Clashes in Syrian town controlled by pro-Ankara forces kill one
November 18, 2019, 10:36 am

Clashes in Syrian town controlled by pro-Ankara forces kill one

Syrian protesters burn a Turkish military vehicle during a protest against Turkey’s presence in northern Syria on November 17, 2019 in the town of al-Bab in Syria’s northern Aleppo governorate. (AFP)

A civilian was killed in clashes on Sunday between protesters and police in Al-Bab, a town controlled by pro-Ankara forces in northern Syria, a war monitor said.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the fatality occurred as people clamored to reach a man arrested on suspicion of involvement in a deadly attack that took place the previous day.

A car bomb on Saturday killed 19 people, 13 of them civilians, when it struck a bus and taxi station in Al-Bab, around 30 kilometers (20 miles) northeast of Aleppo, the Observatory reported.

The attack also left 33 people wounded, some of them seriously.

“Local police arrested a suspect... after checking surveillance cameras at the site and took him to their headquarters with the intention of handing him over to the Turkish army,” Observatory head Rami Abdel Rahman told AFP.

This sparked anger among residents, prompting hundreds to protest outside police headquarters to demand that the suspect be executed in Al-Bab, with some demonstrators attempting to force their way into the station.

Police fired into the air to try to disperse the crowd, killing one person and wounding another, the Observatory said.

An AFP photographer said some people threw stones at the headquarters, which is protected by concrete blocks, and that a military vehicle was ablaze nearby.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the bombing.

But Turkey on Saturday blamed the attack on the Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG) against whom it launched an invasion further east last month.

The Observatory said there had been persistent security incidents in Al-Bab since its capture by Turkish troops from ISIS in February 2017.

The town was one of the westernmost strongholds of the extremists’ self-styled “caliphate” which was finally fully dismantled by US-backed Kurdish forces in eastern Syria in March.

Citing local sources, Abdel Rahman said the suspect was not linked to Kurdish forces, adding that he was from a village close to Al-Bab.

He said that the suspect had been a member of ISIS when it controlled the region and that he had later joined a pro-Ankara group.

source: AFP

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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.