BREAKING NEWS ! BREAKING NEWS !
The news that have reached us here is that Tanzania President Jakaya Kikwete collapsed abaout 30 minutes ago while delivering a speech during the Launch of his presidentail campaign for a second term. Its the same spot that he collapsed almost 5 years ago when he was launching his first bid for tghe high office
Rais wa Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete akiwashukuru leo jijini Dar es salaam, wanachama wa CCM waliojitokeza kumpongeza kwa hatua ya kurejesha fomu katika Ofisi za Tume ya Uchaguzi na pia kukubaliwa kama Mgombea halali wa CCM katika uchaguzi ujao.
UN Spokeswoman Joins UN Washington Staff
Marie Okabe, the Deputy Spokesperson for the Secretary-General at United Nations headquarters in New York, has joined the UN Information Center Washington staff as Deputy Director.
Okabe succeeds David Smith who was appointed as Director of the United Nations Information Center in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
In her new position as Deputy Director, Okabe will be responsible for media and outreach to the Washington policy community.
"Marie brings with her a wealth of experience and expertise on the UN's work to help solve the world's most challenging problems," said Will Davis, Director of the UN Information Center Washington. "Her experience will be essential to reaching out to the Washington policy community and to help Congress, NGOs and media better understand the significant role the UN has in the livelihoods of people around the world."
The UN Information Center Washington serves as a focal point for UN news and information to advance understanding of the UN and its work, and serves as a resource for United States government officials, NGOs, civil-society organizations and the American public.
For more than a decade, Okabe served as a spokesperson for the Secretary-General for the United Nations, including the last five years as Deputy Spokesperson for Secretary-Generals Ban Ki-moon and Kofi Annan. Okabe was appointed Associate Spokesperson for Secretary-General Annan in 1999. She thus accompanied the Secretary-General on missions to more than 50 countries.
She previously coordinated the UN refugee agency's policy with humanitarian counterparts at UN headquarters and in New York for the Geneva-based High Commissioner for Refugees Sadako Ogata for six years during which Okabe also acted as UNHCR spokesperson and senior external relations officer. She joined the UN system as public information officer for UNHCR in 1992.
Okabe also worked as a correspondent and editor for United Press International in New York, Tokyo and Washington, D.C.
She holds a B.A., magna cum laude, in international relations from Tufts University and a Master of International Affairs degree from Columbia University with a specialization in East Asian studies and journalism.
Okabe was named and featured as one of Newsweek's 100 Most Respected Japanese in the World.
She is married with two children.
