Female protester arrested for holding anti-monarchy sign in Edinburgh
September 12, 2022, 8:41 am

Female protester arrested for holding anti-monarchy sign in Edinburgh

Accompanied by The Princess Royal and Sir Tim Laurence, the cortege traveled to the Palace of Holyroodhouse - The Royal Family official Twitter account

A woman has been arrested after holding an anti-monarchy sign ahead of the accession proclamation of King Charles III in Edinburgh, the DPA reported, the Anews said.

Police Scotland said the arrest was made outside St Giles' Cathedral, where the queen's coffin is due to be held on Monday.

Moments before the proclamation on Sunday afternoon, a demonstrator appeared in the crowd opposite the Mercat Cross.

She held a sign saying "f*** imperialism, abolish monarchy."

Officers appeared behind her and took her away, prompting the crowd to applaud.

One man shouted: "Let her go, it's free speech," while others yelled: "Have some respect."

A police spokesman said a 22-year-old woman was arrested "in connection with a breach of the peace."

The Queen’s coffin has arrived at the Palace of Holyroodhouse, where it will rest in the Throne Room until tomorrow afternoon (Sep 12)- The Royal Family official Twitter account

It came after hecklers were heard booing during the event.

During the first proclamation of Charles, the Lord Lyon King of Arms gave a speech before declaring "God save the king", which the crowd repeated.

One man was heard booing throughout the cheers.

The national anthem was then sung but, afterwards, people could be heard calling for a republic.

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After Lord Lyon King led three cheers, saying "hip hip" to replies of "hooray," booing was heard for a second time.

Some mourners called the hecklers "disrespectful," saying they should have avoided the proclamation if they believe in a republic.

Helen Smith, 48, from Livingston, told the PA news agency: "I believe everyone does have a right to protest, but I thought it was the wrong place at the wrong time.

"[It was] incredibly disrespectful to the event that we were just seeing."

Smith, an engineer, said she feels it dampened the event for the rest of the crowd.

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"We saw the police keeping an eye on things behind us, and we thought something was going to kick off, and it did," she said.

"We just felt disappointed because the eyes of the world are on us at the moment.

"It's a massive moment in history. We've had the death of the longest-serving monarch we've ever had, we've got the new king being proclaimed, and then we have the heckling at the back and the shouting."

Ann Hamilton, 48, said she thought the interruptions were "terrible."

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Hamilton, who travelled from Dumfries, told PA: "There's tens of thousands of people here today to show their respect.

"For them to be here, heckling through things, I think it was terrible. If they were so against it, they shouldn't have come.

"Once everyone was singing 'God Save The King' with their full voices, it was drowning them out."

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Donald Maclaren, 64, of Livingston, added: "It's very disrespectful. There is a time and a place if you want to protest, but this isn't it.

"Somebody shouted, 'Republic now.' Then, when they were doing the three cheers, somebody was booing."

Liz Maclaren, 67, also branded it "disrespectful," saying: "The boos sounded like one person."

Source: anews

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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.