ترامب

The Republican candidate for U.S. presidency, Donald Trump, announced early Wednesday that he had won the presidential election against his Democratic rival, Kamala Harris.

In a speech delivered to his supporters in Florida, Trump stated, "We made history tonight. Look at what happened; isn't this insane?"

During his address, Trump thanked those present and the American people for electing him as the "47th president of the United States," as he put it.

He confirmed his victory in key states including Pennsylvania, Nevada, and Alaska. He said, "This will lead us to a victory of about 350 electoral votes," noting that he also won the popular vote.

Trump also announced that his Republican Party had regained control of the Senate, expressing his joy at the victory amid cheers from his supporters who had waited for his speech for hours.

He said, "The victories are amazing... No one expected this... I would like to thank you for that, and it seems we will also maintain control of the House of Representatives."

Republicans successfully regained control of the U.S. Senate after capturing two seats previously held by Democrats in West Virginia and Ohio, according to the Associated Press.

Additionally, Trump thanked his wife Melania for her support during his campaign, saying, "I also thank my entire family and my wonderful children."

He also expressed gratitude to the Speaker of the House, Mike Johnson, who was among the first to announce his victory.

On this occasion, Trump congratulated the vice presidential candidate, J.D. Vance, saying, "I want to be the first to congratulate him," before Vance took the microphone to thank Republican voters.

Upon regaining the floor, Trump emphasized that the United States "is one of the greatest countries and can be the greatest of all time," noting that "the country was on a bad path."

Regarding immigration, Trump stated, "We need to fix the borders quickly. We want people to come to us legally," adding, "We will help the country heal."

In closing his speech, Trump thanked millions of Americans "who have been the heart and soul of this great movement," as he put it.

Trump promised to lower taxes, saying, "We can do things that no one else can do... China doesn't have what we have; no one has what we have."

He remarked, "We will change the course of the country in many ways, and this will be remembered as the day the American people took control of their country."

Trump pointed out the dynamics created by his campaign, stating that it managed to attract diverse Americans: "These people came from all places... from unions, Black Americans, Latinos, Arab Americans, Muslim Americans... we have everyone; this is beautiful, this is a historic coalition uniting people from different backgrounds."

He continued, speaking about the two assassination attempts he faced during the campaign, saying, "God spared me for a reason, and that reason is to save the country and restore America's greatness, and now we will accomplish this mission together."

He concluded by saying, "I will govern with a simple motto... the promises that are made are promises we keep and fulfill; nothing will stop me from fulfilling the promises I made to you."

He added, "It's time to put aside the divisions of the past four years; it’s time for unity. Success brings us together, and we will start by putting America first," then he added, "Together, we can make America great again for all Americans."

He finished by stating, "I will not let you down; America's future will be brighter."

By the time Trump took the stage in front of his audience, he had secured 267 electoral votes, compared to 214 for competitor Kamala Harris, putting him just three votes away from the 270 needed to guarantee victory in the White House.

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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.