The US envoy to the Horn of Africa, Jeffrey Feltman, highlighted on Tuesday that there has been some movement in diplomatic talks to reach a cessation of hostilities in Ethiopia.
“There is some nascent progress in trying to get the parties to move from a military confrontation to a negotiating process,” Mr Feltman said in a call with reporters.
He said, however, that this progress is fragile and at risk of being outpaced by the military developments on the ground.
“What I worry about is that the military developments on the ground are moving more rapidly than we've been able to get the diplomatic process to move.”
The US envoy said that Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed told him on Sunday that he wants forces from the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) to return to Tigray. Mr Feltman added that the US agrees with this demand as it is in line with the lifting of the humanitarian blockade on Tigray.
“What I mostly discussed was how his goals could be achieved through the negotiating table rather than militarily,” Mr Feltman said about his meeting with Mr Abiy.
“I was encouraged that [Mr Abiy] was willing to talk to me in detail about what a diplomatic process could look like.”
But he added that Mr Abiy had expressed confidence that he will be able to push back the Tigrayan forces militarily.
“I questioned that confidence,” Mr Feltman said. “I was trying to tell him what was the cost to Ethiopia's stability. The cost to the civilians, the dignity of Ethiopia has been damaged by this war. The costs are too high.”
He also warned the TPLF against pushing into the capital Addis Ababa.
“The TPLF would be met with unrelenting hostility if it entered Addis today,” he said.
Mr Feltman returned on Monday from Ethiopia, his second trip this month to try to reach a cessation of hostilities.
He described a growing appetite for negotiations this time despite the public rhetoric from Mr Abiy, who has pledged to join the battlefront, and increased threats from the TPLF as they continue advancing towards the capital.
“There is a sense of realism, that after a year of this horror, there might be other approaches to consider in order to achieve goals.”
The US envoy said steps including the withdrawal of the TPLF, allowing humanitarian aid into the northern regions and delisting the TPLF as a terrorist organisation by the Ethiopian Parliament could pave the way for de-escalation.
At the same time, Mr Feltman did not play down the risks of escalation. The US, France, Finland, Turkey and Jordan, fearing an all-out war, have urged their citizens to leave Ethiopia this month.
“I emphasise this may escalate further and can cause supply chain shortages, communications black outs, travel disruptions [in Ethiopia]," Mr Feltman said of the conflict.
“If commercial options become available, take the available seat on the commercial flights, now.”
Correction: A previous version of this story quoted Mr Feltman as saying there had been "massive progress in trying to get the parties to move from a military confrontation to a negotiating process". The State Department transcript of the call, however, showed that Mr Feltman had said "nascent progress".
From exhibitions to the battlefield
In 2016, the Shaded Dome was awarded with the 'De Vernufteling' people's choice award, an annual prize by the Dutch Association of Consulting Engineers and the Royal Netherlands Society of Engineers for the most innovative project by a Dutch engineering firm.
It was assigned by the Dutch Ministry of Defence to modify the Shaded Dome to make it suitable for ballistic protection. Royal HaskoningDHV, one of the companies which designed the dome, is an independent international engineering and project management consultancy, leading the way in sustainable development and innovation.
It is driving positive change through innovation and technology, helping use resources more efficiently.
It aims to minimise the impact on the environment by leading by example in its projects in sustainable development and innovation, to become part of the solution to a more sustainable society now and into the future.
Name: Brendalle Belaza
From: Crossing Rubber, Philippines
Arrived in the UAE: 2007
Favourite place in Abu Dhabi: NYUAD campus
Favourite photography style: Street photography
Favourite book: Harry Potter
Wayne Rooney's career
Everton (2002-2004)
- Appearances: 48
- Goals: 17
Manchester United (2004-2017)
- Appearances: 496
- Goals: 253
England (2003-)
- Appearances: 119
- Goals: 53
Fight Night
FIGHT NIGHT
Four title fights:
Amir Khan v Billy Dib - WBC International title
Hughie Fury v Samuel Peter - Heavyweight co-main event
Dave Penalosa v Lerato Dlamini - WBC Silver title
Prince Patel v Michell Banquiz - IBO World title
Six undercard bouts:
Michael Hennessy Jr v Abdul Julaidan Fatah
Amandeep Singh v Shakhobidin Zoirov
Zuhayr Al Qahtani v Farhad Hazratzada
Lolito Sonsona v Isack Junior
Rodrigo Caraballo v Sajid Abid
Ali Kiydin v Hemi Ahio
Our legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
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THE CLOWN OF GAZA
Director: Abdulrahman Sabbah
Starring: Alaa Meqdad
Rating: 4/5
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- The 169g Crunchie egg has 15.9g of sugar per 25g serving, working out at around 107g of sugar per egg
- The 190g Maltesers Teasers egg contains 58g of sugar per 100g for the egg and 19.6g of sugar in each of the two Teasers bars that come with it
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Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
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Conflict, drought, famine
Estimates of the number of deaths caused by the famine range from 400,000 to 1 million, according to a document prepared for the UK House of Lords in 2024.
It has been claimed that the policies of the Ethiopian government, which took control after deposing Emperor Haile Selassie in a military-led revolution in 1974, contributed to the scale of the famine.
Dr Miriam Bradley, senior lecturer in humanitarian studies at the University of Manchester, has argued that, by the early 1980s, “several government policies combined to cause, rather than prevent, a famine which lasted from 1983 to 1985. Mengistu’s government imposed Stalinist-model agricultural policies involving forced collectivisation and villagisation [relocation of communities into planned villages].
The West became aware of the catastrophe through a series of BBC News reports by journalist Michael Buerk in October 1984 describing a “biblical famine” and containing graphic images of thousands of people, including children, facing starvation.
Band Aid
Bob Geldof, singer with the Irish rock group The Boomtown Rats, formed Band Aid in response to the horrific images shown in the news broadcasts.
With Midge Ure of the band Ultravox, he wrote the hit charity single Do They Know it’s Christmas in December 1984, featuring a string of high-profile musicians.
Following the single’s success, the idea to stage a rock concert evolved.
Live Aid was a series of simultaneous concerts that took place at Wembley Stadium in London, John F Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia, the US, and at various other venues across the world.
The combined event was broadcast to an estimated worldwide audience of 1.5 billion.
Ms Yang's top tips for parents new to the UAE
- Join parent networks
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Korean Film Festival 2019 line-up
Innocent Witness, June 26 at 7pm
On Your Wedding Day, June 27 at 7pm
The Great Battle, June 27 at 9pm
The Witch: Part 1. The Subversion, June 28 at 4pm
Romang, June 28 at 6pm
Mal Mo E: The Secret Mission, June 28 at 8pm
Underdog, June 29 at 2pm
Nearby Sky, June 29 at 4pm
A Resistance, June 29 at 6pm
Tips to stay safe during hot weather
- Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids, especially water. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which can increase dehydration.
- Seek cool environments: Use air conditioning, fans, or visit community spaces with climate control.
- Limit outdoor activities: Avoid strenuous activity during peak heat. If outside, seek shade and wear a wide-brimmed hat.
- Dress appropriately: Wear lightweight, loose and light-coloured clothing to facilitate heat loss.
- Check on vulnerable people: Regularly check in on elderly neighbours, young children and those with health conditions.
- Home adaptations: Use blinds or curtains to block sunlight, avoid using ovens or stoves, and ventilate living spaces during cooler hours.
- Recognise heat illness: Learn the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke (dizziness, confusion, rapid pulse, nausea), and seek medical attention if symptoms occur.
Results
5pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (Turf) 1,200m. Winner: Majd Al Megirat, Sam Hitchcott (jockey), Ahmed Al Shehhi (trainer)
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Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
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The biog
Favourite car: Ferrari
Likes the colour: Black
Best movie: Avatar
Academic qualifications: Bachelor’s degree in media production from the Higher Colleges of Technology and diploma in production from the New York Film Academy