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“Life itself was only futility, vain words, a squabble of cap and bells. ”
| VBA's Positive News |
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British factory orders pick up sharply in August
British manufacturers' order books looked in their best shape for two years in August, an industry survey showed on Wednesday, providing further evidence that the recovery is picking up steam. The improvement was broad-based. Export order books rose to their highest since June 2012 and output expectations for the coming three months were the strongest in over two years.
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Plan to plant tree for every Edinburgh child
Edinburgh, Scotland is considering a treemendous plan to plant a sapling for every child born or adopted in the city. Newborns could be assigned their own tree and given a certificate telling them where it is under the proposal to support green spaces and improve the environment. A similar pledge by the Welsh government has been praised for raising youth awareness of the environment, with schools involved in the planting process.
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BRICS Business Council to boost inclusive growth
The BRICS Business Council on Tuesday expressed their commitment to working together to advance development in the bloc's member countries. BRICS an acronym for the Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa group of countries. In his address to the BRICS Business Council meeting, South African President Jacob Zuma said the strength of the alliance was amplified by the fact that BRICS countries accounted for 43 per cent of the world's population.
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Red Cross chief visits Koreas to discuss reunions
The president of the International Committee of the Red Cross is visiting North and South Korea to discuss proposed reunions of families separated by the Korean War and other humanitarian issues. Peter Maurer arrived in Pyongyang on Tuesday and plans to visit South Korea to speak to officials there on Friday, the same day that has been proposed for both Koreas to meet for working-level talks on the reunions proposal. Along with discussing the reunions, Maurer was expected to talk about ongoing projects the Red Cross supports in North Korea, including a physical rehabilitation centre in Pyongyang and four provincial hospitals.
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Video of the Day:
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World Round-Up
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Mullaperiyar dam case: SC reserves order
After a series of marathon hearings, the Supreme Court on Wednesday reserved its verdict on the Mullaperiyar dam issue where Tamil Nadu has challenged the jurisdiction of Kerala to restrict the water level in the dam.
A five-judge constitution bench of Justices R M Lodha, H L Dattu, C K Prasad, Madan B Lokur and M Y Eqbal wrapped up the hearing after taking on record the submissions of both Tamil Nadu and Kerala.
During the proceedings on Wednesday, the bench made it clear that the dispute between the two states wasn't strictly a water dispute but one that revolved around the competence of one state to pass a law on the dam whose effects might be felt by a neighboring state.
"It surely isn't a water dispute though it is about water," Justice Lodha said when Tamil Nadu claimed that Kerala had no power to pass the 2006 law regulating height of the dam on the Periyar river.
The SC indicated it will also settle the dispute if the river is an inter-state or an intra-state one since the rights of each state revolve around this key question.
Appearing for TN, senior counsel Vinod Bobde rummaged through old records to emphasize that the 1886 agreement between the British government and the ruler of Travancore was never abandoned.
TN argued that the 1886 agreement remained in force through the Standstill Agreement at the time of Indian independence and it was later "neither denounced nor superseded" by any other law, which is why Kerala had no right to interfere unilaterally and pass a law.
"Agreement of 1886 continued in full force. The state of Kerala's law impacts and inter-state river so they don't have the competence to pass such a law," Bobde said, highlighting how TN formed a large part of the catchment area of the river which is why it was an inter-state issue.
At this, the court demanded clarity on the concept of an inter-state river and an inter-state river valley.
Even as TN admitted there was lack of authoritative law on the issue, it countered Kerala's claim that Periyar was an intra-state river. TN cited a 1950 report signed by the then Kerala state irrigation minister V R Krishna Iyer (who later became an SC judge) recording that Periyar was an inter-state river since drainage area lay in Madras.
Backing the conclusions of the SC appointed empowered committee, TN also said there was enough evidence to show that the dam was structurally, hydrologically and seismically safe even though Justice Lodha took serious exception to a report by a TN hydrologist who made a big error in calculating how much "lime leaching" had occurred in the dam over the years.
"How can you rely on hydrologists who commit such blunders? The safety of the dam is dependent on a hydrologist who commits such blunders," the bench said.
Kerala has repeatedly asserted its right to enact a law regulating the safety of dams in the state, insisting that the river rises and falls in Kerala which is why it is an intra-state issue. Kerala has defended the "Dam Safety Act" before the constitution bench and opposed TN's claim over the river on which the dam is built.
At the end of Wednesday's hearing SC reserved for judgment and asked both the states to file brief written synopsis of the facts and their arguments.
The bench is hearing a suit filed by Tamil Nadu questioning the law enacted by Kerala in 2006 to restrict the water level in the Mullaperiyar dam at 136 ft though the Supreme Court had permitted Tamil Nadu to raise the water level up to 142 ft.
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Astrology
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Aries March 21 to April 19
On February 18, Saturn will go direct, which is wonderful news for your career. If you have been frustrated that you have not progressed as quickly as you had hoped since last June, this change will please you. Be ready to schedule meetings and reconnect with executives the minute the week begins. Planets building in Pisces will encourage your creative efforts too. Set aside time for a project on Thursday, February 21, for outstanding results.
Taurus April 20 to May 20
Your career will continue to sparkle this week, and if you will be closing deals, hurry to get them done prior to the coming Mercury retrograde phase, extending from February 23 to March 17. It is never wise to start a new job or long-term venture when Mercury is retrograde, for things rarely turn out as planned. A brilliant social influence will start up too, due to planets now migrating into Pisces.
Gemini May 21 to June 20
 At the end of this week, Mercury will retrograde from February 23 to March 17. While you have so many dazzling planets smiling on your career, it will be critical that you move ahead assertively this week prior to February 23. If you cannot wrap up key talks now, see if you can talk about final decisions for the days after March 17. You are exhibiting quite a bit of vision these days and impressing VIPs, so continue to contribute your ideas. Romantically, Venus is in a superb place for you meet new, interesting people on February 22 or 23.
Cancer June 21 to July 22
Your closest relationship in love or business should improve dramatically, now that Saturn will move ahead on Monday, February 18. If you felt unsure about which steps to take next on an ongoing relationship, the answer will appear. Travel and projects based abroad are entering a glittering phase; continue to pursue new opportunities. If booking airline tickets or hotel reservations, do so early in the week, well in advance of the turn of Mercury retrograde on February 23. If you don't, later you will be forced to redo part of your itinerary.
Leo July 23 to Aug. 22
 Collaborations will be superb for you now, so at work, find someone to act as a sounding board to your ideas. In love, last week's Valentine's Day may have brought talk of an impending engagement or wedding, and if so, your timing will be perfect. If you feel ready to set the date to exchange rings and promises, you may do so this week, but avoid finalizing anything official while Mercury is retrograde, February 23 to March 17. Your expenses are mounting due to the presence of Mars in Pisces, but it may be that you have put off shopping for needed items until now.
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Anil Ambani appears in court as CBI witness in 2G case
Billionaire Anil Ambani, the chairman of the Reliance ADA group, is at a Delhi court this morning, appearing as a CBI witness in the 2G scam case. His statement is being recorded. Yesterday, the Supreme Court refused to pass any order on a petition seeking a stay on trial court summons to him.
Yesterday, after the Supreme Court said that Mr Ambani's petition would be considered only after it decided on two other petitions related to 2G cases, lawyers representing the industrialist rushed to the trial court to seek that his deposition be deferred. But the trial court, which had earlier postponed his examination, dismissed the plea.
This also means that Mr Ambani's wife, Tina Ambani, too will have to appear as a witness in court on Friday.
Mrs Ambani had earlier this week moved the trial court seeking exemption from personal appearance as a CBI witness tomorrow citing prior commitments.
Anil Ambani was to have deposed in court on July 26, but the court had allowed him exemption after he pleaded that he had "pre-scheduled" business engagements. The court had then issued fresh summons.
The CBI has contended that Mr Ambani can, as a prosecution witness, help explain the actions of three senior executives of his company -- Gautam Doshi, Surendra Pipara and Hari Nair -- who were arrested in the 2G case and are now out on bail.
The Reliance Group has said in its petition that the 2G trial is almost complete and summoning Mr. Ambani and his wife at this stage will serve no purpose.
The three officials, of the group's telecom arm Reliance Telecom Ltd, were arrested in 2011 for allegedly using another company, Swan Telecom, to get licences and frequency beyond their permissible quota. The promoters of Swan - Shahid Usman Balwa and Vinod Goenka - were also arrested in 2011 and were later granted bail.
The CBI wants Tina Ambani to be summoned as a prosecution witness because it says she presided over meetings where key decisions related to Swan Telecom were taken.
The CBI is investigating the scam that centres on whether mobile network licences and accompanying second-generation or 2G airwaves were given in sweetheart deals to ineligible companies in 2008 by A. Raja, who was then Telecom Minister. According to estimates of government auditor CAG, this resulted in a loss of Rs. 1.76 lakh crore to the exchequer. The government contests that assessment.
The Supreme Court had in February 2012 ordered the scrapping of 122 telecom licences issued to nine companies in 2008. The court also slapped fines on telcos and gave the government four months to decide fresh norms for issuing licences. In February 2011, Mr. Raja, his aide R.K. Chandolia and former telecom secretary Siddharth Behura were arrested. Mr. Raja was granted bail by the Supreme Court after 15 months, in May 2012.
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Breast milk best for baby's digestive health
BREAST is best for filling babies' digestive systems with essential "good" bacteria, research has shown.
A thriving population of beneficial gut bugs is important to an infant's digestive health and immune system development.
The new research suggests that the bacteria can be transferred to a suckling baby in breast milk.
Swiss scientists found identical strains of the microbe Bifidobacterium breve and several types of "good" Clostridium in both a group of babies and the breast milk they were being fed with.
The strains may help establish a critical nutritional balance in the guts of infants and could be important for preventing intestinal disorders.
Study leader Professor Christophe Lacroix, from the Institute for Food, Nutrition and Health in Zurich, said: "We are excited to find out that bacteria can actually travel from the mother's gut to her breast milk.
"A healthy community of bacteria in the gut of both mother and baby is really important for baby's gut health and immune system development.
"We're not sure of the route the bacteria takes from gut to breast milk but, we have used culture, isolation, sequencing and fingerprinting methods to confirm that they are definitely the same strains."
The findings are published in the latest issue of the journal 'Environmental Microbiology'.
DNA tests were carried out on the breast milk of seven healthy mothers and their exclusively breast-fed babies.
A study released last month showed that breastfeeding improves child intelligence and language ability. Scientists found that longer breastfeeding, even when it was not exclusive, led to higher intelligence scores.
Compared with bottle-fed children, seven-year-olds breastfed for the first year of life were likely to score four points higher in a test of verbal IQ.
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Virgo Aug. 23 to Sept. 22
It appears that last week's new moon has brought you lots of new assignments, and now, at least one will bring you into a new realm. High-level people have noticed your performance and will continue to be impressed. Save time for socializing because your significant other may feel a bit neglected. On Saturday, February 23, your guardian planet, Mercury, will retrograde for three weeks, so knowing this period is nipping at your heels, it will be important to make your key initiations early this week.
Libra Sept. 23 to Oct. 22
You are the envy of the zodiac! Last week's tender, romantic new moon that appeared in your love sector will still be strong during the first part of this week. If you are looking for love, Cupid and his fleet of angels will help you. In your career, if you need to take a business trip do so on Monday or Tuesday (February 18-19), ideal days to go. The type of projects you likely will see developed in coming weeks will be highly creative and allow you to show off your individuality and artistry. On February 23, Mercury will go retrograde until March 17.
Scorpio Oct. 23 to Nov. 21
 Last week's new moon in your home sector will still exert a strong flow in the beginning of this week. It will be a perfect time to investigate options for any residential property or family question. Your project may be large, such as a move to a house, or small such as adding decorative touches, but either way you likely will succeed. Romantically, things are getting so much better for you. If single, Mars has already arrived in your house of true love to stay until March 11. Mercury and Neptune are also there and will be on hand to welcome the new moon in March. This makes February and March your strongest months of the year for love.
Sagittarius Nov. 22 to Dec. 21
Inside in almost every Sagittarian is a yen to travel. If that describes you now, do so early in the week prior to February 23, the date Mercury will retrograde until March 17. Mercury brings changes and setbacks so avoid making a key initiation during the coming phase. Your home is becoming a growing hub of attention and will be even more so in March. Continue to watch for any possible difficulties from water damage. In terms of career, you have a good chance of seeing an increase of salary from now on, thanks to the turn of Saturn to direct February 18, so ask for that raise.
Capricorn Dec. 22 to Jan. 19
 Every sign has a ruling planet, and yours is Saturn. The good news is that after months of being retrograde, Saturn will speed ahead starting Monday, February 18. Plans that have stalled in any area of your life likely will push forward now, much to your delight. One particular area of possible gain will be in terms of your earning power.
Aquarius Jan. 20 to Feb. 18
 If you have been interviewing for a new job or, if self-employed, have been seeking new clients, buckle up, because you are about to see much progress this week. Saturn, now in your house of career achievement, has been retrograde since the end of June but will turn direct on Monday, February 18. All the good work you have done in the past months will now start to bring you special career favor. Last week's new moon in Aquarius is still making you the center of attention this week too. Push ahead on a dream dear to your heart.
Pisces Feb. 19 to March 20
Your time is coming. Planets from all over the solar system are starting to migrate into Pisces. By March, six out of ten heavenly bodies will be ready to support your dearest desires. This is not usual by any means. Start now by planning for a successful initiative. Mars is one of the planets that currently is in Pisces, giving you a wonderful advantage, for it means that you can achieve whatever you set your mind to now.
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Moral Story
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SMS
“Life has a value only when it has something valuable as its object.”
LOVE & RELATIONSHIPS
"True love doesn't mean being inseparable; it means being separated and nothing changes."
LEADERSHIP & SUCCESS
“No man will make a great leader who wants to do it all himself or get all the credit for doing it.”
A Funny short man & his wife go to a coffee house. Funny short man buys 2 cups of coffee.
Funny Man: Drink quickly... drink quickly... before it gets cold.
Wife: But why...
Funny Man: They charge Rs. 50 for hot coffee and Rs 100 for cold coffee.
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Awards for research scholars soon
The West Bengal Higher Education Council has proposed to set up five research awards which will be given out for excellence in research to appreciate the effort of the scholars. The awards to the tune of Rs 1 lakh each will be given out in various streams including natural science, social science, bio-science and engineering among others.
"We have asked the vice-chancellors of various state-run universities to suggest names of personalities on whom the awards will be named," said secretary of the council Prabir Das.
According to him, the modalities will be chalked out soon. However, the council will give the awards to research scholars below 40 years. "Committees will be formed for each award, comprising subject experts, who will propose the names of the research scholars eligible for the awards," he added.
The West Bengal Higher Education Council members had also convened a meeting on the Jorasankho campus of Rabindra Bharati University on Wednesday, where they proposed to start the Common Entrance Test (CET) for post graduation admissions in all the state run universities from the next academic session. Earlier, it was decided that the CET for PG entrance will be held from 2013-2014 session which was later postponed due to time constraint.
"Initially, it was proposed that 50% of the seats in PG courses will be reserved for own students while the rest will be taken on the basis of the CET. The question papers may be based on multiple choice questions (MCQs) and the College Service Commission is likely to be given the responsibility to conduct the test. The question paper will be of 100 marks. The universities are free to give adequate weightage to the graduation score, CET marks and if necessary, can also hold interviews and prepare a merit list," said a source a course in the council.
This year, 60% of the PG seats in the universities were reserved for internal students while the rest was open.
Sources said, "Though the council has also proposed to introduce the CET online, it may not be feasible for language papers which may require certain amount of writing. This will have to be discussed before implementation."
The council members on Wednesday also proposed to centrally organise the online admissions for undergraduate courses in various colleges which will ensure more transparency. "Already, the colleges are uploading merit lists on the websites. If a centrally-organized system is developed, then no bias can be claimed during the UG admissions," the council secretary added..
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Maria Sharapova out of US Open with shoulder injury
Maria Sharapova has been all over the tennis bulletin boards in the last few days, what with her abrupt dismissal of coach Jimmy Connors - whose tenure lasted all of one match - followed by an abortive plan to change her name to Sugarpova as a way of promoting her sweet brand.
But Sharapova's time in the spotlight may be over for a while, as she announced last night that she would not be participating in next week's US Open - a tournament she won in 2006 - because of a shoulder injury. This is one story she cannot sugarcoat.
Sharapova did practice yesterday on Arthur Ashe with her father, Yuri, who was acting as a locum coach. Clearly, though, the experiment was not a success. She had pulled out of two recent tournaments in Toronto and Stanford as a precaution but few had guessed how badly she was struggling.
According to Max Eisenbud, Sharapova's agent, she has been suffering from pain in her shoulder since before the French Open, and it is understood that she has had injections to try to resolve the problem. The fact that the pain is in her serving shoulder - the same joint that underwent reconstructive surgery in 2008, will only heighten concerns about her prognosis.
The 26-year-old Russian said on Facebook: "I just wanted to let you know that withdrawing from the US Open has been a really tough decision to make.
"I have done everything I could since Wimbledon to get myself ready but it just wasn't enough time.
"I have done many tests, received several opinions and it all comes down to taking the proper amount of time to heal my shoulder injury properly.
"It's certainly not an easy decision to make ahead of one of my favorite tournaments, but I know it's the right one that will get me back on the courts soon.
"I plan on taking the next few weeks off, receiving proper treatment and rehabilitation. I will miss being part of the US Open, but can't wait for next year!"
Seeded No 3, Sharapova has been struggling for form as well as fitness and had lost both her most recent matches: the first a shock exit in the second round of Wimbledon against world No 131 Michelle Larcher De Brito, and the second an erratic performance against Sloane Stephens in Cincinnati a week ago.
She was seen as a less likely bet for the title than either of the women ranked above her: Serena Williams and Victoria Azarenka.
Even so, her withdrawal will be a major blow for a women's draw that has already lost the last grand slam champion - the now-retired Marion Bartoli. Despite the criticism that her fortissimo grunting often attracts, she is the most popular player on the women's circuit, as well as the best paid.
Agnieszka Radwanska, the stylish Pole who reached the Wimbledon semi-finals, will thus move up one place in the seedings to No 3.
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Madras Cafe
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Madras Cafe
Movie Name : Madras Cafe
Release Date : August 23, 2013
Genre : Political espionage thriller
Producer : John Abraham,Ronnie Lahiri,Viacom 18 Motion Pictures
Director : Shoojit Sircar
Music Director : Shantanu Moitra
Cast : John Abraham,Nargis Fakhri
Synopsis:
As per John Abraham, "Madras Cafe brings us closer to what changed the political history of India."
The film, set in India and Sri Lanka, is a political spy thriller set against backdrop of the Sri Lankan civil war.Vikram Singh (John Abraham) is an Indian Army special officer who is appointed by the intelligence agency Research and Analysis Wing to conduct covert operations in Sri Lanka shortly after Indian Peace Keeping Force was forced to withdraw.As he journeys to Sri Lanka, with the intention of disrupting a rebel group, he discovers the larger issue. There he meets a British journalist (Jaya) who wants to reveal the truth about the civil war, and in the process he uncovers a conspiracy.
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The average person falls asleep in 7 minutes.
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" INSPIRING STORY "
The story of Rantideva
A hand is odorned with daanam rather than with kankanaas. Daanam must be done expecting absolutely nothing in return, admiring the greatness of the dana-grahita, for giving the daata an opportunity to help the grahita. Stories of great Daatas are huge in number in our Indian history, who gave away everything they had. King Rantideva is well known not only in Bhuloka, but also in the urdhva lokas for his daana gunam.
Rantideva never endeavored to earn anything for himself. He would enjoy whatever he got by vidhi and when atithis came he would give them what they needed. He gave away everything he had to the poor and underwent considerable suffering, along with the members of his family.
Finally, he and his family members did not even get food and water, yet Rantideva always was always satisfied — a sthita pragnya. One morning, after fasting for forty-eight days, Rantideva received some water and some paramaannam (paayasam with rice, milk and ghee).
Just when about to eat them, a brahmana atithi arrived. Because Rantideva perceived the presence of the Paramaatma everywhere, and in every living entity, he received the atithi with faith and respect and gave him a share of the paramaannam. The brahmana ate his share and left the place satisfied.
Thereafter, having divided the remaining paramaannam with his family, Rantideva was just about to eat his own share when another atithi, a shudra arrived. Seeing the shudra in relationship with the Purushottama, King Rantideva gave him also a share of the paramaannam.
When the shudra went away, another atithi arrived, surrounded by dogs, and said, “O King, I and my company of dogs are very hungry. Please give us something to eat.” With great respect, King Rantideva offered the balance of the paramaannam to the dogs and the master of the dogs, who had come as atithis.
Thereafter, only the drinking water remained, and there was only enough to satisfy one person, but when the King was just about to drink it, a chandaala appeared and said, “O King, although I am lowborn, kindly give me some drinking water.” Aggrieved at hearing the pitiable words of the poor fatigued chandaala, Rantideva spoke the following madhura vaakyas. “I do not pray to the Lord for the ashta siddhis, nor for vimukti from samsaara saagaram.
I want to stay among all the living entities and suffer all distresses on their behalf, so that they may be freed from suffering. By offering my water to maintain the life of this poor chandaala, who is struggling to live, I have been freed from all hunger, thirst, fatigue, trembling of the body, moroseness, distress, lamentation and illusion”.
The trimurtis appeared before Rantideva, satisfied by his daatrutvam and bless him. They revealed that they had come in the forms of the brahmana, shudra and chandaala in order to test his karuna, daya and daatrutvam.
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When Love and determination work together expect a masterpiece.
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