“Life itself was only futility, vain words, a squabble of cap and bells. ”     VBA's Positive News US service firms expand at fastest pace in eight years Companies in the US service sector expanded at their fastest pace in nearly eight years last month as sales and orders grew and employers ramped up hiring. Consumers appear to be spending more at auto dealerships, retailers, hotels and restaurants. The housing recovery is also spurring growth in real estate.      Two Koreas agree to restore cross-border hotline in sign of easing tensions  North Korea agreed Thursday to restore a cross-border military hotline with South Korea, in another sign of easing tensions between the rivals in recent weeks, the South Korean government said. The two Koreas agreed last month to work toward a reopening of a joint industrial complex, which had been the last symbol of reconciliation between the countries before North Korea suspended its operations in April.      Denmark: The media is changing for good In May this year, 12 classically trained reporters sat down for three full days studying positive news and how to master it in the conventional news media. The class, in Copenhagen, Denmark, is still small and offered only on a quarterly basis. But the significance of these 12 reporters teaming up to learn what is being defined as 'constructive news reporting', is not to be underestimated. It has the potential to change the face of conventional news media for good. And for good. Banning nuclear tests essential for global peace, says head of UN-backed treaty organization The new head of preparatory commission for a United Nations-backed treaty stressed on Wednesday that banning nuclear tests is essential for international peace and security. In a briefing to reporters in New York, the Executive Secretary of the Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO), Lassina Zerbo, underlined that countries that have not ratified the treaty should realize the treaty is in their national security interests as well being a vital part of achieving international peace.     Video of the Day:

World Round-Up

Political + Yogendra Yadav stands firm, says will not quit UGC    The continuity of Yogendra Yadav as a UGC member faces a question mark with the HRD Ministry, upset over his joining the Aam Aadmi Party, issuing him a show cause notice citing conflict of interest, even as he ruled out stepping down. Noting that Yadav's "antecedents and credentials at the time of his appointment in 2011, and now stands substantially altered", the ministry in its notice yesterday asked him to provide an explanation within seven days before initiating further action. The notice said Yadav has not only "joined a registered political party as an office bearer but has also participated in political forums organised by the aforesaid party". Yadav maintained that the ministry wants to get rid of him as he was "posing obstacles in the way of what the ministry was pushing through its agenda in UGC". He said he would respond to the show cause notice served by the Ministry "but would certainly not step down from his post". Yadav said he had informed the then HRD Minister Kapil Sibal and other officials about his intention of joining the party. Sibal made way for M M Pallam Raju who took charge of the Ministry last October. Sources in the Ministry said they were unaware of his political attachment till they were informed by a senior Congress leader through a letter in May. "It was following this that we initiated our process," a source said. Yadav expressed his surprise as to how it took the ministry 10 months to discover that he has joined a party. He has been vocal about several policies the ministry has initiated. "I had opposed coming up of an inter-university centre on teacher training institution in Kakinada which is the constituency of the HRD Minister," he said. Slamming the ministry and the UGC, he said their policies go against the spirit of higher education be it in the matter of entry of foreign institutions from the back door or imposition of academic performance index scores in universities in a non-autonomous. "I had opposed all these measures because they were not good for higher education in this country," he said. Astrology Aries March 21 to April 19 Disagreements with partners or colleagues will be easily resolved today, and you will find it especially easy to reach compromises and understand another person's position. In general, you can enjoy smooth interactions with the moon in your relationship sector in peace-loving Libra. Be careful not to over-commit to work on family obligations today, and give yourself one-on-one time with a partner or friend, as you will find these types of exchanges more satisfying today than group interactions.                                        Taurus April 20 to May 20 You may feel a need to remove yourself from your daily routine today and allow your imagination to take over for a while. Creative projects or activities can provide an outlet for an urge to express a different side of your personality. Be open to new ideas and find time to be playful and relaxed. If possible, spend time with children today, as exchanges with them will allow you to naturally tap into your creative instincts.                                     Gemini May 21 to June 20 You will particularly appreciate your family now and might enjoy staying close to home. A sense of belonging among family members might be the answer to tensions you may experience within social groups. Gemini is among the most social of all the signs and involvement in social interactions is what typically makes you feel most alive. Feeling that you have a solid home base now will allow you to enjoy meeting and learning about new people.                             Cancer June 21 to July 22  You can provide important guidance now to a friend or colleague who is facing a major change in life direction, or you could give input to a parent or mentor needing to make an important choice. With the moon in your sector of home and family, minor disruptions on the home front could come into play today, but you will be seen as a leader and a source of stability during a turbulent period.                                                     Leo July 23 to Aug. 22  Your thought processes will be working overtime today, and you could come up with some very interesting ideas if you give yourself time to let them fully formulate. With an emphasis in your sector of ideology, you could question your own belief system and make changes that allow you to live in a manner that is more closely aligned with your core beliefs. You could reach some sudden and surprising conclusions that allow you to express yourself more authentically.                          BUSINESS+VE                                                                              Why some foreign investors are buying India despite economic gloom       Newspaper headlines spew doom and gloom about India. Analysts are topping each other with ever-more-dire pronouncements on the country's prospects. And yet some foreign investors are not only ignoring the warnings, they are buying more shares. It flies in the face of conventional wisdom to bet on a country with a currency tumbling to record lows and a government that is clutching at straws to deal with India's worst economic turmoil since its balance of payment crisis in 1991. Yet to some financial firms such as Ashmore Group in London the panic gripping India ignores an economy that, although slowing sharply, is far from collapse. So much hand-wringing over the state of the economy today masks the long-term compelling play that attracted many foreign investors to India in the first place, including a young, urbanising population that will drive consumer demand and an economy that is increasingly diversifying into exports. "The market is obviously currently gripped in a sense of panic and, as such, it is not paying a lot of attention to the underlying fundamentals," said Jan Dehn, head of research at Ashmore Group in London, which manages $80 billion worldwide. "What happens in these situations is that where the market has gone and what actually exists on the ground in reality have parted ways with each other." The case against India is not hard to make. Investment has melted away and data is pointing to a plunge in manufacturing and service-sector output. At the same time, the current account deficit is at a record high, a stubborn fiscal deficit has raised the risk of sovereign rating downgrades, and the RBI's recent cash-draining steps threaten to raise borrowing costs across the economy.     HEALTH+VE                                                              Better hygiene may increase Alzheimer's risk An obsession with cleanliness and hygiene could lead to a higher risk of developing Alzheimer`s disease, Cambridge scientists have warned. People living in industrialised countries may be more likely to develop Alzheimer`s due to greatly reduced contact with bacteria, viruses and other microorganisms - which can lead to problems with immune development and increased risk of dementia, a new study claims. The research found a "very significant" relationship between a nation`s wealth and hygiene and the Alzheimer`s "burden" on its population. High-income, highly industrialised countries with large urban areas and better hygiene exhibit much higher rates of Alzheimer`s, researchers said. Using `age-standardised` data - which predict Alzheimer`s rates if all countries had the same population birth rate, life expectancy and age structure - the study found strong correlations between national sanitation levels and Alzheimer`s. This latest study adds further weight to the "hygiene hypothesis" in relation to Alzheimer`s: that sanitised environments in developed nations result in far less exposure to a diverse range of bacteria, viruses and other microorganisms - which might actually cause the immune system to develop poorly, exposing the brain to the inflammation associated with Alzheimer`s disease, researchers said. Researchers tested whether "pathogen prevalence" can explain the levels of variation in Alzheimer`s rates across 192 countries. After adjusting for differences in population age structures, the study found that countries with higher levels of sanitation had higher rates of Alzheimer`s. For example, countries where all people have access to clean drinking water, such as the UK and France, have 9 per cent higher Alzheimer`s rates than countries where less than half have access, such as Kenya and Cambodia. Countries that have much lower rates of infectious disease, such as Switzerland and Iceland, have 12 per cent higher rates of Alzheimer`s compared with countries with high rates of infectious disease, such as China and Ghana. More urbanised countries exhibited higher rates of Alzheimer`s, irrespective of life expectancy.       Virgo Aug. 23 to Sept. 22  You may have discovered an aptitude in a new area, and you could feel compelled now to explore your new talent. If you have produced some new work or taken your creative abilities in a new direction, you could feel an urge to display your work and invite feedback from others. With the Sun and Mercury in your sign, you will want input, but you should also feel especially confident in your work and its value.                                    Libra Sept. 23 to Oct. 22 Plans to take your professional life in a new direction could finally take hold now, as Jupiter has entered your career sector. A challenge from Pluto suggests that obstacles to your plans may have recently been overcome, and now will be the time to move forward. This could prove to be an exciting time for meeting new people and making important social connections that will enable you to move smoothly into your new role.                                 Scorpio Oct. 23 to Nov. 21 Memories and dreams could be more vivid than usual, and you could find yourself in a mood to daydream or relax with family and relatives to relive old times and reinforce connections with your past. Looking through old letters and photographs could spark memories and facilitate your exploration of times gone by. The moon in contact with Uranus suggests that nostalgic feelings could arise suddenly and out of the blue, so give yourself time to reflect.                          Sagittarius Nov. 22 to Dec. 21 Your life may feel extraordinarily busy these days, taking care of people who need your help. If your own interests and obligations seem neglected because you lack time to attend to them, make a plan to focus on activities that support your personal self-expression. Even small steps taken now toward addressing your own needs will help you be more willing and able to offer help to others. People will look to you today for that support.                                                  Capricorn Dec. 22 to Jan. 19 Feelings of frustration could surface today if you feel like your work is taking time away from family obligations. An interplay between the moon and Uranus suggests that an unsettled situation at home or with your family may need your attention now. You can make progress in ironing out misunderstandings in your domestic life. There will be an opportunity for you to improve relationships in general today by taking the time to communicate clearly.                             Aquarius Jan. 20 to Feb. 18  You may want to spend time exploring spirituality and ideas that contribute to the meaning of your life, but life's mundane details may distract you from those efforts. Consider a retreat, or a plan a weekend getaway where you can read or attend a lecture to allow some expansion in this area of your life. It will ultimately allow you to stay grounded and perform better in all areas of your life.                       Pisces Feb. 19 to March 20  If you have been working to reach an agreement with a boss or business partner, you may get close to a deal, but be patient if frustrations surface. Today could be a turning point, and peaceful negotiations are possible if you work with the other party to take care of any final details of the contract. With the Sun and Mercury in your partnership sector today, a mutually beneficial agreement is likely.        Moral Story     SMS   True art is characterized by an irresistible urge in the creative artist.      LOVE & RELATIONSHIPS   “Why is it," he said, one time, at the subway entrance, "I feel I've known you so many years?" "Because I like you," she said, "and I don't want anything from you.”   LEADERSHIP & SUCCESS     Men make history and not the other way around. In periods where there is no leadership, society stands still. Progress occurs when courageous, skillful leaders seize the opportunity to change things for the better.   The Perfect Son. A: I have the perfect son. B: Does he smoke? A: No, he doesn't. B: Does he drink whiskey? A: No, he doesn't. B: Does he ever come home late? A: No, he doesn't. B: I guess you really do have the perfect son. How old is he? A: He will be six months old next Wednesday.

EDUCATION +VE JNU to have separate hostel for northeast students soon       Clearing all hurdles for the construction of a 500-bed for northeast students at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) in New Delhi, the varsity authorities have finally identified land for the long awaited hostel. The Northeast MPs Forum (NEMPF) has been urging the Centre for construction of the proposed hostel in order to cater to the needs of the rising number of students from this region pursuing career in the national capital. JNU vice-chancellor Sudhir Kumar Sopory and other officials of the university accompanied by NEMPF secretary general Takam Sanjoy and Delhi Police joint commissioner Robin Hibu visited the varsity campus on Wednesday for demarcating the land for the ambitious project, official sources informed here on Thursday. The project would serve as a panacea for NE students pursuing higher education in New Delhi. Union DoNER ministry would provide Rs 95 crore for the hostel which will have 50 per cent reservation for the NE girl students. In a representation to the VC, NEPMF chairman Mukut Mithi said the hostel should be named 'Subansiri Hostel' after the river in Arunachal Pradesh, and suggested co-opting JNU deputy registrar Anthony as liaison officer between the JNU and the NEMPF. Delhi chief minister Shiela Dixit had given her consent to allot land for the hostel at a high-level meeting in All India Congress Committee (AICC) held under the chairmanship of Union minister Oscar Fernandez on July 16 last. The meeting was attended by DoNER minister Paban Singh Ghatowar, Arunachal Pradesh chief minister Nabam Tuki, his Meghalaya counterpart Mukul Sangma, Mukut Mithi and a host of AICC leaders and MPs form NE, including Sanjoy. Dixit took up the matter with JNU vice-chancellor after Sanjoy wrote her a letter on July 27, following which the VC had consented to identify land for the purpose within the university campus. SPORTS +VE US Open: Leander Paes-Radek Stepanek end Bryan brothers' quest of calendar Grand Slam         Leander Paes and Radek Stepanek stunned top seeded and hot favourite pair of Mike and Bob Bryan, who were chasing a rare Calendar Grand Slam, in a gripping contest to storm into the US Open men's doubles final, here on Thursday. The fourth seeded Indo-Czech pair denied the Bryans a piece of history with their 3-6 6-3 6-4 win as the American twins were trying to become first doubles team since 1951 to collect all four Grand Slam titles in the same year. Ken McGregor and Frank Sedgman had achieved the rare feat of winning Calendar Slam in 1951. The Bryans ran away with the first set but faced stiff challenge in the second, which Paes and Stepanek dominated to take the match to full length. Paes stood out with his backhand slice and chips while Stepanek was solid with his blistering double-handed backhand. Paes and Stepanek will have a chance to win their first Slam title of the season, having finished semifinalists at the Wimbledon. The two teams began well but Paes and Stepanek handed the advantage to the Bryans in the sixth game of the opening set.       Grand Masti Grand Masti Movie Name :  Grand Masti  Release Date :  13 September 2013 Genre :  Bollywood adult comedy Producer : Ashok Thakeria,Indra Kumar Director :  Indra Kumar Music Director :  Anand Raj Anand,Sanjeev Darshan Cast : Vivek Oberoi,Ritesh Deshmukh,Aftab Shivdasani,Sonalee Kulkarni,Bruna Abdullah,Karishma Tanna,Kainaat Arora,Maryam Zakaria,Manjari Fadnis   Synopsis: Three married guys Vivek Oberoi as Meet,Aftab Shivdasani as Prem and Riteish Deshmukh as Amar go out on fun experience in their college reunion in Shree Lalchand University of Technology and Science(SLUTS),finally to be trapped in a danger.       the longest recorded flight of a chicken was 13 seconds " INSPIRING STORY "   The important things in life  A philosophy professor stood before his class with some items on the table in front of him. When the class began, wordlessly he picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with rocks, about 2 inches in diameter. He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was. So the professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles, of course, rolled into the open areas between the rocks. He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was. The professor picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He then asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with a unanimous “Yes.” “Now,” said the professor, “I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The rocks are the important things – your family, your partner, your health, your children – things that if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full. The pebbles are the other things that matter – like your job, your house, your car. The sand is everything else. The small stuff.” “If you put the sand into the jar first,” he continued “there is no room for the pebbles or the rocks. The same goes for your life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff, you will never have room for the things that are important to you. Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Play with your children. Take your partner out dancing. There will always be time to go to work, clean the house, give a dinner party and fix the disposal. Take care of the rocks first – the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand.”

“Never tell your problems to anyone...20% don't care and the other 80% are glad you have them.”