Horn of Africa Election Watch: Ethiopia’s 7th general election is underway, with polling stations opening on time but delays at about 700 sites due to online registration issues; security concerns kept 143 stations in Amhara and Oromia closed, and some areas saw voting interrupted early. Press Freedom Under Strain: Amnesty reports journalists face heavy restrictions, including an oath tied to official accreditation. Security Risks: A bus attack in Oromia killed 12 passengers and abducted others, while analysts warn the vote could worsen instability. AI for Skills: Ethiopia plans an AI university in 2027 under its Digital Ethiopia agenda, aiming to train students and boost local AI capacity. Health Tech & Regional Care: Ethiopia is pushing medical tourism with upgrades to tertiary care and AI-driven diagnostics, targeting patients from Djibouti and the wider Horn. Regional Pandemic Readiness: IGAD launched a $31.9m PREPARE project to strengthen cross-border surveillance, lab capacity, and workforce training across Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, and Uganda. Climate & Public Health: A WHO-led study warns snakebite risk may rise as warming shifts venomous snakes toward more populated areas.