Like many, Michele Merlo, Assistant General Manager of Crazy Pizza has been on and off the furlough scheme for the last 15 months. He’s struggled but says he “wouldn’t mind going back to furlough again if it’s really necessary, just to make sure everybody is going to be safe”.For now though, he’s back at work in London and wants to encourage others, particularly in the hospitality sector, to remain positive.The government’s contribution to the scheme starts to scale back from July, so we spoke to Michele to see what his experience had been like.Filmed and edited by Samantha Everett

The Queen has visited the Irn-Bru factory during her first official trip to Scotland following the death of the Duke of Edinburgh.Prince William, known as the Earl of Strathearn in Scotland, joined the Queen on the visit to Cumbernauld and stopped to sample Scotland’s “other national drink”.The event is part of Holyrood Week when the Queen and members of the Royal Family embark on events celebrating Scottish culture and community.

As G7 leaders meet to discuss global economic recovery from the coronavirus pandemic, business reporter Lora Jones takes a look at who governments have borrowed staggering amounts of cash from and how – if ever – they plan to repay that debt.Motion Graphics by Jacqueline GalvinProduced by Soraya Auer

Thailand depends on its tourism sector, and normally welcomes 14 million visitors annually. But Covid-19 saw visitor numbers plunge to just four million last year. In the key resort of Phuket, mass vaccinations are being organised ahead of this year’s tourist season. As part of our My Work, My Future season, young Thais in Phuket share their hopes and fears about future employment in the country’s tourist industry.

The Covid-19 pandemic has hit labour markets around the world, affecting under-30s the most. More than 600 million people aged 15-24 are estimated to be out of work. Young women have been most affected, according to the International Labour Organization. The BBC’s gender and identity reporter, Megha Mohan, has been speaking with jobless women in Lebanon, Kenya and the UK.Video journalist: Olivia Le PoidevinAdditional production: Kash Jones, Michael KalokiExecutive producers: Claire Williams, Verity Wilde

Greece’s islands have an ambitious plan to lure back visitors this summer – by vaccinating all local residents.The goal of “Operation Blue Freedom” is to turn the country’s islands, such as Milos, into “Covid-free” travel destinations.Many of Milos’ locals rely on tourism and welcome the plan to reopen. But not everyone is as optimistic.Correspondent: Nick BeakeProducer: Kostas KallergisFilmed and edited by: Pol Reygaerts

Britain’s towns and cities are facing huge change with shopping centres and department stores across the country facing bankruptcy and demolition.For an increasing number of places the solution to the crisis in retail lies in trying to restore some of the lost streets and heritage that disappeared in the 1960s and 70s. The BBC’s David Sillito went on a final tour of Nottingham’s Broadmarsh Centre.

The largest tunnelling machine ever used on a UK rail project is officially starting work. Florence – named after Florence Nightingale – will spend the next three-and-a-half years cutting through the chalk beneath the Chiltern hills in Buckinghamshire. The tunnel will form part of controversial high-speed rail project HS2’s first phase, which will link London with the West Midlands. The BBC takes a look inside the operation to see how it works.Video journalist: Samantha Everett

The CEO of Hitachi Trains, Andrew Barr, says the decision to withdraw the Hitachi 800 model trains from service was due to cracks found on the metal that links the train’s body with the underside of the train.Mr Barr did not give an exact number of how many trains were affected – saying the situation had not been finalised – but indicated that cracks had been found in several beyond the initial discovery. He said the cracks couldn’t be seen with the naked eye and were initially picked up during routine maintenance.