Election Oversight: NEBE chair Melatework Hailu says Ethiopia’s 7th General Election was run with “institutional neutrality,” strictly under the law, with no external interference, as official results were announced in Addis Ababa. Regional Validation: The African Union called the vote peaceful and a major democratic step, citing its observation mission deployed before the June 1 election. Women’s Rights Monitoring: EWLA reports the election was peaceful, orderly, transparent and inclusive in areas it observed, with women’s participation supported across 136 polling stations. Refugee Inclusion: UNHCR chief Barham Salih visited the Ura settlement in Benishangul-Gumuz and praised Ethiopia’s Makatet Roadmap for moving refugees toward documentation, services and jobs under a government-led inclusion model. Green Legacy Push: Addis Ababa launched the 2026 Green Legacy Initiative under “Planting Hope,” with Ethiopia’s Speaker urging nationwide participation after Abiy Ahmed’s 8 billion seedlings target. Health Reform Spotlight: WHO praised Ethiopia’s health reforms for expanding access, infrastructure and medicines, calling the country a model for universal health coverage. Governance & Economy: Parliament received a record 2.34 trillion birr budget bill, with debt servicing near 30% of spending and critics warning revenue pressure on existing earners. Legal/Finance Dispute: Homebuyers sued Key Housing Finance Solutions and Bunna Insurance over a failed subscription housing model after NBE invalidated performance guarantee bonds, with court hearings drawing large crowds.