A WHACKING 15,000 delegates descended on Cancun at the weekend. Expectations were not high. The problem for those seeking the Holy Grail of a deal to “save the planet” was that the climate change debate has changed.

More than 190 countries have struck an agreement at the latest round of UN climate talks that puts efforts to secure a new international deal to tackle global warming back on track.

A new legal agreement committing the world to curb greenhouse gas emissions is unlikely to be completed before the end of 2011, two years later than originally envisaged, the United Nations' climate chief said.

Hurricane Dean strengthened into a 160mph Category 5 storm capable of catastrophic damage today, as its first rain and winds began hitting the coasts of Mexico and Belize.