Cancer Care Breakthrough: A new immunotherapy has improved first-line treatment options for squamous cell carcinoma of the anal canal, a cancer that hits especially hard among veterans with high HIV and HPV rates. Horn of Africa Watch: Ethiopia’s 7th general election is underway, with tens of thousands of polling stations opening on time but delays from online registration issues and closures tied to security concerns; press freedom is also under pressure. Regional Health Security: IGAD launched a $31.9m pandemic preparedness project with WHO and IFRC support, focusing on cross-border surveillance, lab capacity, and trained health workforces using a One Health approach. AI in Education: Ethiopia plans an AI university starting in 2026 and opening in 2027, aiming to build local AI skills under its Digital Ethiopia agenda. Medical Tourism Push: Ethiopia is upgrading tertiary care and rolling out AI-driven diagnostics to attract patients from Djibouti and the wider Horn. Climate & Public Health: A WHO-led study warns snakebite risk is rising as venomous snakes expand into new areas with warming temperatures and habitat change. Tech & Connectivity: ASEAN Cableship marks 40 years of submarine cable work, highlighting new fleet capacity to meet growing data and cloud demand.