Syrian ambassador laughs when asked if his government bombed Aleppo hospitals
September 29, 2019, 7:15 am

Syrian ambassador laughs when asked if his government bombed Aleppo hospitals

Bashar Jaafari attends the United Nations Security Council emergency meeting on the situation in Syria on September 25 CREDIT: AFP

Avideo showing Syria's ambassador to the United Nations laughing when asked if his government had bombed two hospitals in Aleppo has sparked outrage.

When Al Jazeera diplomatic editor James Bays asked Bashar Jaafari, the Syrian government's top negotiator, if his country's military had bombed two hospitals in Aleppo on Wednesday, the ambassador simply laughed as he walked away.

https://twitter.com/AJEnglish/status/781165298632318976

"Whether that was a laugh of contempt or glee or whether it was just a nervous laugh, was quite an extraordinary reaction when his government is accused of war crimes, but he audibly laughs," Mr Bays reported from the United Nations in New York.

Two of besieged Aleppo’s largest hospitals were put out of service after they were hit by air strikes and artillery fire within minutes of each other at 4am.

Samantha Power, the US ambassador to the UN, described the video, which was shared by Al Jazeera producer Whitney Hurst, as "chilling".

"This is the face of the Syrian regime and Russia’s actions in Aleppo – absolutely no regard for the thousands being slaughtered. Chilling," she posted on Twitter with a link to the Al Jazeera clip.

The US ambassador also described the attacks as “barbarism,” accusing Russia and its ally, president Bashar al-Assad, of "laying waste to what is left of an iconic Middle Eastern city."

Charles Lister, a senior fellow at the DC-based Middle East Institute, said the clip exemplifies "the Assad regime's callous nature:"

"If 10 seconds could ever sum up the #Assad regime's callous nature, this clip from @baysontheroad & @AJENews would be it."

https://twitter.com/Charles_Lister/status/781274599233236992

Russian and Syrian warplanes have been pounding opposition-held Aleppo with an unprecedented ferocity since declaring an all-out offensive to retake the city. More than 350 people have been killed since last Friday, leaving hospitals overflowing and doctors unable to cope.

Last week, in a display of disgust towards the Assad regime, Matthew Rycroft, the British ambassador to the UN, walked out of a specially convened Security Council meeting when Mr Jaafari rose to speak.

“Aleppo’s inhabitants… are now facing an unprecedented, unrelenting onslaught of cruelty,” Mr Rycroft said at the time.

“In short, it is difficult to deny that Russia is partnering with the Syrian regime to carry out war crimes.”

Ban Ki-moon, the United Nations chief, also condemned the latest attacks as “war crimes” on Wednesday.

"Let us be clear. Those using ever more destructive weapons know exactly what they are doing. They know they are committing war crimes," Mr Ban told the UN Security Council.

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Rights groups have accused Syrian and Russian forces of deliberately targeting medical facilities, with Amnesty International earlier this year accusing the allies of "wiping out hospitals as part of their military strategy."

Most of the hospitals have moved into basements to protect against strikes, but Russian warplanes last week began dropping bunker-buster bombs, which can penetrate deep underground and level entire buildings.

Last week the almost complete rupture of relations between Russia and the Western powers played out in angry scenes at the UN’s New York headquarters, where Britain, France and the US openly condemned Russia as “an international pariah.”

Source:telegraph

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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.