The sudden decision of Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy to postpone his meeting with the Group of Ministers on Telangana, scheduled for Thursday night, created a flutter in political circles. Speculation was rife that he was about to resign and that the Congress high command was searching for a replacement.

However, the CM told the media at Ravindra Bharathi on Thursday that he had postponed the GoM meeting because he had to be present at the inauguration of the International Children's Film Festival on Thursday evening, and will be attending the GoM meeting on November 18. Asked about his resignation, the Chief Minister laughed loudly and moved on.

To quell the speculations about his rescheduling the GoM meeting, the Chief Minister’s Office took the unusual step of putting out a press release explaining the reason.

What is curious is that since the Chief Minister was aware of the programme in the city on Thursday, why did he not inform the Union home minister yesterday when the latter contacted him on the telephone? 

 ‘CM’s channel’ creates a sensation

A Telugu news channel, whose owners are said to be close to Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy’s brother, Nallari Santosh Kumar Reddy, created a sensation on Thursday morning when it aired a special news bulletin stating that Kiran Kumar Reddy is to be replaced as Chief Minister by Kanna Laxminarayana, the current agriculture minister of the state.

The news cast said Kiran Kumar Reddy was being shown the door because he was committed to a united state.

The channel, popular as Chief Minister’s official channel in the political circles, its Editorial Team has been specifically asked by some persons close to Santosh Kumar Reddy to air bullet-ins stating that Kiran Kumar Reddy decided to defy the Congress high command and refused to go to Delhi.

The channel also reported that Laxminarayana had a meeting with Congress president Sonia Gandhi in Delhi recently and that he has agreed to implement the agenda of the party’s central leadership and ensure that the Telangana Bill is passed in the state Assembly without a hitch.

Reactions were taken from the public on the replacement and all supported the Chief Minister and resented the move to replace him.

General Motors India today launched the all-new version of its sedan Chevrolet Cruze priced up to Rs 16.15 lakh.

The car powered by a 2 litre diesel engine will be available in three variants, Chevrolet Cruze LT (manual transmission) priced at Rs 13,75,580, Chevrolet Cruze LTZ (manual transmission) Rs 15,25,573 and Chevrolet Cruze LTZ (automatic transmission) Rs 16,15,933, the company said in a statement.

Commenting on the launch, General Motors India President and Managing Director Lowell Paddock said the Cruze has received an overwhelming response from consumers across India since its launch in 2009 and continues to be the largest-selling Chevrolet nameplate globally.

"With new stylish exteriors, modern comfort features and added safety, we expect the all new Cruze to continue exceeding expectations of car buyers and keep up the excitement in the festive season," he added. 

Samsung Electronics Co Ltd said it will introduce a smartphone with a curved display in October, as the world's top handset maker seeks to set the pace of hardware innovation and maintain its supremacy in a fiercely competitive business.

Curved displays are an early stage in screen evolution which is shifting to bendable or foldable designs, eventually allowing mobile and wearable gadgets to take on new forms that could radically change the high-end smartphone market.

"We plan to introduce a smartphone with a curved display in South Korea in October," Samsung's mobile business head of strategic marketing D.J. Lee said on Wednesday at an event launching the Galaxy Note 3 smartphone in Seoul.

In January Samsung, which has taken over from Apple as the global smartphone leader, showed off prototype products with a flexible screen and a display that extends from the side of a device.

But technology firms have yet to figure out how to mass produce the parts cheaply and come up with display panels that can be as thin as a sheet and highly heat resistant.

Curved display is already commercially available in large-screen televisions. Samsung and its home rival LG Electronics Inc had started selling curved OLED TV sets this year priced at about $9,000

Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy gave away best tableaux, contingent awards and police medals at the Independence Day celebrations at Parade Grounds here on Thursday.

Tableau of the department of culture won the first prize, the forest department which focussed on 50th anniversary of Nehru Zoological Park came second while horticulture department won the third prize.

Best armed contingent award was won by all tribal 15th APSP Battalion of Sattupalli in Khammam district while AP Social Welfare Residential Educational Institutions Society contingent was adjuged the best at passing out parade. A special prize was give to National Green Crops.

Interestingly, the CM gave away police medals while names of winners were read out by APSP DIG Shaik Mohammed Iqbal who sought voluntary retirement in protest against proposed Rayala Telangana, and withdrew it after announcement of Telangana.

President’s medal for I-Day 2012:

S.A. Huda, MD, APSP Housing Corporation Ltd, N.V. Surendra Babu, Additional DGP (training), Satyanarayan, additional DGP (tech services).

President’s Medals for Gallantry Republic Day 2012:

D. Narender Reddy, Reserve Inspector, Greyhounds, N. Mohan Reddy, Reserve SI, Greyhounds and E. Lokesh, Constable, greyhounds.

President’s Police Medals R-Day 2012:

Vinay Ranjan Ray, Additional DGP (legal), T. Krishna Prasad, Addl. DGP CID, Nayanapathi Venkata Srinivas, Addl. SP, ACB and Koti Reddappa, inspector CCS, Chittoor District.

Indian police medal R-Day 2012:

B. Malla Reddy, Jt commissioner of police (special branch), Hyderabad, P.J. Victor, Ex-SP, Medak (retd), Lakshmi Reddy, former commandant, 1st battalion, APSP (Retd), G. Sudeer Babu, DCP Traffic, Hyderabad, Maheth Vijaya Singh, Former addl SP, V and E (retd), C. Venkateswara Rao, DSP Guntur (U) West, M. Malla Reddy, ACP, Kukatpally, Hyderabad, Edala Shankar Reddy, ACP, Banjara Hills, Hyderabad, N.V.S. Srinivas Rao, Asst. commandant, Greyhounds, V. Narendra Rao, Asst commdt, Greyhounds, Thota Prabhakar, Inspector, ACB, Hyderabad, M. Nagabhushanam, Inspector, intelligence, Kurnool, Chenna Apala Narasaiah, RSI, APPA (retd), Kadimisetty Perraju, ASI, Atchuthapuram PS, Vizag, Vepati Rajendra Prasad, ASI, Chilakalpudi, Machilpat-hnam, S. Rajan Babu, ASI Bhupalapally, Warangal, Lingala Srinivas Reddy, ARSI 10th Bn. APSP, Mahbub-nagar, G. Mahbub Peera, ARSI, PTC Amberpet (retd), Babu Nainee, Nellore Railway PS, Uttam Vetil Sadasivan, Detective dept, CCS Hyd., M. Rathnam, CAR, Cyberabad, Allauddin Khan, HC, Cyberabad, Arja Prab-hudas, CAR, Vijayawada, Madurakavi Laxmi-narayana, intelligence, Hyderabad and G. Srinivasa Raju, HC, PTO, Hyd.

Fire service gallantry service FOR?I-DAY 2012: Late V. Narasimha Rao, driver operator, Madira Fire Station, Khammam district.

Fire services medal for R-Day 2012:

Md. Shoukath Ali Sadiq, Station Fire Officer, Jangaon Fire Station, Warangal dist and R. Eswara Rao, leading fireman, Anakapalli fire station, Visakhapatnam.

Gallantry service Medals for prisons and correctional service R-Day 2013:

P. Bixama Chary, former Warden, Central Prison, Warangal now dist jail, Karimnagar and K. Jagan, former warden, Central Prison, Warangal now at Sub Jail Jangaon.

Indian police medal I-DAY 2011:

R.S. Praveen Kumar, Secretary, AP SW-REIS, V.V. Srinivas Rao, Jt CP, CAR headquarters, Hyderabad, Atul Singh, Director, SCRB, CID Hyderabad, Mahesh Muralidhar Bhagwat, IGP, security, intelligence, Hyderabad, Swati Lakra, IGP, APSP, Hyderabad, A. Abraham Lincoln, DIG (Vig and Security), RTC, Hyderabad, Ch. Venkat-eswarlu, group commander, Greyhounds, Hyd., M. Kistaiah, Ex-ACP, Mir Chowk (retd), N. Chandrasekhar, Addl SP, ACB, V. Surender Reddy, DSP, Ibrahimpatnam, G. Murali Krishna, DSP Rajahmundry (U) North, M. Madhusudhan Reddy, DSP, RC Puram, Medak,
A.S. Mohammed Ismail, DSP intelligence, Vasam Devender Kumar, Commdt. home guards, Telangana, Shaik Syed Basha, DSP Greyhounds, M. Madhusudhana Rao, DSP Guntur (U) North, Tirupati
Srinivasa Venkataramana, DSP, CID, Chamarthi Jayarama Raju, DSP intelligence, Narayan-arao Narender Chungi, DSP intelligence, B. Sankara Rao, RSI, Vijayawada (retd), Abdul Rasheed, ARSI, ISW, Hyderabad, M. Pratap, ASI, Machilipatnam, K. Arun Kumar, ASI, Training Centre, Jadcherla,G. Kankaiah, ASI, DCRB, Karimnagar, M. Mohanjee, HC communications, Mahbubnagar, Yadagiri Reddy, ARHC, cyber crimes, CID, Hyd., Pediredla Venkata Satyanarayana, SI, CID Vizag, B. Satyanarayana Murthy, HC, APPA and D. Nayomi, 1-Town PS, Vijayawada City.

Police medal for Gallantry Independence Day-2011:

G Ram Mohan Rao, SI, Special Intelligence Branch, K Sudhakara Chary, HC, Special Intelligence Branch. Police Medal for Gallantry (PMG) Republic Day 2011:
J Mallikarjuna Varma, Inspector of Police, SIB.

Women can learn to fend off trouble-makers during the summer holidays. They will be taught self defence at summer training camps being conducted by the GHMC.

The coaching will cover techniques to tackle chain snatchers, to use hairpins (safety pins), key-chains, or even clips as weapons, throwing men on the ground and planting a lethal kick between the legs, said senior coach R.K. Krishna, a black belt in Yamaguchi Karate.

Self defence camps will also be set up exclusively for women in colonies, which can decide the time and venue. A?female coach will be provided, on request. There is no dearth of women coaches in karate said Santosh Malthumkar, a black belt in Taekwondo who offers training by female coaches at women’s colleges.

Mayor Hussain said coaching camps would be organised in colonies from May 1. For this, colony associations can approach GHMC additional commissioner Anuradha on 9949994035 or e-mail her on ac_sports@gmail.com or apply at her office in third floor of the GHMC main building near Tank Bund. They can also contact GHMC?sports director Prem Raj on 98490-06024 or meet him at GHMC main office third floor between 12 noon and 5 pm on working days.

The TSR National Film Awards for the years 2011 and 2012 were given out in a glittering ceremony held in Hyderabad recently.

Many celebrities, including Nandamuri Balakrishna, Chiranjeevi, Nagarjuna, Sridevi, Akkineni Nageswara Rao, Gulshan Grover, Anushka, Tamannaah, Sneha, Prasanna, Brahmanandam, Anil Kapoor, Shatrugnan Sinha and Jayasudha among many others graced the event.

For the year 2011 in Telugu, Mahesh Babu-starrer 'Dookudu' won five awards, while 'Sri Rama Rajyam' and 'Mogudu' won two. Other Telugu films such as 'Badrinath', '100% Love', 'Veedinthe', 'Anaganaga Oka Dheerudu', 'Gangaputrulu' and 'Mangala' won an award each.

For 2012 in Telugu, mythological-drama 'Shirdi Sai' won three awards, while fantasy-drama 'Damarukam' and romantic-comedy 'Denikaina Ready' won two each. Other Telugu films such as 'Eega', 'Gabbar Singh', 'The Businessman' and 'Krishnam Vande Jagatgurum' won an award each.

The TSR TV-9 awards presentation ceremony will be held at Shilpa Kala Vedika on April 20, said T. Subbarami Reddy, chairman of National Film Awards committee on Thursday.

Allu Arjun and Balakrishna had won the Best Actor awards for Badrinath and Sri Rama Rajyam respectively. Tamanna was chosen the Best Heroine for 100% Love, while Taapsee won the Best Actress award for Mogudu.

For 2012, Nagarjuna won the Best Actor award for Shirdi Sai and Ram Charan got Best Hero award for Racha. Samanta got Best Actress award for Eega, and Anushka was the Best Heroine for Damarukam.

HelloHyderabad.com Talent Search is a series of events which aim at bringing forth and highlighting varied talents of folks in Hyderabad. Here age and talent are not constrained in any manner and we aim at promoting and highlighting these on our web portal as well as web channel. We are open to Dance, Music, Arts, Crafts, Sports, Skills, Cooking, Magic, Fitness, etc. by people of any age group. School & College Kids, Businessmen, Corporate & other employees, Consultants, Professionals, Housewives, etc. ALL are welcome.

With this Dance Competition we are looking at providing a unique platform for SCHOOL KIDS to explore their inner talent, improve their confidence and achieve wide recognition not just locally but also internationally.

The children will be given a platform (stage), an audience and an opportunity to entertain us all and bring forth their talent. Their videos and pictures would also be posted on our web channel. Our Creative Digital Solutions (CDS) team has special packages to further support and encourage their talent and help them develop an impressive portfolio.

HelloHyderabad.com Talent Search is a series of events which aim at bringing forth and highlighting varied talents of folks in Hyderabad. Here age and talent are not constrained in any manner and we aim at promoting and highlighting these on our web portal as well as web channel. We are open to Dance, Music, Arts, Crafts, Sports, Skills, Cooking, Magic, Fitness, etc. by people of any age group. School & College Kids, Businessmen, Corporate & other employees, Consultants, Professionals, Housewives, etc. ALL are welcome.

With this Dance Competition we are looking at providing a unique platform for SCHOOL KIDS to explore their inner talent, improve their confidence and achieve wide recognition not just locally but also internationally.

The children will be given a platform (stage), an audience and an opportunity to entertain us all and bring forth their talent. Their videos and pictures would also be posted on our web channel. Our Creative Digital Solutions (CDS) team has special packages to further support and encourage their talent and help them develop an impressive portfolio.

For the FIRST time in Waranagal...close to home...KK!

Mesmirising KK live on Feb 23rd at National Institute of Technology, Warangal!

A large number of enthusiastic bicycle riders took part in the ‘Hyderabad Metro Connects 2013’, organised by L&T Metro Rail Hyderabad Ltd in association with The Atlanta Foundation, on Sunday.

Corporate employees, students and others participated in large numbers in the bicycle rally from Hitech City to Uppal, to celebrate eco-friendly ways to commute such as cycling and Metro Rail.
The event was flagged off by IT minister Ponnala Lakshmaiah and L&THMRL managing director V.B. Gadgil.

The minister said the Hyderabad Metro Rail project will change the face of the city and benefit all its citizens. Gadgil said it was a people’s project. “This is for the people, by the people, and of the people. And what better way to highlight this than by getting citizens on our very old and trusted mode of transportation – cycling."

A bike station was also launched at Hitech City to encourage citizens to cycle to work, this reducing pollution as well as traffic and also improving one’s health. The bike station offers bicycles on rent for individuals and also as part of corporate plans.

Israeli Film Festival (IFF 2013)

• Feb 14 - Feb 172013
• 6:00 pm, Event occurs daily
• Event duration:  1:30 hrs
• Prasads IMAX
• NTR Gardens, LIC Division, Khairatabad , Hyderabad.

HYDERABAD: IT company Mahindra Satyam has announced the appointment of Edward 'Ted' Pretty as the chairman for its Australian and New Zealand operations.

Besides, Pretty will also support company's Asian region for telecom business expansion. He will be responsible to drive the strategy for Mahindra Satyam and Tech Mahindra across network engineering and operations, business intelligence and analytics, cloud, mobility and security.

“Ted joins us at a time when the industry is poised to transform. We look forward to benefit from his experience, leadership,” Mahindra Satyam Senior Vice President Rohit Gandhi.

Before joining Mahindra Satyam, Ted has held senior positions in companies such as Optus, Telstra, Fujitsu, Visy and RP Data.

At present, he is non-executive director of data centre provider NextDC and Chairman of online and digital media adviser CMB Capital and SiteTour.

Ted said, “It will be my objective to ensure that our clients see and experience the business benefits that Mahindra Satyam - Tech Mahindra technology and processes can deliver across the IT&T, financial services, industrial, e-Government and health sectors in particular.”

Jeff & Kane on Transformational Leadership & Inspirational Entrepreneurship will be held on 29 June to 8 July 2012.

Learn from the MASTERS of Personal Branding, Leadership, Coaching, Sales & Influence.

As the most sought after consultants and motivational trainers in the corporate world, Jeff and Kane have already changed many lives, including people from the Fortune 500 companies, with their inspirational words. Now, they are here to teach you from their own experiences of successes and failures and inspire managers, employees and business owners and strengthen their spirit of entrepreneurship.

Get your TICKETS for:

Hyderabad on July 4, 2012. http://www.meraevents.com/event/transformational-leadership-and-inspirational-entrepreneurship

Mumbai from June 29, 2012 - July 1, 2012. http://www.meraevents.com/event/jeff--kanes-industry-rockstar-intensive-mumbai

An Indian tune combined with a variation of genres like blues, rock, folk and even techno beats with classical music that is not only trendy and traditional but also full of musical magic that can entice and capture its listeners taking them to another world. Presenting India’s best pop rock duo, the Colonial Cousins!!

With a unique brand of music that fused Indian and Western musical genres, the Colonial Cousins instantly won the hearts of young and old alike and created records and won them many awards as their albums hit platinum in sales in India alone and consistently busted the Indian music charts.

Now they will be performing on the 3^rd of June 2012 Live and exclusive @ Hyderabad’s Shilpakala Vedika auditorium to support the Sparsh Hospice Care Center in Andhra Pradesh, the Colonial Cousins will be performing to raise funds towards the expansion of the hospice project and to get a corpus fund in place for the future.

Here’s a look at one of their most famous songs – “Krishna Nee Bega Baro”

It’s a well-known fact that the governments across the globe today are grappling with diverse pieces of healthcare challenges. It’s a literal Healthcare Jigsaw cutting across quality of care, lack of organized delivery, affordability, patient safety, lack of last mile access, rural-urban divide, growing demand-supply gap of skilled workforce, standards, silos among others. All of these require fixing, streamlining, synergizing and calling urgently for a radical redesign of the healthcare eco-system. Which is why you should be in Hyderabad on August 31-Sept 1^st 2012.