- Honda and Nissan expected to begin merger talks
- 'Draconian' Vietnam internet law heightens free speech fears
- Israeli women mobilise against ultra-Orthodox military exemptions
- Asian markets track Wall St rally as US inflation eases rate worries
- Tens of thousands protest in Serbian capital over fatal train station accident
- Trump vows to 'stop transgender lunacy' as a top priority
- Daniels throws five TDs as Commanders down Eagles, Lions and Vikings win
- 'Who's next?': Misinformation and online threats after US CEO slaying
- Only 12 trucks delivered food, water in North Gaza Governorate since October: Oxfam
- Langers edge Tiger and son Charlie in PNC Championship playoff
- Explosive batsman Jacobs gets New Zealand call-up for Sri Lanka series
- Holders PSG edge through on penalties in French Cup
- Slovak PM Fico on surprise visit to Kremlin to talk gas deliveries
- Daniels throw five TDs as Commanders down Eagles
- Atalanta fight back to take top spot in Serie A, Roma hit five
- Mancini admits regrets over leaving Italy for Saudi Arabia
- Run machine Ayub shines as Pakistan sweep South Africa
- Slovak PM Fico on surprise visit to Kremlin
- Gaza rescuers say Israeli strikes kill 35
- 'Incredible' Liverpool must stay focused: Slot
- Maresca 'absolutely happy' as title-chasing Chelsea drop points in Everton draw
- Salah happy wherever career ends after inspiring Liverpool rout
- Three and easy as Dortmund move into Bundesliga top six
- Liverpool hit Spurs for six, Man Utd embarrassed by Bournemouth
- Netanyahu vows to act with 'force, determination' against Yemen's Huthis
- Mbappe back from 'bottom' as Real Madrid down Sevilla
- Ali hat-trick helps champions Ahly crush Belouizdad
- France kept on tenterhooks over new government
- Salah stars as rampant Liverpool hit Spurs for six
- Syria's new leader says all weapons to come under 'state control'
- 'Sonic 3' zips to top of N.America box office
- Rome's Trevi Fountain reopens to limited crowds
- Mbappe strikes as Real Madrid down Sevilla
- 'Nervous' Man Utd humiliated by Bournemouth
- Pope again condemns 'cruelty' of Israeli strikes on Gaza
- Lonely this Christmas: Vendee skippers in low-key celebrations on high seas
- Troubled Man Utd humiliated by Bournemouth
- 2 US pilots shot down over Red Sea in 'friendly fire' incident: military
- Man Utd embarrassed by Bournemouth, Chelsea held at Everton
- France awaits fourth government of the year
- Germany pledges security inquest into Christmas market attack
- Death toll in Brazil bus crash rises to 41
- Joshua bout only fight left for beaten Fury says promoter Hearn
- Odermatt stays hot to break Swiss World Cup wins record
- Neville says Rashford's career at Man Utd nearing 'inevitable ending'
- Syria's new leader vows not to negatively interfere in Lebanon
- Germany pledges security inquest after Christmas market attack
- Putin vows 'destruction' on Ukraine after Kazan drone attack
- Understated Usyk seeks recognition among boxing legends
- France awaits appointment of new government
'Peace among ourselves' crucial to save nature: UN chief
UN chief Antonio Guterres called Wednesday for "peace among ourselves" in order to save the planet, as devastating wars rage in Ukraine, Gaza, Lebanon and Sudan.
"We need peace with nature and we need peace among ourselves," Guterres told journalists in Cali, Colombia, where he attended a UN summit that is seeking ways to "halt and reverse" humankind's destruction of Earth's bountiful resources.
"We need to make peace among ourselves because wars... have some of the most devastating impacts on biodiversity, on climate and on pollution," the secretary general said.
He reiterated calls for a "just peace" in Ukraine and an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, with "massive" humanitarian aid to the people there and the release of all hostages held by Hamas since its attack on Israel more than a year ago.
Guterres also underlined the need for a peace in Lebanon "that respects Lebanese sovereignty and Lebanese territorial integrity and paves the way for a political solution," after Israel expanded its military offensive into that country.
He called for "peace in Sudan, where an enormous tragedy exists."
The secretary general joined five presidents and dozens of ministers in Cali for a two-day "high-level segment" seeking to add impetus to the biggest-ever UN biodiversity summit, which started on October 21 and runs until Friday.
- 'Existential crisis' -
The 16th Conference of Parties (COP16) to the UN's Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) must make progress on the creation of monitoring and funding mechanisms to achieve 23 goals agreed in Canada two years ago to put the brakes on nature destruction.
A report issued by nature watchdogs Monday said only 17.6 percent of land and inland waters, and 8.4 percent of the ocean and coastal areas, are protected and conserved.
And an update of the International Union for Conservation of Nature's Red List found more than 46,000 plant and animal species out of some 166,000 assessed are threatened with extinction.
Negotiators in Cali, however, remain stuck on modalities of funding, and on how best to share the profits of digitally sequenced plant and animal genetic data -- used in medicines and cosmetics -- with the communities they come from.
The UN chief reiterated his warning that humanity faced an "existential crisis," saying COP16 delegates must make haste to address "the permanent neglect of biodiversity."
Another goal of the 2002 Kunming-Montreal Biodiversity Framework is to ramp up biodiversity financing to $200 billion per year by 2030.
"Obviously finance is essential, but finance is not enough," said Guterres.
"What we need is a political priority at government level, a political priority at the multilateral institutions level, and a clear commitment of the private sector."
He added: "Without defeating the biodiversity crisis, we will not defeat the climate crisis, we will not defeat the pollution crisis and we will condemn our world to a situation of extreme poverty in the natural environment.
"This is totally unacceptable."
H.E.Young--AMWN