AU Election Diplomacy: AU Commission Chair Mahmoud Ali Youssouf received Ethiopia’s new AU permanent representative, Ambassador Lemlem Fiseha Minale, praising Ethiopia’s peaceful election process and pledging close AU cooperation. Regional Election Watch: Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed met AU election observer leader Uhuru Kenyatta, while the AU and IGAD missions released preliminary messages describing Ethiopia’s 7th General Election as generally peaceful, orderly, and transparent, with observers deployed across major regions and polling stations. Vote Counting Update: Counting continues in parts of Ethiopia after June 1 polls, with delays tied to long queues and insecurity; some areas in Oromia and Amhara saw disruptions. EV Investment Push: Spiro raised $215m in equity to expand electric mobility and battery-swapping across Africa, with plans including expansion into Ethiopia. BRICS Disaster Risk Meeting: BRICS DRR talks opened in Odisha’s Puri, with Ethiopia among participating countries discussing resilience, early warning, and disaster financing. Ethiopia in Water Politics: Egypt reiterated rejection of unilateral actions on transboundary rivers, while emphasizing cooperation with Japan—an issue closely watched amid GERD negotiations. Ebola Support: India sent additional medical aid to Africa CDC to bolster Ebola preparedness and response. Currency Watch: The birr looked calm, but banks competed sharply for dollars, widening gaps between buyers.