Ashenda in Addis Ababa: Tigrayan women marked Ashenda, the end of Filseta, with singing and braided hair—yet many in Addis say they couldn’t travel home as fears of renewed conflict grow. Cultural memory under pressure: A new piece looks at Addis Abeba’s “corridor transformation,” asking what gets lost when neighborhoods, cafes, and social life are reshaped. Regional trade for travelers to watch: Kenya’s informal cross-border exports are flowing heavily to Ethiopia—KNBS reports Ethiopia took 54% of Kenya’s unrecorded outbound goods in June 2025—good news for cross-border commerce routes. BRICS tourism cooperation: BRICS tourism ministers adopted the Jaipur Declaration, focusing on AI in tourism, sustainability, skills, and easier travel facilitation, with Ethiopia among participating delegations. US immigration shock affecting Ethiopians abroad: A US judge struck down a Trump-era blanket immigrant visa suspension for 75 countries, while DHS moves ahead with deportations after TPS protections end for Ethiopia and others. Health economy spotlight: East African policymakers met in Addis to push resilient regional health systems, including more local medical manufacturing and cross-border integration.