a new taliban offensive on the city of herat. reports also suggest that dozens of taliban fighters have been killed in lashkar gah. the belarus sprinter who refused to return home because of fears about her safety — says a phone call from her grandmother persuaded her not go back. she added that her criticism of officials was purely sporting, not political. one of the world's greatest footballers, lionel messi, is leaving barcelona, the club where he's spent his entire career. the club said �*financial and structural obstacles�* had prevented a new contract deal with the argentine striker. and in the uk — fully vaccinated people returning from france to the uk will no longer need to quarantine from sunday. right now because according to the government's numerals which have changed.

unemployed footballer on the wrong side of 30 seeks new club. we'll take a look at tomorrow's papers to see where barcelona's lionel messi may end up. that and other stories with our reviewers, benedicte paviot from france 2a and matt dathan from the times. tomorrow's front pages. the guardian reports that the government is being forced to fund hundreds of extra university places on medical courses — because too many students have qualified due to grade inflation. the daily telegraph adds that universities are turning to entrance exams because they can no longer rely on a—levels to find the brightest students. the i reports on the government's plans to deploy vaccine buses and use influencers to encourage teenagers to take up jabs. the financial times writes that the bank of england is to start looking at potential interest rate

rises to tackle inflation. the daily mail is reporting that climate tzar alok sharma flew to 30 countries in the last seven months — including six on the red list — and that he was given a ministerial exemption from hotel quarantine. the daily mirror reports that the prime minister was criticised today for laughing about margaret thatcher's closure of coal mines in the 1980s. so let's begin. we will start with travel. i will not ask you to list the latest countries conrad, amber, amber plus, green, but nevertheless, let's look at the metro. brits left in limbo by latest traffic light changes. but benedict from france 2a, it is good news for france. benedict from france 24, it is good news for france.— news for france. yes, if it's bad news for france. yes, if it's bad news for _ news for france. yes, if it's bad news for anybody _ news for france. yes, if it's bad news for anybody who - news for france. yes, if it's bad news for anybody who was - news for france. yes, if it's bad news for anybody who was just | news for france. yes, if it's bad - news for anybody who was just flying overnight to mexico and are now scrambling to get out, including a couple of honeymooners who delayed

their marriage and he wanted to have a two week honeymoon. there was suddenly no honeymoon for either bricks trying to go to france or people from france trying to get to the uk. of course, it's notjust business, but long awaited family reunions that were completely disrupted. people who have suddenly found themselves in really bad situations whether it was vis—a—vis their work, situations whether it was vis—a—vis theirwork, but situations whether it was vis—a—vis their work, but the good news is that, yes, france, that special category especially created for various ministries different explanations three weeks ago that the beta variant was prevalent in france which was completely wrong. now, at last, reality has kicked in, and france is no longer in that special category, and as a four a:m., if there are flights, boats, trains come in at 350 come about

four a:m., trains come in at 350 come about foura:m., three trains come in at 350 come about four a:m., three o'clock gmt, those rules are being dropped. so that is good news, but will it be the necessary boost, can everybody rearrange their holidays? i think that's unlikely. we will come unto it, but in france, pcr tests and lateral flow tests are not the prohibitive expense that they are now. so i think it will be very interesting to see how many brits, but you're a star and euro tunnel had a much better day today. we welcome unto pcr tests. this first sentence of the metro story, thousands of uk how to make is relapse granting to leave mexico as soon as they landed. it’s soon as they landed. it's extraordinary _ soon as they landed. it's extraordinary commitment to? i can't imagine _ extraordinary commitment to? i can't imagine what it's like a long haul flights, _ imagine what it's like a long haul flights, you're told when you land you are _ flights, you're told when you land you are going to have to face the pain £2280 on return to england or 'ust pain £2280 on return to england or just get— pain £2280 on return to england or just get back on the next flight,

whichever is less expensive. i do however— whichever is less expensive. i do however have limited sympathy for people _ however have limited sympathy for people who have poked recent holidays — people who have poked recent holidays to mexico just because, people who have poked recent holidays to mexicojust because, i mean, _ holidays to mexicojust because, i mean. i_ holidays to mexicojust because, i mean, i know we have to follow the variance _ mean, i know we have to follow the variance and — mean, i know we have to follow the variance and the rates of infections very closely. i write about it pretty— very closely. i write about it pretty much every day, so i do follow — pretty much every day, so i do follow this— pretty much every day, so i do follow this quite closely, but if you are — follow this quite closely, but if you are booking a holiday, surely you are booking a holiday, surely you would — you are booking a holiday, surely you would be tracking the destination that you are wishing to id destination that you are wishing to go to— destination that you are wishing to go to end — destination that you are wishing to go to end mexico has been very close to the _ go to end mexico has been very close to the red _ go to end mexico has been very close to the red list given the equivalent rates _ to the red list given the equivalent rates of— to the red list given the equivalent rates of the beta variant and general— rates of the beta variant and general infections for some weeks, talking _ general infections for some weeks, talking to _ general infections for some weeks, talking to ministers over the last few days — talking to ministers over the last few days saying that these are weeks too late, _ few days saying that these are weeks too late, really, for mexico. so the thing _ too late, really, for mexico. so the thing is, _ too late, really, for mexico. so the thing is, a — too late, really, for mexico. so the thing is, a couple who booked a honeymoon, they booked and had to rellook— honeymoon, they booked and had to rebook il— honeymoon, they booked and had to rebook it several times. there's a lot of— rebook it several times. there's a lot of people who had bumped holidays — lot of people who had bumped holidays before the pandemic even started _ holidays before the pandemic even started that are rescheduling. so through— started that are rescheduling. so through no fault of their own, they are having — through no fault of their own, they are having to now rearrange yet again _

are having to now rearrange yet again slop — are having to now rearrange yet again stop at i can imagine some honeymoon couples will not have to test their— honeymoon couples will not have to test their marriage with 14 days of quarantine — test their marriage with 14 days of quarantine in the same hotel room without— quarantine in the same hotel room without being able to leave. what a way to _ without being able to leave. what a way to start your marriage. let�*s without being able to leave. what a way to start your marriage. let's go to the daily — way to start your marriage. let's go to the daily telegraph _ way to start your marriage. let's go to the daily telegraph because - way to start your marriage. let's go to the daily telegraph because give i to the daily telegraph because give us a preview of that story on the bottom left of the telegraph on the front page, there is a story that mps declare pcr tests a rep. they are expensive here but cheaper in france. why? in are expensive here but cheaper in france- why?— are expensive here but cheaper in france. wh ? ., . , ., ., france. why? in france, they are not subcontracted _ france. why? in france, they are not subcontracted and _ france. why? in france, they are not subcontracted and given _ france. why? in france, they are not subcontracted and given out - france. why? in france, they are not subcontracted and given out to - subcontracted and given out to private companies. here in the uk, they have been. so the expense is huge. for one person it's bad enough, as soon as you have a family with two or three children, it becomes really prohibitive. i think what is really not going down while either is that the pcr test, very, very few of them are actually being used to the sequence what is actually happening with variance, but, yeah, i mean apart from the

expense, the disruption to do with people trying to work if they are on furlough, had been on for trying to get thejob, etc, i think the hokey cookie that they were talking about is true for so many people. i think that adding to the sacrifice that everybody has had to make and most people are astonishingly compliant and obedient here in the uk. it is very difficult. i understand what matt was just talking about vis—a—vis mexico, but it has to be said that for a country, for example, like france, it has been very, very tough. so it is appreciated that these tests are not prohibitive, indeed, some are free, and those that are not are actually something like 25 or 49 euros, and that makes a heck of a difference. these pcr tests are meant to be is

to check variance but they are not happening that much, these checks. that's right. the company's argument about— that's right. the company's argument about using _ that's right. the company's argument about using pcr tests for the posterior ribald tests, day eight if you are _ posterior ribald tests, day eight if you are arriving from an interlaced country. _ you are arriving from an interlaced country. and — you are arriving from an interlaced country, and a two if you are writing — country, and a two if you are writing from agreements country, that the _ writing from agreements country, that the government is necessary to be able _ that the government is necessary to be able to— that the government is necessary to be able to sequence and find variance _ be able to sequence and find variance of concern. lateral flow tests, _ variance of concern. lateral flow tests. you — variance of concern. lateral flow tests, you cannot do that. however, yes, this _ tests, you cannot do that. however, yes, this research from the house of commons _ yes, this research from the house of commons transport committee shows that only— commons transport committee shows that only about 5% are being sequenced and they have worked out that in— sequenced and they have worked out that in the _ sequenced and they have worked out that in the last three weeks of july, _ that in the last three weeks of july. it— that in the last three weeks of july, it has cost a total of £1000 for each — july, it has cost a total of £1000 for each individual sequenced test, so it just _ for each individual sequenced test, so itjust shows for each individual sequenced test, so it just shows c0 that, yet for each individual sequenced test, so itjust shows c0 that, yet again, the government's reasoning behind because _ the government's reasoning behind because he doesn't actually back up with but— because he doesn't actually back up with but the reality is. let�*s because he doesn't actually back up with but the reality is.— with but the reality is. let's look at a new policy _ with but the reality is. let's look at a new policy on _ with but the reality is. let's look at a new policy on the _ with but the reality is. let's look at a new policy on the eye. - at a new policy on the eye. talking about vaccine buses. influencers to

help teens take up jabs. all i can say is that the bus better have better livery than that rather boring blue and white. you need a proper —— proper dazzling vaccine buses that people will take notice. yes, i'm not sure that the buses are really going to do it. i think the other proposal of getting teenagers jabbed at football matches, football grounds and gigs and using social media, i think that will be a much more successful attempt at raising awareness and making, you know, you need to go and find those youngsters. interesting that since the often much criticised announcement bipartisan background that the health pass would be necessary from next monday to go to cafes, restaurants, bars, cinemas, etc, 8 million people, a lot of them youngsters, have actually, because they want to go to the cinema, the

restaurant, the bars, have actually got themselves jabbed. so i think it's interesting to look at other countries and what they are doing, but, of course, that stark warning by the transport secretary saying that vaccines will be required for evermore, and i think that is quite tough to take, but i think that is the new reality, that we are living in. again, getting some of the caution that max was referring to before, i think, caution that max was referring to before, ithink, i'm not thinking caution that max was referring to before, i think, i'm not thinking of going immediately for a holiday, because i don't want to blink and miss yet another change of rule spend a lot of money on tests, but, yes, for social media to those youngsters, and engaging with them and explaining to them why it's important that they do get the jabbed. important that they do get the 'abbed. ' ~ ., ' .,, jabbed. right. the 16 and 17 euros are down high _ jabbed. right. the 16 and 17 euros are down high street, _ jabbed. right. the 16 and 17 euros are down high street, they - jabbed. right. the 16 and 17 euros are down high street, they see i jabbed. right. the 16 and 17 euros are down high street, they see al are down high street, they see a vaccine bus, they go to a gig, see ad hoc nurses among the dancers, jabbing people or at least time to

on one side have a drink and a stand on one side have a drink and a stand on the other side get a jabbed. will that work? on the other side get a 'abbed. will that work? , ., on the other side get a 'abbed. will that work? , . ~ , that work? they tried it at windley durin: the that work? they tried it at windley during the euros. _ that work? they tried it at windley during the euros. other— that work? they tried it at windley during the euros. other than - that work? they tried it at windley during the euros. other than cova| during the euros. other than cova jabs, _ during the euros. other than cova jabs. it's — during the euros. other than cova jabs, it's very interesting what is happening — jabs, it's very interesting what is happening in france, actually, iwas talking _ happening in france, actually, iwas talking to _ happening in france, actually, iwas talking to someone's 90s said they -ot talking to someone's 90s said they got their— talking to someone's 90s said they got their chance of getting a second jabbed _ got their chance of getting a second jabbed on— got their chance of getting a second jabbed on a bus and it wasn't e>

people _ much bigger impact than the gelling people to _ much bigger impact than the gelling people to come and have a jabbed therapy— people to come and have a jabbed therapy three date neck free pizza. thats— therapy three date neck free pizza. that's what i think. i'm talking to people _ that's what i think. i'm talking to people who have not had theirjabbed so far _ people who have not had theirjabbed so far. right neck let's stick with 1617 euros— so far. right neck let's stick with 1617 euros and look at a couple of stories— 1617 euros and look at a couple of stories being featured, the present and the _ stories being featured, the present and the daily telegraph about education. 0n the front page of the telegraph, — education. 0n the front page of the telegraph, university set entrance exams _ telegraph, university set entrance exams amid a level cas. vice chancellor— exams amid a level cas. vice chancellor say they can no longer rely on _ chancellor say they can no longer rely on pandemic grades as objective. hold that thought as we io objective. hold that thought as we go to— objective. hold that thought as we go to the — objective. hold that thought as we go to the guardian where it says extra _ go to the guardian where it says extra cash— go to the guardian where it says extra cash for medical schools as grades _ extra cash for medical schools as grades surge. a levels result in patient — grades surge. a levels result in patient forces them to find hundreds of more _ patient forces them to find hundreds of more places. more places for doctors. — of more places. more places for doctors, extra cash for medical schools — doctors, extra cash for medical schools. isn't this a good thing? yes _ schools. isn't this a good thing? yes it— schools. isn't this a good thing? yes. it absolutely is. i first when i read the straight, i thought it was because of the pandemic, may be more young people where wanting to

go into medicine, but it's actually because as we know, there haven't been exams, and it's been an assessment by teachers. then there have been, it would seem, very many high grades and pass grades. so i think it's a good thing that at least, you know, the department for education is talking to universities, but it seems universities, but it seems universities are worried because they don't think they can assess the academic qualities and best skills of the students that they want, so they want entrance exams. so it's really back to the future are back to the past because i think it's going to be a lot of cramming, and is it going to disadvantage, with people who can be tutored have a huge advantage on those who cannot? so i feel very, very sorry for 16-17- so i feel very, very sorry for 16—17—18—year—olds. they have endured so much already, and when you use that word quite rightly, the

words being used, the pandemic you know, when some he looks at their cv, are they going to be judged know, when some he looks at their cv, are they going to bejudged and looked at in a different way? that is the big worry, i think.— looked at in a different way? that is the big worry, i think. max, i'm just thinking _ is the big worry, i think. max, i'm just thinking about _ is the big worry, i think. max, i'm just thinking about what - is the big worry, i think. max, i'm just thinking about what 16 - is the big worry, i think. max, i'm just thinking about what 16 and i just thinking about what 16 and seven childs might have to go through any year. they have got to find their way around vaccine buses, they have got to getjabbed to going to gigs, they've got to not only do a levels, they've got to get through all of that and find they have got to do a separate entrance exam as well. the neck yeah, i am glad i wasn't part of that era. i can say that, and ifeel deeply sorry wasn't part of that era. i can say that, and i feel deeply sorry for notjust 16 that, and i feel deeply sorry for notjust16 and 17 euros, but people in their earlyjust starting off new jobs and internships and having to go into the workplace and meet other colleagues on zoom. it's extraordinary. a cousin to question the whole point of doing two years of a levels, really. it's extraordinary to see the amount of grade inflation, last year, four in

ten students were graded, i can certainly see a minor in every near like that. so i think it's incredible. i mean to me have to take an exam to get through a levels and may and june and then you have to start _ and may and june and then you have to start immediately revising for your entrance exams. i've always presumed _ your entrance exams. i've always presumed the entrance exams were early in _ presumed the entrance exams were early in the — presumed the entrance exams were early in the air, constant exams for a level— early in the air, constant exams for a level students. we have really moved — a level students. we have really moved away from the coursework, so it will— moved away from the coursework, so it will be _ moved away from the coursework, so it will be testing two hours of your time _ it will be testing two hours of your time in _ it will be testing two hours of your time in an— it will be testing two hours of your time in an exam.— time in an exam. let's look at the financial times _ time in an exam. let's look at the financial times such _ time in an exam. let's look at the financial times such as _ time in an exam. let's look at the financial times such as covering l time in an exam. let's look at the i financial times such as covering the story that is happening in southeast europe and asia minor. 0n the front page from a burning issue, fire and

floods intensified crisis. a picture from france 24 of someone fighting a