Plans to exempt some key workers like those in Food Depots from Self Isolation. And from Beauty Hall to Race Track how our High Streets are being forced to think differently to bring back business. Im taking a spin what used to be the Beauty Hall. This isjust one example of how landlords are having to rethink our empty shops. And Coming Up on the News Channel, the action is under way at the olympics where team gbs football is prepared to take on the Hosts Japan after making a winning start. Good evening, and welcome to the Bbc News at six. The Tokyo Olympics games have officially opened Injapan A Year late and beset by unprecedented challenges because of the covid pandemic. The Opening Ceremony took place in an almost empty stadium In Tokyo a city that has been placed under its fourth State Of Emergency as it struggles with its highest covid numbers in six months. More than 11,000 athletes will be competing over the next two weeks. The president of the international olympic committee, thomas bach, said today was a moment of hope as he paid tribute to the japanese for hosting the games despite the huge challenges and to the Athletes Whove had to train through months of uncertainty. From tokyo, our Sports Editor Dan Roan reports. Some thought it might never happen. Many here wish it wouldnt. But finally tokyos moment to shine had arrived. The hosts were determined to put on a show. But this would be far from the celebration imagined when they won the right to host these games. The olympic� first Opening Ceremony in a State Of Emergency. In a scaled down and at times sombre performance, the focus immediately turned to the athletes, those who had strived so long for this moment amid the Uncertainty And Solitude of the pandemic. All connected by a common dream. The resident connected by a common dream. The president of connected by a common dream. Tie president of the international olympic committee, thomas bach. The decision to press on had strained the relationship between the ioc and their hosts, but now an apparent show of unity, the Emperor Ofjapan among an audience restricted to less than 1000 vips. The public barred from their own party. At times it was easy to forget the empty stands, wooden rings made from trees grown from seeds planted in the city when the games first came to tokyo 57 years ago were brought Together in an evocative moment. The struggles of the pandemic again reflected, Health Care workers alongside athletes carrying the national flag towards a depiction of mount fuji. A moment of remembrance for those that had been lost. The time had come for the competitors, Grease The First to appear. As for the athletes, the tonight was not meant to be this way. Many staying away from the traditional parade of the teams to avoid the risk of infection. But organisers will now be desperately hoping that their spirit, that defiance and their achievements over the coming days can help these games to emerge from the shadow of covid and help them to be a success against all the odds. Just 22 of team gb� s 375 strong squad had joined the much reduced parade. Led by a sailor and a rower, with nations allowed to choose both male and female flag bearers. United states of america. A much larger contingent by the usa greeted by the first ladyjoe biden. The hosts themselves completed proceedings. This moment of national pride after such a troubled build up. Then in a stunning moment, almost 2000 drones lighting up the sky above the stadium, and somehow morphing into a globe. How it was done, hard to imagine. Imagine all the people. Imagine. Imaaine allthe eole. Imagine all the people. Each of the Imagine Allthe people. Each of the singers representing different continents. Another show of Unity And Peace before the traditional speeches. Translation . ,. , translation following the Challenges Translation following the challenges of translation following the challenges of the translation following the challenges of the first translation following the challenges of the first of translation following the challenges of the first of a i challenges of the first of a postponement in olympic history, the tokyo 2020 games finally open here today. Hopes have been connected one by one by many hands and we are now ina by one by many hands and we are now in a position to welcome this day. You will treasure these moments forever. ,. ,. ,. , you will treasure these moments forever. ,. ,. , forever. Today is a moment of hope. Yes, it is forever. Today is a moment of hope. Yes. It is very forever. Today is a moment of hope. Yes, it is very different forever. Today is a moment of hope. Yes, it is very different from forever. Today is a moment of hope. Yes, it is very different from what i yes, it is very different from what all of yes, it is very different from what All Of Us yes, it is very different from what All Of Us had imagined, but let us Cherish All Of Us had imagined, but let us Cherish this All Of Us had imagined, but let us Cherish this moment. Finally we are all here Cherish this moment. Finally we are all here Together. In a Cherish this moment. Finally we are all here Together. All here Together. In a ceremony that lasted all here Together. In a ceremony that lasted almost all here Together. In a ceremony that lasted almost four all here Together. In a ceremony that lasted almost four hours,. All here Together. In a ceremony i that lasted almost four hours, the olympic flag arrived and was raised. The traditional anthem of the games, the backdrop, before the pictogram is that rib represent each sport were given a unique and mesmerising twist. After a Torch Relay that has already spent much of its journey away from the public, the flame arrived. Final torchbearer, japanese Tennis Star naomi osaka,. Fuelled by hydrogen for the first time in a bid to hold a more environmentally friendly olympics. If this didn� T Help get those spying the event, nothing would. At long last, and despite such controversy, the games have begun. Dan roan, Bbc News, tokyo. Public Opinion Injapan has been firmly against the olympics going ahead because of covid. Under 25 of the population are fully vaccinated and cases are rising sharply, with more than 3,000 a day now. Many japanese are fearful of the impact that so many athletes and officials at the games will have. Our correspondent Rupert Wingfield Hayes has been getting the views of local people as they watched the Opening Ceremony and joins us from outside the stadium. I think many of us, if i� m honest, many of us based In Tokyo for months have really thought we might not get to this day. And that is because, as you say, the public opposition, the fact that the pandemic has been getting worse air rather than better, and because ofjapan� s getting worse air rather than better, and because of japan� s very slow roll out of vaccines, that is how we have ended up tonight with a stadium empty spectators for the Opening Ceremony. But it� s been really fascinating today, i� ve been out with olympic fans, in the streets, in parks and around the stadium, and i� ve experienced Something Today really completely different. For this family it has been a long, anxious wait to get to this moment. They are serious olympic fans. Dad has spent over £3000 on olympic tickets. So you can imagine the mixed emotions they are feeling tonight. Yeah, we think about, you know, the kids, it� s their very first time to have the olympics injapan, so we were excited. I am very disappointed, he says. If they were not going to have spectators, they should have postponed again until next year. Then we could have welcomed people from abroad properly. Those who think the whole show should have been scrapped long ago were out on the streets again this evening. But they were vastly outnumbered by the crowds that have turned out to try and get a glimpse of the action. This was Shinjuku Park at lunchtime, as japan� s Airforce Display Team painted the olympic rings across the sky. The olympics is very, i mean. It� s one of the. A once in a lifetime kind of event, right . So ijust wanted my kids to have the experience, to see those athletes, at least. But, i mean. Due to this covid 19, i guess, you know, it has got to be the way it is. For months, we� ve heard that japan doesn� t want the games, that people are afraid. It didn� t look like it tonight. The contrast between what� s going on inside the olympic Stadium Tonight and what� s going on outside In Tokyo could not be more stark. Because of covid, because of the State Of Emergency, the stadium seats are empty, and yet here we are, right Outside Tens Of Thousands of people gathered in public squares and public parks to try and glimpse a bit of the action. And if you go in the streets around here, the restaurants are all full, life is going on as normal. There� s some pretty strange logic going on here. Translation | am sure the government is taking measures to prevent the spread of the virus by separating the athletes from the public. So i am not worried. For some, these scenes show the ban on olympic spectators is unnecessary. But with covid cases In Tokyo claiming rapidly, others will say this demonstrates exactly why the Spectator Ban is needed. We now have hopefully 16 days of smooth and enjoyable sport for people to watch. Of course, albeit on television, not in person. There are a couple of concerns, one is it is very hot here at the Moment And Thatis is very hot here at the moment and that is worrying some people. And also, just on the horizon we have a large typhoon in the pacific heading towards japan. Fingers crossed that it won� t make a direct hit on tokyo. There� S Confusion and growing criticism over the government� s plans to allow some key workers in england from Transport Workers and police to those controlling the Power Network to take daily covid tests instead of self isolating. Business leaders says the scheme needs to be significantly expanded within days to tackle staff shortages. But there� s still uncertainty about how that Mass Testing will be carried out. Our economics correspondent, dharshini david, reports. From the outside, not much to tempt the taste buds, but Supermarket Depots keep us all fed. They� re taking on a new order, acting as Testing Centres to allow staff at risk of infection to keep working. It comes as over A Million people across the country isolate, meaning some gaps on Shop Shelves and even closures. It� s great that depot workers and Food Manufacturers will be exempt from government rules, but it is borderline pointless if you� re not going to make all of the chain exempt. We need Food Store workers to be omitted from the list immediately. And tonight, it� s emerged that those First Testing Sites won� t be ready until monday despite earlier government assurances, raising questions about plans for expansion. Supermarkets see this as a step forward, but not the solution. The 10,000 workers involved in Manufacturing And Distribution who could be exempt are just a fraction of the 4 Million involved in bringing ourfood from farm to plate. The government argues that you relax restrictions too much, you could see infection rates soaring, but some businesses are concerned they could be overlooked. This wholesaler in burnley is already pulling out all the stops to supply Care Homes and schools. They don� t know if or how the scheme can help them. Something is happening, but is it going to be apparent for us . Were not sure. And if it does become apparent, we have to E Mail Defra with every individual case. How long is that going to take . Is that a 24 Hour Turnaround . Is it a two Day Turnaround . Weve already lost a couple of days for that person getting the pcr test. So, we just dont know. Over at the ports, they� re getting to grips with an alternative scheme designed for a few other critical industries, similar to one unveiled in scotland today, where they have to apply for exemption for selected named vaccinated staff. We have to go through this highly | bureaucratic process of supplyingj lists of individual names as well as functions, whereas the Supermarket Supply Sectorjust seemsl to have a blanket exemption. For us, it seems unfair that theres one rule for one sector and another rule for another. Railway Signalling Staff will be exempt, but drivers may not be, so there could be more Train Cancellations to come. Increasingly, businesses are asking why the date for scrapping isolation rules, just three weeks away, can� t be brought forward . Once again, this pandemic means balancing Public Health with our social and economic well being, and everything has a cost. Dharshini david, Bbc News. There� s been another fall in the number of new cases across the uk they� re down a third on this time last week. The latest Government Figures show 36,389 new infections in the latest 24 Hour Period which means an average of 44,219 new cases per day in the last week. 5,000 people are now in hospital with coronavirus figures not seen since the end of march. And 64 deaths were recorded in the last 2a hours. Nearly 46. 5 million people have now had theirfirstjab that� s 88. 2 of the adult population. And more than 36. 7 million people are now fully vaccinated almost 70 of all uk adults. The British Medical Association has criticised changes to the Self Isolation rules and warned that exempting Health Care staff is potentially unsafe. The head of the newly formed Uk Health security agency, jenny harries, said the Nhs Covid App was essential and it was inevitable that a large number of people would be asked to isolate, given the steep rise in cases. Here� s our health editor, Hugh Pym. Omagh Omagh Covid case surges in some communities are now putting increasing strain on local hospitals. In liverpool, Patient Numbers have increased sharply. Some non urgent operations are being cancelled to free up beds, with staff moved to support colleagues in critical care. This wave is different. The people we� re seeing are younger, and that� s really very distressing for our staff. I think sometimes, people think because they� re young, that covid can� t affect them, it can� t damage them. That� s absolutely not the case. It can affect everybody. Health leaders argue that with the risk of a further spread of infections, Self Isolation is essential when required, and they� ve defended the Nhs Covid App. The pinging, the pingdemic, is because we have a pandemic. We know that youre five times more likely to become a case yourself if youve been a close contact, and this is the way that we stop transmission occurring through the country. So, this is not an inconvenience, it is actually an essential intervention for All Of Us. The office for national Statistics Infection Survey suggests there were just over 830,000 people in the uk who had the virus last week up 27. 5 , though a slower rate of increase than in the previous two weeks. In england, it was one in 75 with the virus. In wales, one in 210. And Northern Ireland, one in 170 people. In all three of which, there were increases. But in scotland, with one in 180, the trend was said to be uncertain. If ijust take your temperature. Luke had opted not to have the vaccine. He tested positive for covid and needed hospital treatment. He thinks he caught the virus when watching Euros Football in the pub with friends. A lot of people in there had to self isolate, but i� m the only one that i know of that� s got it, and got it quite bad. So i� m the unlucky, one of the unlucky few, but you� ve got to sort of re evaluate, you know, your options and, you know, get the jab. Health officials confirm the gathering of fans for the euros in england could well have fuelled higher case rates, with more men than women testing positive and behaviour away from the matches being a key factor. For example, long distance travelling in a coach, or the socialising, you know, drinks and close social contact around the event. But, yes, we have seen a little bit of a spike in cases, which would fit with the timeframe from some of those events. As to what happens next, a lot will depend on how much people mix with others, following the lifting of legal restrictions in england. And Hugh Pym is here now. Cases have been coming down for six daysin cases have been coming down for six days in a row now, positive signs . Well, it does look that way, up to a point. That is the daily report in cases, below 37,000, on the latest figure, compared with over 50,000 a week ago. If you look at the underlying picture, taking the latest seven days compared with the previous seven days, cases are still up previous seven days, cases are still up just over 11 , previous seven days, cases are still upjust over 11 , but previous seven days, cases are still up just over 11 , but that rate of increase is slower than it has been increase is slower than it has been in recent weeks before now and that was borne out by the office for national Statistics Survey which covers community infections. Again, slow down in the rate of increase. But officials will say what is really important is what happens in the next few weeks, following the lifting of legal restrictions in england and some easing of restrictions in scotland. How much more mixing will there be and how widespread will be any increase in infections . They will monitor the data very carefully. There was one more illustration of the risk still out there, although the chances of getting the virus a second time are still very, very low, public Health England say there is a higher risk of getting it a second time with the delta varied first identified in india than there was with the kent variant, the alpha variant. fiur variant, the alpha variant. Our health editor, variant, the alpha variant. Our health editor, Hugh Pym, thank you. The time is nearly 18 20. Our top story this evening tokyo� s Olympic Games are officially under way the Opening Ceremony has taken place injapan. Coming up. We meet the youngest member of team gb� s Athletics Squad seeking olympic glory. Coming up in sportsday, on the bbc News Channel we� ll hear from the 88 year old Park Runner who can� t wait to get back to action tomorrow, when events resume around the uk for the first time since lockdown. You only have to walk along your local High Street to see just how hard the pandemic has hit the retail industry. Now the boss of one of britain� s biggest property companies has told the bbc that the pandemic has been a tipping point, and the problems facing many of our town centres can� t be solved by tinkering around the edges. One in seven shops is thought to be lying empty, according to the latest figures. The British Retail Consortium estimates there are 5,000 fewer stores than there were at the start of the pandemic. Our Business Correspondent Emma Simpson now reports on the challenges of transforming redundant Retail Space. This Shopping Centre is getting a new tenant. Debenhams used to be here, but this space is about to become an Entertainment Venue go karting and bowling, to egames and eating. I� m taking a Spin Round what used to be the Beauty Hall. This is just one example of how landlords are having to rethink our empty shops. It� s called repurposing, and there� s going to be an awful lot of it. The uk� s biggest Property Company owns this mall in South West london. It thinks a quarter of all our Retail Space will have to be transformed. 25 of what exists in the uk is no longer required, and so you� re not going to solve that sort of problem by tinkering around the edges. Some places are going to be virtually empty, some are going to be absolutely fine, and some are going to be in the middle, where they are going to survive, but they� re going to need some investment. He says covid� s been a tipping point. If we don� t tackle it over the next couple of years Together, there� s a real risk that some of this redundant Retail Propertyjust stands there for decades, empty. Here� s one town that� s doing something radical. Stockton on tees is planning to demolish a third of its High Street. This huge shopping mall. It was built in the � 70s an era when councils were falling over themselves to attract big retail development. The local authority has now bought it to knock it down, creating a new riverside park, to Make Stockton a greener, nicer place to be. High Streets Cant survive on retail alone. That doesnt mean there wont be any retail. I know some people are worried were going to knock all the shops down. Retail is very important, but we need to consolidate that retail, to meet the demand. This makeover� s not an easy sell. What do you want from your High Street . Well, more shops. More shops. Why have 50 empty properties . Why not open it out and change it, so more people can use it . Covid is creating opportunities to rethink our High Streets, but regeneration isn� t quick. In stockton, it� s taken 13 years to get this far, and they� re only a third of the way through. Emma simpson, Bbc News, stockton. Quarantine free travel between australia and New Zealand will be paused for at least eight weeks from today. The New Zealand Prime Minister called off the arrangement, which began in april, as the number of australian infections continues to rise. Half of australia� s population is now living in lockdown, with under 12 fully vaccinated. A High Courtjudge has ruled there should now be a new investigation into whether the Security Services could have prevented the Omagh Bombing in 1998. The attack, which was carried out by the dissident republican group the real ira, was the worst single atrocity of the conflict in Northern Ireland, resulting in the deaths of 29 people. In 2013, the government said it would not hold a public inquiry. Our Ireland Correspondent Emma Vardy reports. On a busy summer� s day, the bomb which exploded in the centre of omagh was the single worst atrocity of the Northern Ireland troubles. No one was ever convicted. Today, relatives of victims welcomed the ruling of a High Courtjudge, who said there was a very real prospect that it could have been prevented by the Security Services and called for new investigations on both sides of the irish border. Nobody wanted to hear that message. Not the irish government, not the British Government. But now, we� ve an independent person who� s said it, and i think that� s hugely relieving. I didn� T Sleep much last night, but i will sleep much better tonight. Families of victims have long called for a public inquiry, which was originally rejected by the government in 2013. Michael gallagher� s son, aidan, was one of the 29 who lost their lives that day. How does it feel to hear those words that this could have been prevented . Well, that is. That is very difficult. You really dont want to think too much about that. The judge said any investigation in future must look at whether intelligence held at the time by M15 And Police in ireland could have been used to disrupt the activities of prominent dissident republicans leading up to the attack. What happened at this spot changed so many people� s lives forever, so the judge� s words will have huge importance here today, and particularly that idea that bringing Together intelligence from both british and irish state agencies could provide new answers. To think that they didnt have to die in the way they did, i ithe fact that this could have beenl prevented, there needs to be some sort of further investigations into why this happened. The ruling cannot compel the irish authorities to take any action, but the judge said he hoped they would investigate. The British Government has said it will consider the recommendations, as the case provides fresh hope for those who have long campaigned to shed new light on the horrors of one of Northern Ireland� s darkest days. Emma vardy, Bbc News, omagh. The England Wingerjadon Sancho has joined manchester united, in a £73 million move, from borussia dortmund. The 21 year old said it was a dream come true. He has become the second most expensive English Player of all time, behind his new united teammate harry maguire. Finally to a british athlete to look out for over the next few weeks. She is the youngest member of team gb� s Athletics Team In Tokyo. At the Age Ofjust 19, Keely Hodgkinson has burst onto the scene an 800 metre runner, who has produced some extraordinary performances in the last few months. At the start of this year, she wasn� t even lottery funded. Now she has high hopes of bringing home a medal, as Jo Currie reports. For most teenage athletes, running in a senior international race means gaining experience. For 19 year old Keely Hodgkinson, it means medals. Keely hodgkinson needs to stay strong. Can she win the gold . Shes going to get it this is her winning the indoor European 800m title earlier this year, and she� s now heading to the Tokyo Olympics as the youngest member of the great britain Athletics Squad, after also winning the british trials, where she beat compatriot laura muir. Just a sense of relief, really, because i really wanted to get that automatic qualification. Because only top two is guaranteed and, like, as a lot of people know, that Line Up was ridiculous. The women� s 800 is really, like, the depth in it is crazy. So, to take the win in that field of people. But also, in manchester, my family were there, they haven� t seen me run in a while, it was a really special moment. Keely is already setting records, winning titles and making history. She� s following in the footsteps of another middle distance great, who� s her mentor and who also trained here at the track in wigan. Jenny meadows, will she get there . She does she is amazing. She never fails to surprise me. She is improving week to week at the moment, and thats whats so exciting about her. We see it day in and day out, you know, all the hard miles that she does here in wigan. And, yeah, shes showing the world what shes got now. Its incredible. Keely� s rapid rise includes setting a junior world record injanuary, and now she� s being tipped to break Dame Kelly holmes� s national record, which has stood since 1995. Shesjust flawless, really. We dont really give her too much ltactical advice because shes got| such a great racing brain, i so welljust discuss possible scenarios that might occur, and shell then have a good idea of what she wants to do and which will be | the best outcome for her. But for a young girl like her, it is about keeping the pressure away from them because shes getting a lot of attention now, so we just try to keep her feet on the floor and keep working hard, and lets hope we can go as far as we can with the sport. In tokyo, keely will be up against the world� s best middle distance runners. It� ll be the most experienced field she� s ever faced. She knows the competition for medals will be fierce. Well, one of the first tasks is to get through the rounds. The beauty of Championship Racing is that anything can happen so, erm, i� ll be reaching high and just see what happens with it. You don� t seem very nervous. She laughs no no, i think i� ve found, like, even though i� m young, like, just being relaxed is the way that i run best. So, i just try and take that approach, even if it� s a british champs or an olympic final. Great attitude, good luck to her. Keely hodgkinson ending that report, withJo Currie. Time for a look at the weather. Here� s ben rich. Good evening, Northern Ireland got above 30 degrees once again today, but further south, Storm Clouds were gathering. Dramatic skies overhead in plymouth earlier on and this is a sign of things to come. For the weekend, it will be cooler and for some towards the south particularly, intense downpours and thunderstorms on the way. You can see these big clouds blossoming to life on the satellite picture, just to the South West of the uk, that cloud has been producing a lot of Rain And Lightning and that is heading our way. Thundery downpours spreading into southern england, perhaps South Wales by the end of tonight. A lot of Mist And Murk and low cloud for eastern and central scotland, the eastern and central scotland, the eastern side of england, on another warm night. 17 is low for liverpool. Into saturday, where you are closest to this area of low pressure, that is where you have the potential for intense downpours and thunderstorms. It won� t be raining all the time across the southern half of england or wales, across the southern half of england orwales, but across the southern half of england or wales, but when the downpours do arrive, they could give a lot of rain in a short space of time with reasoning frequent Lightning And Hale and gusty winds. This Lyle Cloud hugs the coast of Scotland And North east england, but for north east england, western Scotland And Northern ireland, another sunny and warm day, highs of 26 degrees. On saturday evening, some showers and