Ethiopia Election Countdown: The National Election Board of Ethiopia says preparations for the June 1 general election are finalized, with 50.5 million registered voters, 52,000+ polling stations, and special arrangements for IDPs, defense forces and students; workplaces will close on election day except essential services. AU Election Monitoring: The African Union has deployed a 73-member Election Observation Mission led by former Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta, with observers set to cover opening, voting, counting and tabulation, and to issue a preliminary statement soon after polls close. Ebola Alarm in the Region: WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus urged DRC neighbours to act immediately as the outbreak spreads rapidly, citing insecurity, detection delays and lack of approved tools for the current strain; Ethiopia says it is stepping up screening and surveillance at entry points and health facilities. Ethiopia’s Domestic Connectivity: PM Abiy inaugurated Negele Borena Geda Airport, positioning it as Ethiopian Airlines’ 24th domestic destination with three weekly flights to boost trade and tourism. Food Security Push: Abiy highlighted East Borana’s agricultural drive, citing 176,223 hectares cultivated and a projected 3.1 million quintals yield. Health Funding: Zambia was selected for a €10m primary healthcare initiative alongside Angola, Burundi and Ethiopia, aimed at making health projects “investment-ready.” Climate & Cities: African leaders at the World Urban Forum warned that flooding and rapid urbanization are outpacing response capacity, with Addis Ababa’s resilience office flagging riverbank flooding impacts.