Hong Kong police arrest six people from independent news outlet
December 29, 2021, 7:46 am

Hong Kong police arrest six people from independent news outlet

China-Skyscrapers-Public place/Pixabay

The BBC reported that Hong Kong police have arrested six people from an independent news website for "conspiracy to publish seditious publications".

It said that both current and former staff members of Stand News were among those targeted.

It mentioned that more than 200 police officers were also sent to raid the publication's office, with search operations still underway.

Police said in a statement that they were authorised to "search and seize relevant journalistic materials".

The current and former chief editors of Stand News were among those arrested, as well as pop star turned democracy icon Denise Ho, who was a former board member.

She confirmed in a Facebook post that she had been arrested on the same charge, and had been taken to Western District Police Station.

Those arrested - three men and three women - are aged between 34 and 73 years old.

Unofficial UK panel says China committed genocide against Uyghurs

The arrests come a day after media tycoon Jimmy Lai, the founder of Apple Daily, was slapped with the same charge even as he serves a jail sentence for a litany of separate charges against him.

Australia to join US in diplomatic boycott of the 2022 Winter Olympics in China

The BBC noted that Hong Kong authorities have been increasingly cracking down on dissent in the city, following the imposition of a national security law.

US and China agree to ease travel and visa restrictions on each others' journalists

It said thay the controversial law criminalises secession, subversion and collusion with foreign forces, and carries a maximum sentence of life in prison.

Critics says the law effectively reduces Hong Kong's judicial autonomy and made it easier to punish demonstrators and activists.

Source: BBC

US reports new record for daily COVID-19 cases amid Omicron surge Think tank warns UK cost of living squeeze in 2022

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.”