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Ethiopia... Successive Earthquakes Raise Concerns Over GERD's Safety
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Unprecedented increase in seismic activity in Ethiopia adds new dimension to GERD crisis and amplifies Egyptian concerns

Geologists have sounded the alarm about the safety of the Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) following the recording of a third earthquake within 24 hours in Ethiopia, a phenomenon raising growing concerns about potential implications for the controversial water facility.
Dr. Abbas Sharaki, Professor of Geology and Water Resources at Cairo University, stated in comments to "Al-Arabiya.net" and "Al-Hadath.net" that the latest earthquake measured 4.7 degrees and occurred 570 km from the dam and 400 km from the lake's eastern borders, while the previous two earthquakes occurred in the Ethiopian Rift Valley at the junction of three minor tectonic plates.
Statistics showed the recording of 16 earthquakes in Ethiopia over 5 weeks, bringing this year's total to 31 tremors ranging between 4 and 5 degrees, exceeding last year's total of 38 earthquakes, while the annual average between 2014 and 2020 was 5.3 tremors.
The Egyptian expert warned that the region could enter a phase of imminent danger to the dam if seismic activity increases and approaches the facility's location, emphasizing the necessity of precise monitoring of the dam and its reservoir extending over 200 kilometers.
The crisis between Egypt and Ethiopia continues to escalate due to Addis Ababa's intransigence in negotiations and ignoring Cairo and Khartoum's demands to reach a legally binding agreement regarding the dam's filling and operation rules.
The fourth and final round of negotiations, which resumed last year aiming to achieve an agreement within four months, ended in failure without any progress, prompting Egypt to affirm its internationally guaranteed right to protect its water and national security.
Levant-Agencies
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BENEFIT Sponsors BuildHer...
- April 23, 2025
BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”
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