Jim Carrey, Margaret Atwood among 100 Canadians sanctioned by Russia
November 15, 2022, 9:00 am

Jim Carrey, Margaret Atwood among 100 Canadians sanctioned by Russia - Photo. Anews

Russia has banned another 100 Canadians who've spoken in support of Ukraine, including two of Canada's most famous citizens: actor Jim Carrey and poet and novelist Margaret Atwood, author of the dystopian classic The Handmaid's Tale.

On Monday, the Russian Foreign Ministry revealed that the two had been tacked onto the expanding list of those who may no longer enter the country.

"This is not a joke: Russia just sanctioned Jim Carrey," Washington Post journalist Mary Ilyushina tweeted on Monday morning. "He and a hundred other Canadians are banned from entering the country after speaking out against the invasion of Ukraine."

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced on Monday that 23 Russians had been added to his country's sanctions list. Ukraine will also receive an additional $500 million in military aid from Canada.

Aside from Carrey and Atwood, 98 notable Canadians—many of whom are well-known politicians, media figures, businesspeople and activists—were also prohibited entry into Russia.

Jim Carrey arrives for the premiere screening of "Sonic The Hedgehog 2" at Regency Village Theatre on April 5, in Los Angeles, and Margaret Atwood attends the 2022 Scotiabank Giller Prize at Four Seasons Hotel on November 7, in Toronto. Carey and Atwood are on the latest list of 100 Canadians to be banned from Russia - Photo. Getty

The list of newly banned citizens includes Vikings actress Katheryn Winnick and writer-slash-filmmaker David Bezmozgis, who has worked on Orphan Black.

"In response to the ongoing practice of imposing sanctions by the regime of Prime Minister J. Trudeau against the Russian leadership, politicians and parliamentarians, representatives of the business community, experts and journalists, cultural figures, as well as anyone whom the Canadian Russophobic authorities consider objectionable, entry is closed on the basis of reciprocity for 100 Canadian citizens," the Russian Foreign Ministry wrote in its announcement of the sanctions.

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The ministry alleged that those included on the list had been "directly involved in the formation of an aggressive anti-Russian course."

Carrey slammed Russia and its leader, Vladimir Putin, in an April tweet promoting a CNN film about opposition leader Alexey Navalny.

"In Daniel Roher's doc 'Navalny,' one brave man and his family stand up against intolerable evil," the star tweeted. "Navalny himself exposes Czar Putin and his soulless minions in their fiendish conspiracy to poison him, suppress the truth and intimidate the Russian people."

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In February, Atwood was among a group of more than 1,000 writers to sign an open letter "condemn[ing] Russia's invasion of Ukraine." The letter was published by PEN International, a literary and free expression organization, and also included authors Salman Rushdie and Paul Auster.

Hollywood A-listers Sean Penn and Ben Stiller have also been banned from Russia. Penn loaned Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky one of his Oscar statuettes last week in a show of solidarity with the war-torn country.

Source: newsweek

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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.