ADDIS ABABA — World renowned Ethiopian-born chef Marcus Samuelsson has opened his first Africa-based restaurant in the capital Addis Ababa to showcase fusion cuisine inspired by his unique upbringing. Samuelsson is now an internationally acclaimed chef, but his early years were shaped by unrest. His life as a toddler in Ethiopia was disrupted by the 1974 Ethiopian civil war that paved the way for the communist rule of Colonel Mengistu Hailemariam. The new restaurant, named Marcus Addis, features delicacies from all over the world but its menu is designed to retain a traditional Ethiopia flavor that brings out Samuelsson’s global culinary experience. “I want my new restaurant in Addis Ababa to be a vehicle for job creation, capacity building, a training hub that works for — not against — traditional local Ethiopian restaurants.”

Somalia has cancelled a controversial deal between Somaliland, a breakaway region of the country of around 18 million, and landlocked Ethiopia that would have allowed Addis Ababa access to the Red Sea. Somalia said the deal represented a “blatant disregard for international norms” of its sovereignty and that Somaliland had no right to sign agreements with foreign countries. Ethiopia would in return become the first country to recognise Somaliland as an independent nation. Ethiopia currently has limited access to the sea, through a land corridor to Djibouti. Somalia said the sea-access deal breaches its territorial integrity and sovereignty.

MOGADISHU, Jan 7 (Reuters) – Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud signed a law nullifying an agreement by the breakaway Somaliland region to grant Ethiopia access to the Red Sea in return for recognition as an independent nation, he said late on Saturday. Ethiopia would in return become the first country to recognise Somaliland as an independent nation. “This evening, I signed the law nullifying the illegal MoU between the government of Ethiopia and Somaliland,” Mohamud posted on X, formerly Twitter, late on Saturday. “This law is an illustration of our commitment to safeguard our unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity as per international law.”The Somali president did not specify what the new law says or when parliament passed it. His national security adviser has said Ethiopia would offer Somaliland an unspecified stake in state-owned Ethiopian Airlines in return for giving it access to the Red Sea.

In Ethiopia, crowds gathered to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ while Egypt’s Coptic Christians also went to church to mark the feast day. Egypt borders Gaza, which has been the scene of fighting since the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7 2023. Ethiopian pilgrims pray during a mass for Ethiopian Christmas (AP)Ethiopian priests offer prays (AP)Orthodox communities also celebrated in Lithuania and Serbia. There had been muted celebrations in December when western Christian traditions held their festivities, with the conflict in Gaza casting a long shadow. Orthodox priests walk outside the Nativity Church, where Christians believe Jesus Christ was born, on the eve of the Orthodox Christmas in Bethlehem in the West Bank (Mahmoud Illean/AP)

On Saturday (Jan. 06), Somali president Hassan Sheikh Mohamud signed a law nullifying the memorandum of understanding signed between the Government of Ethiopia & Somaliland. The symbolic move comes as Ethiopia and a breakaway Somali region announced a deal on January 1st. As part of the deal, Somaliland plans to lease a 20-km stretch of land along its coastline to Ethiopia to establish a naval base, Ethiopian Prime minister Abiy Ahmed said at the signing. Somaliland President Muse Bihi Abdi said the agreement included a statement that Ethiopia would soon recognize the territory as an independent country. The AU chairperson urged Ethiopia and Soamlia to engage without delay in a negotiation process to settle their differencesEthiopia lost its access to the sea when Eritrea seceded in 1993.

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WAMEthiopian Addisu Gobena won the gold in the 42.195 km course of the 23rd edition of the Dubai Marathon on Sunday with a time of 02:05:01 hours. Organised by the Dubai Sports Council, the 2024 Dubai Marathon kicked off on Sunday with three races – the 4km fun run, the 10km road race and the classic 42.195km marathon distance. Meanwhile, Ethiopia's Kitema Tekese won the women's title in the same category, with a record time of 02:16:07 hours. Runners raced on the Umm Suqeim Road close to the Dubai Police Academy with the 42.195km distance taking in Jumeirah Beach Road and passing in the shadows of the iconic Burj Al Arab and Madinat properties.

XIAMEN, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- Ethiopian Asefa Boki Kebebe claimed the men's title, while his compatriot Bekelech Gudeta Borecha took the women's gold in the 2024 Xiamen Marathon on Sunday morning. Felix Kiptoo Kirwa from Kenya and Othmane El Goumri from Morocco took the silver and bronze medals in 2:06:52 and 2:07:18 respectively. The women's title went to Borecha who clocked 2:22:54, while Fatima Ezzahra Gardadi from Morocco finished second in 2:24:12. As one of China's top marathons, the 2024 Xiamen Marathon has attracted 30,000 contestants. The Xiamen Marathon gained the World Athletics Elite Platinum Label in 2021, becoming the second Chinese marathon race to win this label after the Shanghai Marathon.

Stephanie King wears an oxygen mask while recording a video aboard her Alaska Airlines flight on Friday. I wasn’t sure what was going on and felt pretty scared,” she told CNN by phone Saturday. Several passengers closer to the hole in the plane were frantic and moved to empty seats away from the incident, King told CNN. Once the area was cleared, the de-boarding process started, King told CNN. It was eerie, actually, how quiet and calm everybody was just because it was so unreal,” she told CNN.

CHICAGO (CBS) -- The FAA has grounded more than 100 Boeing 737 Max 9 airplanes after a panel blew out from an Alaska Airlines plane mid-flight this weekend. That grounding, after the Lion Air and Ethiopian Airlines crashes, lasted from roughly March 2019 to December 2020. Right now Chicago-based United has 79 of the 737 Max 9 planes. The airline has temporarily suspended service on all of them to conduct inspections required by the FAA. United Airlines released the following statement Saturday:

Dubai: Former world champion Paula Radcliffe says running can be fun and the advent of Super Shoes has only accelerated the growth of marathon in recent years. I think it is very special to me,” said Radcliffe, who ended her competitive running in the London Marathon in 2015. Hence, Dubai Marathon organisers have set a target of around 20,000 people to take part in the run. Dera Dida will be defending her Dubai Marathon title on Sunday. They train hard and for them a way to do well and be successful in life is through running,” Radcliffe said.

Somalia declared the pact between Addis and Hargeisa null and void and promptly recalled its envoy in Addis Ababa. AdvertisementBut Somalia is happy that its traditional allies stood by it. The African Union and Igad, urged both sides to de-escalate and discuss the matter amicably, something Mogadishu dismissed. Kenya endorsed the African Union position and asked both sides to respect territorial integrity of one another. There are reasons neighbours have asked for de-escalation, even as allies like Egypt firmly stood in the corner of Somalia (Egypt has a Nile dispute with Addis).

Orthodox Christians packed churches Saturday night for Christmas Eve services, a holiday overshadowed for many believers by conflict. Patriarch Kirill, leader of the Russian Orthodox Church, the world's largest Orthodox denomination, led elaborate and well-attended services at Moscow's Christ the Savior Cathedral. About 80% of believers are Orthodox, belonging to the Russian Orthodox Church, while around 14% are Catholics, living mainly in the west, north and center of the country. He usually attends Christmas Eve services and lights a candle in an Orthodox church. Dozens of Iraqi Armenian Orthodox Christians attended Christmas Eve Mass in Baghdad but the celebration was limited to Christmas prayers and rituals.

Those on board Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 described an unnerving experience during the 20 minutes of the flight, which was destined for Ontario, Calif., but returned to Portland International Airport in Oregon on Friday night. As yellow oxygen masks dangled above their heads, a powerful wind tore through a gaping hole that showed the night sky and the city lights below. A passenger, Vi Nguyen of Portland, said that she woke up to a loud sound during the flight. “I open up my eyes and the first thing I see is the oxygen mask right in front of me,” Ms. Nguyen, 22, said. “And I look to the left and the wall on the side of the plane is gone.”

Helen, a 5-year-old migrant girl from Venezuela traveling with her family and seeking asylum in the United States, covers herself from the cold during the celebration of Epiphany Day, at the border between Mexico and the United States, in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, January 6, 2024.