Poznan, Poland - UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon urged rich and poor nations Thursday to agree on new steps to fight global warming, saying the United States and Europe must lead the way in avoiding a climate "catastrophe."

Addressing 189-nation talks on climate change, Ban said the global financial crisis was a chance to speed investment in clean technology.

He evoked the New Deal, a massive public works programme launched by US president Franklin D Roosevelt during the Great Depression.

Warsaw -­ Polish President Lech Kaczynski held a private meeting with the Dalai Lama Wednesday, the IAR news service reported.

The Dalai Lama has been in Poland since last week and has already held meetings with former president Lech Walesa. He is also scheduled to meet with the head of the Polish parliament. A week ago, the spiritual leader of Tibet met with French President Nicolas Sarkozy, prompting protests from Beijing.

Warsaw - Prime Minister Donald Tusk launched talks Tuesday with German Chancellor Angela Merkel on a European Union climate package which faces criticism from coal-reliant Poland.

Tusk and Merkel were also expected to discuss an upcoming EU summit in Brussels, and a Polish-Swedish proposal that calls for stronger EU ties with former Soviet bloc nations like Georgia.

Merkel's visit to Warsaw was to include talks on the financial crisis and Polish-German relations, Tusk's top aide told the Polish Press Agency.

Gdansk, Poland - Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama called for a "century of dialogue" and disarmament, while praising Poland's spirit in face of hardship during celebrations in Gdansk that marked the 25th anniversary of Lech Walesa receiving the Nobel Peace Prize.

The spiritual leader called for dialogue and stressed interdependence and cooperation. He said while Poland's interest depended on Europe, it was also a case that "Europe's interest depends on the rest of the world."

Gdansk - The former leader of Poland's Solidarity trade union Lech Walesa on Saturday presented the first Lech Walesa Prize to Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah for his contribution towards inter- faith dialogue and charity work.

King Abdullah's prize - accepted by his son in his name - was awarded during a celebration in Gdansk that marked the 25th anniversary of Walesa receiving the Nobel Peace Prize.

It recognized King Abdullah for "promotion of values which were the foundation of the Solidarity movement," a conference presenter said.