The Duchess of Cambridge Tries Her Best To Mend Ties With Meghan, Media Says
July 2, 2021, 6:12 am

The Duchess of Cambridge Tries Her Best To Mend Ties With Meghan, Media Says

kate and mehgan

It is reported by Sputnik, citing the US Weekly that, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge is doing her best to mend ties with Meghan Markle following Lilibet Diana’s birth and that she sent her sister-in-law presents and cards.

“Kate has been reaching out to Meghan a lot more since was born, she’s sending gifts and trying to build up a relationship,” the source said. “The firm has been instructing staffers to reach out more to Harry and Meghan to get them to soften a bit.”

Kate publicly said in early June that she “can’t wait to meet” the new addition to the royal family.

Prince Harry and William’s wives Meghan and Kate – respectively – have been pretty civil in public, but rumours suggest that they haven't been on good terms for a while. As the duke and duchess of Sussex stepped down from their senior royal posts last year, the relationship between the couples completely crumbled.

Relations between the Sussexes and Cambridges reportedly took a dive during Meghan Markle’s stint in Buckingham Palace, but they plunged even further after Prince Harry and his wife announced in January 2020 that they were stepping down from their senior royal posts to pursue “financially independent” lives.

The split wasn’t amicable and the couple have made this clear during several interviews with American media. As such, Harry and Meghan publicly accused "the Firm" of disregarding their mental health issues, while the duke also claimed his father Prince Charles and brother William are “trapped” in the institution. Cambridge

Meanwhile, Markle said in the Sussexes' bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey that aired in March that Kate made her cry ahead of her May 2018 wedding over a disagreement regarding flower girl dresses. However, the British media claimed at that time that it was in fact Meg who left her future sister-in-law in tears.

“It was a really hard week of the wedding. And she was upset about something, but she owned it, and she apologised. And she brought me flowers and a note, apologising,” Markle told the top US host.

The Duchess of Sussex didn’t travel with her husband to the UK for Thursday's unveiling of Princess Diana’s statue, and Kate Middleton is also not expected to attend the small event due to COVID restrictions. However, both brothers will take part in the ceremony, reuniting for the first time since Prince Philip’s funeral in April – there's no doubt that the UK media will be watching them closely. Cambridge

levant

Source: Sputnik

Image source: AP-Sputnik

After It Were Resumed Under Trump's Presidency, US Stops Federal Executions In Response To Injustices Against Indigenous People, Ten Churches Vandalised In Canada

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.