Talks between Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan on a dispute over a massive dam being built on the Nile by Addis Ababa ended in deadlock on Wednesday.
Egypt said there was a lack of “tangible progress" on the issue.
Cairo fears the hydroelectric dam on the Blue Nile, which originates in the Ethiopian highlands, will reduce its share of the river’s water, which supplies more than 90 per cent of its needs.
It is seeking a deal that would minimise the effect on its water supply and make provisions to protect its growing population from future drought.
Ethiopia says the dam is essential to its development and accuses Egypt of clinging to colonial-era treaties that unfairly gave it access to most of the water without considering the needs of the 10 other Nile Basin countries.
It regards Cairo’s demands as an infringement on its sovereignty.
Mohammed Abdel Aty, Egypt’s Water Minister, blamed Ethiopia’s “intransigence” for the failure of the negotiations.
Mr Abdel Aty said Addis Ababa resisted signing a deal that was binding under international law.
Instead, he said, Ethiopia only wanted guidelines on the operation of the dam that it had the power to amend.
Mr Abdel Aty said Ethiopia also rejected the creation of a binding legal process to settle disputes and refused to commit to effective measures for any future drought.
It also wanted a free hand to proceed with more projects on the Blue Nile, he said.
He said Ethiopia rejected a proposal for the prime ministers of the three nations to meet and search for solutions.
“That led to the end of the negotiations,” Mr Abdel Aty said on Wednesday.
There was no immediate comment from Ethiopia on the Egyptian charges and no word from any of the three nations on when negotiations would resume.
Ethiopia has in the past rejected similar complaints from Egypt, claiming they were meant to exert pressure on its government to allow the dispute to be settled on an international forum.
The latest round of negotiations was held on video conference because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Representatives of the US, the EU and South Africa sat in on the meetings as observers.
The talks, which began on June 9, were the first after Ethiopia in February refused to sign a deal sponsored by the US.
Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry this week said Ethiopia’s behaviour in the talks left Cairo with “no choice but to explore other options, including going to the UN Security Council”.
But analysts believe such a step would be unlikely to further Egypt’s aims, even though its position on the dam dispute has gained international support in recent months.
They say a military intervention to halt building works at the dam would be ineffective.
Riccardo Fabiani, of the international Crisis Group, on Wednesday told an online briefing that an Egyptian strike was “the least likely scenario”.
“Military intervention would not stop Ethiopia from completing the project," Mr Fabiani said. "At best it could delay it.
“A military strike will reduce to zero the chance of a lasting, enduring and comprehensive agreement.”
In an editorial in Cairo daily Al Shorouq this week, editor Imad Hussein, who is close to the Egyptian government, gave Addis Ababa a stern warning about bringing in international pressure.
“It’s Ethiopia’s right to count on whoever it chooses, but it’s also our right to send them a simple and clear message: You will not see any development, stability or progress if Egypt’s water rights are hurt,” Hussein wrote.
“We either enjoy stability, security and development together or you live with the consequences.”
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi has described the dam dispute as an existential issue but has never spoken publicly about the possibility of military action.
But Egypt will have its back to the wall if Ethiopia goes ahead with its threat to start filling the dam’s reservoir next month.
Although unlikely, any military action by Egypt against Ethiopia would face challenges.
The two countries do not share a border and any intervention would prove difficult to justify as a legitimate act of self-defence.
The dam has been under construction since 2011 and is set to generate 6,000 megawatts of electricity when completed.
The years Ramadan fell in May
Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi
Director: Kangana Ranaut, Krish Jagarlamudi
Producer: Zee Studios, Kamal Jain
Cast: Kangana Ranaut, Ankita Lokhande, Danny Denzongpa, Atul Kulkarni
Rating: 2.5/5
Tom Fletcher on 'soft power'
Europe’s rearming plan
- Suspend strict budget rules to allow member countries to step up defence spending
- Create new "instrument" providing €150 billion of loans to member countries for defence investment
- Use the existing EU budget to direct more funds towards defence-related investment
- Engage the bloc's European Investment Bank to drop limits on lending to defence firms
- Create a savings and investments union to help companies access capital
RESULTS
6.30pm Handicap (TB) $68,000 (Dirt) 1,200m
Winner Canvassed, Par Dobbs (jockey), Doug Watson (trainer)
7.05pm Meydan Cup – Listed Handicap (TB) $88,000 (Turf) 2,810m
Winner Dubai Future, Frankie Dettori, Saeed bin Suroor
7.40pm UAE 2000 Guineas – Group 3 (TB) $125,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner Mouheeb, Ryan Curatolo, Nicholas Bachalard
8.15pm Firebreak Stakes – Group 3 (TB) $130,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner Secret Ambition, Tadhg O’Shea, Satish Seemar
9.50pm Meydan Classic – Conditions (TB) $$50,000 (T) 1,400m
Winner Topper Bill, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar
9.25pm Dubai Sprint – Listed Handicap (TB) $88,000 (T) 1,200m
Winner Man Of Promise, William Buick, Charlie Appleby
Film: In Syria
Dir: Philippe Van Leeuw
Starring: Hiam Abbass, Diamand Bo Abboud, Mohsen Abbas and Juliette Navis
Verdict: Four stars
Sholto Byrnes on Myanmar politics
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
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Price: From Dh590,000
Infiniti QX80 specs
Engine: twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6
Power: 450hp
Torque: 700Nm
Price: From Dh450,000, Autograph model from Dh510,000
Available: Now
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The Voice of Hind Rajab
Starring: Saja Kilani, Clara Khoury, Motaz Malhees
Director: Kaouther Ben Hania
Rating: 4/5
GRAN%20TURISMO
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HIJRA
Starring: Lamar Faden, Khairiah Nathmy, Nawaf Al-Dhufairy
Director: Shahad Ameen
Rating: 3/5
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
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Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
HWJN
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Medicus AI
Started: 2016
Founder(s): Dr Baher Al Hakim, Dr Nadine Nehme and Makram Saleh
Based: Vienna, Austria; started in Dubai
Sector: Health Tech
Staff: 119
Funding: €7.7 million (Dh31m)
Blackpink World Tour [Born Pink] In Cinemas
Starring: Rose, Jisoo, Jennie, Lisa
Directors: Min Geun, Oh Yoon-Dong
Rating: 3/5
THE SIXTH SENSE
Starring: Bruce Willis, Toni Collette, Hayley Joel Osment
Director: M. Night Shyamalan
Rating: 5/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Day 4, Abu Dhabi Test: At a glance
Moment of the day Not much was expected – on Sunday or ever – of Hasan Ali as a batsman. And yet he lit up the late overs of the Pakistan innings with a happy cameo of 29 from 25 balls. The highlight was when he launched a six right on top of the netting above the Pakistan players’ viewing area. He was out next ball.
Stat of the day – 1,358 There were 1,358 days between Haris Sohail’s previous first-class match and his Test debut for Pakistan. The lack of practice in the multi-day format did not show, though, as the left-hander made an assured half-century to guide his side through a potentially damaging collapse.
The verdict As is the fashion of Test matches in this country, the draw feels like a dead-cert, before a clatter of wickets on the fourth afternoon puts either side on red alert. With Yasir Shah finding prodigious turn now, Pakistan will be confident of bowling Sri Lanka out. Whether they have enough time to do so and chase the runs required remains to be seen.
Dubai Bling season three
Cast: Loujain Adada, Zeina Khoury, Farhana Bodi, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Mona Kattan, and couples Safa & Fahad Siddiqui and DJ Bliss & Danya Mohammed
Rating: 1/5
Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
ONCE UPON A TIME IN GAZA
Starring: Nader Abd Alhay, Majd Eid, Ramzi Maqdisi
Directors: Tarzan and Arab Nasser
Rating: 4.5/5
The smuggler
Eldarir had arrived at JFK in January 2020 with three suitcases, containing goods he valued at $300, when he was directed to a search area.
Officers found 41 gold artefacts among the bags, including amulets from a funerary set which prepared the deceased for the afterlife.
Also found was a cartouche of a Ptolemaic king on a relief that was originally part of a royal building or temple.
The largest single group of items found in Eldarir’s cases were 400 shabtis, or figurines.
Khouli conviction
Khouli smuggled items into the US by making false declarations to customs about the country of origin and value of the items.
According to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, he provided “false provenances which stated that [two] Egyptian antiquities were part of a collection assembled by Khouli's father in Israel in the 1960s” when in fact “Khouli acquired the Egyptian antiquities from other dealers”.
He was sentenced to one year of probation, six months of home confinement and 200 hours of community service in 2012 after admitting buying and smuggling Egyptian antiquities, including coffins, funerary boats and limestone figures.
For sale
A number of other items said to come from the collection of Ezeldeen Taha Eldarir are currently or recently for sale.
Their provenance is described in near identical terms as the British Museum shabti: bought from Salahaddin Sirmali, "authenticated and appraised" by Hossen Rashed, then imported to the US in 1948.
- An Egyptian Mummy mask dating from 700BC-30BC, is on offer for £11,807 ($15,275) online by a seller in Mexico
- A coffin lid dating back to 664BC-332BC was offered for sale by a Colorado-based art dealer, with a starting price of $65,000
- A shabti that was on sale through a Chicago-based coin dealer, dating from 1567BC-1085BC, is up for $1,950
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Long Shot
Director: Jonathan Levine
Starring: Charlize Theron, Seth Rogan
Four stars
Result
Arsenal 4
Monreal (51'), Ramsey (82'), Lacazette 85', 89')
West Ham United 1
Arnautovic (64')
