By Michelle Rahimi
Italy Covid update
Italy to Require Proof of Vaccination or Negative Test for Social Activities
The New York Times (nytimes.com)
The Italian government announce on Thursday that it would require people to show proof of vaccination or a recent negative test to participate in certain social activities, including indoor dining, visiting museums, and attending shows.
The move follows a similar announcement made by the French government last week and comes as the debate in Western nations heats up over how governments should, or can, go in circumscribing the life of the unvaccinated.
Starting on August 6th, Italians will be required to show proof of having received at least one dose of the vaccine, having taken a recent negative swab, or having recovered from Covid in the past six months to sit at indoor tables in bars and restaurants; access museums, swimming pools, gyms, and theme parks; and attend sports competitions and other events, including public exams.
France update
French army says it has killed two ‘terrorists’ in Mali (msn.com)
The French army has killed two members of the EIGS “terrorist” group, which France says has links to the Islamic State, in Mali.
France is in the process of re-shaping its military presence in West Africa’s Sahel region, which includes Mali, where France has been on the front line in the fight against Islamist militia groups.
Key Trends in the Construction Industry in France 2021-2025: EUR 6.8 Billion Government Spending Planned for Summer Olympic Games in Paris in 2024 | Markets Insider (businessinsider.com)
The French construction sector declined by 13.2% in 2020, because of the COVID-19 outbreak. The industry is expected to recover in 2021 and grow by 8.6% this year, registering an annual average growth of 1.9% between 2022 and 2025.
In preparation for the upcoming summer Olympic games in Paris in 2024, the French government plans to spend EUR6.8 billion to upgrade the country’s infrastructure by 2024.
Long-term growth in the industry will be also driven by the government’s plan to invest EUR80 billion (US$94.4 billion) on transport infrastructure between 2018 and 2037. On a positive note, work is progressing on the EUR31.7 billion (US$37.4 billion) Grand Paris Express Metro Rail project, which is claimed to be the biggest urban mobility project currently underway in Europe.
About the author:
Michelle Rahimi is a Diplomacy and International Relation’s Master’s candidate at the School for International Training, located in Brattleboro, Vermont, United States of America. She obtains an extensive passion for international relations with first-hand knowledge from traveling across many countries and is experienced in working with different teams and individuals from diverse cultural and socio-economic backgrounds.
