Plus, your lockdown stories revisited
   
  Having trouble reading this email? View it in your browser. You can unsubscribe here.  
   
 

By Victoria King

 
 

Retail's return

 
 
Coronavirus latest

Shops across England will welcome back customers today for the first time in almost three months. Non-essential retailers, including the likes of clothes and book stores,  have to operate with strict rules in place and it'll feel like a very different experience. Many stores plan to quarantine any items touched but not bought, and you can expect staff behind screens, limits on customer numbers, one-way systems and more. Our video explains.

 

With the economy suffering huge damage from the pandemic, the reopening is an important step but it's unclear just how keen people will be to shop, despite reassuring words from the prime minister. In Northern Ireland, non-essential shops reopened on Friday, but there's still no date for Wales and Scotland. Retail expert Mary Portas says the current situation presents a window of opportunity for local high streets.

 

In other news, face coverings are now compulsory for the vast majority of travellers using public transport in England. More than 3,000 extra staff, including police officers, are being deployed at stations to enforce the new rules. Here they are in detail.

 

Some secondary pupils in England due to take exams next year will start returning to school from Monday. Guidelines only permit a quarter of the chosen year groups, Years 10 and 12, to be on site at a time - see more. It comes as ministers are urged to work with teachers and councils on a national school recovery plan and in particular, provide much more support for the most disadvantaged children.

 
 
 

World latest

 
 

France is lifting many of its restrictions from Monday too. Cafes and restaurants can open, travel to other European countries will be allowed and people will be able to visit family members in retirement homes. It comes as a number of other European nations re-open their borders, including Belgium, Croatia and Germany. The summer tourist season is still hanging in the balance, though - see how Greece, for one, hopes to save it.

 

Weeks after India eased what was arguably the world's harshest lockdown, its case numbers are skyrocketing. Here we answer five key questions about the situation. A strict lockdown has been reimposed in part of China's capital Beijing after the city's first coronavirus cases in more than 50 days. The outbreak is linked to a big city market.

 

Our live page has all the latest, while Africa Eye investigates the impact of the pandemic in one of Kenya's poorest settlements, where heavy-handed policing has led some to wonder whether the cure is worse than the disease.

 
 
 

Inequality commission

 
 

Boris Johnson has announced he's setting up a commission to look at all "aspects of inequality" in British society, including in education, healthcare and criminal justice. The PM also condemned "far-right thugs" involved in violent protests on Saturday. The actions of one man, Patrick Hutchinson, attracted great praise amid the ugly scenes - find out more. In the US, meanwhile, anger continues after the shooting dead of another African-American man during an arrest, this time in Atlanta. 

 

Meet one family that spans two generations of protest and hear from three black trans people on their difficult relationship with the current movement. And finally, what should you do with that racist Facebook friend - educate or delete?

 
 
 

Other top stories

 
 
   

Support schemes gap Million missing out, says report

 
   

Sun mission Orbiter makes first close pass

 
   

Brexit Our Europe editor explains why we need to pay attention again

 
 
 
 

The learners waiting to take their driving tests

 

Hundreds of thousands of people have had their driving tests cancelled or delayed as a result of the pandemic. It has been more than just a minor inconvenience for those looking for work or caring for children, while instructors face a nervous wait to find out when and how they can return to work safely. 

 
 
 
 
 
  Read full analysis >   
 
 
 
 

Roz Tappenden

BBC South

 
 
 
 
 

What the papers say

 
 
Paper review

The reopening of shops is the lead story for many. The Daily Mirror's message is "Shop for Britain" and the Sun agrees. It tells its readers that buying a new gadget or pair of shoes might not feel patriotic, but they'll be breathing life into the flatlining economy. According to the Times, ministers will be watching to see whether faltering consumer confidence will require emergency VAT cuts. The Daily Mail, meanwhile, says "vacillation" over a potential reduction in the two-metre rule must end. The Daily Telegraph believes it's causing problems everywhere - and schools, shops and the hospitality sector "deserve better than this dither". For its lead though, the Guardian says a senior World Health Organization official has warned the lockdown in England must not be lifted further until the contact-tracing system has proved to be "robust and effective". Finally, there's excitement about the prospect of sport returning in England this week and several papers offer "Premier League restart" supplements and racing pull-outs to whet appetites.

 
 
 

Listen up

 
 

In the Parents' Survival Guide podcast we try to answer your biggest homeschooling questions. This week, how to talk to your kids about Black Lives Matter. And The Food Programme meets people who began growing their own during lockdown.

 
 
 

Need something different?

 
 

Meet Indy Kiemel Greene, the 14-year-old for whom identifying birds is like a superpower. Or how about the businessman who was inspired by his own lost love to set up popular dating app Hinge? Finally, go behind the scenes of gripping new BBC drama The Salisbury Poisonings.

 
 
 

Let us know what you think of this newsletter by emailing [email protected]. If you’d like to recommend it to a friend, forward this email. New subscribers can sign up here.

 
 
 
 
UK News World News Politics Magazine Reporters Video & Audio
 
 
 
 
News Sport Weather iPlayer Sounds Arts
 
 
 
 
BBC logo
Terms of use    |    Privacy and Cookies    |    Unsubscribe
 
 
 
.
 
Please note that some features and content in this newsletter are only available to people in the UK.
You can update your personal details including your postcode and email address in your account settings.

Find out everything you need to know about using your BBC account, all in one place.

BBC Broadcasting House, Portland Place, London W1A 1AA
Copyright © 2‌019 BBC
 
.