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Indian delegation at G7 in London forced to self-isolate for Covid

All face-to-face meetings with Indian ministers cancelled after members of delegation test positive
India’s entire delegation to the G7 visiting London this week has been forced to self-isolate, after several of them tested positive for coronavirus.
The Guardian understands all of the entourage tested negative before departing for the UK, but further tests on arrival conducted by Public Health England (PHE) showed two members had Covid.
It means all face-to-face meetings between the Indian ministers and their counterparts from Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the US have been cancelled and will take place virtually instead.
They had been due to attend a session with the G7 today at Lancaster House.
Questions remain about whether the Indian delegates quarantined in a hotel on arrival in the UK, as required for travellers from “red list” countries. Government guidance says there is an exemption for people representing a foreign country.
India was put on the red list last month given concerns about a variant first discovered there. The variant – known as B.1.617 – has been classified by UK scientists as a “variant under investigation” and has been partially blamed for the explosion in the number of cases in India.
The UK home secretary, Priti Patel, tweeted a picture on Tuesday evening of her meeting India’s foreign affairs minister, Dr S Jaishankar, with the pair both wearing masks.
Jaishankar tweeted on Wednesday that he had since been made aware of “exposure to possible Covid positive cases”.
He added: “As a measure of abundant caution and also out of consideration for others, I decided to conduct my engagements in the virtual mode. That will be the case with the G7 meeting today as well.”
The two ministers’ meeting was a private one outside the G7 and Jaishankar was not among the India delegates who tested positive.
It is understood PHE advised Patel she did not need to isolate because social distancing and mask-wearing were maintained. Liz Truss, the international trade secretary, also held a meeting with Jaishankar but it was done virtually.
A senior UK diplomat said they “deeply regret” that meetings with the Indian ministers could not take place as planned, but added: “This is exactly why we have put in place strict Covid protocols and daily testing.”
All other attendees at the G7 meetings will continue to be tested daily and be told to follow social distancing protocols.
The disruption to the agenda will come as a blow to the UK government, which is keen to strengthen trade ties with India as part of Boris Johnson’s post-Brexit vision.
While not part of the G7, India was invited by the UK to join talks a guest.
Johnson and the Indian prime minister, Narendra Modi, met virtually on Tuesday after he had to cancel two trips to Delhi to discuss a free trade deal because of India’s coronavirus crisis.
The preliminary series of G7 meetings was called before the full summit in Cornwall next month.
Meanwhile, it was revealed that surge testing for the India variant was not being carried out in England, despite the government claiming it would be. The most recent data from PHE showed that in the week to 27 April, a further 61 cases were confirmed, bringing the total to 193.
source: Aubrey Allegretti
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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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