Lok Sabha Polls In Karnataka- 2nd Phase

HASSAN

Gowda vs the rest

Billed a prestigious constituency, this segment is keenly fought between Janata Dal (Secular) supremo H D Deve Gowda and the BJP.

Seat held by JD(S)

SHIMOGA

Epic battle

The most-watched constituency in Karnataka. It has acquired importance as CM B S Yeddyurappa’s son B Y Raghavendra is in the fray against warhorse and former CM S Bangarappa from the Congress. Here, women voters outnumber men. Caste and cash are playing a vital role.

Seat vacant after S Bangarappa, resigned to join the Congress

DAVANAGERE

Business rivalry

It is a straight contest between two business families, which also run education institutions. BJP’s current MP G M Siddeshwar is seeking to retain his seat for a second term, while Congress S S Mallikarjun, son of KPCC treasurer and Davanagere South MLA Shamnur Shivashankarappa, is locked in a tough contest with him.

Seat held by BJP

DHARWAD

Tough fight for BJP

It’s a straight fight between sitting MP Prahlad Joshi of the BJP and Manjunath Kunnur of the Congress, termed a habitual turncoat

New constituency carved out of Dharwad North and South

HAVERI

Keen contest

A keen contest is on the cards between the BJP and the Congress here. JD(S) is also in the race, but its candidate, at best, may play a spoilsport.

New constituency

CHAMARAJANAGAR

Proxy battle

A three-cornered contest is on here and has become a proxy battle between followers of former deputy CM Siddaramaiah and party senior Mallikarjun M Kharge, who has stepped down from the CLP leader’s post.

Seat held by JD(S)

MYSORE

Stiff competition

The contest here is between H Vishwanath of Congress and BJP’s C H Vijayashankar. Twotime MP, Vijayashankar is facing a stiff competition from his Congress opponent, who is seeking to make it to Parliament after defeat in the assembly polls in May 2008

Seat held by BJP

BAGALKOT

Cong-BJP clash

The fight is between J T Patil of Congress (belonging to Reddy community) and Gaddigoudar of BJP (Ganiga community).

Seat held by BJP

MANDYA

JD(S)’s clear edge

Battle for power at the Vokkaliga heartland is between sitting MP MH Ambareesh (Congress) and former minister N Chaluvarayaswamy of JD(S).

Seat held by Congress

MANGALORE

The heat is on

The contest is between poll veteran, former KPCC president B Janardhana Poojary, and greenhorn Nalin Kumar Kateel (BJP).

Seat held by BJP

UDUPI-CHIKMAGALUR

War on new turf

A new constituency carved out of Udupi and Chikmagalur. State BJP president D V Sadananda Gowda shifted here from Mangalore and takes on K Jayaprakash Hegde (Congress). JD(S) has made way for the CPI.

Source: Times of India

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

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

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

Oracle Corp to buy Sun Microsystems for $7.4 bn

Oracle Corp said on Monday (April 20) that it will buy Sun Microsystems Inc for $9.50 a share, valuing the high-end computer server maker at more than $7 billion.

The surprise announcement from the two companies comes after deal talks between IBM and Sun fell apart earlier this month, and sources with knowledge of the matter had said Sun had turned down IBM’s offer to pay up to $9.40 a share.

Sun shares jumped 37.5 percent to $9.20 in premarket trading, while Oracle shares fell 4.5 percent to $18.34. The price of $9.50 a share values Sun at about $7.1 billion based on about 745 million shares outstanding, according to Sun’s latest regulatory filings.

The companies said in a statement the transaction is valued at about $7.4 billion, or $5.6 billion net of cash and debt.

Source: TimesNow

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 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

Lok Sabha Election 2009 – Karnataka Parliamentary Constituencies

Voting infrastructure:Lok Sabha Election 2009

Electronic voting machines

The election will be conducted using the Electronic voting machine (EVM), as was done with the 2004 election. There are 1,368,430 voting machines available across the country.

The complete EVM consists mainly of two units –

(a) Control Unit and

(b) Balloting Unit with cable for connecting it with Control unit.

A Balloting Unit caters up to 16 candidates. Four Balloting Units linked together catering in all to 64 candidates can be used with one control unit. The control unit is kept with the Presiding Officer and the Balloting Unit is used by the voter for polling.

The Balloting Unit of EVM is a small box-like device, on top of which each candidate and his/her election symbol is listed like a big ballot paper. Against each candidate’s name, a red LED and a blue button is provided. The voter polls his vote by pressing the blue button against the name of his desired candidate.

Polling stations

There are 828,804 polling stations in the country, a 20% increase over the 2004 election.

Electoral rolls

The electoral rolls had to be completely updated because of the delimitation that took effect from 2008. The process of updating the electoral rolls is expected to continue until the last date of filing nominations. 714 million people are eligible to vote in 2009, up 6.4% (43 million) from 2004.

Bio’s of our possible Prime Minsiter – India

Full name: Lal Krishna Advani

The gist: Advani is the current leader of the opposition in the Lok Sabha and the NDA’s official prime ministerial candidate for the 2009 elections.

Title: Leader of Opposition, Lok Sabha

Constituency: Gandhinagar, Gujarat

Party: Bharatiya Janata Party

Date and place of birth: 8 November 1927; Karachi

Profession: Journalist, trade unionist, diplomat

Education: Educated at St. Patricks High School, Karachi; D.G. National College, Hyderabad, Sindh (now in Pakistan) and Government Law College, Mumbai

Resume: Advani’s political career began as a member of the RSS in the early 1940s. He became a leader and eventually president of the newly formed BJP in the 1980s, and is credited with helping to make the party a formidable force in Indian politics. Advani was first elected to the Rajya Sabha in 1970, and re-elected three times. He was elected to the Lok Sabha in 1989 and re-elected four times. He became leader of the opposition after the 2004 general election.

Personal: Advani is married to Kamla Advani with one son and one daughter.

Hobbies: Books, theatre, cinema, sports and music

The gist: Manmohan Singh is the 17th and current prime minister of India, and the first Sikh to hold the position. Singh was named to the post after the INC won a majority in the Lok Sabha after the 2004 general elections.

Title: Prime Minister of India; Union Minister for Finance

Constituency: Assam

Party: Indian National Congress

Date and place of birth: 26 September, 1932; Village Gah (West Punjab)

Profession: Economist, politician

Education: Stood first in BA (Hons), Economics, Panjab University, Chandigarh, 1952; stood first in MA (Economics), Panjab University, Chandigarh, 1954; Wright’s Prize for distinguished performance at St John’s College, Cambridge, 1955 and 1957; Wrenbury scholar, University of Cambridge, 1957; DPhil (Oxford), DLitt (Honoris Causa); PhD thesis on India’s export competitiveness.

Resume: At the start of his career, Singh was a professor at Panjab University and the Delhi School of Economics. In 1971, Dr. Singh joined the Government of India as economic advisor in the Commerce Ministry. He became chief economic advisor in the Ministry of Finance in 1972. Other positions he has held include secretary in the Ministry of Finance; Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission; Governor of the Reserve Bank of India; Advisor of the Prime Minister; and Chairman of the University Grants Commission. Dr. Singh has been a Member of India’s Upper House of Parliament (the Rajya Sabha) since 1991. He was Leader of the Opposition between 1998 and 2004.

Personal: Dr. Singh and his wife Mrs. Gursharan Kaur have three daughters, the youngest of whom is an attorney for the ACLU in New York.

Hobbies: Reading and writing

Full name: Kumari Mayawati

The gist: Mayawati is serving her fourth term as leader of the largest state in the country and is president of the Bahujan Samaj Party, which was created to represent those at the bottom of the caste system.

Title: Chief Minister, Uttar Pradesh

Party: Bahujan Samaj Party

Date and place of birth: 15 January, 1956; Delhi

Profession: Politician, social worker, lawyer

Education: B.A., B.Ed., LL.B., education at Kalindi College, University of Delhi (Delhi) and University of Meerut (Uttar Pradesh)

Resume: Mayawati was a teacher in Delhi prior to her entry into politics in the early 1980s. She has been a part of BSP from its inception in 1984. She won her first seat in the Lok Sabha in 1989 and was re-elected three times. She was elected twice to the Rajya Sabha, in 1994 and 2004. She served three stints as chief minister of Uttar Pradesh in 1995, 1997 and 2002-03 before being sworn in to her fourth term in May 2007.

Personal: Mayawati is not married.

Hobbies: Reading, gardening, urban development, planning and labour welfare.

Full name: Sharad Chandra Govindrao Pawar

The gist: Pawar is president of the Nationalist Congress Party, which he co-founded in 1999 after a split from Congress. A minister in the UPA-led government, Pawar is a leader in Maharashtra politics.

Title: Minister of Agriculture and Minister of Consumer Affairs: Food & Public Distribution, Government of India

Constituency: Baramati, Maharashtra

Party: Nationalist Congress Party

Date and place of birth: 12 December 1940; Baramati, Dist. Pune (Maharashtra)

Profession: Agriculturalist, politician

Education: B.com.

Resume: Pawar entered into politics in his twenties and became a Congress Party MLA in the Maharashtra legislative assembly in 1967. He has served four terms as chief minister of Maharasthra, and six terms as a Lok Sabha MP. His relationship with Congress has been fickle; he broke with the party in 1999 to co-found the Nationalist Congress Party. He is currently the party’s president and a cabinet member in the UPA-led ruling government.

Personal: Pawar is married to Pratibha Pawar with one daughter, Supriya Sule, who is an MP in the Rajya Sabha.

Hobbies: Reading and traveling

Full name: Haradanahalli Doddegowda Deve Gowda

The gist: Former Prime Minister Deve Gowda leads the Janata Dal (Secular) party and the Left Front coalition, a group of parties that are unaligned with the NDA and UPA coalitions.

Title: Leader of the Janata Dal (Secular) party; 14th Prime Minister of India

Party: Janata Dal (Secular)

Date and place of birth: 18 May, 1933; Haradanahalli village of Holenarasipura Taluk, Hassan District (Karnataka)

Profession: Politician

Education: Degree in civil engineering

Resume: Gowda joined the Congress Party in 1953 and was a member until 1962. He won his first seat as an independent in the Karnataka assembly in 1962, was re-elected to three more consecutive terms and rose through the ranks to become chief minister of Karnataka in 1994. He left this post to become Prime Minister of India from June 1996 to April 1997 under the United Front coalition-led government. Gowda is president of the Janata Dal (Secular) party and leader of the Third Front coalition.

Personal: Gowda is married to Chennamma and is the father of two daughters and four sons.