AI Governance & Diplomacy: Ethiopia signed on as a founding member of WAICO, signaling a push for safer, fairer global AI rules and digital transformation. Geospatial Tech for Development: IIT Tirupati hosted a BRICS geospatial working group with Ethiopia among delegates, focusing on satellite mapping for governance, disaster response, agriculture, and data standards. Solar Trade & Local Industry: The US Department of Commerce began an AD/CVD probe into Ethiopian solar cell producers, with allegations tied to Chinese components; Toyo says it doesn’t use Chinese wafers. Digital Infrastructure Partnerships: Ethio Telecom and Huawei expanded talks/partnerships around AI and cloud to boost Ethiopia’s enterprise and SME digital growth. Education & Research Funding: Mastercard Foundation launched the AHEFT Prize; Addis Ababa University is recognized for research and innovation, while the University of Rwanda leads in health innovation. Energy & Policy: The National Bank of Ethiopia lifted its credit growth cap and moved to a targeted reserve requirement approach to steer lending toward productive sectors. Industry Push—Cotton-to-Clothing: Ethiopia is betting on cotton-to-clothing industrialisation, aiming to strengthen irrigation, research support, and stable markets for farmers and processors. Public Works & Accountability: AKGC issued a press statement on audit-related reports about the Welmel irrigation and Chelchel dam projects, asking for the full audit report before responding. Conservation Spotlight: Ethiopia’s wildlife conservation authority anniversary brings attention to modern, tech-enabled conservation models that link protection with local livelihoods.