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“There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work, and learning from failure!”
| VBA's Positive News |
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EU-backed project produces first algae crops for biofuel
A European Union-backed project to produce biofuels from algae moved a step forward on Thursday by producing its first crop of algae biomass at its site in southern Spain, the main company behind the scheme said on Thursday. Some 7.1 million euros ($9.46 million) of the scheme's initial 12-million-euro development funding came from the EU, which is aiming for 10 per cent of its energy used in transport to be derived from renewable sources by 2020.
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Gauge of US layoffs falls to pre-recession level
A gauge of the trend in layoffs of American workers fell last week to its lowest since before the 2007-09 recession, a hopeful sign for the US economy. The four-week average of new claims for state jobless benefits dropped to 335,500, the Labour Department said on Thursday. The reading has not been that low since November 2007, just before the United States fell into a calamitous recession.
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Japan: In Nagasaki message, Ban stresses need for education on benefits of nuclear disarmament
In his message to a ceremony marking the 68th anniversary of the atomic bombing of the Japanese city of Nagasaki, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon stressed that the benefits of nuclear disarmament must be spread worldwide through education. The Secretary-General also reiterated the UN's commitment to nuclear disarmament, noting it is one of the greatest legacies that can be passed on to future generations.
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Top African business school features in new global Executive MBA ranking
The University of Cape Town's Graduate School of Business (GSB) has been ranked 59th in The Economist's list of executive MBA programmes 2013, the only African business school to make the inaugural, 'Which MBA?' ranking. The ranking was designed to assist prospective EMBA students in choosing a programme best suited to them. The GSB Executive MBA is the only MBA programme in South Africa targeted at senior and executive managers and leaders. The programme enables students to be effective within increasingly complex organisational and social structures by stimulating their ability to think analytically and holistically, and enhancing their capacity to seek novel solutions.
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Video of the Day:
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World Round-Up
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INS Arihant reactor goes critical, submarine to start sea trials soon
India's first indigenously constructed nuclear powered submarine achieved a key milestone when its atomic reactor was switched on in Visakhapatnam last night. Top naval sources confirmed that the Arihant's reactor had "gone critical". With this, a key milestone in the submarine's 'harbour acceptance trials' have been completed. "We have waited a very long time for this," a senior naval official said.
A nuclear submarine armed with nuclear-tipped ballistic missiles is the third leg of the 'triad' of land, air and sea launched nuclear weapons envisaged by India's nuclear doctrine of 1998. The navy wants the submarine ready for deterrent patrol, or when it can sail out with nuclear weapons, by 2014.
The next key milestone will be when the 6000-tonne Arihant begins its sea trials and when its commanding officer Captain Sanjay Mahendru signals "underway on nuclear power", to mean that the submarine is sailing out self-powered. This is likely to be as early as next month when the monsoons subside.
Nuclear submarines use miniaturised atomic reactors to generate tremendous heat that boils water into saturated steam. This steam runs its submarine's propulsion and generates electricity. It is near-identical to a steam-powered turbine plant, except it uses nuclear energy.
Since its launch in Vizag on 26 July 2009, the Arihant has spent over four years in harbour acceptance trials. Steam from the dockyard was generated and pumped into the submarine to test its major machinery and control systems. With the 80 Megawatt nuclear reactor now switched on, the submarine can generate its own power to test its systems.
The Arihant was launched in Vizag on 26 July 2009. Since then, the ballistic missile submarine (SSBN) has spent over four years in harbor trials that are meant to test whether all its machinery and control systems are functional.
During sea trials, the submarine will test all its parameters: maximum diving depth, speeds and sensors. "It's difficult to put a timeline to these trials because they are event-based and not time-based," says veteran submarine Vice Admiral Arun Kumar Singh (retired). "The crew of the Arihant will have to check off literally hundreds of parameters."
The sea trials will include the submerged test-firing of the 'B-05' ballistic missile. The Arihant can carry 12 of these nuclear-tipped missiles, each of which has a range of 700 km. Sections of a second submarine, to be named Aridaman are already at an advanced stage of outfitting at the Ship Building Centre (SBC) in Vizag. Sources indicate the submarine could be launched by next year. Sections of a third submarine are also under construction at the Larsen & Toubro's Hazira facility.
The three SSBNs have been under construction under a secret navy-DRDO-Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) project called the 'Advanced Technology Vessel' (ATV) project. India's strategic plans call for a fleet of five nuclear powered attack submarines (SSN) and five ballistic missile submarines (SSBN), a goal that is unlikely to be achieved before 2025.
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Astrology
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Aries March 21 to April 19
Do your best to avoid a heavy emotional reaction to a joint financial matter. You might feel more insecure about your partner's resources, and it's possible that you have good reason to. He or she might have suffered a blow recently that led to less income or a slashed benefits package. Instead of worrying about where this leaves you as a couple, focus on your ability to empower yourself financially. This will lift both of you up and leave you feeling more sheltered.
Taurus April 20 to May 20
Since October 2012 Saturn, the planet of discipline, commitment, and tests, has been moving through your relationship sector. This cycle will not be fully complete until September 2015 and during these years you're asked to take an honest look at the durability potential behind any close personal or business alliance. If single, this might be a time you yearn for greater stability in partnership. Don't make the mistake of settling just because you feel it's time to settle down.
Gemini May 21 to June 20
 If you're a business owner, today might feel more overwhelming than usual - especially as it relates to employees. You might be in the position of having to let go of one of your staff due to an inability to perform tasks required for his or her position. If this is the case, you'll feel disheartened about doing so. If you're part of a company, it's possible that you'll hear news about one of your co-workers being fired or quitting.
Cancer June 21 to July 22
You're more serious than ever about defining what love truly means and what type of partner you want to attract. Opening your heart isn't easy these days since you're more aware of these personal standards. Remember that what's meant to be yours will not pass you by. If you're in a relationship, it's possible that circumstances beyond your control are keeping the two of you apart more than together. Recognize this as a test. Are you meant to be? Time will tell.
Leo July 23 to Aug. 22
 You're no stranger to domestic responsibilities ever since Saturn, the planet of tests and discipline, moved into your family sector in October 2012. In fact, until September 2015 you might be in the position of carrying more weight than usual for your clan. An elderly or ailing relative may need your support. Alternatively, you might be in a position of moving to a new location. If so, it's likely that you'll downsize now since you'll be more conscious about living better with less.
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How Etihad will Digest Jet
Etihad Airways’s Australian CEO James Hogan doesn’t have to think too hard about what to say. This week, he said: “Etihad will discuss ways to further integrate the two networks and help the airline achieve efficiency, build revenue and reduce costs.”
He wasn’t talking about Jet Airways, his most high-profile investment which is likely to be given permission for take-off any time now. He was speaking in Belgrade, where he signed an agreement with the Serbian deputy prime minister to pick up a majority stake in Air Serbia, the latest carrier to come into Etihad’s embrace. When the formalities are complete over the next few months, Etihad will own 49 percent in the loss-making Serbian national carrier.
At different times in the past two years, Hogan has made very similar statements about Air Berlin, Aer Lingus, Air Seychelles, Virgin Australia and Jet Airways. Just a decade old, the mid-sized Etihad (70 planes, mostly wide-bodies) has been executing its own version of the ‘string-of-pearls’ strategy around the world, and Jet is only one of them. At the core is not just an equity holding, but a well-crafted airline-cum-airport strategy where Abu Dhabi becomes a crucial hub in this part of the world. Etihad’s expansive web of bilateral agreements with many airlines is built on the reality that airline hubs bring economic prosperity. In many ways, Hogan is thus not only shaping the future of Etihad, but even the future of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.
In financial terms, Etihad’s investments have just begun to pay off. In 2012, revenue from codeshares with partner airlines was about 19 percent of total revenues. Codeshare and equity partnerships delivered close to $629 million. In terms of scale, though, Etihad is still far behind its older and possibly more glamorous rivals Emirates and Qatar Airways. Yet it is gradually making a mark through its unique model. It already boasts of the largest network for any Middle East carrier, even if less than a third of it is operated with its own metal birds.
Rebuilding Jet
Hogan’s strategy for Jet Airways and India is unlikely to be very different from what he has done around the world. Though the Foreign Investment Promotion Board cleared Etihad’s proposal to pick up a 24 percent stake in Jet, the deal drew much flak for being a sellout. Reality is that Naresh Goyal’s business model was broken and would not have been able to last very long (see: Jet Airways: Heading South). Old Jet soldier Saroj Datta, who has been part of the airline since its inception, minces no words on the situation. “Raising funds was proving to be extremely difficult, and survival would have been tough if not impossible,” he says. Datta had been part of Jet’s senior management for 18 years and has been reading the writing on the wall for years now.
Jet Airways lost its lead position in the Indian market over the past five years after low-cost carriers (LCCs) hit their stride. Goyal was unable to adapt to this shift in market preference for LCCs, but not for want of trying. In fact, he tried too hard and fell flat. From acquiring Air Sahara to fend off Vijay Mallya and Kingfisher, to lobbying fiercely against foreign airline investment, to trying to make his own low-cost airline Jet Konnect click, he tried everything in the book and outside it. Nothing worked. Jet’s debt mounted to $2.1 billion and needed rescuing by a white knight.
Will Etihad save Jet? Addisson Schonland, president of Innovation Analysis Group, an aviation-focussed market research company based in the US, says: “We have seen airlines tied into the Etihad network; [they] all show big improvements once they come under the umbrella. So I would expect to see the same at Jet.” According to Schonland, the challenge will be how the people at Jet deal with this change. Change is coming, he warns, no doubt about it.
Schonland says the folks at Jet will have to realise that their focus is not on Indian competition, but global competition. Etihad and its partners compete against global alliances. Jet will have to “up its game” and that would mean a change of pace for its people. Every alliance is only as good as its weakest partner, and Jet wouldn’t want to be the weak link, he says.
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Fitness facts all women must know
Not finding the time for fitness due to household chores and grocery shopping? To ward away hazardous ailments and keep yourself toned, it is important to adhere to a set fitness regime.
Many Indian women, particularly after reaching a certain age, feel that good looks do not matter much. However, the discussion here is not about good looks but of health. A fitness routine is as important for older women as it is for a teenager or a young girl.
Regular physical activity will not only help you tackle weight-related issues but will also enable you to prevent conditions associated with weight gain, like rheumatoid arthritis and varicose veins. Still not motivated enough? Here's a list of some important fitness facts for women that will help you to get moving.
Avoid obesity: With the dangerous bulging obesity ratios in India, recent statistics revealed that almost one in six women in the country are overweight and are in dire need to trim for avoiding health hazards associated with obesity. This is due to the increased adoption of sedentary lifestyles and unhealthy eating habits.
30 minutes a day: Your fitness level can be improved by merely adding a few minutes of movement into your daily routine. According to fitness experts; just 30 minute workout for 5 days a week is sufficient to overcome the adverse effects of inactivity and sedentary lifestyle.
You can also incorporate minor changes in your daily lifestyle like taking the stairs instead of the lift, parking the car in the last row of the parking lot and walking briskly for a few minutes between your parked car and your office.
The importance of de-stressing: Women are more prone to stress and pressure as compared to men and this, in turn, leads to various health issues. Work on basic relaxation and breathing techniques whenever you can - even while performing your regular chores.
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Virgo Aug. 23 to Sept. 22
One of your siblings, a cousin, or even a neighbor might be going through a difficult time and will need your support. If this is the case, you'll feel a stronger emotional pull than usual about their situation today. In fact, it might be hard for you to remain stable since your sensitivity buttons are likely to be pushed. Do your best to provide the emotional sustenance this person needs now despite the personal effect this situation may have on you.
Libra Sept. 23 to Oct. 22
Concern about money can turn into a productive motivational factor that leads to strategizing about new ways to attain financial security. While it's true that you might need to tighten your belt and cut out any unnecessary expenses in order to meet your most important bills, at the same time you're capable of this discipline now. In fact, you're more focused than ever on using your resources wisely. Don't be anxious - be proactive.
Scorpio Oct. 23 to Nov. 21
 You might feel a stronger sense of personal responsibility these days. You're sure to come across as someone with discipline, commitment, and authority. As a result, you might find that you're commanding more respect. While this will feed your soul greatly, remember that you're being held accountable for your actions and have a reputation to uphold. This is not the time to coast or rest on your laurels.
Sagittarius Nov. 22 to Dec. 21
Today you might no longer feel able to attempt sweeping away any frustration or anxiety that's troubling you. You might consider talking to a counselor or trusted friend for advice - or just to share your feelings. Alternatively, if all is well in your life these days, you may notice that someone close is suffering greatly due to a personal problem. You'll want to help and might prove to be an extremely healing influence now.
Capricorn Dec. 22 to Jan. 19
 A friendship might undergo a significant and emotionally charged test. Whatever the situation, you might feel as if you're the one constantly giving in this relationship, and if that's the case, it will now begin to wear on you. You'll need to reveal your feelings to your pal, but as you do, he or she may have difficulty appreciating your perspective. If this happens, it'll be a red flag, suggesting that you and this friend might be ready to part ways.
Aquarius Jan. 20 to Feb. 18
 Since October 2012 your professional goals have certainly become more significant. In fact, if you've been working diligently toward achieving a certain level of success in your industry, it's possible that between that time and September 2015, Saturn's tour through your career sector will help make that possible. If, however, you've been floundering and uncertain about your path, the taskmaster planet will likely trigger an event that tests your mettle and helps you focus. Work hard and strategize - you will be rewarded for it.
Pisces Feb. 19 to March 20
If you're enrolled in an advanced degree program, or if you're studying for a licensing exam or certification, today might feel like an anxiety-ridden time, particularly if you have a test today. You might run into trouble with one of your professors, or you might have difficulty understanding the material that's being taught. If this happens, take a proactive approach instead of a panicked one. Consider a tutoring session or a short reprieve from the mental anxiety. A break may work wonders.
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Moral Story
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SMS
“3 nice thoughts-
“Kill the tension before tension kills YOU”.
“Reach your goal before goal kicks YOU”,
“Live LIFE before LIFE leaves YOU”:-).”
LOVE & RELATIONSHIPS
Love will not serve those who do not live for her, and in her, and to whom she is not the breath of life.
LEADERSHIP & SUCCESS
Never tell people how to do things. Tell them what to do and they will surprise you with their ingenuity.
Husband: can u be the moon of my life?
Wife: Awww Yes sweetheart..!
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Husband: Great! then….
Stay 9,955,887.6 kms away from Me..!!!
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Indian Institute of Management to see more freshers, less engineers in 2014
AHMEDABAD: Fewer engineers may join the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad (IIM-A) after CAT this year. In a significant change in its admissions policy, the premier management institute is expected to welcome students from diverse backgrounds.
According to the institute, over 96 per cent of students in the 2012-14 and 2013-15 batches have an engineering background. In order to bring this number to 80 per cent, IIM-A has proposed two major changes in CAT 2013, which will have a considerable influence on the composition of the batch.
The formula for calculating the application rating (AR) has been changed; a provision for direct shortlist to the written analysis and personal interview (WA-PI) round for top performers in the five academic categories has been included.
The IIMs have faced flak for becoming bastions of graduate engineers, mostly from IITs. The changes proposed in the admission criteria is in line with IIM-A's desire to break the mould and increase diversity among the incoming students with respect to their academic background.
"There were several complaints since the past two years that due to the multiplicative calculation of AR scores, there was too much focus on marks obtained in X and XII standards.
Under the old system, if the candidate had fared badly in any one of the exams but showed exceptional performance otherwise, it would have hampered his chances in getting shortlisted.
By giving more weightage to performance in the undergraduate degree and shifting to a completely additive model, the proposed system makes sure that recent performances are given adequate weightage as performances farther back," IIM-A posted on its blog with data compiled by the institute's media cell.
The number of students without work experience or a master's degree is also set to increase in the personal interview round at IIM-A, as it will not give any points for work experience or for postgraduation in its new system.
Currently, freshers constitute around 27 per cent of the batch strength.
IIM, Bangalore, and IIM, Calcutta both have higher percentage of non-engineers in their current batches as compared to IIM-A.
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How significant is Sachin Tendulkar vs Brian Lara debate now?
NEW DELHI: Days after former Australian captain Ricky Ponting made headlines by calling West Indies great Brian Lara better than Indian batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar, Pakistan all-rounder Shahid Afridi jumped into the debate by comparing the two legends once again.
In fact Afridi went a step ahead and said that he feels Lara is cut above both Tendulkar and Ponting.
Well both Ponting and Afridi got the much expected eyeballs for expressing their personal views on public domain.
But the bigger question is how significant is this comparison between the two batting giants, that too at a time when one has already bid adieu to the game and one is on the verge of retirement.
In an era when players like Alastair Cook, Virat Kohli, Chris Gayle and other youngsters are making and breaking records and new technologies and popular league tournaments are redefining the game of cricket, doesn't this Lara vs Tendulkar debate appears out of place?
Surprisingly the comparison came from Ponting and Afridi at a time when their own national teams are struggling badly on the international front. After being drubbed by India, Australia have already lost the Ashes. Pakistan, on the other hand, lost both Test and ODI series in South Africa and failed to impress in the Champions Trophy.
While Australia rank fourth in Tests behind South Africa, India and England, Pakistan are placed fifth.
In ODIs, Pakistan are ranked at dismal sixth. Barring Misbah-ul-Haq no other Pakistani batsman features in top ten ODI rankings, where Australia have zero presence. Almost similar is the case in players' rankings in Tests.
So instead of sparking meaningless debates and getting into useless comparisons, why aren't Afridi and Ponting concentrating on nurturing their respective national teams?
It's sometimes insulting for the two legends to be compared on the basis of statistics. Going by the numbers, Tendulkar stands far ahead of Lara. Be it total runs, total centuries, half-centuries on man of the match trophies in any format of the game.
It's only the numbers of triple centuries that Lara had scored in Test career that places him above Tendulkar. While Tendulkar has none, Lara has two, and ofcourse he also has incredible score of an unbeaten 400 to his name.
But Tendulkar is the first batsman to hit a double century in ODIs.
But these are things of past. It's time to celebrate new achievements and groom other stars in making.
Rather than deciding who is better between Lara and Tendulkar, it's time to see who becomes the new Lara and the new Tendulkar.
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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 Statue of Liberty's tablet is two feet thick.
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" INSPIRING STORY "
Keep your dream
I have a friend named Monty Roberts who owns a horse ranch in San Ysidro. He has let me use his house to put on fund-raising events to raise money for youth at risk programs.
The last time I was there he introduced me by saying, “I want to tell you why I let Jack use my horse. It all goes back to a story about a young man who was the son of an itinerant horse trainer who would go from stable to stable, race track to race track, farm to farm and ranch to ranch, training horses.
As a result, the boy’s high school career was continually interrupted. When he was a senior, he was asked to write a paper about what he wanted to be and do when he grew up.
“That night he wrote a seven-page paper describing his goal of someday owning a horse ranch. He wrote about his dream in great detail and he even drew a diagram of a 200-acre ranch, showing the location of all the buildings, the stables and the track.
Then he drew a detailed floor plan for a 4,000-square-foot house that would sit on a 200-acre dream ranch.
“He put a great deal of his heart into the project and the next day he handed it in to his teacher. Two days later he received his paper back. On the front page was a large red F with a note that read, `See me after class.’
“The boy with the dream went to see the teacher after class and asked, `Why did I receive an F?’“The teacher said, `This is an unrealistic dream for a young boy like you. You have no money. You come from an itinerant family.
You have no resources. Owning a horse ranch requires a lot of money. You have to buy the land. You have to pay for the original breeding stock and later you’ll have to pay large stud fees. There’s no way you could ever do it.’Then the teacher added, `If you will rewrite this paper with a more realistic goal, I will reconsider your grade.’
“The boy went home and thought about it long and hard. He asked his father what he should do. His father said, `Look, son, you have to make up your own mind on this.
However, I think it is a very important decision for you.’ “Finally, after sitting with it for a week, the boy turned in the same paper, making no changes at all. He stated, “You can keep the F and I’ll keep my dream.”
Monty then turned to the assembled group and said, “I tell you this story because you are sitting in my 4,000-square-foot house in the middle of my 200-acre horse ranch.
I still have that school paper framed over the fireplace.” He added, “The best part of the story is that two summers ago that same schoolteacher brought 30 kids to camp out on my ranch for a week.” When the teacher was leaving, he said, “Look, Monty, I can tell you this now.
When I was your teacher, I was something of a dream stealer. During those years I stole a lot of kids’ dreams. Fortunately you had enough gumption not to give up on yours.”“Don’t let anyone steal your dreams. Follow your heart, no matter what.”
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“We can win life by all means if we simply avoid two things in our lives.“Comparing with others” and “Expecting from others.” ”
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