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MANILA, PHILIPPINES - The People's Republic of China (PRC) will receive $100 million dollar loan from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to develop small towns and cities in Shanxi province, a move that will provide new jobs and help narrow the urban-rural income gap.

The 193-nation Copenhagen Conference on Climate Change (Dec.7-18) failed to come up with what the world had long expected, a legally binding Treaty, or even a Declaration with promise of Kyoto Protocol-II being drawn up in 2010. But its near collapse was averted with a five-nation “Copenhagen Accord” brokered by President Barack Obama - his probable first victory in the international arena - taking along China, the largest polluter, India, Brazil and South Africa.

Politics and economy are inter-dependent but it is not always that a new ministry has to simultaneously face political and economic challenges. Haryana's Congress ministry is confronted with both the challenges.

New York: The United Nations human rights office has called for restraint in the wake of clashes between police and protestors on the first day of nationwide strike called by Maoists.

New Delhi: The fourth round of tripartite talks on Gokhaland issue failed to come to an agreement in the absence of a consensus and the organisation spearheading the movement for a separate state has sought political dialogue at the next round of talks within 45 days.

New York: Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon welcomed the deal on climate change reached by world leaders at a United Nations summit in Copenhagen, calling it an 'essential beginning' that contains progress on all key fronts, but adding that work must now focus on turning the deal into a legally binding treaty.

Eucalyptus has attracted attention from global development researchers and environmentalists. Outside of their natural ranges eucalypts are both lauded for its beneficial economic impact on poor populations and derided for being an invasive water sucker, leading to controversy over its total impacts and future. It is a fast-growing source of wood, its oil can be used for cleaning and functions as a natural insecticide, and it is sometimes used to drain swamps and thereby reduce malaria risk.

The general perception about the UPA's Telangana misadventure has been that it was just one false step by the otherwise well-run government. But a closer look will show that the panic decision on December 9 should also serve as a warning shot about the way this government takes important decisions.

BHOPAL: The Telangana fever is spreading pretty fast. It has already affected Madhya Pradesh. Here, a demand is being raised for the creation of two new states—Vindhya Pradesh and Bundelkhand. At present, only disgruntled politicians are making this demand. For instance, the first leader to demand a separate Bundelkhand was Uma Bharati, who has been reduced to a non-entity in her home state, because of her own doings.

Eleven European countries have ratified a United Nations-backed agreement designed to promote the sustainable management of forests producing tropical timber and a diverse and legal international trade in such products.