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Massive protests in Algeria capital despite new arrests

Huge crowds of Algerians demonstrated against the political establishment in the capital on Friday and denounced the arrest the previous day of a leading figure of a months-long protest movement.
Abdelouahab Fersaoui, who heads the civic group Youth Action Rally (RAJ), was arrested on Thursday during a protest in support of detainees.
“We have had no other news of him” since Thursday afternoon when he phoned to say he was being held in a police station, Said Salhi, vice president of the Algerian League for the Defence of Human Rights, told AFP.
The RAJ has been a key player in the anti-regime protest movement that has rocked Algeria since February.
Demonstrators are now demanding political reforms and the removal of regime insiders before a presidential vote to replace longtime leader Abdelaziz Bouteflika, who resigned in April after mass protests.
Security forces have toughened their line against the weekly protests, particularly after acting president Abdelkader Bensalah last month announced a December 12 date for the election.
They have blocked protesters from outside Algiers from reaching the capital and carried out several arrests.
The National Committee for the Liberation of Detainees says that more than 80 people are being held by the authorities and has demanded the release of “political prisoners and prisoners of opinion”.
On Friday, demonstrators in Algiers chanted: “Take us all to jail. The people will not back off,” while others held up a huge banner bearing the portraits of several activists, journalists, students or ordinary citizens arrested in recent months.
“I am not afraid. I protest every Tuesday and every Friday and I am willing to keep at it... If they have enough room in prison they can take all of us in,” Akli, a 68-year-protesters, said.
The demonstrators also branded the police as “oppressors of students” for having prevented on Tuesday a weekly protest by students in the capital for the first time since February.
Others vented their fury against powerful army chief General Ahmed Gaid Salah, who has led the push for presidential polls by the end of 2019, saying it was the only way out of the crisis.
“Gaid Salah. No vote this year,” they shouted.
source:AFP
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BENEFIT Sponsors Gulf Uni...
- April 17, 2025
BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has announced its sponsorship of the “Innovation and Sustainable Technology Solutions Competition (GU - IST Solutions), hosted by Gulf University at its main campus.
This strategic sponsorship reflects BENEFIT’s active role in advancing technological innovation and fostering sustainable solutions to future challenges. It also seeks to empower Bahraini youth by enhancing their skills, capabilities, and competitiveness in innovation and solution development—contributing meaningfully to the broader goals of sustainable development across all sectors.
As part of BENEFIT’s active involvement in the competition, the company has announced that Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager of Public Relations and Communication, will serve on the competition’s supervisory committee. Her upcoming participation reflects BENEFIT’s forward-looking commitment to championing academic and professional excellence.
Commenting on the occasion, Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager of Public Relations and Communication at BENEFIT, said, “We are privileged to support this pioneering initiative, which aligns seamlessly with BENEFIT’s enduring commitment to fostering innovation and nurturing the potential of Bahrain’s youth. Our participation is rooted in a deep sense of social responsibility and a firm belief in the pivotal role of innovation in shaping a sustainable future. Through such platforms, we seek to empower the next generation with the knowledge, skills, and foresight required to develop impactful solutions that address future challenges, in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 2030.”
Dr. Aseel Al Ayash Dean of the College of Engineering in Gulf University commented, “We extend our sincere gratitude to BENEFIT for their generous sponsorship and support of the Innovation and Sustainable Technology Solutions Competition. This contribution plays an instrumental role in helping us achieve the strategic goals of this initiative, namely, cultivating a culture of innovation and sustainability, encouraging efforts that address the imperatives of sustainable development, and enhancing the practical and professional capabilities of our students and participants.”
The event will bring together a diverse spectrum of participants, including secondary school students, university undergraduates, engineers, industry professionals, entrepreneurs, academic researchers, and subject matter experts representing a wide range of disciplines.
The competition seeks to inspire participants to develop and present innovative, sustainable technologies aimed at addressing pressing environmental, social, and economic challenges. It encourages the formulation of business models that integrate advanced technological solutions with core principles of sustainability. Moreover, it serves as a platform for emerging leaders, entrepreneurs, and innovators to contribute to the advancement of the Sustainable Development Goals, promote the ethos of responsible technology, and demonstrate its transformative potential across various sectors.
Attendees will have the opportunity to view a series of project presentations submitted by participants, covering diverse areas such as eco-friendly product design, smart and sustainable innovations, renewable energy technologies, water conservation and management, waste minimisation and recycling, green architectural solutions, and sustainable transportation systems. Outstanding projects will be formally recognised and awarded at the conclusion of the event.
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