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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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India: Monsoon rains ebb to ease crop worries
India's monsoon rains have eased and are likely to continue the more measured pace next week, weather officials said on Thursday, bringing relief to summer crops that had faced the threat of damage from heavy downpours. The rains could mean higher rural incomes in the world's second most populous country, improving sales of everything from cars and gold to refrigerators. Finance Minister P Chidambaram has already said the monsoon could help agricultural growth and spur the overall economy.
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Bank of Japan to maintain stimulus, debate offering rosier view on economy
The Bank of Japan is expected to maintain its massive monetary stimulus on Thursday as its board debates whether growing bright signs from prices and the job market justify offering a rosier view on the economy. Many central bankers are confident an economic recovery is on track, encouraged by data such as the first rise in core consumer prices in more than a year, the first increase in summer bonuses in three years and a fall in the jobless rate to a 4-1/2 year low.
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US: First national sign of childhood obesity drop
For many years, doctors have been wringing their hands as more and more US children grew fat. Now, that may be changing, with the first evidence of a national decline in childhood obesity. After decades on the rise, childhood obesity rates recently have essentially been flat. A few places -- Philadelphia, New York City, and Mississippi -- reported improvements in the last couple of years. But the report from the Centers for Disease and Control Prevention shows signs of wider-ranging progress. 'I really do think this is a pivotal moment,' said Sam Kass, executive director of a White House initiative to reduce childhood obesity.
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South Africa: Long term community development investment pays off
After nine years of waiting, the community of Ncera, a sprawling rural settlement located just outside East London, celebrated the success of its long term community development project in the form of a launch to welcome the first harvest from the Ncera Macadamia Farming Project. Along with local government and community organizations, the people of Ncera village hailed the success of the project, a community planting and harvesting initiative which aims to alleviate poverty and create employment in the region.
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Video of the Day:
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World Round-Up
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Taj Corridor: SC won’t review quashing of FIR against Maya
The Supreme Court on Thursday gave a final burial to a nine-year-old corruption case lodged by the CBI against BSP supremo Mayawati in connection with the Taj Corridor matter.
Deciding a review petition against its 2012 judgment, a Bench of Chief Justice of India P Sathasivam and Justice Dipak Misra refused to reconsider its order on quashing the FIR against the former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister
The Bench clarified that its previous directives were confined to the inquiry into the alleged irregularities in the Taj Heritage Corridor Project and that it did not deal with any other aspect of the issue.
"It is made clear that we have not gone into any other aspect relating to the claim of the CBI, intervener or the stand of the writ petitioner except the directions relating to Taj Heritage Corridor Project, which was the only lis (legal issue) before us...In such circumstances and in the light of enormous decisions, we find that there is no material within the parameters of review jurisdiction to go into the earlier order," held the Bench.
The SC order comes as a major relief for Mayawati, for allowing the review petition, beyond a simple clarification, could mean reviving the disproportionate assets case lodged by the CBI on October 5, 2003.
The CBI in Lucknow had lodged the case, relying on certain court directions to it for interrogating and verifying the assets of suspects over the outflow of Rs 17 crore, alleged to had been released by the state government without proper sanction for the project.
Acting on this FIR, the CBI had then conducted raids at all the premises of Mayawati and her relatives and seized various bank accounts.
Challenging the FIR, Mayawati moved the court. Kamlesh Verma, a UP resident, also intervened in the matter and argued against her petition.
In July 2012, the court allowed Mayawati's plea, holding that its order did not contain any specific direction regarding lodging of FIR in the matter of disproportionate assets case against her.
The SC also pulled up the CBI for exceeding its jurisdiction in lodging the FIR. Aggrieved, Verma sought a review of this order.
Appearing for him, senior advocate Shanti Bhushan argued that it was in the larger interest of justice that CBI be allowed to proceed further even if there was any invalidity of investigation and breach of mandatory provisions.
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Astrology
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Aries March 21 to April 19
You may be consumed with familial obligations as the day unfolds. You likely will need to answer questions or seek answers to inherited funds or the legacy of your past. This may be a simple task of righting a wrong or looking for the proper placement of legal documents, wills, and estate settlements. What has been handed down to you may hold some promise for the future of your family as the older generation hands down to the younger and a cycle continues.
Taurus April 20 to May 20
If you made a promise, you'll be in a position to keep it as Saturn drifts through your relationship sector. This may be a case of doing the right thing with regard to your partner. These themes may be a part of your dialogue as you test the commitment of your intentions to each other. Jupiter will be your expansive and optimistic guide as he helps in your communication sector and provides you with truly big and cheerful ideas.
Gemini May 21 to June 20
 Today will be an ideal time to investigate some of your financial plans. This may be especially evident regarding health insurance policies and medical plans. The same curiosity may be present as you research your exercise routine going forward. The real secret will lie in the effectiveness of your plans. Are you working out as much as you should? Do you feel as if you are making the right amount of progress with your health? A few simple adjustments may be in order.
Cancer June 21 to July 22
You may find that you are hard at work in some creative project. Perhaps you have taken on a new type of project and you are testing your abilities to pull it off successfully. There can be a great reward in trying to reach a little higher and push yourself just a little bit farther. Of course the proof will lie in the outcome, but you may enjoy the added responsibility of the challenge. You won't know your capacities if you don't push yourself.
Leo July 23 to Aug. 22 
You may be in the mood for getting projects completed around the house. These may be long-standing, ongoing plans that have taken forever to finish. This might the right time to bite the bullet and wrap things up once and for all. If you can get others involved, you will be even more effective and accomplish that much more. Even if the work is challenging, you may find that the reward far outweighs the effort in the long haul.
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Companies Bill passed
Fifty-seven years after the first Companies Act was enacted and over 20 years after liberalisation, India on Thursday inched closer to bringing more contemporary issues, such as corporate governance, investor protection, corporate social responsibility and measures to check frauds, under the legislation.
Even as the treasury benches and the Opposition had yet to evolve a consensus on many other pieces of legislation, the much-awaited Companies Bill was passed by the Rajya Sabha on Thursday. The Bill, vetted twice by a Parliamentary panel, had already got the approval of the Lok Sabha in December last year. Now, only the President’s assent will be required for it to become law.
Once the new law is put in place, profit-making companies will be required to spend two per cent of their average net profit of three years on activities related to corporate social responsibility (CSR). Three years will be counted as preceding the one during which CSR was to be undertaken.
ALSO READ: New Companies law-Quick guide
However, the government has diluted the mandatory provision for CSR after objections from India Inc. Those failing to meet the obligation will have to explain the reasons for the shortfall. The norm is valid only for companies with net worth of Rs 500 crore or more, or turnover of Rs 1,000 crore or more, or a net profit of Rs 5 crore or more, during the past three financial years. Experts believe this would bring a paradigm shift because the old legislation only provided for voluntary guidelines for CSR.
Moving the Bill for consideration, Corporate Affairs Minister Sachin Pilot said private companies, while maximising their growth, also had a responsibility towards society, besides equitable and sustainable growth for the country. Pilot emphasised that the Bill aimed to encourage firms to undertake social welfare voluntarily, instead of imposing that through “inspector raj”.
The Bill, aimed at improving corporate governance, also contains provisions to strengthen regulations for companies, as well as auditing firms.
The new legislation, with 470 clauses, limits to 20 the number of companies an auditor can serve. It has also brought in more clarity on auditors’ criminal liability. Besides, the approved Bill also includes annual ratification of appointment of auditors for five years and introduction of a new clause related to offence of falsely inducing banks for obtaining credit.
Companies will have to disclose ratio of remuneration of each director on the board to the average of employees’ salary.
To a question raised by a member of Parliament, Pilot said the employees stock option (Esop) could not be given to independent directors, as that was given to employees. A third of the board had to be filled with independent directors.
The government has also made provisions regarding incorporation of companies. According to the new law, even one person can form a company, as against the earlier requirement of at least two people.
Safeguarding workmen in the legislation, the new law mandates payment of two years’ salary to employees in companies that wind up operations. This liability would be overriding, Pilot said while pointing out companies had been allowed easy exit.
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4 exercises you can do while at work
Here are some exercises that you can do while you are at work
Sitting at your desk and staring at the computer screen for hours is not something that most of us, who have regular nine-to-five jobs, can avoid. However, what is most worrying about this kind of a sedentary lifestyle is that it takes a toll on our health and fitness. With all of us running after time constantly, and not getting ample time to workout at home or at a gym, exercising while at work, may be the only possibility.
This will not only reduce stress and keep you energized, focused and healthy, but will also increase your productivity at work. All you need is a break of a few minutes. If you are not blessed with a gym in your office premises, do keep the following tips in mind and make the most of it. You can practice these without leaving your office. Do them every day and notice the difference.
Take it to the mat
Keep a fold-able exercise mat in your office, which can be used to carry out basic exercises like stomach crunches, push-ups and leg lifts. This can help to burn off carbohydrates and revitalize you for the rest of the day.
Take the stairs
When given the choice between taking the elevator or climbing the stairs to your floor at work, opt for the latter. Climbing stairs is an easy exercise and also one of the best every day exercises for office-goers. It not only burns calories, but this cardiovascular activity also gets your heart pumping and helps in boosting blood circulation.
Stress buster
Squeezing a stress ball repeatedly gets the blood flowing, and is a good exercise for heavy keyboard users. It also increases strength of the forearm and joints. And it is fun!
Keep walking
Walk around your office after lunch, or within the premises. Brisk walking for 10 minutes or more, boosts energy levels and helps fight stress and aids in relaxation.
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Virgo Aug. 23 to Sept. 22
This may a wonderful time for working with friends around a singular focus. Research and investigative projects may be particularly favored, so put your effort into correspondence and tracking events if possible. Communication may be the strongest part of this current theme, so try and rein your attention in on that area. You may be able to strive for great heights if you can remain dedicated and detailed in this area. Remember the secret is all in the words.
Libra Sept. 23 to Oct. 22
You may receive an interesting directive in the mail regarding your investments at work. Retirement funds, pension, and the like are favored for your focus as Saturn will move through that area of your life and prod you to do the right thing. You may be getting some outside advice over the weekend that will prepare you for a conversation with management after the weekend. As long as you are responsible and precise in your analysis and recommendations, you may be quite happily rewarded.
Scorpio Oct. 23 to Nov. 21
 With Saturn moving through Scorpio, you may feel especially responsible for following through and setting the record straight in almost all areas of your life. This may be a time of feeling dutiful and proper. Even if the theme may be somewhat challenging and even sobering, the results may be quite beneficial to your ultimate goals. Education and travel may figure heavily in your discussions and progress going forward. If you can get your motivation in the right area, you'll be quite well received.
Sagittarius Nov. 22 to Dec. 21
Try to spend time working toward resolving family matters, especially those that pertain to legal matters. This may include wills, estates, and other financial ventures. If you can pay special attention to those areas, you may be rewarded. You might try to find some sort of closure that involves insurance claims or other financial or legal settlement. Tying up these loose ends may seem challenging at the time, but you may be grateful farther down the road.
Capricorn Dec. 22 to Jan. 19
 You may be focused on your significant relationship and rightfully so. At the same time you may find that you have other obligations to meet first. Of course this may pose a dilemma as to which way to go. As long as you can accommodate both areas of your life, you may find that a compromise is possible and even the preferred method. Your partner may even enjoy seeing you responsible since it will shed some insight into your true inner spirit.
Aquarius Jan. 20 to Feb. 18
 This can be an especially fruitful time for you and your health. If you can create the time, you may find that any effort in this area truly pays off. Being motivated can help in the process. With Jupiter and Mars together, you'll have incentive to get up and go and be active in your workouts. The only challenge you may face has to do with your career. As a result it will be a worthwhile effort to just get the work done and then go do your physical activity. It will help if you can achieve balance.
Pisces Feb. 19 to March 20
A little education could go a long way toward reaching your creative potential. Mars may provide you with the motive and Jupiter may offer expansive support as they move through your house of expression. Before you can get moving, though, you may have to stop and get the right education and skills before you can fully blossom. It will be worth your while to get the facts first and then proceed full steam ahead. Clearly your output will be of a higher caliber, if you are better informed.
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Moral Story
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SMS
There were two cows in a field. One said "moo", the other one said "I was going to say that!"
LOVE & RELATIONSHIPS
“It's no good pretending that any relationship has a future if your record collections disagree violently or if your favorite films wouldn't even speak to each other if they met at a party.
LEADERSHIP & SUCCESS
The challenge of leadeship is to be strong, but not rude; be kind, but not weak; be bold, but not bully; be thoughtful, but not lazy; be humble, but not timid; be proud, but not arrogant; have humor, but without folly.
Wat Is The Great Example Of Mixed Emotions - Ur Greatest Enemy Fals From 8th Floor, On Ur Brand New Car And U Dont Know Whether To Laugh Or To Cry.
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Allahabad University indecision leaves 10 students in a quandary
ALLAHABAD: Fate of 10 former inmates of AN Jha hostel, charged with ragging juniors in the hostel last year, hangs in balance as Allahabad University continues to delay announcement of their result. While their classmates have already enrolled in the next class, these students are running from the pillar to the post to convince authorities into declaring their result.
Taking cognizance of ragging in Amar Nath Jha hostel in October 2012, the varsity authorities had expelled 10 students for one year. The authorities also decided against providing these students with hostel facility in the future. These students included Akshay Bhatt, Rudrakshya Upadhayay, Utkarsh Shukla (BA), Ankur Tiwari, Abhishek Kumar Singh, Sandeep Kumar Tewari (BCom), Harish kumar Yadav of MA, Guarav Singh, Aman Pandey (MSc) and Anupam Kumar (LLB).
The expelled students secured relief from court. Later, varsity authorities too adopted a lenient approach and allowed them provisionally appear in the year ending exam held in April 2013. The results were announced in June. However, the varsity withheld the results of these 10 students.
The authorities have sought Executive Council (EC) decision on announcing the results of these students. However, the EC failed to take up the issue in the last meeting and ordered that it be listed for the next meeting.
"We are unable to explain the situation to our parents who have so far supported us. While our friends have already deposited the fee for the next year, we are roaming on the campus, meeting one or another officials requesting them to bail us out of the crises", said one of the students. "Many of us are under stress and who knows when someone among us will breakdown completely," he added.
Dean, Student Welfare (DSW), A R Siddiqui said, "We are pursuing the case of these students. We believe that the result of these students be declared provisionally so that they may not lose valuable time." The final action rests on EC. Till then these students can at least pursue their classes, he added.
Meanwhile, the varsity authorities have already taken action against nine students who had lodged complaint against these students. While one of them has already left AU, the rest have been attached to the Central Library for a week during which they have to contribute 15 hours to the work of the library.
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ICC wants evidence for Hot Spot claims: Report
SYDNEY: The International Cricket Council has told the inventor of Hot Spot he will need strong evidence to suggest players were deliberately trying to cheat the system, a report said on Friday.
Australia's Channel Nine alleged on Wednesday that players in the current Ashes series between England and Australia were using silicone tape on their bats to avoid nicks being detected by the thermal imaging system.
The ICC has confirmed Australian inventor Warren Brennan raised concerns with them this week over the effect of bat coatings on the technology, but that he was warned against suggesting players were deliberately trying to cheat the system, a website reported.
Brennan has not made any public comment and has refused interviews, but he sent a tweet on Monday to former England captain Michael Vaughan that said: "Michael, it's time you investigate why players are using fibreglass tape on the edges of their bats."
Channel Nine reported on Thursday that Brennan had raised his "serious concerns" with the ICC about flaws in the system and that testing had been carried out, which showed that a second layer of tape had the dulling effect.
Geoff Allardice, the ICC's general manager of cricket operations, has said that Hot Spot will continue to be used for the rest of the Ashes series and that he had met Brennan in Melbourne last week to discuss the series.
"He followed up with an email to me on Monday suggesting that they'd looked at some clips and that coatings on the bat might have been dulling down the Hot Spot mark," Allardice said.
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Chennai Express
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Chennai Express
Movie Name : Chennai Express
Release Date : August 9, 2013
Genre : Comedy
Producer : Gauri Khan
Director : Rohit Shetty
Music Director : Vishal-Shekhar.
Cast : Shahrukh Khan, Deepika Padukone, Sathyaraj, Manorama
Synopsis:
The filming began at Mehboob Studio in Mumbai on 5th October 2012 . The lead actor was dressed in black casuals and the actress in a South Indian attire, wearing Kanjeevaram saree. Filming was done at Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus railway station with minimum crew members.
These working stills of the lead actor were unofficially released in mid-October 2012. In November 2012, the cast and crew was off to Goa for the first filming schedule. The railway station of Vasco da Gama was used as a double up, portraying Kalyan. A romantic scene on board a train passing next to Dudhsagar Falls was also shot.
In December 2012, the team was off to Jakarta for some scenes. By early January 2013, the next schedule was supposed to happen in Ooty but Khan opined that the opted place would be too far from commercial venue, Mumbai.
Hence, recreation of the lanes of Ooty along with some of its tourist spots, was constructed as a set on the outskirts of Panchgani in Wai by art director Narendra Ruharikar.
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In eastern Africa you can buy beer brewed from bananas.
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" INSPIRING STORY "
The Poor Man’s Wealth
Ramchand and Premchand were neighbours. Ramchand was a poor farmer. Premchand was a landlord.
Ramchand used to be very relaxed and happy. He never bothered to close the doors and windows of his house at night.
He had deep sound sleeps. Although he had no money he was peaceful.
Premchand used to be very tense always. He was very keen to close the doors and windows of his house at night.
He could not sleep well. He was always bothered that someone might break open his safes and steal away his money. He envied the peaceful Ramchand.
One day, Premchand call Ramchand and gave him a boxful of cash saying,
“Look my dear friend. I am blessed with plentyof wealth.
I find you in poverty. So, take this cash and live in prosperity.”
Ramchand was overwhelmingly happy. He was joyful throughout the day. Night came. Ramchand went to bed as usual. But, to-day, he could not sleep.
He went and closedthe doors and windows. He still could not sleep. He began to keep on looking at the box of cash. The whole night he was disturbed.
As soon as day broke, Ramchand took the box of cash to Premchand. He gave away the box to Premchand saying, “Dear Friend,
I am poor. But, your money took away peace from me. Please bear with me and take back your money.”
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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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