: commemoration, national acts of commemoration, remembrance. thank you. and so begin today's events to commemorate ve day and to thank the world war ii generation for their service and sacrifice during those wartime years. given the current crisis we are living through now, paying tribute to them seems all the more poignant. you're watching bbc news. in the past few minutes, the prince of wales has led the uk in a national silence to mark the 75th anniversary of ve day when nazi germany surrendered to allied forces and the second world war

in europe was declared over. in berlin, chancellor merkel has laid a wreath at germany's central war memorial. in france, president macron has led a small ceremony at the arc de triomphe in paris. commemorations in the uk have been adapted to reflect social distancing measures, but people are still being encouraged to celebrate safely at home. to those who were there, it seems a lifetime ago, but the scenes they witnessed on that spring day in 1945 have never left them. a tidal wave of euphoria and excitement filling the city streets to overflowing, and reaching every corner of the british isles. archive: in an old and tattered tent, there occurred the greatest battlefield surrender of this or any other war. the instrument of germany's unconditional surrender was signed. the fighting in europe had effectively been over for several days — since the first surrender

documents had been signed. but for millions of people, this was the moment to begin a party that would last through the night. we had quite good celebrations — about a dozen of us there, i would suppose. and we had a barrel of red wine on the end of the lorry and a barrel of white wine, and our pint mugs from the army and we enjoyed the evening very much. bill ridgewell served throughout europe with the royal electrical and mechanical engineers. he says ve day is still an important event on his calendar. and to celebrate it now, we must learn that that must never happen again. the waste of material, of lives and of innocence through the war was tremendous.

it's just a pure waste, is warfare. but how different it will be 75 years on — no flags, no parties, no crowds. just a call for us all to mark this momentous day however we can. all of us who were born since 1945 are acutely conscious that we owe everything we most value to the generation who won the second world war. and we remember the millions of people from across the united kingdom and from across the world who came together in world war ii to fight for our shared values. values of freedom, of democracy, of peace. covid—i9 has shredded elaborate plans drawn up for cities, towns and villages. five years ago on the 70th anniversary, thousands of us joined acts of remembrance, sat down for street celebrations or lit beacons.

we are celebrating ve day because it's the 75th anniversary. in 2020, we can't gather together in the way we used to but lockdown has taught us all to adapt, so the bunting's going up in our homes, gardens and streets. even those shielded from the pandemic will play their part — after all, many of them remember the real thing. this year's remembrance in lockdown will, in a strange way, be part of history itself. it will be part of the mad story of this great lockdown. i don't know how — of course, it's too soon to say — how historians will remember it. by 1945, war had brought many families and communities closer together. radio linked them with events at home and abroad. now we're all learning that, even when we are forced apart, we can still share experiences. and maybe we can understand a little

more about the sense ofjoy and release 75 years ago. robert hall, bbc news. duncan kennedy is in portsmouth — a significant naval port for centuries — and especially so during wwii. that is right, it is the home of the royal navy. we estimate something like 50,000 members of the royal navy lost their lives during the course of the second world war. we are at the portsmouth royal navy memorial, you can see the names on the plaque behind me and catch a glimpse of corporal david who has just sounded the last post and marked the two minutes' silence. it is a remarkable place, they obviously cannot mark ve day in the way they wanted to, but it was a poignant ceremony here a

couple of minutes ago, the last post, two minutes' silence, and we had a couple of members of the public look in, and retired members of the navy who came to lay a small read. portsmouth is also the headquarters of the royal marines and they paid a heavy price during the course of the second world war. —— small wreath. it is where many of the musicians come to change. we are joined by the head of music, we are at the headquarters of the royal marines, standing next to the names of some of those who lost their lives in the second world war. we are still here today at a monument dedicated to 15,000 personnel who lost their lives in the war. all these here have no known grave. today, importantly, we

are here to reflect on the commitment and sacrifice made by these and all serving personnel, theirfamilies these and all serving personnel, their families and communities these and all serving personnel, theirfamilies and communities in such a hard time. many might think royal marine band just played their instruments but they paid a heavy price in the second world war. we have a military role as well as playing music, particularly during the second world war, most of our bands were deployed on ships. they would be injobs such bands were deployed on ships. they would be in jobs such as bands were deployed on ships. they would be injobs such as medics, gunners, radio operators, loading magazines, and if a ship was hit, most of the band would sadly pay the ultimate price because it was difficult to get up from where they we re difficult to get up from where they were working. if you have a personal connection with the second world war, both your grandfathers served. they both sadly died when i was quite young. 0ne grandfather was in

the royal marines on landing craft during d—day, and my other grandfather was in the dutch navy sailing around with them. tell us why it is so important to remember them and everyone involved in the second world war on this special day? hopefully we will get the chance to do this more often, our veterans need to be reminded of how thankful we are of what they have done. it is important to let them they still inspire us today from that generation. thank you very much. the head of music here in portsmouth. the two minutes' silence is now over. many street parties will start across the country including here. we are off to one in north portsmouth when they will be singing vintage songs. and meeting a woman who was born on ve day 75 years ago. a very special day for the

day 75 years ago. a very special day forthe uk, day 75 years ago. a very special day for the uk, where we think of relief for the uk, where we think of relief for the uk, where we think of relief for the end of the world war, and remember those who did not come home. let's have another look at those pictures of the red arrows performing their flypast in london. they flew in their trademark formation — the diamond nine shape — over london at 10am this morning. the royal airforce aerobatic team flies hawkjets — they've been flying since 1965. always rather thrilling to see them go overhead. also as part of the celebrations, raf typhoon jets have flown over cardiff, edinburgh and belfast.

typhoon jets flying in skies which at the moment are much quieter than usual. the french president emanuel macron is attending a ceremony at the arc de triomphe this morning — to mark victory in europe day. emanuel macron placed a wreath at the tomb of the unknown soldier in paris. although the event is not open to the public, people have been encouraged to decorate their balconies in the national colours. 0ur correspondent phil mackie is in kenilworth, in warwickhire, with local residents who are going to be holding a street party this afternoon.

which is quite a challenge under current conditions. absolutely, it is really difficult. absolutely, it is really difficult. a lot of the events which would have taken place a lot of the events which would have ta ken place have a lot of the events which would have taken place have been cancelled but people have perhaps fewer alternatives, you can't go swimming, do lots of other things, so, more people might come out on to their front lawn which is what we are expecting here this afternoon at three p m. a few minutes ago, we observed the two minutes' silence, a poignant moment, people coming out of their houses, heads bowed, then, a round of applause. a little bit like that later on as people come out to toast ve day at 3pm. the bunting is out here particularly is this is the home of rusty, who at 97, is one of three members of your eight man crew flying lancaster bombers, still alive. you live on

your own, and bombers, still alive. you live on yourown, and are bombers, still alive. you live on your own, and are celebrating today. what does ve day mean to you? personally, it is a day of remembrance. remembering the fact that we survived, the walk is finished, people were not going to get killed any more —— the war is finished. and thinking about all the friends you knew, the friends you had made, all the people with us now and all these wonderful neighbours. and sadly, all those who are not here any more. you flew with 101 squadron, battle of felin right up to ve day at a time when barely half the crews who went out came back. —— battle went out came back. — — battle of went out came back. —— battle of berlin. 0ur casualty rate went up 60%. you did not expect to survive. you just existed. 0ne rate went up 60%. you did not expect to survive. you just existed. one of the things we used to do, if you had

lost it, read, you would go down to the mess and drink his help, and say, here is to so, here is to the next one to die, you did not expect to live. what are your memories of ve day, how did you x —— how did you celebrate? i don't remember celebrate? idon't rememberan celebrate? i don't remember an awful lot. i was a screen i don't remember an awful lot. i was a screen palette then. i was waiting to go back on operations. i was in nottinghamshire at a garrison. all we heard was the station commander giving the announcement that the war was over. a great relief because we knew we were not going to go to fly operationally again. we kept the mess open, the bar, permanently, so all the boys and girls, we drank the mess dry, then, we went to find a

pub, we walked across the fields to the normanton arms on the north road and drank that one dry! i can't rememberany and drank that one dry! i can't remember any more and drank that one dry! i can't rememberany more than and drank that one dry! i can't remember any more than that. it was a wonderful experience. how do you feel today 75 years later, yourfamily how do you feel today 75 years later, your family around you, how do you feel today 75 years later, yourfamily around you, great grandchildren. a lot of your comrades never had that, their futures were snuffed out. nowadays, all these people, these wonderful friends and family, all these neighbours up and down the street, they are all such a help to people like myself. it is nice that ican remember, people like myself. it is nice that i can remember, i can never remember all their names, but they are all just nice people. the family, especially, we had four children,

seven great—grandchildren. they are all such lovely people, they will keep in touch with me and sent me letters and draw me pictures. it is so letters and draw me pictures. it is so nice. it is a day of remembering all these nice things. how does this compare? we are in lockdown now, but the spirit seems really good today, lots of people out, socially distancing but waving and saying hello. you were talking to some very young children about your experiences, earlier. there are still a few of us around, we go around to schools. 0ne school, one question at the end, one nine—year old ask me, how many dead bodies did you see? i said, we didn't see dead bodies, just empty beds. people disappeared. with this

now in the national curriculum, the subject being taught in schools, the six formers, they are fascinated with the history. i give a talk to a school in birmingham. they were lovely people. they adopted me. i prepared a talk for them. i needn't have bothered, because they had so many questions. you just answered all their questions. you are looking forward to three o'clock this afternoon. thank you for talking to us. it has been really interesting talking about this, seeing the kind of reaction here on the street in kenilworth, people coming past, talking to him. it has become a real kind of moment in a very dark period in the middle of lockdown when

people have at least something else to think about, something else not to think about, something else not to necessarily celebrate back to at least come out and share an experience. it is all about community, sometimes. with so many men away at war, women had to quickly adapt to a new intensity of living. they had to carry on running their households, looking after children, growing food, whilst also filling many of the roles previously done by men. well, i am delighted to say that i can speak now this to the author and historian virginia nicholson whose book millions like us details the role women played in world war ii. virginia joins me from lewes in east sussex. ina warm in a warm welcome to you. thank you for joining in a warm welcome to you. thank you forjoining us on ve day. describe the extent to which women's lives we re the extent to which women's lives were turned upside down in world war ii? i think the thing that made the most difference to women was when conscription was brought in 1941,

the sums did not add up, there were too many roles that needed to be filled. the armed forces needed so many more men abroad fighting on the fronts. from 1941, the ministry of labour announced women would be conscripted, if you are between 18 and 50, and you did not have a jolly good excuse like having small children or being pregnant, you are required to do work of national importance. and to an extent you could choose. you might want tojoin their services, you might want to go into a factory, you might want to work on transport, or you might be invited to go and be one of those clever women at bletchley who cracked codes, or you might want to volunteer, you might be a nurse, there were many ways in which you could contribute. 6 million women in this country were actively involved in helping on the

home front and in some sudden services, an incredible number. so, their lives were completely changed. and a real problem for a lot of these women was at, especially for these women was at, especially for the ones who were married and had children but were expected also to maybe work on the trams, buses, trains, transport system, post office, factories, they were still also expected to run home because, of course, mentality hadn't changed, there was still the general idea women were expected to be the angel of the half, the feeders, the carers —— of the hearth. you might do a full day on the trams, then queue up for rations, do the housework, get the children to bed, keep the home fires burning for when the boys came home.

clearly a huge challenge, an enormous workload and pressure. to what extent did women regard these as opportunities they welcomed? i think to a large extent, and i talked to many women when i wrote my book about second world war, and they busted the inequality myth, basically. these were women who could drive ten tonne trucks, they could drive ten tonne trucks, they could help on anti—aircraft batteries, they might even be flying spitfires. as i said, there were women working at bletchley, there we re women working at bletchley, there were women who even on a much smaller level, felt that they were out there helping to win the war and that did an enormous amount for their self—esteem and sense of value. it must have changed how they regarded themselves as much as anything. yes, because they had really escaped

from the home. if you were an 18—year—old, suddenly, you are out there feeling pretty important dressed in your uniform. getting up at 4am to chop down trees for telegraph poles. you knew you were contributing. i think that gave extraordinary in our pride. even after the war, many women went back to the home. inside themselves, they knew they had changed forever. how reluctant were they to retreat back to the home?

i think, you can't generalise, but i think, ina i think, you can't generalise, but i think, in a funny sort of way, women felt so strongly identified with the home that the buildings that had been destroyed, don't forget, there was an enormous blitz in this country, large numbers of homes, buildings, properties, were smashed up buildings, properties, were smashed up into smithereens. women took that more personally than men, they thought those homes were in a funny way who they were. and so, there was a very big feeling that they wanted to reinvent themselves within four walls. you come to the 1950s, you get the domestic goddesses, the ones who really are wanting to batch bake, purchase refrigerators, with a smile on theirface bake, purchase refrigerators, with a smile on their face and an apron. so, the domestic goddess thing was

very much to the fore after the war. get four walls around you. we had a terrific building programme post—war in this country, many people were homeless. that was a direct result of the bombing. how great were the pressures on individual relationships? marriages would had to cope with many years of separation —— which had to. and then thrown back under the same roof. you get stories of men who had been away for three, even five years, maybe men who had been imprisoned and finally brought home again. the relationship couldn't pick up where it had left off. sometimes, people had only been married for a few weeks. the phenomenon of wartime shotgun weddings. i had better get married now because i may never get the chance, this man is about to go abroad. marriages between people who had only known each other for a few

days or weeks, a month or two. then, the man goes abroad. he comes back five years later. he has been used to bossing everyone around. he wants to bossing everyone around. he wants to be the lieutenant in his household. and the woman, on the other hand, has been running her own show. she may well have been running, working in a very responsiblejob during running, working in a very responsible job during the war. and there was a big spike in the divorce rate, as you can imagine. i think also, as often as i found stories of conflict and difficulty, ifound stories of heart—warming love and belief. i should say, on ve day, there was a sense that what the men had been fighting for was an ideal of womanhood, of femininity. there isa of womanhood, of femininity. there is a wonderful discussion of ve day

in london with the women in their frocks and colourful outfits, their colourful red, white and blue ribbons in their hair. there is the since femininity has returned to the land after years of tinge and black andjury land after years of tinge and black and jury colours —— dinge. suddenly, the lights are back on again, the women are out there in their floral frocks, gorgeous colours, lipstick on, they can be feminine again. in a way, the home, female pleasures, femininity, was what the war was about when it ended. and a welcome relief for many, for a few days at least. thank you for talking to us. we've heard plenty of comparisons in recent weeks between the national efforts to beat

coronavirus and to win the second world war. doug vince and margaret maxwell have experienced both. they lived through the war and — after meeting for the first time two years ago — they decided to "self—isolate" together during the lockdown. shaun peel reports. the decision was made in a brief moment. no hesitation. when lockdown was announced, margaret moved in with doug. together in isolation. well, i had a choice, really. either to ask the family to take me home or stay with doug so that he was not on his own, because at the time, they said it could last for 12 weeks. so i decided to stay. and i liked her company so it suited me. and i've been here seven weeks now. as a young man, doug wanted to be a pilot but he ended up as a flight engineer on stirling bombers flying out of suffolk. returning from one mission, his plane was hit by enemy fire and it was on fire as it landed.

doug's hand was badly burned. i grabbed a fire extinguisher to try and put the fire out and it was in the fire so it burnt the middle out of my hand. i can remember trying to put it down and it was stuck so i had to throw it to get rid of it. doug's hand was treated by the pioneering plastic surgeon archibald mcindoe, using skin grafted from his inner thigh. i found the crew all standing some way away from the plane and i went and joined them and then i realised that my hand hurt. when you say your hand hurt, is that a bit of an understatement? yes. 0n ve day, as doug was recovering in hospital, 17—year—old margaret was celebrating. she is the one lying down. she had spent her teenage years in and out of air—raid shelters,

terrified by the sound of sirens. that did more damage for me than anything, to hear the siren go off, itjust shook my nerves to pieces. and it took me years and years to get over that, but i'm all right now! so doug and margaret will spend ve day tomorrow in lockdown together, sharing memories of their war and more. and after seven weeks, their friendship is closer than ever. well, yes, very close friends, yes. very close. that's enough! shaun peel, bbc news. people across europe are marking the 75th anniversary of the defeat of nazi germany in the second world war. victory in europe day, or ve day, is being marked by a variety of ceremonies — although plans have been scaled back

to due coronavirus lockdown. in britain, a two—minute silence was held to remember all those who lost their lives in the fighting, there was also a military fly—past above the four capitals of the united kingdom. across the channel, in france, president emmanuel macron laid a wreath at the tomb of the unknown soldier under the arc de triomphe, accompanied by just a handful of dignitaries. and within the last hour the german chancellor, angela merkel, has placed a wreath at the main war memorial in berlin. i'm joined now, from central france, by hugh schofield and, from berlin, byjenny hill. hugh, tell us what would have been planned had the lockdown not been in place? it is a national holiday in france, even though most people on a

regular year, i have to say, pretty ignorant of what they day of is about. officially, there have been celebrations, such as the lay of the wreath. not really in the public, but more the army, air force they are to watch the president laying on the wreath. before that, he walks up from where he lazily wreath. this year, it all happened, but with only about 20 people. president the prime minister, the defence minister, two

previous presidents, charles de gaulle's son was supposed to be there, he is 98, but he was unable to attend because of ill health. and on the contrary, it is the same. no gatherings. if there are commemorations of wreath—laying to be carried out, they are to be done by one or two people. for example, the village where i am confined now, the village where i am confined now, the local mayor has went out by himself and he put it on the internets so that we could all see it. he has urged us all to saintly national anthem. jenny, how has it been marked this year, is it any different because it is the 75th anniversary? in the words of the german because it just anniversary? in the words of the german because itjust a few moments ago, could own orthoses us to be alone for this particular anniversary. —— corona forces us to be alone. we that solitude, that is

perhaps a glimpse in the way in whichjeremy itself perhaps a glimpse in the way in which jeremy itself stood alone on this day 75 years ago, having made, the world as enemy. they should have been hundreds of international guest in berlin here today to mark the commemorations, instead, of course, the events will be far more low— key. this is a rather difficult day for many germans. this country's history still very much overshadows as a present, it society and politics. it is one of the reasons why germany is relu cta nt is one of the reasons why germany is reluctant to assume a greater responsibility and in overseas conflicts still. speaking to all sorts of people here in the last few days, you really get the sense that many germans still carry deep within them, if not guilt, a deep sense of shame at the atrocities perpetrated in the name of germany. a few moments ago, anglo me a call laid a

wreath —— angela merkel lady e wreath —— angela merkel lady e wreath at the memorial to victims of warand wreath at the memorial to victims of war and violence. we head to the president talking very interestingly about europe, saying germany is extremely grateful. saying it is a day of gratitude for the renewed friendship of all enemies. he talked about europe is the manifestation of that friendship, he said, you will have heard previous german leaders talking about the phrase never again, he said, if europe fails, that vow never again will also fail. he also spoke about anti—semitic attacks which have taken place on german soil in recent months, to the great shame of the german government, saying that we must guard against future attacks in the future. whilst it is very much about

remembering the atrocities committed by the nazis won, it is also for many germans and on responsibility to ensure that the lessons of the pass are never forgotten. thank you both. the prime minister of australia has announced a three stage plan to lift the country's coronavirus lockdown restrictions. scott morrison said the first phase would include opening some shops and cafes, and allowing up to five guests in peoples' homes. but he said it was up to individual states to decide when to bring in the changes we move ahead with reopening our economy and society with a clear plan and framework that shows australians the road ahead. the next step beyond this will be to build the confidence and momentum that will see our economy get back up and running and get australians back up on their feet, moving ahead with confidence. our correspondent in sydney,

shaimaa khalil, told us this wasjust the beginning. absolutely, i think after seven weeks of strict social distancing rules, of lockdown, many australians are quite excited about the prime minister's announcement, given all the caveats of course, that each state will decide when to start day one of step one. but yes, we will see children in schools, we will see them in playgrounds, as you say, households will be allowed five visitors at a time, ten people will be allowed to gather in a group outdoors. cafes and restaurants will be allowed to open, albeit maintaining strict hygiene and social distancing rules. and with step one, there's going to be, again, continued contact tracing, continued testing and that really will ease the way, if you will, towards step two, more people gathering outside, up to 20 people outside and then interstate travel.

under step one when that starts, local travel is going to be allowed so travel within a state. as restrictions ease, there's going to be internal travel phased in within the states as well. scott morrison said it was up to individual states to decide when this is going to start and it really depends on the situation in each state, for example, we've seen in western australia, the northern territories, they've already eased their way into more relaxed rules, queensland has announced more relaxed rules on the weekend, for mother's day. but new south wales, where i am, victoria, the more populous states, with more contact tracing and transmission, they are more reluctant to start right away. they said they would have more announcements on monday as to when this will start, but really, all eyes will be on those easing, people moving in a more relaxed manner around their cities and potentially around the country and of course, the reopening of the economy

which was devastated when the lockdown happened, hundreds of thousands ofjobs were lost and the treasury is hoping that by phase three, byjuly, about 850,000 jobs will be reopened. hong kong, as well, is starting to ease its coronavirus restrictions further after more than two weeks with no new infections. bars, restaurants, cinemas and gyms will reopen, but only a limited number of customers will be allowed inside. family and friends can gather for meals again as long as there are no more than eight people. hong kong introduced strict social distancing from an early stage, and has had only four covid—19 deaths. our correspondent in beijing, stephen mcdonell, explained more. hong kong has definitely had considerable success in fighting the coronavirus.

i mean, over 1000 cases in total and, incredibly, four deaths over the whole time. you compare that to other cities and other countries. crucially, though, for 18 days in a row, no new domestic infections. so that's meant time to ease some of these restrictions which were imposed early. so, bars and restaurants reopening, but only with groups of up to eight people. cinemas reopening, but they can only be half full. gyms, mahjong clubs, again, reopening. even if there are restrictions on the numbers, there will be such a relief for people there to be gathering again with some of theirfriends. obviously, it's also having something of an impact on the... well, in the lead—up to the traditional traditional summer well, in the lead—up to the traditional summer protest season there.

i guess you can't have much of a protest if you can still only have eight people gathering at any point. but itjust shows that hong kong, it's a city which was used to the sars epidemic so people masked up early, when the authorities urged social distancing that's what they did. you know, it does seem to have worked. the un secretary general has called for an "all—out effort" to end rising racism linked to the coronavirus pandemic. antonio guterres said world leaders and social media companies must also address hate speech against health professionals, journalists and aid workers who are being targeted for doing theirjobs. we need every ounce of solidarity to tackle it together. yet the pandemic continues to unleash a tsunami of hate and xenophobia, scapegoating and scaremongering. antiforeigner sentiment has surged online and in the streets. anti—semitic conspiracy theories have spread and covid—19 related anti—muslim attacks have occurred.

migrants and refugees have been vilified as a source and then denied access to medical treatment. with all these persons among the most vulnerable, contemptible memes have emerged suggesting they are also the most expendable. journalists, whistle—blowers, health professionals, aid workers and human rights defenders are being targeted simply for doing theirjobs. we must act now to strengthen the immunity of our societies against the virus of hate. that is why i am appealing today for an all—out effort to end hate speech globally. i call on political leaders to show solidarity with all members of their societies, and build a dream for social cohesion. as covid—19 spreads more widely in russia's provinces, hospitals — often, old and ill—equipped — have become key infection hotspots, and the number of medics getting sick, and dying, is on the rise.

president putin has admitted there is a shortage of personal protective equipment, and ordered an increase in production. but even now, many russian doctors are scared to complain publicly — as our moscow correspondent, sarah rainsford, reports. translation: i love my work, i never thought something like this would happen to me. from across russia, medics have begun posting videos online calling for help. they say doctors and nurses fighting coronavirus are in danger. falling sick, even dying, because they are not getting the kit they need for protection. here in moscow, front line medics like this have access to all the resources and the best facilities that russia has to offer. but out in the regions, it's not always the same picture. 1500 kilometres south of here, in astrakhan, the main infectious diseases hospital had to be quarantined after staff there got sick from their patients.

we have been speaking to some of them — they are angry, but they didn't want to be identified because they are afraid for theirjobs. translation: of course we ask for protection, but the department had nothing. at the start, they said our masks were forfor 24 hours, even though they are meant to be for 8. then they said one mask had to last two days. three people at that hospital told us of the same story. even though russia has had more time to prepare for this pandemic than many. translation: what is shown on state television is nonsense. in reality, there are no proper mask. they are saying there is everything, that we are fully equipped, but it is not true. one mp spent his entire salary buying medical mask for doctors to plug the deficit.

even president putin has admitted that russia has a problem, and he has ordered it solved. in astrakhan, the authorities have begun releasing reassuring videos, like this one, insisting that the crisis when the epidemic first hit has now passed. but the medics we have been speaking to say the problems in the regions go much deeper. translation: we don't even have ct scanners in our hospitals, that's already a big problem. when the buildings are old, separating red and green zones is really hard. health care reforms have cut the number of beds and doctors so much that when a problem hits, like this virus, the region is not prepared. i did try calling the chief doctor at that astrakhan hospital, who was sacked along with the local health minister. he told me, "no comment."

the chorus of criticism has been intensifying as hospitals across this vast country become infection hotspots and medics become patients themselves. sarah rainsford, bbc news, moscow. let's look more closely at germany now, where the country is gradually reopening after a period of lockdown. chancellor angela merkel is allowing all shops to reopen, and even the nation's soccer league is getting back on the pitch. the country has had far fewer deaths from coronavirus than the uk, france or itay despite having a larger population. mark urban reports from berlin. the argument about masks here is over. since late last month, people

had been directed to wear them on public transport. navigating our way around germany's capital city in recent days, we can't help noticing thatis recent days, we can't help noticing that is just one aspect of a severely distinctive approach. last week, the emphasis of german government policy has shifted from securing public transport to the opening much of what has been shut since mid—march. morning, how are you? but those making the decisions are all too aware that if they head off on the wrong track and that is a fresh wave of infections, consequences could be disastrous. this is not only a deeply humanitarian argument, it is, when i speak in my capacity as minister of the economy, it is also an economic argument. then you have to switch from liberalising to a shutdown

again, that's two or three times, thenit again, that's two or three times, then it would have disastrous consequences for the economy. yesterday we turned up at 10am as thousands of shops reopened. it was meant to be just smaller businesses, but this department store did not wa nt to but this department store did not want to miss out and mounted a successful legal challenge. masks are obligatory here too, but eve ryo ne are obligatory here too, but everyone came prepared. the customer seems to have accepted that in the coronavirus wallet, retail therapy has become riskier. a the city, at the max planck institute for interdiction and biology, experts are hoping to adapt existing to locus vaccines to help treat covid—19. what the site is here know is that germany can't move faster in electing its restrictions because it has been better at getting on top of

the virus from the start due to large testing capability and a certain amount of lock. but our late now pushing their lot? much of the economy, 75% of the government says, never lock down. now that so many shops are reopening, generally‘s a fearsome testing capability is being applied to warn of any increasing infections as a result. south—west of the capital, in potsdam, they are preparing for the next phase of this. the visitors have safe places here in the exhibition where the sports art. one third of visitors at a time and subject to social distancing. germany then relies on data, masks and facing. filming in recent days, we have been asked many

times to fill out forms designed to help contact tracing if someone develops the buyers. —— the virus. and art is on its way also, but these methods have helped the country since the start. —— an app is on its way. congregants also have to give tracing details as they arrived. the pews had been marked for distancing, and hymns are not sung because doing so it might spread wider particles further. but those seeking solace in communal prayer can do so again. of course, communion is a tricky point. so what you do is, i disinfect my fingers before every holy communion. of course, it is at the risk of the one

who comes forward, but i think they are fully aware and they are very disciplined. this society seems to have faith in its political and scientific leaders to guide and out of this, and to understand that this path contains a risk and they are happy to accept it. so far, at least, germans have had no reason to doubt the government's doctrine. people all over the uk are commemorating the 75th anniversary of ve day — the day when nazi germany surrendered to allied forces and the second world war in europe was declared over. the prince of wales led the country in a national two minutes' silence.

bagpipes.

now it's time for a look at the weather — with tomasz schafernacker. many of us marking ve day today outside and on the front doors, in the balconies, in the gardens, perhaps just a walk. the weather is mostly behaving itself but there are a few heavy showers looking around, also the possibility of a thunderstorm. so do not be surprised if it is sunny out and then the heavens open. it is a very warm afternoon, in fact, heavens open. it is a very warm afternoon, infact, in heavens open. it is a very warm afternoon, in fact, in london, heavens open. it is a very warm afternoon, infact, in london, up heavens open. it is a very warm afternoon, in fact, in london, up to 24 degrees, 21 in the midlands, even hitting 20 degrees in newcastle.

some showers may linger into the evening, perhaps the odd thunderstorm. after midnight, it doesn't dry out and the sky is clear. then our focus doesn't dry out and the sky is clear. then ourfocus is doesn't dry out and the sky is clear. then our focus is to the north of scotland, here we are starting to see a big change in our bettered pattern, a cold front is approaching bringing change to northern scotland on saturday. increasing winds coming from the north, very cold winds, rain and even mountain snow. glasgow is still at 18 degrees, to the south of glasgow, it still feels like summer. for some of us, sandy will not be a great day. cloud, perhaps some rain and pretty winds. saturday night into sunday, the cold front sweeps across the country, chile northerly winds, particularly a screamer down the north sea coast. rain early in

the north sea coast. rain early in the day. then there are really gusty cold winds. they will be at a temperature drop because of the air has come all the way from the polar regions. we are down into single figures in some areas, a huge drop in at newcastle and in london, you really will feel that chill on sunday. monday, cold winds are blowing off the north sea coast, norwich feel particularly chilly, temperatures only around 10 degrees on monday. on that chilly weather will continue for the first half of the week, from around wednesday, thursday, it does tend to want what and those winds will be easing as well. that's it for the first—half of the week, from around wednesday, thursday, it does tend

this is bbc news, with the latest headlines for viewers in the uk and around the world. the prince of wales has led the uk in remembrance, as locked—down communities fell silent for two minutes to mark the 75th anniversary of the end of the second world war in europe. victory in europe was announced on this day in 1945 by the uk's wartime prime minister, sir winston churchill. winston churchill: this is. . .your victory! in all our long history, we have never seen a greater day than this. the red arrows have flown over central london, and modern raf typhoon jets appeared overhead in edinburgh,

cardiff and belfast. in paris, president macron laid a wreath at the tomb of the unknown soldier. in germany, chancellor angela merkel laid a wreath at the new guardhouse memorial in berlin. as events take place at home and online to pay tribute, veterans speak of the importance of honouring those who did not come home. i have got some very good memories of them, i have got some very sad memories. but i wouldn't have missed it. if i had to do it again, knowing what i know now, i would still do it again.

welcome to viewers in the uk and around the world as the 75th anniversary of ve day is marked. people all over the uk are commemorating the 75th anniversary of ve day — the day when nazi germany surrendered to allied forces and the second world war in europe was declared over. the prince of wales led the country in a national two minutes' silence — and, although public gatherings have been cancelled because of the coronavirus lockdown, people have still found ways to mark this important moment. bagpipes play cannon fires

bagpipes play

the anniversary of ve day has been commemorated in france and germany too. in paris, the french president emanuel macron attended a ceremony at the arc de triomphe this morning. he placed a wreath at the tomb of the unknown soldier. although the event was not open to the public, people have been encouraged to decorate their balconies in the national colours. while in berlin, the german chancellor angela merkel has placed a wreath at the city's main war memorial. let's have another look at those pictures of the red arrows performing their fly—past in london. the royal airforce aerobatic team flies hawkjets, they've been flying since 1965. this morning, they painted the skies red, white and blue to mark the ve celebrations — as they flew past buckingham palace and the london eye.

also as part of the celebrations, raf typhoon jets have flown over cardiff, edinburgh and belfast. typhoons roar our correspondent phil mackie is in kenilworth, in warwickhire, with local residents who are going to be holding a street party this afternoon. a lot of the events which would have

taken place have been cancelled but people have perhaps fewer alternatives, you can't go to the pictures, go swimming, do lots of other things, so, more people might come out on to their front lawn which is what we are expecting here this afternoon at 3pm. a few minutes ago, we observed the two minutes' silence, a poignant moment, people coming out of their houses, stood, heads bowed, then, a round of applause. it will be a little bit like that later on as people come out to toast ve day at 3pm. the bunting is up here particularly is this is the home of rusty who, at 97, is one of three members of your eight—man crew flying lancaster bombers, still alive. you live on your own, and are celebrating today. what does ve day mean to you? personally, it is a day of remembrance.

remembering the fact that we survived, the war was finished, people were not going to get killed any more. and thinking about all the friends you knew, the friends you had made, all the people with us now, and all these wonderful neighbours. and sadly, all those who are not here any more. you flew with 101 squadron, battle of berlin right up to ve day at a time when barely half the crews who went out came back. in the battle of berlin in '44, our casualty rate went up 60%. you did not expect to survive. you just existed. one of the things we used to do, if you had lost a comrade, you would go down to the mess

and drink his health, here is to so—and—so, here is to the next one to die, you did not expect to live. what are your memories of ve day, how did you celebrate? i don't remember an awful lot. i was a screen pilot then. i was waiting to go back on operations. i was instructing a nottinghamshire garrison. all we heard was the station commander giving the announcement that the war was over. a great relief because we knew we were not going to go to fly operationally again. we kept the mess open, the bar, permanently, so all the boys and girls, we drank the mess dry, then, we went to find a pub, we walked across the fields to the normanton arms on the main north road and drank that one dry! i can't remember any more than that.

it was a wonderful experience. how do you feel today, 75 years later, your family around you, great grandchildren. a lot of your comrades never had that, their futures were snuffed out. nowadays, all these people, these wonderful friends and family, all these neighbours up and down the street, they are all such a help to people like myself. it is nice that i can remember, i can never remember all their names, but they are alljust nice people. the family, especially, we had four children, seven great—grandchildren. they are all such lovely people, they all keep in touch with me and send me letters and draw me pictures. it is so nice.

it is a day of remembering all these nice things. the children's author michael morpurgo has written 130 books, many of them set during wartime. his works include private peaceful and war horse which was turned into a film and theatre production. hejoins me now from devon in south—west england. thank you forjoining us. to reflect on ve day. a lot has been talked about how the lockdown during this pandemic has meant isolation and immense loss for a lot of people. how relevant, how fair is it to draw comparisons with wartime, when people were under restrictions for much longer? indeed, they were, six years more. we have been in it for three months. but the threat they were living

under which was bombing and invasion was heavy, they lived through it, they lived through the grieving people they lost. that is going on now. we don't know when this is going to end. they didn't know when it would end. the soldiers and the people who died now through this pandemic have died very often alone, away from their families which is something that characterises both of these dreadful universal events. i suppose we must remember it was a world war. this was fought all over the world, and this pandemic is all over the world. and so, there are valid comparisons. for the first time in my life, someone is staying to me, don't go out, do this, do that. the last time that happened we

we re that. the last time that happened we were used to being told what to do in wartime. i rememberthat were used to being told what to do in wartime. i remember that i'm afterwards when it was a grim and grey country with depressed people who had been through six years of trauma, lots of domestic strife, social strife, people getting themselves together. here is the thing that is really important. that generation was determined at some point, as that war was coming to the end, that they would make a world that was better after this immense shock. what did they do? they decided, the first thing was, we will get our children educated, with the 1944 education act where every kid could go to a decent school. and where is this national health service come from that we are so grateful for? from those service come from that we are so gratefulfor? from those people service come from that we are so grateful for? from those people who decided there has to be a national health service for everyone in the country regardless of whether they can pay for it. how forward thinking was that? that was in 1947. 1945,

the world decided we do not want any more war. a lot of these things were not perfect. but there was this terrific sense, we have been through this, we defeated fascism, we found our reason, we owe it to those people who died, and i believe, i wasn't one of the once fighting, but i believe that is what they were fighting for, their families, freedom and democracy. it is ourjob to look after that and follow their example. with this global pause if you like, with people not travelling, people having to spend time at home are possibly having far too much time to think and reflect, what sort of opportunity does this provide similarto opportunity does this provide similar to the one you just described? i think that opportunity, to stand and stare, is really important. we have been in such a rush, whether it

is needed or grade, we can debate that endlessly. busyness, travel. we can come down and think about the important things. we knew one of the important things. we knew one of the important things. we knew one of the important things was going wrong, the environment, the global overheating. it has helped us to understand that. what are we finding? the birds are coming close to us, the air is cleaner, that this quy to us, the air is cleaner, that this guy is cleaner. we know this is good for the planet and what is good for the planet is good for us. we have many lessons to learn gotch that the sky is cleaner. —— the sky is cleaner. to see people coming out and clapping. i took the national health service like so many for granted. all these things we have now come that last generation did

what they did, we take them for granted. suddenly we don't any more. hang on, these people are risking their lives for us in exactly the same as they did, they fought at the front line to save us. and now, these people in the nhs, in our care homes, are doing this, and they are under threat, their courage is phenomenal. it is not bullets flying but other things flying, and it is deadly. we are trying to commemorate dda safely. —— ve day. it can be difficult to teach children what happened so long ago. your book war horse, it was filmed and put on stage, you found a way of describing the horrors through a personal story. how important are those personal stories in the teaching of

history? it is critical, you won't get through to a generation by describing what happened, you have to transport them to then. i can tell you something briefly, just a little story which leads you into a bigger story. my wife, when she was seven, she went on a cycling holiday to france, the first time she had been abroad. nobody was blasted to bits by the war. she and her father stopped for a coffee in a village and they saw a statue, a war memorial of the first world war in france, the symbol of victory, the lady of victory. then she noticed something horrible, the mouth of this statue had been blown away, a great big hole. remember, this was a seven—year—old girl, she never

forgot this. years later, she said, we have to find this. we found the village, we drove there. we stood at the statue, she had remembered it absolutely right, except that, in the hole where the face had been, there was a bird's nest, and while we we re there was a bird's nest, and while we were there, a blackbird came down to feed its young in this gaping hole in the statue which she had seen when she was seven. now, a story like that, she did not forget the image of it. and that bird, renewing life, is really important. when you write about these things, whether it is war horse, i have written about german people, japanese people, all involved in this war. when you look children in

the eye when you tell the story, and you don't pretend it, this happened to people. and when they put the book down, they don't thinkjust that it was interesting but it was pa rt that it was interesting but it was part of your history. the mozart question is a book about the holocaust. you can tell children stories about this, you don't have to be horrific about it. this is about a small boy growing up in venice, a street musician, following his story, bringing this child and understanding of what happened in the holocaust to the people who were forced to play music in auschwitz, in the camps. then, they note that 6 millionjews in the camps. then, they note that 6 million jews and others

in the camps. then, they note that 6 millionjews and others died in that. that gives them some sense of really what that war was about. to try to stop evil. and it did. i am not saying it entirely succeeded, but it did. that is what all those graves are fought in normandy and other places. great to talk to you, thank you for sparing time on ve day. michael morpurgo. while street parties and commemorative events marking ve day have been cancelled, many people have still looked for ways to celebrate the occasion and honour the second world war generation. bbc local radio's great british bunting campaign has been encouraging people to get crafting as a way of marking the day. let's talk to tracey richardson in osbournby in lincolnshire where the village has worked together to brighten up the streets. notjust not just banting but notjust banting but a union flag blouse and very striking it is. how is the village looking today? the village is looking beautiful,

eve ryo ne the village is looking beautiful, everyone has put extra effort in, there is banting everywhere. not all quite full ve day, some celebrating a happy birthday. the village looks magnificent. tell us what you have been doing more widely during the lockdown? you are quitea more widely during the lockdown? you are quite a crafty lot. we have quite a productive village. the facebook group has really been so valuable during this time. i hadn't been taking an awful lot of notice. i was missing seeing people generally around so i looked on facebook and it was amazing what they were getting up to. i slipped inafew they were getting up to. i slipped in a few suggestions. the first was building model aeroplanes, we gave some away. they got involved,

colouring them, making fantastic pictures. we were going to do a field party, so, we designed flags. then, we had a wonderful bake off, we we re then, we had a wonderful bake off, we were generously given flower by stephen hallam, so, we had a baking sunday. marvellous creations from savoury loaves, sweet lobes, hedgehogs, dogs, all sorts of wonderful creations. the whole familyjoined in, wonderful creations. the whole family joined in, not just wonderful creations. the whole familyjoined in, notjust mums, fathers, children, a great day. then, we did a where is when done. when the is a dolly. —— wenda. we

hid the dolly, then put a message on facebook to find her. today, angela bailey sent clues, that she had been kidnapped. there was a ransom note left under the door! it has carried on through the day. great fun. you have been a busy village and i can only imagine what you will get up can only imagine what you will get up to when you get together as we instinctively need to do. have a wonderful ve day, thank you very much. thank you very much, goodbye. the official surrender of german forces in europe happened on 7h may 1945, but in the uk and many other countries, ve day took place on the 8th, and russia is one of a group of nations that celebrated a day later on the 9th. so, why did ve day end up on the day it did? i'm joined now by christopher day, head of modern domestic records at the national archives. a bit of tussling going on. indeed. so, basically, it is a

co nflu e nce indeed. so, basically, it is a confluence of a globalised news media environment and national diplomacy. surrender comes in on seventh may at 2:41am received by the allied command. there was always an intention for the us, uk and ussr who announced victory in europe simultaneously and they decided to do it on the 8th of may at 9am washington time, 3pm london time, for pm moscow time. churchill telegraphed stalin think this is the same time for all of us because the world is round. —— is saying. on the 10th of may, the german high command broadcasted surrender and the news lea ked broadcasted surrender and the news leaked —— on the 7th of may. winston churchill tried to get through to stalin to agree to go early on the

7th of may. because he doesn't want it to seem that the government don't know what is happening. there is a political element, they were keen not to upset stalin. they were about to decide the spheres of influence in post—war europe after this victory. truman won't make a move to celebrate earlier, an it earlier without stalin giving the go—ahead but stalin was unhappy with the surrender saying it doesn't cover the eastern front sufficiently and there was fighting still going on. so, churchill tells his cabinet at the last minute before 6pm when he received the telegram from the chairman saying he won't do it. it is almost announced but it isn't.

something as positive as the end of war took so much diplomacy, give us a flavour of the archives people can access to tell them more? i have been doing this research since these current conditions began. at the national archives, i have been using a collection of personal telegrams from churchill to various people, truman, stalin, eisenhower, foreign ministers, add the digitised notebooks of cabinet meetings, taken the digitised notebooks of cabinet meetings, ta ken by the digitised notebooks of cabinet meetings, taken by the cabinet secretary during the meetings. you get a sense of the personalities. a direct quote from churchill where he tells the cabinet the reason why he called the announcement on the 7th of may was he decided to cancel to

save stalin from uncle joe. thank you forjoining us on ve day. in london, st paul's cathedral became a symbol of hope after surviving the blitz. and on ve day, it became a focal point of remembrance, as members of the public attended ten services of peace held throughout the day. plans to mark ve day this year have changed drastically, but st paul's is still marking the anniversary. with me is the very reverend dr david ison who is the dean of st paul's cathedral. also, tom daggett from the choir of the nation project at st paul's. give us a flavour of what was happening in and around saint pauls on ve day 1945? they had got the choristers back from school in truro to sing

something but they did not know what would happen, they had only planned one service at 8pm. 35,000 people in the day turned up at saint pauls which is why they had to do ten services back to back. the choristers went out on to the gallery, because, they could not go to sleep, it was so noisy, to look over london and see the millie innes out on the streets on ve day evening. that need to come together to commemorate is something people are feeling today —— to see the millions. how are you marking today given the measures in place? we can't do all the things we planned, bell ringing, no special services. but we have put together a services. but we have put together a service people can use at home and we have some music we will be hearing about in a moment, and a message from me on what ve day

means. i suppose your services are somewhat restricted, are you doing online services? online services for special occasions like ve day. we are not doing them day by day. but we are managing to do large ones which is what saint pauls does well. you are very well placed for doing that. tell us what the choir is about, what are you encouraging people to do? to sing along to two great hymns. we have had people around the world, from japan, germany, across the have had people around the world, fromjapan, germany, across the uk, the usa, who have sent in recordings of themselves singing these two hymns. one appeared in our original service in 1945 for the nation.

people can find out on the website and youtube. music is the sound of hope. to raise our voices together todayis hope. to raise our voices together today is one way we can honour the great courage, resilience and sacrifice of so many who have gone before us. and it makes us feel good to sing, of course. what inspired this project?l to sing, of course. what inspired this project? a a few weeks ago when we were approaching lough dan, i thought, what is going to happen to children sitting at school? —— to happen to children sitting at school? — — lockdown. to happen to children sitting at school? —— lockdown. we had schools across the country recording children singing their favourite hymns, sending musical gifts to people who were ill or anxious. so how could we get people at home to join in? that is where the project came in.

so we wanted to get people to join in with us. we are doing another four ascension day with tracks to sing along which will be on the cathedral website shortly. people will find it immensely comforting, i am sure. many of us marking a ve day today outside the front doors and on the balconies. the weather is mostly behaving itself. i say mostly because there are a few heavy showers looking around. so do not be surprised if it is sunny out and then the heavens open. it is a very warm afternoon, in fact, in london, up to

24 degrees, 21 in the midlands, even hitting 20 degrees in newcastle. some showers may linger into the evening, perhaps the odd thunderstorm. this after midnight, it does dry out and the skies clear. starting to see a big change in our weather pattern, a cold front is approaching bringing change to northern scotland on saturday. increasing winds coming from the north, very cold winds, rain and even mountain snow. glasgow is still at 18 degrees, to the south of glasgow, it still feels like summer. for some of us, sunday will not be a great day. cloud, perhaps some rain and pretty winds. rain and pretty cold winds. saturday night into sunday, the cold front sweeps across the country, chilly northerly winds,

particularly a screamer down the north sea coast. rain early in the day. then there are really gusty cold winds. they will be a big temperature drop because the air has come all the way from the polar regions. we are down into single figures in some areas, a huge drop in newcastle and in london, you really will feel that chill on sunday and monday. monday, cold winds are blowing off the north sea coast, norwich feel particularly chilly, temperatures only around 10 degrees on monday. that chilly weather will continue for the first half of the week, from around wednesday, thursday, to warm up and those winds will be easing as well. let's cross live to cardiff now — where wales' first minister, mark drakeford, is holding his daily briefing.

speaks welsh. video might, obviously, i cannot do live translation from welsh. today we mark the 75th anniversary of ve day. we are doing so on that very different circumstances than the ones we had originally planned when we started organising events for this day. but however and whenever we are, i hope everyone has an opportunity to reflect on the events of 75 years ago today. and the

enormous sacrifice paid by a generation and the society that they went on to help to build. in our own times, we have carried out the three—week review of the stay at home regulations which have been in place in wales since the end of march. these restrictions are unprecedented in our time, but they have helped us to reduce and slow the spread of coronavirus. they have helped us all to save lives. we know that if we had not taken at least steps, many more people would have been admitted to hospital and many more people would have died. the evidence shows that the harm from coronavirus is stabilising. thanks in very large part to the actions of eve ryo ne in very large part to the actions of everyone in all parts of wales. but the expert advice we have received from the chief medical officer is

that it from the chief medical officer is thatitis from the chief medical officer is that it is too soon to lift these restrictions, that if we did, we would see a return of the virus. we knew something cold the r rate to measure how the virus is spreading in wales. the bottom line of the chart shows where we are in wales today, with a level around 0.8. if we sustain that level, you will see that we were on a path to successfully dealing with the virus. but the margins are so small, if we simply moved to a small number of percentage fractions above where we are today, if we went from zero point eight to1.1, are today, if we went from zero point eight to 1.1, you would see hospital admissions and take off. the difference between 0.8 and 1.1

is showing on the slide, in terms of actual people. coronavirus continues to be present in wales, even with everything we have done to bring the rate down to 0.8 in the community, we anticipate that 800 people more willjoin up very sad and sombre list of people who have lost their lives to coronavirus over the next few months. but if we were to take actions that allow dividers to spiral back to where it was weeks ago, if it crept back up simply to 1.1, then we would not see 800 deaths in wales, we would see 7200. it is because of that picture that here in wales, your government has decided that li stay at home regulations must remain in place until the next review date in three

weeks' time. we must not lose the progress we have made. all of us must continue to work from home whenever we can. all of us must travel only when absolutely necessary. all of us must continue to observe the two metres social distancing and to wash our hands and ta ke distancing and to wash our hands and take those basic hygiene precautions. these are the measures that will continue to protect us all from coronavirus, and go on saving lives. but as the result of the three—week review, we believe that there are some small and modest adjustments which we could make to the regulations. our intention is to make these adjustments on monday so that we move instead of the other nations of the united kingdom as

pa rt nations of the united kingdom as part of our work determined preference for a four nation approach. in these very small and modest adjustments are things that we know that we can do safely without having an impact on that r rate that you have just seen. there are three of these modest adjustments. the first will be to the once a day exercise rule to stop more we learn about coronal violence, the evidence shows us that the risk of infection is reduced outdoors. —— coronavirus. we will adjust our regulations to allow people to go outside to exercise more than once a day, but we will strengthen our regulations to make it clear that exercise must be local. it should begin and end at home and should not involve any

significant travel away from home. our second planned change to regulations will be to allow garden centres to reopen, provided that the two metres social distancing rules can be applied. thirdly, we propose changing the regulations to allow local authorities to begin planning how safely to the open libraries and municipal recycling centres. these are very municipal recycling centres. these are very cautious changes will apply to everyone, other than the 120,000 people in the shielding group, and it's really important that people in at that group continue to follow the shielding advice we have received from the chief medical officer. we continue to urge people who are over 70 or who have an underlying health condition, who are pregnant, to continue to take extra care to protect themselves. as we are

required to do by the law, we'll keep these restrictions under co nsta nt keep these restrictions under constant review. we will continue to work with people here in wales and our public services as we consider when and how they might be adjusted further, while keeping ourfocus firmly on keeping our people safe. hgppy firmly on keeping our people safe. happy now to take some questions. the first question comes from felicity evans of bbc wales. you thought about the importance of moving in lockstep with the four nations. borisjohnson will moving in lockstep with the four nations. boris johnson will make the announcement for any changes in england from sunday. to what extent do expect his adjustments to be any different from yours, and is making this announcement early and attempt to put some strain on him in terms of what he is going to announce?m

is certainly not an attempt to place any restraint on anybody else. the legal responsible of you to make these decisions has been devolved to scotland, wales, northern ireland and england. ispoke scotland, wales, northern ireland and england. i spoke to the prime minister yesterday, you will have seen what his spokesperson said as a result of that discussion, where the prime minister emphasised his wish to move in at the most careful and cautious way. while it will be for the prime minister to decide the steps that will be taken in england in adjusting regulations, i don't believe you will see anywhere in the uk anything other than the most modest of immediate changes, broadly of the sort that i have proposed making in wales. speaks welsh.

studio: to the catwalk mark right foot has been talking about, he has been talking about how they might be some small changes to the restrictions that have been in place for some weeks now. —— mark drake for some weeks now. —— mark drake for it. he said there will be some adjustments regarding regulations with exercise, people will be able to exercise more than once a day, but he will leave the size and if to be it will begin and end at home, he said, and not include any particular travel. he also said at garden centres will be allowed to reopen a buy on the basis that they can maintain the two metres social distancing measures. another question coming. how modest these changes are and how important it is, how many lives are at stake that the

r rate is not allowed to increase in wales. given that, what is the point in making tiny changes that may well affect the messaging that you are able to put out there about what people are and aren't allowed to do. the law requires us to keep the regulations under review. it requires us to see all those actions to the public health lens. the review period as they are to make adjustments. i think saying to people in wales that they can exercise outside your home more than once a day is an important message, while saying to them, but in anything they do they need to stay safe and they need to stay local. modest adjustments they may be, but they make a difference in people's lives. all four governments of the uk have made these modest adjustments in their own context, thatis adjustments in their own context, that is what the review period as there to do. it has not produced any

major change here in wales for the reasons that you have seen. but the adjustments, modest art they are, do make a difference to people and i am glad that we have done a careful and detailed work that we need to do to lead to the proposals i have outlined this morning. going to adrian of itv wales. it is clear that you're taking on this cautious approach to avoid any possible increase in the transmission rate, but you must also consider potential harms that could be caused by the lockdown itself, mental health and the economy. when will the people of wales see your road map, if i can use that term, out of lockdown? you are right, the chief medical of officer of wales has always emphasised that there are four different sorts of harems that come from coronavirus. they are the

direct harms, which we are focused on avoiding, because they have such a very direct effect on peoples lives but there are other forms of harm as well. part of our what is meant to say to people in wales that they will be able to go out from their homes to exercise more than once a day was rooted in some other mental health advice we have about how spending time in the open air is good for people sense of well—being. beyond these very modest changes, there will be a need to spell out a road map ahead to give people a sense of how, carefully and cautiously, we can go on restoring some of the freedoms and services that people will have had before. i will be discussing that road map with other chief ministers in the united kingdom over this weekend. we will be listening carefully to what the prime minister has to say when

he makes some announcements on a sunday evening. we will be part of that conversation, it will culminate on sunday, and then we will set out how that will be put to work here in wales. i know that you will have thought long and hard about any changes and any potential mixed messages that they could send. the scottish first minister said that anything other than stay home as a message or risk sending a confused message or risk sending a confused message to people and could be catastrophic. are you risking sending those dangerous mixed messages to people? not worth the very modest changes that we have announced, not with what i have said this afternoon about our determination to always put public

health is the first consideration in any changes we make. for most people in wales, staying at home remains at the right thing to do—it gives you the right thing to do—it gives you the right thing to do—it gives you the right amount of protection and other people as well. here in wales, we also say to you that if you are leaving the home, whether to go shopping or to take exercise, stay safe and stay local. in that way, you will continue to do everything you will continue to do everything you have done already, and play your pa rt you have done already, and play your part in making sure that the impact of coronavirus here in wales is kept at the lowest possible level, continues to protect our nhs, continues to protect our nhs, continues to protect our nhs, continues to save lives. i'm going to some of sky. the measure is like you have outlined today would seem to keep wales in lockstep with what borisjohnson is likely to keep wales in lockstep with what boris johnson is likely to announce on sunday, and the uk will continue

to move as one, but that could come to move as one, but that could come to an end fairly rapidly. yesterday, your comment put out a press release saying that there will be no change ona saying that there will be no change on a schooling on during the first, but there are hints and indications that england might go differently. some are primary school years might reopen at that point. how comfortable are you with they are essentially being a school closure border along the welsh border? are you happy with a situation where schools on one side of the welsh border are closed, and the other are open? what would you say to welsh children in english schools? should they go to school if open in england in earlyjune or they go to school if open in england in early june or would they go to school if open in england in earlyjune or would you advise children and teachers who have to travel over the border to follow the welsh advice and a stay at home?|j am welsh advice and a stay at home?” am very comfortable that while we will maintaina am very comfortable that while we

will maintain a four nation approach, i hope, in some things they will be timing differences. already, skills and scotland have a com pletely already, skills and scotland have a completely different timetable for holidays compared to england, there isa holidays compared to england, there is a border there too. schools in northern ireland have their own pattern of school holidays. so there are already differences in this way because education is devolved across the uk. we do not know what the uk government will be saying about schools in england so i will not speculate on that. i said a week ago at that needed three weeks on the point you made a decision for a skill reopening. we are at that point if we made at the suggestion for schools to be open injune, we are not making that decision today, for all the reasons i have already set out for all the reasons i have already set out. that is why our education not be reopening in that major way in june. education not be reopening in that major way injune. schools are still open for children of key workers,

children from vulnerable families. we have had more children attending school since the easter holidays at that patent may continue. we will ta ke that patent may continue. we will take the decision when we think the circumstances are right and save to begin to open up schools in wales using the devolved possibilities that we have. the uk does seem to have tried to move as one on the biggest question is generally coronavirus pandemic. how have you found working with the westminster government, how open and collaborative and transparent have they been in dealing with you and your administration?” they been in dealing with you and your administration? i think my summary will be that it has been a bit of a fix and start experience. that's when we have discussions with uk ministers, we have had discussions on wednesday, thursday and friday of this week, when we have those discussions they work we'll shot it well. they are open and engaged. i have tried to argue

for a more reliable parting of the engagement, we tend to get it then it doesn't happen for a while, then it doesn't happen for a while, then it resumes again. when we have it, it's good. it will be better from my point of view if it had a regular and reliable pattern so that we could maximise the desire of all form governments across the uk to work closely together. the more we talk, the more we understand each other and are able to deliver on that ambition. and i go to steve morris of the guardian. one second, sorry. can you hear me? we were hearing from scotland today about how difficult policing might be if there are differences in sections

from scotland and england. do you share those concerns of england is out of step with wales in any way? policing has been an issue throughout the coronavirus crisis, particularly in the north and west of wales, which is why we work very closely with our form chief co nsta bles. closely with our form chief constables. we have a weekly report from them every monday, particularly over bank holiday weekends. we ask them every week, do they have no powers they need, are they confidently can't police the negligence we have in wales? well you have a border where populations are very you have a border where populations are very close to the border, then there are inevitably... that is not just ina there are inevitably... that is not just in a coronavirus, it has on other things too, there are always things that have to be navigated and negotiated. the information i have from our chief constables and police and crime commissioners is that we aren't managing this, we are

managing it successfully, and we keep watching this all the time. —— we are managing this. we are always trying to strengthen the ability of our police services in wales to do the very important job our police services in wales to do the very importantjob that they do on behalf of the welsh population. are you worried that bank holiday weekend might cause problems, people going to the cost, it's going to be a good weekend again and i think?” wa nt to a good weekend again and i think?” want to make it very clear to anybody in wales and anybody thinking of travelling to wales, wales remains in lockdown. nothing has changed in the rules in wales over this weekend. a journey to the beach or to the mountains is not essential travel. the police are ready and will stop people, and people will be sent home. it is not the right thing to do, it risks all the right thing to do, it risks all the achievements we have made together. don't do it. you mention

that the current rate for r is about 0.8. are there differing values for randa 0.8. are there differing values for r and a close a setting like at home is, what would have two reach to come a further loosening or tightening of restrictions? the r rate is measured in three different locations— hospitals, where it has load at lower, in at the committee and in the care homes. the evidence in the care homes is less of a volume of its it was harder to be precise but we think it is above where it is in the community. we will watch the level in the community like a hawk, so that if there is any sign that it is heading again to the1.1 there is any sign that it is heading again to the 1.1 at levels that i showed in the slide this morning, then we will reimpose some of the

restrictions that we already see. so it is not a matter, of putting those things into practice and saying there is nothing to do about them. they have unintended consequences and do not operate in the way we expect, we will be able intervene again. could you clarify what the r rate is in the care homes, that would be good. you previously announced care workers would receive £500 from the welsh government. this has led to some confusion on who it applies to. can you clarify if this money will be going to be poor cleaners and cooks in a care homes? does it apply to part—time workers, we re does it apply to part—time workers, were the get percentage based on hours? and how will people on zero—hours contract hours? and how will people on zero— hours contract how hours? and how will people on zero—hours contract how that worked out? on the right in care homes, i cannot give you a precise figure but

we believe it is above the community level, community is around 0.8, higher in care homes and hospitals. the £500 provides to anybody providing direct personal care. you have to have a definition — that is the definition we have use. studio: mark drakeford there, wales first minister, with his daily briefing, talking about how restrictions will be lifted on monday. people will be able to exercise more than once a day but the emphasis will be doing so locally. more on that in are what ahead on bbc news. time for the weather forecast with tomasz schafernaker. many of us marking ve day today outside and on the front doors, in the balconies, in the gardens, perhaps just a walk. the weather is mostly behaving itself but there are a few heavy showers lurking around, also the possibility of a thunderstorm. so do not be surprised if it is

sunny out and then the heavens open. it is a very warm afternoon, in fact, in london, up to 24 degrees, 21 in the midlands, even hitting 20 degrees in newcastle. some showers may linger into the evening, perhaps the odd thunderstorm. after midnight, it does dry out and the skies clear. then our focus is to the north of scotland, here we are starting to see a big change in our weather pattern, a cold front is approaching bringing huge change to northern scotland on saturday. increasing winds coming from the north, very cold winds, rain and even mountain snow. stornaway 10 degrees, glasgow is still at 18 degrees, to the south of glasgow, it still feels like summer. for some of us, sunday will not be a great day. cloud, perhaps some rain

and pretty cold winds. saturday night into sunday, a cold front sweeps across the country, chilly northerly winds, particularly a screamer down the north sea coast. rain early in the day, then there are really gusty cold winds. they will be a big temperature drop because the air has come all the way from the polar regions. we are down into single figures in some areas, a huge drop in newcastle and london, you really will feel that chill on sunday and monday. monday, cold winds are blowing off the north sea coast, norwich and hull feeling particularly chilly, temperatures only around 10 degrees on monday. that chilly weather will continue for the first half of the week, from around wednesday, thursday, it does tend to warm up and those winds will be easing as well. that's it from me, enjoy your day.

winston churchill: this is...your victory! victory of the cause of freedom. 75 years on, the country remembers ve day — the end of world war two in europe. the prince of wales and the duchess of cornwall lead the commemorations, laying wreathes at balmoral. a two minute silence is observed around the country, to honour the men and women who gave their lives during six years of war. large gatherings like those of 1945 have been cancelled because of the coronavirus lockdown — but the day is being marked in other ways. # we're going to hang out the washing on the siegfried line...#