Ethiopia working on new GERD proposal: Ethiopian officials are working on a new proposal for filling and operating the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam and will present it soon to Egypt and Sudan, a source in Ethiopia’s Irrigation Ministry told local media. The dispute between Egypt and Ethiopia over access to the Nile’s water has escalated this month after Ethiopia abandoned talks in Washington, accusing the US of being biased in its mediation. “The new proposal is prepared in a way that will protect Ethiopia’s natural right on the use of the Nile waters and in line with international laws and ensures the benefits of the downstream countries,” the source said.