Coronavirus: Lockdown eased further, with outdoor concerts and plays set to resume on Saturday

Latest updates and essential advice from the news source you trust Trouble viewing? [View in browser]( [Image]( [Image] Daily news briefing Latest updates and essential advice from the news source you trust Lockdown eased further, with outdoor concerts and plays set to resume on Saturday Outdoor theatre, opera, music and dance events [are to be permitted]( with limited and socially-distanced audiences in England from 11 July, culture secretary Oliver Dowden has said. A change in planning rules will also mean theatres, concert halls and live music venues will be protected from demolition or change of use by developers, providing them with extra security. Labour is calling on chancellor Rishi Sunak to [reverse a £1.3bn “bung”]( to second homeowners and landlords that could save them £15,000 when buying a holiday home or buy-to-let property. The party’s shadow housing secretary, Thangam Debbonaire, said that cash from the move - which was not mentioned in Mr Sunak’s emergency financial statement to the Commons on Wednesday - would be enough to fill the immediate gap in funding for local councils reeling from the impact of lost revenues and extra demands because of the pandemic. Former cabinet minister Chris Grayling - renowned for a string of mishaps at the transport and justice departments - looks set to become chair of Westminster’s influential [Intelligence and Security Committee](, after Boris Johnson nominated him for the position. The first challenge for the new chair will be to decide when - and if - to release the long-awaited report into alleged Russian interference in UK politics, which the prime minister has been accused of delaying to ensure it was not published ahead of last year’s general election. Podcast [Image]( The Independent Coronavirus Podcast Subscribe now wherever you listen for all the latest coronavirus news. [Listen now]( The Independent employs over 100 journalists around the world to bring you news you can trust. Please consider a [contribution]( or [subscription](. Top stories [I'm an image]( PREMIUM [There are many reasons why the survival of the union is not guaranteed]( [I'm an image]( [Coronavirus pandemic is ‘still accelerating’, WHO chief warns]( [I'm an image]( [Indoor gyms, pools and leisure centres to reopen this month]( More news [Beauty salons and nail bars to reopen next week]( [NHS investigates after bag of Covid-19 test samples found on road]( [UK government 'phoned Saudi Arabia to apologise' for sanctions]( [Confusion for travellers as self-isolation stance appears to change]( [Black Lives Matter mural painted in front of Trump Tower]( //link.e.independent.co.uk/click/20865900.83068/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZXZlbnRicml0ZS5jby51ay9lL3BvbGl0aWNzLW9mLXRoZS1wYW5kZW1pYy1hc2stdGhlLWV4cGVydHMtdGlja2V0cy0xMTExMjE4MTAzMjY/583d2887487ccd777a8b7489C5ae21b77 Suggested for you [I'm an image]( [Government to 'ban junk food deals' in obesity battle - follow live]( [I'm an image]( [105,000 universal credit claimants forced to wait 11 weeks for payment]( [I'm an image]( [Record numbers contact NSPCC in lockdown with child welfare concerns]( [I'm an image]( [Probe to investigate if pattern of racial bias exists in police forces]( Follow us [Twitter]( [Facebook]( Please do not reply directly to this email You are currently registered to receive The Independent's News email. Add us to your safe list of senders. If you do not want to receive The Independent News email and Breaking News alerts, please [unsubscribe](list_name=IND_Headlines_Masterlist_CDP). If you no longer wish to receive any newsletters or promotional emails from The Independent, you can unsubscribe [here](. This e-mail was sent by Independent Digital News and Media Ltd, 2 Derry Street, London W8 5HF. Registered in England and Wales with company number 07320345. Read our [privacy notice]( and [cookie policy](.