Mortar kills 15 at Damascus University

Damascus: Fifteen Syrian students were killed when rebel mortar bombs hit a Damascus University canteen on Thursday, state-run news agency SANA said, as attacks intensified in the centre of the capital.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an opposition monitoring group, said a mortar killed 13 people at the university, without saying who fired the bombs.

Other activists confirmed the attack but no opposition group has denied or claimed responsibility.

Insurgents trying to end four decades of rule by the family of President Bashar al-Assad have formed a semi-circle around the capital and intensified attacks from positions on the outskirts this week.

A bastion for Assad's forces, the capital city is a crucial prize in a two-year-old uprising that has developed into a war in which more than 70,000 people have been killed.

Mortar kills 15 at Damascus University

Damascus: Fifteen Syrian students were killed when rebel mortar bombs hit a Damascus University canteen on Thursday, state-run news agency SANA said, as attacks intensified in the centre of the capital.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an opposition monitoring group, said a mortar killed 13 people at the university, without saying who fired the bombs.

Other activists confirmed the attack but no opposition group has denied or claimed responsibility.

Insurgents trying to end four decades of rule by the family of President Bashar al-Assad have formed a semi-circle around the capital and intensified attacks from positions on the outskirts this week.

A bastion for Assad's forces, the capital city is a crucial prize in a two-year-old uprising that has developed into a war in which more than 70,000 people have been killed.

Last date to apply for Haj pilgrimage extended to March 30

Dehradun:The last date for submission of applications for this year's Haj pilgrimage has been extended from March 20 to March 30. People aspiring to go on Haj pilgrimage can now submit their applications latest by March 30 instead of March 20,

Uttarakhand Haj Committee chief Haji Rao Sher Muhammad said here today. The date has been extended for the convenience of Haj pilgrims, he said, adding that the process for issuing passports to the applicants has also been simplified.They are being issued passports on the very day their police verification reports are being received, the state Haj committee chief said.

Announcing that efforts are underway by the committee to increase the limit on the number of Haj pilgrims in a year beyond 2,000, Muhammad said he has sent several letters in this regard to the Prime Minister, the External Affairs Minister and the Chief Minister and is optimistic about a positive outcome. Muhammad informed that repeater Haj pilgrims have been permitted to undertake the pilgrimage on certain conditions like no subsidy will be given to male companions accompanying a female or a 70-year-old pilgrim going on the journey for a second time. 

Those accompanying repeater Hajis will also be charged full air fare for their onward and return journeys, he said quoting a communication from the Ministry of External Affairs dated March 21. Repeater Haj pilgrims with someone accompanying them on the journey will also have to give a written undertaking on a performa affidavit prepared by Mumbai Haj Committee in this regard prior to the journey, the state Haj committee chief said. PTI

Last date to apply for Haj pilgrimage extended to March 30

Dehradun:The last date for submission of applications for this year's Haj pilgrimage has been extended from March 20 to March 30. People aspiring to go on Haj pilgrimage can now submit their applications latest by March 30 instead of March 20,

Uttarakhand Haj Committee chief Haji Rao Sher Muhammad said here today. The date has been extended for the convenience of Haj pilgrims, he said, adding that the process for issuing passports to the applicants has also been simplified.They are being issued passports on the very day their police verification reports are being received, the state Haj committee chief said.

Announcing that efforts are underway by the committee to increase the limit on the number of Haj pilgrims in a year beyond 2,000, Muhammad said he has sent several letters in this regard to the Prime Minister, the External Affairs Minister and the Chief Minister and is optimistic about a positive outcome. Muhammad informed that repeater Haj pilgrims have been permitted to undertake the pilgrimage on certain conditions like no subsidy will be given to male companions accompanying a female or a 70-year-old pilgrim going on the journey for a second time. 

Those accompanying repeater Hajis will also be charged full air fare for their onward and return journeys, he said quoting a communication from the Ministry of External Affairs dated March 21. Repeater Haj pilgrims with someone accompanying them on the journey will also have to give a written undertaking on a performa affidavit prepared by Mumbai Haj Committee in this regard prior to the journey, the state Haj committee chief said. PTI

UPSC withdraws mandatory English norm in civil services exams

New Delhi:Amid a nation-wide controversy, the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has withdrawn changes suggested by it in civil services mains examination, dropping mandatory English language paper requirement. UPSC, which conducts the prestigious examination to select IAS, IPS and IFS officers among other, issued a corrigendum on Tuesday restoring the earlier practice of two qualifying papers in any Indian language and English, the marks obtained on which will not be counted for ranking. 'The papers on Indian languages and English will be of matriculation or equivalent standard and will be of qualifying nature only. The marks obtained in these papers will not be counted for ranking,' it said.The aim of papers on Indian language and English is to test the candidates' ability to read and understand serious discursive prose, and to express their ideas clearly and correctly, the corrigendum said.

There will also be separate papers on 'ethics, integrity and aptitude' and 'essay' of 250 marks each for the andidates taking the mains examination. The paper on ethics, integrity and aptitude will includequestions to test candidates' attitude and approach to issues relating to integrity, probity in public life and his problem- solving approach to various issues and conflicts faced by him in dealing with society.The aspirants will be required to write an essay on a specific topic and in their own choice of language. Under the earlier controversial norm put forth by the Commission, a language would be allowed as the medium of
examination only if a minimum of 25 candidates wanted it. 'It may also be noted that there is no change in the pattern of Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination, which will be held on May 26, 2013,' UPSC said

UPSC withdraws mandatory English norm in civil services exams

New Delhi:Amid a nation-wide controversy, the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has withdrawn changes suggested by it in civil services mains examination, dropping mandatory English language paper requirement. UPSC, which conducts the prestigious examination to select IAS, IPS and IFS officers among other, issued a corrigendum on Tuesday restoring the earlier practice of two qualifying papers in any Indian language and English, the marks obtained on which will not be counted for ranking. 'The papers on Indian languages and English will be of matriculation or equivalent standard and will be of qualifying nature only. The marks obtained in these papers will not be counted for ranking,' it said.The aim of papers on Indian language and English is to test the candidates' ability to read and understand serious discursive prose, and to express their ideas clearly and correctly, the corrigendum said.

There will also be separate papers on 'ethics, integrity and aptitude' and 'essay' of 250 marks each for the andidates taking the mains examination. The paper on ethics, integrity and aptitude will includequestions to test candidates' attitude and approach to issues relating to integrity, probity in public life and his problem- solving approach to various issues and conflicts faced by him in dealing with society.The aspirants will be required to write an essay on a specific topic and in their own choice of language. Under the earlier controversial norm put forth by the Commission, a language would be allowed as the medium of
examination only if a minimum of 25 candidates wanted it. 'It may also be noted that there is no change in the pattern of Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination, which will be held on May 26, 2013,' UPSC said

Nitaqat rule may hit Kerala: Ravi

New Delhi: Union minister Vayalar Ravi said that Kerala would be severely hit with the Saudi government deciding to make the Nitaqat rule strict.

He said Nitaqat rule has so far not hit the Kerala sector and the govt has to act to deal with those who plan to return to their home land.

One of the hospitals in Dubai owned by a Malayalee has been put in the `Red List'. Many SIM cards of Indians were disenabled making them difficult to contact their beloved ones at home.

There are 18 lakh licensed establishments in Saudi Arabia. And 2 lakh establishmets are still categorised in the Red List. It has been notified that no companies have been excluded from the punishment list.

Nitaqat rule may hit Kerala: Ravi

New Delhi: Union minister Vayalar Ravi said that Kerala would be severely hit with the Saudi government deciding to make the Nitaqat rule strict.

He said Nitaqat rule has so far not hit the Kerala sector and the govt has to act to deal with those who plan to return to their home land.

One of the hospitals in Dubai owned by a Malayalee has been put in the `Red List'. Many SIM cards of Indians were disenabled making them difficult to contact their beloved ones at home.

There are 18 lakh licensed establishments in Saudi Arabia. And 2 lakh establishmets are still categorised in the Red List. It has been notified that no companies have been excluded from the punishment list.

Google Glass facing privacy and safety concerns

Washington: Google Glass, the US techology giant's revolutionary wearable computer is still months away from release, but there is a growing movement across America seeking to limit and in some cases ban the use of the glasses due to both privacy and safety concerns.

'We heard of many crashes caused by texting and driving, most involving our youngest drivers,' Republican Gary Howell of the West Virginia state legislature told tech website CNET.

Howell has introduced a bill that would effectively ban the use of Google Glass by drivers behind the wheel of a vehicle, siting safety concerns.

'Last legislature, we worked long and hard on a no-texting-and-driving law,' Howell told CNET.

'It is mostly the young that are the tech-savvy that try new things. They are also our most vulnerable and underskilled drivers,' he said.

Google Glass resembles a pair of traditional eyeglasses, but with images displayed on the lens, it enables users to surf the web, send emails, text messages, and record photos and videos all by using voice commands.

'We are putting a lot of thought into the design of Glass because new technologies always raise new issues,' a Google spokesman said in a statement.

In regards to safety, Google said in its statement the glasses offer, 'tremendous potential to improve safety on our roads and reduce accidents'.

For instance, Google has said its glasses will offer turn-by-turn navigation using voice commands to promote a more hands-free driving experience.

But putting the issue of safety aside, a growing movement online is concerned about the privacy implications surrounding the use of the stealthy glasses that could be used as a secret recording device.

'If the government installed CCTV cameras and microphones everywhere, all feeding information to a central control room you would probably characterise it as a privacy risk,' the website StopTheCyborgs.org said.

'Is it any better if it's run by a corporation and the devices are attached to people's heads?'

Concerns that Google Glass could be used to secretly record private conversations and activities is what sparked the creators of StopTheCyborgs to encourage businesses across the country to preemptively ban the use of Google Glass in their establishments.

The site offers downloadable anti-Google Glass signs and links to contact politicians to promote legislation regulating the use of the glasses prior to the launch.

The 5 Point Cafe, a bar in Seattle, was among the first to post signs banning Google Glass on its premises in an effort to protect the privacy of its patrons, the bar's owner said.

'It is still very early days for Glass and we expect as with other new technologies, such as cell phones, behaviours and social norms will develop over time,' a spokesman for Google told the Silicon Business Journal.

Google Glass is slated to be released later this year with an estimated retail price of around $1,500, according to media reports.

Google Glass facing privacy and safety concerns

Washington: Google Glass, the US techology giant's revolutionary wearable computer is still months away from release, but there is a growing movement across America seeking to limit and in some cases ban the use of the glasses due to both privacy and safety concerns.

'We heard of many crashes caused by texting and driving, most involving our youngest drivers,' Republican Gary Howell of the West Virginia state legislature told tech website CNET.

Howell has introduced a bill that would effectively ban the use of Google Glass by drivers behind the wheel of a vehicle, siting safety concerns.

'Last legislature, we worked long and hard on a no-texting-and-driving law,' Howell told CNET.

'It is mostly the young that are the tech-savvy that try new things. They are also our most vulnerable and underskilled drivers,' he said.

Google Glass resembles a pair of traditional eyeglasses, but with images displayed on the lens, it enables users to surf the web, send emails, text messages, and record photos and videos all by using voice commands.

'We are putting a lot of thought into the design of Glass because new technologies always raise new issues,' a Google spokesman said in a statement.

In regards to safety, Google said in its statement the glasses offer, 'tremendous potential to improve safety on our roads and reduce accidents'.

For instance, Google has said its glasses will offer turn-by-turn navigation using voice commands to promote a more hands-free driving experience.

But putting the issue of safety aside, a growing movement online is concerned about the privacy implications surrounding the use of the stealthy glasses that could be used as a secret recording device.

'If the government installed CCTV cameras and microphones everywhere, all feeding information to a central control room you would probably characterise it as a privacy risk,' the website StopTheCyborgs.org said.

'Is it any better if it's run by a corporation and the devices are attached to people's heads?'

Concerns that Google Glass could be used to secretly record private conversations and activities is what sparked the creators of StopTheCyborgs to encourage businesses across the country to preemptively ban the use of Google Glass in their establishments.

The site offers downloadable anti-Google Glass signs and links to contact politicians to promote legislation regulating the use of the glasses prior to the launch.

The 5 Point Cafe, a bar in Seattle, was among the first to post signs banning Google Glass on its premises in an effort to protect the privacy of its patrons, the bar's owner said.

'It is still very early days for Glass and we expect as with other new technologies, such as cell phones, behaviours and social norms will develop over time,' a spokesman for Google told the Silicon Business Journal.

Google Glass is slated to be released later this year with an estimated retail price of around $1,500, according to media reports.