China formally allows more couples to have second child

Beijing: China's top legislature Saturday made a resolution to allow couples to have two children if either parent is an only child. The Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC) passed a resolution on adjusting and improving the family planning policy through a vote at its bi-monthly session which closed here Saturday, reported Xinhua.

The resolution, equal to a legal document in China, entrusts provincial congresses and their standing committees to make the call about implementing the new policy.'They should amend local family planning regulations, or issue a special act, in time, based on evaluation of local demographic situation and in line with the law on population and family planning as well as this resolution,' the document said.

The Communist Party of China (CPC) decided to ease the only-child policy at the landmark third plenary session of the 18th CPC Central Committee. Since family planning is written as an essential state strategy in the Constitution, it will require a resolution from the top legislature to adjust it.

China formally allows more couples to have second child

Beijing: China's top legislature Saturday made a resolution to allow couples to have two children if either parent is an only child. The Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC) passed a resolution on adjusting and improving the family planning policy through a vote at its bi-monthly session which closed here Saturday, reported Xinhua.

The resolution, equal to a legal document in China, entrusts provincial congresses and their standing committees to make the call about implementing the new policy.'They should amend local family planning regulations, or issue a special act, in time, based on evaluation of local demographic situation and in line with the law on population and family planning as well as this resolution,' the document said.

The Communist Party of China (CPC) decided to ease the only-child policy at the landmark third plenary session of the 18th CPC Central Committee. Since family planning is written as an essential state strategy in the Constitution, it will require a resolution from the top legislature to adjust it.

23 charred to death as Nanded Express catches fire in AP

Anantapur (AP): At least 23 people, including two children, were charred to death when an AC coach of Nanded-Bangalore Express caught fire in the district early Saturday. The fire broke out at 3:30 AM at Kothacheravu railway station between Pennukonda and Dharmavaram stations. "Rescue operations are underway. 23 persons including two children were charred to death in the accident,", District Collector, Anantapur, Lokesh Kumar told reporters.

Senior Railway officials have rushed to the spot and relief and medical team have been pressed into service, the collector said. Railway officials suspect that the incident occurred due grief over the loss of lives in the fire accident. He also spoke to Railway Minister Mallikarjun Kharge and inquired about the steps being taken for rescue and relief work at the accident site.

Describing the incident as "tragic" and "most unfortunate", Kharge ordered an enquiry into the incident by Commissioner of Railway Safety. The Railway Minister announced an ex-gratia of Rs 5 lakh to the next of kin of the deceased, Rs 1 lakh in case of grievous injuries and Rs 50,000 for simple injuries. He has also asked senior railway officials such as Member Electrical and Director General Health to rush to the spot. 

Chairman, Railway Board, Arunendra Kumar said the reason behind the accident is yet to be ascertained. However, prima facie there could be two reasons - one is short circuit and the other presence of inflammable material. The magnitude of the accident suggests that short circuit was unlikely, he said. Asked whether it could be inflammable material, he said it could be and the inquiry would go into it.

"We have asked for forensic experts from Bangalore and Hyderabad to examine the site," he said. The Railway Minister and the Railway Board Chairman are rushing to the site. 
The affected coach has been detached and train has resumed its onward journey.

23 charred to death as Nanded Express catches fire in AP

Anantapur (AP): At least 23 people, including two children, were charred to death when an AC coach of Nanded-Bangalore Express caught fire in the district early Saturday. The fire broke out at 3:30 AM at Kothacheravu railway station between Pennukonda and Dharmavaram stations. "Rescue operations are underway. 23 persons including two children were charred to death in the accident,", District Collector, Anantapur, Lokesh Kumar told reporters.

Senior Railway officials have rushed to the spot and relief and medical team have been pressed into service, the collector said. Railway officials suspect that the incident occurred due grief over the loss of lives in the fire accident. He also spoke to Railway Minister Mallikarjun Kharge and inquired about the steps being taken for rescue and relief work at the accident site.

Describing the incident as "tragic" and "most unfortunate", Kharge ordered an enquiry into the incident by Commissioner of Railway Safety. The Railway Minister announced an ex-gratia of Rs 5 lakh to the next of kin of the deceased, Rs 1 lakh in case of grievous injuries and Rs 50,000 for simple injuries. He has also asked senior railway officials such as Member Electrical and Director General Health to rush to the spot. 

Chairman, Railway Board, Arunendra Kumar said the reason behind the accident is yet to be ascertained. However, prima facie there could be two reasons - one is short circuit and the other presence of inflammable material. The magnitude of the accident suggests that short circuit was unlikely, he said. Asked whether it could be inflammable material, he said it could be and the inquiry would go into it.

"We have asked for forensic experts from Bangalore and Hyderabad to examine the site," he said. The Railway Minister and the Railway Board Chairman are rushing to the site. 
The affected coach has been detached and train has resumed its onward journey.

Actor Farooque Sheikh dies in Dubai

Mumbai: Veteran Bollywood actor Farooque Sheikh died of a sudden cardiac arrest in Dubai late Friday, his long-time co-star and friend Deepti Naval said. "I don't have the details yet, and I have not been able to speak to any of his family members, but a friend confirmed it to me. I also spoke to Shabana Azmi who was also aware of the sad, shocking and unbelievable news," Naval told IANS. Sheikh is known for his roles in "Chashme Budoor", "Saath Saath" among others.

"It is unbelievable. I am in a state of shock. He is one of the finest actors in the film industry. He is the one who has always encouraged me to work," a teary Naval told IANS. "I just got a call from Shabana Azmi. She said he had a massive heart attack in Dubai. They will be getting his body to India. I am in Himachal right now. I am flying back to Mumbai," she said. She said that his body will be brought to Mumbai for the last rites after completing the relevant formalities in Dubai.

Sheikh, 65, was reported to be in a fit condition and had interacted with Naval two months ago at the Sharjah book fair. She recalled the promise she and the late actor had made, and said: "After our last film Listen Amaya, Farooque and I had promised to each other that we will work together again and there were many films in the pipeline. We had decided to be in touch in terms of work."

Born March 25, 1948, Sheikh started his Bollywood career in 1973 with the classic "Garm Hava" and later excelled in both parallel and mainstream cinema. Over the years, he became known for his roles in many notable movies, including Satyajit Ray's "Shatranj Ke Khiladi", "Umrao Jaan", "Kissise Na Kehna", "Noorie", and "Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani" in which he played Ranbir Kapoor's father. He was last seen in Club 60.  Sheikh is renowned for his immense contribution to parallel cinema, low-budget high quality movies, theatre and television - the last medium where he hosted a popular talk show, "Jeena Isi Ka Naam Hai".


IANS

Actor Farooque Sheikh dies in Dubai

Mumbai: Veteran Bollywood actor Farooque Sheikh died of a sudden cardiac arrest in Dubai late Friday, his long-time co-star and friend Deepti Naval said. "I don't have the details yet, and I have not been able to speak to any of his family members, but a friend confirmed it to me. I also spoke to Shabana Azmi who was also aware of the sad, shocking and unbelievable news," Naval told IANS. Sheikh is known for his roles in "Chashme Budoor", "Saath Saath" among others.

"It is unbelievable. I am in a state of shock. He is one of the finest actors in the film industry. He is the one who has always encouraged me to work," a teary Naval told IANS. "I just got a call from Shabana Azmi. She said he had a massive heart attack in Dubai. They will be getting his body to India. I am in Himachal right now. I am flying back to Mumbai," she said. She said that his body will be brought to Mumbai for the last rites after completing the relevant formalities in Dubai.

Sheikh, 65, was reported to be in a fit condition and had interacted with Naval two months ago at the Sharjah book fair. She recalled the promise she and the late actor had made, and said: "After our last film Listen Amaya, Farooque and I had promised to each other that we will work together again and there were many films in the pipeline. We had decided to be in touch in terms of work."

Born March 25, 1948, Sheikh started his Bollywood career in 1973 with the classic "Garm Hava" and later excelled in both parallel and mainstream cinema. Over the years, he became known for his roles in many notable movies, including Satyajit Ray's "Shatranj Ke Khiladi", "Umrao Jaan", "Kissise Na Kehna", "Noorie", and "Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani" in which he played Ranbir Kapoor's father. He was last seen in Club 60.  Sheikh is renowned for his immense contribution to parallel cinema, low-budget high quality movies, theatre and television - the last medium where he hosted a popular talk show, "Jeena Isi Ka Naam Hai".


IANS

Using date palm seeds for water treatment

Muscat: A leading university in Oman has made significant progress in using date palm seeds for the treatment of polluted water, a media report here said. Researchers at the College of Engineering of the Sultan Qaboos University (SQU) have found that date palm seeds were more effective in treating polluted water than traditional means, such as active carbon, one of the most commonly used methods to eliminate particles and toxins from water, Times Of Oman reported Thursday. The project to treat polluted water is also studying the feasibility of using date palm seeds with methylene blue. The project will help in recycling and reusing wastes, reducing the concentration of methylene blue or other chemicals used before discharge of industrial waste into the environment.

Using date palm seeds for water treatment

Muscat: A leading university in Oman has made significant progress in using date palm seeds for the treatment of polluted water, a media report here said. Researchers at the College of Engineering of the Sultan Qaboos University (SQU) have found that date palm seeds were more effective in treating polluted water than traditional means, such as active carbon, one of the most commonly used methods to eliminate particles and toxins from water, Times Of Oman reported Thursday. The project to treat polluted water is also studying the feasibility of using date palm seeds with methylene blue. The project will help in recycling and reusing wastes, reducing the concentration of methylene blue or other chemicals used before discharge of industrial waste into the environment.

Now apply online to Indian schools in Oman

Muscat: Indian schools in Oman will go online with their admission process for the academic year 2014-2015, a media report Thursday said. The website related to admissions, www.indianschoolsoman.com, will go online with updated information and online registration forms from Jan 1, Times Of Oman reported.

The Board of Directors (BoD) of Indian schools in Oman - the apex body of the 19 Indian schools in the country with more than 37,000 students - is finalising the admission process for the academic year. According to the report, the Centralised Admission System (CAS) for the six capital area schools, and a computerised random draw system introduced in 2011 had worked well.

Due to a large number of children seeking admission in Indian schools, the demand generally outstrips the total number of available seats, the report said. 
The Indian Schools, which are established primarily to impart education to the students of the Indian community residing within the country, operate as a non-political, secular, and non-profit making self-sustaining institutions.

Now apply online to Indian schools in Oman

Muscat: Indian schools in Oman will go online with their admission process for the academic year 2014-2015, a media report Thursday said. The website related to admissions, www.indianschoolsoman.com, will go online with updated information and online registration forms from Jan 1, Times Of Oman reported.

The Board of Directors (BoD) of Indian schools in Oman - the apex body of the 19 Indian schools in the country with more than 37,000 students - is finalising the admission process for the academic year. According to the report, the Centralised Admission System (CAS) for the six capital area schools, and a computerised random draw system introduced in 2011 had worked well.

Due to a large number of children seeking admission in Indian schools, the demand generally outstrips the total number of available seats, the report said. 
The Indian Schools, which are established primarily to impart education to the students of the Indian community residing within the country, operate as a non-political, secular, and non-profit making self-sustaining institutions.