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[View in browser]( [Alternate text] Daily briefing June 04, 2021 Todayâs essential news from the source you trust This morningâs headlines The travel industry was [dealt a hammer blow]( on Thursday as Portugal, the only mainstream holiday country on the green list, was downgraded to amber. Transport secretary Grant Shapps cited fears over âa mutation of the Delta variantâ, the virus mutation wreaking havoc in India, for plunging Portugal into the amber category, joining most of Europe. The decision was made by the government in response to the countryâs coronavirus positive test rate âalmost doublingâ and the discovery of 68 cases of the Delta variant, including some with a mutation previously seen in Nepal. Portugalâs removal, which will take effect from 4am on 8 June, was received with disbelief among a travel industry that only restarted legally and tentatively 17 days ago. The Delta variant may lead to [an increased risk of hospitalisation]( compared to the UKâs Alpha variant, Public Health England (PHE) has said. Delta is also now believed to be the dominant variant in the UK, having overtaken Alpha, PHE experts believe, and cases have risen by 5,472 since last week, to 12,431. âEarly evidence suggests there may be an increased risk of hospitalisation for Delta (VOC-21APR-02) compared to Alpha (VOC-20DEC-02) although more data is needed for us to have more confidence in that finding,â the body said in its weekly variant case report on Thursday. Dr Jenny Harries, chief executive of the UK Health Security Agency, said it was imperative the British public continued to be cautious as scientists learn more about the new variant. âWith this variant now dominant across the UK, it remains vital that we continue to exercise caution particularly while we learn more about transmission and health impacts,â she said. Belarus journalist Roman Protasevich, who was arrested last month after his plane was forced to land in Minsk, has [confessed to plotting anti-government protests]( in a tearful TV interview that his family say was conducted under duress. In his third public appearance 10 days after he was arrested, Mr Protasevich recanted his previous criticism of president Alexander Lukashenko and praised him. He said he changed his views about the veteran leader as he âbegan to understand that he was doing the right thing and I certainly respect himâ. The family of the 26-year-old journalist, activists and opposition groups say the interview was conducted under duress and called it an act of âpropagandaâ. . We need your support The Independent employs over 100 journalists around the world to bring you news you can trust. Please consider showing your support with a contribution. [Contribute]( . Top stories [âTheyâve built a cage around usâ: Fences go up near St Ives homes ahead of G7 summit]( [White House defends Fauci as top doctorâs private emails revealed]( [Nurse who claimed Covid symptoms were caused by 5G is struck off]( . . Stories chosen for you - [Green list for travel could be reviewed today â follow live]( - [Watching Tim Martin squirm almost makes Brexit worth it | Mark Steel]( - [Green list live: government travel review expected today]( - [Opinion: We still donât know what or who Brexit is actually for]( - [EU leaders drawing up âcode of conductâ for dealing with Brexit Britain]( . News you can trust The Independent has a 100% NewsGuard trust rating [NewsGuard] [Find out more]( . If you can spare two minutes weâd love to hear your [feedback]( on our newsletters [Alternate text] Join the conversation or follow us [Twitter]( [Facebook]( Please do not reply directly to this email You are currently registered to receive The Independent's News email.
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