Category Archives: World Opinion

Aga Khan Academy at Hyderabad formally launched

Education, World Opinion

The Aga Khan Academy, one of the educational centres of excellence planned around the world by Aga Kgan Development Network, was formally inaugurated here Friday.

The not-for profit academy which has come up on 100 acres of land donated by Andhra Pradesh government near the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, was formally launched by Aga Khan, founder and Chairman of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) in the presence of Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy and union Human Resource Development Minister M.M. Pallam Raju.

The academy, which is running since 2011, is part of the global chain of such institutions planned by the AKDN and the second one to come up after Mombasa in Kenya. AKDN plans to set up 18 academies in 14 countries of Africa, Middle East, Central and South Asia.

The academy which follows International Baccalaureate (IB) curriculum gives admit students on merit basis and has a strong scholarship programme.

The Aga Khan noted the foundation stone for the academy was laid in 2005. “The aim of the academy is to educate talented young mind for global future,” he said.

The academy follows residential secondary school system and creates multinational environment, he pointed out.

He said the AKDN had taken up restoration of heritage monuments like Humayun’s Tomb in Delhi and Qutub Shahi Tombs in Hyderabad .

Pallam Raju said the country had made great strides in education after Right To Education (RTE) Act came into force. He said 230 million children were sent to schools during last three years and hoped that more would be enrolled in next two years.

“The aim of the Aga Khan Academy, Hyderabad, is to develop home-grown leaders with a strong sense of ethics and civic responsibility, who will contribute to India’s future. By intentionally bringing a diverse group of students to study and live together, the Academy aims to help build understanding and respect across diverse sectors of society,” said a statement by AKDN.

The academy incorporates a professional development centre for teacher training and curricular innovation. The centre through its outreach programme, also extends modern teaching and learning methods to government and other not-for-profit schools.

The agencies of the AKDN work to improve the welfare of people in the developing world, particularly in Asia and Africa.

The AKDN works in 30 countries around the world and employs approximately 80,000 people and its annual budget for non-profit development activities is approximately $600 million.

source: http://www.business-standard.com / Business Standard / Home> News-IANS> Education / by IANS / Hyderabad – September 20th, 2013

Zareen’s splendid show in the ring

Records, All, Sports, World Opinion
Nikhat Zareen
Nikhat Zareen

Nikhat Zareen wins silver in the World Youth Boxing Championship

Nikhat Zareen represents the continuing “women force” from A.P. in the world of sports. This 17-year-old boxer from Nizamabad has won a silver in her maiden appearance in the World Youth Boxing Championship held in Bulgaria on Saturday night.

Zareen’s splendid feat proved that sport is not only all about the likes of Sania, Saina, Sindhu, Humpy and Harika but also of lesser-known star performers from the State.

This boxer has served a reminder that her gold in the 2011 Turkey World Junior Boxing Championship (flyweight) was no fluke as she came up with another splendid show in the ring to return – a silver after she lost narrowly in the bantam weight category final in the Women’s World Youth Boxing Meet in Bulgaria to Yunzi Yuan of China on Saturday.

The Intermediate student from New Kakatiya College at Nizamabad took to the sport first with the intent to demonstrate that even girls could excel when she first visited SAAP Academy, and she owes her success story to her first coach and uncle Shamsamuddin.

“Once I got the better of ex-junior world champion Viktoriya Virt of Ukraine, the confidence was up. The final was a close encounter and could have gone either way, but I am happy to have made it to the final in my maiden World Youth Meet,” she told Shamsamuddin after her bout over the phone.

“The huge inspiration is, without doubt, Mary Kom who won the world title five times. This performance will boost my morale to aim big,” says Zareen, the only Indian finalist in the championship.

Interestingly, the Indian team’s chief coach is I. Venkateshwar Rao – under whom Zareen and other Indian women boxers have been training in Vizag for almost two years now at the SAI Centre.

“My goal is to qualify for the 2016 Olympics and win a medal for India. That is the biggest dream right now I am chasing,” signs off a confident Zareen.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Hyderabad / by V. V. Subrahmanyam / Hyderabad – September 29th, 2013

Latvia and India strengthen cooperation in education in Hyderabad

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy, Education, World Opinion

On September 15, continuing his official visit to India, Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkevics met with Andhra Pradesh Governor Ekkadu S.L. Narasimhan and expressed Latvia’s interest in building cooperation with this developed region of India, reports LETA.

Ekkadu S.L. Narasimhan and Edgars Rinkevics. Photo: flickr.com
Ekkadu S.L. Narasimhan and Edgars Rinkevics. Photo: flickr.com

The Foreign Ministry is planning to appoint a Latvian honorary consul in Hyderabad District. The Governor expressed support for Latvia’s cooperation initiatives and mentioned cooperation in the fields of energy, higher education, environmental protection and infrastructure development as offering excellent prospects.

“We know about Latvia’s success in economy and state development. We are interested in Latvia’s experience in the production of renewable energy, especially in the use of wind and water energy,” Ekkadu S.L. Narasimhan indicated. “It is important to develop tourism and cultural contacts, so that we could learn more about Latvia, and you – about India and Hyderabad District,” the governor continued.

Rinkevics informed the Indian side that Riga will be next year’s European Capital of Culture and invited representatives from Hyderabad to make use of this opportunity to introduce Latvia to India’s culture and art. University of Latvia Rector Marcis Auzins told the governor about the Hindi Language and Cultural Cooperation Center at the University of Latvia and plans for future cooperation with India’s universities.

Cooperation in education, one of the central topics of the visit, will be continued during discussions between Rinkevics, Latvian university representatives and University of Hyderabad administration and staff. Latvian and Indian university staff shared opinions on the study and research process and agreed about the exchange of students and academic staff. To facilitate further contacts, a cooperation agreement between the University of Latvia and the University of Hyderabad will be drawn up and signed in the near future.

In Hyderabad, the official delegation of Latvia and entrepreneurs had a meeting with representatives from the Andhra Pradesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry led by Srinivas Ayyadevara. A great interest by the Indian business people present at the meeting was felt in possibilities for developing trade cooperation with Latvia and investing in this country. Rinkevics and Latvian business people answered questions about Latvia’s business environment, financial and tax policy and the adoption of the euro planned next year. The minister also gave interviews for the mass media, including the EENADU television company.

Today, the delegation, headed by Rinkevics, will go to the State of Tamil Nadu, where meetings will be held with the governor and representatives from the Chamber of Industry and Commerce. At the University of Madras, a cooperation agreement will be signed between the University of Madras and the University of Latvia and a lecture will be delivered to outline Latvia’s view on the European Union-India relations.

Rinkevics’ stay in India will conclude with a visit to Delhi on September 18-20, when the Latvian foreign minister will be received by his counterpart, Indian External Affairs Minister Shri Salman Khurshid. Rinkevics will also meet with the country’s Indian Culture Minister Chandresh Kumari, Communications and Information Technology Minister Kapil Sibal and deliver an address at the International Relations Institute of Jawaharlal Nehru University.

source: http://www.baltic-course.com / The Baltic Course / Home> Education & Science / BC, Riga / September 17th, 2013

Miss America Nina Davuluri from Seemandhra never forgot Indian roots

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Leaders, Nri's / Pio's, Records, All, World Opinion

Miss.Nina Davuluri

Vijayawada:

City-based relatives of Nina Davuluri, who today became the first Indian-origin contestant to win the Miss America pageant, said the newly-crowned beauty queen had not forgotten her roots and still liked Indian films.

“We are all very excited. I spoke to her briefly this evening. We are very happy,” Nina’s maternal aunt Sasibala told PTI.

Nina’s father, Davuluri Dhana Koteswara Chowdary, a doctor by profession, settled in the USA in the late 1970s and his daughter had grown up there, Sasibala said.

Sasibala said Nina visits India every summer and came to Vijayawada about a year-and-a-half back.

Nina, who wooed the judges at the pageant with a Bollywood fusion dance, likes Indian films, said Sasibala, adding that the 24-year-old had learnt classical dance.

Nina is fluent in Telugu and has not forgotten her roots, she added.

Nina, who aspires to become a physician like her father, will earn at least USD 50,000 in scholarships.

She was crowned Miss America during an event held in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

“I’m so happy this organisation has embraced diversity,” she said in her first press conference after winning the crown. “I’m thankful there are children watching at home who can finally relate to a new Miss America.”

Her pageant platform was “celebrating diversity through cultural competency” and Nina said she has had to dispel a lot of misconceptions about her culture through the years, such as whether her parents will arrange a marriage for her.

Nina is the second consecutive Miss New York to win the Miss America crown, succeeding Mallory Hagan.

source: http://www.indiatvnews.com / India TV / Home> TV / by PTI / September 17th, 2013

Miss America has roots in Vijayawada

Amazing Feats, Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Nri's / Pio's, Records, All, World Opinion
V. Koteswaramma, grandmother of Miss America-2014 Nina Davuluri, showing pictures of her granddaughter in Vijayawada on Monday. / Photo. Ch. Vijaya Bhaskar / The Hindu
V. Koteswaramma, grandmother of Miss America-2014 Nina Davuluri, showing pictures of her granddaughter in Vijayawada on Monday. / Photo. Ch. Vijaya Bhaskar / The Hindu

The 24-year-old American of Indian descent Nina Davuluri, who has been crowned Miss America 2014, lived in Vijayawada for a brief period as a child and has strong connections with the city. She is granddaughter of V. Koteswaramma, secretary and correspondent of Montessori Mahila Kalaasala, in the city.

She was just six weeks old when her grandmother brought her to the city and she was groomed by Koteswaramma and her aunt Sashibala, a practising doctor, till the age of two-and-a-half years. “Thereafter her parents took her back to US. But she visits us every summer,” says Dr. Sashibala.

Ms. Nina, who learned Kuchipudi in Vijayawada during her visits in summer holidays, is also a good western dancer. She is fond of Telugu movies and never misses to see the latest. She has not only excelled in dance but has also learnt piano and can wield the tennis racquet with aplomb.

She is a very determined child said Ms Koteswaramma. “She wanted to win the pageant and has done it. And she has done it all alone with a strong one-year preparation. There was strong support of her mother, most importantly she has strong attachment to India and the city of Vijayawada,” said Dr. Sashibala. The rise to fame was not an easy task for the Nina, who is the first Indian-descendent American to win the pageant. In 2006 she was the first runner-up of ‘Teen America’ and from there she resolved to win the coveted Miss America title. In the run-up to the slot, she first won the Miss Syracuse, then Miss New York and finally the Miss America title.

Nina a graduate from University of Michigan wants to join a medical school next year. While her father Davuluri Koteswara Choudhary is a practising gynaecologist in New York, her mother Sheila Ranjani is a web programmer.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Vijayawada / by Sumit Bhattacharjee / Vijayawada – September 17th, 2013

Cigniti Tech opens new global test centre in Hyderabad

Business & Economy, Science & Technology, World Opinion

The new facility houses cloud-enabled performance test lab in addition to the existing mobile, robotics labs, helping the company’s clients further leverage its infrastructure

Cigniti Technologies Limited (formerly Chakkilam Infotech Limited), a city-based independent software testing company , opened a 34,000-sft global test engineering centre in Hyderabad on Monday. With the addition of the new facility, the company now has a total of 95,000 sft of space across Hyderabad, Dallas and Toronto.

“With the addition of this new centre, we are well equipped to meet our current and future growth needs while we continue to expand our operations further. Today, Cigniti is a 800-plus people organisation worldwide and we plan to hire another 400 by 2014 as we move forward,” Cigniti chief executive officer, Sudhakar Pennam , said in a release.

The new facility houses cloud-enabled performance test lab in addition to the existing mobile, robotics labs, helping the company’s clients further leverage its infrastructure, he added.

The company had in March this year inaugurated a mobile test lab (or competency unit) at its Hyderabad facility, from where it is offering its proprietary mobile and on-the-cloud testing platforms.

The lab enables Cigniti’s clients to quickly set up test harnesses and complete testing their mobile applications on multiple platforms, devices and networks.

source: http://www.business-standard.com / Business Standard / Home> Companies> News / by BS Reporter / Hyderabad – September 02nd, 2013

FB target: Five billion users in 5 years

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy, Records, All, Science & Technology, World Opinion
Kirthiga Reddy,head,Facebook India delivering a lecture on Future of the Digital: A Vision Statement at the two day ISB Digital Summit being held at the Indian School of Business in Hyderabad on Friday | RVK Rao
Kirthiga Reddy,head,Facebook India delivering a lecture on Future of the Digital: A Vision Statement at the two day ISB Digital Summit being held at the Indian School of Business in Hyderabad on Friday | RVK Rao

No matter how low the price of mobile phones and other electronic devices are, the main issues are rising cost of data packages and lack of infrastructure, especially in rural areas, according to Kirthiga Reddy, head, Facebook India.

Kirthiga was speaking on the topic, Future of the Digital: A vision statement at the two-day ISB Digital Summit 2013 held at Indian School of Business which commenced on Friday.

In an elaborate speech on Facebook’s vision, she touched upon factors like users, targeted reach, equalisation, personalisation as the five important points leading to the future of the digital arena.

Stating that Facebook’s goal was to reach five billion users in the next five years, she added, that the goal could be achieved only by taking along all the stakeholders like governments, business establishments and telecom companies. She also explained how the devices used today would be 100 times faster in the future with the advancement in applications, networks, data access and other factors. She admitted that data transmission prices were the biggest barrier today.

According to her, local languages too are barriers in terms of compatibility of content. Responding to a query on how would social media including Facebook impact the society, Reddy said, “Every medium is a medium and it is up to us on how we use it.”

Speaking at the first panel discussion on mobile marketing and location based services(LBS), Sridhar Iyer, director, Digital Business, Citibank India pointed out that the growth in smart phones usage will lend itself to location-based services as mobile devices today are centre to all activities including social, shopping and banking among others.

Explaining factors that hinder location based services in the country, he said, geographic information system (GIS) needs to improve and termed the lack of wireless networks, bandwidth limitation, network congestion, high cost of 3G services, lack of awareness among age group above 45 and other causes as some of the major constraints. However, he was confident that LBS was bound to grow with significant amount of investment and subsequent increase in competition.

Anuj Kumar, co-founder and MD, Ripple, who spoke about mobile advertising, pointed out that battery problems in smart phones is the biggest challenge in the advancement of LBS. He hoped it would be solved in the near future.

Social media expert and CEO of Autumn Worldwide, Anusha Shetty, noted that, at a time when users relate to the virtual world more than the real one, it is the responsibility of brands to ensure that problems are addressed and solved in real-time.

Anushka further explained that 66 per cent of Facebook and 50 per cent of Twitter users in the country use mobile devices for internet access and that in the future people would look up to first-hand information on social media over newspapers and channels.

The ISB Digital summit is being organised by the Srini Raju Centre for IT and the Networked Economy at ISB in association with Jigserv Digital, a digital marketing company founded by four ISB alumni. The summit will discuss and debate on trends in the digital media, recent innovations, new business models.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Hyderabad / by Express  News Service – Hyderabad / August 31st, 2013

Schulich School of Business to launch MBA programme in Hyderabad

Education, World Opinion

New Delhi :

Canada’s  Schulich School of Business will launch a new MBA programme in Hyderabad in collaboration with the GME Group , the business school  said in a statement.

Schulich will lauch its programme for 40 MBA students in Hyderabad as a part of a new arrangement between the School and  GMR School of Business , an educational initiative of GMR Varalakshmi Foundation of the GMR Group.

(Schulich will lauch its…)
(Schulich will lauch its…)

Students will spend the first year at the Hyderabad campus and the second year at Schulich’s Toronto campus, and Schulich faculty will teach all of the courses in Hyderabad, as well as in Toronto. Schulich also plans to offer an executive MBA  programme at the Hyderabad campus by 2015.

Dezso J Horvath dean of the Schulich School of Business said in a statement: “”We intend to offer that same level of excellence in the Schulich MBA in India programme that will commence this September at the newly constructed GMR School of Business,” he added.

In the past, the school has had exchange partner agreements with a number of Indian business schools including the Indian Institute of Management  (IIM) Ahmedabad, IIM Bangalore, and the Indian School of Business  (ISB) in Hyderabad.

In 2005, Schulich opened an international satellite  centre in Mumbai which provides career placement services to Schulich students and alumni seeking career opportunities in India; offers executive and leadership development programmes for Indian executives; supports Schulich’s alumni chapter in India; and manages local media relations.

Schulich previously offered the Schulich MBA in India programme in partnership with the SP  Jain Institute of Management and Research  (SPJIMR) in Mumbai. The Schulich MBA in India, which launched in January 2010, was the first MBA programme to be delivered in India by a leading international business school. Three cohorts have so far graduated through the programme.

source: http://www.articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com / The Economic Times / Home> Education> Programme / by Anumeha Chaturvedi, ET Bureau / August 23rd, 2013

Hotel in Hyderabad Receives Top Honors From Seasoned Travellers

Business & Economy, World Opinion

TripAdvisor Awards Its Prestigious Certificate of Excellence to the Hyderabad Marriott Hotel & Convention Centre

Hyderabad , India — (Marketwired)

When it comes to positive feedback, some sources are more important than others. In school, teachers assign the grades. In work, managers call the shots. And in the hospitality industry, the final word rests with travellers. That’s why TripAdvisor’s Certificate of Excellence is such an achievement for any business that receives it. The award is based entirely on travellers’ reviews, and when it comes to the Hyderabad Marriott Hotel & Convention Centre, those reviews are nothing short of stellar.

“We are absolutely delighted that Hyderabad Marriott Hotel & Convention Centre has been awarded the Certificate of Excellence from TripAdvisor,” says General Manager Sharad Datta. “This achievement shows that continuous commitment to providing superior service reaps rewards, and it motivates us to strive for an even better performance.”

The coveted Certificate of Excellence is awarded only to the top 10 percent of businesses that maintain an overall rating of four or higher (out of a possible five) and are listed on TripAdvisor’s website for at least 12 months. Businesses can be located anywhere in the world and can operate in any part of the hospitality industry. The number of reviews a business receives is also taken into account.

Considering the Hyderabad Marriott Hotel’s extensive amenities, it’s not surprising that guests have been impressed. Travellers would be hard-pressed to find the same five-star hotel rooms, fine-dining options and comprehensive meeting services (including a language-interpretation system) under any other roof in Hyderabad. In fact, with almost 56,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor meeting space — including a 10,656-square-foot conference hall — the hotel serves as the area’s premier convention center.

But the advantages of this Hyderabad hotel aren’t exclusive to what’s on property. The hotel’s prime location across from the picturesque Hussain Sagar Lake puts it within close proximity to a number of attractions, including HITECH City, the Hyderabad Golf Club, mosques and the stunning marble Birla Mandir Hindu temple. And that, in conjunction with its top-notch service and luxurious offerings, means visitors will continue to appreciate their experiences at the Hyderabad Marriott Hotel & Convention Centre for many years to come.

source: http://www.newsmaker.com.au / News Maker / Monday – August 19th, 2013

Coromandel gets first consignment of phosphoric acid from Tunisia

Business & Economy, Science & Technology, World Opinion

The first consignment of  phosphoric acid  from  Tunisian Indian Fertilisers  (Tifert), a Tunisia-based venture of Coromandel International Limited (CIL), has arrived at Kakinada , where CIL’s complex fertilisers plant is located.

The Tifert vessel, which left La Skhira Port in Tunisia about a fortnight ago with 31,269 tonnes of phosphoric acid, arrived at Kakinada Port and delivered the CIL’s share of 12,498 tonnes.

It will leave on Thursday for Sikka Port on the west coast to deliver the remaining part of about 18,771 tonnes to Gujarat State Fertilisers and Chemicals Limited (GSFC), the other Indian shareholder of Tifert. Phosphoric acid is a key raw material used in the manufacture of various grades of fertiliser.

Tifert, set up in La Skhira in Tunisia by CIL and GSFC, the partners from India and Groupe Chimique Tunisien (GCT) and Compagnie Des Phosphat De Gafsa (CPG), from Tunisia, (both being Government of Tunisia entities), was inaugurated on July 12, 2013.

CIL stated in a press release here on Wednesday that has made an investment in Tifert for securing uninterrupted supply of phosphoric acid for the company’s operations. The company and GSFC have entered into a long term agreement with the Tifert to import the entire production of phosphoric acid directly to India. CIL and GSFC hold 15% each in the share capital of Tifert.
source: http://www.business-standard.com / Business Standard / Home> Companies> News / by BS Reporter / Hyderabad – August 07th, 2013