The Belarusian opposition leader calls the world for support after the arrest of dissident journalist
May 30, 2021, 9:12 am

journalist

Belarus opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya holds a picture of her husband Syarhei Tsikhanouski during a "Belarus support day" protest in Vilnius, Lithuania May 29, 2021. REUTERS/Janis Laizans

Andrius Sytas

Belarus opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya on Saturday hailed support from around the world after Minsk scrambled a warplane to intercept a flight and arrested a dissident journalist on board.

Belarus has been subject to EU and U.S. sanctions since President Alexander Lukashenko cracked down on pro-democracy protests after a disputed election last year.

But his decision to intercept an international airliner in Belarusian airspace and arrest the 26-year-old has brought threats of more serious action. Most European countries told their aircraft to avoid Belarus airspace and banned Belarus carriers from their skies.

"I am very touched by the support I see in Lithuania and all around the world," Tsikhanouskaya told reporters, standing among a few hundred exiles in a square in Lithuania's capital Vilnius.

The protesters were holding pictures of the detained blogger Roman Protasevich and his girlfriend Sofia Sapega, a Russian citizen who was also arrested.

Lithuania has sheltered hundreds of Belarusians who it says risked detention in their country after the presidential election, including Tsikhanouskaya.

"I hope we win this year. I want to come back. I want to be home," a woman at the protest told Reuters, bursting into tears.

Holding a "Europe Act Now" placard, she declined to give her name as she said it would be dangerous to her family and friends back in Belarus.

Lukashenko said on Wednesday the journalist had been plotting a rebellion, and he accused the West of waging a hybrid war against him.

Protasevich has been shown on state TV confessing to organising demonstrations. But Belarus opposition figures have dismissed that, saying it is evidence he has been tortured.

Russia has showed its longstanding ally support in this latest standoff with the West, with Lukashenko holding a second day of talks with President Vladimir Putin on Saturday. Russia confirmed it would move ahead with a second $500 million loan to Belarus next month.

Reuters, May 29, 2021/10:48 PM EEST

Image Copyright Reuters

UK's retail will suffer closures if the government does not give rent help Iraq will release $125 mln of frozen Iranian funds to buy vaccine doses, Iranian Energy Minister

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.”