Ban Ki-moon

(Office of Her Majesty, Press Department-Amman) Her Majesty Queen Rania Al Abdullah was selected as one of 26 members of a High-level Panel announced in New York by United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to advise on the global development agenda beyond 2015, the target date for the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

Eight years ago, with an eye to our own future and a belief that this could be the moment humanity would begin to redeem itself, we made a promise to the world and to ourselves -- to reduce child mortality… halve poverty… eradicate inequality.                                                        

And from food… to clean water… to immunizations… to education… our progress toward the Millennium Development Goals has given hundreds of millions of people a chance to live a better life. 

(Office of Her Majesty, Press Department- New York) – Her Majesty Queen Rania joined 12 year old South African schoolgirl Nthabiseng Tshabalala in New York today to hand in an eighteen-million strong petition to the UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-Moon.

The petition, presented as a chalkboard representing the millions of people that had signed up, demanded immediate action from world leaders to deliver education for more than 69 million children currently unable to go to school.

(Office of Her Majesty – Press Department – New York) - Her Majesty Queen Rania Al Abdullah, UN Secretary General Ban ki-Moon, and former President of Ireland Mary Robinson joined other dignitaries and international celebrities to launch a new anti-poverty campaign aimed at mobilizing global citizens to pressure their governments to deliver on their promises of achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by the 2015 deadline.

(Office of Her Majesty, Press Department – New York) Speaking at a United Nations Foundation’s event in New York, Wednesday, Her Majesty Queen Rania Al Abdullah urged world leaders and the global community to refocus their commitment to achieving the Millennium Development Goals by the 2015 deadline.

(Jordan Times - Amman) His Majesty King Abdullah on Thursday discussed with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon the UN’s role in achieving peace and stability in the region and the world.

(As it appeared in Slate)

Woke up this morning, and the first thing I did was phone my son Hashem to see how he was feeling. He was napping, and I didn't get much out of him, but it was still comforting to hear his sleepy little voice. I can't wait to give him a big cuddle.

(As it appeared in Slate)

It's not often that my morning starts with a really catchy tune, played live on a New York street corner by one of the coolest and most talented musicians around. But this one did. And it was all for a great cause. I can't wait to tell my eldest son, Hussein.