US efforts to bolster Somali security forces since 2010, sending about $500 million in security assistance and training Somali soldiers, have also had limited effect curbing the group. "They are providing drones to basically deter Al Shabab and aid the Somali government, and they're providing intelligence. They see the war on Al Shabab as crucial to succeed." Experts say high levels of corruption and political factionalism have stymied international security and development efforts to stabilise the country. Mr Burns's trip comes as tensions rise between Somalia, Ethiopia and the self-proclaimed independent region of Somaliland.

An Ethiopian Airlines Dash 8 regional commuter has suffered serious damage whilst landing at Mekele Airport (MQX), Ethiopia. The aircraft concerned, a Bombardier DHC-8, registered ET-AVS was conducting scheduled regional flight ET106 from Addis Ababa-Bole Airport (ADD) to Mekele (MQX). Runway Excursion on Landing MekeleOn landing the aircraft experienced a runway excursion and suffered the subsequent undercarriage collapse. The aircraft, Bombardier DHC-8-402Q, registration ET-AVS is a five-year old twin turboprop regional commuter aircraft belonging to the carrier Ethiopian Airlines. The national carrier boasts a robust regional network, serving over 60 destinations within Africa, the highest number of any African airline.

And a myriad of related home-brew goodies that lift the senses with the familiar fragrant waft of a humble roasted bean: coffee. “They just want it to be delicious and sustainably sourced.”INSTANT LOVEOn the grab-and-go front, Food & Wine’s senior drinks editor Oset Babur-Winters is noticing interest in instant coffee. Maybe it’s because we’re traveling again, or maybe it’s just because the tech has gotten better, but real coffee roasters like Partner’s Coffee and Blue Bottle are investing in instant coffee powder,” she says. COFFEE ON THE MENUFood & Wine’s food editor Paige Grandjean has a hot coffee tip for bakers. Add a few teaspoons of instant coffee, or replace ¼ cup of liquid with hot coffee in your next chocolate cake.

Under a memorandum of understanding signed on Jan. 1, Ethiopia would consider recognising Somaliland's independence in return for gaining access to the Red Sea, partly through the port lease. Somaliland declared independence from Somalia in 1991 but has not won recognition from any country and the port lease deal, which would be a boon to landlocked Ethiopia, has enraged Somalia. "There is no space for mediation unless Ethiopia retracts its illegal MOU and reaffirms the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Somalia," Somalia's ministry of foreign affairs said in a statement on Thursday. Under the deal, which still has to be finalised, Ethiopia would lease 20 km (12 miles) of coastland around the port of Berbera, on the Gulf of Aden, for 50 years for military and commercial purposes. (Reporting by Giulia Paravicini in Nairobi and Dawit Endeshaw in Addis Ababa; Editing by Aaron Ross, Frances Kerry and Gareth Jones)

Ethiopia's Unauthorized Deal with Somali Region Sparks Diplomatic Strain and UNSC Controversy - sourcesMOGADISHU, Somalia - In a recent and controversial move, Ethiopia has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with a breakaway northern region of Somalia, prompting the Somali government to urgently request a meeting with the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) on January 2nd, Garowe Online has learned. Somalia's plea for an urgent UNSC meeting underscores the seriousness of the situation and its potential implications for regional stability. The international community is closely watching the developments, especially given the strategic significance of the Horn of Africa region. This refusal had already raised suspicions about potential French alignment with Ethiopian interests, especially in light of the 2019 naval deal between Ethiopia and France. The Somali government, along with its supporters, argue that the actions of Ethiopia, potentially backed by French interests, undermine these fundamental principles.

Despite lacking diplomatic recognition, Somaliland remains engaged with the international community, a global reality that the MoU leveraged in the interest of Ethiopia and the people of Somaliland, the party conveyed in a statement issued on Thursday. Nevertheless, Ezema cautioned the government against certain communications from state and affiliated media outlets that could inadvertently jeopardize ongoing diplomatic engagement. “We must equally emphasize our adherence to established norms and protocols alongside our efforts to articulate, advance, promote, and defend our nation’s long-term development aspirations and strategic interests,” the party said. Regional councils of opposition groups including in Oromia and Amhara have also pledged support to the MoU. The signing of the MoU on 01 January 2024, granting Ethiopia access to the sea in return for international recognition for Somaliland, escalated tensions between Somalia and Ethiopia, with Somalia deterring an Ethiopian airplane from landing in Hargeisa, the capital of Somaliland on Wednesday.

The African Union has pinned its hopes on former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo to mediate between Somalia and Ethopia. Somalia says it can only talk to Ethiopia after it retracts its "illegal' MOU with Somaliland, and has said it is ready for war over the issue. Former Nigerian president Olusegun Obasanjo has been deployed by the Peace and Security Council (PSC) of the African Union to negotiate a de-escalation between Ethiopia and Somalia, before it develops into a full-blown war. However, Somalia said it would not take part in any discussion with Ethiopia until it retracts its 1 January agreement with Somaliland. "For that reason, there's no space for mediation unless Ethiopia retracts its illegal MOU and reaffirms Somalia's sovereignty and territorial integrity," Somalia's foreign affairs ministry said.

On Monday night, the Goshen Board of Education heard that Goshen High School is again considering changing its schedule from longer block periods to a seven-period day, something similar to a previous schedule they had but not entirely the same. It was explained that the change will create a better chance at success when implementing the Leadership Academy. Do you prefer the seven-period schedule or the block schedule?

The controversial deal has received condemnation from other Red Sea neighbours, including Egypt and Eritrea, which fear a possible naval access to the Red Sea which Ethiopia lost the right to use following Eritrea’s secession in 1993. Regrettably, the West’s perception of Horn of Africa countries is weak with little attention currently paid to the rising concern among Africans that the port agreement could enflame conflict in one of the world’s most volatile regions. Rising fear of conflict to engulf the entire continentThe rupture in Ethiopian-Somali ties could have grave consequences for the region and the Red Sea countries as a whole. There is also rising fear of conflict extending to endanger ships passing from Egypt’s Suez Canal which connects the Mediterranean Sea to the Indian Ocean via the Red Sea. The political and economic grievances of the Horn of Africa region are so great that they can’t solve them alone.

Since then, dozens of U.S. universities have partnered with the Ministry of Education and Ethiopian public universities with an intensity and persistence unusual in Sub Saharan Africa. Together, U.S. and Ethiopian universities are collaborating to advance the quality of education in a wide range of fields including entrepreneurship, agriculture, peace building, public health, and other areas. The international affairs directors and vice presidents from the first ten universities transitioning to autonomy and five other universities that are aggressively pursuing internationalization joined the workshop. The program was led by Dr. Erich Dietrich, Vice Provost of New York University Abu Dhabi and an expert in the internationalization of higher education and equity in access to higher education. As Ethiopia moves ahead with its transition of public universities to autonomous governance, the U.S. government is committed to being an essential partner to the Ministry and Ethiopia’s public universities.

"The reality is that in Israel you will see Jews who look Black, brown, Asian, African and everything in between." More than half of Jews in Israel are Sephardic: non-European Jews of Turkish, Persian, Arab and African descent, according to the Israel Central Bureau of Statistics. About 45% of Jews in Israel are Ashkenazi: Jews who arrived in Israel from Europe, from Russia to Spain and almost every nation in between. ANTI-ISRAEL PROTESTERS SWARM NYC CANCER HOSPITAL, ACCUSING ‘COMPLICITY IN GENOCIDE’Israel also boasts a burgeoning Black population among its already diverse population, experts note. It's paradise on Earth," Thomas Hand, an Israeli citizen born in Dublin, Ireland, told Fox News Digital during an interview in New York City in late 2023.

There is no space for mediation with Ethiopia unless it retracts an “illegal” MoU signed with Somaliland on January 1, 2024, reads a statement from Somali Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It is a response to a statement from the AU Peace and Security Commission released yesterday, calling for dialogue between Addis Ababa and Mogadishu and recommending the deployment of High Representative Olesegun Obasanjo to mediate talks between the two parties as tensions in the Horn continue to climb. The Somali government says it “welcomes” the AU’s affirmation of Somalia’s sovereign integrity, but refuses talks with Ethiopia until it retracts its land lease deal with breakaway Somaliland. The Somali government is “ready to engage… [in] a mutually beneficial relationship that is grounded in international law that can lead to economic development and shared prosperity,” according to the statement.

Ambassador Mesganu Arega, State minister of the Ethiopian Foreign Affairs Ministry (Photo: Mesganu Arega/X)Addis Abeba – Ethiopia said it “categorically rejects” the statement issued by the Arab League following an extraordinary meeting on 17 January 2024 concerning the MoU recently signed between Ethiopia and Somaliland. State minister of the Ethiopian Foreign Affairs Ministry, ambassador Mesganu Arega posten on X that the Arab League’s statement is “an attempt to interfere with the internal affairs & sovereignty of Ethiopia”. The state minister dismissed the League’s statement stating that “Ethiopia enjoys excellent bilateral relations with many of the Arab states but the League is serving the interests of few.”#Ethiopia categorically rejects the #Arab League statement . “By the same token the statement by Egyptian Foreign Minister Sami Shoukri, portraying Ethiopia as a distablizer is irresponsible. Ahmed Aboul Gheit, the Arab League chief, described the Ethiopia-Somalia MoU as “a blatant attack against Arab, African and international principles, and a clear violation of international law”.

Landlocked Ethiopia’s efforts to gain sea access and project power in the Red Sea were rebuffed by its neighbours and set back Ethiopia’s attempts at rebuilding strained diplomatic relationships. Addis Ababa has also lost patience with the LAPSSET corridor project, despite being afforded a central role in the project. Previous governments in Addis Ababa have stated that Ethiopia would be the “second country” to officially recognise Somaliland. Addis Ababa would ostracise fellow members of the AU, as well as Western donors. China is also Ethiopia’s largest bilateral investor, creating another potential avenue for pressure on Addis Ababa.

Paris court upholds Ethiopian road awardsThe Paris Court of Appeal has refused to revive an ICC claim against an Ethiopian state agency based on an arbitrator’s alleged ties with a partner at Clyde & Co – including their participation on a roundtable at Paris Arbitration Week.