The European Union has announced that its Digital COVID Certificate platform has gone live. Available in digital format or on paper, the certificate will provide proof that a person has been vaccinated against COVID-19, tested negative, or recovered from an infection. The certificate is designed to help the safe free movement of citizens in the EU during the pandemic. It will be introduced by the individual EU Member States and it's planned that it will be available in all Member States as of 1 July. Seven countries have already gone live on the platform and are issuing EU certificates. France will introduce a national certificate on 9 June. The EU has said that the certificate will be available in English in addition to national languages.
Laboratory technicians are taking industrial action throughout France today, including in Paris, where a large demonstration was held outside the health ministry. The technicians are demanding greater recognition of their status and an increase in their levels of pay.
The municipality of Antibes Juan-les-Pins has released its weekly update of Covid-19 figures at the hospital in Antibes. For the period from May 24 to May 30, there were 6 hospitalized patients including 1 in intensive care. There were no deaths. Test results from the testing centre at Fort Carré were also released. Out of 1,308 tests performed on symptomatic subjects and priority contacts 0.99% were positive. There were no positive results in those in the over-65 age group.
Four people have been arrested in connection with thefts from boats in Le Lavendou in the Var in January. The four, who all reside locally, will appear before a court in Toulon in September.
Two people have died in Avignon in an attack thought to be releated to drugs trafficking. The two men, in their twenties and thirties, died from gunshot wounds in the early hours of this morning.
Unions have called for industrial action at Paris airports from 1 to 5 July. Workers are protesting at a plan proposed by management which will involve cuts to their salaries.
BUSINESS
Euro area annual inflation is expected to be 2.0% in May, up from 1.6% in April according to an initial estimate from EU statistics agency Eurostat. The figure is above the European Central Bank's inflation target of "close to but below 2%". Eurostat said that energy is expected to have the highest annual rate in May of 13.1%, compared with 10.4% in April. France recorded an annual rate of inflation of 1.8%.
French manufacturing output grew at the sharpest rate since January 2018, according to the latest survey by IHS Markit, as new order growth increased, leading to the fastest rise in backlogs since 2006. Input prices increased at the quickest pace in a decade. Increased growth was also recorded in the UK.
Domino's Pizza is hiring 5,000 cooks and delivery drivers in the UK. The company hired many staff from other industries which were badly affected by the pandemic, but those employees are now returning to their original jobs. Industry body UK Hospitality said recently that there was a shortfall of about 188,000 workers, largely as a result of uncertainty over the future of the sector and changes releated to Brexit.
London's Heathrow Airport has opened a dedicated terminal for travellers from countries on the UK's coronavirus red list. Terminal Three will now handle such passengers following reports that travellers from red list countries were mixing with other passengers in immigration halls. Heathrow said that red list routes are "likely to be a feature of UK travel for the foreseeable future" as countries vaccinate their populations at different rates.
SPORT
Tennis... Elina Svitolina is through to the next round of the French Open after defeating French player Oceane Babel 6-2 7-5. Jennifer Brady is also through after beating Anastasija Sevastova 6-3 6-3 .Number one seed Ashleigh Barty beat Bernarda Pera. In the men's singles, Gael Monfils eventually beat Albert Ramos-Vinolas after losing the first set 6-1. Andrey Rublev is out of the tournament after being defeated by Germany's Jan-Lennard Struff.
Football... Manchester United forward Mason Greenwood has withdrawn from England's provisional Euro 2020 squad. United said that he will remain in Manchester for treatment on an injury.
Scotland player John Fleck has tested positive for Covid-19. The team are currently at their Euro2020 training base in Spain. He will self-isolate and won't be travelling to Portugal for tomorrow's friendly against the Netherlands. The Scottish FA said that the rest of the team have tested negative.
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