Naif Shaaban

Elon Musk for President...

A Visionary Leader for America's Future

The recent high-profile meeting between former President Donald Trump and billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk has sparked widespread speculation about its purpose and implications. While some view it simply as Musk potentially endorsing Trump's 2024 campaign, a more intriguing possibility emerges - that this meeting was Musk's first step in positioning himself as a future presidential contender. Indeed, when we examine Musk's unique qualifications and vision, a compelling case emerges for why he could be the transformative leader America needs.

The Trump-Musk meeting likely served multiple purposes for both men. For Trump, securing the endorsement and financial backing of the world's richest man would be a major coup for his campaign. But for Musk, this meeting may have been about much more than supporting Trump. By engaging directly with a former president and inserting himself into the political conversation, Musk is raising his profile as a potential political figure in his own right. He is signaling that he has serious interest in shaping America's future beyond just his business ventures.

When we consider Musk's background and achievements, his potential as a presidential candidate becomes clear. As the founder and CEO of revolutionary companies like Tesla and SpaceX, Musk has demonstrated an unparalleled ability to drive innovation and tackle humanity's greatest challenges. He has disrupted multiple industries, from automotive to aerospace, through his ambitious vision and relentless drive to turn seemingly impossible ideas into reality. This track record of transformative leadership is precisely what America needs to address 21st century challenges and maintain its global competitiveness.

Musk's unique skill set as a technology entrepreneur and innovator would be an incredible asset in the White House. His deep understanding of emerging technologies like artificial intelligence, renewable energy, and space exploration would allow him to craft forward-thinking policies to keep America at the forefront of innovation. His experience running complex organizations and managing massive projects would translate well to leading the federal government. And his ability to inspire and mobilize people around an ambitious vision could help unite a divided country.

Beyond his business acumen, Musk has shown he can navigate complex regulatory and political environments to achieve his goals. He has successfully worked with government agencies like NASA and negotiated with state and local officials to build new Tesla factories. This demonstrates he has the political savvy needed to be an effective president, not just a business leader.

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Musk's outsider status and lack of traditional political experience, far from being a weakness, could be his greatest strength as a candidate. At a time when many Americans are disillusioned with career politicians, Musk represents a fresh approach - someone who has actually built things and solved real-world problems rather than just talked about them. His bold thinking and willingness to challenge conventional wisdom is exactly what's needed to break through partisan gridlock and drive meaningful change.

Of course, Musk is not without controversy. His unfiltered communication style and past conflicts with regulators would need to be addressed. But these pale in comparison to the scandals and baggage of many career politicians. Musk's transparency and willingness to engage directly with the public through social media could actually be an asset in building trust with voters.

In conclusion, while Elon Musk has not officially declared any intention to run for president, his recent meeting with Trump opens the door to this intriguing possibility. When we examine Musk's visionary leadership, proven track record of innovation, and unique skill set, a strong case emerges for why he could be the transformative figure America needs to tackle 21st century challenges. As voters look for fresh leadership to move the country forward, Elon Musk may just be the presidential candidate we've been waiting for.

Naif Shaaban

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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.