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Hong Kong arrests six activists on accusation of sedition

The France24 reported, citng the AFP, six people accused of causing a nuisance in a Hong Kong courtroom found themselves arrested for sedition Wednesday. The local authorities continue to ramp up use of the colonial-era law against critics.
Court disruptions are usually dealt with under contempt rules but authorities have chosen to deploy sedition, a charge treated as a national security offence.
Police said four men and two women aged between 32 and 67 were arrested over behaviour at court hearings between December and January.
police said in a press release that the suspects "purposely caused nuisance" while attending the hearings and "severely affected jurisdictional dignity and court operations."
The statement did not detail what specific behaviour or actions were deemed to be seditious.

Hong Kong's courts have become gathering places for democracy supporters as authorities prosecute thousands of activists and protesters following citywide protests in 2019.
Most hearings are open to the public, and democracy supporters often applaud or shout words of encouragement to defendants appearing in the dock.
Hong Kong judges have previously chastised spectators for their behaviour and warned they could be in contempt of court, but none had been arrested before Wednesday.
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Police said they seized records that allegedly show the suspects "conspiring" to commit disruptive acts in court, after searching their residences.
His family confirmed to AFP that Siew Yun-long, a citizen journalist known for his court reporting, was among those arrested.
According to local media, Leo Tang, a former leader of the now-disbanded Hong Kong Confederation of Trade Unions (HKCTU), was also arrested.
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The HKCTU is among scores of civil society groups and government-critical local news outlets that have shuttered following a sweeping national security law that was imposed by Beijing in 2020 to stamp out dissent.
Police have arrested around 170 people under the security law, including opposition lawmakers, activists, journalists and students.
Authorities have also increasingly relied on sedition, a legacy law that until recently had not been deployed in decades.
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The offence carries a maximum penalty of two years in jail.
In recent months, sedition charges have been brought against pro-democracy unionists who produced euphemistic children's books; journalists from now-shuttered pro-democracy news outlets; and people critical of the government's response to the pandemic.
Source: france24
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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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