Date: Friday 6 October 2017

Venue: Boris Paichadze Dinamo Arena, Tbilisi, Georgia Dinamo Arena

Kick off time: 8pm local time (BST +3)

As well as this advice, check out our travel advice for Georgia

Passports and visas

If you’re travelling to Georgia on a British passport from the UK you won’t need a visa, but your passport should be valid for at least 6 months after entry. We strongly advise you to take out comprehensive travel and medical insurance even if you are only going for one night. It could save you a lot of money if you get into difficulties.

Getting to and from the airport

Tbilisi airport

Airport taxis can be found directly outside arrivals. You can also order a taxi by phone or app. Lists of taxi companies can be found at the Georgian Yell website. Usually taxis aren’t metered. If you prefer a metered taxi specify when ordering and insist the driver uses the meter. Or, if there is no meter, ensure you agree a price before getting in the car. The price from the airport to the city centre should be around 30 GEL = £10 and the journey to the city centre takes 20-30 minutes depending on traffic.

City Bus N 37 operates everyday between the city and the airport. The ticket price is 0.5 GEL = 20 pence. Bus schedules can be found on the Tbilisi Transport Company website.

The airport railway station is located in front of the airport passenger terminal, next to the car park. Train tickets can be bought at the station. Trains to Tbilisi Central Station cost 0.5 GEL = 20 pence and take 35 minutes but are infrequent. They currently run twice a day at: 8:35am – 9:10am and 5:40pm – 6:15pm (from airport railway station to the Central Station); and 7:50am – 8:25am and 4:55pm – 5:30pm (from the Central Station to the airport railway station).

For more information about Tbilisi International Airport, please visit Tbilisi Airport website.

Railway information centre: 1331 (both local mobile and landline).

Kutaisi Airport

The Georgian Bus Company run buses from Kutaisi International Airport to Tbilisi city centre (Pushkini Garden on Freedom Square). The ticket price is 20 GEL = £6. Buses depart from the airport regularly.

Taxis are available outside the airport or can be ordered by phone or app. Lists of taxi companies can be found at the Georgian Yell website. The journey from Kutaisi airport to the Tbilisi city centre takes 2-3 hours depending on traffic and is likely to cost around 180 GEL – or £60-£70.

Getting around Tbilisi and to the Boris Paichadze Dinamo Arena

Taxi

Taxis can be flagged down easily on the street, but you should avoid doing so after dark, particularly if you’re female, as there have been incidences of robbery. You can also order taxis by phone or app. You should also be wary of taxi drivers who don’t know the route to your destination and choose an alternative. Journeys within Tbilisi should cost no more than 5-10 GEL= £2-4. From downtown to the stadium should cost around 8 GEL = £3 and take 15-20 minutes depending on traffic.

Metro

Tbilisi has an efficient, but limited metro system. The station for the stadium is Vagslis Moedani (Station Square). From the station, turn right down Tevdore Mgvdeli street, then first left down G. Tsabadze street where the stadium will become visible on the right. The walk will take you about 10 minutes.

Bus

Bus N 31 via Pushkini Garden on Freedom Square/ Rustaveli Avenue/ Melikishvili Avenue stops at Vagzlis Moedani (Station Square).

At the match

Wales supporters will be accommodated in the North Stand of the stadium in sections 11 and 12 (see stadium plan) of the first tier, entrance through gate F situated on Tseretlei Avenue. There are up to 30 seats for disabled fans, they should enter the stadium from gate B situated on Tsabadze street.

Access to the stadium

Kick-off is at 8:00pm local time. The gates will open 2 hours before the match. Access to the stadium can be slow, so you should aim to arrive at the stadium at least 90 minutes before kick-off. Ticket checkpoints will be in operation around the area of the stadium; you’ll need to show your match ticket to gain access to the complex. Once within the complex, make your way to the turnstiles where your ticket will be scanned. Stewards standing next to the turnstiles will provide assistance if needed. On your way to your seats, police may ask to check any bags. You don’t need to carry your passport to the match to gain entry to the stadium.

Restrictions

In addition to items which would usually be prohibited in the UK, please note the following items will not be allowed into the stadium: pyrotechnics, flares, fireworks, smoke bombs, guns, knives, air horns, megaphones, alcohol, cans, glass, plastic bottles or containers, coins, lighters. If you do bring any of these items they will be confiscated by the Georgian authorities. Umbrellas and crash helmets are also not permitted and there are no luggage facilities available to store your belongings. Alcohol is banned.

Local Information

• language – the main language is Georgian

• climate and time – the average temperature in October is around 15-20 C during the day. During the autumn months, it can be rainy and cloudy. You can find weather information on the following website At the beginning of October, Georgia will be 3 hours ahead of the UK

• electricity – the supply in Tbilisi is generally reliable. Take a two-pin European adapter with you if you need to charge electronic equipment

• disabled travelers – it can be difficult for disabled people to get around Tbilisi. Pavements, even along the main roads, are often uneven and difficult to negotiate for those with disabilities

• photos – don’t take pictures of military bases or power installations

Personal security and road safety

• crime levels in Tbilisi are generally low, but muggings do occur from time to time after dark in the centre of the city, particularly around bars and clubs and near dimly lit entrances of private apartments. There have been some reports of sexual assaults by taxi drivers after dark

• take sensible precautions: be vigilant, avoid carrying large sums of money and try to avoid walking alone at night

• look after your personal belongings, in particular your passport and your money. Carry a photocopy of the personal details pages of your passport and keep it in a safe place separate from your passport

• be vigilant at all times when crossing roads; red traffic lights and zebra crossings don’t necessarily mean a car will stop. Use the underpasses where available

• when using a taxi make sure it has working seatbelts; many cars are poorly maintained and the standard of driving is erratic

• accidents are common, mainly due to poor or reckless driving and inconsistent enforcement of traffic rules

• if you’re in a vehicle that is travelling at an unsafe speed you should instruct the driver to slow down

• respect local traditions, customs, laws and religions at all times. Be mindful of your actions and how they may be interpreted by people of other cultures or religious beliefs

• there are no public toilets in the city so you will have to nip into a café/pub and buy something to use the facilities. Don’t urinate in the street – this is an offence

Telephones

• the international dialing code for Georgia is 00995. To call Tbilisi from the UK dial 00995 32 2 then a 6-digit number. Before travelling check with your mobile phone provider that it will work in Tbilisi

• local sim cards can be bought either from official mobile phone shops, like Beeline, Geocell or Magti; or from some souvenir shops on Rustaveli Avenue. Credit for sim cards can be purchased from Pay-Boxes which can be seen almost everywhere in the streets

Currency

• all goods and services are paid for in local currency (Georgian Lari – GEL). Sterling, US Dollars and Euros are easily exchanged. Major hotels, international supermarkets and restaurants accept credit and debit cards

• ATMs in Tbilisi will almost always accept UK credit and debit cards. Before leaving the UK, let your bank know you are travelling to Georgia

Consular assistance

If there is a genuine emergency during your visit to Tbilisi (e.g. an accident, injury or loss/theft of your passport) call + 995 32 2 27 47 47 and follow the instructions to be put through to a consular officer. If you are arrested, British consular officials can visit you in prison (if you request it) and can put you in touch with local lawyers, if you need one. We can’t get you out of prison, represent you in court or pay your bills. If you wish to see a consular official please make this request clear to the local police authorities.

Lost or stolen passports

If your passport is lost or stolen report the loss to the local police as soon as possible and get a copy of the police report. You cannot travel back to the UK without a valid travel document. You will need to apply to the Consular Section of the British Embassy in Tbilisi for an Emergency Travel Document (ETD). Please see our ETD website. The ETD is a temporary travel document which will allow you to return to the UK. You will need to produce the following:

• a copy of the police report reporting the passport stolen

• an acceptable form of identification, if possible (e.g. driving licence and/or photocopy of your lost passport)

• one passport-size photograph

• a fee £ 100 = 350 GEL. Card and cash are both accepted (note: only local currency is acceptable when paying by cash)

• details of your return travel arrangements to the UK (copy of your flight ticket)

Lost or stolen credit/debit cards

If you lose your wallet or purse try to cancel your credit/debit cards as soon as possible. British consular officials cannot give you money to help you return home. You can transfer money from the UK using many of the commercial money transfer agencies in Tbilisi, including Western Union. You can also use most major credit and debit cards to obtain money from ATMs.

Our Address is: 51 Krtsanisi Street, Tbilisi, 0114, Georgia

Embassy telephone number: +995 32 2 27 47 47

E-mail: tbilisi.consularenquiries@fco.gov.uk

Travel Advice: travel advice for Georgia

The Consular section of the British Embassy in Tbilisi is open to the public from 9:00am – 14:00pm, Monday to Friday.

Emergency services number

Fire, Police, Ambulance: 112.

Maps

Tbilisi city map

The Prime Minister spoke to President Xi of China earlier today.

They agreed the UK and China should continue to consolidate the “Golden Era” of bilateral relations and deepen our strategic partnership, including on trade and investment, where President Xi noted that Chinese confidence in the UK economy remained very strong and where they agreed there was potential to build an ambitious post-Brexit bilateral trading arrangement, and on security cooperation, where President Xi offered his condolences over the recent London terror attack.

They agreed the situation in North Korea was deeply troubling, and that North Korea’s recent missile tests were a flagrant violation of international commitments.

They agreed the latest sanctions were a powerful sign of the international community’s unity in opposing North Korea’s illegal tests and that strict implementation and enforcement of the sanctions was vital.

They agreed that as joint permanent members of the UN Security Council, there was a particular responsibility on the UK and China to help find a diplomatic solution. They agreed the UK and China should continue working closely together to increase pressure on the North Korean regime to abandon its nuclear programme.

The 45 acre Clayhill solar farm and energy storage facility near Flitwick in Bedfordshire, built by energy provider Anesco, is made up of over 30,000 solar panels – enough to power 2,500 homes.

The solar farm will be the first in the UK to be built and operated without Government subsidy, following a fall in the cost of solar panels by two thirds since 2010. To date the industry has successfully installed 12GW of solar capacity across the country.

Battery technology also has an important role to play in making renewable energy a viable part of the UK’s energy network by ensuring energy can be captured and stored for use when needed. The Clayhill development features five battery storage units. These help maximise the usable output from renewable power sources such as solar, which generates different amounts of energy depending on the weather.

Claire Perry, Minister for Climate Change and Industry said:

The cost of solar panels and batteries has fallen dramatically over the past few years, and this first subsidy-free development at Clayhill is a significant moment for clean energy in the UK.

Solar panels already provide enough electricity to power 2.7 million homes with 99% of that capacity installed since 2010.

The Government is determined to build on this success and our ambitious Clean Growth Strategy will ensure we continue to lead the world on the transition to a low carbon economy.

The Government expects to see more developers install and connect subsidy-free sites later this year.

Steve Shine OBE, Anesco’s Executive Chairman said:

For the solar industry, Clayhill is a landmark development and paves the way for a sustainable future, where subsidies are no longer needed or relied upon. Importantly, it proves that the Government’s decision to withdraw subsidies doesn’t have to signal the end of solar as a commercially viable technology.

This landmark moment for the clean energy industry comes after the Government set out its plans for a smarter energy system which set out a future in which energy providers will take advantage of new technologies such as battery storage to benefit consumers.

This was followed by a record amount of renewable capacity being secured in the latest contracts for difference auction and new Government measures to accelerate investment in clean growth by building on the UK’s strength in green finance. There was also confirmation from the Prime Minister that dirty coal generation would end by 2025.

Today, National Grid announced that more than half the UK’s electricity came from low carbon sources in the last three months, making it the ‘greenest’ summer on record.

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has published its final report following a market study into the use of price comparison sites and other apps.

The year-long examination found that these sites offer a range of benefits, including helping people shop around by making it easier to compare prices and forcing businesses to up their game.

But where sites are not working in people’s best interests, the CMA is taking action. As part of this, it is opening a competition law investigation into how one site has set up its contracts with insurers, because it suspects this may result in higher home insurance prices.

The CMA has also laid down clear ground rules for all sites on issues such as communicating how they plan to use people’s personal data and clearly displaying important information like price and product description.

Andrea Coscelli, CMA Chief Executive, said:

Our study has found that most people in the UK have used a comparison site at least once so it is vital that everyone gets the benefits they deserve.

The good news is that more than 90% of the people we surveyed were very or fairly satisfied with the sites they used.

But we have also found that improvements are needed to help people get even better deals. We have set out ground rules for how sites should behave, as well as being clear on how regulators can ensure people have a better experience online.

We are also taking enforcement action where we suspect the law may have been broken.

The main recommendations from CMA’s final report include:

• All sites should follow our ground rules. They should be Clear, Accurate, Responsible and Easy to use (CARE).
• All sites should be clear about how they make money; how many deals they’re displaying and how they are ordering the results.
• Sites should be clear on how they protect personal information and how people can control its use.
• It should be made as easy as possible for people to make effective comparisons or use different sites, for example through better information about products.
• All regulators with a stake in this area should work together to ensure people are well protected.

The report also reveals that nearly two-thirds of people using a price comparison site visited more than one when shopping around. This is something the CMA is advising everyone to do if they want to get the best deal.

The CMA will now continue to work with the sector, regulators, and other bodies to ensure its recommendations are understood and taken on board.

Following this report, it will also soon be announcing next steps on consumer protection work in car hire and hotels.

Notes for editors

1. The CMA is the UK’s primary competition and consumer authority. It is an independent non-ministerial government department with responsibility for carrying out investigations into mergers, markets and the regulated industries and enforcing competition and consumer law. For CMA updates, follow us on Twitter @CMAgovuk, Flickr, LinkedIn and Facebook.
2. The CMA launched its market study into digital comparison tools (DCTs) in September 2016 and published an update on 28 March 2017.
3. The CMA’s definition of a DCT is: digital intermediary services used by consumers to compare and potentially to switch or purchase products or services from a range of businesses.
4. For further information on this market study and to view the report, visit the market study case page.
5. Market studies are carried out using powers under section 5 of the Enterprise Act 2002 (EA02) which allows the CMA to obtain information and conduct research. They allow a market-wide consideration of both competition and consumer issues. Market studies take an overview of regulatory and other economic drivers in the market and consumer and business behaviour.
6. For further information on the CMA’s competition law investigation into one comparison site visit the investigation case page.
7. The CMA’s competition law investigation is being carried out under the CMA’s powers under Part I of the Competition Act 1998.
8. Media queries should be directed to press@cma.gsi.gov.uk, on 020 3738 6337.

Three years after it arrived, the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory’s (Dstl) Porton Man is proving its pioneering value by helping to shape the way the UK and the US develop the latest in suited protection against chemical and biological (CB) warfare.

The life-size robot mimics the movement of a serviceman in combat. Built using lightweight materials developed for Formula One racing cars, it can walk, march, run, sit, kneel and lift its arms to sight a weapon like an infantry soldier.

Based at Dstl’s Porton Down site in Wiltshire, it is the only robot of its kind in the world that can carry out real-time tests. This enhanced capability allows scientists can assess chemical penetration through materials as it happens during exposure in a specially designed contained chamber.

Dstl scientists say this model of Porton Man is a step change in technology and while a number of similar systems exist around the world, they are unable to conduct live agent chemical warfare agent tests.

The model has initiated a close working relationship with US Department of Defence resulting in Porton Man now being used by the US to support Chemical, Biological and Radiological (CBR) programmes.

Dr. Terrence G. D’Onofrio is a US Scientist who has been working with the Dstl team for the last two years, says: “The ability to measure cumulative and real-time breakthrough of actual chemical agent through a whole-system protective ensemble is a critical advancement for protecting our forces. Such a capability is an important opportunity to expand international collaboration, promote interoperability of equipment between the nations, and assist with burden sharing of research, testing, and evaluation”.

Since its introduction Porton Man has run over 200 miles, carried out an extensive number of trials and has been exposed to various chemical warfare agents.

Chemical and biological warfare is very much still a world-wide threat; historically, older Porton Man models helped introduce the current UK in-service CBR suits (MK4a). This new Porton Man has now been involved in an extensive number of chemical warfare trials and is providing ‘never seen before’ results, which will inform design of the next generation of CBR protection.

Porton Man video