Prague - European Union environment officials Wednesday urged the world's major economies to join the 27-member bloc in its ambitious plans to curb global warming.

"We want to offer co-leadership to the United States and other important countries," said outgoing Czech Environment Minister Martin Bursik, whose country currently chairs the EU.

The call came some eight months before a United Nations conference in Copenhagen, which aims to set new targets for reducing emissions of gases heating up the planet.

Warsaw- Twenty-five people were arrested Wednesday in Poland on suspicion of bringing counterfeit euro banknotes into circulation across the European Union, local media reported. More than 300 investigation officials and anti-terrorism officers entered some 30 homes simultaneously to make the arrests, reported the Polish Press Agency PAP.

Suspects included two Polish soldiers, a prison service official, and a Romanian national. They face up to 10 years in jail.

Brussels - Less than half of Europe's citizens are interested in June's European Parliament elections, and only a third of them currently plan to take part in the ballot, according to an unreleased survey obtained Tuesday by the German Press Agency dpa. The Eurobarometer survey, expected to be published later this week, polled some 27,000 citizens from the 27-member bloc between January and February.

New Delhi, Apr. 14 : Government officials from South Asian countries, the European Union and the United States are participating in a conference this week in New Delhi on Countering Terrorist Financing in the Charitable Sector.

The conference, hosted by the U. S. Embassy and the Asia Pacific Group on Money Laundering, is promoting government action to prevent terrorist organizations from exploiting humanitarian or religious charities as a way to conceal the illegal international movement of funds.

Tehran- Iran and the European Union on Monday agreed to resume talks over Iran's controversial nuclear programme, which for the first time could involve direct negotiations with the United States. During a telephone conversation between Iran's chief nuclear negotiator Saaid Jalili and EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana, the two sides agreed to pursue talks between Tehran and the so-called P5+1 group, state television network IRIB reported.

Brussels - The European Union on Monday expressed "great concern" at the situation in Thailand and called for a peaceful resolution to the conflict between the country's government and opposition. The EU presidency urged anti-government demonstrators in Thailand to refrain from violence on the streets, saying this could lead to further tension and harm Thailand's stability and reputation.

The EU said it hoped the political divide could be overcome through dialogue and democratic means, within the framework of the constitution.