BBC considers Russia's refusal to extend visa of BBC correspondent an attack on media freedom
August 14, 2021, 4:58 am

BBC considers Russia's refusal to extend visa of BBC correspondent an attack on media freedom

BBC news

According to the RT, the British state broadcaster, BBC, has claimed Russia’s refusal to extend the visa of BBC correspondent Sarah Rainsford is an attack on media freedom.

The RT reported, Moscow had said it would retaliate to the UK imposition of ‘Magnitsky’ sanctions.

BBC Director-General Tim Davie said on Friday: “The expulsion of Sarah Rainsford is a direct assault on media freedom which we condemn unreservedly.”

“Sarah is an exceptional and fearless journalist,” who provided “independent and in-depth reporting of Russia and the former Soviet Union.”

Davie urged Russia to “reconsider” the decision and vowed to “report events in the region independently and impartially.”

Rainsford also referred to her situation as “being expelled from Russia,” and said it was “devastating” to have to leave the country in which she’d lived for almost a third of her life.

According to multiple media outlets, the Russian authorities declined Rainsford’s application to renew her visa, which is set to expire on August 31.

Being expelled from Russia, a country I’ve lived in for almost 1/3 of my life - and reported for years - is devastating. Thank you for all your kind messages of support.

I’m speaking to @MishalHusain about it tomorrow morning on @BBCr4today

— Sarah Rainsford (@sarahrainsford) August 13, 2021

While the Russian Foreign Ministry has declined to comment, Bloomberg News claimed that the move was part of Moscow’s tit-for-tat response to restrictions imposed on Russian citizens by the UK earlier this week.

London on Monday blacklisted 25 Russian officials and nationals, citing the case of Sergey Magnitsky, an accountant who died in prison in 2009. His associate Bill Browder – a hedge-fund manager wanted in Russia on charges of tax evasion, murder and other crimes – has since lobbied Western capitals to impose “human rights” sanctions against Russia, alleging that Magnitsky was tortured and denied proper medical care in prison. Russia has rejected the accusations as fabricated and spurious.

Moscow responded by saying it would “impose personal sanctions on a commensurate number of UK representatives who are closely involved in anti-Russian activities,” in retaliation “to the unfriendly actions of the British authorities and on the basis of the principle of reciprocity.”

Source: RT

More than 42,000 registered refugees, asylum-seekers in Libya US administration warns of anti-lockdown ‘extremists’ & terrorist sympathizers marking 9/11 anniversary

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.”