships, had notched up stunning victories against two Chinese players in the run-up to the semifinals but she failed to out it cross Ratchanok, going down 10-21, 13-21 in a 36-minute women's singles match.
Ratchanok mixed her strokes well and moved smoothly across the court. Sindhu, on the other hand, committed too many unforced errors allowing her opponent to move into the interval at 11-4 in the opening game.
Ratchanok used her deceptive shots to flummox Sindhu, who struggled in anticipation.
The Indian failed to gauge the Thai girl's game and also ended up hitting the shuttle wide and out to allow Ratchanok to move to 19-10.
Ratchanok then moved to a 10-point lead with a straight baseline smash and with Sindhu hitting out again, the Thai had the upper-hand after the opening game.
Sindhu struggled with her strokes in the second game too as her returns were buried into the net and she also made some judgemental errors as Ratchanok opened up a 8-1 lead early on.
A few points at the net saw Sindhu make it 5-10 but another unforced error by the Indian took Ratchanok to 11-5 at the break.
Ratchanok was accurate and played some sensational strokes to leave Sindhu without any answer.
Sindhu tried to match Ratchanok in the rallies but the Thai girl was always a step ahead with her wide array of strokes.
Leading 19-12, Ratchanok earned eight match points when Sindhu's shuttle went out again. Sindhu saved one match point with a smash but Ratchanok soon grabbed the last point with a jump smash which caught Sindhu off-guard.
Ratchanok, 18, is the first shuttler from her country to be assured of a silver at the World Championship.
The Thailand girl won the India Open in New Delhi and also the Thailand Open Grand Prix Gold this year.
She is also a three-time world junior championship gold-medallist. She is also a silver-medallist from the 2010 Asian Games.
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Once Upon a Time in Mumbai Dobaara!
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Once Upon a Time in Mumbai Dobaara!
Movie Name : Once Upon a Time in Mumbai Dobaara!
Release Date : 15 August 2013
Genre : Crime/Romance
Producer : Ekta Kapoor, Shobha Kapoor
Director : Milan Luthria
Music Director : Pritam
Cast : Akshay Kumar,Imran Khan,Sonakshi Sinha
Synopsis:
The movie takes off from where the previous film ended with Shoaib Khan (Akshay Kumar) being the reigning don after assassinating his mentor, Sultan Mirza (Ajay Devgn) thus earning the respect and reverence of the people. He is the charismatic and suave man with womanising skills who has extended his empire upto the Middle east on the west. His sole companions and friends are Javed, who oversees his illegal and shady works for him, his old-time love Mumtaz (Sonali Bendre) and Aslam (Imran Khan), a youth spotted by Shoaib during one of his visits to the slums, where he once spent the early years of his life.
The only obstacles on Shoaib's path to supremacy in Bombay are two enemies of Shoaib, Vardha and Arun. Sreenu, a police officer join hands with Vardha and Arjun as the trio's intention of ruining Shoaib coincides.
Although the city still being his first love a rising starlet, Jasmin has caught the fancy of Shoaib's heart. In due time this passion takes the shape of obsession and leads to a rift between Shoaib and Aslam as they both vie for Jasmin's love.
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the names of all continents both start and end with the same letter.
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" INSPIRING STORY "
Life
Sometimes people come into your life and you know right away that they were meant to be there, to serve some sort of purpose, teach you a lesson, or to help you figure out who you are or who you want to become.
You never know who these people may be – a roommate, a neighbor, a professor, a friend, a lover, or even a complete stranger – but when you lock eyes with them, you know at that very moment they will affect your life in some profound way.
Sometimes things happen to you that may seem horrible, painful, and unfair at first, but in reflection you find that without overcoming those obstacles you would have never realized your potential, strength, willpower, or heart.Illness, injury, love, lost moments of true greatness, and sheer stupidity all occur to test the limits of your soul.
Without these small tests, whatever they may be, life would be like a smoothly paved straight flat road to nowhere. It would be safe and comfortable, but dull and utterly pointless.
The people you meet who affect your life, and the success and downfalls you experience, help to create who you are and who you become. Even the bad experiences can be learned from. In fact, they are sometimes the most important ones.
If someone loves you, give love back to them in whatever way you can, not only because they love you, but because in a way, they are teaching you to love and how to open your heart and eyes to things.
If someone hurts you, betrays you, or breaks your heart, forgive them, for they have helped you learn about trust and the importance of being cautious to whom you open your heart.
Make every day count. Appreciate every moment and take from those moments everything that you possibly can for you may never be able to experience it again.Talk to people that you have never talked to before, and listen to what they have to say.
Let yourself fall in love, break free, and set your sights high. Hold your head up because you have every right to.Tell yourself you are a great individual and believe in yourself, for if you don’t believe in yourself, it will be hard for others to believe in you.
You can make anything you wish of your life. Create your own life and then go out and live it with absolutely no regrets.And if you love someone tell them, for you never know what tomorrow may have in store.Learn a lesson in life each day that you live!Today is the tomorrow you were worried about yesterday.
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“I don't know the key to success, but the key to failure is to try to please everyone. ”
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