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tv   BBC News  BBC News  May 31, 2020 12:00pm-12:31pm BST

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this is bbc news with the latest headlines for viewers in the uk and around the world. us protests spread from minneapolis to at least 30 different cities — following the death of george floyd, a black man, in police custody. president trump blames looters, and left wing radicals for the unrest. after ten weeks at home, more than two million people in england and wales who've been shielding during lockdown, are told they can go outdoors. the uk government has defended its decision to ease lockdown measures in england. because we have made that progress, steadily, slowly, surely, week in,
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week out, we can carefully take the steps that we are taking tomorrow. religious services resume. the pope has returned to st peter's basilica to celebrate mass. as schools in england prepare to reopen to some pupils tomorrow — governors say all children shouldn't have to return before summer holidays. and coming up on the programme. a new era for space travel as the first ever commercial rocket carrying humans into space is successfully launched. hello and welcome if you're watching in the uk or around the world — and stay with us for the latest news and analysis
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from here and across the globe. huge demonstrations have taken place in at least 30 cities across the united states. it follows monday's killing of george floyd, an african—american man from minneapolis, who died after a police officer knelt on his neck during an arrest. since wednesday — protests have erupted from coast to coast across the united states. with a number of governors calling out the national guard — an extremely rare move — in the hope of restoring order. the protests started largely peacefully but violence flared and curfews are now in place in at least 13 cities. they have been defied in mary areas. —— in many areas. president trump has blamed far—left groups and anarchists for the violence. our north america correspondent david willis reports. this was the night america
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rose up in protest. angry, destructive protest, aimed at the police and their treatment of racial minorities. curfews were imposed in more than a dozen american cities, but they were ignored. many of those protests had started peacefully. "we can't breathe", the mantra of a movement that has taken george floyd's final words and turned them into a rallying cry. mr floyd was captured on video gasping for breath and pleading for his life. the police officer seen with his knee on mr floyd's neck is now facing murder and manslaughter charges but that's done little to abate the anger, and calls are growing for the three other officers involved in his arrest to also be brought to justice. in minneapolis the state governor
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had promised eight muscular no nonsense response after five days of rioting had left a burnt out buildings and ransacked stores. despite activating thousands more national guard officers and firing tear gas grenades in the demonstrations continued along with the violence. it was a similar story in the second largest city, los angeles, where some likened these scenes of unrest to the rodney king riots which raised parts of the city to the ground 30 years ago. like george floyd rodney king was a victim of police brutality caught on camera. police fired rubber bullets after protesters ignored a mere's desperate plea for calm. president trump said the us military was ready, willing and able to deploy if the unrest continued. as he hunkered down in the white house, protesters rallied for a second nightjust outside the gates.
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a potent cocktail of factors are at play here. the coronavirus pandemic has thrown a0 million americans out of work and trashed a once buoyant economy. people have been cooped up indoors for months as a result. some knowing it may be months if not years before they get theirjobs back. david willis, bbc news, los angeles. millions of medically vulnerable people in england and wales who have been shielding at home since the start of lockdown, will be allowed to spend time outdoors from tomorrow. the government had indicated shielding measures would remain in place until later injune, but changes to the guidance means that in england, they can go outside with someone they live with, or meet a person from another household if they live alone. and in wales, they're allowed to meet with multiple people outside. earlier i asked our political correspondent jonathan blake about the significance of the new guidance for shielders in england and wales.
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that is a big change and it cannot come soon enough for many people but there is a warning that alongside there is a warning that alongside the guidance for people being able to meet outside and schools opening up to meet outside and schools opening up and patch of the economy opening up up and patch of the economy opening up in the days and weeks ahead does amount to two much too soon and there is a debate about what the impact of these measures will be and to what extent we will know how far it will lead to an increase in the number of cases of coronavirus. the foreign secretary has been defending the government's strategy this morning, suggesting that if there is an uptick in cases in certain areas the government will re—restrictions in certain places to try to slow the spread of the virus. another key pa rt spread of the virus. another key part of ensuring that these relaxations of the rules do not lead to an increase in cases is that so—called test and trace programme which is designed to identify people
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who have coronavirus and those who they come into contact with and ask them to isolate. the foreign secretary was asked this morning, that since that scheme got up and running in england earlier on in the week, how many people had been contacted so far? we have got the tracers up and running, 25,000, and we have the ability to... that is ability, i am wondering how many people in england have been traced so far? i do not have the exact figure, it has only been running since thursday. they will be set out this week. what i can tell you is that for every new case we have the ability, sorry, for every new case we have the ability for a 10,000 of them to trace the contacts they have had. that system is up and running. that is one of the reasons we can have the confidence to take the further steps we are taking on monday. looking further ahead we heard during the week from the chancellor about the tapering off of the job
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retention scheme that has seen people furloughed from theirjobs but paid 80% of their wages with taxpayers money. as time goes on employers will be asked to contribute more towards that if they wa nt to contribute more towards that if they want to receive any funding in return from the government. there is concern that that scheme will be coming to an end before certain parts of the economy are able to open up, particularly that leisure and hospitality sector. that is one thing that labour are pushing the government to go further on and ensure that people who are in jobs they may not be able to go back to work into still receive support. and they also see the testing and tracing programme needs to improve if the relaxation of lockdown measures is to work properly. the shadow chancellor was pressing that point this morning. test, track and isolate is fundamental because unless that works we will not know where the disease is, we will not be able to shut it down in localised areas, and
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we could see the reimposition of lockdown. as you would expect, as shadow chancellor, i am very concerned about what would happen to our economy if that happens, as well as the health impacts. we have set out ways that government can fix those problems. they are not even necessarily things that need to take very long. for example they need to give local authorities the power to shut down businesses if there are problems with the disease circulating in them. what we are trying to do is to say to governments, in a sense party political debate over some of these issuesis political debate over some of these issues is not relevant now. what is releva nt issues is not relevant now. what is relevant is getting those problems fixed and doing it urgently because we have got to get a grasp on this disease. whether it is meeting up with a group of friends or family in the garden, as of tomorrow and england, going close to shopping in a couple of weeks, or seeing your children going back to school, we are going to see some of the biggest changes since the coronavirus crisis happens and the lockdown came in in the coming days and weeks. we can only
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know so much about the impact those changes will have so we will watch very closely. alongside the relief that people be able to do more than they have been over the last few weeks there is a good deal of nervousness about what that might mean as well. in addition to the guidance around shielding, there are several other modifications to the lockdown restrictions around the uk starting tomorrow — let's just take you through some of the key changes. in england, groups of up to six people can gather from monday 1 june. they can be from different households, but they have to meet outside — such as in parks or private gardens. as of monday in wales, any number of people from two different households will be able to meet each other outside. people in scotland from two separate households — up to a maximum of eight people — can meet outdoors, remaining five miles from home and in northern ireland, groups of up to six people can meet outdoors.
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in england — some schools and nurseries are due to reopen to some pupils in reception, year1 and year 6 tomorrow morning. schools in wales will not reopen on 1june and scottish schools will reopen in august, using a blended model, with some continued home—learning. some northern ireland pupils preparing for exams will go back in late august, with a phased return for the rest in september. in england outdoor markets and car showrooms will be able to open again from tomrrow as the government eases its restrictions on some retail sites classed as "non—essential". no dates have been set for the reopening of shops in scotland, wales and northern ireland, but each country has plans in place. in england elite sport including horse racing and snooker can restart tomorrow. it is up to individual sports to assess the risk. some grassroots sports can be played — as long as they adhere to social distancing rules.
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in scotland non—contact sports are permitted. in wales people can exercise with people from a second household, as long as they stay local, and are at least two metres apart and in northern ireland outdoor activities and sports that do not involve shared contact with hard surfaces are allowed. 0ur health correspondentjoins us now. this amounts to an easing of the lockdown. that is how it has been perceived. at the same time warnings from some key scientists who advise the government that this isa who advise the government that this is a dangerous moment and the government should not and must not go too far, too fast. it was always going to be a very difficult decision when and how to ease the lockdown. we have got a situation with a virus which still has many unknown properties, that is
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still circulating, thousands of new cases per day. all the way through this we have heard this message, follow the science. now the government is being advised by 50 or more top scientists, they have got lots of information at their fingertips. hundreds of thousands of papers published about this virus from different parts of the world so we are getting a handle quickly on its. but there are still many unknowns and it is certainly the case that scientists do the science, they present the evidence to the scientific community, to ministers. it is always going to be the case that it it is always going to be the case thatitis it is always going to be the case that it is up to politicians to make the decisions. as you say, this is regarded as a very dangerous moment. the deputy chief medical for england warning there is a lot at stake here. scientists don't always agree on the best way forward and some are warning that it is too soon to ease
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the lockdown. and dr peter 0penshaw from imperial college london is one of them, he says the government must proceed with care. i share with virtually all my scientific collea g u es virtually all my scientific colleagues at a concern that we need to proceed with caution. at the moment we have quite a large number of cases in the community. i think unlocking two fast carries a great degree of risk. we do need to proceed carefully. the question really is moving on from this, scientists are going to be keeping a close eye on what is happening with the virus. they will be monitoring this very closely. the fact that various things are being eased makes it difficult to know what might be
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factored in to any uptick in cases of the virus. of course we have the possibility of new lockdown is on a more individual level. cities or towns or even smaller regions or settings being locked down. it is a case of baby steps towards this new semblance of normality. scientists will be watching this every step of the way. thank you. our health correspondent. the labour mp, rosie duffield, has apologised for breaching lockdown restrictions and has resigned her position as party whip. the mp for canterbury met her partner, while they were living separately, for a socially—distanced walk last month — before people from different households were allowed to meet in england. the headlines on bbc news. us protests spread from minneapolis to at least 30 different cities —
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following the death of george floyd, a black man, in police custody. president trump blames looters, and left wing radicals for the unrest. after ten weeks at home, more than two million people in england and wales who've been shielding during lockdown, are told they can go outdoors. religious services resume. the pope has returned to st. peter's basilica to celebrate mass. india has announced plans to further ease a strict national lockdown even as the country reported a record daily rise of nearly 8,000 new coronavirus cases on saturday. from 8thjune, restaurants, hotels, shopping centres and places of worship will be allowed to re—open in many areas in the first stage of a three—phase plan. divya arya, our corresondent in delhi has the details. it isa it is a clear message to the people that this might still be called a
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lockdown, it is a month—long extension, but the purpose of the extension, but the purpose of the extension to unlock. this will strictly be enforced only in areas with a high number of coronavirus cases. 0ther with a high number of coronavirus cases. other areas, most with a high number of coronavirus cases. 0therareas, most of with a high number of coronavirus cases. other areas, most of the country, will see this phased opening. 0nly schools and colleges are not being open for another month. we have not heard anything about international air travel as well. 0ther about international air travel as well. other things, shops, shopping malls, even places of religious worship, are opening up. today is an update on saturday, the numbers are still the highest single day surge, 8300 today. we have seen that for the past week. numbers are consistently rising as india started easing restrictions. 0ver consistently rising as india started easing restrictions. over the past two weeks train travel has been allowed, so has domestic airflight. millions of people, stranded without
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pay in big cities, have been moved, as they wanted to go back to their hometown, they had no way to sustain themselves. the numbers are small but now as restrictions are being eased there is a possibility, and as we have seen over the last two weeks, that the numbers may search. these are small numbers in comparison to the population but the government has also been accused of very low levels of testing. india's testing, just over 100,000 people every day, one of the lowest levels of testing computer globally. —— can period globally. let's return to the news that more than two million people in england and wales who have been asked to stay home since the coronavirus lockdown began will be able to go outdoors again from tomorrow. i'm joined now by steven mcintosh, director of policy, campaigns and influencing at macmillan cancer support. thank you for being with us. for these 2 million people the last few
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weeks have been a pretty ghastly. prisoners in their own homes in a sense. how much of a relief it is this going to be? this is a step forward in recognising that as the rest of society has details about what the easing of lockdown means, those people who are most isolated and vulnerable to coronavirus have felt left behind and forgotten. also they have been receiving mixed and confusing messages around the next steps of lockdown for them. as well as these details today, what we need now the government is a clear plan communicated in advance so that people who still face heavy restrictions on their movement understand what that next steps mean for them and what extra support is going to be available. some people are seeing maybe this is even too soon to be letting shielded people go out. are you clear that this science is ok on this and that it is safe ? science is ok on this and that it is safe? we do not have access to the
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government's epidemiological or scientific evidence so we have to trust the government has done all the work to ensure that those people most vulnerable to coronavirus, like those who have gone through chemotherapy for cancer, are going to be safe with these new steps that have been set out in england and we are is, which allow them to go out for a limited time, for exercise or to meet another person from outside their household while socially distancing. that is why we need clear advice which is communicated in advance. because people have received letters months ago warning them they could be a risk to their health and to their lives. they have been following these guidelines strictly. there has been total lockdown in their houses. the need clear advice which sets out reassurance about their safety and steps they need to take. you are saying you want a road map for days ahead at which they can do other things, and from their point of view lockdown can be further eased? that is right. mcmillan has heard recently from some people who
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received letters in march seeing lockdown for 12 weeks, an identical letter one month later, now they harris heating different news today. we need the government to set out clarity. the need to write to eve ryo ne clarity. the need to write to everyone affected. as well as the details and the guidance they need to know what practical support is going to be available because there will still be advice not to go shopping, go to pharmacy, go to their workplaces. a lot of charities have written to the government in the last few days saying we need details about what practical support, help, physical health, mental help is available. just one last question. how difficult has it been for some of those who have been in this shielding lockdown, isolated for so long, so many weeks, psychologically, in terms of their mental health? how hard has that been? our macmillan nurses support
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people who have got incurable cancer, who feel they are stealing at the same four walls, feeling the days slip away, that has a massive impact on their mental health. also problems with food deliveries, practical aspects of their care. it is important governments do not now just give details of guidance but set out what support is going to be available so they know they can get through the next stages of lockdown. thank you. a fire covering around five kilometres of moorland is still raging in lancashire after breaking out yesterday. eight fire engines along with wildfire teams, the air support unit and specialist appliances resumed firefighting at first light. lancashire fire and rescue said it's thought that a barbecue caused the fire and have
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asked people to avoid the area. the third holiest site of islam, the al—aqsa mosque in jerusalem has re—opened after it was closed for two months because of the coronavirus. worshippers are now required to wear face masks and have to follow social distancing rules. the mosque, located in occupied eastjerusalem, closed its doors in late march as the epidemic took hold. and at the vatican, the public have returned to st peter's square as pope francis led prayer from his window for the first time in three months. thousands of children in england will return to school tomorrow for the first time since march. nurseries, pre—school and reception classes are allowed to re—sta rt as well as years one and six. but there are fears that letting children return to class could result in a surge of new cases. the exact rules will vary, but there are examples to follow in europe. the netherlands was one of the first
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countries to send pupils back and anna holligan has been to see what the impact has been at one school in north brabant — one of the country's worst hit regions. can you guess what it is yet? six months ago we had never heard of it. now six—year—olds can sketch coronavirus molecules from memory. translation: little bacteria bugs that make you sick. that's corona. translation: i know about it from the news, my girlfriends, and the teacher. for these pupils at springboard primary going back to school comes with five new rules. 0nly pupils and teachers are allowed inside. scrub every time you enter the building.
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there's one of these pumps at every entrance. use shields designed to reduce the spread of germs. year groups must attend on different days. in some schools they've split the classes to reduce the number of children in the building. 0lder pupils from age six must stay 1.5 metres away from their teachers. these are lessons they hope will save lives. for the younger ones, practically nothing's changed. but teachers like miss daisy are working behind the scenes. i think it's very important for the children that everything is as normal as possible. we have some new things, new rules into the schools, but the most important is that they are happy and they get comfort and they can be a child.
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two us astronauts are due to arrive at the international space station later today, after being launched into orbit on the first manned mission by a private company. we will be covering all the latest developments from the united states, all the unrest there, spreading to some 30 cities, also the latest developments on the coronavirus pandemic around the world. first, it is time for a look at the weather. we have arrived at the final day of may and there whether it is giving more of the same. more warmth, more sunshine, more dry weather across the less —— through the rest of sunday. patchy rain developing in parts of england and wales.
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noticeable... it parts of england and wales. noticeable. .. it will parts of england and wales. noticeable... it will be cool on north sea coast. this evening it stays fine with clear spells. there could be fog and low cloud on north sea coast and north—east england. tomorrow, early fog in the north—east, some of that could linger, then a largely sunny skies, some patchy cloud, small chance of a shower across scotland and northern ireland later in the day. another warm day.
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this is bbc world news. the headlines... us protests spread from minneapolis to at least 30 different cities, following the death of george floyd, a black man, in police custody. president trump blames looters and leftwing radicals for the unrest. after 10 weeks at home, more than two million people in england and wales who've been shielding during lockdown, are told they can go outdoors. the uk government has defended its decision to ease a number of lockdown measures in england. because we have made that progress we can very gradually and carefully ta ke we can very gradually and carefully take the steps taking tomorrow. religious services resume. the pope has returned to st peter's basilica to celebrate mass.

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