EU states to discuss flexible Brexit delay on Monday: Sources
October 28, 2019, 10:19 am

EU states to discuss flexible Brexit delay on Monday: Sources

Flags of the EU and the UK are pictured during a special meeting of the European Council to endorse the draft Brexit withdrawal agreement in Brussels. (File photo AFP)

EU member states will meet on Monday to discuss a flexible delay in Brexit of up to three months to end-January, European sources said just days ahead of the looming October 31 deadline.

Member state ambassadors are due to meet from 10:00 am (0900 GMT) to discuss plans for a proposed extension to January 31, the sources said.

But it will also include possible departure dates of November 30 or December 31 if British Prime Minister Boris Johnson can get his recently agreed deal through parliament earlier, they added.

British lawmakers are due to vote on Monday afternoon on Johnson’s call for an early election to be held on December 12, while his accord with Brussels would be put before parliament for approval by early next month.

EU member states agreed last week that in the circumstances a further delay would be needed if a no-deal Brexit was to be avoided but several, especially France, have reservations about how long it should be.

Paris says there has to be a strong justification to grant another extension for Brexit which was meant to have happened on March 29 this year.

“We must not give more time based on a political fiction but on (the basis that there will be) elections or a second referendum,” France’s European Affairs Minister Amelie de Montchalin said on Sunday, reiterating the French position.

Johnson was forced to abandon his promise to leave the European Union on October 31 after MPs demanded he ask for more time while they debate the divorce terms he struck with Brussels.

In Britain meanwhile, two of the smaller opposition parties - the Liberal Democrats and the Scottish National Party - said they would back the early election sought by Johnson but on condition that he drops his Brexit deal until after the poll they want on December 9.

source:AFP

Biden: Kushner has no ‘credentials’ for White House post Four Iraqi MPs resign in response to mass protests

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.”