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US records nearly 3,600 cases of monkeypox

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported, nearly 3,600 cases of monkeypox have been reported in the US as of Tuesday (July 26), with at least one confirmed case in almost every state.
On the heels of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Biden administration is currently weighing whether to declare the outbreak another public health emergency, the Anadolu Agency reported.
"We want to get ahead of (monkeypox)," said Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra in an interview with CNN.
"You don't want it to become a part of life. But how many people have died compared to COVID? Zero…We declare public health emergencies based on the data and the science, not on our worries."
In a memo obtained by The Washington Post, the Biden administration privately estimated to Congress that it may need nearly $7 billion to mount an appropriate response to the monkeypox outbreak.

The $6.9 billion total would be able to secure 19 million new vaccine doses for monkeypox and replenish about four million doses for smallpox preparedness efforts.
The money would also be used to buy antiviral treatments, expand testing, improve vaccine distribution and provide service coverage for uninsured and underinsured Americans.
France opens monkeypox vaccination center in Paris
Jynneos is the only vaccine specifically approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for monkeypox, which is produced in Denmark.
That has caused significant complications in the US, with hundreds of thousands of doses stranded overseas for weeks awaiting inspection and delivery.
Monkeypox symptoms include fever, lesions and severe pain that may last for weeks.
The virus, which can be spread by skin-to-skin contact, is mostly affecting the gay and bisexual community, but children and pregnant women are also susceptible.
EU approves smallpox vaccine for use against monkeypox
Health officials say monkeypox is at risk of becoming permanently entrenched in the US.
The Biden administration has distributed 330,000 vaccines and contracted for a total of 6.9 million Jynneos doses by mid-2023.
Becerra said: "There is no other place in the world where they have 300,000 doses of vaccines…distributed to the states, as we have here in America.”
WHO declares monkeypox a global health emergency
The World Health Organization (WHO) declared Saturday that the global monkeypox outbreak was a public health emergency of international concern, its highest-level warning.
The US is contemplating a similar declaration, with several lawmakers pushing for COVID-like preparedness to have enough monkeypox funding.
“What we’re hoping is the experience of COVID will inform the response to this outbreak,” said US Rep. David Cicilline.
Source: aa
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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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