Category Archives: World Opinion

Infotech becomes first India-based company to receive TL 9000 certification

Records, All, Science & Technology, World Opinion

Achieves it for fixed network engineering services

News | CIOL Bureau

Hyderabad, India :

Infotech Enterprises announced that its telecom business unit’s network engineering services division has earned a TL 9000 (Release 5.0) certification under the product category 7.2.1.1 Fixed Network Engineering Services, becoming the first India-based organization to be certified under this product category. Infotech’s offices at Madhapur, Hyderabad and Paragould, Arkansas, USA were certified.

Scope of the certification includes: engineering services including design, modeling, analysis, and data conversion of wire line telecommunication networks.

The TL 9000 quality management system was developed by the Quality of Excellence for Suppliers of Telecommunications forum, a global communications association comprised of the world’s top industry service providers and suppliers, who are dedicated to continually improving standards in the telecommunications industry.

TL 9000 is built on ISO 9001 standards and its purpose is to define the unique communications quality system requirements for design, development, production, delivery, and service.

As part of the certification process, the audit team from Bureau Veritas Corp. (BVC) audited Infotech’s engineering services practice delivery in Hyderabad and the USA on the ISO 9001:2008 and TL9000 Release 5.0 quality management systems and continuous improvement initiatives.

John Renard, president and BU head, said: “Infotech has always put quality of execution and quality of the process at the heart of every client engagement. With the significant growth in our telecom engineering services, especially in North America, it became clear that we could align this focus on quality with the specific needs of our telecommunication customers by adopting TL 9000. We strongly believe that TL 9000 will benefit all customers in this sector and strengthen our leadership position in the sector.”

source: http://www.ciol.com / CIOL / Home> Telecom> News / by CIOL Bureau / Hyderabad, Wednesday – December 18th, 2013

Aurobindo receives USFDA nod for anti-depressant drug

Business & Economy, Science & Technology, World Opinion

The capsules are the generic equivalent of Eli Lilly & Company’s Cymbalta delayed-release capsules.

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Hyderabad-based drug maker Aurobindo Pharma Limited stated that it had received the final approval from the US Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) to manufacture and market Duloxetine Hydrochloride delayed-release capsules 20 mg (base), 30 mg (base) and 60 mg (base), which had been tentatively approved earlier.

The capsules are the generic equivalent of Eli Lilly & Company’s ‘Cymbalta’ delayed-release capsules. They are prescribed for the treatment of major depressive disorder and fall under the neurological therapeutic category.

According to IMS, the market size of the product is $5.4 billion for the twelve months ending September 2013.

Aurobindo said in a press release that it now had a total of 188 abbreviated new drug application approvals from USFDA.

The company’s scrip was trading at Rs 300.20 on the BSE, up 0.76% over the previous day’s close of Rs 297.95.

source: http:d//www.business-standard.com / Business Standard / Home> Companies> News / by Prashanth Chintala / Hyderabad – December 13th, 2013

Maths prodigy aims to develop own technique

Amazing Feats, Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Education, Inspiration /Positive News and Features, Records, All, Science & Technology, World Opinion

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Karimnagar: 

She is just 11 years old and studying in Class VII, but she can easily solve maths problems from Intermediate textbooks.

Meet S. Harshita Reddy, who has been excelling in maths since the last six years and winning many awards.

Harshita added another feather to her cap by bagging a silver medal in the National Child Awards for Exceptional Achievements-2013 from the ministry of women and child development in New Delhi on November 14. She was also given a certificate and a cash award of Rs 10,000.

The daughter of an English teacher at a government school, Harshita developed her passion for maths when she was studying in Class I.

“I was surprised after she could remember tables from 1-20 within three days at the age of five. I started teaching her a few topics from algebra, trigonometry and some other tough concepts when I saw that she was blessed with extraordinary skills,” recalls Govardhan Reddy, science teacher at a government school.

When Harshita was nine, she was asked to solve Class X problems and it was a cakewalk for her. “I organised over 50 sessions to demonstrate easy methods to solve maths for students in the school. I would like to develop a method or technique on my own,” said Harshita, adding, “I want to be a maths scientist.”

Harshita claimed she was termed a legend in maths and maro Shakuntala Devi (another Shakuntala Devi) by her critiques and teachers.

Karimnagar MP Ponnam Prabhakar and former MLC, Chukka Ramaiah had complimented her for her talent and achievements.

She has also won awards from the World Amazing Records and India Book of Record and was given the Andhra Bala Ratna Award by a voluntary organisation based on Vizag.

source: http://www.deccanchronicle.com / Deccan Chronicle / Home> News> Current Affairs / by Santosh Padala / DC / December 13th, 2013

Hyderabad to host 3-day global meet on millets

Green Initiatives / Environment, Nature, Science & Technology, World Opinion

Mumbai :

A global meet on millets for expert consultations on their promotion for health and nutrition security will be held in Hyderabad during December 18-20.

Organised jointly by the Indian Council of Agriculture Research, Directorate of Sorghum Research and Society for Millet Research, the three-day global meet will bring together experts from India and abroad (Africa, Australia, China, and the US).

Topics

They will discuss a range of topics including global millet scenario, genetic improvement, role of private sector in millet consumption, innovations in processing, supply chain management, nutrition and health implications as also government policies and programmes.

Scientists, nutritionists, industry professionals, entrepreneurs, policymakers and other stakeholders are participating.

Following the success of Green Revolution and emphasis on fine cereals rice and wheat, in recent decades, there has been a gradual reduction in consumption of millets such as sorghum, pearl millet, finger millet, foxtail millet, kodo millet, proso millet and barnyard millet, as staple food in the semi-arid regions.

Given the current health and nutritional challenge facing a large number of people, especially the poor, the global meet will attempt to once again evolve strategies to mainstream millets in the daily food of people.

source: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com / Business Line / Home> Industry> Agri-Biz / by The Hindu Bureau / Mumbai – December 09th, 2013

They Said What? Mirza on Men

Sports, World Opinion
Wikimedia Commons
Wikimedia Commons

“When I was growing up I would go to tennis and people would come up to my parents and they would ridicule them and say she’s a girl from Hyderabad, you think she is going to play Wimbledon? But obviously my parents didn’t care.”— Sania Mirza, to NDTV , while discussing the high rate of female infanticide in her native India.

Mirza, now 27, is the best female player India has ever produced. She was ranked as high as No. 27 in singles (one career WTA title) and No. 7 in doubles. She’s the first Indian woman to have won a Grand Slam title (mixed doubles, at the Australian and French Opens). She’s also been relatively flamboyant and outspoken for a young Muslim lady from India.

She made her comments above during an interview in which one of the topics was the high rate of female infanticide in India—according to the United Nations, 12 million girls were aborted in India in the past two years, often because they were viewed as potential financial burdens.

Mirza went on to say, “For everything we achieve, why do we need a guy? . . . it’s our responsibility to try and educate people in India that having a girl is plus not a minus.”

Whatever the intent, her comment about not needing “a guy” surely got some people’s noses out of joint. But it wouldn’t be the first time her independent thoughts and actions stirred controversy.

In 2005, a Muslim scholar issued a fatwa regarding the skimpy tennis clothing Mirza (and all her peers) wear, saying it was not suited to Islam. She also faced prosecution under India’s Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act a few years ago, when she was photographed at the Hopman Cup resting her feet—and showing their soles—above an Indian flag. Her comments on safe sex once created a stir (she clarified her stance when the controversy erupted).

In fact, the collision of values was so strong at times that Mirza declared in 2008 that she would stop appearing in tournaments in India. If nothing else, security officials probably heaved a great sigh of relief; this was, after all, a Muslim woman who had played mixed doubles with a Jew, Shahar Peer. (Mirza returned to competition in India in 2010.)

India has provided tennis with a host of interesting characters, starting with Ramanathan Krishnan. He was a two-time Wimbledon semifinalist (1960 and ’61), and his son, Ramesh, was an ATP staple and three-time Grand Slam quarterfinalist in the 1980s. Vijay Amritraj (who had two brothers who also played professionally) won 16 singles titles and posted a career-high ranking of No. 16 in 1980. Then there’s pugnacious doubles genius Leander Paes, an eight-time Grand Slam men’s doubles winner.

All of them, and others, were more successful than Mirza. But none have been as colorful or controversial. Even Mirza’s wedding in 2010 caused a national uproar when it was confirmed shortly before her great day that her fiancé (Shoaib Malik) was already married. Malik obtained a divorce and wed Mirza five days later.

Like the lady said, who needs guys?

source: http://www.tennis.com / Tennis / Home> Pro Game> Commentary / by Peter Bodo / Friday – December 06th, 2013

Hyderabad Biotechnologist in Marquis Who’s Who

Education, Science & Technology, World Opinion
Zahoorullah S MD, assistant professor of biotechnology at JBR Engineering College, showing the letter received from Marquis Who’s Who in the World informing him of his name’s inclusion in the 2014 edition of the book at a press conference in Hyderabad on Monday. | RVK Rao
Zahoorullah S MD, assistant professor of biotechnology at JBR Engineering College, showing the letter received from Marquis Who’s Who in the World informing him of his name’s inclusion in the 2014 edition of the book at a press conference in Hyderabad on Monday. | RVK Rao

City-based biotechnologist and scientist Zahoorullah Shaikh Mohammed’s biography has been selected and enlisted for publication by Marquis Who’s Who in the World for year 2014.

The 29-year old is currently working as an assistant professor of biotechnology at Joginpally BR Engineering College here. A resident of Aziz Bagh Colony in Tolichowki, Zahoorullah has taught 27 subjects in engineering, presented 20 national and international research papers, attended 20 workshops and authored seven books. His lectures are available on the Internet and are being shared by many foreign universities, according to a press release issued here on Monday.

Marquis Who’s Who, established in 1899, is a renowned American publisher of a number of directories containing short biographies of individuals who are achievers in their respective fields. A subsidiary of News Communications Inc, the books are usually titled, Who’s Who in America, Who’s Who of American Women, Who’s Who in the World, Who’s Who in Science and Engineering, Who’s Who in American Politics, etc.

An M.Tech and Ph.D in biotechnology, Zahoorullah became an assistant professor at a young age of 23 and his appointment was ratified by JNTUH. He was also a teacher certified by Dale Carnegie Training Institute, USA in high-impact teaching skills.

He sent his biography in January and, after several stages of screening, its enlistment has been confirmed recently. “I want to become a very well-known scientist and motivate youngsters towards research. Despite having several good laboratories, our students are lagging behind in research. My only aim is to establish myself through innovation in science and engineering, and motivate others,” Zahoorullah told Express.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Hyderabad / by Express News Service – Hyderabad / December 03rd, 2013

Granules India looks at further expansion

Business & Economy, Science & Technology, World Opinion

Granules expects to post a turnover of over Rs 1,000 crore this financial year as against Rs 764 crore in 2012-13

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 Hyderabad-based drug maker Granules India Limited, which recently acquired Auctus Pharma for Rs 120 crore, is looking towards further expansion of its business through both organic and inorganic routes.“We strongly believe in growing our businesses and we are looking at organic growth. But if something comes up by the way that fits into our model, we may be looking at it (acquiring that company),” Granules managing director, C Krishna Prasad, told Business Standard.Granules is looking at further expansions even though its executive director, Harsha Chigurupati, feels that the company will be able to “easily” achieve a turnover of Rs 2,000-3,000 crore with its existing products.Granules expects to post a turnover of over Rs 1,000 crore this financial year as against  Rs 764 crore in 2012-13. In the first half of the current fiscal, its turnover stood at Rs 490 crore.According to Chigurupati, the company is not going to acquire to add more molecules. It will acquire to add more capacities. However, as the Granules business model is volume driven, there are very few companies in the market that can cater to its capacities. Hence, Granules is forced to go for greenfield investments.

“We are laying very strong foundations for the future and the results will be seen four years from today,” Prasad said. Meanwhile, the company would continue to maintain its annual growth rate of  20-25 per cent, he added.

He said the real benefit of Auctus acquisition would be realised 3-4 years down the line. During the same period, Granules Omnichem Pvt Ltd would be fully operational.

GOPL is a joint venture between Granules and Belgium-based fine chemicals maker Ajinomoto Omnichem. The new facility, being set up at a cost of Rs 185 crore in Visakhapatnam, will be operational next year. However, it had to secure USFDA approvals to realise its full potential. This is expected to take 3-4 years.

Granules will be entering the contract research and manufacturing services (CRAMS) space through the JV.  It intends to manufacture high value active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) in therapeutic areas such as cardiovascular, CNS and oncology.  Additionally, the JV will work on second generation manufacturing processes to increase manufacturing efficiencies.

“The advantage with Ajinomoto Omnichem is that it is all about quality and there is no price pressure. The second advantage is that this gives us access to the type of management and companies that we do not have traditionally. That access opens up a lot of doors for us,” Chigurupati said.

With regard to Auctus, he said the main advantage was that it had FDA approved products. With these products, backed by Granules marketing strength, “the customers we get are significantly different. So, margins and revenues will improve.”

Prasad is not worried about global pharmaceutical majors setting shop in India and their likelihood of competing with domestic companies in future in exporting products to the regulatory markets.

source: http://www.business-standard.com / Business Standard / Home> Companies> News / by Prashanth Chintala / Hyderabad – November 28th, 2013

Cadbury India to set up chocolate unit in Andhra Pradesh

Business & Economy, Records, All, World Opinion

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Cadbury India signed a memorandum of understanding with the Andhra Pradesh government on Wednesday (November 27) to set up a chocolate manufacturing facility at Sri City Special Economic Zone in Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh.

“Spread across 134 acre, it will be the company’s largest manufacturing facility in Asia-Pacific region,” said Manu Anand, Managing Director, Cadbury India.

He expects the first phase of the project to be completed by mid-2015. Cadbury India will invest Rs 1,000 crore and produce around 100,000 tonne of Cadbury chocolates annually.

Though Anand did not provide details of the total investment on the entire project, expected to be completed in four phases by 2020.

“The plant will ultimately have an annual capacity of 250,000 tonnes and directly employ 1600 people,” he added.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy, who spoke at the MoU signing ceremony, said the project would also benefit some 400,000 farmers in the region as it will need about 500,000 litre of milk and 100 tonne of sugar per day.

The signatories to the MoU were Anand on behalf of Cadbury India and the state’s Principal Secretary, Industries, K. Pradeep Chandra. Major Industries Minister J. Geeta Reddy and a number of other ministers also attended. Sri City lies about 55 kms north of Chennai.

The Andhra Pradesh unit will be Cadbury India’s seventh manufacturing facility in India. Some other global chocolate manufacturers in India are also eyeing opportunities for setting up manufacturing. Cadbury India is part of Mondelez International group of companies. Some of its key brands are Cadbury Dairy Milk, Bournvita, 5 Star, Perk, Bourneville, Halls, Tang and Oreo.

source: http://www.businesstoday.intoday.in / Business Today / Home> Biz Wrap> Corporate> Story / by E. Kumar Sharma / November 27th, 2013

Americans in Hyderabad to ‘give thanks’

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, World Opinion

Hyderabad:

A growing expatriate community in the city and an increased interest in international culture has made it easier for holidays like Thanksgiving to be celebrated away from home, say American expats.Traditionally celebrated in Canada and the United States on the fourth Thursday of November each year, Thanksgiving is an annual festival heavily laden with cultural significance, a time for family and friends to come together.

It is said to be additionally special this year with Thursday also being the first full day of Hanukkah. Nicole Wisler, an American currently wor-king with an NGO in the city, feels that the place is not important as long as the spirit of the festival is alive.

“Thanksgiving is not about where you spend it as long as you have your family and friends around you. I have my family visiting, so it’s not really very different from being at home,” she said.
Others say that in the absence of one’s family, having a large community of other expats helps. “Of course, it’s hard to celebrate Thanksgiving away from home, but having a community with whom to celebrate sort of makes up for it.
It won’t be the same but there will be a sense of togetherness at least,” said Alex Williams, an investment banker who is spending his first Thanksgiving in Hyderabad.
With most star properties in the city including Taj Vivanta, Novotel, Westin and Park Hyatt designing special menus for Thursday, Thanksgiving dishes like roast turkey, corn breads, cranberry sauce and collards, sauces and stuffing will be easily available.
They certainly won’t be missing out on the feast part of the festival, assured executive chef of Westin, Steffan Dawson.
“There is a lot of excitement about Thanksgiving here at the hotel. Our restaurants are booked almost full. We are seeing an increase in footfall year after year,” he added.

source: http://www.asianage.com / The Asian Age / Home> India / November 28th, 2013

Award for Icrisat scientist

Records, All, Science & Technology, World Opinion

Hyderabad :

Hari D. Upadhyaya, Principal Scientist (Groundnut) and Head of Gene Bank at the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics, has received the Crop Science Research Award from the Crop Science Society of America.

He received the award at the society’s annual meeting held at Tampa in Florida (the USA) recently.

He received the award for his “significant and original basic and applied research contributions in crop science and total impact of contributions on crop science”, an Icrisat statement said here on Thursday.

Upadhyaya is a practical plant breeder and has developed a large number of early-maturing, high-yielding, drought tolerant, and aflatoxin contamination resistant groundnut breeding lines.

source: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com / Business Line / Home> Industry> Agri-Biz / by The Hindu Bureau ,  kurmanath.kanchi@thehindu.co.in / Hyderabad – November 28th, 2013