Westin Tice: Hope for Missing Journalist's Return After 12 Years
December 12, 2024, 10:30 am

Westin Tice: Hope for Missing Journalist's Return After 12 Years

بلينكن: أمريكا تتواصل مع سوريا بشأن الصحفي الأمريكي المفقود تايس

On, December 12, 2024, activists on social media shared a video showing an American citizen who was found by a guard in the municipality of the town of Dhiyabiah in Damascus. Reports indicate that he is American journalist "Austin Tice," who has been considered missing for 12 years in the regime’s prisons, despite officials claiming on several occasions that he was not in their custody. One of the residents of Dhiyabiah transported him to his home.

American media sources reported that intensive efforts are being made by the United States to recover journalist Austin Tice, who was kidnapped 12 years ago while covering the beginning of the revolutionary movement in Syria. Despite the release of several hundred detainees from Assad’s prisons, Tice's fate remains uncertain.

The "White House" stated that President Joe Biden's administration is holding talks with Turkey and other countries to gather more information about journalist Tice's whereabouts, with Biden affirming that the U.S. government believes he is still alive, emphasizing Washington’s commitment to bringing him home, especially after the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad's regime.

In the same context, "Debra Tice," the mother of the American journalist, expressed during an interview with Al-Hurra channel that the current circumstances in Syria hinder the search for her son's place of detention. She added that she has information confirming that her son is still alive and she hopes to see him free. With prisons reopening, she hopes that concerned authorities can locate his place of detention and bring him back to the United States.

She also addressed the family's efforts to communicate with actors in the Damascus capital to find Austin and hand him over to U.S. authorities. She pointed out that the time spent searching for her son has taken far too long due to political complications and the interests of concerned parties focusing on other priorities, despite the sacrifices made by Austin.

The "U.S. Department of State" had previously announced a reward of up to $10 million for information about Austin Tice. "Karine Jean-Pierre," the White House spokesperson, confirmed that finding Tice remains a top priority, noting that the FBI and the State Department offer a reward of up to $11 million for useful information.

The U.S. administration mentioned that they "do not know his whereabouts, but hope he is alive" and continue discussions with Turkey and other countries to locate him.

For his part, U.S. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller affirmed that the United States has requested assistance from "Hayat Tahrir al-Sham" to pinpoint journalist Tice's location, highlighting the importance of this issue for Washington.

According to human rights sources, the upcoming weeks and months are expected to reveal thousands of crimes committed against detainees in Assad’s prisons, as the releases during the process of liberating all prisons indicate that the returnees represent only a small fraction of documented numbers in prisons, clearly confirming the occurrence of executions buried in mass graves, the details of which will become evident in the coming period.

Theism of the Syrian Experience in the Tanning Profession Tur-backed forces continue their advance in northern Syria

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.