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260 injured in China metro train crash

Over 260 passengers were injured, many seriously, after two high-speed metro trains on Tuesday collided in Shanghai due to signal failure, which was also blamed for the deadly bullet train crash in China two months ago that claimed 40 lives. The accident occurred when a metro train smashed into the rear of another one after the signal system went haywire, sending the busy suburban network in China's largest metropolis and commercial hub into a spin, state-run CCTV reported. Four foreigners, including two Japanese, one each from Canada and the Philippines also suffered minor injuries.

Network of Radars to monitor India's coastline: Antony

Defence Minister A K Antony has said that all efforts are being made to secure the country’s vast coastline with a network of Radars. Addressing the 30th Annual Coast Guard Commanders’ Conference in New Delhi on Tuesday he informed that 36 such radars will be installed in the mainland in the first phase that would be completed by 2012. Coast Guard might be the youngest of the Forces under the Defence Ministry, he said that it is the fastest growing force.The Minister said, on the infrastructure front, the establishment of District Headquarters at Kavaratti and commissioning of three stations at Minicoy, Ratnagiri and Mundra has taken place since last year. The total number of Coast Guard stations now stands at 31. There are plans to establish Regional Headquarters (North-East), along with a station at Kolkata. Three more stations at Dahanu, Androth and Krishnapatnam are planned to be established soon. On the aviation front, Mr. Antony said there is a need to establish more air stations and air enclaves on a priority basis. He added that 156 boats are being built at various shipyards, both public and private, while the Coast Guard will get 12 more Donier aircrafts soon.

Strengthen Collaboration Between UN-HABITAT-India

Mr. Joan Clos, Executive Director, UN-HABITAT today called on the Minister of Housing & Urban Poverty Alleviation and Culture Kumari Selja in New Delhi. During their 40 minutes meeting, both Kumari Selja and Mr. Joan Clos discussed ways to strengthen collaboration between UN-HABITAT and the Government of India and also explored possibilities of new areas of cooperation. Referring to the fast urbanization in India, Kumari Selja said, the Government of India has taken several initiatives to meet the challenges of the urbanization through schemes such as JNNURM and Rajiv Awas Yojana. She said, UN-HABITAT can cooperate with India with its expertise and technical knowhow in urban planning and design to plan inclusive cities. The Minister said, the UN-HABITAT and the Government of India can jointly workout the best models of urban planning in context of India. Both sides agreed that the UN-HABITAT should have more engagement with Government of India. On its part, the Minister made a commitment to enhance the contribution from Government of India to UN-HABITAT, which currently stands at $80,000 (US Dollar) per annum. The United Nations Human Settlements Programme, UN-HABITAT, is the United Nations agency for human settlements. It is mandated by the UN General Assembly to promote socially and environmentally sustainable towns and cities with the goal of providing adequate shelter for all. This apart, UN-HABITAT has been actively involved in a number of projects in India at the national, state, district and local levels. Over the years, several activities of UN-HABITAT have been organized in close collaboration with Government of India. India is a founding member of UN-HABITAT and has been playing a leading role by actively participating in its deliberations. The World Urban Forum (WUF) was established by the United Nations to examine one of the most pressing problems facing the world today: rapid urbanization and its impact on communities, cities, economies, climate change and policies. Since the first meeting in Nairobi, Kenya in 2002, the Forum has grown in size and stature as it travelled to Barcelona in 2004, Vancouver 2006, and Nanjing in 2008. India has been represented by delegation led by Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation Minister (a) as a sovereign country in the 4th WUF, (b) as chair of the 21st Governing Council of UN-Habitat; and (c) as the member of the Asia Pacific Ministerial Conference for Housing and Human Development (APMCHUD) *** AD/DB (Release ID

Saudi Arabia gives women right to vote

Saudi Arabia's king  announced that women will be given the right to vote and stand in elections, a bold shift in the ultra-conservative absolute monarchy as pressure for social and democratic reform sweeps the Middle East. Official correspondent reports that it is by far the biggest change in Saudi Arabia's tightly-controlled society yet ordered by the 88-year-old Abdullah bin Abdulaziz al-Saud.

Chidambaram involved in telecom scam: Anna

 NEW DELHI: The social activist Anna Hazare said home minister P Chidambaram would have been behind bars had the Jan Lokpal legislation been in existence.

Talking to media, Anna Hazare said "Had there been a Jan Lokpal now, Chidambaram would have been in jail."

He said that Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee in his report also accused Chidambaram of latter's involvement