United Kingdom In U-turn, UK's Johnson self-isolates after COVID-19 contact Downing Street first said Johnson would self-isolate outside of work only but backtracked amid accusations of double standards. 18/07/2021
France France: Tens of thousands protest against COVID pass, vaccination "Macron, no to the health dictatorship!" was among the slogans as tens of thousands took to the streets to protest new coronavirus measures. 17/07/2021
Travel News France tightens rules for travellers from UK and several EU countries Unvaccinated travellers from the UK, Spain, Portugal, Cyprus, Greece and the Netherlands will need to show a negative COVID-19 test taken within 24 hours of departure. 17/07/2021
World News First resident of Olympic Village tests positive for COVID Tokyo Olympics organisers sought to reassure competitors that the event would be safe after the first Covid-19 case was confirmed in the Games Village on Saturday. 17/07/2021
Travel News How will Hajj be different in 2021? The annual Muslim pilgrimage is set to take place between 17-22 July. But the pandemic means things have had to change. 17/07/2021
Travel News Fully jabbed UK travellers arriving from France must still quarantine Starting Monday, fully vaccinated UK residents returning from amber countries will no longer have to quarantine, except those arriving from France, the UK government announced on Friday. 17/07/2021
Russia Moscow drops COVID vaccination proof demand for restaurant clients Moscow drops COVID vaccination proof demand for restaurant clients 16/07/2021
World News WHO calls for audit of Chinese labs where COVID was first identified The World Health Organization (WHO) called on Friday for an audit of Chinese laboratories where the first cases of COVID-19 were identified as part of the investigation into the origin of the pandemic. 16/07/2021
United Kingdom UK records 51,000 new COVID cases — highest daily tally since January The spike comes with England set to fully lift restrictions on Monday. 16/07/2021
Business Planet Safe travels: the seal seeking to save summer In partnership with The European Commission Business Planet heads to Portugal to find out how the new European Tourism COVID-19 Safety Seal aims to save both the holiday sector and keep tourists safe on their travels. 16/07/2021
Spain Spain: Curfew restored in Catalonia as COVID-19 cases soar Spain's 14-day incidence rate currently stands at 458 cases per 100,000, but in the north-eastern region of Catalonia, it is at more than 1,000 cases per 100,000. 16/07/2021
Hungary Hungary to offer citizens booster COVID-19 jabs from August 1 Prime Minister Viktor Orban confirmed citizens would be offered their third doses from August, regardless of age, health, or which vaccine they initially received. 16/07/2021
France Eiffel Tower reopens for business after nine-month COVID hiatus A cap of 13,000 people are allowed to visit the Parisian landmark per day - half of the number usually expected. 16/07/2021
Russia Russian culture icon Pyotr Mamonov dies with coronavirus aged 70 The rock musician died in a Moscow hospital after spending two weeks on a ventilator being treated for coronavirus. 16/07/2021
Destinations Bulgaria and Croatia: Take a trip to the UK’s new green list additions Brits will soon be able to enjoy a quarantine-free stay in two new European green list destinations. 15/07/2021
Travel News No more quarantine-free travel from the Balearic Islands to the UK The Balearic Islands have been added to the UK's amber list, while Bulgaria, Croatia and Hong Kong have joined the green. 14/07/2021
World News Carrot or stick? Which is best at pushing Europeans to get vaccinated? Some countries are now requiring health passes to access restaurants and travel in an effort to push citizens to get COVID-19 jabs. 14/07/2021
Travel News These are the 4 countries offering COVID-19 vaccines to tourists Countries outside Europe are planning to reconnect with tourists by offering them the COVID-19 vaccine as a perk of their stay. 14/07/2021
France Watch: France observes Bastille Day under shadow of Delta variant France returns to its annual military parade down the Champs-Élysées after it was cancelled last year due to the pandemic. 14/07/2021
Malta Malta abandons plan to bar unvaccinated travellers from entry The island, which boasts of being one of the world's most-vaccinated nations, is hoping to curb an upsurge in new cases of COVID-19. 14/07/2021