hello this is bbc news. the headlines. thousands of protestors have gathered in london and in other cities in the uk to protest against racism. this is the scene live in central london where pleas by ministers not to gather due to fears of the coronavirus appear to have been ignored. we are in a health pandemic across good afternoon. the united kingdom and coronavirus isa the united kingdom and coronavirus is a deadly virus and of course, i nhs trusts in england say would say to those that want to they weren't consulted — protest, please don't. or given notice — of a government announcement that all hospital staff will have to wear surgical masks the world health organization now says face masks should from the 15th ofjune. be worn in public — the government insists the nhs as nhs trusts in england say was warned about the changes. they weren't consulted on a decision to make within the last hour, all hospital staff wear them. ministers have again urged people thousands have been demonstrating in sydney against racism. to avoid large gatherings some were self treated after police of more than six people — pepper sprayed them. including anti—racism protests, more of which are due to take place this afternoon. here's our political correspondent, helen catt.

from june 15th, everyone who visits a hospital in england will have to wear a face covering. all staff working in them will have to wear medical grade masks. the government announced the shift in policy late yesterday at the downing street daily briefing. now, a group which represents hospital trusts in england claims it's being done on the hoof with little notice. we would have liked to have seen a longer period of time to discuss this with the government and for them to consult front line leaders about what's the right way to go on this. and for us to work it out together with the government. the department of health and social care says it will publish more guidance this week to allow hospitals to stock up on masks and plan for the changes. it comes just a day after the transport secretary announced that face coverings will also be compulsory for all passengers on public transport. separately, the world health organization has changed its view on mask wearing. in light of evolving evidence, who advises that governments should

encourage the general public to wear masks where there is widespread transmission and physical distancing is difficult. such as on public transport, in shops or in either confined or crowded environments. uk government advice currently is that people should wear cloth face coverings rather than medical masks. it's also reinforcing its message on social distancing. the home secretary has asked people not to join protests this weekend after crowds gathered in several uk cities to support the black lives matter movement after the death of george floyd at the hands of police in the us. completely understand people's desire to express their views and to have that right to protest. but the fact of the matter is, we are in a health pandemic across the united kingdom and coronavirus is a deadly virus and i would say to those that want to protest, please don't, the regulations are very clear in terms of gatherings and mass

gatherings in particular. we must put public health first at this particular time. the guidance on wearing masks in hospitals, the government says, will be kept under review. helen catt, bbc news. this morning, the department for health said there will be no announcement today on whether the government has met its target to provide covid—19 testing to every resident and member of staff in elderly care homes in england by earlyjune. our correspondent, john mcmanus, is here. john, what more can you tell us? yes, that promise made by the department of health on the 15th of may, the same date that deaths from covid—19 in care homes almost match those from hospitals. there had been a huge political outcry about those deaths in care homes and allegations that while ministers had prioritised testing and ppe for nhs hospitals those in social care settings were left to fend for themselves which importantly meant many residents

couldn't be tested and therefore couldn't be tested and therefore couldn't be tested and therefore couldn't be isolated from fellow residents, which is so important because at least 12,000 people have died from the virus in care settings and it is probably higher. the national care forum released a survey seeing a tenth of its members had not received any testing kit by the start of this week but the department of health told me it would announce in the next few days whether it had met its target and said it was confident it was on track to do so. thank you. pubs and restaurants in england expect they'll be allowed to open again from july 4th, although there's no date yet for scotland, wales and northern ireland. trade bodies warn most venues will not be viable with a two—metre social distancing rule still in place. they've called on the government to provide more support. here's our business correspondent, katy austin. measuring up for a socially—dista nt future. that's two metres. a cash grant and a furlough scheme have kept this 300—year—old pub near wigan going for lockdown.

passing by the world's smallest toilets, which makes two metres very difficult to operate with. opening up presents new challenges. i suspect if we are allowed to open outside and table service only we are ok here. i think the real issue will come when we are allowed to open inside. two metres can't be done. 0ne metre is going to be incredibly difficult. other venues are also waiting for clarity. in england, the expectation is that pubs, restaurants and cafes will be able to open up again from the 11th ofjuly, and the industry and government are still working together to finalise guidelines on exactly how they can do that safely. mexican restaurant chain wahaca is planning for various scenarios. clocks on the walls — every 20 minutes washing your hands. it's expecting trade to be tough. starting out it's going to be hell. people are not going to come back in their droves. they are going to slowly build up that confidence and it's going to take six months to a year. we are anticipating sales being around minus 60% to start with. mark worries a two—metre rule would lead to businesses failing

and jobs being lost. some other countries use lower measurements. in france, for example, the guideline is one metre. trade association uk hospitality says if it remains two metres here the government must provide further support. if we are operating at such loss and furlough is going to be withdrawn, then it's vital that these businesses, which have been cash—starved since march, have additional funding to help with rents, in particular, which is the second—biggest overhead they are facing, additional grants, where most of the businesses, 75% of the businesses, will not have had a hospitality grant. it's thought the government is working on a package to stimulate the economy and jobs, with measures aimed at helping the hospitality sector adapt. but it's clear not all restaurants and pubs will reopen. katy austin, bbc news. black lives matter protestors

in the australian state of new south wales have won a last—minute appeal against a court order that tried to stop them from taking to the streets. demonstrators have focused on the treatment of indigenous australians. prime minister scott morrison warned that protests risked undoing the progress made in fighting coronavirus. a warning: shaimaa khalil‘s report contains some distressing images. black lives matter! a day of high tempers and high spirits for protesters in central sydney. politicians had urged them to stay away, fearing another wave of covid—19. i say to them, don't go. not because you shouldn't express your view. find another way to express your view. but that didn't stop them. i'm an aboriginal woman so it's a subject very close to my heart, and just so nice to see people from all creeds come together for this. i don't want to be a white person who sits by and does nothing so that's why i'm here today. in the past three decades, more than 400 indigenous australians have died in police custody, an issue many here say has long been ignored. but with the very public

killing of george floyd in the united states, the aboriginal community is using the international outcry to express their own anger. i can't breathe! stop resisting. this seems all too familiar. a black man restrained by officers screaming, "i can't breathe." these were the last minutes of david dungay‘s life, caught on camera in a sydney prison hospital in 2015. the inquest into the 26—year—old's death found that the officers' conduct was a result of insufficient training. but his family has called for them to be prosecuted. seeing george floyd die in such similar circumstances to her son has been distressing for david's mother. tears just came to my eyes, and pain came to my heart again. i say, be strong, the floyd family, for we are in pain the same, and we do understand

what you're going through. protesters hope marches like this highlight notjust black deaths in custody but the centuries of inequality indigenous australians have suffered, and that a new—found momentum could mean a betterfuture for the community. shaimaa khalil, bbc news, sydney. the american football league — known as the nfl — has responded to anger over police treatment of the public by saying players should be allowed to drop to one knee in protest, during the national anthem. the league had previously banned them from doing so. 0ur north america correspondent, david willis, reports. it is the national conversation. racial inequality, police brutality, injustice in america. unity in the cause symbolised by a single gesture — police and protesters dropping to one knee. all that started with this man back in 2016.

san francisco quarterback colin kaepernick refused to stand for the national anthem in protest at the racial injustice of the time. a single—minded act that led to him being mocked by president trump and ostracised by the league. he hasn't played professional football sense. but — four years on — the sentiments being expressed then have come into sharp relief following the death of george floyd — prompting his former colleagues to join the growing chorus for change. if i was george floyd... some of the league's biggest names take part in this video calling on league officials to reject racism and admit they were wrong back then in preventing the players from protesting peacefully. president trump — who four years ago called on team owners to sack players who took the knee — has re—entered the fray, taking to twitter to echo his previous refrain, no kneeling.

and while 75% of nfl players are black, the majority of the team owners are white, many of them supporters of the president. the league's commissioner would normally be expected to support mr trump but these are different times. without black players there would be no national football league. and the protests around the country are emblematic of the centuries of silence, inequality and oppression. from the inner cities to the corridors of one of the most popular sports in the land, the calls for change are echoing in every corner of american life. david willis, bbc news, los angeles. that's it. the next news on bbc one is at 5:30pm. goodbye.

0ur weather is going to stay pretty u nsettled 0ur weather is going to stay pretty unsettled through the rest of the day. many of us will see further outbreaks of rain. the rain sometimes cunning insurers, some of those heavy. low pressure is responsible for the windy and

across eastern scotland and swinging across eastern scotland and swinging across eastern england. this rain is welcome rain given how dry the weather has been over recent weeks. 0vernight lows of 8 degrees.

he should have been celebrating his pre—lockdown weather and despite increasing competition pick that is italian media have reported

clu b club made the decision... capped 36 times by italy balotelli has also played for both milan clubs during his career. michaeljordan is going to donate $100 million to groups fighting for racial equality and social justice. the nba fighting for racial equality and socialjustice. the nba executive said that he and hisjordan brand will distribute the money, the equivalent to £78 million over ten yea rs. equivalent to £78 million over ten years. the money will go to organisations in a bid to tackle ingrained racism. the donation follows protests across the us and around the world following the death of george floyd as he was restrained by police. the biggest sporting eventin by police. the biggest sporting event in the uk since lockdown takes place at newmarket later today. normally tens of thousands of fans will be there cheering on the runners and riders but the race will be behind closed doors and like all races this week since the sport was allowed to return. jockey murphy was crowned flat racing's champion

jockey last season, but he has never won a classic and he tells what it would mean to her when that weight today. today and tomorrow in the second favourite in both races, so the 1000 guineas tomorrow is for fillies, i ride a filly called miller. they are two really good chances and i'm very hopeful but these races are super hard to win, it is like a champion's me vinyl or a formula! big race, it is really hard, but i have good opportunities and the horses are in super form. and there have been some unusual spotting turn fees down the year but have you ever seen spotting turn fees down the year but have you ever seen someone spotting turn fees down the year but have you ever seen someone had to resort to using something from the kitchen cupboard to celebrate a victory? that is exactly what dance player nathan aspinall had to do after winning the latest pc at home tournament. having nothing to hold aloft, he converted one of his dinner plate into a trophy, one for the mantelpiece perhaps or maybe

even to put back down on the dinner table. that is all the spots are now. more on those stories on the bbc sport website. also watch out later for bbc sport website. also watch out laterfor a bbc sport website. also watch out later for a special sporting your questions answered with them being broadcast on the bbc news channel tonight. thanks davin. now, let's go back to the news coverage and i want to take you to some pictures coming into us from parliament square. these are live pictures of protesters at the black lives matter valley. they started off into trafalgar square and moved now to parliament square. 0bviously, and moved now to parliament square. obviously, as you will be well aware in the nearly two weeks since the death of george floyd, the unarmed handcuffed non—resisting black man who died under the knee of a white police officer in minneapolis on may the 25th. in the two weeks since, protests have built across the united states and now across the world, with many wanting to stand up

and be counted in protest against the police brutality and in protest against what they see as institutional racism. it is also worth pointing out as we look at these pictures of the large crowds gathering that the government here in the uk has said, in the shape of the home secretary priti patel and the health secretary matt hancock have begged people to stay away from large gatherings, pointing out that people under the rules are not supposed to gather more than six people together and pointing out that we still face the coronavirus and the challenges of that in terms of social distancing and avoiding infection. so there you can see a very large cloud, i am not going to get at the number there, but that, i think, also more than a thousand we are estimating at this point.

protests also were planned and we will have more on those later in the day from other british cities. but, quiet, dignified, but as you can see there is definitely not there two metre distance between those individuals, but from that shot there on the ground you can see that people are trying to wear masks and face coverings, and to, if not, keep social distance at least to the precautionary things that they can in terms of protecting themselves and others. the, . .. in terms of protecting themselves and others. the,... iam in terms of protecting themselves and others. the,... i am just hoping to hear a little bit more of what the protesters were actually saying there. just while we wait for any speeches from that, but it is just also worth mentioning that this mirrors events in other countries, we have seen in australia already

today, big protests, a valley in syd ney we nt today, big protests, a valley in sydney went ahead after a court order banning it was lifted at the last moment and that protesters there obviously drawing attention with black lives matter message, to events in the united states, but also drawing parallels with the treatment by their own australian police of members of the indigenous aboriginal community and the death of some citizens in custody. at the hands of australian police. and the questions of accountability surrounding those deaths. 0bviously, what happened on the streets of minneapolis on may the 25th has caused outrage and upset and i should actually point out that at the same time as begging people to stay away from these protests, both the home secretary and the health secretary acknowledged the hurt and

distress of people aren't seeing events in the united states, they talked about the deep upsets that people actually felt but at the same time urged people to stay away. that calls on he did by all those you hate seeing that picture from a helicopter there. —— their calls —— their calls unheeded by all of those you are seeing in that picture from our helicopter there. yesterday, the health secretary advised people not to attend large gatherings, including demonstrations of more than six people. his words were echoed by the home secretary speaking in the last hour. here's what priti patel had to say. but i would say, of course, com pletely but i would say, of course, completely innocent people's desire to express their views and have that process but the fact of the matter is we are in that health polemic across the united kingdom and coronavirus of the deadly virus and i would say to those who want to

protest, please don't. the regulations are very clear in terms of gatherings and mass gatherings in particular. we must put public help clear at this particular time and i would also say to some of the individuals and the organisers across the community, speak to the very police because obviously the police on the streets today, i have just had the metropolitan briefing here from the metropolitan... team and they are here to explain to people so that people if they do come out can safe and importantly we can try to stop the spread of this horrendous virus particularly in the community when we are certainly not out of the woods yet. we saw from one state and of course last weekend as well people willing to defy the will lockdown feeling that the need to protest are stronger than the potential risk to themselves and others. —— we self on wednesday. at the end of the day, apple is going to be able to enforce this? the last thing you want to do is appear to be

heavy—handed. thing you want to do is appear to be heavy-handed. i think it is important for everybody no matter what issue they are expressing themselves around when they are coming out on the streets today, eve ryo ne coming out on the streets today, everyone must remember that right now we are trying to protect lives and save lives because of coronavirus. we are in a public health emergency and what i would say about our police officers, from the teams that i have met this morning but also the officers that have been touch with over the last ten weeks, they are part of the community, we police by consent, they engage comedy in college, they explain to the public constantly what the rules are around social distancing. —— they engage, they encourage. that is how we can keep everybody say, that is how we can encourage people to stay alert but also stop the spread of the virus and act responsibly. the police will absolutely be that, they're committed to doing that. of course, we do not want to see violence, we do not want to see the protest get out of hand, and the police are very co nsta nt out of hand, and the police are very constant shifts of that, they have a lwa ys constant shifts of that, they have always said the right things, i have said that they will engage, they

will encourage, enforcement is the last resort but also i would say to the organisers of any events that are taking place across london but also across the country because it is not just also across the country because it is notjust london, there are many other planned events across the uk, the organisers, speak to the police, engage the police, engage with officers so that they can help to keep the public safe. the home secretary there. let's go back to the live pictures for a moment. it was still gathering at that photos. another one planned for outside the us embassy tomorrow. interestingly, the us embassy has already put out a fairly conciliatory statement expressing understanding for the feelings of the british public on the race issue and expressing some solidarity with that feeling, interesting of remarks there from the us embassy, it will be interesting to see how they handle that tomorrow and of course those questions of policing is quite

large fighters, as you can see now, questions about policing that that we heard from the home secretary just a moment ago. and we're also talking to a former senior police officer earlier this morning. he was talking about the need for the protesters themselves to take the precautions against virus infection seriously, both in terms of their face coverings, you can see the face coverings there, but also in terms of hand sanitising, also in terms of social distancing, wherever possible, but he did also say that he felt it was a responsibility of the to help in terms of keeping the social distancing managed by the crowds gathering there in central london for that process. 0r against racism —— for that protest against racism —— for that protest against racism and to make the points we have seen on many blackouts there, down on the ground of the placards reading black lives matter. —— the points we have seen are many

placards there. we will be across these protests both in london and other british cities this afternoon keeping an eye on all the questions arising. now, the weather with darren. hello there. it is another cool day for many parts of the country. some changes return to the north, for many areas in blustery showers too, cool many areas in blustery showers too, cool, wet, and when the dough across northern ireland and north—west scotla nd northern ireland and north—west scotland where we have seen a lot of rain already. southern and eastern scotla nd rain already. southern and eastern scotland a place to be with light winds and some something in this temperature are based. 0vernight we will see the back of those heavy showers as they run away south eastwards and may moose down across scotla nd eastwards and may moose down across scotland into northern england and toward the wash by the end of the night, temperature slipping away to around eight or 9 degrees. during

sunday we will see that a rain tending to move southwards across northern england and down towards the midline is at the same time adjusting to ease off, we will see showers reducing in scotland and in many places it will become dry and brighter and more sunshine in southern parts of england, will get the temperatures are based here throughout 19 or 20 degrees, still an throughout 19 or 20 degrees, still n ugly throughout 19 or 20 degrees, still an ugly win but not as many as today. prince william has revealed that he has become a volunteer counsellor for a mental health charity. he's been trained to answer messages sent in to a helpline called ‘shout‘ which allows people to have conversations by text messaging. angus crawford reports. i've felt miserable for too long now. in a time of need, help can be just a text away. as we reported last month, shout, the crisis text service, is a year old. its highest profile backers, the duke and duchess of cambridge, met volunteers on a video call to say thank you —

and we can now reveal william had something special to tell them. i'm going to share a little secret with you guys, that i'm actually on the platform volunteering. are you! yes, lam. when he revealed that to us on our recent zoom call, the conversation just suddenly changed. it became the six of us chatting about what it's like to be a volunteer, and he was asking us for tips on how to cope with various things. it was just like talking to a member of the team, and i think that was just so refreshing. a life of public service, here flying east anglia's air ambulance. shout is a new text line that supports people who need a voice. he is now fully trained by shout and like all volunteers, works from home, answering texts from people in need — anonymously, of course. we are hugely proud that the duke is now one of our family

of 2000 crisis volunteers. he has great skills and experience and empathy with people in difficulty, and those are exactly these skills that we need in our crisis volunteers. the royal couple at a shout event last year. now william hasjoined their ranks — a prince raising awareness about mental health, making a very personal connection with those in crisis. 00:29:20,107 --> 4294966103:13:29,430 angus crawford, bbc news.