this is bbc news, with the latest headlines for viewers in the uk and around the world. schools are ‘safe‘ — england's chief medical officer seeks to reassure parents as millions of children prepare to return to the classroom. many more are likely to be harmed by not going than harmed by going, even during this pandemic. opposition protesters in belarus gather for another demonstration in minsk — two weeks after president lukashenko‘s disputed election victory. this situation is tense here in the centre of minsk. you can see behind

me demonstrators gathering. you cannot see be truckloads of riot police and the neighbouring streets and in the last few minutes we have had a warning over the loudspeaker here for this crowd of people calling for the president to go, to disperse. president trump declares california's wildfires a major disaster — releasing federal funds to victims who've lost their homes. snow in south—east australia — the unseasonal weather's been triggered by antarctic air. hello and welcome if you're watching in the uk or around the world — and stay with us for the latest news and analysis from here and across the globe. children are more likely to be harmed by not returning school next month than if they catch coronavirus — according to england's chief medical officer.

in a joint statement the chief medical officers from all four nations are also cautioning that there are "no risk—free options" available. professor chris whitty said the chance of children dying from covid—19 are ‘incredibly small" — but missing lessons "damages children in the long run". he warned it's unlikely there'll be a vaccine before the end of the year. it comes as holiday makers returning to the uk from croatia, austria and trinidad and tobago now have to quarantine for m days. in india — the number of confirmed cases of coronavirus passes three million — with the world's highest rate of new infections. and the world health organisation recommends that children over the age of 12 should wear face masks. our health correspondent laura foster reports. this is how many schools have looked for months. but with the summer holidays nearly over in wales, northern ireland and england, many are busy changing

things to keep pupils, staff and the wider community safe. scientific evidence shows children are unlikely to become severely ill from coronavirus, and some even suggest they spread the virus less than adults. of course, the floor markers. at this primary school in east london, they are looking forward to having the children back. i worry about the lack of social interaction those children have had. i worry about the lack of development. i look at things like theirfine motor skills — the way they would hold a pencil, the way they would form their words, so their speech and language. some of those children won't have had those experiences over this time. any area that would normally see gatherings in groups has been closed — the staff room, the library, the lunch hall. start times will be staggered to stop parents crowding at the school gates. playtime is going to look very different. in order to keep children within their year group bubbles, here they've marked out different

sections of the playground for them using these coloured barriers. that's to stop them mingling. the rest of the playground is going be used for pe, something that's still very important during these coronavirus times. the chief medical officer for england says a vaccine more is unlikely to be ready before winter next year, so businesses such as shops and restaurants may be forced to close to keep children learning. we are walking an incredibly narrow path between relaxing enough as individuals and as a society that actually transmission takes off and more all or and more or overdoing it and doing damage socially and economically, which we didn't need to. it's an incredibly narrow path we are walking. there's not much room for manoeuvre. it means measures in schools like this one will be in place for several months yet. earlier, i spoke to our political correspondent — leila nathoo — who said ministers will hope the comments from england's chief medical officer will persuade parents to send their children back

to the classroom ministers will be hoping it is a significant intervention, will go a long way to persuade parents and teachers that it is safe for a full return to the classroom is from september in england, wales and northern ireland. back injune there was a plan to get primary schools and england back before the school summer holidays, that had to be abandoned, a patchy picture across the country. the government will be hoping there is enough dialogue with local authorities and unions. there is now more of evidence that it is safe for schools and children to get back. the prime minister has described it as a moral duty to help children back into classrooms. clearly an economic effect, helping parents get back to work if their children are back in school. labour is saying ministers have wasted some time in recent weeks when they could have been planning for schools reopening by having to deal with the fallout

of the exam result is chaos. i think that at some context of this, there has been trouble over the exam results so there is now a political test, lots of pressure on the government to get this right, to make sure schools are able to open in full and safely come september. mike corbett is a secondary teacherfor english and is the national executive member for teaching union the nasuwt. hejoins me now. thank you very much for being with us. thank you very much for being with us. the assessments from the chief medical officers if it is more dangerous, effectively, for kids to stay away from school than to go to school. what is your reaction to that? i think that is a reasonable point to make, ben. certainly, we have been back in school for over a week now back in scotland. some very positive things about that. being

backin positive things about that. being back in your own classrooms, familiarfaces of back in your own classrooms, familiar faces of pupils and collea g u es familiar faces of pupils and colleagues and just that buzz of classroom discussion that is impossible to replicate online. i love that has been really good so farand love that has been really good so far and positive. but, love that has been really good so farand positive. but, inevitably, you know, there are necessary differences and lots of mitigations in place. and we've certainly had them in my own school. although hand sanitising and me being in my two metre area, as we've seen in your report earlier. and certainly, my own local authority, think that it's working very well but the challenges, you know, is that working across the rest of scotland and we have certainly had evidence that it and we have certainly had evidence thatitis and we have certainly had evidence that it is not. it is understandable, i suppose, that teachers and parents are a little nervous at this time. what has been your experience where you are, where you are teaching? well, you are right. there has been a lot of anxiety. that anxiety has been alleviated in the schools that are, you know, if you like my doing

the right thing. my school and local authority have employed a whole host of day cleaners to go around the building and wiped and there is commonly used services but that is not the case and some other local authorities in scotland so that is where, you know, the anxiety remains that there are certain areas that are not doing things. i have some sympathy some of the government advice, the scottish government, has little -- advice, the scottish government, has little —— might be a little bay to say the least. and socially distancing, they say there should be social distancing where possible but anyone will tell you, who works in a secondary school like mine with over 1000 people in it that is virtually impossible. and in terms of the time that people have lost, will be be able to get that back? how much damage has it done long—term terms of their education? many of us to do oui’ of their education? many of us to do our utmost to work best we could. pupils and staff, with the online tools we had. it was not that that was no learning going on but it was certainly more challenging. i know that we are in a discussion at the

moment with the soa, the examination board, but possibly this boning the exa m board, but possibly this boning the exam dieta board, but possibly this boning the exam diet a little next year to try and make up some time. so, you know, there are certainly things going on to try and mitigate any that there have been with peoples but my experience so far has been that pupils seem delighted to be back and, you know, at least to be approaching some normality and seeing their friends and being approaching some normality and seeing theirfriends and being in class and working with their teachers. good to good to talk to you. thank you much. a secondary teacher there and also a national executive member for the naswut. belarussians are again gathering to protest against president alexander lukashenko and his re—election they say he rigged a fortnight ago. these are live pictures now from the capital minsk. demonstrations been a daily

occurance throughout the country. the protesters are calling for an end of police violence and for m lukashenko, europe's longest serving leader, to step down. today's demonstration comes as exiled opposition figurehead svetla na tikhanovskaya urged protesters to maintain their momentum, saying belarussians had lost their fear and that lukashenko had no choice but to engage with the meanwhile, nato has denied lukashenko's claim it is building up its forces along the border with belarus. it comes after president lukashenko accused what he described as foreign powers of aiding the protest movement. he made his remarks while on on a visit in the west of the country where he ordered the army to stand ready to defend the nation. let's speak now to our correspondent

in minsk, jonah fisher. i hope you can hear me. i know the crowds are gathering there and it is pretty tense because the security forces are very much on standby there? yes, that is right. i mean, independence square at the centre of minsk. this is a gathering point for today's demonstration. you can see people behind me chanting, long live belarus. probably about 5000 people 01’ so belarus. probably about 5000 people or so here at the moment. we are expecting more to come. what you cannot see hair is the riot police. there is a very significant riot police and military presence in the streets around the square. one streets around the square. one street alone i counted at least 25 vehicles so a show of force certainly from president. it is unclear at the moment whether they are going to intervene to stop this protest, this valley, taking place. about half an hour or so ago we had

announcements over loudspeakers saying that this was illegal and they were planning to disperse this demonstration. it has not deterred people from gathering here so there is an element of tension in the air. people are not sure, really, where they are going to be allowed to have this demonstration or not. what is your assessment, we see this display a people power but do you think the president can ride this out? he still has the key leathers of power. so far today it is not a huge demonstration of people power. it may turn into that over the next couple of hours. we have had sizeable demonstrations every night and during some of the days for the last two weeks. we have also had strikes. but what we have not had as any sign of the president's grip over the security apparatus here. he has been in 20 years. he built the security apparatus and appointed all

these key people and there is no sign at the moment that anyone saying to him, look, you have lost the support of the people here which appears to be the case. it is time for you to go. for now, he seems to have a pretty firm get a rep on that. and the rhetoric from the president in the last few days, he has no intention of going. what about the role of russia and president putin? if you decided that it was time for the president to go, would that be crucial? would that be pivotal? yes, that would probably be decisive. the way to have a transition that could be managed, that president was so unpopular here that president was so unpopular here that there was no way back for him, it is possible that president putin would suggest, indeed, possibly pushed through the idea that he should be pushed to one side and someone else who is acceptable to russia put in their place. what vladimir putin does not want to happen here is bother to turn into a

full—scale people's revolution and have someone who is a really unknown quantity take over as president here because, of course, president putin himself is acutely aware that anything that happens here in belarus might well be a precedent, example of what might happen closer to home in russia. thank you. we will talk to you again later. we will talk to you again later. let's get the thoughts now of professor elena korosteleva — director of the global europe centre, university of kent. thank you for being with us. we are seeing yet more demonstrations in belarus but the same question, can the president ride this out? can he survive these demonstrations? thank you, i fully survive these demonstrations? thank you, ifully agree survive these demonstrations? thank you, i fully agree with your correspondent. the tensions are growing. demonstrations have not stopped. they have been continuing for two weeks and there are tensions between the regime and protesters. i think there is no way back to the

point of departure because people are point of departure because people a re clearly point of departure because people are clearly showing their disapproval of all the violence, the abuse, lies, intimidation and so on. so what is important now is to try and find the point of exit for the president and in terms of organising new elections. he does not look like he is in any mood to change his mind, have new elections will step down. we're hearing that the army are going to take over responsibility for protecting national memorials. now, that is an interesting switch because that has been the responsibility of the police, now it is going to be the army and does show, doesn't it? that he is increasingly perhaps turning to the army. well, precisely the point of no return. basically, he can only now maintain his power by force. and the only way to stop all that and the escalation of force and

violence is perhaps indeed for eve ryo ne violence is perhaps indeed for everyone to come to the table including perhaps with the help of president putin, to find a point where, which will be acceptable to everyone. for example, it was commented that organising new elections where everyone can participate with the presence of international observers could be a way forward. just to ensure parity for every possible candidate. he has beenin for every possible candidate. he has been in powerfor more than for every possible candidate. he has been in power for more than a quarter of a century now, how much longer can he survive? quarter of a century now, how much longer can he survive ?|j quarter of a century now, how much longer can he survive? i don't think you will survive until now because, asi you will survive until now because, as i say, he lost all political legitimacy. he is now gripping to power only through force and force cannot last long. it may end in the bloodshed but it is in everyone's interest to try and stop the bloodshed or dialogue and negotiation and i'm sure he will see

that. but of course, international support here is very important. we will see what happens. very good to get your analysis. thank you so much for your time. thank you. the headlines on bbc news... schools are ‘safe' — england's chief medical officers seek to reassure parents as millions of children prepare to return to the classroom. opposition protesters in belarus gather for another demonstration in minsk — two weeks after president lukashenko's disputed election victory. president trump declares california's wildfires a major disaster — releasing federal funds to victims who've lost their homes. president trump has approved california's request to declare the huge wildfires scorching parts of the state as a major disaster. it means federal funds will be available to help victims of the fires. at least six people have been killed

and tens of thousands have fled as over 500 separate fires burned more than 4,000 square kilometres of land in a week. our north america correspondent peter bowes reports from los angeles some of the biggest wildfires california has ever seen. the north of the state is the worst affected. there are multiple blazes burning in the mountains around palo alto, in the san francisco bay area. and another complex of fires is wreaking havoc in wine country, south of sacramento. in all, almost 600 separate fires, many of them started by a series of rare dry lightning storms. a blanket of smoke hangs over much of the state. 175,000 people have been told to leave their homes. some are nervous about taking shelter in crowded evacuation centres because of the coronavirus. there are more cases in california

than any other us state. several friends have lost their homes and many others evacuated. a very difficult time but it is great to see the community pulled together to do what we can. with local firefighters growing weary from the unrelenting battle, back—up crews have been drafted in from neighbouring states, and further afield. it is hoped teams will fly in from canada and australia, to help tackle the growing inferno. officials are warning that there may be worse to come, with more lightning forecast and blistering heat that could go on for another week. california is used to the annual threat from wildfires, but they are getting worse. record temperatures, the lightning, tinder dry brush — a perfect storm for a long, hot summer of destruction. peter bowes, bbc news, los angeles. let's stay with this story, here's an account

from professor mark massoud, who has had to flee his home in santa cruz. to evacuate in this kind of way, i was lucky they provided us a few hours — you can call it lucky — to gather things. the question becomes, what do you gather when you only have a few hours to kind of fit everything you can into a car and go? but i do feel lucky for that time. and i am up in sanjose, about a0 miles from santa cruz. they have constructed or bulldozed two fire breaks running from the pacific ocean, maybe tens of miles, up to the ridge of the mountains to stop the fires from coming into the university of california santa cruz. and further on into the actual city of santa cruz, where tens of thousands of people live. the university of california is on the north—west corner of the city and the fires are just north—west of that. so i am hopeful that, with those fire breaks, the city of santa cruz

and the university will be saved. it's almost 18 months since the terror attacks on two mosques in the new zealand city of christchurch. the wife of one of the 51 people killed has spoken to the bbc of how her life has changed and of her determination to seejustice done. the gunman will be sentenced in a few days time. shaimaa khalil reports from sydney. it was an attack that devastated new zealand and shocked the world. the quiet city of christchurch became the scene of the country's worst mass shooting. on march the 15th 2019, a gunman opened fire in two mosques —

killing 51 people, and wounding dozens more as they got ready for friday prayers. taj kamran was shot three times in the leg at al—noor mosque. his best friend died next to him. he struggles to walk and the horrors of the day still haunt him. he's now dreading facing the killer in court at sentencing. because i see the gunman that shot me and shot my friend. that's too hard for me seeing, watching and looking, that part is very difficult. yes, guilty. earlier this year, brenton tarrant admitted 51 murders and a0 counts of manslaughter. the 29—year—old australian was also the first person to be convicted under new zealand's most recent terror laws. dozens of survivors and victims' relatives will address the court in the presence of the killer. they will describe how his crimes changed their lives. but with new zealand's borders closed because of covid—19, many families as well as international media will have to follow his sentencing remotely. i did go back and forth

with making the decision... despite the restriction, some relatives were granted visas to attend. hamimah tuyan's husband zekeriya died in hospital almost two months after he was shot. she's travelled from singapore and has spent two weeks in quarantine. my husband is not here to speak for himself. so, i am his voice. the children love him so much. and of course i hope that when my boys are big enough to refer to this event or this day, they will be proud of their oumi that she has travelled 8,500 km in the middle of a pandemic to see to it that their father's killer is locked away in prison for a long time. and how do you feel about seeing the killer in court? i haven't really had the time to think about how i feel about him or about how i feel about seeing him in the flesh. i hope i will be cool, calm, and collected. brenton tarrant is responsible for one of new zealand's darkest days, and will get a mandatory life sentence.

the judge must now decide if he'll ever be considered for release. shaimaa khalil, bbc news, sydney. australians in several south—eastern states are experiencing surprising — and unseasonal — weather triggered by antarctic air. many people have been out enjoying the rare event despite strong winds — and heavy snow — yes, snow. phil mercer sent this report. a rare antarctic blast has turned parts of south—eastern australia white. a rare antarctic blast has turned parts of south—eastern australia white. blizzards have brought chaos to some roads and the icy cold front has sent temperatures plummeting way belew average.” ' '7 '7'