Indian origin Businessman tops Ireland's rich list

STAFF WRITER 5:51 HRS IST

London, Apr 1 (PTI) Septuagenarian Pallonji Mistry, an Indian origin business magnate has topped Ireland's rich list with a worth of 3.9 billion pounds.

Mistry ? who became an Irish citizen in 2003 through his Irish born wife ? has interests in real estate, cars, heavy industry, tea and partly owns the Taj Mahal Hotel.

Mistry reportedly has 18.4 per cent stake in India's largest private conglomerate Tata Sons.

Iran's top nuclear negotiator heads to China

STAFF WRITER 3:23 HRS IST

Tehran, Apr 1 (AP) Iran's state media says the country's top nuclear negotiator is heading to China to discuss possible UN sanctions against Tehran over its disputed nuclear program.

Iranian state television reported that Saeed Jalili will travel to China today for talks with senior Chinese officials "concerning the nuclear program".

The US and other Western powers are pushing for a new round of UN sanctions on Iran over its defiance to halt its uranium enrichment program.

China wields veto power on the Security council and has been a vocal opponent of sanctions on Iran.

US officials have said they believe Beijing may be changing its stance.

The US and some of its allies accuse Iran of seeking to develop nuclear weapons. Iran has denies the charges.

UN official expects no climate deal until 2011

STAFF WRITER 6:44 HRS IST

Amsterdam, Apr 1 (AP) A new legal agreement committing nations around the world to curb greenhouse gas emissions is unlikely to be completed before the end of 2011, two years later than originally envisioned, the top UN climate official said.

Yvo de Boer, executive secretary of the UN climate change secretariat, yesterday said countries need to restore confidence in UN negotiations following the dismal results of the Copenhagen summit in December, which ended in a vague agreement of principles and a pledge of finances for poor countries most threatened by climate change.

"There was a great deal of frustration at the end of the Copenhagen conference in terms of process," de Boer said in a conference call with reporters from his office in Bonn, Germany.

World raises nearly USD 10 bln for quake-hit Haiti

STAFF WRITER 7:0 HRS IST

United Nations, Apr 1 (AFP) The global community pledged nearly USD 10 billion for Haiti over more than three years to put the quake-ravaged nation back on its feet.

As part of the total USD 9.9 billion, UN member states and international organisations participating in a donors' conference here pledged USD 5.3 billion for the 2010-2011 period, far exceeding the USD 3.8 billion that was sought by conference organisers for that period.

That target was meant to fund a USD 4.0 billion action plan put forward by the Haitian government to fund reconstruction projects over the next two years in the poorest country in the Americas.

"The member states and international partners have pledged USD 5.3 billion for the next two years and USD 9.9 billion in total for the next three years and beyond," Ban told a press conference wrapping up the meeting.

"Friends of Haiti have acted far beyond expectations.