Category Archives: World Opinion

Hyd metro contract is largest for Otis

Business & Economy, Records, All, Science & Technology, World Opinion

The company will supply 670 elevators, escalators to metro rail project

The Rs 400-crore contract signed by Otis Elevator Company (India) Limited with L&T Metro Rail (Hyderabad) Limited this year is the largest-ever to be bagged by any elevator company in the country, according Goldie Srivastava, communication director of United Technologies Corporation India Limited  (UTC). Otis is a UTC company.

The contract is for supply of 670 elevators and escalators, which will be installed in over 66 stations, workshops and other buildings to be built by L&T Metro Rail. Otis will also maintain the units for 10 years after the two-year warranty period.

As far as Otis is concerned, this is one  of largest contracts it has bagged world-wide so far for supply of elevators.  The next biggest contract it had won was from Hangzhou metro line 2 in China in 2012 for installation of 349 elevators. It was the second time that the Hangzhou Metro Group had chosen Otis, after the installation of 264 elevators for metro line 1.

Otis has the distinction of supplying elevators to mass rapid transit lines in different countries, including Malaysia, Taiwan and Singapore.  In India, it had also won a contract to supply 222 escalators to the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation  Phase-III project.

Stage I of Rs 14,132-crore Hyderabad Metro Rail Limited (HMR),  comprising a stretch of 8 kilometre, is expected to be opened for public on Ugadi, the Telugu new year day, in 2015. The construction of the 72-km project, comprising three corridors, is being taken up in six stages.  Stage I is from Nagole to Mettuguda and Stage  II is from Miyapur to Sanjeevareddy Nagar, a stretch of 11 km.

source: http://www.business-standard.com / Business Standard / Home> Economy & Policy> by BS Reporter / Hyderabad – October 23rd, 2013

Beckham offers e-book signing to fans in Hyderabad through Facebook

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Sports, World Opinion

Retired soccer professional star David Beckham is planning to bend time and simultaneously sign copies of a photo ebook for ticketed fans in London , New York, Sao Paulo and Hyderabad  through Facebook.

According to the Sydney Morning Herald, book signings are a traditional way for authors to engage their readers and Beckham plans to extend the custom to his Facebook fans when he launches a new photo book next week.

The manner in which Beckham’s personalised signatures will be generated is still a little fuzzy, the report said.

The star said that it all comes down to reinventing the traditional format of the book signing through the use of groundbreaking technology.

He added that in partnership with Facebook, he wants to do a truly global signing to coincide with the launch of his new book, adding that if someone is in London, New York, Sao Paulo or Hyderabad, they can enter to win a ticket to take part in these events and receive a personalized digital signature from him via ground-breaking technology.

Facebook’s entertainment partnership manager, Glenn Miller, is offering every fan who registers or attends the Beckham book signing in person on October 30, London time, a digital autograph from Beckham and participation in a live Q and A session, the report added.

E-book signatures are not new as signing services like Authorgraph already offer digital autographs of commercial titles such as El James’ Fifty Shades of Grey, the report further said.

Years ago, the Canadian novelist Margaret Atwood took matters into her own hands and conceived The LongPen, which permits the remote signing of ‘wet-ink’ signatures, according to the report.

source: http://www.business-standard.com / Business Standard / Home> News-ANI> Sports / by ANI / Sydney – October 22nd, 2013

Virtusa partners Pega to offer upgrade innovation centre

Business & Economy, Science & Technology, World Opinion

Programme to provide dedicated upgrade resources, services to customers around the world

Virtusa Corporation, a US -based IT consulting, technology implementation and application outsourcing services provider which has its global delivery centres at Hyderabad and Chennai in India, has partnered Pegasystems Inc to introduce its mega-partner upgrade innovation innovation centres.

The programme provides dedicated upgrade resources and services to customers around the world and helps organisations stay current on major Pega platform releases, providing expertise and best practices through teams devoted to operationalising the upgrade process.
As part of the initiative, Virtusa will be enabled to upgrade clients to the recently-introduced Pega 7 platform. Pegasystems is a Cambridge-based provider of business process management (BPM) and customer relationship management (CRM) solutions. The company recently expanded its Hyderabad facility to accommodate close to 250 people, taking its total employee count in India to 501.
“Pega 7 enables our clients to improve their customer experience and optimise business processes in ways previously not thought possible,” Frank Palermo, senior vice-president (technical solutions group), Virtusa, said in a press release on Monday. //
source:  http://www.business-standard.com / Business Standard / Home> Companies> News / by K. Rajani Kanth / Hyderabad – October 07th, 2013

Second company to set up shop at Hyderabad airport Free Trade Zone

Business & Economy, Science & Technology, World Opinion

HyderabadAirportHF16oct2013

Hyderabad airport FTZ had earlier signed Turbo Jet Engines as its maiden client

GMR Hyderabad International Airport Limited (GHIAL) has signed a second client for the airport-based Free Trade Zone (FTZ) at Rajiv Gandhi International Airport here.

SAS Applied Research & Lab Materials Private Limited, a supplier of rare and high end research chemicals along with equipment and consumables to  Indian and multinational companies, will set up operations at the FTZ. SAS clients include Dr Reddy’s Lab, Biological E Ltd, E.I DuPont, United States Pharmacopeia, ITW Performers & Polymers, Syngenta Bio Sciences and Lupin Pharmaceuticals.
“The sign off with our second client at FTZ, reiterates the airport’s commitment and credibility in expanding business avenues and also the growth potential at RGIA.” GHIAL chief executive officer, SGK Kishore, stated in a press release.
The FTZ, which had earlier signed its maiden client, Turbo Jet Engines , has facilities ranging from servicing, distribution, trading  and warehousing, and several other value additions, he said.
source: http://www.business-standard.com / Business Standard / Home> Companies> News / by Prashanth Reddy Chintala / Hyderabad – October 08th, 2013

Telugu film industry MoU with Motion Pictures Association of America

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy, Records, All, World Opinion

The Telugu film industry, the second largest in India after Bollywood, has bolstered its defences against pirated content, by entering into a Memorandum of Understanding with the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA).

The MoU envisages waging a joint war against video piracy, apart from exchanging best practices. It may be recalled that the Andhra Pradesh Film Chamber of Commerce (APFCC) was the first in the country to set up an Anti-Video Piracy Cell (AVPC) in 2005 with the State Government’s support.

With the onset of online piracy, the AVPC began monitoring internet activity 24/7. The anti-piracy body has achieved moderate success, with professionals tracking content including new film songs and the like and cracking the pirates using Internet Protocol numbers.

The MPAA’s six member companies include Paramount Pictures Corporation, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Twentieth Century Fox film Corporation, Universal City Studios, Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures and Warner Bros. Entertainment. The APFCC’s MoU was achieved through MPAA’s Indian arm, the Motion Picture Distributors Association (India) with the objective of protecting content and intellectual property.

At an interactive session, Michael D. Robinson, Executive Vice-President, Contention Protection and Chief of Operations of the MPAA and Edward B. Neubronner, Vice-President and Regional Operations Officer, Asia-Pacific for the Motion Picture Association International underscored the need for cooperation across the borders of the East and West.

They recalled a U.S. – India Business Council/Ernst & Young 2008 report on ‘the Effects of Counterfeiting and Piracy on India’s Entertainment Industry’ and said the Indian film industry had lost U.S. $ 959 million in revenue and 5,71,896 jobs due to piracy.

The APFCC was represented by its President, D. Suresh Babu and producer Allu Arvind, while Chairman of the AVPC’s Governing Council, Rajkumar made a presentation on anti-piracy activities here, outlining the way forward and strategies to be adopted in the global war against piracy.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Features> Cinema Plus / by Suresh Krishnamoorthy / Hyderabad – March 23rd, 2013

Vizag body aims world record for largest Olympic Day Run

Records, All, Sports, World Opinion

The Visakhapatnam District Olympic Association will attempt a new world record of the largest-ever ‘Olympic Day Run’ on June 23, organisers said today.

The VDOA, in association with the local administration and others, will be celebrating the Olympic Day by organising a rally ensuring participation of one lakh people, they said.

“Besides common people, prominent sportstars namely ace shuttler Saina Nehwal , cricketer VVS Laxman, shooter Gagan Narang, tennis star Sania Mirza, Tollywood celebrities, politicians and industrialists will participate in the 5-km run,” said VDOA president and convener of the event, T Harsha Vardhana Prasad.

Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy  will flag off the run from the Andhra University College of Engineering ground, which culminates at RK Beach.

Andhra Pradesh Olympic Association (APOA) will be organising the annual Olympic festival on the occasion.

Olympic Day Run event has been organised to mark the creation of the  International Olympic Committee (IOC) which came into existence on June 23, 1984 in Paris.

“If the run for record is successful in attracting more than one lakh people, it will find place into the Guinness Book of Records for largest Olympic Day Run”, Prasad said.

source: http://www.business-standard.com / Business Standard / Home> PTI Stories> National> News / by Press Trust of India / Visakhapatnam – June 03rd, 2013

Bishop of Buckingham congratulates first female bishop in Church of South India

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Leaders, Records, All, World Opinion
Bishop-designate Eggoni Pushpalalitha
Bishop-designate Eggoni Pushpalalitha

The Bishop of Buckingham has welcomed the election of the first female bishop in the Church of South India.

The Right Reverend Alan Wilson sent a message of congratulations to the partner Diocese of Nandyal on the election of the Reverend Eggoni Pushpalalitha as the new Bishop of Nandyal in Andhra Pradesh.

She is the first female bishop in the Church of South India and the Episcopal Church in Asia.

Bishop Wilson has met Bishop Pushpal several times and said he hoped to meet her again on his forthcoming visit to the diocese.

Her election comes days after the Church of Ireland announced the Reverend Pat Storey as the next Bishop of Meath and Kildare, also the Church’s first female bishop.

Bishop-designate Pushpalalitha was expected to be installed on Monday.

source: http://www.christiantoday.com / Christian Today / Home> World / September 30th, 2013

From Broadway to Bollywood

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Nri's / Pio's, World Opinion
Pragathi Yadhati / The Hindu
Pragathi Yadhati / The Hindu

Anantapur-born Pragathi Yadhati has carved out a niche for herself in the world of theatre in New York and has set her sights on cinema

From the drought-prone district of Anantapur where she was born to the State capital of Andhra Pradesh where she did her schooling and a bit of college, to USA, the land of opportunity, her life has progressed just the way she wanted, and for which she slogged.

Pragathi Yadhati has carved out a niche for herself in the world of theatre in New York ever since she landed on the shores of America in 2009.

People started taking note of her and she got several offers to work in the movies, but she could not take them up for a while because of some rules pertaining to those in the US on a student visa.

This lissom lass has attended classical dance classes ever since she was four years old and today, she can boast of formal training in Bharatanatyam, Kathak and Dimsa, apart from Hip Hop, Theatre dance and basics of Salsa, Rumba, Cha Cha and Belly Dance. Her theatrical expression and skills were honed with lessons in ‘method acting’ from the Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute and the ‘Meisner technique’ from Mathew Corozine Studio Theatre.

But when regulations permitted, she signed on the dotted line and put on her dancing shoes to star as Sonia in Ooops … A Desi ! directed by Jenner Jose, a Mallu from Mumbai, but naturalised in America.

Packaged as a cool romance, she says, the fast pace of the 120 minute-long entertainer will ensure audience attention is riveted on the screen.

Among others, the film stars Beuali Shah and Adnan Khalid. When it premiered at the Times Square in New York last week, most critics sat up and took note. Here in India for the premiere, ahead of its release on August 2, she couldn’t wait to taste her favourite dish – mom’s ‘mamidikaya pappu’ (a dal and mango dish) and minced no words to say how badly she missed it the past three-and-a-half years in a distant land. Pragathi is quietly confident about her career moves and she says she’s willing to work hard to showcase her acting skills.

“I started with Bollywood and am open to Telugu films because I want to prove myself. But my sights are set on Hollywood,” this ‘Indian Princess’, as she is called in New York, signs off.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Hyderabad / by Suresh Krishnamoorthy / Hyderabad – July 24th, 2013

India-born Watsa led Fairfax consortium to buy BlackBerry for $4.7 billion

Business & Economy, Nri's / Pio's, Science & Technology, World Opinion
BlackBerry Q10 / The Hindu
BlackBerry Q10 / The Hindu

New Delhi :

BlackBerry Limited today announced it has signed a letter of intent agreement under which a consortium to be led by Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited has offered to acquire the company subject to due diligence.

Hyderabad-born Prem Watsa is the founder, chairman, and CEO of Fairfax Financial Holdings, based in Toronto. Often called the “Canadian Warren Buffett” he is an alumnus of the Hyderabad Public School, Begumpet and a graduate of the Indian Institute of Technology with a degree in Chemical Engineering.

The letter of intent contemplates a transaction in which BlackBerry shareholders would receive $9 in cash for each share of BlackBerry they hold, in a transaction valued at approximately $4.7 billion. The consortium would acquire for cash all of the outstanding shares of BlackBerry not held by Fairfax. Fairfax, which owns approximately 10 percent of BlackBerry’s common shares, intends to contribute the shares of BlackBerry it currently holds into the transaction.

The BlackBerry Board of Directors, acting on the recommendation of a special committee of the board of directors, approved the terms of the LOI under which the consortium, which is seeking financing from BofA Merrill Lynch and BMO Capital Markets, would acquire BlackBerry and take the company private subject to a number of conditions, including due diligence, negotiation and execution of a definitive agreement and customary regulatory approvals.

The Special Committee, chaired by Director Tim Dattels, was formed in August 2013 to review strategic alternatives for the company. J.P. Morgan and Perella Weinberg are acting as financial advisors and Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP and Torys LLP are acting as legal advisors.

Diligence is expected to be complete by November 4, 2013. The agreement is on a non-exclusive basis. If BlackBerry enters into any agreement providing for an alternative transaction with a person with whom discussions were held before or during the diligence period, then BlackBerry shall pay Fairfax a fee of $0.30 per BlackBerry share, provided, however, that no such fee shall be payable if the consortium shall have reduced the price offered below $9.00 per share without the approval of the board of directors of BlackBerry. In the event that a definitive agreement is signed with Fairfax the termination fee will increase to $0.50 per share.

Barbara Stymiest, Chair of BlackBerry’s Board of Directors, said: “The Special Committee is seeking the best available outcome for the Company’s constituents, including for shareholders. Importantly, the go-shop process provides an opportunity to determine if there are alternatives superior to the present proposal from the Fairfax consortium.”

Prem Watsa, Chairman and CEO of Fairfax, said: “We believe this transaction will open an exciting new private chapter for BlackBerry, its customers, carriers and employees. We can deliver immediate value to shareholders, while we continue the execution of a long-term strategy in a private company with a focus on delivering superior and secure enterprise solutions to BlackBerry customers around the world.”

source: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com / Business Line / Home> Industry> Info-Tech / by the Hindu Bureau / New Delhi – September 24th, 2013

Vizag boy bags award at HMUN

Education, Records, All, World Opinion
Saketh Roy, a student of class XI, displaying his award that he won at the Harward Model United Nations, held in Hyderabad recently. / Photo: K.R. Deepak / The Hindu
Saketh Roy, a student of class XI, displaying his award that he won at the Harward Model United Nations, held in Hyderabad recently. / Photo: K.R. Deepak / The Hindu

A class XI student of Timpany School Saketh Roy bagged the Best Delegate award at the Model United Nations conducted by Harvard University in Hyderabad recently. Over 1,250 students from 130 schools belonging to nine countries participated. The Model United Nations is an annual feature to recognise and encourage talent in youth in the direction of International awareness and personality development.

As a prelude to the Assembly a message from Secretary General of United Nations Ban Ki Moon was read and the speakers included Chairperson of the Noble prize winning Inter-Governmental Panel on Climate Change R. K. Pachauri, Jerry Martin, founder of Jerry Martin project, Beena Laksmi Nepram and Birad Rajaram Yajnik among others.

Saketh participated as an individual delegate and represented Poland in the Assembly. The subject of debate was the situation in Europe after the World War II. The delegates were made to travel back in time to a situation after the war and form policies to ensure lasting peace in Europe as well as deal with the arrival of atomic and nuclear weapons. Saketh says, “The level of debate was so high and I am very glad that I got to interact with some of the best minds.”

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Visakhapatnam / by Staff Reporter / Visakhapatnam – September 03rd, 2013