EU leaders to meet in Brussels and discuss ways out of energy crisis
October 20, 2022, 1:00 pm

EU leaders to meet in Brussels and discuss ways out of energy crisis

European Commission-Brussels/Pixabay

European Union leaders are due to meet in Brussels on Thursday (Oct 20) for another two-day summit at which the impact of the war in Ukraine on the bloc's energy market will remain the focal point.

The question of how to reduce gas prices is expected to keep leaders busy as a recent European Commission proposal fell short of detailing how a gas price cap could work.

Most countries are calling for such a measure while some, including Germany and the Netherlands, remain sceptical.

The draft bill presented on Tuesday foresees the possibility of limiting wholesale gas prices only as a last resort.

EU leaders are also expected to discuss how to fund potential gas price measures and aid packages to relieve households and businesses in the light of skyrocketing energy costs.

Energy crisis: Cities across Germany are planning to use sports arenas and exhibition halls as ‘warm up spaces’ this winter - Pic. Photo

Some European Commissioners and member states, including Italy, want to tackle the energy crisis with similar measures as were introduced during the Covid-19 crisis, when EU countries borrowed money collectively.

Aside from energy prices, EU leaders are also expected to discuss support for Ukraine after a deadly wave of Russian missile and drone strikes tore across the country this week.

Berlin doctors' offices to open less frequently due to energy crisis

In May, the commission proposed providing €9 billion ($8.8 billion) in grants and loans to Ukraine to keep its civilian administration running.

So far only €3 billion have been disbursed, leading to calls to improve the way in which the war-torn country receives aid from the bloc.

The bloc's relationship with China is also under discussion. The human rights challenges Beijing poses versus the country's economic position in the global economy raises difficult questions for EU leaders.

Source: anews

Jakarta grand mosque's dome collapses after fire US must prepare now for China invasion of Taiwan: Admiral

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.”