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Queen's funeral security operation 'biggest the UK has ever seen'

The day of the Queen Elizabeth II's funeral marks the climax of what is being regarded as the biggest security operation the UK has ever seen, the DPA reported, the Anews said.
Huge crowds, royalty and a long list of world leaders as well as other dignitaries will all need to be kept safe as part of the mammoth job facing thousands of police officers.
Metropolitan (Met) Police Deputy Assistant Commissioner Stuart Cundy said "nothing can compare" to the "hugely complex" task, describing it as the "largest policing operation" in the Met's history.
The scale surpasses the operation for the Platinum Jubilee weekend and the London 2012 Olympics, which saw up to 10,000 police officers on duty per day.
It is also the largest global protection operation dealt with by the force, with world leaders, dignitaries and other VIPs attending the state funeral.
Former counter-terrorism police chief Nick Aldworth said it is "probably the biggest operation that we're likely to mount in the UK."

It comes at a time when the country's terrorism threat level stands at "substantial," meaning an attack is "likely."
Police and security services will be alert to the prospect of knife attacks, bombs being detonated, and all other possible terror threats or incidents.
So-called lone actor terrorism, in particular knife attacks, are now considered the main threat. But police guarding the new king and senior royals also have to consider the risks posed by people who are fixated with those in the public eye.
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Members of the public have been urged to report any suspicious behaviour, with security experts describing potential terrorists among the crowds as people who would seem "blatantly out of place" and uninterested in ceremonial events.
The risk of a threat is "fairly high" particularly when the new king, Charles III, comes into contact with crowds, according to a royal security expert.
Richard Aitch, director of operations for firm Mobius International, said it becomes "very difficult" for personal protection officers when the monarch is so close to a "group of unknowns" like crowds and they will be carrying out a split second process of "personal vetting" to root out suspicious activity.
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He told the PA news agency: "As they're walking along the route, they'll be looking at hands and eyes. They'll be looking at the demeanour of the crowd. And what they do in their mind is they'll conduct the process of personal vetting. They will be doing their own vetting of people amongst that crowd.
"They'll be identifying mannerisms, looking for what looks out of place. It's the presence of the abnormal, it's the absence of the normal. Amongst that crowd what you'd want to see is a load of smiling faces, people being open and pleasant to one another and eager to see the King.
"Of course, you could have that one person in the crowd who is maybe sweating profusely, may be looking a bit awkward and fidgeting and that's the sort of person where you would get on the radio and say you've got a suspicious individual in the crowd and give a description.
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"And then a covert operator or a uniformed officer will go in and have a chat with them."
Aitch said such scenarios, particularly when the person in question is greeting people, are "very difficult" because it "only takes a split second for someone in the crowd to come out with a knife or someone to come out and lunge for whatever reason. And you are on the backfoot immediately."
But he added: "Part of being a policeman, part of the training, is understanding people, understanding mannerisms. So they are accustomed to that role."
As of Friday, more than 30 arrests had been made as part of the operation for a range of offences, Cundy said.
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Officers from almost every force in the country are helping police in London, with Met Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley - who only took over the role a week ago - likening the possible total number being deployed to the size of West Midlands or Greater Manchester police.
Armed police, motorbike escort riders, officers carrying out patrols on horseback, dog teams and the marine unit are among the specialist teams involved.
Rooftop snipers would be in place while the cortege is moving, accompanied by a helicopter escort anywhere outside of the capital, Aldworth said.
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There are more than 22 miles of barriers in central London alone to control crowds and keep key areas secure.
There is also a considerable police presence in Windsor ahead of the queen's committal later in the day.
Thames Valley Police Assistant Chief Constable Tim De Meyer said more than 2,000 officers will be deployed there in the force's "largest and most significant" operation.
In the Berkshire town, drones have been used to monitor crowds, vehicle barriers are in place and there will be "airport-style" security checks like screening arches and bag searches.
Source: anews
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BENEFIT AGM approves 10%...
- March 27, 2025
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.
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