A new UN plan for Libya aims to overcome political deadlock, put the country back on the path to long-awaited presidential elections and renew the legitimacy of its institutions, the Security Council heard on Monday.

The UN’s top Syria envoy has held talks in Damascus with the head of the new administration as well as the prime minister of the caretaker Government, stressing the imperative for a “credible and inclusive Syrian owned and led political transition.”

Authorities in Gaza reported on Monday that more than 45,000 people have been killed in the enclave in the last 14 months, as humanitarians condemned new deadly airstrikes across the war-torn Strip, including on a UN school-turned-shelter.

Increased humanitarian aid is needed in Syria amid “immense” changes that offer hope to a nation emerging from a 13-year-long war, the top UN envoy for the country said after his arrival in the capital, Damascus, on Sunday.

The largest and most inclusive UN land conference wrapped up in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Saturday, charting a path for global action following two weeks of intense negotiations on how best to tackle land degradation, desertification and drought, which affects one quarter of the world.

Farmers in Saudi Arabia are being encouraged to adopt new irrigation techniques as water and land resources are put under increasing pressure.

Dec 13 (IPS) - The author is an Afghanistan-based female journalist, trained with Finnish support before the Taliban take-over. Her identity is withheld for security reasonsThree years after the Taliban regained control of Afghanistan, women continue to face oppressive laws and systemic marginalization.

THE HAGUE, Dec 13 (IPS) - The “crazy, weird and at some point (what seemed like) insurmountable” plan to ask the International Court of Justice for an advisory opinion on the obligations of UN member states regarding climate change was a success, Vishal Prasad, a representative for the. Pacific Islands Students Fighting Climate Change (PISFCC) said at a post-hearing press conference today (December 13).

URBANA, Illinois, US, Dec 13 (IPS) - New research shows that AI-generated summaries of scientific writing made the information more approachable and easier to understand, and thus created more public engagement with the information. This is notable because most scientists aren’t trained in science communication tactics and so their jargon affects many people’s ability to understand and trust scientific papers and findings.

UNITED NATIONS, Dec 13 (IPS) - The Horn of Africa holds the resources and potential for lasting development and resilience. The countries in the subregion and development partners need to come together to invest in regional cooperation and resource management.