BRICS Summit Countdown: India is gearing up to host the 18th BRICS Leaders’ Summit in New Delhi on Sept. 12–13, with the theme “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability,” and preparations already causing expected traffic and security disruptions. Ethiopia-Regional Diplomacy: Ethiopia’s President Taye Atske-Selassie and COMESA have congratulated Zambia’s Hakainde Hichilema on re-election, underscoring continued regional engagement. Public Health in Focus: The WHO launched a Regional Health Data Hub in Addis Ababa to connect fragmented health information across Africa, helping countries act faster on outbreaks and maternal/child health needs. Media Freedom Debate: A rights-focused report warns Ethiopia is increasingly treating independent journalism as a national security threat, amid tensions tied to unresolved conflict and political questions. Mining Safety Shock: KEFI has suspended work at its Tulu Kapi gold project in western Ethiopia after a security incident with fatalities, pending a safe environment review. Connectivity Policy Watch: Starlink remains unlicensed in Ethiopia despite satellite internet spreading across parts of Africa, with the Ethiopian regulator citing no licensing talks. Climate Action Push: An African climate conference in Addis Ababa stressed moving from pledges to implementation, with agriculture and food systems central to negotiations.