Author Insider

Syria: OHCHR announced the results of a preliminary data analysis today, which found that over 60,000 people have been killed in the Syrian conflict since March 15, 2011.

Mali: The SC authorized the deployment of an African-led International Support Mission in Mali, to be known as AFISMA, for an initial period of one year to assist the authorities in recovering rebel-held regions in the north and restoring the unity of the country (though it is not likely that the force will be deployed until Fall 2013).

Syria: The independent international Commission of Inquiry on Syria released their latest
update today on the continuation of violence in the country.

SG’s Year-End Press Conference: The SG held his annual year-end press conference today, reflecting on the major achievements and challenges within the past year.

Pakistan: The SG, WHO, and UNICEF have condemned the killing of six polio vaccination workers in Pakistan yesterday.

World Malaria Report: The WHO released its World Malaria Report 2012 this morning, noting a significant slowdown in global funding of anti-malaria campaigns that threatens to roll back gains made against the disease in the last decade.

DPRK: Both the SG and SC issued statements “deploring” last night’s rocket-launch by DPRK.

Climate Change: The SG welcomed the outcome of the UN Climate Change Conference in Doha on Saturday, saying it paves the way to a comprehensive, legally binding agreement by 2015.

The SG: SG Ban Ki-moon visited camps for Syrian refugees in Jordan and Turkey today, “shocked, humbled and deeply moved” by the stories he heard.