Reddit apologizes for Boston bombing ‘witch hunts’

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Reddit apologized for being a rallying point for online witch hunts as amateur sleuths used the social news website to expose the people behind the bombing at the Boston Marathon.

“Though started with noble intentions, some of the activity on Reddit fueled online witch hunts and dangerous speculation which spiraled into very negative consequences for innocent parties,” Reddit general manager Erik Martin said in a blog post.

“We all need to look at what happened and make sure that in the future we do everything we can to help, and not hinder, crisis situations.”

Bill Gates’ casual handshake raises eyebrows in South Korea

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Microsoft founder Bill Gates’ casual style was the subject of criticism in some South Korean media Tuesday after he shook hands with President Park Geun-Hye, with one hand in his pocket.

The picture of the meet-and-greet between Gates and Park Monday was splashed on the front page of every national daily, some of which cropped out the offending pocketed hand while most chose to highlight it.

“Cultural difference, or an act of disrespect?” the JoongAng Ilbo wrote in the accompanying caption.

“Disrespectful handshake? Casual handshake?” the Dong-A Ilbo asked.

US concerned about Myanmar’s situation

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The United States has expressed concern over the situation of the minorities in the violence hit areas of Myanmar and asked it to take appropriate steps to prevent any further violence in the country.

Two bishops kidnapped in northern Syria: State media

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An armed group kidnapped two bishops in a village in Aleppo province in northern Syria, the state news agency SANA reported.

“An armed terrorist group today kidnapped Bishop Yohanna Ibrahim, head of the Syrian Orthodox Church (in Aleppo) and Bishop Boulos Yaziji, head of the Greek Orthodox church (in Aleppo) while they were on humanitarian operations in the village of Kafr Dael in Aleppo province,” the news agency said yesterday.

“Terrorists intercepted the bishops’ car in Kafr Dael village, took the driver out of the car and kidnapped the bishops,” it added.

FBI lost sight of Tamerlan’s Russia trip due to misspelling of name

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A Republican senator says the name of Tamerlan Tsarnaev the suspect in the Boston Marathon bombing who died in a firefight with police was misspelled on his 2011 trip to Russia.

Sen Lindsey Graham said Tsarnaev’s correct name never went into “the system,” and this thwarted the FBI in discovering the six-month trip.

Graham said on Fox News that he spoke to the assistant director of the FBI last night.

Graham’s spokesman, Kevin Bishop, confirmed the senator’s comments today.

The trip is the subject of the investigation into last Monday’s deadly bombings.

TSA delays plan to allow knives on planes in US

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The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) said it was postponing a controversial change in rules which would have allowed passengers to carry small knives on planes.

The TSA last month said it was relaxing its rules on pocket knives — banned on aircraft since the September 11, 2001 terror attacks — in order to bring US rules into line with international regulations.

However the move prompted an outcry from pilots, flight attendants and airline executives.

AP High Court extends former cop Qadeer’s parole

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The Andhra Pradesh High Court on Tuesday extended the parole of former constable MOhammed Abdul Qadeer till june 30. While passing an interim order Justice Naushad Ali directed the state government to extend the parole of life convict Qadeer and posted the matter for further hearing after summer vacation.

Alleging that Qadeer, who was convicted in ACP Sattiah murder case in 1992, was being illegally detained in jail, his wife Sabera Begum demanded a compensation of Rs 50 lakh for violation of his rights through a writ petition.

EU gives oil boost to Syria rebels

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Syrian rebels fighting President Bashar al-Assad’s troops won a fresh boost when the European Union eased its oil embargo to let them exploit the resources they control.

But EU foreign ministers meeting in Luxembourg stopped short of lifting its arms embargo.

Their decision came ahead of a meeting Tuesday between Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and US Secretary of State John Kerry in Brussels.

Already Monday, Russia, one of Assad’s few remaining backers, had criticised the EU measure as “counter-productive”.

Third front will never become a reality: Naidu

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Rejecting the possibility of a third front coming to power after the next Lok Sabha polls, BJP leader Venkaiah Naidu today said the very idea is a “tried and failed experiment” which will never become a reality.

He said regional parties cannot claim themselves as an alternative.

“There is no possibility of a third front in the country.

The idea of a third front is a tried and failed experiment. It will never become a reality.

=–Agencies

Indian economy to grow at 6.4 percent in 2013-14

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India’s economic growth will accelerate to 6.4 percent in the current financial year as compared to an estimated 5 percent expansion registered in the last fiscal, economic advisory panel to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said Tuesday.

“The economy has bottomed out and we will achieve higher growth of 6.4 percent in the current financial year,” Prime Minister’s Economic Advisory Council chairman C. Rangarajan said at a media conference here.

Three smartphone satellites working well in orbit: NASA

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The three smartphone satellites sent into space Sunday by the maiden flight of Orbital Science Corp.’s Antares rocket are operating normally in orbit, the US space agency NASA said.

Transmissions from all the three PhoneSats, believed to be the lowest-cost satellites ever put in space, have been received at multiple ground stations on the Earth, said NASA in a statement Monday.

Congress core group meets before tabling coal block report

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The Congress core group met here Tuesday ahead of the tabling of the standing committee report in parliament on coal block allocations.

The standing committee was headed by Trinamool Congress MP Kalyan Banerjee.

The CAG (Comptroller and Auditor General of India) report on coal block allocation, tabled in parliament on August 17, 2012, had put the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government in a spot and the opposition stalled the business for many days.

Pakistan court releases list of journalists paid secretly

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Pakistan’s apex court has released a list of journalists who were allegedly paid by the information ministry through its secret fund, a media report said.

The court released the names during the hearing of petitions by two private television channel anchors who had requested the court to probe the matter of media accountability and payments made to journalists by the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP)- led government in 2011-12.

The Supreme Court Monday made public the list of journalists and media personnel, reported Dawn.

Govt offices in Jammu to open at 8 am during summers

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Summer timings will come into effect at the government offices and educational institutions in Jammu region from May 01.

As per a notification issued by Jammu Divisional Commissioner Pradeep Gupta, the summer working hours in the State Government Offices and educational institutions located in various districts of Jammu Division will come into effect from May 01 to September 30, 2013.

The timing in Jammu, Udhampur, Rajouri, Samba, Reasi, Kathua Districts (except tehsil Bani) shall be from 8:00 am to 2:00 pm, it said.

Deeni Summer Course by Jamia Nizamia and Siasat begins

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40-day religious education summer course jointly organized by Siasat daily and Jamia Nizamia the biggest Islamic seminary of the city began from April 22 and will continue till May 31. 15 centres have been set up in Hyderabad and Secunderabad and 71 centers have been setup in the districts. Studies began at the centres from April 22.

Elderly persons can also benefit from the coaching. The classes will run from April 22 to May 31, between 3:30 to 5:30 pm.

Siasat news

7 IPS officers allotted for Andhra Pradesh cadre

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The central government has allotted 7 IPS officers selected under IPS category in the Civil Service Exams 2011 for Andhra Pradesh cadre. Union home minister sent a letter to the state government on March 15 in this connection.

Confirming the central notification, Chief Secretary Minnie Mathew formally issued GO RT 1776 according to which 7 IPS officers have been allotted to Andhra Pradesh. 3 of them belong to Karnataka, 2 belong to Tamilnadu and one belongs to Andhra Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh each.

Siasat news

B.Ed entrance test EdCET 2013

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B.Ed entrance test EdCET is scheduled on June 3. The forms have to be submitted online. The last date has been extended till April 29. Degree candidates are eligible to write the exam. Fee has to be submitted at e-seva centres. To submit form online log on to edcet2013.info. For information and guidance reach MIGSC Julukhana, Ladbazar or call on phone no 040-6589013.

Siasat news

DIETCET 2013: last date April 26

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District Educational Officer Hyderabad district in a press note stated that DIETCET 2013 the entrance test conducted for admission into 2-year D.Ed course (2013-15) in government and private D.Ed colleges will be held on May 31, 2013 from 10:30 am to 1:30 pm.

Applications must be submitted on or before April 26. Application forms are available at website dietcet.cgg.gov.in. Entrance fee of Rs. 200 must be paid on or before April 25 at AP online or e-seva centre. Detailed guidelines and information bulletin is available on the above mentioned website.

Siasat news

ICET coaching

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Siasat daily offers ICET coaching classes under the supervision of expert teachers at Word Master Computer Informatic Centre, New Mallepally.

Dr. Ahteshamuddin Khurram told that the said classes are run in the morning and evening hours. He has requested the ICET candidates to avail the golden opportunity. For details contact on phone no 9885974828.

Siasat news

Ali Masqati conducts door-to-door visit at Charminar assembly constituency

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Mr. Ali bin Ibrahim Masqati vice president TDP and incharge Charminar assembly constituency conducted door to door visit at Qazipura and surrounding areas and reviewed various public issues including power, municipal and water problems.

People passionately welcomed him and made him aware of the basic problems. During his long visit Ali Masqati resolved many a problems on the spot by talking to concerned department officials.

Woman kidnapped with 2 infants at Bowenpally

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In a shocking incident occurred at Bowenpally, a woman and her 2 infants have been abducted. It is said that some unknown person kidnapped Kusuma and her two children at Syndicate Bank colony, Bowenpally yesterday evening.

Woman’s husband Harish lodged a complaint in Bowenpally police station. Police has set up special teams to search for the kidnappers.

Siasat news

Minority Grievance Cell to continue despite lackluster response

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The weekly grievance cell to review public grievances regarding minority institutions’ performance was conducted at Hajj House under the supervision of Minority Welfare Commissioner Mr. M A Waheed.

Director Secretary Urdu Academy Prof. S A Shukoor, Managing Director Christian Finance Corporation, Hajj Committee, Waqf Board and Minority Finance Corporation officials attended the grievance cell. People approached the cell with the complaints and issues of Waqf Board, Hajj Committee and Minority Welfare Department.

Afghan Taliban say foreign captives are fine, moved to ‘safe area’

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A group of foreigners abducted by Taliban insurgents in eastern Afghanistan are well and have been moved to a “safe area” inside the country, a spokesman for the militants said Tuesday.

The Taliban leadership will decide what to do with the group, spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid told AFP. Eight Turks, a Russian, a Kyrgyz man and an Afghan were seized after their helicopter made a forced landing on Sunday.

“They have been moved to a safe area, they have no health problem and they are fine. They are inside Afghanistan,” Mujahid said by phone from an undisclosed location.