U.S. Secretary Blinken’s to Visit Cabo Verde, Cote d’Ivoire, Nigeria, and Angola
Secretary Antony J. Blinken will travel to Cabo Verde, Cote d’Ivoire, Nigeria, and Angola on January 21-26, 2024 to highlight U.S.-Africa partnership since the U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit, climate, food, health security, future-focused economic partnership, and infrastructure investments in Africa.
Photo by U.S Department of State
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
STATEMENT BY MATTHEW MILLER, SPOKESPERSON
JANUARY 18, 2024
Secretary Antony J. Blinken will travel to Cabo Verde, Cote d’Ivoire, Nigeria, and Angola January 21-26, 2024.
Throughout the trip, the Secretary will highlight how the United States has accelerated the U.S.-Africa partnership since the U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit, including in areas such as climate, food, and health security. He will also emphasize our future-focused economic partnership, and how the United States is investing in infrastructure in Africa to boost two-way trade, create jobs at home and on the continent, and help Africa compete in the global marketplace.
Additionally, the Secretary will advance security partnerships based on shared values such as respect for human rights, promotion of democracy, and expansion of the rule of law. He will reaffirm U.S. commitment to our coastal West African partners through the Strategy to Prevent Conflict and Promote Stability, U.S. partnership with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to address regional challenges, and U.S. efforts to support African leadership in de-escalating tensions and adopting diplomatic solutions to the conflict in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The United States reaffirms its sustained commitment to high-level U.S. engagement with Africa.
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U.S. Migration Policy Overview
FOREIGN PRESS CENTER BRIEFING WITH KATIE TOBIN, DEPUTY ASSISTANT TO PRESIDENT BIDEN AND COORDINATOR FOR THE LOS ANGELES DECLARATION, BLAS NUÑEZ-NETO, ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF HOMELAND SECURITY FOR BORDER AND IMMIGRATION POLICY, AND ERIC JACOBSTEIN, DEPUTY ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE FOR CENTRAL AMERICA, CUBA AND MIGRATION.
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Bureau of Global Public Affairs
JANUARY 11, 2024
FPC TRANSCRIPT: U.S. Migration Policy Overview
FOREIGN PRESS CENTER BRIEFING WITH KATIE TOBIN, DEPUTY ASSISTANT TO PRESIDENT BIDEN AND COORDINATOR FOR THE LOS ANGELES DECLARATION, BLAS NUÑEZ-NETO, ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF HOMELAND SECURITY FOR BORDER AND IMMIGRATION POLICY, AND ERIC JACOBSTEIN, DEPUTY ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE FOR CENTRAL AMERICA, CUBA AND MIGRATION.
Cover Photo: Metin Ozer @metinozer
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An Africa-Themed MET GALA? New Chief Mark Rollein Speaks
Max Hollein, Director and Chief Executive Officer of The Metropolitan Museum of Art New York, recently hosted members of The NY Foreign Press Center to a breakfast tour, and answered the burning question on every African fashionista’s mind.
By Oyiza Adaba, new york
The Met Fifth Avenue, New York. Photo Africa-Related
Max Hollein, Director and Chief Executive Officer of The Metropolitan Museum of Art New York, recently hosted members of The NY Foreign Press Center to a breakfast tour, and answered the burning question on every African fashionista’s mind.
Members of The NY Foreign Press Center at The MET briefing with Director Max Hollein. Photo Africa-Rleated
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, one of the United States’ leading cultural institutions which boasts “over 5,000 years of art from around the world for everyone to experience and enjoy”, recently gave an exclusive opportunity for members of the Foreign Press to sit down with its Director and Chief Executive Officer Max Hollein to learn their latest news from the Met.
In the Q&A session that followed his remarks, Mr Holllein provided insights on his vision for The Met’s future and the role of a universal museum in the 21st century, and updates on the museum’s priorities, including new cultural property initiatives; post-COVID attendance/revenue recovery; efforts to address issues of diversity, equity, inclusion, and access across themuseum’s collection, programming, and staff; the Museum’s $2B capital projects program, and a look ahead to upcoming exhibitions and events.
Questions from the international press centered around national interests and engagements opportunities, as well as reparations and returns of artworks with controversial aquisistion histories. Mr Hollein explained that The Met has doubled its efforts in protecting global heritage by streamlining its acquisition process with rigorous factchecking mechanisms that will serve both past and future purchases.
Max Rollein spekas on an Africa-themed MET Gala
THE MET GALA 2024
Theme: “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion” Photo: Met Gala®
The Costume Institute Benefit, also known as The Met Gala®, will take place on May 6 2024. Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion is the 2024 theme that will explore notions of rebirth and renewal, using nature as a metaphor for the impermanence of fashion
Exhibition Dates: May 10–September 2, 2024
Exhibition Location: The Met Fifth Avenue, The Tisch Galleries, Gallery 899, Floor 2
“Over 5,000 years of art from around the world for everyone to experience and enjoy”
INSIDE THE METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ARTS
U.S Secretary of State Blinken to Attend 77th United Nations General Assembly;
Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken will travel to New York City September 18-23 to participate in the 77th Session of the United Nations General Assembly High Level Week
By Africa-Related New York
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesperson
STATEMENT BY NED PRICE, SPOKESPERSON
Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken will travel to New York City September 18-23 to participate in the 77th Session of the United Nations General Assembly High Level Week. While in New York City, the Secretary will meet with UN officials and counterparts on the margins of the event.
Stay connected with the Office of Press Relations:
What is the UN General Assembly and what happens there?
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HOUSTON - GLOBAL ENERGY CAPITAL Takes The Lead In Energy Transition By 2050
HOUSTON
GLOBAL ENERGY CAPITAL Takes The Lead In Energy Transition By 2050
Houston aerial view: Photo by Vlad BusuiocWords: Oyiza Adaba
Photo: Africa-Related/Vlad Busuioc
Houston, Texas
Mayor Sylvester Turner's office announced on Friday that the city of Houston will be leading a delegation to Paris from June 27-July 2, as part of its preliminary mission in combating the environmental impact of the global energy industry..
Christopher Olsen, Director of Trade and International Affairs City of Houston
Bob Harvey President and CEO of the Greater Houston Partnership
Speaking to the Foreign Press, the President and CEO of the Greater Houston Partnership, Bob Harvey outlined the objectives and commitments of Houston Energy Transition Initiative (HEDI) which was launched last year. The coalition of 18 key global energy stakeholders will begin the steps toward this transition process, which is expected to lower the world's carbon footprint to net zero by 2050. Their strategy, which leverages on the oil and gas leadership to accelerate these global solutions, will focus on four working sectors - carbon capture, use & storage; clean energy & hydrogen development; industrial decarbonisation, and funding or capital formation.
Known as the energy capital of the world, Houson is strategic for many reasons. It is home to the renowned Texas Medical Center with MD Anderson Cancer Center, the Johnson Space Center, 25 Fortune 500 corporate headquarters, the Port of Houston which is the largest port in the US, over 1,700 foreign-owned firms and a large foreign born population.
"Houston is the only city in the world frankly, with the technology expertise, the commercial skills, the manufacturing talent, the infrastructure, to lead the transition to a more sustainable, open future on a global scale"
-Bob Harvey
Mayor Sylvester Turner who also heads the U.S Climate Network acknowledged the benefits of this initiative to the city's institutions and residents, and said much of Houston's success is built on private public partnership. He was represented by Christopher Olsen, Director of Trade and International Affairs, who used the opportunity to commend the 'robust' African Diaspora residents in Houston and their contribution to politics, culture and the economy. He called on the Nigerian Government to establish a much-needed Consulate in the city for what he described as 'one of the largest Nigerian populations outside of Nigeria'.
HEDI to some may be an acknowledgement to decades of environmental degradation caused by the industry's practices like burning of fossil fuel. To others, it could be a start in the industry's effort to right some of its past wrongs, as seen in places like Nigeria's Niger Delta region. The burden of delivering environmental justice, clean energy and development to communities especially those most impacted, however shouldn't be on Houston alone. In Harvey's words,
"…There's simply no way we're going to move forward globally, with trillions of dollars of investment to support the energy transition, without it being inclusive, and being very mindful of both current and past inequities, and how this program is going to speak to them.
- Bob Harvey
HEDI estimates about 560,000 new jobs by 2050, if properly implemented. If HEDI were to make a dent of an impact, it would need partnerships and commitments from global Governments, corporations and communities to adopt their framework, in order to credibly achieve its objectives of clean energy production and environment.
"If we do nothing but follow the path of the traditional energy industry, Houston will likely shed half 1,500,000 jobs by 2050.
- Bob Harvey
Learn more about HEDI and the City of Houston
Oyiza Adaba is Nigerian journalist and producer @africarelated