GENEVA — Governments are failing to stem a rapid decline in biodiversity that is now threatening extinction for almost half the world's coral reef species, a third of amphibians and a quarter of mammals, a leading environmental group warned today.

"Life on Earth is under serious threat," the International Union for Conservation of Nature said in a 155-page report that describes the past five years of a losing battle to protect species, natural habitats and geographical regions from the devastating effects of man.

IUCN, the producer of the world's Red List of endangered animals, analyzed more than 44,000 species to test government pledges earlier this decade to halt a global loss in biodiversity by 2010.

OBAMA, CHINESE LEADER TO MEET IN ITALY

WASHINGTON — President Obama will meet with his Chinese counterpart, President Hu Jintao, at the Group of Eight meeting in L'Aquila, Italy, next week, according to a White House official.

While China isn't a member of the G-8, Obama will have a sideline meeting with Hu, National Security Council spokesman Denis McDonough told reporters in a conference call yesterday. The two presidents had their first and only meeting April 1 in London before the Group of 20 summit.

IRAN GOVERNMENT DEEMED 'ILLEGITIMATE'

TEHRAN, Iran — Opponents of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad went on the offensive yesterday, proclaiming his government "illegitimate." They vowed to continue disputing his re-election despite a violent crackdown on their protests and dire warnings against challenging the vote.

Hours earlier, in a potentially sharp escalation of the rift within the Iranian establishment, the pro-government Basiji militia asked prosecutors to investigate opposition leader Mir Hossein Mousavi on numerous charges, including "disturbing the nation's security," according to a report by the Fars news agency.

After two weeks of street clashes, Tehran has remained calm over the past several days. Cell phone text-messaging service, cut off since the night before the June 12 election to stymie protesters, was restored in a sign of returning normality.

AIR PASSENGER ARRESTED AFTER DISROBING

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — A passenger stripped naked during a US Airways flight and resisted a flight attendant's efforts to cover him with a blanket before two off-duty law enforcement officers on board subdued and handcuffed him, authorities said Wednesday.

Keith Wright, 50, of the Bronx in New York, was taken into custody after he disrobed while sitting in his seat in the back of Flight 705 on Tuesday evening, authorities said. The plane was carrying about 148 passengers from Charlotte, N.C., to Los Angeles, the airline said.

Flight attendants also were dealing with an unrelated onboard medical emergency at the same time, which exacerbated the situation, the FBI said.

ANTI-SMOKING DRUGS TO INCLUDE WARNINGS

Trying to quit smoking and feel like running into traffic, killing yourself or offing your partner, boss or children? It might be that drug you're taking to help you kick the habit.

The Food and Drug Administration yesterday announced it has ordered the makers of the prescription anti-smoking medications Zyban and Chantix (also known by their pharmaceutical names bupropion and varenicline) to warn patients that taking the drugs may cause changes in behavior and mood, including hostility, agitation, depression and suicidal thoughts or behavior.

The new warnings will be included in a "black box" intended to alert consumers to important side effects of a drug.

2-YEAR-OLD GIRL STRANGLED BY PET PYTHON

OXFORD, Fla. — A pet Burmese python measuring more than 8 feet long broke out of a terrarium and strangled a 2-year-old girl in her bedroom yesterday at a central Florida home, authorities said.

Shaiunna Hare was already dead when paramedics arrived at about 10 a.m., Lt. Bobby Caruthers of the Sumter County Sheriff's Office said.

Charles Jason Darnell, the snake's owner and the boyfriend of Shaiunna's mother, discovered the snake missing from its terrarium and went to the girl's room, where he found it on the girl and bite marks on her head, Caruthers said. Darnell, 32, stabbed the snake until he was able to pry the child away.