Soelden, Austria - Austria's Kathrin Zettel claimed victory in the opening

Beijing - Asian and European Union leaders on Saturday committed their 43 nations to agreeing new goals on climate change by the end of next year.

The 16 Asian and 27 EU leaders issued a joint statement saying they planned to finalize a post-Kyoto Protocol deal on climate change goals to 2012 at talks in Copenhagen scheduled for December 2009.

New targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions would build on the December 2007 climate change conference in Bali, Indonesia, they said, calling on developed nations to show "strong leadership".

London, Oct 25 : Flavio Briatore is now ready to put his money on Lewis Hamilton to win this year’s Formula One title - just a week after writing off his chances.

The Renault boss played down Hamilton’s chances ahead of last week’s Chinese Grand Prix, but the McLaren ace stormed to victory to leave himself on the brink of becoming F1’s youngest world champion.

Briatore claimed the fact that Hamilton let a 17-pointlead slip away last season with two races remaining was “worthy of the Guinness Book of Records.”

Putrajaya (Malaysia), Oct 25 : The action against the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) should not be construed as a clampdown on Indians or Hinduism by the government, said Home Minister Syed Hamid Albar.

He said the action taken so far against the outlawed movement was simply because of their association with militancy and their extremist views, the NST Online reported.

Wellington , Oct 25 : New Zealand is looking to help North Korea pay for imports of heavy fuel oil as a reward for Pyongyang’s disablement of the Yongbyon nuclear facility.

Japanese newspaper Yomiuri Shimbun reports that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade in Wellington said that the country was discussing offering financial assistance for heavy oil aid for North Korea through six-party talks.

New York, Oct 25 : With the economy in tatters at home and two wars still raging abroad, Senator Barack Obama’s team is preparing for a fast start, should he win the election, to what could be the most challenging and volatile transition between presidents in 75 years.

Obama’s advisers are sifting résumés, compiling policy options and discussing where to hold his first news conference as president-elect, the New york Times reported.

Democrats say Obama hopes to name key members of his White House, economic and security teams soon after the election. His transition chief has even drafted a sample Inaugural Address.