Biden to meet UK royals Prince William and Kate Friday in Boston
December 1, 2022, 7:17 am

Biden to meet UK royals Prince William and Kate Friday in Boston

Prince William and Kate Middleton/Facebook page

The Prince and Princess of Wales are expected to meet President Joe Biden in Boston on Friday (Dec 2). The White House and British officials work to finalize details.

Neither side will comment publicly, according to the Daily Mail.

But sources familiar with arrangements said the heir to the British throne and Biden are trying to make use of a scheduling quirk that puts them both in Boston on the same day.

Prince William will be there to give out awards for the Earthshot Prize on Friday night, an organization he founded to promote entrepreneurs working on environmental issues.

The White House announced on Tuesday that Biden will be in town for a political fundraiser.

It has left the two sides scrambling to nail down timings and protocol for two busy schedules.

Photo. The Royal Family official Facebook page

Neither the White House nor Kensington Palace responded to requests for comment on preparations for a meeting.

This is the royal couple's first overseas travel since the death of Queen Elizabeth II —when William was elevated to first in line to the throne - and their first trip to the U.S. in eight years. Back then, William met with President Barack Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

They also took in a Brooklyn Nets basketball game, where they met with Jay-Z and Beyonce.

Kate Middleton met the First Lady at a school this afternoon/ PA

This time around they want to make climate change the focus.

'This is his Super Bowl moment of the year,' Karen Pierce, the British ambassador to the United States told the New York Times, 'and he uses it to shine the light on some of the most impactful projects that are doing amazing things around the world to help save the planet.'

The royal couple are due to arrive in the Boston area on Wednesday.

They plan to use their time to learn how climate change will impact the region, according to the Royal Household.

On Friday, William is scheduled to meet Caroline Kennedy and visit the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum in Dorchester.

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'President John F. Kennedy's Moonshot — which challenged America to put man on the moon — is the key inspiration behind The Earthshot Prize and so His Royal Highness will take the opportunity to hear more about President Kennedy's inspirational legacy and his connections to Boston,' the statement from Kensington Palace said.

'During a tour of the library and museum, the prince will see exhibits from the pivotal years of the Kennedy administration in the 1960s, ahead of the moon landing in 1969.'

And in the evening Princess Kate will accompany actors Rami Malek, Catherine O'Hara and Shailene Woodley in announcing the five winners of the Earthshot prize, worth $1 million each.

On Tuesday, the White House confirmed that Biden would be in Boston for a fundraiser.

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'The president will participate in a reception for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee,' it said.

An invitation obtained by the Boston Globe said Biden will appear alongside Senators Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey to raise money for the Georgia Senate run-off election, which takes place Tuesday, Dec. 6.

White House Press Secretary stonewalled questions about a possible meeting on Monday.

'So I heard about that,' she said, before adding that she had nothing more to say about Biden's future travel plans.

Royal experts say it is significant that the couple have chosen the U.S. for their first foreign trip since the Queen's death.

It could be a chance to rebuild the image of a monarchy buffeted by Harry and Meghan's transatlantic barbs and inaccuracies in 'The Crown'.

They couple reportedly have no plans to meet with Harry and his American wife.

Source: dailymail

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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.