Children and disabled people are facing ever more horrific conditions in war-torn Gaza, with some dying as they wait for medical evacuations, as the year-long war grinds on, UN officials and rights experts said on Friday.

PARIS, Oct 24 (IPS) - Nobody should be fooled by President Biden's recent warning to Israel that the U.S. may level consequences if it doesn't do more to surge humanitarian aid into Gaza within the next 30 days. Biden's warning, along with Anthony Blinken's 11th trip to Israel and the region to try and revive ceasefire talks, is nothing more than cynical double talk designed to appease domestic audiences and buy time for Israel to deepen its genocidal aims against the Palestinian people and brutally punish those who support their liberation.

COPENHAGEN & SRINAGAR, Oct 24 (IPS) - Anne Olhoff, Chief Climate Advisor at UNEP, underlined the urgent need for accelerated climate action ahead of COP29 in an exclusive interview with IPS. "The next six years are crucial—without accelerated action, we will miss the chance to limit warming to 1.5°C," she warned.

COPENHAGEN, Oct 24 2024 (IPS) - The United Nations Environment Programme’s (UNEP) Emissions Gap Report 2024 delivered a stark reminder that the world is still far from meeting its climate commitments.

CARACAS, Oct 24 (IPS) - Migration, trade, the defence of democracy, the confrontation with China and the collapse of multilateralism are issues that shed more doubts than certainties on Latin America's expectations of the imminent presidential elections in the United States.

Oct 24 (IPS) - Attacks on Lebanon over the past two months, as instigated by the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have been increasingly indiscriminate. The Disaster Risk Management Unit at the Lebanese Council of Ministers confirmed that the death toll of Lebanese civilians has risen to over 2,530. Furthermore, Israel's hostilities have led to casualties among United Nations (UN) personnel, which has been described as "violations of international law".

BANGKOK, Thailand, Oct 24 (IPS) - Over half of Asia-Pacific's population now live in cities. While urbanization brings people closer to opportunities and better services, many urban dwellers are also experiencing the adverse impacts of climate change such as floods, urban heat and infectious diseases. Urban activities are among the major contributors to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

CAIRO, Oct 24 (IPS) - In a significant move to address the challenges faced by people with disabilities and the elderly, six Egyptian parliamentary committees met in Cairo on October 12 to discuss national strategies and legislative efforts.

KAMPALA, Oct 24 (IPS) - Until recently, Margaret Natabi would never have dreamed of taking her anti-corruption fight on the streets of Uganda's capital, Kampala.

The UN Special Rapporteur on cultural rights called on Thursday for States to act now to remove stereotypes in sport and ensure non-discrimination for all those competing.