Your morning briefing: What you should know for Monday, August 2

Ministers urged not to create ‘complicated’ amber travel watchlist

Ministers are being urged not to create a new travel traffic light category that could put thousands of holidaymakers at risk of having to endure an enforced stay in hotel quarantine.

Reports have suggested there is a fallout among Cabinet ministers over proposals to introduce an amber watchlist, designed to warn travellers of the possibility that countries with concerning coronavirus data – which could potentially include Italy and Spain – could be put onto the red list at short notice.

Those returning from a red list country must enter a quarantine hotel at a cost of £1,750 for solo travellers.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps, according to the Telegraph, is against the idea of an amber watchlist and would instead like to see travel opened up further.

‘Multiple athletes’ caught breaking Covid rules in Tokyo at Olympic village party

Covid-19 had stripped so much of the magic from this year’s Olympic Games in Tokyo. Apart from cheering crowds and the freedom to explore Japan’s capital, athletes have also been denied the opportunity to mix and mingle with each other because of tight protocols.

It seems not everyone got the memo.

Tokyo Olympic chiefs have launched an investigation into apparent rule-breaking at an outdoor drinking party at the athletes’ village.

Bosses of the Games say that ‘multiple athletes’ and team officials were involved in the boozy bash at the Tokyo Bay complex on Friday night.

Police arrived after the incident at the Olympic village, which is home to 11,000 sporting stars throughout the games.

Matt Hancock and Gina Coladangelo are ‘together but living apart’

Matt Hancock and Gina Coladangelo are together but living apart, it has been claimed.

CCTV images of Mr Hancock and Ms Coladangelo kissing were published by The Sun on June 25.

The former Health Secretary was seen packing up boxes into his car outside his former marital home, in London on Thursday.

A friend of Mr Hancock told MailOnline: “He is still very much together with Gina, but they are physically apart because of the intense media interest.”

His 15-year marriage to Martha has broken down in the wake of the scandal.

Three held on suspicion of murder after five-year-old boy found dead in river

Three people - including a teenager - have been arrested on suspicion of murder following the death of a five-year-old boy who was pulled from a river in Wales.

South Wales Police were called at 5.45am on Saturday to a report of concern for a missing child in the Sarn area of Bridgend

Officers attended and found the child in the Ogmore River near Pandy Park.

The force said on Sunday evening that a 39-year-old man, a 30-year-old woman and a 13-year-old boy, all from the Bridgend area, have been arrested on suspicion of murder.

Officers are not looking for anyone else in relation to the incident.

Lord Digby Jones breaks silence after Alex Scott BBC pronunciation criticism

Lord Digby Jones has spoken out after he criticised the BBC’s Alex Scott’s pronunciation during her Olympics coverage.

The former Government minister said on Saturday the presenter needed “elocution lessons” as she didn’t pronounce her “gs” while announcing sports including fencing and kayaking.

He wrote online: “Enough! I can’t stand it anymore!

“Alex Scott spoils a good presentational job on the BBC Olympics Team with her very noticeable inability to pronounce her ‘g’s at the end of a word.

“Competitors are NOT taking part, Alex, in the fencin, rowin, boxin, kayakin, weightliftin & swimmin.”

Scott, 36, hit back: “I’m from a working class family in East London, Poplar, Tower Hamlets & I am PROUD. Proud of the young girl who overcame obstacles, and proud of my accent! It’s me, it’s my journey, my grit.”

On Sunday, Lord Digby said he has faced a wealth of online abuse, telling LBC: “I do wish people could criticise in a free democracy and understand that I have a point of view that doesn’t mean I should be cancelled.”

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