Advertisement

Friday evening news briefing: Beards v brows 'gender divide' row over easing of lockdown

How beauty salons will look when they reopen - LOVE SAMANTHA PHOTOGRAPHY
How beauty salons will look when they reopen - LOVE SAMANTHA PHOTOGRAPHY

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.

Tory MP may challenge 'gender divide' over lockdown

A senior Conservative MP plans to challenge ministers over the "serious gender divide" in the easing of lockdown, which means men can have their beards trimmed but women cannot have their eyebrows threaded. Beauty salons have been given the green light to reopen from next week but face waxing, eyelash treatments, make-up application and facials are still not allowed. The Chair of the Women and Equalities Committee Caroline Nokes said: "We've seen barbers trimming eyebrows, we've seen them trimming beards and we still have a range of facial practices that can't be done on women." The Government has repeatedly stressed the importance of the "clinical" evidence. However a leading aesthetics doctor based in London has called out the Government for inaccuracies with its reasoning, calling its response to the beauty sector "haphazard and reactive", adding it is "deeply misogynistic". Read on for more.

Meanwhile, new Government guidance on how people can use swimming pools may end "lane rage" according to the chief executive of a major leisure group. Indoor swimming pools must book visitors into designated time slots, widen lanes and limit the number of people in the pool at any one time, under Government guidance that will allow them to open on July 25. Read on for why Mark Sesnan, CEO of GLL, a leisure group that operates pools including the London Aquatics Centre in the Olympic Park, thinks it may make swimming more harmonious.

Backlash against cruise ban as quarantine eased

As most Britons are today finally free to take their much-longed-for summer holidays without facing a 14-day quarantine upon their return, the cruise industry remains paralysed. The Government has updated its guidance for cruise ships, advising all British people to avoid travelling on them. Minister Caroline Dinenage indicated this would stay in place "probably until October", and a government source told The Telegraph today it was to avoid the risk of repatriations. It comes as Serbia was removed from England's list of quarantine-free countries overnight. It had been included on a list of 76 countries and territories from which people arriving into England will no longer need to self-isolate for 14 days - which comes into force today. Meanwhile, Nicola Sturgeon has sparked anger as she again raised the prospect of imposing cross-border travel restrictions with England. Read what Telegraph readers think, with one suggesting she is using Covid-19 "to score political points".

Flypast as nation says goodbye to Dame Vera Lynn

Dame Vera Lynn was honoured with a Spitfire flypast in her beloved Sussex village before her funeral, as crowds sung a spontaneous rendition of We'll Meet Again. The adored singer, who entertained troops with morale-boosting visits to the front line during the Second World War, died aged 103 on June 18. Crowds gathered in the village of Ditchling, where she lived for 60 years, to say goodbye to their "special local lady". Click to see them break into an impromptu rendition of We'll Meet Again, one of Dame Vera's most famous songs. Meanwhile, a Spitfire and a Hurricane soared overhead as a show of respect. This year marks the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Britain, in which the aircraft defended the skies above the nation from the Luftwaffe. Read how the secret story of a schoolgirl who helped engineer the new generation of Spitfire and Hurricane fighter planes has been revealed.

At a glance: Latest coronavirus headlines

Also in the news: Today's other headlines

Johnny Depp | The revelations keep on coming about the Hollywood actor and his unhappy marriage to Amber Heard. The High Court heard Mr Depp threw a phone at his now ex-wife, hitting her in the face, before smashing "everything he could" with a magnum of wine. Read on for the latest from his libel case against the owners of The Sun.

Around the world: China hits back after US sanctions

China said today it will impose tit-for-tat measures after the United States brought in sanctions on Chinese officials for their involvement in a crackdown on Muslim minorities, raising tensions between the superpowers. The US on Thursday introduced sanctions on senior Chinese officials responsible for severe human rights abuses against ethnic and religious minorities. Sophia Yan has the latest.

Friday interview

'Lockdown helped us grieve for Emily'

 

Emily Hartridge
Emily Hartridge

A year after YouTube star Emily Hartridge was killed riding an e-scooter, her sisters talk to Rosa Silverman about grieving for her.

Read the full interview

Comment and analysis

Editor's choice

  1. Clock ticking | 'I'm single and really want children. Should I do it alone?'

  2. Katie Morley Investigates | 'My father-in-law died but his widow's pension can't be paid'

  3. Honest John 'Should I sue 'crash scam' driver who duped my insurer?'

Business and money briefing

Boohoo scandal | Standard Life Aberdeen, Britain's biggest listed asset manager, has dumped almost all of its stake in fashion group Boohoo following the scandal over its alleged links to "sweatshop" clothes factories. Our business liveblog has the latest updates.

Sport briefing

England vs West Indies | It has been a solid day's work for the West Indies batsmen on day three of the first Test. Follow the latest updates.

Tonight's TV

Royal Opera House: the Reopening, BBC Four, 7pm | In the midst of dark times for the arts in this country, it’s a relief to see the Royal Opera House in London’s Covent Garden, has been able to open her doors again, albeit for online performances. Read on for more.

And finally... for this evening's downtime

How The Jam electrified a generation | As Paul Weller tops the album charts at the age of 62, Neil McCormick recalls how the mods gatecrashed the punk party - and changed people's lives.