Minister for the Indian state of Tamil Nadu Sellur K Raju, government officials and civic workers use thermocol polystyrene sheets to attempt to cover the reservoir at the Vaigai Dam in Madurai. AFP Photo
Minister for the Indian state of Tamil Nadu Sellur K Raju, government officials and civic workers use thermocol polystyrene sheets to attempt to cover the reservoir at the Vaigai Dam in Madurai. AFP PShow more

Water security could define future conflict



As part of Ethiopia’s plans to assert its influence on the African continent, the country is getting ready to deliver a major new hydroelectric project on the Nile. The project could transform the east African country into an energy exporter and bolster Addis Ababa’s regional prowess. There is only one drawback and it is a big one. The project is predicated on a major dam that will curtail the flow of the Nile’s waters downstream into Egypt and Sudan.

Receiving more than 60 per cent of its water supply from the Nile, Egypt is increasingly anxious about Ethiopia's plans to use the river for its hydroelectric projects. While Cairo and Addis Ababa have signed a mutual "do-no-harm" pact, it is not clear if cool heads will continue to prevail should the river start to go dry. In a region long associated with drought and famine, can leaders reach an equitable solution to the world's most precious resource?

The deliberations will be closely followed by outside observers because this issue affects the entire planet. After years of significant drought, the state of California enjoyed one of its wettest winters on record this year. Previously bone-dry dams are now overflowing, which has given researchers the opportunity to experiment with water-saving measures, including the use of physical items placed on the surface of the water that reduce the rate of water evaporation.

This idea was recently put to the test in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu with less than happy results. At the behest of an Indian politician, polystyrene sheets were placed on the water in a dam – only to fly away in the wind. Footage of the incident spread like wildfire on the internet but the politician is correct in underlining the need for everyone to start thinking outside of box to solve the issue of water security.

The reservoir created by Ethiopia’s dam could take up to 15 years to reach capacity. In that time, Ethiopia and its neighbours must reach an agreement on sharing the Nile’s precious resource that ensures the needs of Egypt and Sudan continue to be met. If the agreement is successful, it could be a blueprint for handling future disagreements over water around the world. Safeguarding water resources will require broad political, cultural and social cooperation across borders and regions. No one is exempt from this challenge.

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Company Profile

Company name: Yeepeey

Started: Soft launch in November, 2020

Founders: Sagar Chandiramani, Jatin Sharma and Monish Chandiramani

Based: Dubai

Industry: E-grocery

Initial investment: $150,000

Future plan: Raise $1.5m and enter Saudi Arabia next year

Tori Amos
Native Invader
Decca

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2025 Fifa Club World Cup groups

Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami.

Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle.

Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica.

Group D: Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, (Leon banned).

Group E: River Plate, Urawa, Monterrey, Inter Milan.

Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns.

Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus.

Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, Salzburg.

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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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At a glance

Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.

 

Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year

 

Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month

 

Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30 

 

Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse

 

Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth

 

Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances

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Director: Rohit Shetty

Stars: Ajay Devgn, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Ranveer Singh, Akshay Kumar, Tiger Shroff, Deepika Padukone

Rating: 3/5

The biog

First Job: Abu Dhabi Department of Petroleum in 1974  
Current role: Chairperson of Al Maskari Holding since 2008
Career high: Regularly cited on Forbes list of 100 most powerful Arab Businesswomen
Achievement: Helped establish Al Maskari Medical Centre in 1969 in Abu Dhabi’s Western Region
Future plan: Will now concentrate on her charitable work

In the Restaurant: Society in Four Courses
Christoph Ribbat
Translated by Jamie Searle Romanelli
Pushkin Press