#Yacob_Yatane: Heartbreak as Exiled #Ethiopian Journalist Dies in #Kenya, Proof of Poisoning Emerges

Prior to his death, the journalist had allegedly complained of persistent threats and being consistently trailed by unidentified Amharic-speaking individuals in Nairobi. In November 2025 (late 2017 EC), Yacob shared that things became harder for him when two men and a woman allegedly tracked him to his residence and physically confronted and threatened him.

Fearing for his life, Yacob turned to the Kenyan National Police Service as well as the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (#UNHCR), and despite having to change his residence for security reasons, he remained vulnerable until his death.

https://www.tuko.co.ke/people/family/624778-yacob-yatane-heartbreak-exiled-ethiopian-journalist-dies-kenya-claims-poisoning-emerges/

#Workers_Day: From protest and arrests to high cost of living, #Ethiopian workers mark #May_Day under yearlong mounting strain

As the world marks International Workers’ Day 2026, a yearlong trail of reporting by #Addis_Standard reveals a workforce grappling with overlapping crises, from natural disasters and job losses to taxation pressures and protests over unpaid salaries, painting a stark picture of the state of #labor_in_Ethiopia.

https://addisstandard.com/?p=56713

Majority of #US military sites in #Middle_East damaged by #Iran, CNN investigation reveals

At least 16 American military sites have been damaged in Iranian strikes, making up the majority of US positions in the Middle East, a new CNN investigation can reveal. The damage includes high-value targets, raising questions about America’s footprint in the region. CNN’s Tamara Qiblawi reports.

https://edition.cnn.com/2026/05/01/world/video/us-military-bases-iran-strikes-images-invs-digvid

News: #Iran conflict disrupts global aid supply chains, increasing humanitarian pressure in #Africa including in #Ethiopia

Ethiopia is among African countries increasingly affected by disruptions to global humanitarian supply chains as the ongoing Iran crisis drives up transport costs and delays aid deliveries, the United Nations has warned.

Countries including Ethiopia, #Sudan, South Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of #Congo are among those facing mounting challenges as humanitarian agencies struggle to maintain supply lines.

https://addisstandard.com/?p=56721

#US bypasses congressional review for military sales of $8.6 billion to #Middle_East allies

U.S. President Donald Trump's administration has bypassed congressional review to approve military sales totaling over $8.6 billion to Middle Eastern allies #Israel, #Qatar, #Kuwait and the #United_Arab_Emirates.

The State Department announcements on Friday came as the U.S. and Israel's war against Iran marked nine weeks since its start and more than three weeks since a fragile ceasefire came into effect.

The State Department said U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio determined that an emergency existed that required immediate sales to those countries and waived the congressional review requirements for the sales.

https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/us-approves-military-sales-over-86-billion-middle-east-allies-2026-05-01/

News: ‘A humanitarian catastrophe for up to 3.1 million… is anticipated’: #US Senator warns of #Ethiopia food aid collapse as #JEOP funding scheduled to end

Jeanne Shaheen, Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, has warned of an impending “humanitarian catastrophe” in Ethiopia as U.S. funding cuts threaten to halt the Joint Emergency Operation Program (JEOP), a major food assistance mechanism supporting millions across Ethiopia’s war-torn regions of Afar, Amhara and Tigray.

In an email sent to #Addis_Standard containing the letter, Senator Jeanne said, “due to funding cuts and the restructuring of U.S. food assistance programs… key programs for life saving food assistance… will come to an end in June 2026,” warning that “a humanitarian catastrophe for up to 3.1 million acutely food insecure people is anticipated, including over a million internally displaced in Ethiopia.” https://addisstandard.com/?p=56729

#Commentary: #Ethiopia’s Policy Realignment: From #Pan_African Beacon to Client State

On 31 March 2026, the UN Human Rights Council adopted a resolution condemning #Israel’s actions in the occupied #Palestinian territories and the Syrian Golan Heights. Thirty-one countries supported it; Ethiopia was among only three in opposition. Sidoc Haytu describes the move as “a profound betrayal of the Pan-Africanist and anti-colonial principles that once defined the Ethiopian state.”

While officials frame the vote as pragmatic, he argues it serves elite interests, noting “the calculation was not performed on behalf of the 120 million Ethiopians.”

Contrasting Ethiopia’s past stance, he claims, “When Ethiopia votes at the #UN… it is voting as a client of…Tel Aviv,” urging a reversal: “Ethiopia will not stand with colonizers.”

https://addisstandard.com/?p=56716

News: #Tigray Culture and Tourism Bureau outlines next steps after #Al_Nejashi Mosque enters #UNESCO Tentative List

Speaking to #Addis_Standard, Atsbha Gebregzabher, head of the Tigray Culture and Tourism Bureau, said the inclusion “is a formal gateway to World Heritage status” and signals international recognition of the site’s historical and symbolic importance.

https://addisstandard.com/?p=56738

News: Media Authority Board Chair praises new AI-driven integrated system’s role in enforcing accountability, oversight

Speaking at the inauguration on 1st of May, Ambassador Redwan Hussein, Director General of the National Intelligence and Security Service (NISS) who is also Chairperson of the EMA Board, described the system as a decisive break from opaque and manual practices.

Furthermore, the new platform will introduce full traceability of permits and compliance, he said. “We will know to whom we gave a permit and when it expires. Evidence will be generated upon expiry.” He highlighted its contribution to address cases including “someone who takes a permit to work in #Addis_Abeba will no longer be found working at the edge of #Gambella in the middle of the night, an issue we faced under the old system.”

https://addisstandard.com/?p=56731

#Yemen says oil tanker hijacked off Shabwa coast, diverted toward #Somali waters

Addis Abeba - An oil tanker was hijacked off Yemen’s southern coast and is being steered toward Somali waters, Yemen’s coast guard said on Saturday, according to Reuters.

The coast guard said unidentified armed men boarded the M/T EUREKA tanker off Shabwa province, seized control of the vessel, and redirected it toward the Gulf of Aden in the direction of Somalia. Authorities added that the ship’s location has been identified and efforts are underway to track it, recover the vessel, and ensure the safety of its crew.

The incident comes amid a renewed surge in maritime insecurity in the region. Earlier this week, a European Union naval mission warned that the ongoing war in Iran is contributing to a spike in piracy off Somalia’s coast.

At least three hijackings were confirmed in the past week alone, with pirates boarding two cargo vessels and a tanker.

https://www.facebook.com/share/18nGoy1Rd3/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Weekly News Recap from Addis Standard 🌍

Global tensions, humanitarian crises, and key developments across Ethiopia and beyond. Stay informed.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vg28I7iZy58

#World_Press_Freedom_Day: #Ethiopia slums to 148th in 2026 Global Index amid conflicts, crackdowns against independent media

Independent media environment in Ethiopia has suffered yet another setback, falling to 148th place in the 2026 Reporters Without Borders (RSF) World Press Freedom Index. Ethiopia’s score declined to 34.66 from 36.92 the previous year.

Nowhere is this mounting pressure more evident than in the sustained #security and #administrative actions targeting
#Addis_Standard. Over the past year alone, the outlet’s tri-lingual publication has been subjected to multiple crackdowns.

https://addisstandard.com/?p=56743

News: #Iran warns #US Hormuz mission risks breaching ceasefire as tensions persist

Addis Abeba – Iran has warned that a planned #United_States naval operation in the Strait of Hormuz could violate a fragile ceasefire, raising renewed fears of escalation in the ongoing war.

#Tehran said #Washington’s plan to escort commercial vessels through the strategic waterway amounts to a “provocative” move that risks undermining ongoing truce efforts, stressing that increased US naval activity could be interpreted as a breach of agreed terms.

US President #Donald_Trump has defended the initiative, aimed at reopening maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, where shipping has been severely disrupted for weeks amid blockades and military tensions. The operation is intended to guide stranded vessels and stabilize global supply routes.

https://web.facebook.com/share/p/1Cy6E3f6Y9/

#Ethiopia: VOX Tigray report warns of “severe deterioration” of media environment in #Tigray

A new report by #VOX_Tigray has documented what it describes as a “severe deterioration” of the media environment in Tigray over the past year, with conditions worsening sharply since early 2026 amid growing political pressure, arrests, and displacement of journalists.
The report, sent to #Addis_Standard, based on interviews with media professionals and cross-checked accounts, paints a picture of a sector under strain from “physical threats, arbitrary arrest, surveillance, smear campaigns, editorial coercion, economic hardship, and displacement.” It situates the crisis within broader national trends of declining press freedom and heightened political polarization, both at federal and regional levels.

https://addisstandard.com/?p=56747

News: Floods and landslides kill at least 18 in #Kenya

At least 18 people have died in flooding and landslides caused by heavy rains in multiple parts of Kenya.

The police stated on Sunday that landslides were reported in Tharaka Nithi, Elgeyo-Marakwet, and #Kiambu counties in the country’s central and eastern regions. They confirmed that 18 lives had been lost to these incidents and urged caution amid the challenging weather conditions.

The East #African country is currently experiencing its seasonal March to May rain season, which usually peaks in the first half of May. However, experts have long warned that human-induced climate change is exacerbating weather conditions in Kenya and other #East_African countries.

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/5/3/floods-and-landslides-kill-at-least-18-in-kenya

#Iran fires missiles at #US Navy vessel in #Strait_of_Hormuz

Addis Abeba – Iran has fired two missiles at a U.S. Navy vessel attempting to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, according to Iranian media reports cited by Reuters.

The semi-official Fars news agency reported that the vessel was “targeted in a missile attack after ignoring a warning from the naval forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran.” Citing local sources, the outlet claimed the ship was hit and “unable to continue its course… and was forced to retreat and flee the area.”

There has been no immediate confirmation or comment from the United States regarding the missile attack, which reportedly occurred earlier today.

Earlier, U.S. President Donald Trump said the American military would escort vessels through the strait and respond “forcefully” to any interference. President Trump added that the US will begin “Project Freedom” on Monday to “guide” stranded ships out of the Strait of Hormuz.

#Op_ed: Elections Deferred: Why repeated term extensions threaten #Somaliland’s democratic future

For more than three decades, Somaliland has stood out in the Horn of #Africa as a rare enclave of stability and democratic promise. Yet Adam Daud Ahmed warns that this reputation is now at a critical juncture, citing repeated mandate extensions—most recently a 27-month delay approved in April 2026—as evidence of a shift from emergency practice to political norm.

By allowing elite bargaining and the House of Elders (#Guurti) to bypass electoral deadlines, Somaliland risks weakening both domestic legitimacy and the “moral authority” it depends on for international recognition.

President Cirro, the author argues, now faces a choice between preserving the status quo or showing the “constitutional courage” needed to end institutionalized delay.

https://addisstandard.com/?p=56755

#Ethiopia: New bank credit regulation to ensure industry receives fair share of financing in the making, PM Abiy

PM Abiy said the regulation, expected “within the next few weeks, perhaps in less than a month”, aims to correct what he described as imbalance in credit allocation.

Beyond the credit gap however, Ethiopia’s industrial sector has been grappling with layers of challenges including conflicts. In its December 2025 assessment, Africa Risk Control (ARC) has warned that conflict-related pressures continue to shape Ethiopia’s operating environment heading into 2026, despite signs of gradual improvement in national stability indicators.

https://addisstandard.com/?p=56750

Drone strike kills six relatives of #Sudan Shield commander in Al-Jazira

Addis Abeba - A drone strike in central Sudan has killed six members of the family of Sudan Shield Forces commander Abu Agla Keikal.

Local sources told Sudan Tribune that the strike, suspected to have been carried out by the Rapid Support Forces (#RSF), targeted Keikal’s family home in Al-Kahli Zaidan village, eastern Al-Jazira State, on Saturday evening.

Witnesses told the outlet that a drone hovered over the area before launching multiple missiles at the residence. Among those killed was Major Azzam Keikal, described as a senior figure within the Sudan Shield Forces and the commander’s brother.

https://www.facebook.com/AddisstandardEng/posts/pfbid029L9AjQTCLmzRapcquiuyCCCKyNxKWd7f6ZVfBy3YV4PFHSbcAviL3REGM5NnbPzMl