Finance
UN Biodiversity COP16 reconvenes to finalise nature finance, deliver new protections ahead of COP17 – Greenpeace International
Rome, Italy, Governments will come together for three days of Biodiversity talks to finalise an agreement on the mobilisation of finance for nature. While progress on nature protection was made at CBD (Convention on Biological Diversity) COP16 [1] in October 2024, a last hour suspension in Colombia left parties and civil society disappointed. The deal currently on the table is critical to ensure sufficient funding for protecting and restoring high integrity ecosystems in a fair and equitable way, over the next decade and beyond.
What Greenpeace expects in Rome for success:
- Deliver $20 USD billion from 2025 and additional $30 USD billion from 2030 per year, from public sources, to maintain trust that the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework will be implemented
- Secure direct access to funding for Indigenous Peoples and local communities
- Ensure that the Cali fund is operationalised in a fair, just and equitable way and that the commercial users of Digital Sequence Information (DSI) effectively deliver meaningful contributions
- Agreement on a 2025 plan to eliminate, phase out and reform harmful financial biodiversity incentives
An Lambrechts, Head of the Greenpeace COP16 delegation said: “Failure to make progress on finance in the face of the biodiversity crisis only condemns the planet further on the path to increased nature loss and species extinction. Talks in Rome need to demonstrate ambition, rapid progress and global cooperation. Half-measures are not acceptable; new and additional finance needs to touch the ground for both nature and people.”
Laura Caicedo, Campaigns Coordinator, Greenpeace Colombia said: “The second phase of COP16 in Rome is a key opportunity to close the remaining gaps and ensure that ambition does not remain just words. It is urgent for wealthy countries to take responsibility and agree on a strong and fair solution to fund biodiversity protection for biodiversity protection. We cannot keep postponing crucial decisions—ecosystems continue to collapse, and the communities that depend on them cannot wait any longer.”
ENDS
Notes:
1. COP16 outcomes Greenpeace welcomed in Colombia included the establishment of a new body dedicated to Indigenous Peoples’ rights, roles, territories and knowledge, progress on ocean protections, and on integration of biodiversity and climate action.
-The Greenpeace delegation will be in Rome from 24 February with representatives available for comment.
-Full Greenpeace Policy Briefings for CBD COP16 can be found on:
Contacts:
Gaby Flores, Communications Coordinator, Greenpeace International, [email protected]
Valentina Barresi, Press Officer, Greenpeace Italy, [email protected], +39 342 5532207
Greenpeace International Press Desk, +31 (0)20 718 2470 (available 24 hours), [email protected]
Finance
Casino Group Communication
Harmonization of the procedural framework for discussions
relating to the adaptation and strengthening
of the Casino Group’s financial structure
Paris, 15 May 2026
Further to the Group’s previous communications regarding the project to strengthen and adapt its financial structure, discussions are continuing with financial creditors across various entities within the Group.
As the formalization of a comprehensive agreement is facilitated by the existence of a uniform framework, the Group has applied to the President of the Paris Economic Activities Court for the opening of conciliation proceedings for the benefit of several of its companies1 for an initial period of four months, potentially extendable by one month. In this context, the appointment of SCP BTSG (Maître Marc Sénéchal) as conciliator is being considered for certain of these entities, while the appointment of SCP CBF Associés (Maître Lou Fréchard) is being sought as conciliator for Quatrim.
The Group will seek the consent of Quatrim’s high-yield bondholders for the opening of conciliation proceedings concerning Quatrim and Monoprix SAS, being respectively borrower and guarantor of these bonds.
These conciliation proceedings, which are consistent with those initiated early March2, only concern the financial debt of the companies involved and will have no impact on the Group’s relationships with its operating partners (in particular its suppliers) and employees. Operational activities will continue as normal, in line with the Group’s strategic priorities.
***
ANALYSTS AND INVESTORS CONTACTS
Charlotte IZABEL – cizabel@groupe-casino.fr – Tél: +33 (0)6 89 19 88 33
IR_Casino@groupe-casino.fr – Tél : +33 (0)1 53 65 24 17
PRESS CONTACTS
Casino Group – Communications Department
Stéphanie ABADIE – sabadie@groupe-casino.fr – Tél : +33 (0)6 26 27 37 05
directiondelacommunication@groupe-casino.fr – Tél : + 33(0)1 53 65 24 29
1 Casino Guichard Perrachon, Naturalia France, Monoprix SAS, Monop’ SAS, Samada, Aux Galeries de la Croisette, Monop’Station, O’Monoprix, OLogistique, C- Logistics, C-Technology, CLR, CLV, CShield, Cnova France, IGC Services, Cnova Pay, Casino Finance, Franprix Leader Price Holding and Quatrim
2 Press release dated 9 March 2026 : conciliation proceedings initiated for the benefit of Maas, Sédifrais, ExtenC, Monoprix Holding, Monoprix Exploitation, Distribution Franprix, Franprix-Leader Price Finances, Achats Marchandises Casino and Cdiscount
Attachment
Finance
Texas restaurants feel financial strain as costs continue to rise, report shows
Texas restaurant operators are continuing to face mounting financial pressure as rising food and fuel costs impact businesses across the state, according to the latest quarterly economic report from the Texas Restaurant Association.
The association’s 2026 first-quarter report shows that many restaurant owners are struggling to keep up with increased operating expenses while trying to avoid passing those full costs on to customers.
“You know, what we’re seeing a lot of in Texas from these quarterly economic reports that we do is that food costs continue to rise,” said Texas Restaurant Association Chief Marketing Officer Tony Abroscato. “We all know that it’s up 35% since the pandemic. And so that’s an impact on our restaurant.”
According to the report, 77% of restaurant operators reported increased costs of goods, while 66% said suppliers have added fuel surcharges as gas prices continue to climb.
“We’re seeing that 90% of consumers start to adjust their habits based upon rising gas prices,” said Tony Abroscato. “Then also those gas prices impact the cost of food because everything is trucked and shipped and a variety of different things.”
In addition to rising costs, labor shortages remain a major concern for restaurant owners. More than half of association members reported difficulties finding enough workers.
“You know, immigration is difficult and has had an impact on the restaurant industry, the farming industry, which again, then raises prices along the way,” said Abroscato.
Despite the financial challenges, the Texas Restaurant Association’s 2026 first-quarter report shows that Texas restaurants are only passing a portion of those increased costs on to customers while absorbing the rest through reduced profits.
Some restaurant owners have been making changes to adjust, like limiting menu items or even turning to QR code ordering, Abroscato said.
Copyright 2026 by KSAT – All rights reserved.
Finance
Household savings, income and finances in Spain: how did they fare in 2025 and what can we expect for 2026?
In 2025, GDI grew above the rate of average annual inflation (2.7%) and the growth in the number of households (1.3% according to the LFS), which allowed for a recovery in purchasing power. In this context, real household income has grown by 4.5% since before the pandemic, highlighting that households have continued to gain purchasing power in real terms.
The strong financial position of households is reflected not only in the high savings rate but also in their financial accounts. In this regard, households’ financial wealth continued to increase in 2025: their financial assets amounted to 3.4 trillion euros at the end of the year, versus 3.1 trillion at the end of 2024. This increase of 292 billion euros is broken down into a net acquisition of financial assets amounting to 95 billion, higher than the 21.5-billion average in the period 2015-2019, when interest rates were very low, and a revaluation effect of 194 billion. When breaking down the net acquisition of assets, we note that households invested 42 billion euros in equities and investment funds, just under 9.6 billion less than in deposits, while they disposed of debt securities worth 6 billion following the fall in interest rates.
On the other hand, households continued to deleverage in 2025, and by the end of the year their financial liabilities stood at 46.9% of GDP, compared to 47.8% in 2024, the lowest level since the end of 1998. This decline reflects the fact that, in 2025, households took advantage of the interest rate drop to prudently incur debt: net new borrowing amounted to 35 billion euros, representing an increase of 3.8%, which is lower than the nominal GDP growth of 5.8% and the GDI growth of 5.3%.
As a result of the increase in financial assets and the decrease in liabilities as a percentage of GDP, the net financial wealth of households recorded a notable increase of 7.3 points compared to 2024, reaching 156.8% of GDP.
-
North Dakota37 seconds agoDust storms rage in North Dakota and South Dakota
-
Ohio7 minutes agoManufacturing history unfolds at North Central Ohio Industrial Museum
-
Oklahoma13 minutes agoOklahoma becomes latest state to sue Roblox over child safety concerns
-
Oregon19 minutes agoOregon man shot at In-N-Out drive-thru drove family to safety with bullet lodged in head
-
Pennsylvania25 minutes agoAn Outpouring of Frustration Over Pennsylvania’s Rapid Data Center Growth – Inside Climate News
-
Rhode Island31 minutes agoFlags are at half-staff in Rhode Island today. Here’s why
-
South-Carolina37 minutes agoSouth Carolina Lottery Pick 3, Pick 4 results for May 14, 2026
-
South Dakota43 minutes agoMr. Basketball award is presented annual by Hansen Anderson Basketball