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ROME， March 22 (Xinhua) -- The European Union (EU) is facing unprecedented challenges， and it cannot afford to delay ""appointments with history""， Italian President Sergio Mattarella said on Wednesday.
""Today we need a united Europe， as much as we did sixty years ago，"" Sergio Mattarella told a joint session of the Italian parliament.
Europe's need of development and prosperity was inextricably linked to the collective ability to have a say on the global scene， according to the head of state.
""Not even Europe can afford to postpone appointments with history， when they occur， and no solution would come from divisions or splits，"" he said.
Italian lawmakers gathered in the Chamber of Deputies to celebrate the forthcoming 60th anniversary of the Treaty of Rome， which triggered the whole integration process in 1957.
Along with the president of the Republic， Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni attended the ceremony.
Major celebrations with the 27 heads of state and government of the EU countries (without Britain) are officially scheduled in the Italian capital on March 25.
As one of the six founding members of the integration process， Italy has always shown a pro-European stance， which was clearly reinstated in Mattarella's address.
""The fathers of Europe， who gave birth to the treaties， were not visionary men， but politicians aware of the challenges and of the risks， and able to face them，"" he told the assembly.
""Those men were capable to turn weakness and vulnerability of our respective populations into points of strength， building a large and open society.""
Currently， Europe appears often aware of the steps required to move forward， but uncertain whether to undertake the necessary course， according to the official.
""As such， today as much as in the past， Europe needs far-sighted visions， and the ability to experience further courageous paths，"" Mattarella said.
He added that none of the European countries could claim a real independence of choices， nor guarantee peace， security， and prosperity to its citizens， if it stands alone.
""Building the future requires Italy and Europe every possible resource， an extraordinary unity of purpose， and a firm belief in the founding values of the European integration process，"" he concluded.
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BUENOS AIRES Camiseta Angel Di Maria Mundial 2018 , Aug. 11 (Xinhua) -- Argentine football legend Diego Maradona Monday warned national team San Lorenzo to prepare for a tough match against Paraguay's Nacional, saying Paraguayan footballers "are fierce."
The two teams go head to head in the Libertadores Cup final Wednesday in Buenos Aires.
"By all means, let the San Lorenzo fans celebrate," said Maradona, referring to the team's odds of winning the tournament.
"But ... the knives-clenched-between-their-teeth Paraguayans are fierce," he warned, indicating San Lorenzo should be ready for an uphill battle.
Maradona, a retired football player and coach, made the remarks in an interview early Monday with TV channel America, in which he also severely criticized the playing quality of his team Boca Juniors.
Boca lost to Newell's 1-0 at a home game, as part of the Transition Tournament, with what Maradona called "the worst version" of the team he had ever seen.
"It's a sorry sight that they can't take three consecutive steps, and that once past the midfield they have to throw the ball at a header like (forward Emmanuel) Gigliotti who misses two out of three times," Maradona said of the game.
Maradona said he won't be attending the Libertadores final at San Lorenzo Stadium, following the 1-1 draw of the first leg played Wednesday in Asuncion, Paraguay.
by Jennifer Ng
EL NIDO, Philippines, June 21 (Xinhua) -- While patrolling the seas around the clock and chasing down errant fishermen are ideal interventions to preserve marine resources such as coral reefs, the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) believes that simply changing the way people do business or their habits when they go on vacation would also boost the efforts.
This is because, UNEP said, human activities have a big impact on marine resources. Aside from climate change, population increase and coastal development have also contributed significantly to the damage on coral reefs.
"A fifth of the world's coral reefs have been lost, and more than 60 percent is under immediate, direct threat. Climate change and ocean acidification will increasingly affect all reefs. What we do impact on reef health," said Jerker Tamelander, head of UNEP 's Coral Reef Unit.
UNEP singled out tourism as constituting a "significant pressure" on coral reefs. While tourism can bring in much-needed revenues for developing countries, the tendency of businesses to disregard the need to protect the environment so they can rake in more profits can exact a heavy toll on the natural resources of the Philippines.
For UNEP, this is simply unacceptable especially since this would mean the destruction of more natural resources such as coral reefs. Recognizing the need to put in place doable "best practices " that can be adopted by businesses, locals, and tourists, the UN unit partnered with Britain-based charity The Reef World Foundation and local non-government organization El Nido Foundation (ENF) to roll out the Green Fins approach in the Philippines.
Green Fins is a set of simple measures that seek to preserve coral reefs in popular diving sites in the country. UNEP and ENF organized a study tour for foreign and local journalists in El Nido town in the western Philippine province of Palawan. The tour is meant to showcase how the Green Fins approach is being implemented in El Nido.
GREEN FINS IN EL NIDO
El Nido (Spanish term for 'the nest') is a first class municipality located in the northwestern tip of Palawan province. It covers 18 villages, of which 16 are coastal vi. Enrique Esqueda Mexico Jersey Cheap Blues Jerseys Rui Patricio Portugal Jersey Steve Mandanda France Jersey Tom Heaton England Jersey Tin Jedvaj Croatia Jersey Stefan Medina Colombia Jersey Weverton Brazil Jersey Zakaria Bakkali Belgium Jersey Victor Cuesta Argentina Jersey
