Newscast

Sir Keir Starmer chats to Laura K and a group of ex-Labour voters, all selected by an independent polling company. They talk trust in politicians, employment and education, among other subjects. Will the Labour Leader be able to reconnect with voters?

Local leaders respond to the PM’s plan to “level up” the country. On the day Boris Johnson set out his plan to “level up” the UK by spreading power and opportunity more evenly, a collective noun of mayors from some of the key English regions give us their chain reactions. First, the Conservative West Midlands Mayor, Andy Street, and then Tracy Brabin, Labour’s new Mayor of West Yorkshire.

But we start by speaking to the MP Bim Afolami about the week’s news from Westminster to Wembley – and hear his take on the government’s response to racism and some of his colleagues’ criticism of England players taking the knee.

Today's Newscast was made by Caitlin Hanrahan with Daniel Wittenberg. Emma Crowe is the Studio Director. The Assistant Editor is Emma Close. The Editor is Dino Sofos.

The Oxford-AstraZeneca story, told by two of the scientists who made it possible. Fergus and James host the Newscast Vaccine Special and chat to Professor Dame Sarah Gilbert, who led the Oxford vaccine project, and Dr Catherine Green OBE, who led on the distribution of the vaccine.

Today's Newscast was made by Caitlin Hanrahan, Georgia Coan, Danny Wittenburg, Ben Cooper and Alix Pickles. Nick Jones is the Studio Director. Sam Bonham is the Assistant Editor. Dino Sofos is the Editor.

Another footballer tackles the government.

A tweet from Aston Villa footballer Tyrone Mings criticising the home secretary Priti Patel has turned attention to politicians’ responses to racism in sport. We speak to his club-mate and England Women veteran Anita Asante about the structural barriers faced by black sportspeople.

Meanwhile, US and Nato troops are finally withdrawing from Afghanistan after 20 years of war triggered by the 9/11 attacks. The BBC’s Chief International Correspondent, Lyse Doucet captures the mood in the capital Kabul and tells us what’s changed in that period, as well as where it feels like history is repeating itself.

Today's Newscast was made by Emma Close with Danny Wittenberg and Georgia Coan. Emma Crowe is the Studio Director. Sam Bonham is the Assistant Editor. Dino Sofos is the Editor.

England’s lockdown rules will end next week but Boris Johnson says people must be cautious. He's also spoken out against the racist abuse received by the England players after last night's game.

Chris Mason sits in for Adam and speaks to David James, England’s first black goalkeeper, who was at Wembley on Sunday night.

And, as concern builds up about a new wave of long Covid, Professor Danny Altmann explains why it's important to create a test for the little-understood condition.

Today’s Newscast was made by Daniel Wittenberg and Georgia Coan. The Studio Director was Emma Crowe. Sam Bonham is the Assistant Editor. Dino Sofos is the Editor.

Are lots of people deleting the NHS Covid app? The BBC's Technology Correspondent, Rory Cellan-Jones, knows what's what.

And, as England prepares for the big final this weekend, we try to figure out what fans really mean when they sing "Football's Coming Home"... Adam chats to Dr Alex, from the National Football Museum, and Richard Tims, Chairman of Sheffield FC (the world’s oldest official football club).

Quarantine for holiday-makers will be ditched from 19th July

If you are travelling to amber list countries you will not have to quarantine on your return as long as you are fully vaccinated and you had your vaccine in the UK. But what does this mean for expats? And is this good news for the travel industry? Andrea Bertoli CEO of lastminute.com joins Adam, Laura and Chris to explain. Also the Italian tells us what he thinks about England’s hopes for Sunday.

Today’s Newscast was made by Maz Ebtehaj with Natalie Ktena and Cristina Criddle. The Editor is Dino Sofos.

The history of England and Denmark.

Tonight’s Euro 2020 semi-final is just the latest chapter in a long shared history between England and Denmark. The Rest Is History Podcast team take Adam back in time to explain the biggest moments these two nations have shared (and what these moments tell us about tonight’s match). Also, the BBC’s Deputy Political Editor, Vicky Young, jumps in the studio to pick through today’s PMQs and the fallout from the planned easing of COVID restrictions.

Today’s Newscast was made by Maz Ebtehaj with Alix Pickles and Ben Cooper. The Studio Director was Emma Crowe. Sam Bonham is the Assistant Editor. Dino Sofos is the Editor.

And… news if you’re double-jabbed.

Self-isolation is going to be scrapped for the double-jabbed in England and school bubbles are being axed too. Vicki and Hugh are in with Adam to chat it all through, as well as our correspondent in Los Angeles, James Clayton, who knows all about the Mask Wars over the pond.

But even as restrictions ease, concerns about the economy are here to stay. That’s according to Richard Hughes, boss of the Office for Budget Responsibility, who tells us why the government will have to fill a financial black hole as a legacy of Covid.

Today's Newscast was made by Danny Wittenberg and Alix Pickles. The Studio Manager was Emma Crowe. Sam Bonham is the Assistant Editor. Dino Sofos is the Editor.

Most of England's Covid laws are likely to end in two weeks... So Fergus and Vicki join Adam and answer some of the day's biggest questions, following government's announcement: Do I need to keep wearing a face covering on the train? Will nightclubs open later this summer? And why is government announcing all this today?

Today's Newscast was made by Danny Wittenberg and Alix Pickles. The Studio Manager was Russ Newlove. Sam Bonham is the Assistant Editor. Dino Sofos is the Editor.

Got a question about the Covid restrictions? Email us on [email protected]...