Fully Vaccinated Britons will be Allowed to Travel to 140 Amber List Countries with no Quarantine on Return
July 8, 2021, 2:36 am

Fully Vaccinated Britons will be Allowed to Travel to 140 Amber List Countries with no Quarantine on Return

According to the Sky News, summer holidays are finally set for take-off as the government finally allows fully vaccinated travellers to avoid quarantine rules from later this month.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps is making a long-awaited Commons statement tearing up rules that currently force passengers returning from amber list countries to isolate for up to 10 days.

The change, which is expected to come as early as 19 July, will open up Europe's top holiday destinations including France, Spain, Portugal and Italy - and tour operators and airlines are prepared for a surge in demand.

While the removal of quarantine for double-jabbed Britons returning from amber list countries is a boost for families hoping to head for the sun, holidaymakers will have to take PCR tests on day two of their return.

Though the changes will be widely welcomed by those planning a summer getaway, they could add up to £400 to a holiday for a family of four with additional pre-departure tests.

Adults who have not had both jabs will still have to quarantine when the return from an amber list country, or face a fine of up to £10,000 fine.

Skt News reported that ahead of his statement, Mr Shapps told travel industry chiefs: "Day two testing will remain for arrivals from amber countries, regardless of vaccinated status, as this provides genomic sequencing capability to identify the risk of importing variants."

It is also expected that PCR tests for holidaymakers returning from quarantine-free green list countries such as Malta and the Balearic island, will also remain in place for the same reason until at least 31 July, when the traffic light travel system will be reviewed for a second time.

The changes, being signed off by ministers on the cabinet's COVID-O Committee before Mr Shapps' statement, mean double-jabbed Britons will be able to travel to more than 140 countries on the amber list without quarantine on their return.

Most European countries are currently on the amber list, as are the United States, Mexico, Thailand and many Caribbean destinations. Some have restrictions of either quarantine - five days for Italy - or pre-arrival tests.

Countries on the red list - including India, Turkey and Brazil - will be unaffected.

Paul Charles, chief executive of travel consultancy The PC Agency, has advised consumers to "lock in deals" before prices go up.

And EasyJet boss Johan Lundgren said: "For too long, Brits have been uncertain of when they can enjoy the same travel freedoms afforded by their jab as those in Europe and this is despite the huge success of our vaccination programme which has now successfully fully vaccinated around two thirds of UK adults.

"News on when quarantine will be removed for the double jabbed travelling from amber countries can't come soon enough."

Source: skynews

Image source: AP-skynews

Police Kill Four after Haiti's President Assassinated UK Home Office Minister Resigns as His Recovery From Lung Cancer 'Taking Longer Than anticipated'

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.