The publisher and Correspondent in Washington D.C. for Today News Africa, Mr. Simon Ateba, sent to The DEFENDER on Friday April 8, 2022 a piece on his historical experience meeting with the Director General of the World Health Organisation (WHO), Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. “He told me that at the WHO in Geneva I am a star. I thank God!” Excerpts:
Here is our top story today. It was great to meet with the Director General of the World Health Organization and the leadership of the WHO in Washington DC on Thursday. They told me that I am very much loved by all WHO staff in Geneva and I felt special.
Of course that does not mean I will not continue to do my job fairly. And to be fair, they have all worked tirelessly for years trying to defeat COVID-19 around the world. And I appreciate their hard work. Below are a few pictures that we took yesterday.
Here is our top story today. The United States and China are at war in West Africa, and on Thursday, the United States Special Operations Command Africa’s commander, Rear Admiral Jamie Sands discussed the security situation in Africa, and gave his expert opinion about the threat of violent extremism across the continent.
In one of his most explosive comments likely to anger Beijing, he said the United States will not accept a naval base by China in West Africa.
Admiral Sands, who has been in command at the Special Operations Command Africa for roughly 10 months, was echoing a warning issued on March 17, 2022, by Army General Stephen J. Townsend, commander of U.S. Africa Command warned, when he told Congress that the Chinese were actively seeking a military naval base in Africa on the Atlantic coast, which would threaten U.S. national security. And that is our top story today.
By Simon Ateba, Publisher and White House Correspondent for Today News Africa in Washington D.C.
Other photographs from the meeting below:
In Washington D.C. today with the Director General of World Health Organization Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the Chief Executive Director of the WHO Health Emergencies Program Dr. Michael Ryan and Dr. Maria Van Kerkhove, technical lead COVID-19 response at the WHO. The WHO boss told me “Simon Ateba, you’re our star! Everyone loves you at the WHO in Geneva!” I was humbled!
Some other editorial titles by Simon Ateba’s Africa News Today below:
‘I Hope Not!’ Psaki Taken Aback When Reporter Asks if Biden Blames Her or Her Team for Low Approval Ratings
www.mediaite.comApr 5th, 2022, 8:56 am
With a surprised smile, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki told reporters she hopes President Joe Biden doesn’t blame her for the decline in his approval ratings since taking office.
Ms. Psaki briefed reporters on Monday, and continued to make good on her efforts to call on reporters outside the first two rows. Among them was Today News Africa correspondent Simon Ateba, who was first to ask Psaki about rumors she was headed for a cable news gig weeks before news of her move to MSNBC broke.
This time, Mr. Ateba put Psaki on the spot about the president’s approval ratings:
President Biden’s approval experienced a surge following his State of the Union address, and perhaps buoyed by public sentiment about the war in Ukraine, but has stabilized in the low forties in the major polling averages — where it has been for about six months. As Mr. Ateba noted, the president enjoyed a 63 percent approval rating when he took office.
The United States Special Operations Command Africa’s commander, Rear Admiral Jamie Sands, on Thursday, discussed the security situation in Africa, and gave his expert opinion about the threat of violent extremism across the continent. In one of his most explosive comments likely to anger Beijing, he said the United States will not accept a naval base by China in West Africa.
The World Health Organization Director General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus at a joint press briefing in Washington D.C. on Thursday with the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra praised the United States and President Joseph R. Biden Jr. for their efforts and contributions to beat COVID-19 around the world, including in Africa, but acknowledged that several other challenges remain, including in Ukraine where Russia’s invasion has displaced millions of people, and in Ethiopia’s Tigray region, where government forces are preventing full humanitarian access.
