UNITED NATIONS, Jul 18 (IPS) - When South Korea inaugurated a U.N. Office for Sustainable Development last October, the new research and training facility was designed to help the world's poorer nations "accelerate economic growth, improve quality of life and protect the environment".

WASHINGTON, Jul 18 (IPS) - The perception that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is threatening to attack Iran’s nuclear facilities unless sanctions and diplomacy succeed in shutting them down has been the driving force in the Iran crisis.

CAIRNS, Australia, Jul 18 (IPS) - The world's largest and best protected coral reef will be doomed by Australia's unprecedented scale of planned coal and gas development, experts say.

DOHA, Qatar, Jul 18 (IPS) - Syria's defence minister and interior minister are among those who were killed after a suicide bomber struck the National Security building in Damascus during a meeting of cabinet ministers and senior security officials, state media reported.

BULAWAYO, Zimbabwe, Jul 18 (IPS) - The Global Environment Facility (GEF) is ready to be a catalyst for transforming the way the global environment is managed, said the next CEO and chairperson of the multilateral institution, Dr. Naoko Ishii, in this interview with Tierramérica *.

DOHA, Qatar, Jul 18 (IPS) - (Al Jazeera) - Syria’s defence minister and interior minister are among those who were killed after a suicide bomber struck the National Security building in Damascus during a meeting of cabinet ministers and senior security officials, state media reported.

UNITED NATIONS, Jul 18 (IPS) - The 193-member U.N. General Assembly Wednesday commemorated International Nelson Mandela Day in honour of the former South African president.

MEXICO CITY, Jul 18 (IPS) - Mexican advocates of internet freedom are mobilising to protest their government's decision to sign the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA), a multilateral treaty whose stated aim is to protect intellectual property right through enhanced international cooperation and enforcement.

PARIS, Jul 18 (IPS) - Improving family planning to avoid unwanted pregnancies in developing countries, as well as assuring girls’ access to education, and women’s participation in the economy, are essential components of a sound development policy, according to Western experts and African activists.

KUMASI, Ghana, Jul 18 (IPS) - At eleven years old, Thema, a native of Kumasi, hopes to be a nurse when she grows up. Currently, however, she is employed wandering between taxis and tro-tros or minibus taxis at rush hour, carrying packs of ice water on her head and selling them for 10 pesewas apiece. She manoeuvres through traffic in Ghana’s second-largest city with practiced ease; she has been doing this for four years.