Tuesday morning news briefing: Return of cultural life

Danny Boyle
·6 min read
On the hoof: New Forest pub landlord Nick Cross offers a takeaway pint of cider to Georgia Prendergast and Chloe Hughes and their horses Snowy and Whiteheart - BNPS
On the hoof: New Forest pub landlord Nick Cross offers a takeaway pint of cider to Georgia Prendergast and Chloe Hughes and their horses Snowy and Whiteheart - BNPS

If you want to receive twice-daily briefings like this by email, sign up to the Front Page newsletter here. For two-minute audio updates, try The Briefing - on podcasts, smart speakers and WhatsApp.

Galleries, cinemas and museums to open as rules eased

Circle the date as "Super Saturday". Cinemas, museums and art galleries can open from the end of next week in a push to save the leisure and tourism industry. Announcing the move, Boris Johnson will also confirm the two-metre rule will be cut to one - enabling businesses and venues to reopen in the biggest return of freedoms since lockdown began. On July 4, restaurants, hotels, pubs and hairdressers in England will also be allowed to reopen - and "air bridges" established to save foreign holidays. Read more of what we are expecting. The Prime Minister was told by scientific advisers last night that the rate of coronavirus transmission in the community was low enough to allow a wider easing of lockdown than had been expected. Mr Johnson is due to set out details in a Commons statement at about 12.30pm. Watch it in our liveblog.

Pub car parks will be able to convert into temporary beer gardens under plans being drawn up by ministers. But a proposal to require pubs to register visitors before they are allowed in has been branded "impractical" by an industry executive, who said it was "bonkers" to think customers would willingly give the correct information to landlords. The "check-in" plan is also the subject of today's hilarious Matt cartoon.

Reading attack suspect was deemed to be 'not a threat'

The suspect accused of stabbing to death three people in a Reading park was assessed as part of Prevent, the Government's deradicalisation programme. Mentors in the anti-extremism scheme deemed Khairi Saadallah to be not a terror threat. MI5 has admitted that Saadallah was briefly under investigation, but that the case file was closed after two months. It came as Saadallah's mother said he should have been admitted to a mental health unit, as relatives claimed he had been let down by the British system. Meanwhile, the number of terror suspects on MI5's watch list has risen to 43,000 - more than double the previous year.

BBC shows will have to meet 20pc diversity quota

All new BBC programmes will be required to meet a 20 per cent diversity quota as part of a drive to address inequality in response to the Black Lives Matter campaign. Programme-makers must demonstrate that at least one-fifth of the production team - writers, directors and crew - are from a diverse background to get the show commissioned. Lord Hall, in one of his final acts as director-general, also announced the BBC would spend £100m of its television show budget over the next three years on "diverse and inclusive content". Earlier this month, the BBC disappointed those hoping a woman would be appointed to its top job.

PS: Need inspiration for what to watch on TV? Look no further than our brilliant range of reviews. For unlimited access to all our journalism, try our subscription offer. There has never been a better time to take out a free one-month trial - then save 50pc on your first three months.

At a glance: More coronavirus headlines

Also in the news: Today's other headlines

Steve Bing | Hollywood filmmaker Steve Bing, who has a son with actress Elizabeth Hurley, has been found dead in Los Angeles, according to reports in the US. One said Bing died after falling from the 27th floor of a luxury apartment building. Former president Bill Clinton, a friend of Bing, appeared to confirm the news in a statement early today.

Editor's choice: Features and arts

  1. Hot! Hot! Hot! | From garden office to cooldown buys - your heatwave essentials

  2. A father's bond | Camilla Tominey on how Charles and William became closer than ever

  3. Parenting newsletter | Victoria Young's guide to family life, from sex talk to sibling rivalry

Comment and analysis

Around the world: Touching family reunion

Dolores Reyes Fernandez, 61, hugs her father Jose Reyes Lozano, 87, for the first time in nearly four months as visits resume to a nursing home in Barcelona in the easing of Spain's pandemic lockdown. And view a gallery of how the world is adjusting to life after lockdown.

The Ballesol Fabra i Puig elderly care centre installed screens made of plastic film to resume relatives’ visits to residents, halted in mid-March. CREDIT: AP/EMILIO MORENATTI - AP/EMILIO MORENATTI
The Ballesol Fabra i Puig elderly care centre installed screens made of plastic film to resume relatives’ visits to residents, halted in mid-March. CREDIT: AP/EMILIO MORENATTI - AP/EMILIO MORENATTI

Business and money briefing

Pensions advice | The coronavirus crisis has had an impact on everyone's finances - for better or worse - and many over-55s have been forced to turn to their pension to plug the income gap. But "drawing down" from your pension can come with a hefty tax bill, so it is important to understand the implications of dipping into your pot. Pensions Reporter Jessica Beard outlines five pension tax traps.

Sport briefing

Numbers game | Jose Mourinho has produced a set of statistics to fend off criticism that strikers do not thrive under his management. The Tottenham manager was providing a riposte to Paul Merson, the former Arsenal forward, who had suggested that the north London club's England striker Harry Kane should consider leaving because he would never score 25-30 goals per season with the coach. See the figures.

And finally... for this morning's downtime

The gloves are off | Governments around the world face a regular stream of hacking attacks, with the US and Australia recently warning of sophisticated assaults against organisations. But how ready is Britain to fight back in a global cyber war? Technology Special Correspondent James Cook investigates.