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Friday morning news briefing: Rising Covid risk to holidays

Sunseekers wear masks on the beach in Saint Jean de Luz, in southwestern France
Sunseekers wear masks on the beach in Saint Jean de Luz, in southwestern France Credit: Bob Edme /AP

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Ministers monitoring rising Covid-19 cases in France

Check before you travel. That phrase will be ringing in the ears of anyone with a holiday booked to France. A French quarantine is being weighed up by ministers, who are closely monitoring a rise in coronavirus infections. France's weekly rate has overtaken that of Portugal. Norway last night reimposed quarantine on travellers from the country. Rising cases in Belgium, Andorra and the Bahamas mean they will this weekend be removed from the Government's "green" list, which exempts arrivals to the UK from self-isolating for 14 days. Which countries might be next? View graphs showing the risk by country. Determined to travel abroad this summer? Read our simple guide first.

Meanwhile, new analysis shows the "Dominic Cummings effect" has resulted in a big loss of public confidence in the Government - with trust not yet having recovered. After Boris Johnson's chief adviser was reported to have breached lockdown rules to drive 264 miles from London to Durham while suffering coronavirus symptoms, University College London found a marked decrease in confidence that has never bounced back. In better news, Science Editor Sarah Knapton reports the largest swab testing survey ever carried out has found the easing of lockdown did not result in an increase in infection rates in England.

Exam U-turn as pupils win reprieve over appeals

Pupils will be allowed to challenge "unfair" A-level and GCSE grades after the exam regulator changed its stance in the face of a backlash from head teachers. Schools will now be able to appeal against results in "exceptional" cases if they believe students are incorrectly marked down by the statistical modelling being used to calculate the grades. Education Editor Camilla Turner explains how the decision comes in the wake of this week's Scottish exam results fiasco. And celebrating - or commiserating - with friends is one of the traditions of results day. But school pupils are to be told not to hug or cry on one another's shoulders even if they are feeling "emotional" after receiving their marks.

Scorchio! The coolest way to beat the heatwave

With another potentially record-breaking heatwave hitting parts of the UK, contending with climes hotter than the Caribbean is frankly all we will be thinking about. Yet if the desk fan, pillows left in the freezer and cold compresses are not doing the trick, there is a - well, cooler - way to handle the heat: ice bathing. Jacqueline Steele explains how a warmdown usually reserved for athletes was reborn as a wellness trend.

At a glance: More coronavirus headlines

Also in the news: Today's other headlines

Stemming the flow | The Navy could be called upon to help stop the influx of illegal migrants from across the Channel. Migrants were seen lying exhausted on a beach in Kent yesterday after as many as 235 reached Britain in a new record for a single day. Home Secretary Priti Patel has ordered a review of the UK's sea capability in the Channel. Home Affairs Editor Charles Hymas reports that it could result in the Navy being summoned to help tackle the crisis for the first time since Sajid Javid, her predecessor, requested military aid in January 2019.  

Around the world: Assessing devastation in Beirut

The devastated port area of Beirut during yesterday's visit by French President Emmanuel Macron. The death toll from the blast is now at least 145 - with 4,000 injured and 30,000 homes damaged. View a gallery of more striking images. And view the poignant final picture of firefighters as they headed to their doomed warehouse mission.

An estimated 2,750 tons of ammonium nitrate had been left in a warehouse
An estimated 2,750 tons of ammonium nitrate had been left in a warehouse Credit: AFP GETTY

Comment and analysis

Editor's choice: Features and arts

  1. Lockdown blues | Has Covid given you 'low-grade depression' like Michelle Obama?
  2. Come back! | Why the working from home experiment has been too successful
  3. Staying in | Mixologists that turn your home into a cocktail bar so you don't have to go out

Business and money briefing

Driven into the red | Uber lost £1.37bn in the second quarter of the year, as its ride-hailing business plummeted by 75pc amid the pandemic and its food delivery firm failed to make up the shortfall. Read how the app-based company lost more than Wall Street had expected.  

Sport briefing

England on the rocks | England are under huge pressure to avoid going behind in their Test series against Pakistan, after closing on 92 for four on the second day - still trailing their opponents by 234 runs. Read Tim Wigmore's analysis of the precarious position.  

And finally... for this morning's downtime

The Poltergeist puzzle | In 1982, Tobe Hooper's creation Poltergeist terrified the VHS generation by bringing horror to the suburbs. But why do its mysteries still haunt us? Tom Fordy investigates who really directed it - and the truth about that "curse".

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