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The largest and most important UN climate change conference in history opened Monday, with diplomats from 192 nations warned that this could be the best, last chance for a deal to protect the world from calamitous global warming. The UN meeting started with this video "Save the world".

The conference, the climax of two years of contentious negotiations, convened in an upbeat mood after a series of promises by rich and emerging economies to curb their greenhouse gases, but with major issues yet to be resolved.

Conference president Connie Hedegaard said the key to an agreement is finding a way to raise and channel public and private financing to poor countries for years to come to help them fight the effects of climate change.

Hedegaard — Denmark's former climate minister — said if governments miss their chance at the Copenhagen summit, a better opportunity may never come.

"This is our chance. If we miss it, it could take years before we got a new and better one. If ever," she said in prepared remarks.

Denmark's prime minister said 110 heads of state and government will attend the final days of the two-week conference. President Barack Obama's decision to attend the end of the conference, not the middle, was taken as a signal that an agreement was getting closer.

At stake is a deal that aims to wean the world away from fossil fuels and other pollutants to greener sources of energy, and to transfer hundreds of billions of dollars from rich to poor countries every year over decades to help them adapt to climate change.

Scientists say without such an agreement, the Earth will face the consequences of ever-rising temperatures, leading to the extinction of plant and animal species, the flooding of coastal cities — about half of humanity lives with 100 miles (160 kilometers) of a coastline — more extreme weather events, drought and the spread of diseases.

Negotiations have dragged on for two years, only recently showing signs of breakthroughs with new commitments from The United States, China and India to control greenhouse gas emissions.

The first week of the conference will be focused on refining a complex text of a draft treaty. But major decisions will await the arrival next week of environment ministers and the heads of state in the final days of the conference, which is due to end Dec. 18.

EU keeps world in suspense on 30 percent vow

Only at the endgame of the Copenhagen summit will the European Union tell whether it considers other nations’ pledges to be “comparable”. A “yes” would raise the EU emission reduction commitments.

To keep up pressure on other major players, mainly USA and China, the EU will hide its cards on a key issue until the very last moment of the UN conference on climate change. This is according to the Swedish Minister for Environment, Andreas Carlgren. As Sweden holds the rotating EU presidency, Mr. Carlgren is negotiating on behalf of the union.

The EU has already adopted a commitment to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 20 percent by 2020 compared to 1990 levels. However, the decision also specifies that the union will raise its commitments to 30 percent if other major players undertake “comparable commitments” – without specifying what would qualify as being “comparable”.

“The EU is ready to raise its commitments from 20 to 30 percent, but this would require others to bring something to the table. The endgame will be about what the US and China will deliver. It would be rather astounding if President Obama came to Copenhagen only to offer what he has already said,” Andreas Carlgren told a press conference, according to Danish daily Politiken.

He added that “we are still expecting larger reductions (than so far committed to) from our Chinese friends and colleagues.” (Photo of Swedish Environment Minister Andreas Carlgren: Gunnar Seijbold/Regeringskansliet)

In gift wrap emergencies when you've got the present but need some wrapping, here's an idea for turning a magazine page into a bow. (There may be better ways to stick this thing together, but I used what I had on hand: staples and adhesive glue dots. Double stick tape would work, too.)

Cut a magazine page lengthwise into 9 strips, 3/4" wide. Leave 3 of the strips full length. Cut one inch off 3 of the strips. Cut two inches off 2 of the strips. Cut the last strip down to 3 1/2" long.

Twist each strip to form a loop at both ends and staple it in the center. Shape the last, short strip into a circle and secure it with a glue dot.

Layer the 3 longest pieces on top of each other, spacing them evenly and securing each with a glue dot. Add the next two groups of pieces, doing the same. And finally, stick the loop into the center.

Use other papers, like a map of your city. Here's Chicago. Anybody see your street?

In Denmark, near Aarhus, the world’s first Active House is being tested. Thanks to 50m2 of solar panels, solar collectors and a heat pump, over the course of a year this house actually captures more energy than it uses.

For 8 months of the year, the house feeds excess energy into the national grid and then for 4 months of the year, it takes it back, meaning that the grid acts as an energy bank.

The family who are testing the house by living in it for a year can monitor their electricty and heat production and consumption on a weekly, monthly and daily basis via a computer screen on the wall.

A further innovation is that the house is totally self-controlling. Windows and window blinds operate automatically in response to climatic changes. Sensors inside the house adjust the parametres so that maximum comfort and convenience is achieved using the minimum energy.

Heating and ventilation are also automatically controlled by the house’s central computer. It even over-rides the residents’ behaviour if it thinks they are wasting energy. For example, if lights are left on at night, ten minutes after everyone has gone to bed, the house automatically turns all the lights off.

Seven other similar houses are being built across Europe and the question is really whether it is possible to build houses like this at affordable prices because this one cost around 600,000 euros to build

The Rock in Rome (until its 2008 edition known as Romarock Festival) is one of the musical events that takes place annually in Rome druing the summer. Check the dates and names of the main concerts for 2022, below.

A meticulous replica of the statue of David by Michelangelo, created in Florence using laser scans and 3D printing, will enrich the Dubai Expo 2021 in October. The resin twin brother of Michelangelo’s David,17ft (514 cm) high as the original, was commissioned by the Italian government and will represent Italy at the Expo to be held in the city of the Emirates.

From April 6th 2021, passengers on Covid-Tested flights and anyone who wishes to do so, can undergo an antigen or molecular test at the airport at specially low rates, replacing the facilities managed by the National Health Service and without further burdening the general community.

Covid-tested flights are flights that have been authorised by the Ministry of Health by means of a special ordinance.

Italy offered Europe's first coronavirus-free corridor with the United States for passengers who have tested negative for COVID-19 since November 2020, scrapping the obligation for new arrivals to quarantine. As of today, April 2021 and til the end of June 2021, it is possible for airlines to operate "Covid-tested" flights on the following routes:

Today, April 26th 2020, I continue to closely monitor the unfolding Coronavirus / Covid-19 outbreak.

Most importantly, my thoughts are with all those affected, be it directly or indirectly.

I hope that our past and future guests and friends are staying safe around the globe. My goal is for the frequently-updated information below to help you make an informed decision on your travel plans.

On 30 January 2020, the Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the outbreak of COVID-19 to be a Public Health Emergency of International Concern and issued a set of Temporary Recommendations. WHO did not recommend any travel or trade restriction based on the current information available. WHO is working closely with global experts, governments and partners to rapidly expand scientific knowledge on this new virus, to track the spread and virulence of the virus, and to provide advice to countries and the global community on measures to protect health and prevent the spread of this outbreak.

Maratona di Roma presents a brand new race, something completely different.

Next June 17, there will be the firts edition of Rome Half Marathon by night, 21,097 km in the heart of the Eternal City, with the start at 9 p.m.

The race will join the classic CorriRoma, the eleventh edition of an iconic 10k for all the roman runners.

Registrations for both events are already open at https://mymdr.it/?!z151/=/25/25/en/