France to ban all travel and freight from Scotland for at least 48 hours

France’s cinemas and other cultural venues are to remain closed until at least the end of January, French Prime Minister Jean Castex announced during a press conference this evening local time. The move is not terribly surprising given the country’s daily rate of new Covid-19 cases is well above the 5,000 threshold that had been set as a bar when France went into a second lockdown at the end of October.

Clayton Davis Frances McDormand could make history for women at the Oscars.The 63-year-old actor has received raves for her performance in “Nomadland” from Chloé Zhao, landing her in contention for her sixth acting nomination after winning two best actress Oscars (1996’s “Fargo” and 2018’s “Three Billboards outside Ebbing, Missouri”).

Get the stories that matter to you sent straight to your inbox with our daily newsletter.A Paisley baby was the first in Scotland to enter the world on Christmas Day.First-time mum Kerry Docherty had been in the Royal Alexandra Hospital maternity unit for two days.But she hung on until Christmas Day itself - and 14 minutes after midnight wee Leavi was born.The second born in the country is thought to have been a boy at the Ayrshire Maternity in Kilmarnock at 12.27am.Leavi was one of just two

Boris Johnson, introduced Tier 4 restrictions for 17 million people in London and parts of the Home Counties from midnight on Saturday, which saw all but non-essential shops close and people being told not to travel for Christmas.Get the latest updates from across Greater Manchester direct to your inbox with the free MEN newsletterYou can sign up very simply by following the instructions hereThe French ports were shut after the Tier 4 measures were introduced as a new highly-transmissible

direct to your inboxFrance is expected to end a ban on freight movement from the UK as officials put in place a 'solid health protocol' in the next few hours.The UK has been cut off from large parts of Europe – and some other areas of the world – as authorities imposed bans on passengers because of fears over the new coronavirus variant.The most dramatic intervention came from France, whose ban also put a stop to hauliers crossing the English Channel with their cargo.It's caused a huge backlog

direct to your inboxThe coronavirus vaccination programme across the UK won't be affected by France's ban on freight, the Transport Secretary has said.Grant Shapps told Sky News on Monday morning that the disruption around the Channel ports in Kent 'won't have an impact' on vaccine supply.It comes as France suspended all traffic from the UK for 48 hours amid fears over the new mutant coronavirus strain.A number of EU countries have also banned flights from the four nations.Mr Shapps said: "Most

amid fears the new Covid-19 variant will spread.Ireland has banned all flights from the UK for 48 hours, as has Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Austria, Turkey, Belgium and Switzerland.The measures are temporary with plans for an EU council meeting at 10am to decide on co-ordinating EU actions.The announcement comes as Scotland prepares for a level four lockdown starting on Boxing Day.Opposition party leaders in Scotland have called on the SNP government to further explain the reasons for

Nicola Sturgeon tonight called on Boris Johnson to extend the Brexit transition period. The First Minister took to Twitter with no breakthrough in negotiations between the UK and the EU in sight.

On Sunday, several European countries including France, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Austria, Italy, Bulgaria and Ireland announced new restrictions on flights to the United Kingdom in order to prevent the spread of a new variant of the coronavirus in England.  When asked if a similar move could happen in the United States, testing czar Admiral Brett Giroir told ABC's "This Week" that he doesn't believe a ban on travel to the U.K. is necessary yet.

direct to your inbox France has become the latest country to ban travel from the UK over the new strain of coronavirus.

coronavirus across Scotland.

direct to your inbox For five days over the festive period, the coronavirus restrictions across the UK will change to allow people to meet others over Christmas. Many will be hoping to be able to visit friends and family outside of their local area during the festivities - especially as the festive season draws ever closer.