INDIAN BUDGET-2009 ,HIGHLIGHTS

Highlights
Budget speech completed. Finance Bill-II 2009 introduced.
Customs duty on bio-diesel reduced.
Silver to cost more.
Textile units to receive tax holiday.
LCD TVs to cost less. Custom duty on LCD TVs cut from 10% to 5%.
Set-Top Boxes to cost more. Customs duty of 5% on set-top boxes.
To extend tax holiday for commercial production of mineral oil andnatural gas.
Fringe Benefit Tax abolished.
Commodity Transaction Tax abolished.
Personal income tax exemption hiked by Rs 10,000.
No surcharge of 10% on personal income tax.
Centralised processing center at Bengalooru to streamline taxation.
No change in corporate tax.
Increase in exemption slab for senior citizens by Rs 15,000.
Fiscal deficit at 6.8% of GDP.
Proposes Rs 500 cr for rehabilation of displaced persons ofnorthern and eastern areas of Sri Lanka.
Aila Relief proposed at Rs 1,000 crore.
Increased allocation for higher education. New IITs to be set up.Rs 2,113 cr for IITs and NITs.
Rs 25 cr each for AMU campuses in Murshidabad and Mallapuram.
Defence outlay goes up. One lakh dwelling units for paramilitaryforces personnel to be constructed.
Allowances to para-military forces at par with defence forces. Onerank, one pension for ex-servicemen.
One rank, one pension for ex-servicemen.
Allocation for Commonwealth Games to be raised to Rs 3472 crore
Online job exchange to be started with private partnership.
Unique ID plan to roll out in 12-18 months.
Top people from private sector to be given responsibility of vitalnational projects.
Interest subsidy for home loans up to Rs 1 lakh.
All BPL families to be bought under one smart card program.
50% of all rural women to be brought into self-help group programmes.
Rural mega clusters in Bengal and Rajasthan.
To add handloom clusters in West Bengal and Tamil Nadu.
75% hike in irrigation projects.
Rural Housing: Allocation to Indira Awaas Yojna hiked by 63% to Rs8,883 cr. Rs 7000 crores for rural electrification scheme.
Rs 31,100 crore allocation for NREGA. NREGA gave employmentopportunities to more than 4.479 cr households.
Rs 100 cr one-time grant to expand banks in non-banking areas.
Banks, insurance to stay with Govt. Banking network to be expanded.
Expert panel to look into petroleum product pricing. Domestic oilprices must be in sync with global prices.
'Aam Admi' is the focus of all our programmes and schemes: Pranab
Tax system should be such that it shold encourage voluntary compliance.
Income Tax forms to be made user-friendly. Saral-II forms tosimplify taxation process.
Export Credit Guarantee scheme extended till March 2010.
Stimulus package to print media extended till December 31.
Farmers loan interest to come down to 6%. Interest subventionscheme for farm loans to be manitained.
Additional budget allocation for farmers.
IIFCL will refinance 60% of commercial bank loans in PPP. IIFCL to look at infrastructure needs.
Mumbai flood management allocation hiked to Rs 500 cr.
87% rise in urban renewal mission. Housing allocation hiked.
Fiscal stimulus at 3.5% of GDP
Allocation for NHAI up 23%
Trade in goods and services doubled in 2008
Job creation hit due to economic slowdown: Pranab
Govt took 3 stimulus packages so far.

Two worst quarters of the global economic crisis is now behind us: Pranab
One budget can not solve all problems: Pranab
Foreign capital inflow is important
Increased focus on growth and encourage nation's development
Sustain growth rate of 9% for a longer period. Farm sector growth at 4%
Union Finance Minsiter begins his speech. This is PranabMukherjee's 4th budget.
Cabinet approves Union Budget.

Taxes
Custom duty on gold re-imposed
Customs duty to be reduced on drugs for heart treatment
No new tax on edible oil imports
4 per cent excise duty on cotton products restored
Customs duty on bio-diesel reduced
Life saving devices on heart contidion exempted from custom duty
Small business exempt from advance tax
To maintain overall customs and excise duty structure
Tax holiday to natural gas extended
Tax slab raised
MAT hiked to 15 per cent of book profit
Commodity transaction tax abolished
New pension scheme
Tax holiday for exporters extended untill 2012
Personal income tax exemption hiked by Rs 10,000
Abolish fringe benefit tax
Tax holiday extended for textile units
Goods and services tax from April 1, 2010
Share of direct taxes has increased to 56 per cent in 2008-09
Federal Tax/GDP ratio is 11.5 per cent
No surcharge of 10 per cent on personal income tax
Increase in exemption slab for senior citizen
No change in corporate taxes
Hike in IT exemption for women to Rs 1,90,000
Govt committed to tax reforms
Increase automation in direct tax collection
New tax code in 45 days
Centralised processing center at Bengalooru to streamline taxation
Income tax forms should be user friendly
Tax system should be such that it shold encourage voluntary compliance
Saral form 2 will be introduced

Markets
Indian stock Markets was in the Red.
Sensex Down 870 Points

Prices
Branded jewellery to become cheaper
Mobile phone accessories to get cheaper
Set-top box to cost more
Silver to cost more
Reduce custom duty on LCD TVs cut from 10 per cent to 5 per cent
Customs duty of 5 per cent on set top boxes

MICHAEL JACKSON- "FROM CHILD STAR TO POP MEGA STAR'

"Man in the Mirror" -Music video

Michael Jackson, the child star turned King of Pop who set the world dancing but whose musical genius was overshadowed by a bizarre lifestyle and sex scandals, died on Thursday. He was 50.Jackson was pronounced dead at about 2:26 p.m. PDT (2126 GMT) after arriving at a Los Angeles hospital in full cardiac arrest, said Fred Corral of the Los Angeles County Coroner's office. The cause of death was not known and an autopsy would likely take place on Friday, he said.Jackson's sudden death had been reported earlier by U.S. media, which said he was taken ill at his home and rushed to the hospital by paramedics who found him not breathing when they arrived.Known as the "King of Pop," for hits that included "Thriller" and "Billie Jean," Jackson's dramatic, one-gloved stage presence and innovative dance moves were imitated by legions of fans around the world.

He transformed music videos and his lifetime record sales tally is believed to be around 750 million, which, added to the 13 Grammy Awards he received, made him one of the most successful entertainers of all time.

But Jackson's belief that "I am Peter Pan in my heart", his preference for the company of children, his friendship with a chimp, his high-pitched voice and numerous plastic surgeries also earned him critics and the nickname "Wacko Jacko."Jackson, who had lived as a virtual recluse since his acquittal in 2005 on charges of child molestation, had been scheduled to launch a comeback tour from London next month.Quincy Jones, who helped arrange the music on the album "Thriller" and produced the "Off the Wall" album, told MSNBC: "I am absolutely devastated at this tragic and unexpected news.""For Michael to be taken away from us so suddenly at such a young age, I just don't have the words. I've lost my little brother today, and part of my soul has gone with him."

SOLD-OUT SHOWS

Jackson had been due to start a series of concerts in London on July 13 running until March 2010. The singer had been rehearsing in the Los Angeles area for the past two months. The shows for the 50 London concerts sold out within minutes of going on sale in March."Rarely has the world received a gift with the magnitude of artistry, talent, and vision as Michael Jackson," said Neil Portnow, president and CEO of The Recording Academy in a statement."He was a true musical icon whose identifiable voice, innovative dance moves, stunning musical versatility, and sheer star power carried him from childhood to worldwide acclaim."There were concerns about Jackson's health in recent years but the promoters of the London shows, AEG Live, said in March that Jackson had passed a 4-1/2 hour physical examination with independent doctors.Outside the hospital in Los Angeles about 200 fans and reporters gathered on Thursday, waiting for confirmation of Jackson's death or condition.Some fans were crying and hugging each other, and others were climbing atop fences to get a better look at a microphone stand where a news conference was supposed to take place."I hope he's gone to God, and I hope that he's free of all the troubles he's been plagued with," Tonya Blazer, 50, who said she had been a fan going back more than four decades to his days as a child star."I just feel like I'm paying tribute to him," said Dawn Burgess, 42, a fan who said she had posters of Michael pinned to her bedroom wall when she was a child.

Jackson was born on Aug. 29, 1958, in Gary, Indiana, the seventh of nine children. Five Jackson boys -- Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, Marlon and Michael -- first performed together at a talent show when Michael was 6. They walked off with first prize and went on to become a best-selling band, The Jackson Five, and then The Jackson 5.Jackson made his first solo album in 1972, and released "Thriller" in 1982, which became a smash hit that yielded seven top-10 singles. The album sold 21 million copies in the United States and at least 27 million worldwide.The next year, he unveiled his signature "moonwalk" dance move while performing "Billie Jean" during an NBC special.In 1994, Jackson married Elvis Presley's only child, Lisa Marie, but the marriage ended in divorce in 1996. Jackson married Debbie Rowe the same year and had two children, before splitting in 1999. The couple never lived together.Jackson has three children named Prince Michael I, Paris Michael and Prince Michael II, known for his brief public appearance when his father held him over the railing of a hotel balcony, causing widespread criticism.New Yorkers and tourists in the city's Times Square were shocked at the news of Jackson's death."I don't know what to say. It's sad, it's really, really sad," said Nicole Smith, an 18-year-old student from Brooklyn, New York, in Times Square. "My mother was a fan. I listened to his music.""I'm shocked. I thought someone was lying to me when I first heard it. I was a fan from when he was a little boy and then he got weird," said Sue Sheider, 51, a teacher from Long Island.(Additional Reporting by Jill Serjeant in Los Angeles and Michelle Nichols in New York)

People watch news tickets in Times Square report that Michael Jackson had died.

MICHAEL JACKSON - "FROM CHILD STAR TO POP MEGA STAR" HIS JOURNEY ENDS AND HIS DANCE AND MUSICS ARE BECOMING IMMORTAL AMONG HIS FANS AROUND THE WORLD.

CIVILIZATION

Affection with reflection;

Condition of mind When mind is out of condition.

In short, a mental sensation;

A sensational emotion;

And an emotional compassion;

A chemical reaction;

A biological production;

And a physical experimentation;

An impossible explanation;

But history has its own elucidation For this heavenly possession;

A simple expectation In every human's reverberations;

It is God's creation;

And his best presentation To the human civilization!!!!!!

I WISH..

My wish unto you all

I wish you Health...

So you may enjoy each day in comfort.

I wish you the Love of friends and family...

And Peace within your heart.

I wish you the Beauty of nature...

That you may enjoy the work of God.

I wish you Wisdom to choose priorities...

For those things that really matter in life.

I wish you Generousity so you may share...

All good things that come to you.

I wish you Happiness and Joy...

And Blessings for the Every New moments.

I wish you the best of everything...T

hat you so well deserve.

IN CASE OF EMERGENCY

"ICE" (In Case of Emergency) Campaign

We all carry our mobile phones with names & numbers stored in its
memory but nobody, other than ourselves, knows which of these numbers
belong to our closest family or friends.

If we were to be involved in an accident or were taken ill, the people
attending us would have our mobile phone but wouldn't know who to
call. Yes, there are hundreds of numbers stored but which one is the
contact person in case of an emergency?

Hence this "ICE" (In Case of Emergency) Campaign

The concept of "ICE" is catching on quickly. It is a method of contact
during emergency situations. As cell phones are carried by the
majority of the population, all you need to do is store the number of
a contact person or persons who should be contacted during emergency
under the name "ICE" ( In Case Of Emergency).

The idea was thought up by a paramedic who found that when he went to
the scenes of accidents, there were always mobile phones with
patients, but they didn't know which number to call. He therefore
thought that it would be a good idea if there was a nationally
recognized name for this purpose. In an emergency situation, Emergency
Service personnel and hospital Staff would be able to quickly contact
the right person by simply dialing the number you have stored as
"ICE."

For more than one contact name simply enter ICE1, ICE2 and ICE3 etc. A
great idea that will make a difference!

Let's spread the concept of ICE by storing an ICE number in our Mobile
phones today!

Please forward this. It won't take too many "forwards" before
everybody will know about this It really could save your life, or put
a loved one's mind at rest ..

ICE will speak for you when you are not able to

Millionaires in the making: The Rodrigueses

(Money Magazine) — John and Gina Rodrigues have always been good with numbers.

John is a software engineer who manages a team at Microsoft, and Gina spent years processing mortgages at Wells Fargo and Countrywide Home Loans. But the numbers they are especially good at are the kind with dollar signs in front of them.

At age 27, John and Gina already earn a combined $174,000 a year, save half of what they make and have built a formidable portfolio of $380,000 in stocks, mutual funds and cash. Their goal: to become millionaires and retire by the time they turn 40, just 13 years from now.

To make that dream a reality, they have become black-belt practitioners of an art rarely practiced in America these days: While others with their earning power might indulge in fancy dinners, luxury vacations and designer wardrobes, the Rodrigueses live like young couples did before the era of easy credit. They rent the house where John grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area for a mere $650 a month; rarely travel; split an entrée on the rare occasions they eat out; and spend almost nothing on clothes (John wears free Microsoft T-shirts, while Gina gets hand-me-downs from her sister).

They are driven by a fierce determination to control their own fate. John yearns to quit his job to indulge his passion for the outdoors, and Gina plans to cut back her hours at the boutique they own to work with animals and, possibly, raise a family.

Can the couple do it? The outcome depends on the answers to three key questions: Will they be able to keep up their spartan lifestyle? (Anxious for a home of their own, they are now shopping for a house in one of the priciest areas of the country.) Will they invest wisely? (Among their goofs so far: They snatched up three properties near the height of the real estate bubble.) And even if they do, is 13 years really enough time to amass the huge sums required to retire at 40 - enough money to last them for the ensuing 50 to 60 years?

Read full story from the source: Money

MUSIC BY SADE - "THERE IS A WOMAN IN SOMALIA"

GREAT MUSIC BY SADE.

THE LYRICS ARE TOO IMPRESSIVE

IT RAISED MY HAIR ALL OVER MY BODY WHEN I HEARD IT AT FIRST TIME.

THIS SONG IS SHOWING FULL OF CAMPASSION FOR THE UNDER PRIVILEGED SOMALIAN PEOPLE...
MANY DIES THERE OUT OF HUNGER..THIS SONG REALLY BRING THE WORLD CLOSE TO SOMALIA.

WHY THE SOMALIAN PIRATES ARE STILL EXISTED IN OUR WORLD? WE NEED TO THINK DEEPLY.I STRONGLY BELIEF IT IS BECAUSE OF THE POVERTY,THE SOMALIAN PEOPLE ARE TURNING TO BE (SEA)PIRATES.THEIR HUNGER MAKES THEM TO DO SO..!!

LET THIS AWARENESS AMONG THE WORLD PEOPLE ERADICATE THE POVERTY IN SOMALIA.I WISH SOON...LET ALL THESE PEOPLE GET GOOD FOOD AND LIVE A HEALTHY AND LONGER LIFE.

PEARLS BY SADE