Capital of Amhara Region, Ethiopia; a tourism hub by Lake Tana
Federal court action by 29 state attorneys general accuses Meta of designing Facebook and Instagram to encourage endless scrolling and collecting data on minors. The case could force structural changes to the platforms and may carry penalties approaching hundreds of billions, dwarfing prior fines. Meta contends the allegations are flawed while facing losses in Reality Labs and heavy AI spending.
A federal trial in Oakland has opened in which California and 28 other states have accused Meta of designing Facebook and Instagram to hook children, harvesting their data and hiding internal research. The states are seeking damages that could reach roughly $200 billion and court-ordered product redesigns to protect under-13s.
A coalition of seven armed groups has formed to topple Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, escalating violence in northern Ethiopia. After gains in Mekelle and other fronts, flights to Mekelle have been suspended amid the current security situation as clashes widen in Afar and Amhara. The Pretoria peace framework remains challenged as parties accuse one another of violations.
Fighting between the Tigray People’s Liberation Front and the Ethiopian government has intensified, with the TPLF and its allied groups seizing airports and moving across Afar and Amhara. The conflict risks a return to the 2020–22 civil war, prompting international concern over civilian harm and humanitarian access.
Sudan says Ethiopian bases are used to launch drones against Sudan, with claims that 70 drone attacks have targeted Sudan since February 2026, killing civilians and soldiers. Ethiopia denies backing RSF and accuses Sudan of supporting TPLF-linked rebels. The conflict has escalated with power stations and civilian sites hit, triggering UN calls for a ceasefire.