LTTE chief Prabhakaran's body found

LTTE chief Prabhakaran, the man who led the battle for a separate Tamil state for over three decades, has been reportedly shot by the Lankan army as he tried to flee. This news comes just hours after the Lankan government said they had found the body of LTTE supremo's 24-year-old son Charles Anthony.

PTI adds:

Prabhakaran and his top aides came out of their last hiding place in a small convoy of van and an ambulance and tried to drive out of the war zone, but were gunned down, he said.

The Tiger chief was killed with two others, who are yet to be identified but believed to be his closest associates - LTTE intelligence chief Pottu Amman and Sea Tigers' chief Soosoi.

The deaths of the top LTTE leaders came a day after Tamil Tigers conceded defeat saying the decades-old battle has reached its "bitter end" and they have decided to "silence" their guns.

Earlier on Monday morning, military spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara had said that Prabhakarn was still alive but completely encircled by advancing Sri Lankan forces in a tiny jungle area north of Vellamullivaikkal after most of the LTTE's top leaders were found killed.

The army said that its special forces had encircled Prabhakaran, Pottu Aman and Soosoi who were boxed into a 100m x 100m area.

New Labeling Required for OTC Pain and Fever Medicines

Makers of over-the-counter (OTC) pain relievers and fever reducers must revise their labeling to include warnings about potential safety risks associated with these popular drugs. These risks include internal bleeding and liver damage.

Final Rule

In a final rule issued on April 28, 2009, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) directed that labeling be revised for acetaminophen and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). These are two classes of commonly used drugs that are effective in reducing fevers and relieving minor aches and pain such as headaches and muscle aches. NSAIDs include aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen, and ketoprofen.

The final rule applies to all OTC pain relievers and fever reducers, including those that contain one of these ingredients in combination with other ingredients, such as in cold medicines containing pain relievers or fever reducers.

Under the final rule, manufacturers must

• ensure that the labeling warns of the risk of stomach bleeding for NSAIDs and the risk of severe liver damage for acetaminophen
• ensure that the active ingredients of these drugs are prominently displayed on the drug labels on both packages and bottles
• revise the product labeling within one year of the date the rule was issued

For More Information

FDA Press Release
www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2009/NEW02004.html

A Guide to Safe Use of Pain Medicine
www.fda.gov/consumer/updates/painmeds022309.html

Parties Stand in 2009 election

What worked for Congress

What worked for Congress

Rahul factor?
Fight within NDA alliances?
BJP focused more on Varun factor?
Work done by congress in last 5 years?
Projecting Rahul as future prime minster?

Result - 2009 election Congress-led UPA is all set

The Congress-led UPA is all set to get 253 seats to retain power at the Centre, putting up an impressive performance in states like Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu to overwhelm the BJP-led NDA and the Left-led Third Front.

Results - 2009 Election India

Results so for

Maruti Ritz is here at Rs 3.90 lakh!

Maruti Suzuki India, on Friday launched its latest small car Ritz in both petrol and diesel variants, offered at an introductory price of Rs 3.90-4.99 lakh.

"Ritz is our parent Suzuki's fifth global model and it will be the first Bharat Stage-IV emission norms compliant Indian car. We have launched it at the beginning of the fiscal and we hope it will bring excitement in the market," Maruti Suzuki India Managing Director and CEO Shinzo Nakanishi said.

The small car has been developed on the existing hatch-back Swift's platform and common usage of the platform helped the company to offer Ritz at a lower price, he added.

Source: Rediff

Jet Airways may also once again layoff

Faced with rising operation costs and stung by downturn in the aviation industry, Jet Airways has begun laying off its cabin crew in phases.

The airline has been laying off cabin crew starting from April 30 and 30-50 employees are being given pink slips almost on a daily basis, an industry source said.

Dismissive of the numbers, a Jet Airways spokesperson said, "The numbers indicated are grossly incorrect."

In October last year, Jet Airways in one go sacked 1,900 employees but only to take back the very next day with its chairman Naresh Goyal saying he did not want to see "tears in their (employees) eyes".

The airline said the notices of release or termination issued to the staff were fully in accordance with their contracts and in compliance with the law.

It has undertaken a comprehensive cost restructuring exercise, which includes withdrawal of operations on uneconomic routes, downsizing of capacity, pruning down executive perks and temporary reduction of management salaries and at last but not necessary measures trimming down any excessive workforce.

The spokesperson also did not rule out the possibility of more employees being given pink slips, saying, "Implications of the on-going restructuring exercise in terms of personnel requirements, both operational and supporting staff, are being established as we go ahead."

Source: Rediff

Satyam may lay off over 12,000 employees

Satyam Computer Services, which is now controlled by Tech Mahindra, is planning to lay off 12,000 to 14,000 employees.

Sources said that the new management made a formal announcement before senior management personnel on Thursday on the issue of reducing manpower by up to 14,000 people.

Satyam currently has just over 40,000 employees, of which 19,000 are 'billing employees,' while just over 20,000 are 'non-billing' staff. Almost everyone currently on the 'bench' is in danger of losing employment at Satyam, a source said.

Of these 20,000-odd non-billing staff, around 12,000 employees are those who work on various projects onsite or the foot-soldiers; while some 7,000-odd are from general management, operations, HR, and other competencies.

Sources say that 80 per cent of the foot soldiers and 50 per cent of the management staff among these will be asked to go on a 'sabbatical', an industry euphemism used to sugar-coat a brutal lay off.

The junior staff that would be asked to take a sabbatical will get a compensation of six months of basic pay, while the seniors would be given three months of basic pay. Basic pay ranges between 25 per cent and 30 per cent of total salary.

Source: Rediff

About Swine influenza

Swine influenza refers to influenza caused by any virus of the family Orthomyxoviridae that is endemic to pig (swine) populations.

People who work with poultry and swine, especially people with intense exposures, are at risk of infection from these animals if the animals carry a strain that is also able to infect humans. SIV can mutate into a form that allows it to pass from human to human.

The 2009 swine flu outbreak is the spread of a new strain of H1N1 influenza virus that was first detected by public health agencies in March 2009.

Local outbreaks of influenza-like illness were first detected in three areas of Mexico, but the new strain was not clinically ascertained as such until a month later in cases in Texas and California, whereupon its presence was swiftly confirmed in various Mexican states and Mexico City; within days isolated cases elsewhere in Mexico, the U.S., the Northern Hemisphere were also identified.

Source: Wikipedia

Swine influenza :Guidance for Clinicians & Public Health Professionals

CliniciansClinicians should consider the possibility of swine influenza virus infections in patients presenting with febrile respiratory illness.

If swine flu is suspected, clinicians should obtain a respiratory swab for swine influenza testing and place it in a refrigerator (not a freezer). Once collected, the clinician should contact their state or local health department to facilitate transport and timely diagnosis at a state public health laboratory.

State Public Health Laboratories

Laboratories should send all unsubtypable influenza A specimens as soon as possible to the Viral Surveillance and Diagnostic Branch of the CDC’s Influenza Division for further diagnostic testing.

Public Health and Animal Health Officials

Officials should conduct thorough case and contact investigations to determine the source of the swine influenza virus, extent of community illness and the need for timely control measures.

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

About IFRS (International Financial Reporting Standards)

International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) are Standards, Interpretations and the Framework adopted by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB).

IFRSs are considered “principles based” set of standards in that they establish broad rules as well as dictating specific treatments.

International Financial Reporting Standards comprise:

* International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) – standards issued after 2001
* International Accounting Standards (IAS) – standards issued before 2001
* Interpretations originated from the International Financial Reporting Interpretations Committee (IFRIC) – issued after 2001
* Standing Interpretations Committee (SIC) – issued before 2001

Objective of financial statements

A framework is the foundation of accounting standards. The framework states that the objective of financial statements is to provide information about the financial position, performance and changes in the financial position of an entity that is useful to a wide range of users in making economic decisions, and to provide the current financial status of the entity to its shareholders and public in general.

Source: Wikipedia

IFRS webinar (International Financial Reporting Standards)

Check out for upcoming IFRS related webinar/ training

1. IFRS for Financial Instruments
2. IFRS 1 – Standard on the First Time Adoption of IFRS
3. IFRS #1: First Time Adoption of International Financial Reporting Standards

Medical Device training / webinars

Check out for medical device trainings/webinars

1. Process Validation for Medical Device Manufacturers

This Process validation training will discuss the CDRH interpretation of the GHTF guidance and how manufacturers should develop Process Validation Plans and conduct production Process Validation.

2. Risk Analysis and Human Factors Engineering

The Risk analysis training will incorporates these techniques into the overall product lifecycle using the principles of ISO 14971 and how to develop an integrated program incorporating risk analysis and human factors engineering.

3. Basic Requirements for Steam Sterilizer Validation per ISO 17665

This Steam Sterilization training will review the general requirements for performing a steam sterilizer validation via the “overkill” half-cycle method as described in ISO 17665 (supersedes ISO 11134).

4. Japan – Regulatory Filing Requirements and Compliance Processes for Life Sciences PART II

This Regulatory compliance training is designed to provide an overview of the regulatory environment in Japan.

5. A Case Study in Equipment / Process Software Verification and Validation

This FDA compliance Training will guide through the models simplifies regulatory requirements for equipment software V&VT, assuring key FDA requirements are not overlooked. QMS and 21 CFR Part 11 require yet another approach.

6. Japanese PAL – JPAL QMS requirements in Ordinance 169 and differences to ISO 13485

This JPAL (Japanese Pharmaceutical Affairs Law) QMS will explore, in detail, the QMS requirements placed on the foreign manufacturer via Ministerial Ordinance 169, Ordinance 2 and Ordinance 179.

Source: ComplianceOnline

About – New Pension Scheme : India

From May 1, Indians have access to another investment avenue to plan for retirement in the New Pension Scheme (NPS).

The scheme has been in the pipeline for at least five years but it finally took shape in 2007-08. Although the government was pushing for the scheme after a law providing statutory backing to the regulator was enacted, the Left parties, which were supporting the United Progressive Alliance government, did not allow the passage of the Bill.

Who can join the New Pension Scheme?

Any Indian citizen between 18 and 55 years. At present, only tier-I of the scheme, involving a contribution to a non-withdrawable account, is open.

Subsequently tier-II accounts, which permit voluntary savings that can be withdrawn at any point of time, can be opened. But to be eligible to open a tier-II account, you need a tier-I account.

How do I enrol?

You will need to visit a point of presence (PoP), fill up the prescribed form with the required documents.

Once you are registered, the Central Recordkeeping Agency (CRA) will send you a Permanent Retirement Account Number (PRAN), along with telephone and internet passwords.

How much can I invest?

There is no investment ceiling. But the minimum investment limit has been fixed at Rs 500 a month or Rs 6,000 annually. Subscribers are required to contribute at least once a quarter but there is no ceiling on how many times you invest during the year.

What is the penalty for failure to make the minimum payment?

You will have to bear a penalty of Rs 100 per year of default and will need to pay it with the minimum amount to reactivate the account. Also, dormant accounts will be closed when the account value falls to zero.

Are my investments guaranteed?

No. There is no guarantee since NPS is a defined contribution scheme and the benefits depend on the amount contributed and the investment growth up to the time of exit.

How should I select my investment option?

You can choose the investment mix between equity or E (high risk but high returns), mainly fixed income instruments or C (that come with medium risk and returns) and pure fixed investment products or G (which offer low returns but have very low risks associated with them). Equity investment is capped at 50 per cent.

What is the default option?

The default option, called auto choice lifecycle fund, will see the investment mix change according to the age of the subscriber. At the lowest entry age of 18 years, auto choice entails an investment of 50 per cent in E, 30 per cent in C and 20 per cent in G.

The ratios will remain unchanged till the subscriber turns 36, when the ratio of investment in E and C will decrease annually, while the proportion of G rises.

By the time the subscriber is 55 years, G will account for 80 per cent of the corpus, while the share of E and C will fall to 10 per cent each.

Who will decide the fund manager?

At the moment, the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) has selected six fund managers — State Bank of India, UTI, ICICI Prudential, Kotak Mahindra, IDFC and Reliance — on the basis of a bidding and technical evaluation process.

You have to select one fund manager at the time of deciding your investment option; later, PFRDA may allow subscribers to choose more than one fund manager.

Can I change my investment mix and the fund manager? You can shift from one fund manager to another from May 2010.

What happens if I relocate to another city?

The PRAN remains the same and you can access a toll-free number (1-800-222080). The details of your PRAN and the statement of transactions will be available on the CRA website (www.npscra.nsdl.co.in).

New Pension Scheme

The normal retirement age has been fixed at 60 years. At 60, you will be required to use at least 40 per cent of your accumulated savings to buy a life annuity from an insurance company. A phased withdrawal is also allowed but the lump sum benefit has to be availed of before you turn 70 years.

For those looking to exit before turning 60, there is an option to withdraw 20 per cent of the accumulated savings but buy an annuity with the remaining 80 per cent.

If the subscriber dies before he or she turns 60, the nominee can receive the entire pension corpus. Alternatively, a subscriber can exit if the account value falls to zero or if the citizenship status changes.

The age of exit will be reviewed by PFRDA from time to time. There will also be the option to select an annuity that will pay a survivor pension to your spouse.

Are there tax benefits for NPS?

At present, the investment is covered under section 80CCD of the Income Tax Act and a tax will be levied if you withdraw the money.

You can avoid paying tax by transferring the entire corpus to the annuity service provider. PFRDA has, however, approached the government to treat investment in NPS on a par with instruments like Employees Provident Fund and Public Provident Fund, for which no tax is levied at the investment, accumulation or withdrawal stage.

Source:Rediff

Say no to Bangalore, yes to Buffalo: Obama [ Is it going to affect Indian Market ? ]

Say no to Bangalore, yes to Buffalo: Obama (Is it going to hit Indian Market ?

Say no to Bangalore and yes to Buffalo,‘ seems to be the latest mantra of United States President Barack Obama as he struggles to bring the ailing American economy back on track.

Meeting one of his major election promises, Obama on Monday the announced end of years of tax incentives to those US companies which create jobs overseas in places like Bangalore.

Instead, the incentives would now go to those creating jobs inside the US, in places like the Buffalo city — bordering Canada in upstate New York.

“We will stop letting American companies that create jobs overseas take deductions on their expenses when they do not pay any American taxes on their profits,” Obama said at White House announcing the international tax policy reform.

“We will use the savings to give tax cuts to companies that are investing in research and development here at home so that we can jump start job creation, foster innovation, and enhance America’s competitiveness,” Obama said.

The new tax laws are expected to majorly hit countries like India, China and the Philippines, where US companies have been outsourcing their work.

Hitting hard at the current taxation system, to which he had been very critical since his election days and as a Senator, Obama said: “It’s a tax code that says you should pay lower taxes if you create a job in Bangalore, India, than if you create one in Buffalo, New York.”

Reiterating his campaign rhetoric, the US President said: “The way we make our businesses competitive is not to reward American companies operating overseas with a roughly 2 per cent tax rate on foreign profits; a rate that costs taxpayers tens of billions of dollars a year.”

Source: Rediff

Maruti Suzuki Ritz- Launched today

Maruti Suzuki to launch premium hatchback Ritz on May 15

India’s number one carmaker Maruti Suzuki India Limited is set to launch India’s first BS-IV compliant passenger car, Ritz, on May 15.

Ritz is a tallboy hatchback, positioned in the premium A2 market segment. The Maruti Suzuki Ritz, adopts a contemporary European design and is positioned at the growing premium-end of the compact car market.

Ritz will be the first passenger car in India to be compliant with the BS-IV emission norms, in petrol as well as diesel variants. This is many months ahead of the BS-IV norms being applicable in India, reinforcing Maruti Suzuki’s leadership position.The suspension of the vehicle with a ground clearance of 170 mm has been tuned for Indian road conditions.

Ritz is MSIL’s eighth new model within 48 months following the launch of Swift, Zen Estilo, SX4, Swift Diesel, Grand Vitara, Swift Dzire and A-star. In the A-2 segment, Ritz will be the 7th offering for the customers by Maruti Suzuki.

The Ritz combines modern European design, the sportiness of the Swift, the latest in engine technology and Suzuki’s globally acclaimed expertise in compact cars. The Ritz further reiterates Maruti Suzuki’s commitment to bring global car models for its customers in India.

The Ritz will be available with two different engine options: a brand new K-series 1.2 litre, four-cylinder, 85PS Petrol engine and the super-successful 1.3 litre, 16-valve DDiS, 75PS Diesel engine.

Source: Maruti

Rs 50,000 crore spent on Lok Sabha poll campaign !!!

According to rough estimates, the actual cost of running the campaign has crossed the staggering sum of Rs 50,000 crore.

According to insiders in the Congress and the BJP, both parties spent over Rs 20 crore in merely ferrying their leaders across India during the campaign.

While the Congress had hired 21 helicopters and 18 executive jets, the BJP had hired 21 helicopters and 14 jets. These parties had to shell out Rs 80,000 per hour on each helicopter, plus the landing charges.

The political parties have reportedly spent Rs 3000 crore on advertisement campaigns. The Congress spent Rs one crore just to buy the rights of superhit song Jai Ho, but it failed to click with the masses.

The Election Commission’s budget for the 2009 elections is Rs 1,300 crore, which includes the conduct of polls plus transportation and movement of security forces. The state governments and other government agencies have earmarked Rs 700 crore for photo identity cards, electronic voting machines and setting up polling booths.

Source: Rediff

Reasons why people fail in interviews

There are many reasons, why a person fails in an interview, but let us see some of the common ones.

1. Lack of preparation

Of all the reasons, this is the foremost one. It includes carrying improper CV, inappropriate dress code, completely unaware of interview questions and positive answers etc.

2. Casualness

Let us cross the bridge when it comes’ does not apply to interviews. One needs to be geared up 100 per cent before the interview.

3. Failing to understand the job role

This is a typical problem with a few of the candidates. They are completely unaware of what the job requires one to do.

If you are going through a consultant or got an interview call from the company directly, get the job description completely. In the event of responding to walk-in ads in newspaper, if you are not sure about the job description, spend some time on the Internet to know about your role.

4. Lack of skills

A good qualification alone is not sufficient, but host of other skills such as good communications, interpersonal skills, analytical abilities, personality etc. are also vital.

5. No proper focus

During the interview, some candidates lose out, because they are not able to convince the employer about their interest in the position applied for. If you are applying for a job in marketing, stay focused on it.

6. Lack of subject knowledge

Irrespective of you being a fresher or an experienced professional, revisit your subject before going for the interview.

7. Lack of confidence

When the candidate uses too many negative words such as, ‘I am not sure’, ‘May be I can’, etc., it does portray lack of confidence to the employer.

The negative gestures or negative body language plays spoilsport in your selection. Instead use words such as ‘Surely’, ‘I can do it’, ‘It’s challenging but I can do it’ etc.

Source: Rediff

H1B visa provisions target Indian IT companies: Nasscom

Software industry body Nasscom on Friday hit out at the US H1B visa legislation, introduced in the Senate yesterday, saying its provisions are targeting Indian firms and restricting their ability to compete in the US market.

Nasscom said though the stated objective of the Bill is to prevent fraud and visa abuse, several of the provisions of this Bill are against the principles of free trade.

“In many ways, it is targeting Indian companies and restricts their ability to compete in the US marketplace. This is also against President Obama’s stand against protectionism at the G20 Summit,” Nasscom President Som Mittal said.

The almost USD-billion Indian IT outsourcing industry draws over 60 per cent revenue from the US and many of its skilled workforce work onsite on H1B visa for the client.

Indian companies had been allocated only 12,000 visas in 2008, out of the limit of 85,000 visas. The data from USCIS shows that in April 2009 till date, it has received about half the H-1B visa applications against the cap for FY10.

This clearly demonstrates that companies are not using the H-1B Visa route to replace US workers.

US does not have a temporary service visa as in other countries and companies that do send highly skilled engineers on H-1B visas are for temporary period with average stay in US of less than two years, he added.

U.S. Job Losses Not Due to H-1B Visas, Report Says

New H-1B visa holders don’t make much of a dent in the U.S. workforce, according to a report by the National Foundation for American Policy.

US lawmakers may be busy putting restrictions on the country’s primary temporary work visa, H-1B, but new H-1B visaholders each year represent just seven in 10,000 civilian workers in the US, according to a report by an American public policy organisation.

As per the report by the National Foundation for American Policy (NFAP), 107,686 new H-1B petitions were approved by the US Citizenship and Immigration Services in 2008, including those exempt from being included in the H1-B quota of 85,000 visas annually. In comparison, the American civilian labour force stood at 154.6 million in 2008.

Click here to read more

FDA 101: Health Fraud

What is Health Fraud?

Health fraud is the deceptive sale or advertising of products that claim to be effective against medical conditions or otherwise beneficial to health, but which have not been proven safe and effective for those purposes.

Common Types of Health Fraud

Cancer fraud:
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Among the many long-running cancer scams is the Hoxsey Cancer Treatment, an herbal regimen that has no proven benefit. Another scam involves products called black salves. These are offered with the false promise of drawing cancer out from the skin, but they are potentially corrosive to tissues.

HIV/AIDS fraud:

There are legitimate treatments that can help people with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). While early treatment of HIV can delay progression to AIDS, there is currently no cure for the disease.

Arthritis fraud:

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission says consumers spend about $2 billion annually on unproven arthritis remedies that are not backed by adequate science.

Fraudulent “diagnostic” tests:

Doctors often use in vitro diagnostic (IVD) tests—in tandem with a physical examination
and a medical history—to get a picture of a patient’s overall health.

Bogus dietary supplements:

The array of dietary supplements—including vitamins and minerals, amino acids, enzymes, herbs, animal extracts and others—has grown tremendously.

Weight loss fraud:

Since 2003, FDA has worked with national and international partners to take hundreds of compliance actions against companies pushing bogus and misleading weight loss schemes.

Sexual enhancement product fraud:

FDA has warned consumers about numerous illegal drugs promoted and sold online for treating erectile dysfunction and for enhancing sexual performance.

Diabetes fraud:

FDA has taken numerous compliance actions against sales of fraudulent diabetes “treatments” promoted with bogus claims such as

* “drop your blood sugar 50 points in 30 days”
* “eliminate insulin resistance”
* “prevent the development of type 2 diabetes”
* “reduce or eliminate the need for diabetes drugs or insulin”

Influenza (flu) scams:

Federal agencies have come across contaminated, counterfeit, and subpotent influenza products.

FDA, with U.S. Customs and Border Protection, has intercepted products claimed to be generic versions of the influenza drug Tamiflu, but which actually contained vitamin C and other substances not shown to be effective in treating or preventing influenza.

Source: FDA

What Is a Clinical Trial?

What Is a Clinical Trial?

Clinical trials are research studies in which people help doctors find ways to improve health and cancer care. Each study tries to answer scientific questions and to find better ways to prevent, diagnose, or treat cancer.

Why are there clinical trials?

A clinical trial is one of the final stages of a long and careful cancer research process. Studies are done with cancer patients to find out whether promising approaches to cancer prevention, diagnosis, and treatment are safe and effective.

What are the different types of clinical trials?

Treatment trials test new treatments (like a new cancer drug, new approaches to surgery or radiation therapy, new combinations of treatments, or new methods such as gene therapy).

Prevention trials test new approaches, such as medicines, vitamins, minerals, or other supplements that doctors believe may lower the risk of a certain type of cancer.

Screening trials test the best way to find cancer, especially in its early stages.

What are the phases of clinical trials?

Most clinical research that involves the testing of a new drug progresses in an orderly series of steps, called phases. This allows researchers to ask and answer questions in a way that results in reliable information about the drug and protects the patients. Most clinical trials are classified into one of three phases:

* Phase I trials:

These first studies in people evaluate how a new drug should be given (by mouth, injected into the blood, or injected into the muscle), how often, and what dose is safe. A phase I trial usually enrolls only a small number of patients, sometimes as few as a dozen.

* Phase II trials:

A phase II trial continues to test the safety of the drug, and begins to evaluate how well the new drug works. Phase II studies usually focus on a particular type of cancer.

* Phase III trials:

These studies test a new drug, a new combination of drugs, or a new surgical procedure in comparison to the current standard. A participant will usually be assigned to the standard group or the new group at random (called randomization). Phase III trials often enroll large numbers of people and may be conducted at many doctors’ offices, clinics, and cancer centers nationwide.

Source: National Cancer Institute

Exit Polls- 2009 Lok Sabha Election

Highlights

* Bihar sees a clean sweep for JDU-BJP Alliance
* Congress retains dominance in Andhra Pradesh
* Split in BJP-BJD Alliance, lets Congress through in Orissa
* Decisive win for BJP in Gujarat
* Uneven vote distribution results in convincing victory for BJP in Karnataka
* Neck-and-neck between AIADMK and DMK Front in Tamil Nadu

Alliances Details

NDA: BJP, JDU, SS, AFP, AKALI, RLD, INLD, NPF
UPA: CONG, NCP, DMK, TC, JMM, JKNC, RPI
3rd Front: LEFT, BSP, AIADMK, TDP, BJD, TRS, PMK, JDS,MDMK
4th Front: RJD, LJP, SP, PRP




Source: NDTV

Trace Mobile phone location

Here is great site to Trace Mobile phone location & Service Provider Details- Click here

or visit this page- : http://www.hacktrix.com/trace-mobile-phone-location-and-service-provider-details/index.php

Trace Mobile phone location & Service Provider Details

Here is great site to Trace Mobile phone location & Service Provider Details- Click here

or visit this page- : http://www.hacktrix.com/trace-mobile-phone-location-and-service-provider-details/index.php

Ways to Search for a Predicate Device

The FDA 510(k) database contains all devices cleared under the 510(k) process. The FDA databases on the web are updated on or around the 5th of every month. The classification of the device and product code is essential in searching for predicate devices. Classification of your device can be found by performing a search on the Product Code Classification Database.

Information which can be useful to find a predicate device includes:

* names of similar devices – traded name under which the device is marketed;
* manufacturer(s) of the similar device(s);
* marketing status, i.e., preamendments or postamendments device;
* 510(k) numbers for postamendments devices;
* classification information, i.e., product codes, classifying regulations, etc., for your device.

Source: FDA

About Predicate Device (Medical Device)

A Premarket Notification [510(k)] is a premarketing submission made to FDA to demonstrate that the device to be marketed is safe and effective by proving substantial equivalence (SE) to a legally marketed device (predicate device) that is not subject to Premarket Approval (PMA). Submitters must compare their 510(k) device to a similar legally marketed U.S. device(s). A device recently cleared under 510(k) is usually used as a predicate device.

The legally marketed device(s) to which equivalence is drawn is known as the predicate device(s).

A claim of substantial equivalence does not mean the device(s) must be identical.Substantial equivalence is established with respect to: intended use, design, energy used or delivered, materials, performance, safety, effectiveness, labeling, biocompatibility, standards, and other applicable characteristics. You can claim SE to either a preamendments or postamendments device that is or was legally marketed. Legally marketed means that the predicate cannot be one that is or was in violation of the Federal Food Drug & Cosmetic (FD&C) Act. An applicant may claim SE to a device that is no longer being marketed in the U.S.

Source: FDA

Upcoming medical device webinar/training

Here is the updated list of few upcoming webinar on medical device -

1. The EU Clinical Trial Directive
2. Preparing and Executing Medical Device Quality Audits: How to Meet the FDA’s Expectations
3. Gamma Sterilizer Validation: Method 1 and VDmax25 per ISO 11137
4. Risk Management - Do Not Throw Dice on Your Company!
5. Maintaining a Sustainable and Compliant Design Validation System and Using FMEA for Device Manufacturers
6. Risk and Hazard Assessment for Medical Devices - ISO 14971
7. New Medical Device Vigilance Guidelines

Source: ComplianceOnline

PhRMA Code’s revised guidelines take effect January 2009

The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) released updates to its voluntary Code on Interactions with Healthcare Professionals on July 10. The new guidelines take effect January 2009.

In addition to prohibiting small gifts and reminder items, the revised Code:Prohibits company sales representatives from providing restaurant meals to healthcare professionals, but allows them to provide occasional meals in healthcare professionals’ offices in conjunction with informational presentations

1. Prohibits company sales representatives from providing restaurant meals to healthcare professionals, but allows them to provide occasional meals in healthcare professionals’ offices in conjunction with informational presentations

2. Includes new provisions requiring companies to ensure their representatives are sufficiently trained about applicable laws, regulations, and industry codes of practice.

3. Provides that each company will state its intentions to abide by the Code and that company CEOs and compliance officers will certify each year that they have processes in place to comply

4. Includes more detailed standards regarding the independence of continuing medical education

5. Provides additional guidance for speaking and consulting arrangements with healthcare professionals

Challenges

1. Tracking aggregate spending is one of the biggest challenges for pharmaceutical companies

2. Some companies do not have a system that will accurately record aggregate spending across the organization.

3. Training employees is another. It’s going to be a challenge getting everyone on the same page.

Benefits

1. The new guidelines could help the industry regain public trust after “just getting shelled” and constantly being accused of wrongdoing. In addition, some

2. Companies will be relieved they can reduce their spending on traditional marketing activities.

12 steps to shock-and-awe Pakistan's economy

FDA: Food Safety Tips for Healthy Holidays

Parties, family dinners, and other gatherings where food is served are all part of the holiday cheer. But the merriment can change to misery if food makes you or others ill.Typical symptoms of foodborne illness are stomach pain, vomiting, and diarrhea, which often start a few days after consuming contaminated food or drink.

1. Clean: The first rule of safe food preparation in the home is to keep everything clean.

Wash hands with warm water and soap for 20 seconds before and after handling food. “For children, this means the time it takes to sing ‘Happy Birthday’ twice,” says Davidson.

Wash food-contact surfaces (cutting boards, dishes, utensils, countertops) with hot, soapy water after preparing each food item and before going on to the next item.

Rinse fruits and vegetables thoroughly under running water and use a produce brush to remove surface dirt.

Do not rinse raw meat and poultry before cooking. “Washing these foods makes it more likely for bacteria to spread to areas around the sink and countertops,” says

Salute the men who fight our battles for us and make a PLEDGE to fight terror with them

India's 9/11: Will this be its wake-up call?

Slain Major led from front: NSG chief

So where are you going to smoke after Oct, 2nd

Two Google Research Tricks

Tricks are really going to help everybody who is using Google for search here are they-:

The more terms you use, the more refined your search. Entering [volvo] will return 70,000,000 links. But try [volvo repair shop], and the number drops to 1,400,000 links. And [volvo repair shop los angeles] reduces that number to just 600,000.

Put your terms in quotes to be even more specific. Add quotation marks to search for phrases, and you’ll have a more precise search. Type in ["volvo repair shop" and "los angeles"], and Google will look for sites that feature both of those phrases, as opposed to individual words like "repair," "shop," "los" or "angeles" that may appear anywhere in the Web page. In our example, using quotes reduces the number of results to 31,000.

It only took a few more keywords and some quote marks to transform an overwhelming 70,000,000 links into a more manageable 31,000. And now you know how to narrow the results even more.

Be ready to hear Cricket Made In China..

Anything China does has serious impact across the world. Bloomberg reports on the silent diplomacy used by China to counter Taiwan’s influence in West Indies.

Big news in that post is what China is doing about that big Indian obsession called Cricket:

China aims to have 150,000 players, a league and a “credible'’ national team by 2020, says Calvin Leung, a spokesman for the Chinese Cricket Association. Athletic officials are introducing a training program in schools to meet those aims.

“It’s quite hopeful we’ll qualify for the 2019 World Cup,'’ Leung says. “If we move ahead at a quicker pace then maybe we can do it.'’

Searching beyond Google

Here are three Google alternatives that are refreshingly different from Google. Try them and see if they work better for you:

Vivisimo (www.vivisimo.com):

This is a “metasearch” engine, offering simultaneous results from several search engines. It is fast, has a clean user interface, and presents information in “clusters” that narrow down your search results. Key in ‘Diwali’, for example, and you’ll get subfolders like ‘History of Diwali’, ‘Diwali gifts and cards’ and ‘Diwali Recipes’. Vivisimo also lets you restrict searches to publications such as Reuters, CNN and such.

Grokker (www.grokker.com):

This search engine touts visual search as its selling point. Here again you’d find you search results sorted in clusters of the topic, but instead of presenting them in subfolders, Grokker separates them into a ‘Map view’ that you can zook into. It’s easier to relate to and visually more appealing.

Rollyo (www.rollyo.com):

This isn’t a separate search engine; it’s a tool that lets you create your own domain-specific search engine on the fly. What it basically does is, run on top of Yahoo! search and let your “roll your own” searches. So, any individual can set up a custom ‘searchroll’ such as ‘Medicine’ or ‘News’, which searches within anywhere from one to 25 different sites.

This basically means that instead of sorting through thousands of sites, you could narrow your search to sites you already know and trust.

Topix (www.topix.net):

The service takes a crawl-and-index approach to a vast array of internet news sources, such as news sites and blog sites. Topix then runs the resultant data through an engine that tags every news story with location and topic.
It then builds more than 180,000 subject- and location-specific pages, pages
that reside comfortably between the bulk of your search results. However, Topix won’t dump the results all in one place.

For instance, it is not interested in every web result that might be rendered for a search on “news Mumbai”. Instead, it searches a limited set of web pages—in this case thousands of news sites and blogs. It then generates something of an ‘encyclopedia page’ for Mumbai, putting together news, weather, advertising, politics—making your own personal local newspaper in real time.

Source: Times Of India

Microsoft forges ties with open source maker Zend

Microsoft Corp. and open source software maker Zend, whose products create programs that compete with ones built for Windows, said on Tuesday the two companies have struck a long-term partnership.

Twelve-year-old PHP runs on more than 22 million Web sites and is used inside 15,000 companies.

Source: Reuters

The growing world of Google Earth

Google, the world's biggest Web search engine, has launched Google Earth in different languages including Japanese, French, Italian, German and Spanish. Jones is a great fan of Japan.

The engineers at Google, which generates almost all of its $6 billion revenue from advertisement, work with a concept.

Americans perfer Laptops during vacations...

The number of Americans who work during their vacations has nearly doubled in the last decade, with the laptop computer replacing the cellular phone as the most useful tool for working on holiday.

Some 43 percent of office workers said they work on vacation, compared with 23 percent in a survey taken in 1995, said the poll conducted for Grand Rapids, Michigan-based Steelcase Inc., a designer and maker of office furniture.

Overall, roughly one in four employees said they spent three or more hours working during vacation. Most said they were committed to the job or had a pressing assignment, while 10 percent cited an inability to relax until things were taken care of.

Mumbai Blasts suspects photos

Helpline Numbers -7 BLASTS ROCK MUMBAI; 146 DEAD, 403 INJURED

Mumbai Blasts

Mumbai Helpline Number: 022-22005388

Western Railway helpline numbers: STD Code:022 - 23004000, 23014373

IBNLIVE

NDTV

The Mumbai Blasts - SMS Message Board

To post your emergency message on this page sms SOS followed by your message to 7333

Rediff

Sun Microsystems plans to lay off as many as 5,000 employees WHY?

Sun Microsystems plans to lay off as many as 5,000 employees, sell real estate, and "simplify" its product line in an effort to boost profits, its newly appointed CEO Jonathan Schwartz said.

The reason given by CEO was

Schwartz CEO said Sun "will be simplifying our product line and reducing duplicative R&D" and highlighted products key to the company's future, such as its eight-core processor Niagara server. But he didn't explain what research and development the company now considered duplicative or how that product line would be simplified.

Google.com blocked in China why????

The Google.com search engine has been blocked in most parts of China, as Beijing steps up its efforts to restrict the public access to information, a Paris-based media watchdog said.

Internet users in many major Chinese cities have had difficulty connecting to the international version of Google for the past week, Reporters Without Borders said in a statement. Aside from the Google.com search engine, Reporters Without Borders said the blocking was being gradually extended to the Google News and Google Mail services.

“Google has just definitively joined the club of western companies that comply with online censorship in China,” Reporters Without Borders said. “It is deplorable that Chinese Internet users are forced to wage a technological war against censorship in order to access banned content.”

What Else you can Expect from your President who leads us from the Front

On Thursday, President A P J Abdul Kalam, supreme commander of the armed forces, fulfilled a childhood dream when he became the first Indian Head of State to fly a fighter plane.

"I always wanted to be an Air Force pilot but was rejected in 1958 and therefore I became a scientist," the 74-year-old Kalam said soon after his 40-minute supersonic flight on a Sukhoi-30 MKI at the Lohegaon Air Force base in Pune on July 8. The President's flight marked the airbase�s 50th anniversary.

The G-Suit is an anti-gravitational suit and helps in proper blood circulation when the flight flies at supersonic speeds.


Some photos

Just Before take off



Get Set



AND GO



Source - rediff

Winzip most popular download of the week

WinZip, and most other Zip programs use identical compression code, originating from the same source. However, FreeZip has the advantage of costing you nothing. This compression/decompression utility integrates with Windows Explorer and uses file associations and context menus to zip or unzip files and subdirectories. This small program also offers file encryption features. If you want to protect your zip files with a password, download the encryption patch (freezipe.exe).

Which is more important: ideas or execution?

Survey after survey shows that most company executives believe they are far better at generating ideas than executing them. Despite the fact that the real leverages in the backend of innovation - in execution - most managers of obsess over the front end of the innovation process, on generating ideas. Once a high potential idea has been identified, a business plan has been written and refined, and a passionate leader has been assigned to run it, everyone assumes that the rest will be easy.

The authors have also identified six tendencies of established organizations that new ventures also typically face:

* Protecting funding for the new venture regardless of the performance of the parent company
* Establishing new organizational norms and policies that make sense for the new venture
* Overcoming tensions between the new venture and the existing company when those norms and policies conflict
* Affecting changes in the existing power structure required to support the new venture
* Engaging employees of the parent company in supporting the new venture and
* Recruiting talented managers from the parent company to work within the new venture

Blogs 'essential' to a good career - The Boston Globe

Blogs 'essential' to a good career - The Boston Globe

How to sharpen Mind

The January 16th issue of TIME magazine has a major section on "How to Sharpen Your Mind."

One of the key articles explores the best times of day for both "Morning People" and "Night Owls" to create, problem solve, rejuvinate and rest. I've re-worked the graphics presented in TIME for this post.

For the Morning Person

TIME says, for the early riser, "creativity generally peaks early in the wake cycle before distractions can impede the brain's imaginative focus."



Check out For the Night Owls

Solve this challenge, win Rs 25,000

Get Ahead presents the TCS Smart Business Case Study Contest for young managers, along with The Smart Manager, the management magazine!

We give you a profile and history of a company. All you have to do is study it and post your solution here, in upto 500 words. The winning solution stands to win Rs 25,000!

The Smart Manager will also publish your photograph and solution in its next issue! Hurry! The last date to post your solution is February 10

Are they not free to Share Thoughts

The news that Microsoft shut down a Chinese blogger's site at the request of Beijing

officials is bringing a renewed focus on the role U.S. companies play in helping China control the Internet. The Chinese government, determined to prevent dissidents from using the Net to promote taboo subjects such as the Falun Gong religious movement, formal independence for Taiwan, or an end to Communist Party rule,

So check the Chinese rules and control the content that's available for local Net surfers.

The elements of Innovation

Trust: to make people comfortable about sharing their ideas with the organization. They need to feel they can make mistakes without suffering undue consequences.

Management buy-in: Management must demonstrate their commitment to innovation through internal and external communications media. Management must also demonstrate being creative themselves; as well as a willingness to try out creative, yet risky ideas.

Budget: is necessary to implement highly creative or disruptive ideas, which by nature are more risky than less creative ideas. Money must also be found for investing for tools (see below) that facilitate idea sharing and development and training in the use of those tools.

Tools: such as an idea management tool for soliciting, capturing and evaluating ideas from the employees. Used well, an idea management tool is the best on-going tool for idea capture. Also useful are creative project teams, brainstorming sessions, mind-mapping tools and other items which facilitate creative thinking and collaboration.

Evaluation methods: are necessary for evaluating ideas generated by the tools. Many tools, such as idea management systems, include evaluation components.

Facilities: including meeting rooms, other spaces where people can meet and share ideas, white boards, post-its, pens and other things which facilitate creative meetings and brainstorming.

Rewards: Whether recognition, small gifts or granting special privileges, some kind of fair reward scheme motivates people to share their creative ideas with the organization.

Time: Employees need time to be creative.

How all of these components come together will vary from firm to firm. What is important is that these components exist, that there is flexibility.

Want to be a star Performer !!!!

Climbing the corporate ladder is not easy. The office corridors abound with gory tales of friends turning into colleagues, and colleagues turning fierce competitors.

Is aspiring for the hat of the head honcho, then, asking for too much? No.

Everyone longs for a better deal in life, but few are ready to pay the price. Success does not come to you. You have to go get it.

Here are the some of tips may help you

1.Do some soul searching

Once we get into the grind, few of us take time out for introspection. Get to specifics. What is it that's making you underachieve?

Is it your obsessive boyfriend/girlfriend, your own weak resolve, lack of consistency or plain old lethargy? Believe it or not, lethargy is most often the culprit. Write down why you put things off, procrastinate or limit yourself. Only then can you focus on strategies to chip away at it. Most of us spend more time planning vacations than we do planning our career.

Ask yourself some tough questions, like -

a. Do you have a flair for connecting with people?
b. Are you good at motivating people?
c. Do you crave an adrenaline rush or do you go by the book?
d. Do your personality traits match the job profile you are looking at?

2.Get organised

Successful professionals swear by the mantra of 'planning ahead' in order to soar at the workplace.

Start your day with a 'to do' list. Gather your supplies and resources for each task, set priorities and get similar tasks done together. Prioritising is important. If you have a lot on your plate, it becomes essential too. Of all the work you need to sink your teeth into, sort out what's important and urgent, what's important but not urgent, what's urgent and not important and, finally, what's neither important nor urgent but needs to get done.

3. Set time frames
Give yourself a deadline. They are necessary evils. Nothing gets done without a set time frame.
Putting in face time is criminal. It is not important how many hours you linger around at the office. What counts is how much you generate in a given time frame.

For More Tips click here

Day is not far away when you will see Laptop in Every body's hand

Day is not far away when you will see Laptop in Every body's hand in India, with compaines like Xenitis Infotech have started doing it. Kolkata-based Xenitis Infotech has launched its low-cost laptop range branded ‘Xuva’. Xenitis would offer laptops in the price range of Rs 29,000-59,000 for the low-end consumers, especially students and entry professionals.

Top 10 downloads since over past decade

Online software distribution was still in its infancy. What a difference a near-decade makes! Since 1996, we've watched the rise of instant messaging, digital audio and the MP3 format, file sharing, spyware and antispyware, and the open-source movement, just to name a few. And we've watched as online software distribution has gone from pipe dream to reality. These 10 applications best represent the top trends in downloading over the past decade.

List Looks like -

1. ICQ
2. Winamp
3. Napster
4. Firefox
5. WinZip
6. iTunes
7. Ad-aware
8. Skype
9. RealPlayer
10.Adobe Acrobat Reader

Click Here to Learn about this Downloads

Improving success rates

The success rate of new product offerings is dire. It's difficult to get an accurate figure on new product success rates because there is not one universal definition of success within and between firms. Plus, firms often don't like to talk about their failures.

What are some of factors that contribute to product "failure"?

Many recurring themes occur in the literature, such as:
* a failure to listen to the voice of the customer;
* poor up-front pre-development homework;
* unstable product definition;
* poor quality of execution of key NPD tasks;
* and poorly structured.


More here

Leading Consulting Firm to Deploy SugarCRM to 9,000 Users

BDO Seidman LLP, a leading national professional services firm, standardizes on SugarCRM to help enable distributed CRM for employees and partners of BDO Seidman and its Alliance Members

SugarCRM Inc., the world's leading provider of commercial open source customer relationship management (CRM) software, today announced that BDO Seidman will offer SugarCRM to over 9,000 BDO Seidman and BDO Seidman Alliance member employees. The project, named BDO Link, will use SugarCRM to help improve opportunity and resource sharing, along with executive reporting. BDO Seidman is the U.S. member firm of BDO International, the fifth largest global accounting organization.

"SugarCRM delivers the flexibility we need to deploy a unique solution across our entire U.S. operation," said Valerie Kozikowski, Partner, BDO Seidman. "The ease-of-use of the SugarCRM application and its strong CRM capabilities means that BDO Seidman will be able to improve information sharing and deliver improved reporting capabilities across employee teams and the BDO Seidman Alliance Network."

"We are excited to work with BDO Seidman," said Lars Nordwall, Worldwide VP of Sales at SugarCRM. "For nearly 100 years, BDO Seidman has stood for excellence in professional services. SugarCRM is delighted to support their continued success."

Ten Things That Made Us FEEL GOOD this YEAR !

1. Heroes of the water tragedies

Whether it was the tsunami, the Mumbai floods, the Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu flood disasters or the earthquake in Jammu and Kashmir, there were many examples of selfless acts in a particularly bad year as far as natural disasters are concerned.

There were doctors who opened their hospitals and gave free treatment to tsunami victims. College students who hitched rides on relief trucks to distribute food, water and clothes. Ordinary folk who rescued passengers on a city bus submerged in water in Mumbai. Kashmiri Pandits living in refugee camps in Delhi adopted a quake-hit village in Jammu and Kashmir -- the state from which they were forced to leave because of their religion.

These were individuals who saved lives of friends and strangers; some left whatever they are doing to go to affected areas to help -- and went a long way in strengthening people's dwindling faith in human goodness.


2. Rise of the sporting brat pack

2005 was the year of the rising stars in sport. Sania Mirza -- Tennis, Mahendra Singh Dhoni -- Cricket, Joshna Chinappa -- Squash, Shiv Kapur -- Golf and, of course, the indomitable Vijaypat Singhania, the 70-plus industrialist and maverick aviator who created a world record for his flight on a hot air balloon.

The nation went into overdrive with Sania's pursuits on the tennis court and beyond. Fanatics frowned over her short skirts and burned her effigy when she spoke about premarital sex, forcing her to retract. Others obsessed over her t-shirts and fans followed her tennis ranking, probably more closely than she herself. Sania was the sporting sensation of the year and every bit of the Sania mania was real.

Then there was Joshna, 19, the Asian junior number one in squash, who made news. Shiv, who won the Rookie of the Year and clinched the season-ending championship tour of the Volvo Masters of Asia. Dhoni, the wicket-keeper batsman, who began his career with a smashing batting average. They treated us to some great sporting action, we only hope the next year is even better.

3. The Indo-US thaw

After decades of suspicion, India and the United States began on a new path of strategic understanding in July when Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and President George W Bush met in Washington, DC.

The civilian nuclear agreement was the most significant and most debated. The American President assured Dr Singh that the transfer of civilian nuclear reactors to India would become a reality by the end of his term.

Bush referred to India as a 'responsible State with advanced nuclear technology' and said 'India should acquire the same benefits and advantages as other such States.'

The agreement faces a tough passage in the United States Congress -- for it to become law -- but it has not dampened the optimism that the visit resulted in.

With talks of Bush visiting India early in 2006, the two countries can only look forward to strengthening strategic relations. So keep all your Bush jokes in check and get ready for the hype and hoopla of the Bush visit in a couple of months time.

4. A fresh start for Bihar

Political power doesn't always grow from the barrel of a gun; the ballot will do fine, especially in a democracy.

As it did in Bihar when the 15-year reign of Lalu Prasad Yadav and his wife Rabri Devi came to a resounding end after the year's second assembly election results on November 22.

For Nitish Kumar, who wrought the unthinkable, leave alone the undoable, the result must have come as vindication.

In the February assembly election, the voters did not give Nitish Kumar's political grouping a clear mandate, which led to the Raj Bhavan in Patna becoming the focus for reported intrigue to keep him out of the chief minister's post.

For Lalu, the reversal in fortune must be doubly galling, for Nitish Kumar was a confidant who succeeded in claiming Lalu's political space as his own.
Moral of the story: Never take the voters for fools.


5. National Rural Employment Guarantee Bill

Do not dismiss this just because it sounds too 'sarkari' to your ears.

The Indian Parliament passed the National Rural Employment Guarantee Bill, 2004 on August 23, 2005 which aims at removing poverty by assuring at least 100 days' employment. The government has pegged a minimum daily wage of Rs 60.

The Bill was chiefly designed by Belgian economist Jean Dreze whose books on the Indian economy were incidentally a source of information for director Ashutosh Gowariker for his film Swades.

The scheme will cost about Rs 40,000 crores (Rs 400 billion) annually and will be paid for by the Centre, state governments and some other government schemes.

200 districts will be covered under the Bill and will include all the 600 districts in the country within five years.

The Rs 60 per day for 100 days amounts to just Rs 500 a year which is minuscule in reducing poverty, but the government's efforts in getting the bill through is a landmark one.

This time it is seen as a genuine effort to tackle poverty.

6. The law finally catches up with Abu Salem

In much the same way he left India -- on the quiet -- gangster Abu Salem and his companion, starlet Monika Bedi, returned to the country on November 11, bundled in on an early morning flight from Portugal where the couple had been living and from where they were extradited.

For the Central Bureau of Investigation, which fought a long and protracted battle to bring Salem back to the country to face charges of conspiracy in the March 12, 1993 Mumbai serial blasts -- and to spill the beans on former mentor Dawood Ibrahim, the main accused in the case -- Salem was the biggest catch so far.

What was significant about the extradition was it came about without a formal treaty with Portugal.

The Indian government sought his return under the United Nations Convention on Suppression of Terrorism of 2000, to which India and Portugal are signatories. The Portuguese courts finally cleared the extradition, but only after India provided an undertaking that Salem would not be given the death penalty -- something the court in Mumbai, which is trying the blasts case, is reportedly not too happy about.

7. The invasion of the skies

Kingfisher Airlines, Spice Jet, Go Air and who knows how many more are to follow.

Years after being straddled with just a handful of domestic airlines to choose from, India saw three new airlines enter the skies this year alone.

With competitive fares, attractive deals and a new service culture, passengers found themselves flocking to ticketing counters as lower fares made air travel more affordable for the Indian traveller.

Kingfisher, which began operations in May, already flies to around 13 destinations, Spice Jet to 11. Both airlines will begin foreign operations in the next couple of years. Go Air, the latest off the runway, currently has fares as low as Rs 999.

So, Go, Spice up your travel and become the King of good flying times

8. The return of Vikram Seth

One of India's best loved writers was back home for a month to promote his latest book, Two Lives. This very personal book hold the fascinating story of Seth's maternal uncle, Shanti and his German wife, Henny.

Seth did a whirlwind promotional tour, reading passages over glasses of white wine to an enthusiastic audience that included governors, parliamentarians, diplomats and actor Aamir Khan.

In the part memoir, part biography, part history, Seth tells the story of his dentist uncle and his wife whose lives hold a wealth of experiences spread over three continents.

'What is important for a writer is when a reader is gripped by a book and delays his dinner to read a few more pages,' the writer had said during a reading in Kolkata.

Two Lives easily fits that bill. If you haven't read it yet, make it your first read for the New Year.

9. 60 years after World War II

War veterans from around the world with leaders from 56 countries gathered in Moscow in May to mark the end of the Second World War, which cost 55 million lives.

Two Indians, Commander V S P Mudaliar (retired) and Major General Bikram Singh Kanwar (retired), participated in the ceremony. Both men fought World War II as part of the British army and navy.

In India, on Remembrance Day, a small group of ex-servicemen assembled in Mumbai's Afghan Church to remember the dead. India is believed to have raised the largest volunteer army -- 2.5 million strong -- in the war.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh attended the memorial event in Moscow's Red Square in May. The paegent was a fitting commemoration of a war that changed the world.



Photograph: Jewella C Miranda

10. Now it is India!

In three months alone, international information technology majors and Non-Resident Indians have announced investment plans of around $10 billion in India.

Global technology giants Microsoft, Intel, Cisco and AMD have committed to investing $6.85 billion in India.

Big names like Hyundai, LG, Nokia, Samsung, Suzuki, Ford, Fiat have built or are building global-scale manufacturing hubs in India to serve other markets.

The world is sitting up and taking note of a confident India's rocketting economy, technological prowess, exceptional talent pool, enormous market, rising disposable incomes, and most significantly the immense promise it holds for the future.

It is creating world-class businesses in knowledge-based industries like software, IT enabled-services, and pharmaceuticals. It is on the threshold of becoming an economic powerhouse.

And the world wants to be a part of this success story.

Multinational companies are eagerly investing in India's information technology and manufacturing sectors, while foreign investors are pouring mega dollars into the nation's booming stock markets.

And this is just the beginning…

SOURCE- rediff.com

Are BPOs safe for women?

Pratibha Srikanth Murthy, an employee of the business process outsourcing arm of Hewlett Packard in Bangalore, was raped and murdered by the driver of the company-commissioned cab she was travelling in on her way to work in the wee hours of Tuesday.

This has sent shivers down the spine of BPO workers, their kin, and the Indian IT industry.

Women account for about 40 per cent of the 350,000 call centres employees in India. IT sector bodies, politicians and the police have now urged companies to offer better security to BPO workers.

Should women work night shifts? Or do you feel the Bangalore murder is just a one-off incident of crime?

Do you think women employees in call centres are given adequate security? What can be done to ensure better safety of BPO workers?

Open your borders and let the customer in

Here is a short introductory piece on customer integration and co-creation, written recently for Conspectus magazine.

At IISC

At IISC, originally uploaded by My Imagination.

with friends