Arrests made as UK climate protesters blocked parts of M25
September 20, 2021, 10:24 am

Arrests made as UK climate protesters blocked parts of M25

climate change-protests

The Sky News reported, climate protesters blocked parts of the M25 during rush hour for the fourth time in little over a week.

According to the Sky News, members of Insulate Britain blocked slip roads, glued themselves to the road and poured paint on the carriageway.

Hertfordshire Police said officers were called to reports of demonstrators near junction 18 (Chorleywood) of the M25, where "several" people had glued themselves to the road.

The Sky News said, thirteen people were arrested and the road has since partially reopened.

It mentioned, officers were also called to junction 4 (Stanborough Interchange) of the A1M.

Sixteen people were arrested, the majority of whom had glued themselves to the carriageway, and a diversion was put in place.

Police in Kent also said they had arrested 12 people in Dartford before they were able to disrupt traffic.

Images from the protests show people sitting on the ground holding signs saying "Insulate Britain" - with blue paint splattered across the road and a painted heart on the ground.

A statement from Insulate Britain said: "Early this morning, Insulate Britain blocked the M25 for a fourth time.

"Actions will continue until the government makes a meaningful commitment to insulate all of Britain's 29 million leaky homes by 2030, and all social housing by 2025.

"People blocked slip roads and the M25 carriageway itself in a number of locations. Once again, blue paint was poured onto the road, which will require cleaning, leading to further disruption.

"Many of those blocking the roads today have participated in all four actions to date."

The group caused huge queues on the M25 last week when they blocked the roads on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

Chief Superintendent Nick Caveney, from Hertfordshire Police, said the protesters' actions were "incredibly dangerous" and caused disruption for thousands of people.

He said: "Officers were on the scene within minutes of being alerted to protest activity, allowing us to put diversions in place to ease the traffic and to make numerous arrests."

"All protesters involved in this morning's protests have been arrested and will be taken to custody.

"I understand and appreciate the frustration regarding the considerable delays and inconvenience that has occurred as a result of the protests."

He said a total of 76 arrests had been made across the county in relation to the protests.

Foreign Office minister James Cleverly told ITV's Good Morning Britain the UK was committed to tackling climate change but that protesters were "adding nothing" to the cause and it was "a completely inappropriate way of making the point they're trying to make".

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps previously called the demonstrations "dangerous and counterproductive".

"We all agree that climate change must be tackled," he said. "But this sort of behaviour achieves nothing, puts drivers at risk and increases pollution. I expect the police to take swift action to clear the roads."

Source: skynews

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BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the company’s headquarters in the Seef District.
During the meeting, shareholders approved all items listed on the agenda, including the ratification of the minutes of the previous AGM held on 26 March 2024. The session reviewed and approved the Board’s Annual Report on the company’s activities and financial performance for the fiscal year ended 31 December 2024, and the shareholders expressed their satisfaction with the company’s operational and financial results during the reporting period.
The meeting also reviewed the Independent External Auditor’s Report on the company’s consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024. Subsequently, the shareholders approved the audited financial statements for the fiscal year. Based on the Board’s recommendation, the shareholders approved the distribution of a cash dividend equivalent to 10% of the paid-up share capital.
Furthermore, the shareholders endorsed the allocation of a total amount of BD 172,500 as remuneration to the members of the Board for the year ended 31 December 2024, subject to prior clearance by related authorities.
The extension of the current composition of the Board was approved, which includes ten members and one CBB observer, for a further six-month term, expiring in September 2025, pending no objection from the CBB.
The meeting reviewed and approved the Corporate Governance Report for 2024, which affirmed the company’s full compliance with the corporate governance directives issued by the CBB and other applicable regulatory frameworks. The AGM absolved the Board Members of liability for any of their actions during the year ending on 31st December 2024, in accordance with the Commercial Companies Law.
In alignment with regulatory requirements, the session approved the reappointment of Ernst & Young (EY) as the company’s External Auditors for the fiscal year 2025, covering both the parent company and its subsidiaries—Sinnad and Bahrain FinTech Bay. The Board was authorised to determine the external auditors’ professional fees, subject to approval from the CBB, and the meeting concluded with a discussion of any additional issues as per Article (207) of the Commercial Companies Law.
Speaking on the company’s performance, Mr. Mohamed Al Bastaki, Chairman BENEFIT , stated: “In terms of the financial results for 2024, I am pleased to say that the year gone by has also been proved to be a success in delivering tangible results. Growth rate for 2024 was 19 per cent. Revenue for the year was BD 17 M (US$ 45.3 Million) and net profit was 2 Million ($ 5.3 Million).

Mr. Al Bastaki also announced that the Board had formally adopted a new three-year strategic roadmap to commence in 2025. The strategy encompasses a phased international expansion, optimisation of internal operations, enhanced revenue diversification, long-term sustainability initiatives, and the advancement of innovation and digital transformation initiatives across all service lines.
“I extend my sincere appreciation to the CBB for its continued support of BENEFIT and its pivotal role in fostering a stable and progressive regulatory environment for the Kingdom’s banking and financial sector—an environment that has significantly reinforced Bahrain’s standing as a leading financial hub in the region,” said Mr. Al Bastaki. “I would also like to thank our partner banks and valued customers for their trust, and our shareholders for their ongoing encouragement. The achievements of 2024 set a strong precedent, and I am confident they will serve as a foundation for yet another successful and impactful year ahead.”
Chief Executive of BENEFIT; Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi commented, “The year 2024 represented another pivotal chapter in BENEFIT ’s evolution. We achieved substantial progress in advancing our digital strategy across multiple sectors, while reinforcing our long-term commitment to the development of Bahrain’s financial services and payments landscape. Throughout the year, we remained firmly aligned with our objective of delivering measurable value to our shareholders, strategic partners, and customers. At the same time, we continued to play an active role in enabling Bahrain’s digital economy by introducing innovative solutions and service enhancements that directly address market needs and future opportunities.”
Mr. AlJanahi affirmed that BENEFIT has successfully developed a robust and well-integrated payment network that connects individuals and businesses across Bahrain, accelerating the adoption of emerging technologies in the banking and financial services sector and reinforcing Bahrain’s position as a growing fintech hub, and added, “Our achievements of the past year reflect a long-term vision to establish a resilient electronic payment infrastructure that supports the Kingdom’s digital economy. Key developments in 2024 included the implementation of central authentication for open banking via BENEFIT Pay”
Mr. AlJanahi concluded by thanking the Board for its strategic direction, the company’s staff for their continued dedication, and the Central Bank of Bahrain, member banks, and shareholders for their valuable partnership and confidence in the company’s long-term vision.