Protesters, including Jeremy Corbyn, demand release of Julian Assange outside London’s High Court
August 12, 2021, 6:01 am

Julian Assange

According to the RT, protesters, including former opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn, have demanded the release of Julian Assange outside London’s High Court as a preliminary hearing concerning a US appeal to extradite the WikiLeaks co-founder begins.

The RT reported that scores gathered outside the Royal Courts of Justice in central London on Wednesday morning as a legal challenge made by the US government reached Britain’s top magistrates.

It said, the appeal looks to overturn a January ruling which stated that WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange could not be extradited to the US.

Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn was among those present outside the court. He described Assange as a “great, fearless journalist” and demanded his freedom, adding that he and the other protesters would return time and time again to continue making their calls.

The RT added, Corbyn said that people should always highlight the truth and that our freedoms come from people who have done this.

Speaking shortly afterwards, Assange’s partner, Stella Moris told the gathered press that she had seen her fiancé in Belmarsh Prison on Tuesday. Moris said that Assange and herself were allowed to embrace for the first time in 17 months. “Julian has been denied the love and affection of his family for so long; Julian and the kids will never get this time back.”

Protesters held signs and banners aloft reading, “Free Assange NOW” and “FBI Witnesses Lied,” referencing a report that witness Sigurdur Ingi Thordarson admitted to an Icelandic newspaper that he fabricated his testimony to gain immunity. One person, seemingly dressed as the grim reaper, repetitively took a megaphone and demanded people look up ‘Thordarson lied’.

On Tuesday, Amnesty International called on US President Joe Biden to drop the charges against Assange, labelling them “politically motivated.”

“This attempt by the US government to get the court to reverse its decision not to allow Julian Assange’s extradition on the basis of new diplomatic assurances, is a blatant legal sleight of hand,” Amnesty International Europe Director Nils Muižnieks stated.

The WikiLeaks co-founder has been imprisoned at Her Majesty’s Prison Belmarsh, a maximum-security jail in London, since April 2019. His jailing started after the Ecuadorian government discontinued its offer of asylum; Assange had been holed up in the nation’s London embassy for seven years.

Assange has remained at the maximum-security prison despite the judge’s January ruling that he could not be removed to the US to face espionage and hacking charges because of mental health concerns.

Source: RT

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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.