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Covid test and vaccine certificates could help sectors reopen in England

Cross-government review to look at whether documents could be used to gain access to places such as shops Covid test
People in England could be issued with certificates confirming their Covid test and vaccine status, as part of a potential plan to help some sectors reopen this summer.
A cross-government review has been set up to investigate the idea, touted by the vaccines minister Nadhim Zahawi as far back as the end of November 2020, but ruled out later in the winter by senior cabinet figures including Michael Gove.
The certificates would be for domestic use only, while separate plans for so-called vaccine passports are drawn up by Whitehall for those planning to travel abroad when coronavirus measures allow.
Civil servants will consider whether the documents could be used to give people access to certain domestic settings, such as shops, or allow certain restrictions to be relaxed.
Potential problems with ethical, privacy and equalities concerns will also be investigated, with laws possibly put in place to limit how private organisations can bar people from entering their premises.
A government source said it was “obviously a complicated issue” but the review will “report in good time before step four” – the final phase of unlocking planned for 21 June at the earliest.
Another said the review would look at questions about what form the certificates could take, including something digital, viewable as an app, and alternatives for elderly people, who are more likely to have been vaccinated but who might not have a smartphone.
There is heightened sensitivity about the certificates given the vocal criticism from libertarian Tories. But one un-phased Conservative backbencher told the Guardian: “If it gives reassurance in the short term it will probably be a good thing. I think that the libertarian base is rapidly eroding – particularly with the new intake.” Covid test
Civil liberties thinktank Big Brother Watch called the move a “disturbing U-turn”, with a spokesperson saying: “It is precisely because of the exclusion, discrimination and privacy concerns that millions of us will never accept them.”
The human rights charity Liberty accused ministers of having “flip-flopped” on the subject repeatedly.
Covid status certificates would “create a two-tier society where some people can access support and freedoms, while others are shut out - with the most marginalised among us hardest hit”, said Sam Grant, head of policy and campaigns.
He added: “The road out of lockdown can’t ride roughshod over our rights. Coronavirus has shown how much we depend on each other – and that none of us are protected until all of us are.”
Boris Johnson told MPs in his statement on Monday announcing the roadmap out of lockdown in England that the review into Covid status certificates would be “mindful of the many concerns”.
Speaking at a Downing Street press conference, the prime minister said of vaccination certificates: “There are clearly some quite complex issues, some ethical issues, issues about discrimination, and so on … I think all that needs to be gone into.
“So we’re going to have a review of the issue before we come to it. Because at the moment the emphasis is on vaccinating everybody – all adults, that’s got to be right because that’s the non-discriminatory way to go. So there may well be a role for certification, we just need to get it right.” Covid test
As part of the proposals considered, the government said it would “draw on external advice”. Former prime minister Tony Blair’s Institute for Global Change last week pushed the case for a “digital health passport” to be used for international travel and accessing some domestic settings.
A report from the institute published on 14 February stated: “Ultimately, proving our health status is going to become a fact of life. Concerns about protecting individual liberties are absolutely reasonable. But as time goes on it is increasingly clear that there’s no going back to how society looked before the pandemic.
“Digital health passports aren’t about liberty for some and not for others; this is our best option to protect our overall liberty by reducing lockdowns more permanently. If designed correctly this has the potential to restore our liberty, not inhibit it.”
Blair’s institute was among the first to advocate spacing out vaccine doses to increase the number of people offered their first coronavirus jab – a proposal taken up by the government that is partly credited for the UK’s speedy rollout. Covid test
source: Aubrey Allegretti
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BENEFIT AGM approves 10%...
- March 27, 2025
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.
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