South Zone Agri Expo, 3-day Mega Farm Fair at Guntur from Saturday

VIJAYAWADA: LAM Farms in Guntur is gearing up to host South Zone Agri Expo, the largest such exhibitions in the reorganised state till date, from December 19 to 21. Focus of the three-day event is farm mechanisation, rural innovation and value addition to farm produce to help farmers earn extra buck.

Addressing media persons, here on Thursday, National Horticulture Board member C Sambasiva Rao and Agri Expo event coordinator Kurra Pundarikakshudu said the main focus of the exhibition was empowering the small and marginal farming community and transforming them into a viable economic segment.

“At the three-day event, which will feature 70 stalls organised by different agriculture and allied sector promoting agencies across the country, latest technologies would be on display, by using them better results can be achieved,” they said.

According to them, small and marginal farmers can’t afford bigger and costlier equipment, hence they have decided to showcase cost effective farm machines that can be operated on small land holdings, thus reducing the cost of labour and also time. “We are encouraging the farmers to shift from the traditional costs, where the profit margin is almost negligible to high profit making horticulture crops. The expo will exhibit machines that can be effectively operated for inter-crops in a cost effective method,” they said.

Since the main purpose of the expo to help small farmers, 30 innovations from rural areas by enterprising farmers would be showcased, so that farmers can have an idea as to how best to use the available resources in a more effective manner for higher yield with less effort. Further, experts from agriculture and allied sectors will be there to advise farmers in regard to value addition to the farm produce, effective marketing strategies etc.

Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu is expected to inaugurate the event and in case, he is unavailable due to ongoing Assembly session, agriculture minister Prathipati Pulla Rao along with officials concerned would inaugurate the event.

42k houses for Guntur poor

GUNTUR: In a relief to the shelterless poor in the district, the state government has decided to build about 42 thousand houses under NTR housing scheme to be launched shortly. While 24 thousand double-bed roomed houses would be constructed in urban areas, remaining 18 thousand would be taken up in rural areas.

Giving the details here at a review meeting held on Thursday, the district collector Kantilal Dande said that officials should pick up the beneficiaries without giving any scope for controversies. He asked the officials to complete the selection of beneficiaries for housing scheme before the commencement of Janmabhoomi-maaooru programme on January 2. He said that the selected beneficiaries lists should be published during the week-long programme of janma bhoomi. 

Kajal Agarwal and Shriya Inaugurate MVR Mall at Vijayawada

More Toilets Soon to Make Guntur Free from Open Defecation

GUNTUR: With the Guntur Municipal Corporation (GMC) constructing thousands of  individual and community toilets in the various localities of the city under the Swachh Bharat and Swachh Andhra Pradesh Missions, the problem of open defecation will soon become a thing of the past.

So far, the GMC officials have constructed about 7,000 individual toilets along with providing water facility in most of the localities.

Observing that the open defection had become a cause of concern in maintaining better sanitation as well as in controlling the spread of communicable diseases particularly in the slum areas and the panchayats on the outskirts of the city, which would soon come under the purview of corporation, the GMC officials gave special emphasis to such area and took up the process on construction of individual toilets with the funds sanctioned under the Swachh Bharat Mission and Swatch Andhra Pradesh Mission taken up by the the Centre and State Government respectively.

After handing over the responsibility of constructing the toilets to the local women groups, the officials had taken up geo-tagging in three phases of the construction works and released the funds accordingly.

Out of the Rs 15,000 spent for the construction of each individual toilet, the State contributed Rs 11,000 and the Centre chipped in with Rs 4,000.

With this, the beneficiaries, most of them daily wage labourers, said they were now making use of the toilets and avoiding open defection. “Earlier, we used go far away from the residential locality for attending to nature’s calls and faced a lot of inconvenience. But, now, all our concerns have been addressed with the GMC constructing toilets with water facility”, said Badugu Avvamma of Swarna Bharat Nagar locality. Similar, was the response from the residents of Tuphan Colony and Goruntla village.

Meanwhile, some residents, who initially did not show much interest in getting the toilets built as they thought that they had to bear a part of the cost of the same, are now pleading with the GMC officials to extend the facility to them also.

Maintaining that the construction of toilets would be a continuous process, GMC Commissioner C Anuradha added that the civic body would build toilets at the houses of all those who needed them. “As per a survey taken up by the GMC, there is need for construction of several more toilets in the city and we are heading in that direction”, she averred.

“Apart from individual toilets, we are also taking up the construction of community toilets, in areas where there is no space in households to have their own toilets”, she said.

Rs. 1,500-cr farm university near Guntur

The Andhra Pradesh Government is according the highest priority to the agricultural sector and all efforts will be made to make farming remunerative, according to Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu.

He was speaking at Lam Farm near here on Monday after the foundation stone for the Acharya N.G Ranga Agricultural University was laid by Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh.

He said the university was coming up on 500 acres in Lam Farm, which is at present an agricultural research station, and Rs. 1500 crore would be spent on it over the next five years. He urged the Agriculture Minister to accord it the status of a central university and make available the requisite funds and facilities.

He said the State Government had released Rs. 23,000 crore under a loan waiver scheme in the State and it had come as a great relief to the farmers.

Radha Mohan Singh said agricultural universities would have to play a great role in undertaking research and extension to the fields as technology would play a great role. Andhra Pradesh is one of the major agricultural states and due importance would be given to the State, he promised.

Urban Development Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu said the Centre would help Andhra Pradesh in every possible way following the bifurcation.

Several state ministers also participated in the function

Andhra temple administration adorns deity with Rs.2.5 crores worth of cash and gold

Visakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh), Oct.22 (ANI): The administrators of a 130-year-old temple in Andhra Pradesh's Visakhapatnam District has decorated a deity of the Goddess Vasavi Kanyaka Parameswari with both Indian and foreign currency notes and gold ornaments worth Rs.2.5 crores on the occasion of the nine-day festival of Navratri.
The decoration at the Sri Kanyakaparameswari Devasthanam Temple in Visakhapatnam City was done to mark the 'Sri Mahalakshmi Avatram' of the goddess during the Navratri celebrations.
On Ashtami, the eighth day of Navratri, the goddess is worshipped as Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth.
During the nine-day-long Navratri festival, devote Hindus worship the Goddess Durga in all of her nine manifestations. Navratri began on October 13 and concludes today. It is marked by celebrations involving prayer, music and dance by both men and women.
Goddess Durga represents the feminine force which guides and destroys all evil from earth. The festival is also about the annual visit of the goddess with her children to her ancestral home on earth.
For the last 15 years, the idol of Goddess Vasavi Kanyaka Parameswari is decorated daily in different forms of Goddess Durga.
The Sri Kanyakaparameswari Devasthanam temple is dedicated to Sri Vasavi Kanyaka Parameshwari, the goddess or "kula devatha" of the Arya Vysya community as mentioned in the Vasavi Puranamulu written in Telugu during the 10th century A.D. The most famous temple of this goddess is located at Penugonda,West Godavari District, Andhra Pradesh.
K. Ramakrishnan, the president of the temple's administrative wing, said, "We started with only one 1,00,000 (rupees) first and after that we are continuing 1,00,000; 200,000; 3,00,000; 4,00,000 and now yesterday we decorated Mahalaxmi avatharam with money and gold, 2.5 crore (rupees 25 million) cash and one crore (rupees 10 million) worth of gold."
The Indian currency was in the denominations of rupee 1 to rupees 1,000
The Navratri festival culminates on the tenth day, known as Dussehra, which marks victory of good over evil. 

Why We Should All Be Eating Banana Skins

Banana peel may not be the tastiest thing - but it’s reportedly really good for us. [Photo: Rex]
We all know that bananas are bursting with goodness. They’re filled to the brim with potassium and low in salt, making them great for anyone at risk of high blood pressure or a stroke and they boost digestion.
Plus, they contain plenty of iron, protect against muscle cramps during workouts, reduce swelling and even can help overcome depression due to high levels of tryptophan, which is converted into serotonin – the happy-mood brain neurotransmitter.
But it’s not just the banana itself that’s good for you. According to health nuts, the skin could be the latest “superfood”. If you can call it a food.
Although it’s usually chucked in the bin rather than eaten, scientists reckon the peel could aid weight loss and boost your immune system AND your mood.
“It contains high amounts of vitamin B6 and B12, as well as magnesium and potassium, and some fibre and protein,” Laura Flores, a San Diego-based nutritionist, told LiveScience.
Vitamin B6 helps the body’s immune system do it’s thing, improving the health or your brain and heart, and it normalises blood sugar levels. B12 also supports and brain and nervous system while antioxidents found in the skin can help speed up your metabolism – brilliant if you’re trying to lose a few pounds.

But that doesn’t mean it tastes good. Anyone who’s ever had a nibble of a banana skin will know that it’s not exactly moreish.
The easiest (and nicest tasting) way to eat it is by cutting it up and grinding it into a powder to add to your morning smoothie. Chuck in a load of other strong tasting foods, to counteract the taste of the peel and you’ll find yourself a whole lot healthier in no time.
But vegetarians be warned; most banana skins aren’t considered suitable for vegetarians as a spray-on coating designed to lengthen the fruit’s shelf life is thought to contain chitosan – a bacteria-fighting compound derived from shellfish.

Andhra Pradesh's world-class capital city

With soil from the holy sites of Jerusalem and Mecca, and water from the Ganga and Godavari, the proposed site for the Andhra Pradesh Capital Region got a sprinkling of good vibes on Wednesday as wide-eyed villagers of Uddandarayunipalem witnessed the state machinery work overtime to get things in order for Thursday’s big event.At 12:45 pm on Thursday, the foundation stone for the state’s new capital, Amaravati, will be laid by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Amaravati, being built on the banks of the Krishna River is India’s first greenfield smart city and could well be the precursor for more such cities. The Amaravati seed c
apital area (SCA)—as designed by Singapore’s Surbana Jurong—spread over 16.9 sq km with an 8-kilometre frontage on the Krishna, will be the core of the city, housing government offices, business districts and a population of about 3 lakh people.

Airtel 4G reaches Vizag, Vijayawada, Guntur, Tirupati and Nellore in Andhra

Telecom network operator Bharti Airtel has launched 4G services in five towns — Vizag, Vijayawada, Guntur, Tirupati and Nellore — in Andhra Pradesh.

Airtel is offering LTE 4G services on smart devices including mobile phones, dongles, 4G hotspots and Wi-Fi dongles.

Bharti Airtel launched India’s first 4G network in Kolkata in April 2012. In August 2015, Airtel 4G reached 296 towns across India.

Airtel is offering 4G services at 3G data prices. The cost of Airtel 4G data pack is Rs 25. 4G SIM comes with six months of unlimited music streaming and downloads on Wynk Music and five free movies per month for six months on the Eros Now channel of Wynk Movies.

The price of Airtel 4G Infinity Plans is Rs 999.

Samsung, Xiaomi, Motorola, Lenovo, Asus and Huawei are selling their latest 4G smartphones in India.

4G smartphone boom

Flipkart, an online platform, has sold half a million mobile handsets on 14 October. 75 percent of the phones sold during the ten hours period were 4G phones. While metros like Bengaluru, Delhi and Mumbai were driving the sales of 4G smartphones, Flipkart saw demand from Tier 2 cities such as Nagpur, Indore, Coimbatore, Vishakhapatnam and Jaipur.

Image Caption: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and Venkatesh Vijayraghavan, CEO – Andhra Pradesh & Telangana, Bharti Airtel

Bapatla Agricultural College closed, students launch protest

The Agricultural College at Bapatla simmered with tension after Acharya NG Ranga Agricultural University issued an indefinite closure notice on Friday morning, sparking protests by students.

Associate Dean P.R.K. Prasad said the decision to close the campus was taken in view of the prevailing situation and students preventing committee members probing a PG student’s suicide from leaving the campus.

M.Sc student M. Surya Rao’s death on September 26 had evoked outrage among students who had alleged foul play.

Alleging that Rao was forced to take the extreme step owing to harassment by a professor, students had been boycotting classes since September 28. “Rao was an intelligent student who topped his class.

“But, he was unable to take the abuse and humiliation by his professor. Some seed he had planted did not germinate, and the professor singled him out and abused him, forcing him to take his own life,” said a student who did not want to be named.

Meanwhile, the university’s decision to close the campus left several students in the lurch, including around 60 scholars of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) who had come from other States.

“I have come from Tamil Nadu, and we have now been served notice that the college and the hostel will remain closed indefinitely. My course has already been delayed by three months owing to administrative lapses, and now this strike will further delay my studies,” said a student of ICAR.

More than 900 students stay on the campus.

Incidentally, some girl students complained that professors had been harassing them.

APREDA Property Show from October 2

The Andhra Pradesh Real Estate Developers’ Association (APREDA) is organising its 6th Property Show at ‘A’ Convention Centre here from October 2,3,4. It brings together builders and developers, banks, housing finance companies, realty consultants, construction material manufacturers and suppliers, interior designers, architects and industry professionals.

Club to Donate Rs 10L to Guntur GGH

GUNTUR: The first meeting of the LVR & Sons Club and Reading Room executive committee, held here on Sunday, announced to donate `10 lakh for the development works of Government General Hospital (GGH) in Guntur.

Speaking to mediapersons, the committee president Rayapati Srinivas said they will hand over the donation to Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, who is scheduled to visit Guntur on October 2.

Stating the LVR & Sons Club and Reading Room will carry forward the initiatives like encouraging indoor and outdoor games, cultural and arts activities and also giving scholarships to meritorious students, he said they will provide scholarships to students excelling in studies at SSC, Intermediate levels and also for the meritorious students of the Guntur Medical College on October 15, marking the occasion of the birth anniversary of former Indian President and Missile man APJ Abdul Kalam.

Executive committee vice-president M Venkateswar Reddy, secretary K Nageswara Rao, treasurer D Satyanarayana and others were present.

AP Runa Mafi 3rd List of Farmers on 4.08.2015 http://apcbsportal.gov.in/

AP Runa Mafi 3rd List (3rd Phase List) will be declared today on 4.08.2015. AP Runa Mafi 3rd List of Farmers for Crop Loan can be checked online at http://apcbsportal.ap.gov.in/loanstatus/LoanStatus.aspx. AP State Govt will be releasing List of Farmers who have been placed in the Runa Mafi 3rd List on 4th August 2015. Andhra Pradesh Farmers can log in to apcbsportal and check their family loan status.

To Get Ap Runa Mafi List3(Original): Click on Top Advertisements and Right-side Advertisements on this website->

For New  Ap Runa Mafi List 3 : Click Here

[Note : Above Link will Enable after you Click on Top&Right-side Ads-->]

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Select Your District 

 Srikakulam    Vizianagaram    Vishakhapatnam    East Godavari 

   West Godavari      Krishna       Guntur      Prakasham      Nellore

      Chittoor      Kurnool     Kadapa      Anantapoor

So far, the AP state government has received about 5 Lakh and 11 thousand Runa Mafi Applications from all eligible farmers who have not been placed in the 1st runa mafi list and 2nd runa mafi list with various reasons. About 2 lakh and 80 thousand farmers are eligible for AP Runa Mafi 3rd Phase. AP State govt is going to publish all the eligible farmers list on Tuesday the 4th August 2015. Govt is sanctioning about 900 crore rupees for this AP Runa Mafi 3rd Phase.

For Runa Mafi List Phase 1 : Click Here
For Grievance Complaints List : Click Here
Searched Terms:
AP Runa Mafi 3rd List Guntur March, AP Runa Mafi List Guntur  AP Runa Mafi 3rdPhase List Guntur District, Guntur Runa Mafi List, Guntur Crop Loan List  Runa Mafi Second List of Farmers

10 Natural Tips To Have Sparkling White Teeth

When you meet someone, the most natural reaction is to greet them with a smile. And with that smile your teeth get the most attention. So, here take a look at some great ways to achieve sparkling white teeth naturally.

#1. Strawberry
These tasty berries are a great teeth whitening tool. Well, we have even heard that Hollywood star Catherine Zeta Jones swears by it. Just mash a few strawberries and rub the yummy paste all over your teeth. Rinse it off with water after 25-30 minutes. You will be surprised when you see the results after regularly using this paste on your teeth.

#2. Apple cider vinegar
This is good for removing even the stubborn stains from your pearly whites, especially those caused by nicotine and caffeine. Just dip your toothbrush in apple cider vinegar and brush your teeth with it. After this, do gargle your mouth properly to get rid of any acidic residual. You can also use apple cider vinegar as a gargle solution.

#3. Celery
Celery is one of the most effective vegetables to get shiny white teeth. Chewing raw celery is great for your teeth. It is almost like a massage for them. Celery dislodges the plaque that might have settled on your teeth, leaving them clean. Apart from this, tiny fibres of celery that get stuck in between your teeth act as a natural floss as well. So, time to add this vegetable to your grocery list, we say!

#4. Salt
Salt is a great ingredient to add to your teeth whitening kit. Just sprinkle some salt on your toothbrush while brushing your teeth to get them sparkling clean. It is best to use either table or sea salt for this. You can also mix a pinch of salt with a teaspoon of baking soda to make a teeth whitening mixture. Rub this on your teeth with your fingertips. Baking soda is another good teeth whitening ingredient.

#5. Vegetables
Apart from celery, there are many more vegetables say, carrots, cauliflower, broccoli, cucumber, etc., that are all natural teeth cleansers. It is best to eat a raw vegetable daily to keep your teeth white.

#6. Fruit power
Not just veggies, but even fruits are good for your teeth. Pears and apples are the best of the lot. And, yes we already told you about the goodness of strawberries. Chewing pears and apples increases the secretion of saliva that helps to keep your teeth clean and white. So, add these fruits to your daily diet starting from today.

#7. Orange peel
Orange peels are also good for your teeth. Just rub the inside of an orange peel on your teeth to get them sparkling white. You can also dry the orange peels and grind them into a powder to add it to your daily teeth cleaning ritual. Yes, use this powder daily to see effective results.

#8. Water
Water is not just great for your health, but for your teeth as well. Water keeps your mouth hydrated and reduces acidity too. Sipping water in between your alcholic drinks and while eating dark, pigmented foods will keep your teeth clean by preventing them from staining.

#9. Say no to certain aerated drinks
Aerated drinks work like poison for your teeth. The acid in these drinks robs you of the upper layers of your tooth, which contain calcium and phosphorus, thus weakening your jaw bones. Make sure you avoid black coffee as well because it will stain your teeth, which will steal their shine and make them look dull.

#10. Avoid alcohol and smoking
Smoking is not only bad for your body, but also for your gums and teeth. Yes, drugs, alcohol and smoking can cause major issues to your teeth and gums. They can cause the erosion of the enamel from the teeth that will make them look old. A lot of people who smoke suffer from gum issues in the future and so it is best to avoid smoking, drugs and other forms of tobacco as much as possible to get sparkling white teeth.

actress Vishakha Singh gives it back

Bollywood actress Vishakha Singh, who has movies like ‘Fukrey’ to her credit, gave it back to an abuser on the social networking site Facebook.

The actress had posted a photograph of hers on her Facebook that read: “Everybody is somebody’s foreigner. Wearing Madversity’s cool new Tee ..looking forward to more such quotes!”

Of the many comments she got on this picture, one said, “Nice looking and nice b****.”

Vishakha took no time to take a stand for herself and replied, in jest, to the user: “Mr MD Mustakim Saifi, 1) remove that innocent child’s picture as your dp. 2) have the guts to put your own profile picture . And then comment.”

She continued, “I know i am a woman.. And for your general knowledge, Yes, All women have breasts. Your mother, sister, wife, grandmother, aunts, daughter, friends. All of them included. Do you walk up to them and say ‘nice b***s’? Feel sorry for you. Have the guts to say it on my face?? Else, get off my page.”

Google's '$100 million man' Neal Mohan is leaving for Dropbox

Four years ago, Google dished out a reported $100 million in stock to keep its VP of display advertising from getting poached by Twitter.
Now, that exec - Neal Mohan - is finally leaving to join Dropbox, Re/code's Kara Swisher reports.

Mohan first joined Google in 2008, after the search giant bought online ads company DoubleClick, where he was SVP of strategy and product management.

For years, he worked under Google vet Susan Wojcicki. With Wojcicki leading ads and Mohan expertly executing the grand vision that had made DoubleClick such an appealing acquisition target, Google's display advertising revenues swelled.

Last year, though, Wojcicki left her ads job to start running YouTube. Mohan didn't follow her, but continued to keep their relationship close and spent a lot of time working with her.

"So much that many people inside the company thought he had moved over," Swisher writes.

Now, Mohan has moved, just not to YouTube.

He joins Dropbox at an interesting time. The company is going through a huge transition as it tries to build its enterprise business in a brutally competitive industry. And he follows not too far behind another Google defector: current COO Dennis Woodside joined Dropbox ~18 months ago after leading Google's Motorola unit (which Google has since sold).

Mohan will be Dropbox's new head of product, coming on board not long after product exec Ilya Fushman left for Index Ventures in May. As Dropbox struggles to bolster both its consumer product and enterprise businesses, Mohan's ability to take a long-view on product strategy could be beneficial.

At Google, for example, Mohan made several strategic acquisitions, including Admeld, Teracent, and Invite Media, which helped build Google's robust ad product.

"I would argue startups invented each little pocket of that whole thing, but Neal is the puppetmaster," Invite Media CEO Nat Turner told Business Insider in 2013. "He's the guy who got the resources and pulled everything together."

Business Insider reached out to Google and Mohan for comment and will update if we hear back.

Hot Anchor Anasuya in a Controversy

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In Every Apple Advert, The Time On iPhone’s Screen Is 9.41

In every Apple advert, one seemingly tiny detail is ALWAYS the same - the time on iPhone’s screen.
In the adverts for iPad and recent iPhones such as iPhone 6, it says 9.41.
In the very first adverts for iPhone, it read 9.42.

Question-and-answer site Quora.com threw light on exactly why this week – and it’s all down to Steve Jobs’ determination to get the launch of the first iPhone exactly right.
When Jobs first announced iPhone, he wanted the phone to be ‘frozen’ at the time he announced it on stage at MacWorld.

Quora writer Brian Roemmele says, ‘On January 9, 2007 at 9:00 a.m. Steve Jobs took the stage at the 2007 Macworld Conference & Expo and just about 35 minutes into his presentation he said, ‘This is a day I have been looking forward to for two and a half years…’

‘And at just about 9:42 a.m. Steve announced the iPhone. Thus frozen in time is the near exact time the iPhone was officially announced.’
Since that time, Apple presentations have got a bit shorter, and newer iPhones such as iPhone 6 were announced at 9.41 – hence the time on screen.

Heroine Caught on Camera

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WATCH: Priyanka Chopra In The Trailer Of Upcoming American TV Series

Priyanka Chopra will debut on American television as an FBI agent in the drama series, 'Quantico', which is a part of the ABC Network's new lineup of shows for its primetime fall season. The show revolves around a diverse group of recruits, who arrive at the FBI Quantico Base for training. She will essay the lead role of Alex Parrish, who is a half-Caucasian, half-Indian FBI trainee with a haunting past.

PC is the first Indian actress to play the lead in an American TV series. She says, "I am constantly looking for new challenges that push the boundaries of my creativity and talent. I have had an amazing experience shooting the pilot episode with them. I can't wait to get back on set to see where the writers lead us."

Adds Anjula Acharia Bath, Priyanka's US-Manager, "This is a huge achievement, and an even bigger milestone. Priyanka's talent and personality transcends all boundaries and that's very clear by the impact she has created around the world, with brands, movie studios and now ABC. This is just the beginning. We have so much more planned for her."

PC has her hands full even in Bollywood with her next outing, Zoya Akhtar's 'Dil Dhadakne Do' releasing on June 5. She's currently shooting for Sanjay Leela Bhansali's 'Bajirao Mastani' and will soon begin shoot of Prakash Jha's 'Gangaajal 2', in which she plays the central character. Talking about managing multiple careers, Priyanka says, "I feel blessed that I am able to straddle both worlds and continue my work in India whilst venturing into something new with this show in the US."

Quantico also stars Jake McLaughlin, Dougray Scott, Yasmine Al Massri, Aunjanue Ellis, Johanna Braddy, Graham Rogers and Tate Ellington.

Google patent reveals that your teddy bear could turn into a remote

A teddy bear fitted with sensors that could control the TV in your house? Well that’s what Google is hoping to create and has filed a patent for this as well.
According to a report on Mashable, these teddy bears will have sensors that will let them control media devices. The patent page points out that the toy or doll, could also turn its gaze to the user when it detects movement or sound. Once the toy turns its head towards the user, they can give the command.
No matter how cool this sounds, little children are unlikely to react well to a toy that turns their head towards them. You can expect a lot of screaming and crying if such a ‘toy’ was in the house.
With Google’s patents though, things have to be taken with a pinch of salt. A patent does mean that a product will see the light of day.  “We hold patents on a variety of ideas — some of those ideas later mature into real products or services, some don’t,” the company said in an email statement to CNNMoney.
As Internet-of-Things becomes the biggest buzzword for this year, toys too have got added to the list. Now whether this is a creepy or a cool idea, is for users to decide.

2015 Mahindra XUV500 facelift launching today

Mahindra & Mahindra will launch the 2015 Mahindra XU500 facelift in India today. While the changes given to the SUV are strictly cosmetic, the engine mechanism remains the same.

Talking about the design, the new Mahindra XUV500's front fascia, now, features a new headlamp cluster, ‘L-shaped’ chrome-finished fog lamp enclosures, new chrome grille and an S-shaped LED day time running lights. Except for new alloy wheels, the side profile remains unchanged. The chrome garnished registration plate enclosure and re-designed rear door complete the changes made to the SUV. From inside, the facelifted version will look similar to the existing model. Though, Mahindra will add a new Plum shade on the seats and beige plastic insert to make it feel more upmarket.

Coming to the engine, the 2015 Mahindra XUV500 will continue to feature the 2.2-litre, four-cylinder diesel engine that also powers the current model. It develops a maximum power of 140bhp and 330Nm of torque, while returning a fuel economy of 15kmpl. A 6-speed transmission and 2WD and 4WD drivetrain options will also continue to be on offer. Though, the suspension could be tuned to improve the ride quality of the car.

Launched in September 2011, the Mahindra XUV500 has pulled-in good sales for the company, but the vehicle's sales started falling with rising competition. And it is the right time, the company brings in an updated model. The 2015 Mahindra XUV500 facelift is likely to be offered within the price range of Rs. 11 lakh – Rs. 16 lakh.

Insurance Plans in India May 2015

LIC's Insurance Plans, SBI Life offers Life Insurance Policies, HDFC Life offers best life insurance plans, Insurance Plans- ICICI Prudential offers a wide array of insurance plans , life insurance policy plans in India with ICICI Bank, Reliance Life Insurance, ICICI Lombard™ Online, Compare Life Insurance - PolicyBazaar, Low Cost Health Insurance‎, Compare Term Life Plans‎, Health Insurance Plans, www.icicilombard.com , Buy Home Insurance, Home Insurance - Policy Details

Key Benefits

• Comprehensive cover available, which covers both structure and / or contents of your home
• Coverage up to 10 years for only structure, 5 years for only contents and 5 years for structure & content
• Cover against Fire and allied perils, Burglary & Theft and Optional cover for Terrorism and Additional expenses of rent for alternative accommodation.What is covered
• You can choose to buy insurance for only the building (structure) of your home, or only the contents (belongings) or both.
• The policy covers the losses to the structure and contents of your home due to any natural and man-made calamities.

What is not covered

• Willful destruction of property.
• Loss, damage and destruction caused by war, wear and tear etc.
• Losses if your home has been unoccupied for more than 30 days,without prior notice to the company.
• Cash, bullion, painting, works of art and antiques.
• For more details, kindly refer to the Policy Wordings.
• 
  
• The home insurance policy insures the structure of your home for its reconstruction value (and not for market value). Reconstruction value is defined as the cost incurred to reconstruct the home if it is damaged. On the other hand, market value is a combination of cost of land, demand & supply scenario, etc.

  Home Safety Guidelines
 
Safeguard your Home against Burglary

Your home is definitely one of your most prized possession. It is the place you belong... a place you come back to... a place where you live happily with your loved ones. The most common incident that threatens your home's security is Burglary. There is no fool proof method to prevent it completely, but you can definitely take some steps to avoid it considerably.

Claim Process

• Provide relevant information, which includes your policy and other details regarding your claim. Consequently, your claim request is authenticated and is escalated to the company's claims department.
• The company's claims department validates and registers the request. The company appoints a surveyor within 48 hours.
• You will need to submit all the relevant documents to the surveyor. The surveyor submits the Final Survey Report (FSR) along with the documents within 7 days.
• On receipt of documents, the claims department processes the claim within 7 days.

 FAQs
General Cover Premium Claims
How can you renew your home insurance policy?
What are the losses/ perils covered under this policy?
What is the procedure for assessing the value of my home structure and its contents?
I live on rent, why would I require insurance?
I live in a building insured by my society. Would I need to take additional Insurance?
Is my home insured if my wife uses a part of it (room) for conducting coaching classes?
What are the exclusions of this policy?
What if I sell the property during the insured period?
If three people share an apartment can each one take a separate home insurance policy?
What are the exceptions against cover within the purview of the Householder's Insurance Policy?
How do we get the valuation done of our property?
On what basis are the structure and contents insured?
How do you differentiate between riots and terrorism cover in case of Home policy?

Best Term Insurance Policy Plans in India

Kotak e-Term/ Preferred Term Insurance, SBI Life e-Shield Term Insurance,Max Life Term Insurance,HDFC Click 2 Protect Plus Term Insurance, ICICI Pru I-Care II Term Insurance, LIC e-Term Insurance,LIC's Insurance Plans, SBI Life offers Life Insurance Policies, HDFC Life offers best life insurance plans, Insurance Plans- ICICI Prudential offers a wide array of insurance plans , life insurance policy plans in India with ICICI Bank, Reliance Life Insurance, ICICI Lombard™ Online, Compare Life Insurance - PolicyBazaar, Low Cost Health Insurance‎, Compare Term Life Plans‎, Health Insurance Plans, www.icicilombard.com , Buy Home Insurance, Home Insurance - Policy Details

Start planning to bring a smile on your family’s face. A few wise decisions to save money can sustain the happiness of your family, with the same financial health even after you die.

Choose a best term insurance plan that will help you and your family to cope up with any uncertain circumstances.

However, we have collected some best policies from myinvestmentideas.com to help you. Check out top policies of this year:

1. LIC e-Term Insurance: Life Insurance Corporation offers a fast, easy and a secure option to purchase e-term insurance via online. All you need to do is to fill in the details and make your payment through internet banking.

 It offers highest life death claim settlement ratio of about 98.14 percent. A policy holder should have crossed a minimum age of 18 years to get enrolled for the policy with a minimum sum assured of Rs.25 Lakhs. The LIC e-term Insurance has a policy term that ranges from 10 to 35 years.

2. ICICI Pru I-Care II Term Insurance: ICICI Pru I-Care II Term Insurance ensures to protect your family’s future by making their life comfortable and easy to live even at your absence. It is an online term policy plan that offers high insurance cover, also offering affordable premiums.

It is second with a ratio of 94.10 percent in terms of life and death claim settlement. The minimum age limit of the policy holder is 18 years and the maximum is 60 years. The term to hold the policy ranges 5 to 30 years.

3. HDFC Click 2 Protect Plus Term Insurance: HDFC Click 2 Protect plus Term Insurance gives a large amount of cover for low premiums. It provides policy terms of 10 to 40 years. It offers attractive premium rates for non-tobacco users.

It is the third highest life death claim policy with a ratio of 94.01 percent. To hold this policy the entry level age is 18 years to 65 years.

4. Max Life Term Insurance: Max Life Term Insurance is designed to provide a protection solution for your family at an affordable price. It provides the policy term which ranges from 10 to 35 years.

With a life death claim ratio of 93.86 percent, Max Life ranks as the 4th best policy plan. It offers low premium rates for non smokers and female lives. Even it also offers discounts on various related plans to assure higher sum at the end.

5. SBI Life e-Shield Term Insurance: SBI Life is a private life insurer which offers a new online term policy – eSheild. It is a pure protection policy which provides a lump sum amount to your family at your absence.

There are two plan options in this policy - level cover and increasing cover. In level cover the chosen amount assured remains constant throughout the policy tenure, but in increasing cover, SBI Life e-Shield Term Insurance increases at regular intervals.

6. Kotak e-Term/ Preferred Term Insurance: Kotak e-Term Insurance has the highest life death claim settlements ratio of 90 percent and thus is one of the best policies to choose to ensure your family’s secured future.

Kotak e-Preferred Term plan is a pure protection plan which offers a life cover at an affordable premium rate. If a policy holder becomes permanently disabled during the policy tenure, then he/she is liable to get a 100 percent premium waiver.

Read More: SBI Cuts Home Loan Interest Rate By Up To 0.25 Percent

Kotak e-Term/ Preferred Term Insurance, SBI Life e-Shield Term Insurance,Max Life Term Insurance,HDFC Click 2 Protect Plus Term Insurance, ICICI Pru I-Care II Term Insurance, LIC e-Term Insurance,LIC's Insurance Plans, SBI Life offers Life Insurance Policies, HDFC Life offers best life insurance plans, Insurance Plans- ICICI Prudential offers a wide array of insurance plans , life insurance policy plans in India with ICICI Bank, Reliance Life Insurance, ICICI Lombard™ Online, Compare Life Insurance - PolicyBazaar, Low Cost Health Insurance‎, Compare Term Life Plans‎, Health Insurance Plans, www.icicilombard.com , Buy Home Insurance, Home Insurance - Policy Details

India's first women-centric app crosses 1 lakh downloads in 3 weeks

India's first women-centric app Matchify has crossed 1 lakh downloads in the first few weeks of launch.

The app, which aims at finding serious and meaningful relationships, was launched on April 6th this year, and has already seen nearly 2,00, 000 swipes till now.

Click On Advertisements on this website to Download App

Business Head, Sai Chithra, said that "it has been an amazing journey, but it's just the beginning although we've already been hearing success stories from members who've met through Matchify. The response has been fantastic and we're looking to get more members sign up in the coming weeks. Special focus is on women for whom cool privacy features are built-in.'

The free app has an easy sign up process via Facebook Connect. Fully aware of the privacy need of members, there is thrust on security features. For instance hiding profile from Facebook friends or showing only initials etc, trust badges and phone verification with extensive screening of profiles. Interestingly, women can directly initiate a chat, while men can do only on mutual like.

Amazing upcoming features including anonymous chat and real time ice breakers will give more control to the women. iOS app is currently work in progress and Windows app is on the cards.

Encouraged by the fantastic response, Matchify is all set to give new thrust to its marketing initiatives. 

Divine Solitaires Opens 100th Jewellery Store

Divine Solitaires, India’s first solitaire diamond brand, has partnered  with Khimji Jewellers in Bhubaneswar, Odisha as its 100th retailer in the country. Divine Solitaires was established in 2006 and has a presence in over 58 cities across India.

Speaking on this occasion,  Jignesh Mehta, the founder and managing director of Divine Solitaires, said, “It is an important milestone and a momentous occasion for us. All our partner jewelers in 58 Indian cities are among the best in India. They are active, reputable and have tremendous goodwill in their respective regions. We are proud and privileged to welcome Khimji Jewellers to the Divine family. With their presence in Rourkela, Cuttack and Bhubaneshwar, Khimji will play an important role for us in the Eastern region.”

Mehta added, “We are proud to associate with 100 top jewelers among the 200 best jewelers pan India.”

Mitesh Khimji, the director of Khimji Jewellers, said, “The brand Divine Solitaires represents high standards in terms of quality, craftsmanship, standardization, transparency and ethics. We share the same values with them and are confident that this relationship will be successful and mutually rewarding. Eastern India in general and Odisha in particular has tremendous potential for solitaires and the timing is right for us to join hands.”

Every Divine Solitaires diamond is Ex,Ex,Ex, hearts and arrows cut, certified, laser inscribed and pre-insured each Divine Solitaires is also backed by a lifetime upgrade and buyback policy, thus promising to give its customers unmatched value.

Divine Solitaires is pioneering the initiative to bring more transparency and pricing toward which the brand publishes nationwide standard and transparent pricing, on the first of every month. All Divine Solitaires diamonds are sold on the basis of this price index across the country, thus giving complete peace of mind to customers. Divine Solitaires has also introduced the Solitaires Price Index, which is published by all the leading financial newspapers on the first of every month.

This Solitaires Price Index helps investors and buyers to keep track of diamond price movement and help them make a logical investment and buying decision.

About Divine Solitaires
Divine Solitaires was founded by Jignesh Mehta and Shailen Mehta in 2006 with a vision to organize the market of loose solitaire diamonds in India and taking on the onus of quality and cut. It was established under the group of R.S. Diamonds India Pvt. Ltd. that has been a vital player in the Indian diamond industry since 1990. Divine Solitaires believes in providing their customer with the finest quality and transparency in pricing and service. Divine Solitaires focuses on extraordinary craftsmanship, stringent quality measures, superior finish and polish, transparency in pricing and quality assurance, thus delivering more that the 4Cs measure. Divine Solitaires ensures that the customer feels at ease while buying high quality diamonds and has complete trust in the pricing.

7-seat Maruti Wagon R MPV (Maruti ‘YJC’) prototype produced

According to GaadiWaadi, the first prototype of the 7-seat Maruti Wagon R, which is codenamed Maruti ‘YJC’ has been produced. The YJC is reportedly heading for a launch in the festive season of 2016 (September-October 2016), and ahead of that, testing activities and validation programs have started.

Plans for a 7-seat Wagon R were revealed by Suzuki’s Indonesian subsidiary at the 2013 Indonesian International Motor Show (IIMS). While the company did not disclose any details about the concept, reports said that the wheelbase of the car was unaltered, but the overall length was obviously extended to accommodate the third row of seats.
The 5+2 seater is conceptualized to rival the Datsun Go+, which is on sale in India and Indonesia. Like the Go+ (which relies on the Go’s engine), power for the Wagon R MPV would come from the same engine seen on the Wagon R (a 1.0-liter three-cylinder petrol engine) or the 1.2-liter K-Series petrol.

According to a report, Maruti is targeting annual sales of 80,000 units for the Wagon R MPV, and has already floated tenders to its suppliers for sourcing components. The YJC is expected to bridge a potential gap between hatchbacks such as the Wagon R, and MPVs of the Ertiga size.
Competitor: Datsun Go+
Expected Price: INR 4-6 lakhs, ex-Showroom
Launch date: 2016

Which Bollywood Diva Stunned At The Red Carpet Of Cannes 2015?

Bollywood celebrities are always excited for the Cannes Film Festival; the situation was same this year too. Three Bollywood beauties Katrina Kaif, Sonam Kapoor and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan donned the red carpet of the 68TH Cannes Film Festival in ravishing trousseaus. But which Bollywood diva set her mark right at the celebrated event?

Katrina Kaif was the most talked about star for the Cannes Film Festival as the actress marked her debut on the prestigious event; there were many speculations as to what the Bang Bang star would be sporting on the red carpet. However the actress kept mum till the end moment on her red carpet look.
Katrina who has always been a fan of comfortable clothing was seen in a figure hugging fish cut black and grey gown by Oscar De La Renta which did not grab much eyeballs. Katrina’s black and grey shimmer gown was nothing extraordinary as speculated and thus was a low show.

However the fabulous actress jumped back with a bang when she wore a red hot gown by Elie Saab, with minimal make up and no fuss hair the actress completely nailed the look.

Another diva of Bollywood who is known for her dressing style Sonam Kapoor truly proved that she is the one who is a designer’s favorite. The actress has always been up to the mark when walking the red carpet and this year was no different.

Sonam had all the attention to herself when she walked the red carpet in a royal blue gown by Ralph and Russo Couture. The fashionista that she is has always been a lover for diamonds and high end accessories, the actress carried her addiction on the carpet too by teaming up her royal blue gown with Chopard sapphire and diamond earrings. Posing with much elegance the actress is surely a goddess of fashion and with that girly smile the look couldn’t get any better!
Aishwarya Rai Bachchan who has been the queen of the Red Carpet since 14 long years, is still charming and makes a statement. The Bollywood diva who is the most clicked B-Town celebrity at the carpet looked extremely stunning in her trousseau leaving all others behind.

 Aishwarya with her experience and elegance looked adorable in the sheer green gown by Elie Saab. With wavy hair and low key make up the actress decided to go for nothing daring this time and simply carried off the look with great poise. Blowing kisses to her fans and posing confidently for the shutterbugs, Aishwarya looked fresh and stunning in her trousseau.
With those enigmatic dresses and too many shutterbugs who do you think made a mark on the red carpet of Cannes this year?

C Kalyan Gifts her Lion-Shaped Diamond Ring

Actress Charmme Kaur (also spelt as Charmi or Charmy), who is celebrating her 28th birthday today, has been gifted a lion-shaped diamond ring by "Jyothi Lakshmi" producer C Kalyan.

Charmme, who was born in Mumbai on 17 May, 1987, was thankful to Kalyan for his wonderful gift. Besides posting the photos of the lion-shaped diamond ring, the actress tweeted, "Thank u C Kalyan garu for this beautiful Lion shaped diamond ring as my Bday gift JAAAAIIIIIIIIII #JyothiLakshmi"

The actress, who was last seen in "Pratighatana", has recently completed the shooting for her upcoming movie "Jyothi Lakshmi", which has been directed by Puri Jagannath. Currently, she is busy promoting the film, which is expected to release in theatres soon. A day before launching its promotion, the actress took some time off to celebrate her birthday with her family.

On 16 May, Charmme tweeted the photos featuring her celebrating her birthday with family. She also wrote, "N my Bday celebration beginssss vit mad family lunch Ful on cheating day #ItsMyBirthday (tomoro ) Promo launch of #JyothiLakshmi Vil keep me busy 2moro on my bday.So celebrating today vit family ,@mithimax 's treat."

The makers of "Jyothi Lakshmi" released a poster of the film as a birthday gift to her. Charmme tweeted the poster and thanked everyone for their wishes. She wrote, "Thaaaaank u all for ur luvly wishes Had THE BEST TIME last nite #JyothiLakshmi promo launch today..stay tuned ❤️"

"Jyothi Lakshmi" is a female-centric film, which has been written by Puri Jagannadh. Charmme will be seen playing the titular role. The makers of "Jyothi Lakshmi" also released the first look video of the film as a birthday gift to the actress on the official YouTube Channel of Puri Jagannath at 4PM on Sunday.

1 million hits for Kick 2 trailer on youtube

Ravi Teja and Surender Reddy, who gave a big kick for audiences with the film 'Kick', teamed up for the second time for the movie 'Kick 2'. Vakkantham Vamsi once again provided the story for this film and Nandamuri Kalyan Ram is producing the film under NTR Arts banner.

The audio and the trailer of the film were released recently and in a very less time, the trailer got about 1 million hits in Youtube. This shows the craze surrounding the project. Even the songs by Thaman have garnered very good response. For the first time, Rakul Preet paired opposite Ravi Teja.

Kalyan Ram says that he is very satisfied with the output of the film as a producer and they will release the film soon, completing the post production work.

Surender Reddy said, "I started my journey as a director with 'Athanokkade', which is also the first film in NTR Arts banner.I am very happy that I worked in this banner once again after 10 years. I am confident that 'Kick 2' will be a bigger hit than 'Kick'".

Brahmanandam and Ravi Teja's comedy is going to be one of the highlights of this film. Ravi Kishan, Nikithin Dheer and 'Jil' fame Kabir Singh played the villains.

Fights : Ram - Laxman, Cinematography : Manoj Paramahamsa, Art : Narayana Reddy, Editing : Goutham Raju, Story : Vakkantham Vamsi, Screenplay - Direction : Surender Reddy.

Weekly Forecast: 17th May to 23rd May 2015

Dear Taurus, the new Moon emerging around the beginning of this week, and the exalted Moon rising in your Sign, shall be the harbinger of good news on the personal front.

Aries ( 21st March to 20th April ) : The new Moon will now emerge in the 2nd House from your Sign. The 2nd House is primarily associated with Family and Finances. Hence, Ganesha predicts that life shall change for the better for you on the domestic and financial front. Besides, as Venus, the ruler of the 2nd House, is well positioned in the 4th House from your Sign, you can now expect to save more money. However, around mid-week, Mercury will turn retrograde, forcing you to revisit your strategies and communication plans. You may re-analyse business plans to attain higher targets. Further, the Sun will change Signs to enter dual airy Sign Gemini, in the 3rd House from your Sign, around the weekend. Consequently, sales and business persons shall benefit, particularly those who are going on a regular tour or travelling to new regions to widen their customer base. However, employed ones might be compelled by their seniors to quickly finish the tasks, by increasing efficiency. Anyway, rise in overall earnings is also indicated.

Taurus ( 21st April to 21st May ) : The new Moon emerging around the beginning of this week, and the exalted Moon rising in your Sign, shall be the harbinger of good news on the personal front. You may now develop a clear understanding about some matters that earlier seemed complicated. You shall also be inclined to remain optimistic, and will now try to think out of the box, about ways and means to attain growth in all areas of your life. Besides, you may now manage to overcome your dissatisfaction, rather concentrating on increasing your productivity, and providing quality output. However, as Mercury turns retrograde, you may still experience some minor difficulties in your life. Plus, Venus' placement in the 3rd House from your Sign may not let you remain focussed in career matters. Do look at the brighter side of life, and take the problem as an opportunity to review your strategy about the future course of action, advises Ganesha. You shall be clever and balanced, managing your financial affairs with ease, if you stay confident.

Gemini ( 22nd May to 21st June ) : The new Moon will now rise in its Sign of exaltation, Taurus, at the beginning of this week. As a result, you shall now develop an affirmative outlook. Plus, with Mercury turning retrograde, you shall feel life has slowed down, which is a good distraction, as it will allow you to spend quality time with your dear ones. You may also reconsider your decisions about some personal matters. Strong malefic influences of both Mars and Saturn over the 4th House from your Sign may induce you to finish some pending matters on the domestic front. Hence, repairing work at home shall now top your priority list. However, Ganesha advises you to watch your health, as your immunity may be low now. Some respiratory problems are also foreseen. Hence, take appropriate medicines and necessary precautions to avoid complications. Ganesha stresses on lifestyle improvement and inclusion of regular exercise in your routine. The Sun will enter your Sign, around mid-week. However, the impact of this planetary transit shall come to the fore in the coming week.

Cancer ( 22nd June to 22nd July ) : You can expect some significant changes, during this week, as the new Moon will now emerge on the skyline in its Sign of exaltation. Besides, the crafty Mercury will also turn retrograde. As a result, you shall think and act prudently regarding financial matters, and may also refrain from spending lavishly. However, the monetary benefits may take their own sweet time to come your way. Ganesha, thus, advises you to postpone making any decisions regarding money matters. Anyway, you may re-analyse your past investments. Further, around mid-week, the Sun will enter Gemini in the 12th House from your Sign. Expenses are indicated or you may withdraw some of your earlier investment to re-invest, in order to get better results. Averse to risks, you would now rather stash your funds in a bank fixed deposit, instead of opting for high risk schemes. Rise in domestic expenses may also keep you on your toes. Don't worry much, though, as your savings will help you settle everything comfortably.

Leo ( 23rd July to 22nd August ) : Some significant changes in the planetary positions will occur, during this period. At beginning of this week, new Moon will rise on the skyline; it will now be exalted in the 10th House from your Sign. Thus, it shall actuate a novel beginning, regarding some issues on professional front. Further, developing a fresh viewpoint shall help you improve your productivity, helping you attain your targets. Moreover, you shall be keen to implement growth plans. Mercury will now turn retrograde in its own Sign Gemini--in the 11th House from your Sign. Hence, Ganesha advises you to avoid making any fresh investments or taking vital decisions regarding money matters, and family at this time. Yet, the time is just appropriate for re-analysing your past investments. Further, around mid-week, the Sun will enter Gemini and get posited in 11th House from your Sign. This shall make rest of the week quite opportune.

Virgo ( 23rd August to 22nd September ) : At the beginning of the week, a new Moon will start emerging in its Sign of exaltation. The Moon will be positioned in the 9th House, associated with Fortune, in exchange with Venus, keeping you cheerful and jovial, and this positive vibe shall simply be contagious. Anyway, this elation may hit a downward trend, around mid-week, as the Moon changes Signs to enter Gemini in the 10th House, in opposition to Saturn posited in the 4th House, from your Sign. This may create some hurdles, and thus, Ganesha advises you to stay on guard. When, later in the week, Mercury turns retrograde, you may notice things getting a bit heavier or slower. You may remain pretty engaged in career-related or other practical issues. You may either remain confused or may think of many new ideas. Ganesha warns you to be aware, as this is not a great time for implementing new ideas or test uncharted territories. Alternately, you need to mull over your past decisions regarding personal and career life, and revise your plans, as per the prevailing situation.

Libra ( 23rd September to 22nd October ) : Moon rising in its Sign of exaltation at the beginning of the week shall help you jump-start many things. You will be more optimistic than you may have been lately, and this shall have a direct effect on your dealings with the people around you. Things shall seem better placed in career as well as personal domains. This is not to say that there won't be any glitches—just that you will be able to deal with them in a much sorted way. Seniors shall now appreciate your hard work, applauding you for your commitment. Around mid-week, however, Mercury turn retrograde in its own Sign Gemini. The negative influence of this transit may cause minor hardships and delay your progress. Anyway, this is the right time to reconsider your past decisions, and revise your plans to grow steadily. This will also be an appropriate period for traders to check their inventory and prepare purchase orders for the new requisitions Manufacturers shall also now get new ideas to expand their customer base and increase turnover.

Scorpio ( 23rd October to 22nd November ) : The week shall be a witness to some vital change in the planetary configuration. The new Moon rises on the skyline, while Mercury turns retrograde in its own Sign, Gemini. In view of this starry alignment, business-persons should avoid signing any new contracts; and, also postpone new collaborations to increase their earnings. You must also refrain from taking critical decisions regarding financial matters. The Sun will enter Gemini, thus joining Mars and retrograde Mercury, around the weekend. You may plan to visit a holiday resort to rejuvenate and have fun with your family. Actually, this shall give you a highly desired break and freshen up your mind. However, you may still feel restless, for one reason or another, as the malefic Ketu is posited in the 6th House from your Sign. Thankfully, the positive influence of the beneficial Jupiter over the same House shall save you a great deal, assures Ganesha. Nonetheless, you must continue to work consistently--for better growth prospects.

Sagittarius ( 23rd November to 21st December ) : If some important decisions or deals have been pending for some time, let them be for this week too, says Ganesha. Mercury turning retrograde mid-week indicates that this may really not be a suitable time for signing any contracts or making any vital decisions on the financial and professional front. On the positive side, the retrograde Mercury will give you a chance to reconsider your past decisions, and accordingly alter the plans to move ahead in your sphere of activity. Life may not be hunky-dory on the marital front, since your spouse might, seemingly, be giving less than due priority to your requirements. Yet, you should try and adopt a let-go approach to put the zing back in your relationship. The Sun will change Signs to enter Gemini in the 7th House from your Sign, around the weekend. This will increase attraction and energy in your intimate relationship, so do take advantage of this streak. However, you may lose your concentration at work, hampering your productivity, or may fall prey to seasonal illnesses. Take care!

Capricorn ( 22nd December to 20th January ) : The new Moon at the week's beginning shall be placed in opposition to the retrograde Saturn, in conjunction with Mars. Thus, there may be some opposition, strife or slow momentum. You may also face opposition from some people, who matter to you. Anyway, Mars will encourage you to remain honest and boldly face these problems. The staid influence of Saturn will also help you look inwards, maybe even at your shortcomings. You may also feel grim and puzzled, regarding the future course of action. However, the influence of Mars over your Sign will increase your self-confidence, helping you be assertive and open about your views. Just take care to stay within the limits, and do respect others perspective, and be receptive to their ideas. Mercury, the ruler of the 9th House from your Sign (associated with Luck and Fortune), will turn retrograde, around mid-week. Subsequently, you might experience some hindrances, which may delay your growth, affecting your aspirations adversely. Yet, if you work persistently, you shall be able to easily ride the storm.

Aquarius ( 21st January to 18th February ) : The new Moon welcomes you early, this week. The Moon will now be posited in opposition to Saturn in conjunction with Mercury and combust Mars. Hence, you may, once more, face some difficulties. However, the presence of Mercury will assist you to remain composed, and shall also enable you to think prudently for achieving growth in your area of activity. Besides, you may experience some small obstacles in the coming days, as Mercury too is set to turn retrograde. You shall, thus, be left pondering over some of your past decisions. You should make good use of this period to revise your plans and start afresh on to the path of progress. Ganesha also says that employed ones must consider this as a nice chance to improve their working style and attitude. Relations with superiors at your workplace shall now be harmonious, while colleagues too shall continue to be amiable and cooperative. Business-persons, though, may need to alter their existing tactics to increase profits.

Pisces ( 19th February to 20th March ) : The new Moon posited in its Sign of exaltation, Taurus, will greet you, as the week begins. As a result, you shall be inclined to think positively and act upon your strategy, which shall lead to all over benefits. Although, the picture may seem rosy, the truth is that the benefits that accrue finally may not match your initial expectations. Make better use of this time by re-analysing your past decisions, and accordingly revise your plans to move ahead on the path of progress. In fact, you shall also prepare a fresh strategy to achieve some pre-set objectives. You may now renovate your residence to make your domestic life more comfortable. Happily, romance shall also be in the air, as Venus is posited in a Sign ruled by Moon. This period will be specially opportune for singles seeking a love partner. However, married ones will need to be careful, as the possibility of a major disagreement cannot be ruled out, warns Ganesha.

Photos: Michael Jordan's half-price suburban Chicago mansion

Basketball superstar Michael Jordan has been trying to sell his suburban Chicago mansion for three years, when he was asking $29 million. Now he'd settle for $14,855,000.

Basketball superstar Michael Jordan has been trying to sell this Chicago-area mansion off and on for three years.

It's on again.

Legend Point, as he dubbed the Highland Park estate, was listed in March 2012 at $29 million, then marked down less than a year later to $21 million. (Click here or on a photo for a slideshow.)

When that didn't take, he put it on the auction block in a highly publicized but ultimately fruitless sale. The November 2013 sale was delayed by a month, supposedly to accommodate interest that was "even stronger than we anticipated," according to Concierge Auctions. But no one placed even the minimum bid — which by then had fallen to a mere $13 million.

Jordan is giving it another shot with the same Chicago listing agent, Katherine Malkin of Baird & Warner, but he's also enlisted the help of Los Angeles power brokers Mauricio Umansky and Kofi Nartey of The Agency, the Los Angeles Times reports.

The new price tag: $14,855,000.

See the Jumping Man logo in the backs of these stools in the basketball lounge?

See the Jumping Man logo in the backs of these stools in the basketball lounge?

"If you take a look at those numbers in the price and add them up, they equal 23" — Jordan's jersey number with the Chicago Bulls — Nartey told the Times.

The 56,000-square-foot home is on more than 7 acres in the tony Chicago suburb of Highland Park. He and his then-wife, Juanita, bought the land in 1991, and three years later they moved into the mansion they'd built.

Both the living room and the family room of the main house are double-height. There are also two dining rooms; the formal one has a table modeled on a map of Baghdad, and the informal eating area is capped by a large, round skylight. The main house has six bedrooms, all with en suite bathrooms -- including the master suite, which has his-and-hers closets, a lounge, a steam shower and a Jacuzzi tub, a microwave, a refrigerator, and more. The guest wing has three bedrooms with en suite bathrooms and built-ins, plus a gourmet kitchen.

According to the 2013 auction listing, the estate also has:

"A card and cigar room with a custom-built, walk-in humidor."

A "gentleman's retreat" that you enter through the original Playboy Mansion doors from Chicago. It's equipped with a "billiard parlor" as well as a bar, a library and one of the estate's five fireplaces.

"A fully equipped in-house beauty salon. (Because that’s what she wants, that’s why.)" The salon has a Sub-Zero under-cabinet refrigerator, the listing notes.

"A regulation-size, NBA-quality basketball court" with adjacent locker rooms and a circular lounge with a "glass observation overlook."

A wine cellar that holds more than 500 bottles, plus a "wine tasting room."

A putting green and a tennis court.

A "pool pavilion" that connects the main residence with the guest wing. A retractable canopy "can transform the enclosed room to an extraordinary indoor/outdoor experience geared for entertaining."