London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Saturday, Jul 26, 2025

WHO regional boss accused of racism

WHO regional boss accused of racism

Whistleblowers at the health body’s Manila HQ allege that the regional director made “derogatory comments” based on the nationality of staffers
World Health Organization (WHO) staffers have reportedly accused the agency’s top director in the Western Pacific of undermining the agency’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic by creating a “toxic atmosphere” rife with racist language and “systemic bullying” at its Manila headquarters.

In an internal email reportedly sent to senior WHO leadership last week, employees alleged that the director, Takeshi Kasai, had allowed a “culture of systemic bullying and public ridiculing” to develop at the office. The Associated Press reported that the mail included “recorded snippets of meetings” where Kasai is “heard making derogatory comments about staff based on nationality.”

In one instance, described in the complaint, Kasai is alleged to have “aggressively questioned” an employee on whether she was “incapable of delivering good presentations because she was Filipina.” Staff also alleged that Kasai attributed the rise in Covid cases in some Pacific nations to a “lack of capacity due to their inferior culture, race, and socioeconomic level.”

Kasai has denied the allegations, telling the AP that he asks “a lot of myself, and our staff … but it should not result in people feeling disrespected.” While accepting that he had been “hard” on employees, he rejected having “targeted staff of any particular nationality.”

He also reportedly expressed his commitment to “a positive work environment.”

An unnamed WHO scientist told the AP that Kasai had helped Japan decide how to donate vaccines to its neighbors – and score a political advantage. The scientist reportedly added that Kasai had also pressured WHO staff to prioritize donated vaccines from his home country over the UN-backed COVAX initiative. Kasai has rejected both allegations.

Although the staffers claimed they had “exhaustively” filed complaints through various UN oversight mechanisms, they said that to their knowledge no inquiry had begun. The WHO told the AP that it was “taking all appropriate steps to follow up on the matter.” Kasai has promised to “cooperate fully” with any inquiry into the staff's concerns.
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Deputy attorney general's second day of meeting with Ghislaine Maxwell has concluded
Controversial March in Switzerland Features Men Dressed in Nazi Uniforms
Politics is a good business: Barack Obama’s Reported Net Worth Growth, 1990–2025
Thai Civilian Death Toll Rises to 12 in Cambodian Cross-Border Attacks
TSUNAMI: Trump Just Crossed the Rubicon—And There’s No Turning Back
Over 120 Criminal Cases Dismissed in Boston Amid Public Defender Shortage
UN's Top Court Declares Environmental Protection a Legal Obligation Under International Law
"Crazy Thing": OpenAI's Sam Altman Warns Of AI Voice Fraud Crisis In Banking
The Podcaster Who Accidentally Revealed He Earns Over $10 Million a Year
Trump Announces $550 Billion Japanese Investment and New Trade Agreements with Indonesia and the Philippines
US Treasury Secretary Calls for Institutional Review of Federal Reserve Amid AI‑Driven Growth Expectations
UK Government Considers Dropping Demand for Apple Encryption Backdoor
Severe Flooding in South Korea Claims Lives Amid Ongoing Rescue Operations
Japanese Man Discovers Family Connection Through DNA Testing After Decades of Separation
Russia Signals Openness to Ukraine Peace Talks Amid Escalating Drone Warfare
Switzerland Implements Ban on Mammography Screening
Japanese Prime Minister Vows to Stay After Coalition Loses Upper House Majority
Pogacar Extends Dominance with Stage Fifteen Triumph at Tour de France
CEO Resigns Amid Controversy Over Relationship with HR Executive
Man Dies After Being Pulled Into MRI Machine Due to Metal Chain in New York Clinic
NVIDIA Achieves $4 Trillion Valuation Amid AI Demand
US Revokes Visas of Brazilian Corrupted Judges Amid Fake Bolsonaro Investigation
U.S. Congress Approves Rescissions Act Cutting Federal Funding for NPR and PBS
North Korea Restricts Foreign Tourist Access to New Seaside Resort
Brazil's Supreme Court Imposes Radical Restrictions on Former President Bolsonaro
Centrist Criticism of von der Leyen Resurfaces as she Survives EU Confidence Vote
Judge Criticizes DOJ Over Secrecy in Dropping Charges Against Gang Leader
Apple Closes $16.5 Billion Tax Dispute With Ireland
Von der Leyen Faces Setback Over €2 Trillion EU Budget Proposal
UK and Germany Collaborate on Global Military Equipment Sales
Trump Plans Over 10% Tariffs on African and Caribbean Nations
Flying Taxi CEO Reclaims Billionaire Status After Stock Surge
Epstein Files Deepen Republican Party Divide
Zuckerberg Faces $8 Billion Privacy Lawsuit From Meta Shareholders
FIFA Pressured to Rethink World Cup Calendar Due to Climate Change
SpaceX Nears $400 Billion Valuation With New Share Sale
Microsoft, US Lab to Use AI for Faster Nuclear Plant Licensing
Trump Walks Back Talk of Firing Fed Chair Jerome Powell
Zelensky Reshuffles Cabinet to Win Support at Home and in Washington
"Can You Hit Moscow?" Trump Asked Zelensky To Make Putin "Feel The Pain"
Irish Tech Worker Detained 100 days by US Authorities for Overstaying Visa
Dimon Warns on Fed Independence as Trump Administration Eyes Powell’s Succession
Church of England Removes 1991 Sexuality Guidelines from Clergy Selection
Superman Franchise Achieves Success with Latest Release
Hungary's Viktor Orban Rejects Agreements on Illegal Migration
Jeff Bezos Considers Purchasing Condé Nast as a Wedding Gift
Ghislaine Maxwell Says She’s Ready to Testify Before Congress on Epstein’s Criminal Empire
Bal des Pompiers: A Celebration of Community and Firefighter Culture in France
FBI Chief Kash Patel Denies Resignation Speculations Amid Epstein List Controversy
Air India Pilot’s Mental Health Records Under Scrutiny
×