Chinese President Hu Jintao is expected to visit Addis Ababa this month to inaugurate a new African Union headquarters financed by China and built largely with Chinese labor. The project was launched when Moammar Gadhafi was maneuvering to move Africa's diplomatic capital to Libya.

Official African Union and Ethiopian sources confirm that President Hu will be in Addis Ababa January 28 to open what is being called “China's gift to Africa.” The inauguration ceremony will be held the day before African heads of state hold their January meeting at AU headquarters for the first time.

HOUSTON (AP) -- Ethiopian runners turned Houston into their own personal showcases on Sunday, sweeping the full and half marathons in record times.

Tariku Jufar won the men's marathon in 2 hours, 6 minutes and 51 seconds, eclipsing the previous best time of 2:07.04 set last year by Ethiopia's Bekana Daba. Jufar is the fourth straight men's champion from the African nation, and the fourth straight runner to win in a record time.
The 27-year-old Jufar shaved almost two minutes off his previous personal best, less than three years after he was seriously injured in a car accident while training. He earned his first victory in a marathon last November, winning in Beirut, following a second-place finish in Istanbul in October.

Mumbai, Jan 15 (IANS) Kenya's Laban Moiben Sunday bagged the winner's title in the 42 km men's category at the Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon 2012 while Ethiopia's Netsanet Abeyo emerged on top in the women's category.

A close second in the men's title was Raji Assefa of Ethiopia. The third position was bagged by another Kenyan, John Kyui.
For Abeyo, the winner in the women's title, this was her third marathon title.
From India, Ram Singh Yadav got a 'B' that helped him qualify for the London Olympics, a first for any Indian athlete.

"I am happy but I want my timing to be even better," said an ecstatic Yadav after the race.