The Africa Bazaar magazine

The U.S. Department of States Spokesperson Matthew Miller yesterday stated the U.S. is deeply concerned by anti-LGBTQ+ laws under consideration, not just in Uganda or elsewhere in Africa but GLOBALLY, [including 10 U.S. States—Florida, Texas, North Carolina, Idaho, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Kentucky,, Montana, Iowa] that “targets LGBTQ+ person and their allies. We believe that governments should protect all individuals in their countries and that every person deserves full dignity and that these laws, whether in Africa or anywhere in the world, undermine the human rights, prosperity, and welfare of individuals and risk damaging their country’s reputation abroad.”

BREAKING News: White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre announced Friday that President Joe Biden and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden will host President of Kenya William Ruto and First lady of Kenya Rachel Ruto for a State Visit to The White House in May to mark the 60th anniversary of U.S.-Kenya diplomatic relations and partnership.

JUST IN: Actress Taraji P. Henson, Maryland Governor Wes Moore, Actress Phylicia Rashad among seven Americans that will be honored during a ceremony at Rev. Al Sharpton’s NAN’s annual Martin Luther King, Jr Day event.

Another African local female chef attempts to break the Guinness World Records for the longest cooking marathon. Ugandan local chef and food vendor, Dorcus Kirabo, known as , is trying to reclaim the GWR cooking marathon title that Irish chef Allen Fisher won last month when he broke the GWR set in May by Nigerian chef Hilda Baci. If she wins, she will be the second African woman and chef to claim the title. Ugandans as well as other Africans are cheering her on on social media, with and stopping by her cooking stall.

Noted: During his recent trip to Kigali, Rwanda, American Comedian and actor Kevin Hart and his family paid a visit to Kigali Genocide Memorial to lay a wreath and learn about the genocide. Through a physical guide of the memorial exhibits, they learned about the causes, realities and consequences of the Rwandan Genocide and insights to the country’s journey to rebuilding.

full video of our special live coverage and interviews from yesterday at the AIM 4 Climate summit in Washington DC

A special LIVE COVERAGE of AIM for Climate summit in Washington D.C. on May 10, 2023, Full video This Africa Bazaar magazine's special LIVE COVERAGE of AIM for Climate Summit in Washington D.C. on May 10, 2023, includes interviews with Ambassador Josefa ...

JUST IN (Africa): This morning, President Biden issued an Executive Order allowing the Treasury Department and the State Department to take action on imposing Sanctions on individuals or persons responsible for destabilizing Sudan and undermining the democratic goal of the country. "The violence taking place in Sudan is a tragedy—and it is a betrayal of the Sudanese people’s clear demand for civilian government and a transition to democracy. I join the peace-loving people of Sudan and leaders around the world in calling for a durable ceasefire between the belligerent parties. This violence, which has already stolen the lives of hundreds of civilians and began during the holy month of Ramadan, is unconscionable. It must end...The United States stands with the people of Sudan—and we are acting to support their commitment to a future of peace and opportunity," President Biden said in a statement on Thursday.

Reflecting on her official weeklong trip to 🇬🇭 🇹🇿 , and 🇿🇲, Vice President Kamala Harris underscores the innovation, ingenuity, and entrepreneurship she saw happening across the African continent, noting that these discoveries fuel her optimism for the world's future:

Why Africa Matters: Vice President Kamala Harris Reflects on her trip to Ghana, Tanzania, and Zambia Following her official weeklong trip across three African countries- Ghana, Tanzania, and Zambia, Vice President Kamala Harris in conversation with Kevin You...

BREAKING NEWS: U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen says she will call for debt relief for Ghana and Zambia at the G20 meeting this week. “We need to work together to ease the debt overhang that is holding back too many countries..[specifically, low income countries]. I will continue to push for all bilateral official creditors including China to participate in meaningful debt treatment for developing countries and emerging markets that are in distress. Most urgent is the need to provide debt treatment to Zambia and to commit to specific incredible financing insurances. Later this week I’m also looking forward to robust discussions about the common framework process to help countries like Ghana. I’ll also be discussing international coordination on debt restructuring for middle income countries,” Secretary Yellen said during press conference this morning in India.

BREAKING news: The White House announced First Lady Dr. Jill Biden will make her first visit to Africa this week as American First Lady, with stops in Namibia and Kenya from Feb 22-26 to strengthen the U.S’ partnerships on the continent, and advance U.S. shared priorities in the region. This will be Dr. Jill Biden’s sixth visit to the African continent. She previously visited DRC, Ghana, Ethiopia, Malawi, Niger, Sierra Leone, Kenya, South Africa, Zambia in her capacity as American Second lady during the Obama-Biden administration.

EXCLUSIVE Scoop: During the U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit next week, First Lady Dr. Jill Biden is hosting a special event for African First Ladies/spouses of Heads of Delegation attending the summit

NeedToKnow: President Joe Biden leaves tonight for a two continent, three-country trip to Africa and Southeast Asia with stops in North Africa in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt at the COP27 conference before heading to Southeast Asia in Cambodia and a final stop at the G20 summit in Indonesia. He will return to the White House on November 17.
This is POTUS first trip to Africa since he became President. He will meet the President of Egypt Al-Sisi for a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the COP27 high-level meeting, which is already underway.
At the COP27 conference, President Biden will highlight America’s leadership in tackling the climate crisis both on the domestic and global fronts as well as show how his administration is mobilizing unprecedented levels of public and private finance to partner with developing countries in reducing their emissions and, in particular, in adapting to climate impacts, as well as the efforts that U.S. is leading to decarbonize the so-called “hard to abate” sectors like shipping, and to drive multilateral progress through a number of targeted efforts such as the Global Methane Pledge,

As part of the Biden administration’s efforts to deepen economic ties and promote trade and investment opportunities between the U.S. and African nations, yesterday, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and deputy Secretary Wally Adeyemo hosted a special business dinner event for a group of African finance ministers from Angola 🇦🇴. Côte d’Ivoire 🇨🇮, Ghana 🇬🇭, Egypt 🇪🇬, Democratic Republic of Congo, 🇳🇪, Senegal 🇸🇳, Mozambique 🇲🇿, South Africa 🇿🇦, Zambia 🇿🇲, and African Union Special Envoy for Covid-19 and former AfDB President Donald Kaberuka at the U.S. Treasury building in D.C. Here’s the full video from the event👇🏽

U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen hosts a special business dinner for African Finance Ministers Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and Deputy Treasury Secretary Wale Adeyemo hosted a special business dinner event for African finance ministers at the Treasu...

https://youtu.be/biUHVWqhKlI

EXCLUSIVE: Zambian President Hichilema, Minister of Commerce Chipoka Mulenga tout new economic plan

https://theafricabazaar.com/two-african-women-tennis-stars-win-wimbledons-top-prizes/

Two African Women Tennis Stars Win Wimbledon's Top Prizes - The Africa Bazaar Magazine - Official Site Tunisia Ons Jabeur and Kenyan Angela Okutoyi, made history at the 2022 Wimbledon Championship finals, joining a list of tennis nobilities.

FOR THE FIRST TIME since 1962, history was made on Saturday in Wimbledon when two modestly known-named women tennis players, Tunisian Ons Jabeur and Kazakhstani Elena Rybakina, made their maiden appearances against each other in the All England Club’s Center court in a riveting women’s championship final that left the world titilating and inspired by the two players

https://theafricabazaar.com/tunisian-ons-jabeur-makes-history-at-wimbledon-as-first-african-first-arab-woman-to-play-grand-slam-at-the-iconic-tennis-club/

Tunisian Ons Jabeur Makes History at Wimbledon as First African, First Arab Woman to Play Grand Slam at the Iconic Tennis Club - The Africa Bazaar Magazine - Official Site Once inspired by fellow tennis stars like Serena Williams, Martina Navratilova, Simona Halep, Ons is now part of the Wimbledon tradition.

BREAKING NEWS (AFRICA): President Biden has signed an executive order Friday (this morning) for a new sanctions against Ethiopia that will allow his administration’s Treasury department’s OFAC to target those responsible for and complicit in prolonging the conflict in Tigray, Ethiopia.
The sanctions, which will hold accountable individuals and entities in the government of Ethiopia, Eritrea, the Tigray People’s Liberation Front and Amhara regional government that continue to pursue conflict over negotiations to the detriment of the Ethiopian people, is aimed to incentive all parties to come to the table to bring an end the Tigray conflict.
The new sanctions come after several months of direct talks and appeals from the Biden administration to all the parties involved in the ongoing Tigray civil war, including Prime Minister Abiy, to end the war and allow humanitarian access into the region.
“The United States remains committed to supporting the people of Ethiopia and to strengthening the historic ties between our countries. These sanctions are not directed at the people of Ethiopia or Eritrea, but rather the individuals and entities perpetrating the violence and driving a humanitarian disaster,” President Biden said in a statement.
Biden administration’s senior officials told reporters that the administration consulted extensively with African leaders, including within the African Union as well as other allies in EU, UK and the United Nations before making the final decision to issue the sanctions against those involved or prolonging the conflict in Tigray.
With the 76th U.N General Assembly now underway, the conflict in Northern Ethiopia is expected to be on the agenda for discussion when Heads of states meet next week in New York.
The ongoing conflict in Northern Ethiopia, between the Tigray’s TPLF and the Ethiopian government, started in November 2020 and has claimed the several lives, including the r**e of women and girls in Tigray.

Coverage of President Joe Biden's Air Force One Arrival at JFK Airport in NY on Tuesday, September 7, 2021.
https://youtu.be/F321WCkhUvU

President Joe Biden Jr. Arrives at JFK Airport, NY for visits to Queens, N.Y. and New Jersey President Joseph Biden arrived aboard Air Force One at JFK Airport, NY to tour neighborhoods in New Jersey and Queens, NY that are severely damaged by flash ...

https://youtu.be/Feh5LNl7e44

The Audacity of Hope: The Obama Portraits at the Brooklyn Museum Hear curatorial insights from the Brooklyn museum's Contemporary Art Senior Curator Eugenia Tsai and American Art Senior Curator Jane Dini about the "Obama P...

JUST IN: The Biden administration, via USAID, announced $30 million funding to Liberia and Guatemala, through public-private partnerships to create research and innovation centers that will help address systemic challenges in the health sector, thus translating to better programs and policies for the countries' health systems.

Breaking news: Mayor of Johannesburg, Geoff Makhubo passed away Friday from covid-19 complication. He was 53 years old. He was hospitalized on July 3 shortly after testing positive for the virus in late June. Makhubo was a seasoned leader of the ruling party, the African National Congress and played a critical role during the apartheid. The ANC regional spokesperson said on South Africa's local television that party is in touch with the family regarding funeral arrangement.

https://youtu.be/ugq6jo_WeYM

A View of Their Own: Two of New York iconic museums, the Met and Whitney highlight the work of women GENDER EQUALITY and women's empowerment. Women have always contributed to the advancements of their societies as well as served as reflecting mirrors. Howeve...

https://youtu.be/bRpa-k5H4lk

How a Nigerian immigrant New Yorker celebrates NYC's Hometown Heroes during ticker tape parade

JUST IN: This afternoon, President Biden will sign an executive order that will promote competition among businesses, boost innovation and speed up the country’s economic growth by cutting off unnecessary and burdensome barriers such as job licensing requirements, non-compete labor agreements, high costs for quality health services and pharmaceutical products, unfair tech competition as well as unfair banking and consumer finance that impede economic mobility for many Americans. The EO will also restore internet service “net neutrality” rules that was reversed in 2017 by the Trump administration.

Speaking at the this morning, VPOTUS Kamala Harris told young leaders who are participating in the event: "Our world needs your leadership. And in that role, there are two things I want you to remember. First, remember to use the tools of democracy, whether that is the freedom of speech or the freedom to vote. And if you do not yet have those freedoms, fight for them and know we will fight alongside you. The second thing I want you to remember is this: Listen to those people who are not being heard. Respect and embrace those whose experiences are different from your own, and recognize who is not in the room and invite them in. And do not forget the power of your own story. "
AfDB's President Adesina also noted that women run Africa and create more businesses than men but often don't have access to financing. The issue, he added "is not just about money. It's about equity. It's about respect," which is he signed a decree earlier this year that mandated that moving forward, "all AfDB's projects and operations must be 100% zero tolerance for sexual violence against women" or GBV as well as demonstrate what the projects or operations "are going to do for women, otherwise we're not going to fund them. Women businesses are bankable. We have seen that."
Another speaker, a young African woman who participated in the Arab Spring revolution and later founded a Young pan-African network, noted in her remarks that the revolution led by women and young people has always been about the "economic, job, freedom and dignity because poverty is sexist... I don't want as a millennial to build back better the economy, I want to build forwards with equity and feminist economics. We need to change the system because the current system does not work for us."

https://youtu.be/b0B7JhIeq2k

AfDB's Senior Officials discuss strengthening healthcare infrastructure systems across Africa

Wondering what New Yorkers think about all the buzz about ranked-choice voting, the democratic candidates and other city-related concerns? Well, New Yorkers are not known to hold their tongues. Check out this video for answers

https://youtu.be/yzNbDf3PIvo

2021 NYC Primary Election: New Yorkers talk about ranked-choice voting, mayoral candidates, concerns NYC Primary Day 2021: Ranked-choice voting makes its debut this month for the city's mayoral primary election. What do voters think of the city's new voting ...

JUST IN-AFRICA: Setting the record straight, AfDB's Secretary General Prof. Vincent O. Nmeheille told journalists during pre-annual AfDB meeting press briefing this morning that the relationship between the Bank and the US govt remain robust and was never strained during the Trump admin era. However, he noted that just like in any other shareholders situation, there were challenges around specific issues that were pointed out but those challenges didn't put a dent in their relations.
"The relationship btwn the Bank and the U.S. was not on the rock during the Trump administration. The U.S. is a shareholder of AfDB and as a stakeholder, it has a right to point out specific issues it feels to be addressed. Sure there were challenges around specific issues but that doesn’t mean in anyway there [was a dent] in the relationship."
"The US, as a member of the Bank—like any other shareholders, is participating. encouraging and supporting the Bank in every way to meet effectively the challenges of development on the African continent and it continues in the same fashion with the Biden administration. The relationship is robust between the shareholder and the institution just like other shareholders."

WEEK AHEAD NEED TO KNOW: The G7 UK Presidency said Sunday that Prime Minister Boris Johnson plans to urge counterpart member nations and other world leaders during the summit this week to make ending the coronavirus pandemic by next year a top priority, promptly boost vaccine supplies and equitable access to vulnerable nations, address the threats of climate change as well as mull ways to expand access to quality education for more children.

The meeting, which will take place in Cornwall over a three day period starting on Friday, is the first in person meeting since the last one in 2019 among the leaders of the world’s seven largest economies.

Later this week, President Biden will travel to the U.K to attend the summit, his first overseas trip as American President. He and FLOTUS Dr. Jill Biden Queen will also meet with Queen Elizabeth II before heading to Brussels for the NATO summit on June 14 and rounding up his week-long trip with a stop in Switzerland for a meeting with President Putin on June 16.

VPOTUS Kamala Harris is on a two-day trip to Guatemala and Mexico to discuss ways to address root causes of migration from Central America.

Somalia, a culturally rich homogeneous country located in what is known as the Horn of Africa, is on the verge of rectifying its economic prospects from woes via the IMF and the World Bank HIPC program, after decades of being submerged in three decades of political chaos and mismanagements that left the nation poverty stricken and unstable.

https://theafricabazaar.com/u-s-tells-somalia-end-political-impasse-hold-elections-immediately/

U.S. Tells Somalia: End Political Impasse, 'Hold Elections Immediately' - The Africa Bazaar Magazine - Official Site Somalia is on the verge of rectifying its economic prospects from woes after decades of being submerged in three decades of political chaos.