he UN Conference on Climate Change in Doha has come to an end with around 200 countries agreeing to extend the Kyoto Protocol till 2020. The treaty seeks to limit the emission of greenhouse gases by around 35 nations until the end of this year. The conference also agreed on promises of financing to help poor countries tackle the climate change, and reaffirmed the previous decision to adopt a new global climate treaty by 2015. Our West Asia Correspondent reports that the extension of Kyoto Protocol means it will stay alive as a legally binding instrument on climate change since its term expires on December 31. It will cover the period till 2020 after which a new climate treaty will come into force which is supposed to cover both rich and the poor countries. The current treaty will be applicable only to 15 percent of global emissions mainly from EU, Australia and a group of smaller nations. US has rejected the agreement saying it didn’t impose any binding commitment on China and other emerging economies. Russia, Japan, Canada and New Zealand have refused to join for a second commitment. On the climate financing, the rich nations have been encouraged to enhance the climate aid by $10 billion per year from 2010-12 to help reduce carbon emissions and adapt to a changing climate. No mid term targets have been set as the nations agreed to identify pathways for mobilizing the scaling up of climate finance. A new concept of loss and damage has been incorporated in the text at the request of small island nations to take into account the damages from climate-related disasters. The new treaty is likely to be adopted in 2015 and will come into effect from 2020. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has welcomed the climate deal in Doha but said far more still needs to be done. The European Union Climate Commissioner Connie Hedgegaard has expressed hope that the deal would pave the way to talks on a new global UN treaty by 2020. The new treaty will have emission goals for all countries including China and India.

he authorities in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on Sunday beheaded a Pakistani in holy city of Mecca for stabbing to death a compatriot. Saudi Interior Ministry said, Pakistani national Altaf Hussein Hati was found guilty of stabbing a man in the throat and leaving him to bleed to death. His beheading brings to 74, the number of people executed so far this year in the kingdom. According to Amnesty International, 79 people were put to death in 2011. Rape, murder, apostasy, armed robbery and drug trafficking are all punishable by death under the Sharia or Islamic law.

outh African President Jacob Zuma has visited Nelson Mandela in hospital and says he looks well after a restful night. Mr Zuma's spokesperson said, the President has been reassured that Mr Mandela is in the hands of a competent medical team at the hospital in Pretoria. The 94-year-old was admitted to a hospital on Satyrday to undergo some medical tests.

Around 600 foreign troops are expected to accompany six Patriot missile systems to be deployed in Turkey to reinforce the NATO member country's air defence and calm its fears of coming under a possible missile attack from neighboring Syria. Local newspaper Today's Zaman reported that the surface-to-air batteries, able to intercept ballistic missiles, are expected to be transported to Turkey by sea within four or five weeks. A team of NATO experts recently visited Turkey to survey the possible sites for the deployment, and have submitted their report to Ankara and NATO's Supreme Allied Commander Europe. The United States, Germany and the Netherlands, the only three NATO nations with the most modern type of Patriots, have all agreed to send missiles to protect their ally. Each battery to be sent to Turkey reportedly has four to six missile launchers and each launcher has the capacity of launching 16 missiles.

he Human Rights Day will be observed across the globe on Monday. This year the objective of this day is to highlight the rights of all people, including women, minorities, persons with disabilities and marginalised people as well as to make their voices heard in decision making processes. The General Assembly of the United Nations adopted and proclaimed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights on 10th December in 1948. The Declaration is the recognition of dignity and the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human community as the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world.

To mark the occasion, the National Human Rights Commission is organizing a programme in New Delhi for spreading more awareness on human rights.

 US drone strike in Pakistan's North Waziristan on Sunday killed a senior Al-Qaeda commander. According to a news agency, the attack killed Mohammad Ahmed Almansoor and three others in Tabi area close to Miranshah. The drone fired four missiles at a house destroying two rooms and a car. Another, senior Al-Qaeda commander was killed in a drone attack on Thursday in North Waziristan.

The security control in Afghanistan’s Kapisa province has been handed over to local forces as French troops continue withdrawal. Kapisa Governor Mehrabuddin Safi said the foreign troops have vacated the area, adding that the Afghan National Army is responsible for security in the area. According to NATO plans, drawdown of foreign forces will be completed by 2014. With the latest pullout, France now has only 530 troops deployed in the war stricken country

he Presidents of Afghanistan and Pakistan will hold talks in Turkey on Tuesday and Wednesday in a bid to resolve a row after Kabul claimed an attack against its spy chief was planned in Pakistan. The assassination attempt on National Directorate of Security chief Asadullah Khalid was carried out on Thursday by an attacker who claimed to be a Taliban peace envoy but had a bomb hidden in his underwear. Afghan President Hamid Karzai did not directly blame Pakistan for the attack but said the Taliban alone would not have been able to carry out the bombing and that bigger hands were involved. The Pakistani Foreign Ministry rejected the claim and said it is ready to help investigate what it called a criminal act.

n Uttar Pradesh, the security of the Taj Mahal would be increased further under state tourism department's project to develop the slums of Agra's nearby Tajganj area. Separate set of CCTV cameras will be installed and a buffer zone created to ensure the safety of the monument.

Addressing senior officials Chief Secretary Javed Usmani said that the project is extremely important not only for the state, but also for the country. He directed the officials to finalise the project's blueprint within 10 days.

The slums of Tajganj are often seen as an eyesore on the canvas of Taj. The project comprises all-round development of the Tajganj area.

It also involves construction of a world class approach road besides landscaping the nearby parks and riverfront.The UP government had floated tenders inviting companies to present a blueprint for the development of Tajganj in October.

The directorate of tourism has also prepared a detailed project report of an approach road and infrastructure in Tajganj. A team from National

Concerned over the spate of eve teasing cases in the Maharashtra, the state government is considering a proposal to make it a non-bailable offence. Minister for Women and Child Welfare Varsha Gaikwad on Saturday said she will discuss the issue with Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan.

She also said that a committee comprising social workers and women legislators will be formed to examine a draft bill to enact the Maharashtra Prohibition of Eve-teasing and Harassment of Women Act, prepared by an NGO.

According to the NGO, 80 per cent of women do not register a complaint due to family pressure and fear of being targeted or stigmatised. In the proposed bill it has been demanded that offenders should be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend upto three years and a fine of not less than Rs 20,000.

In case of death or suicide of a woman due to harassment, the convict should be penalised with imprisonment of a term which may extend to ten years and a fine of not less than Rs. 50,000.

In Gujarat, the Election Commission has deputed an Inspector General rank police officer as police observer in the Dangs district in South Gujarat region.

The district returning officer P.K. Solanki told our correspondent that the new incumbent is a Maharashtra cadre IPS officer and said that he was not aware about the recall of already working police observer against whom the BJP had lodged complaint.

The Deputy Election Commissioner Vinod Zutshi along with Chief Electoral Officer of the state Ms. Anita Karwal will today review poll preparedness in 7 districts of south region including Narmada, Bharuch, Surat, Dangs, Navasari, Valsad and Tapi.

Senior civil and police officers from concerned districts and the state and all observers from the election commission will be present in the review meetings.

Our correspondent reports that only three days are left for canvassing for first phase of Assembly Elections in the state and all major political parties have put their maximum strength to woo the voters.

Senior Congress leader and Prime Minister Dr. Man Mohan Singh will address an election rally at tribal dominating Navasari district today. It will be his first rally for the assembly election.

Several Union Ministers including Shankar Singh Vaghela, Bharat Singh Solanki, Ajay Maken, Jyotiraditya Scindhia and Sachin Pilot and senior party leader Ahmed Patel have addressed public meetings across the Saurashtra and South regions.

They have targeted the Modi government for alleged poor law and order situation, making alleged false assurances and putting wrong picture of development of the state.

Chief Minister Narendra Modi, Leaders of opposition in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha Sushma Swaraj and Arun Jaitely have attended public meetings for BJP candidates.

They sharply criticised the Congress led UPA government for its alleged failure in checking price rise and indulging in corrupt practices.

Leaders from JDU, Nationalist Congress Party, NCP and Keshu Bhai Patel led Gujarat Parivartan Party have also hectic schedule for their party candidates in different constituencies.

n Uttar Pradesh, the decks are cleared to construct or upgrade more than 7000 kms of all weather rural roads at a cost of 3148 crore rupees provided by centre under Pradhan Mantri Gram sadak Yojna PMGSY. State Rural Development minister Arvind Sigh Gope said in Lucknow that it is the biggest ever release in a single year under PMGSY. AIR Lucknow correspondent quoting official sources reports, more than 1200 Kms new all weather roads will be constructed in unserved areas of 21 districts connecting 755 villages with a population of 500 or above. The rest of the dwelling which has less than 500 population will shortly be covered under the scheme, said a senior officer in Lucknow.

The country's seed industry is expected to grow by 53 per cent to 10,700 crore rupees by 2015 on increased demand for high-yielding varieties to ensure food security. According to industry body Assocham, awareness about high-yielding varieties among farmers and public private partnership with a strong regulatory framework and collaborative research would be key measures to ensure smooth growth of the seed industry. In a statement, it said, presently, size of the domestic seed industry is about 7,000 crore with a production of 40 million quintals of various kinds of seeds. Assocham Secretary D S Rawat said, better quality seeds with vitality to raise crop yields from limited area is the need of the hour to ensure the country's food security.

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Union Bank of India today opened its 180th branch at new Motibagh area in the national capital. The branch has been opened under the Bank’s Nav Nirman transformation initiative, which aims at delivering superior customer services. It is fully equipped and backed by technology driven value added services including Sampurna ATM, locker, 24-hour lobby banking and call center facilities. Inaugurating the branch, the Chairman and Managing Director of the bank, D. Sarkar said that it is committed to provide better facilities to customers and has also started several special initiatives for the physically handicapped. The Secretary Department of Personnel and Training, P.K Mishra, Urban Development Secretary, Dr. Sudhir Krishna and other officials were also present on the occasion.

A new report from the Asian Development Bank says lagging Asian economies should pick up steam in the coming year. The latest Asian Development Outlook Supplement predicts that developing Asia will post a growth of 6 percent in 2012 and 6.6 percent in 2013, about a tenth of a percentage point lower than anticipated in October. 

The report said vigorous private consumption in Southeast Asia and a mild economic recovery in China nearly balance out the weaknesses in India's economy. 

The report also said economic weakness in Europe and the looming fiscal cliff in the U.S. remain very real threats to developing Asia next year.

In what is likely to widen the rift between the ruling parties and the opposition, the Federal Democratic Republican Alliance has decided to expand the cabinet if there is no package deal between the parties on key issues including formation of the unity government within the next five days.

A meeting of the FDRA held at Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai's residence took this decision. A spokesman said after the meeting that the ruling alliance also decided to take initiative for consensus by showing maximum flexibility.

Earlier today, a meeting of the ruling parties held at UCPN (Maoist) chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal's residence gave the responsibility to hold talks with the opposition parties to Dahal. The FDRA decision comes a day after the President issued a six-day deadline to the parties to choose consensus PM.

A two-day national conference of Dalit writers, organised by the Bharatiya Dalit Sahitya Akademi has begun in New Delhi on Sunday. Several delegates from India and abroad are participating in the event, which was, inaugurated by the spiritual head of the Karma Kagyu tradition of Tibetan Buddhism, Karmapa Trinley Thaye Dorje. The delegates will also discuss various issues relating to depressed and downtrodden people.

Union Finance Minister P. Chidambaram said that evasion of service tax by insurance companies has been detected and show cause notices issued to some of them. Replying to a question in the Lok Sabha, Mr. Chidambaram said, investigation in some cases is on while recovery has been made in other cases.

inance Minister P. Chidambaram has said that subsidies being given are within borrowing limits. Speaking to media-persons outside Parliament, Mr. Chidambaram said that the amount of subsidy for petroleum, Air-India and other sectors is small and the government can accommodate it in present borrowing limits.

The Patna High Court today scrapped the appointment of six vice-chancellors and four pro--vice-chancellors appointed by Governor of Bihar, in his capacity as the Chancellor of the Universities.

A division bench comprising Chief Justice Rekha M Doshit and Justice A Amanullah passed the order scrapping the appointment .The court further directed the Chancellor to make a fresh list of candidates for appointment of the six VCs and four Pro-VCs within a week and asked the state government to make appointment against these posts within 30 days.