UN marks 20th anniversary of bombing of its headquarters in Baghdad

STORY: UN marks 20th anniversary of bombing of its headquarters in Baghdad DATELINE: Aug. 19, 2023 LENGTH: 00:02:03 LOCATION: UN Headquarters CATEGORY: POLITICS SHOTLIST: 1. various of anniversary 2. SOUNDBITE (English): ANTONIO GUTERRES, UN Secretary-General STORYLINE: The United Nations on Friday commemorated the 20th anniversary of the suicide bombing of its headquarters in Baghdad, Iraq, which killed 22 UN personnel. At a brief ceremony at the UN headquarters in New York, Atul Khare, the UN undersecretary-general for the Department of Operational Support, laid a wreath in front of a plaque for the 2003 bombing. The bombing took place on Aug. 19, 2003, in the Canal Hotel in Baghdad, which was used by the United Nations as its headquarters in Iraq. The bombing killed 22 people, including the UN Special Representative in Iraq Sergio Vieira de Mello, and wounded more than 100 others. The UN General Assembly in 2008 designated the date of the Baghdad bombing as World Humanitarian Day. In a video message

Death toll in Indian-controlled Kashmir cloudburst rises to 16, dozens missing

STORY: Death toll in Indian-controlled Kashmir cloudburst rises to 16, dozens missing DATELINE: July 10, 2022 LENGTH: 00:01:23 LOCATION: SRINAGAR, Indian-controlled Kashmir CATEGORY: SOCIETY SHOTLIST: 1. various of India Gate 2. various of cloudburst-affected area and flood (courtesy of ANI) STORYLINE: The death toll from a cloudburst that hit near a Hindu cave shrine in Indian-controlled Kashmir rose to 16 on Saturday, officials said, with more than 40 still missing. The downpour triggered a flash flood on Friday evening and swept away makeshift tents as well as community kitchens near the Amarnath shrine. "Sixteen people have been confirmed dead. About 40 still seem to be missing," National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) Director-General Atul Karwal was quoted by local media reports as having said. "Four NDRF teams with over 100 rescuers are carrying out rescue work." Reports said nearly 15,000 pilgrims were moved to safe areas near the cave shrine after the cloudburst. Officials said the injured pil

U.N.'s Khare in Japan

U.N.'s Khare in Japan

Atul Khare (L), the U.N. under-secretary-general for operational support, poses for a photo with Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno at the prime minister's office in Tokyo on May 17, 2022.