ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. (File photo AP)

The Iraqi Judicial Council said on Thursday that the leader of ISIS, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, is ill, according to the Iraqi News Agency, with a person close to the leader speaking of multiple conflicts within the group.

The council presented confessions by al-Baghdadi’s cousin, Rabah Ali Ibrahim Ali al-Badri, where he tells stories on his time with the ISIS leader.

“I was close to al-Baghdadi, we grew up together and we parted in the eighties when he moved to study in Baghdad where he got his Ph.D. During that time we used to meet every now and then,” al-Badri said.

“When the caliphate announced its control over some provinces and cities, three of my six children pledged allegiance to the group, because most residents did,” he added.

Speaking to the judge, who is specialized in Iraqi intelligence cases, al-Badri said that he worked in the agriculture while living in ISIS-controlled areas, pointing out the importance of the sector to the so-called caliphate.

When asked about seeing al-Baghdadi after Iraqi forces took over former ISIS strongholds, al-Badri said: “We received many warnings from his brother not to try to meet him. His brother is his security guard and he’s responsible for protecting him from security forces, so I didn’t try to get in touch.”

One day, al-Badri says, al-Baghdadi’s brother came and took him to an undisclosed location. “Al-Baghdadi lived in a small house with an area not more than 150 meters.” He met al-Baghdadi.

“When I told him about the conflicts happening within the state due to his disappearance, he said he knew everything that was happening. He talked about a coup that was organized by Arab and foreign leaders, and he said that it was mostly Tunisians who are driving conflict and claiming there is no caliphate,” al-Badri said, according to the Iraqi News Agency.

The ISIS leader’s cousin said that al-Baghdadi looked “tired and exhausted,” adding that he was suffering from pain due to a surgery he had in his left ear in Syria’s al-Bukamal.

“He wasn’t far from the Syrian city of al-Shaafah. It took us around 10 to 15 minutes to get to his house, which means that he was still in that area,” said al-Badri.

Libya’s coast guard intercepts 108 Europe-bound migrants Morocco dismantles ISIS-affiliated cell

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.