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For Deporting Refugees: Security Threat Cancels German and Austrian Ministers' Visit to Damascus
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The cancellation of the visit underscores the sensitivity of the Syrian refugee deportation issue, as European governments continue searching for a middle ground between security concerns and humanita

German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser and her Austrian counterpart Gerhard Karner have canceled a planned visit to Damascus today after receiving security intelligence about a potential threat.
A German Air Force plane was scheduled to take off from Jordan to transport the minister and her accompanying delegation to Syria, but the flight was abruptly canceled.
A spokesperson for the German Interior Ministry stated that security warnings from Berlin indicated direct risks to both the German and Austrian delegations, prompting the minister to cancel the trip in coordination with her Austrian counterpart.
The spokesperson added that "the specific risks reported made it impossible to ignore the security threat," noting that the danger might have been directed at the European delegations and the security forces assigned to protect them.
According to the German news agency DPA, the visit was set to include meetings with officials from the "Syrian transitional government" as well as representatives from UN-affiliated relief organizations. Discussions were expected to focus on security issues and the return of certain Syrian refugees, particularly those classified as security threats in Germany and Austria.
The visit had been prepared under strict security measures and was not publicly announced in advance to mitigate potential risks. This comes at a time when the German Federal Office for Migration and Refugees continues to freeze decisions on Syrian asylum applications due to the ongoing instability in Syria.
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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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