The UK government has announced that travellers arriving in England from "amber list" countries who have been fully vaccinated with certain vaccines will not have to quarantine. The UK Department of Transport said that passengers arriving from amber list countries who have been fully vaccinated with approved vaccines in Europe (the EU Member States, European Free Trade Association countries and Andorra, Monaco and Vatican City) and the USA will not have to quarantine when entering England. The change will apply from 4am UK time on 2 August. Travellers will still be required to complete a pre-departure test before arrival into England, alongside a PCR test on or before day 2 after arrival. The UK government said that separate rules will continue to apply for those arriving from France. As at early this evening, 28 July, if a traveller has been in France in the 10 days before arrival in England, they must quarantine for 10 days after arrival and take a COVID-19 test on or before day 2 and on or after day 8, even if they are fully vaccinated. Quarantine can be ended early through the Test to Release scheme. More information can be found on the UK government's website https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-travel-update-government-waives-quarantine-for-arrivals-fully-vaccinated-from-europe-and-usa-while-also-confirming-international-cruise-restart
French government spokesperson Gabriel Attal has said that the extension to the health pass will come into force on 9 August subject to the approval of the Constitutional Council. The French Parliament has already passed the health bill providing for the extension of the health pass to cafes, restaurants and long distance public transport but the Constitutional Council will make a final ruling on the 5th of August. Gabriel Attal said that the health situation "continues to worsen and is worrying" and that there are 97% more cases than last week. He said that the Mediterranean coast and the Atlantic coast are most affected by the recent rise in incidence rates. However, he said that hospitalisations are "two to three times less than in previous waves". He added that "massive acceleration" of vaccination is "essential to fight the pandemic". A state of health emergency will come into force in Guadeloupe, Saint-Martin and Saint-Barthelemy from midnight tonight.
The French Education Ministry has announced the health protocol for schools and colleges which will come into force at the beginning of the school year. Areas of the country will be classified as being in one of four levels - green, yellow, orange or red, depending on the severity of the epedemic in the locality. The level applicable at the start of the school year will depend on the epidemic situation on that date and will be indicated prior to the resumption of classes. It will be possible for an area to move from one level of classification to another as the school year progresses. More details, including a chart which specifies protocols appyling for each level can be found on the Education Ministry's website https://www.education.gouv.fr/annee-scolaire-2021-2022-protocole-sanitaire-et-mesures-de-fonctionnement-324257
A man is in a serious condition after being shot several times in the early hours of this morning in his apartment in Marseille. The shooting, in the 14th arrondissement, is the latest case of violence in the Bouches-du-Rhone which has claimed the lives of several people this month.
The National Police in the Alpes-Maritimes are appealing for help in tracing a missing person. Félicien HODE, who is 80 years old and is suffering from Alzheimer's disease disappeared from his home on July 22. The police said that he is likely to frequent Nice old town and Cagnes-sur-Mer.
Motorway operator Vinci Autoroutes has warned motorists to expect significant traffic from tomorrow, July 29, on the main axes of the motorway network. This coming weekend is a cross-over weekend between those who have been away in July returning home and those who are holidaying in August leaving home. In our region, the A8 between Aix-en-Provence and Italy will experience heavy traffic in both directions on Friday between 2 p.m. and 8 p.m., especially around large population areas. On Saturday the traffic will be heavy from mid-morning until the start of the evening. On Sunday traffic will still be very busy mid-morning on the outskirts of Aix-en-Provence and in the early evening, mainly around large population areas.
BUSINESS
British American Tobacco has reported an 8.1% rise in revenues to £12.18bn for the six months to the end of June. The company said that it's encouraging more people to switch to nicotine alternatives and revealed that more than a third of its UK revenues now come from vaping.
The latest data from French government statistics agency INSEE has shown that household confidence in the economic situation decreased slightly in July. At 101, the household confidence indicator lost two points but remains above its long-term average of 100. INSEE also said that in July the share of households considering it is a suitable time to make major purchases has decreased markedly, after a sharp increase in June. The corresponding index has lost five points but still remains above its long term average.
SPORT
Football... Celtic are in action this evening in the European Champions League second round qualifying second leg tie. They visit FC Midtjylland with the score tied at 1-1 from the first leg. Kick off is at 7.45pm.
Olympics..... Great Britain won gold in the Olympic pool today in the 4x200m freestyle relay. Australian swimmer Ariarne Titmus claimed a second gold in the women's 200m freestyle.
Great Britain's rowers won a silver in men's quadruple sculls. Ireland have won their first medal of the Tokyo Olympics with the women's four rowers winning bronze.
Andy Murray and Joe Salisbury are out of the men's doubles after losing to a Croatian team of Marin Cilic and Ivan Dodig. They face New Zealand's Michael Venus and Marcus Daniell in the semis.
Annemiek van Vleuten won gold in the women's cycling time trial.
Brazil are through to the quarter-finals of the men's football, but Germany are out of the tournament.
In rugby, Fiji beat New Zealand 27-12 to win only the second gold medal in their country's Olympic history.
In the men's rugby sevens great Britain have dropped into the bronze medal match after a 29-7 defeat by New Zealand in semi-finals.
American gymnast Simone Biles withdrew from today's individual all-around final. Biles said she had to focus on her mental health after pulling out of the women's team final yesterday.
TGV services across much of France are gradually improving after several arson attacks affected the network in the early hours of this morning....
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Paris is getting ready to shut down it’s city centre and its airspace as well as mobilise 45,000 police and several army units in what has been billed...
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Lucie Castets, the left-wing candidate for Prime Minister, reiterated her desire to lead the government during a media appearance on July 25. A poll s...
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French President Emmanuel Macron is preparing to welcome world leaders to the Olympic games opening ceremony tomorrow night and has been visiting key ...
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France will host the 2030 Winter Olympics in the Alpes, conditional on state and regional financial guarantees. President Macron confirmed his full su...
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