this is bbc news, i'm shaun ley. the headlines at 2pm: the prime minister says it's likely that the 1m rule could be scrapped onjune the 21st in england, the date when the remaining legal rules on social contact are due to end. social distancing as we currently have to do it, the one metre plus, i think we've got a good chance, a good chance of being able to dispense with the one metre plus. president biden�*s secretary of state, antony blinken, is in london for a g7 meeting with foreign secretary dominic raab. the talks are the first to take place face—to—face following the pandemic. restrictions on the number of mourners allowed at funerals are set to be relaxed in england from the 17th of may. warnings of a sharp rise in hate crimes against people of an asian background since the start of the pandemic. the queen sends a message

to the people of northern ireland marking the country's centenary and praising the "continued peace" as "a credit to its people, upon whose shoulders the future rests". hello, a very good afternoon to you. if you have justjoined hello, a very good afternoon to you. if you havejustjoined us, you're very welcome to bbc news. the prime minister has said that social distancing — the advice to stay at least a metre away from others — stands a good chance of being scrapped onjune 21st in england. that's the date when the remaining legal rules on social contact are due to end, and when it's hoped that the last closed sectors of the economy will open. borisjohnson also said today that while some foreign travel may resume after may 17 —

"we have got to be sensible". i'm joined now by our politicial correspondentjonathan blake. a lot of this had been trailed in newspapers over the weekend, we are in a local election period, good years, positive news from the government's point of view, but none these are significant announcements. they are and they are possibly the answers to questions we are asking life after the lockdown road map, certainly in england. afterjenny zist certainly in england. afterjenny 21st is when all legal restrictions are expected to be lifted, all caveats apply to that, all goes well with the vaccine supply, no you variants. beyond that perhaps some social distancing, some use of mass, the government is reviewing all of these options but today borrow johnson out on the campaign trail for the hartley sketch hartlepool by—election sounded optimistic —— borisjohnson.

it also looks to me as though june 21st we will be able to say, you know, social distancing as we currently have to do it, the one metre plus, ithink we've got a good chance, a good chance of being able to dispense with the one metre plus from the 21st ofjune. now, that is still dependent on the data. we can't say it categorically yet, we've got to look at the epidemiology as we progress, we've got to look at where we get to with the disease, but that's what it feels like to me right now. social distancing as we know it now, then, could well be gone as ofjune then, could well be gone as ofjune the 21st. but as i say, although this is subject to a review which is ongoing at the moment, notwithstanding what the prime minister has just sat there. it has been interesting to see labour's approach to the various responses of the government. lockdown is at various times, going back to keir starmer�*s a0 circuit breaker in the middle of last year, which went unheeded —— keir starmer�*s calls. it

sounds like they're hedging your bets slightly, but so keir starmer, the labour leader, was asked about theirs out on the campaign trail today and sounding, again, relatively optimistic but urging caution still. i think all of us want to see the restrictions eased, - of course we do, but we also - want to make sure that we don't go into another lockdown, so we have to be cautious and careful. - i will listen to what the scientists say. i there's a number of weeks to run untiljune 21st, - i hope we get to a situation - where we can ease restrictions, but we've got to be led by the science on this. | sojenny 21st so jenny 21st is sojenny 21st is any date at the end of stage four of the road map out of lockdown england ——june of stage four of the road map out of lockdown england —— june 21. of stage four of the road map out of lockdown england ——june 21. when all restrictions are due to be lifted. a big events could still be limited and we could still be living with some of the aspects of life we had become used to during the pandemic beyond that. he had become used to during the pandemic beyond that.- had become used to during the pandemic beyond that. he said stage iv, staue pandemic beyond that. he said stage iv. stage these _ pandemic beyond that. he said stage iv, stage these are _ pandemic beyond that. he said stage iv, stage these are the _ pandemic beyond that. he said stage iv, stage these are the silly - pandemic beyond that. he said stage iv, stage these are the silly 17th - iv, stage these are the silly 17th of may and there is a lot of interest in that for anybody and

debating travelling about. —— stage three is from the 17th of may. he airport and others are saying, have you got any infrastructure in place to cope with a sudden surge in people wanting to travel abroad and, perhaps more important, come back again after they have been on the holiday a family trip?— holiday a family trip? yes, two weeks ago. — holiday a family trip? yes, two weeks ago. the _ holiday a family trip? yes, two weeks ago, the government i holiday a family trip? yes, two - weeks ago, the government hopes to be able to allow international travel tourism. there has been a blanket ban in place for some time and the date is picking up. we have —— the debate is picking up. we have political debate and the various voices, unions representing airports, travel industry, they're all having a say. they commit once it was far as it can sit as it can, but only if it travel to be safe. the question is, how exactly do you decide what is safe? we have had some thoughts today from a

cross—party group of mps, the all party parliamentary group on coronavirus, an informal grouping in parliament that really should not be —— the government should not be encouraging international travel at all, there is a concern about mixing in airports, arrivals halls, coming from different countries, those environments could become a breeding bound for infection that they are worried about —— with england. they are also worried about false certificates that people are using to travel without a genuine negative test result. i to travel without a genuine negative test result. . , to travel without a genuine negative test result. ., , , ., test result. i was listening to the world at one _ test result. i was listening to the world at one and _ test result. i was listening to the world at one and he _ test result. i was listening to the world at one and he was - test result. i was listening to the world at one and he was saying l test result. i was listening to the i world at one and he was saying lots of country are relying on these lateral thought is and saying there enough. we are insisting on pcr test, are we behind the car when other countries have said, actually, providing the risk is low from the country of origin, we are prepared to accept almost a lower standard of evidence that you're not carrying the virus? ., ., ., evidence that you're not carrying the virus?— evidence that you're not carrying the virus? ., ., ., _,, ., the virus? you have got the cost of the virus? you have got the cost of the test as — the virus? you have got the cost of the test as well, _ the virus? you have got the cost of the test as well, which _ the virus? you have got the cost of the test as well, which is _ the virus? you have got the cost of the test as well, which is an - the virus? you have got the cost of the test as well, which is an issue | the test as well, which is an issue for some people in the government has been trying to look at ways of

bringing that cost them, but it is an added burden, even administrative and logistical bludgeon that will be faced regardless of extensively —— a logistical burden. regardless of what the uk decides to do in terms of allowing people to travel to other countries and restrictions on quarantine and testing that are required, the message from the continent seems to beat eu member states at least that countries should look to left restrictions, open up their borders to other countries where there is a good epidemiological situation and also to people who are fully vaccinated. jonathan, thank you very much. jonathan, thank you very much. jonathan blake, a political correspondent. —— our political correspondent. the foreign secretary, dominic raab, has been holding talks with the new us secretary of state, anthony blinken, who's

on his first visit to london sincejoe biden became president. the discussions take place before britain hosts foreign ministers from the g7 group of industrialised nations in what will be their first face—to—face meeting for more than two years. 0ur diplomatic correspondent james landale reports. america's top diplomat arriving in london for the first time since team trump was swept away by team biden. and while the politics and style may have changed, when it comes to world affairs, the message remains the same. what we have witnessed over the last several years is china acting more repressively at home and more aggressively abroad. it is the one country in the world that has the military, economic, diplomatic capacity to undermine or challenge the rules—based order that we care so much about. and it is defending that international order that will be top of the agenda as g7 foreign ministers meet face—to—face for the first time in two years. above all, how to protect open

societies from authoritarian ones, including mechanisms to respond rapidly to misinformation and cyber attacks from russia and elsewhere. the pandemic, of course, will overshadow this meeting with delegates talking through masks and screens after daily on—site tests. their focus not only india, but also new ways of getting vaccines to poor countries. they will also agree measures to tackle famine and encourage millions more girls into school, something that will prompt accusations of hypocrisy against the governmentjust as it cuts foreign aid for both. the economic circumstances we find ourselves in as a direct result of coronavirus has meant that we have had to make some difficult decisions with regard to our aid budget. nevertheless, in both percentage terms and in absolute terms, the uk remains one of the most generous aid donors in the world. so, for the host of this meeting, the foreign secretary dominic raab, a tricky path to walk.

how to show global leadership while also saving money. james landalejoins me now. 0bviously obviously an important reason for so many aspects of this, but for nothing else, joe biden is coming to the uk. a quick chat about arrangements and making sure everything goes smoothly. this is ve much everything goes smoothly. this is very much a _ everything goes smoothly. this is very much a test _ everything goes smoothly. this is very much a test case _ everything goes smoothly. this is very much a test case of- everything goes smoothly. this is. very much a test case of diplomacy emerging from the virtual year that we have had. the delegations, fewer in number, wearing masks, they will set with perspex between them. i am told that there are 35 litres of hand wash at lancaster house. 0n—site testing, everyone is tested before they go in. it has as covid protected as perhaps you could get and if, as you say, they get this right, hopefully the main g7 summit, which is going to be incurred while injune, will go ahead and it will be safe —— going to be in cornwall.

not only if it can happen, but diplomats loving face—to—face. there is more agreed an emergent sponsor and all of that hand on the show to stuff and whisper in the air, which not possible at the moment. but about the substance, then. are you expecting them to be talking about the saturn and —— what are you expecting? the saturn and -- what are you meeting?— the saturn and -- what are you exectin? ,, ., ., ., expecting? russia, china, myanmar, ukraine. obviously, _ expecting? russia, china, myanmar, ukraine. obviously, the _ expecting? russia, china, myanmar, ukraine. obviously, the corbynite . ukraine. obviously, the corbynite pandemic, climate change, another big summit here in the uk later in the autumn —— the coronavirus pandemic. in terms of the coronavirus pandemic, how can they agree new measures to get vaccine super countries, how can you beef up global health resilience ahead of another pandemic in the future —— vaccines are broader countries. the indian foreign minister is here so they will discuss the situation in india at the moment. they will also

be talking about the usual development issues, new ways of supporting girls�* education, a new target for that, and it will be tricky for the uk because the uk is cutting funding for projects like this as part of its aid cuts. find cutting funding for projects like this as part of its aid cuts. and we had a joe biden _ this as part of its aid cuts. and we had a joe biden saying _ this as part of its aid cuts. and we had a joe biden saying at - this as part of its aid cuts. and we had a joe biden saying at the - this as part of its aid cuts. and wej had a joe biden saying at the start of the year, my big foreign policy objective right now is to aid the word in yemen. the british effectively cutting the money they have been sending to yemen. and we have been sending to yemen. and we have the fact that boris johnson was very friendly with donald trump for several years. very friendly with donald trump for severalyears. it very friendly with donald trump for several years. it kind of... a relationship... we are slightly walking on egg shells, aren�*t we question back there is a recalibration going on. mil recalibration going on. fill administrations shipped over. i think if we talk to british diplomats, they say they likely return to some degree of predictability, stability and not doing foreign policy by what you hear from social media in the morning. hear from social media in the morning-— hear from social media in the morning. hear from social media in the mornin:. ~ ., ., , , hear from social media in the mornin:. ~ ., ., , morning. what donald trump tweets a first time.

morning. what donald trump tweets a first time- mr— morning. what donald trump tweets a first time. mr blunkett _ morning. what donald trump tweets a first time. mr blunkett has _ morning. what donald trump tweets a first time. mr blunkett has been - first time. mr blunkett has been very robust _ first time. mr blunkett has been very robust about _ first time. mr blunkett has been very robust about china - first time. mr blunkett has been very robust about china and - first time. mr blunkett has been very robust about china and the| very robust about china and the challenge and threat from that. —— mr blinken. but i think there are certainly new stuff to talk about, above all, iran, where the americans are engaging in a way the the previous administration did not, talks in vienna about getting back to some kind of nuclear deal with iran. , ., ., , ., iran. these are talks where they do not set iran. these are talks where they do rrot set any — iran. these are talks where they do not set any seaman, _ iran. these are talks where they do not set any seaman, proxy - iran. these are talks where they do not set any seaman, proxy talks. . iran. these are talks where they do l not set any seaman, proxy talks. the americans not set any seaman, proxy talks. tue: americans and not set any seaman, proxy talks. tte: americans and iranians not set any seaman, proxy talks. t"te: americans and iranians were not set any seaman, proxy talks. t'te: americans and iranians were not not set any seaman, proxy talks. t“te: americans and iranians were not sit together in the same —— will not sit together in the same —— will not sit together in the same —— will not sit together in the same room. people are walking between the two hotels passing messages so it is very vienna high politics. there is a bit of third man a about it. if agreement can be reached on that, it will be discussed here in london over the next few days. a lot of the

key players he has builtjames, it will be interesting to see what comes out of it. t will be interesting to see what comes out of it.— will be interesting to see what comes out of it. i will talk to you aaain comes out of it. i will talk to you again later- _ comes out of it. i will talk to you again later- -- — diplomatic. sorry, you were political. — diplomatic. sorry, you were political. you _ diplomatic. sorry, you were political, you are _ diplomatic. sorry, you were political, you are now- diplomatic. sorry, you were - political, you are now diplomatic. apologies, james. police in germany say they�*ve shut down one of the world�*s largest online child pornography platforms, following an international investigation. they�*ve arrested four men accused of running the network, called "boystown", which was accessed on the dark net by hundreds of thousands of users. the investigation involved police in the netherlands, sweden, australia, the us and canada. restrictions on the number of mourners who can attend a funeral in england are being lifted. the legal limit of 30 will be removed at the next stage of the easing of the lockdown, which is expected to be on the 17th of may. in scotland, up to 50 people can gatherfor a funeral, while there are no legal limits in wales and in northern ireland. i�*m joined now by gillian stewart from co—0p funeralcare.

thank you very much for being with us on bbc news. i guess this was expected and hoped for, but how important will it be, do you think, for the families who, unfortunately, in the coming weeks and months will be marking the passing of a loved one? we be marking the passing of a loved one? ~ . . , be marking the passing of a loved one? ~ . ., , .., be marking the passing of a loved one? ~ . ., , _, , one? we certainly welcome the news for all of those _ one? we certainly welcome the news for all of those families _ one? we certainly welcome the news for all of those families who, - one? we certainly welcome the news for all of those families who, as - for all of those families who, as you say, unfortunately they will be many who suffer a loss in the next few weeks. i think it has been very difficult forfamilies to few weeks. i think it has been very difficult for families to reduce the number of people are keep restricting any number of friends and family who can attend a funeral so i think it will make a significant different to those families to be able to plan to have more people. 0bviously, when it is safe to do so. we are very mindful of the fact there will still be a number of venues that will not be able to accommodate those number of mourners because they will need to be socially distance. tit mourners because they will need to be socially distance.— be socially distance. in terms of practicality _ be socially distance. in terms of practicality is. _ be socially distance. in terms of practicality is, how— be socially distance. in terms of practicality is, how different - be socially distance. in terms ofj practicality is, how different has it been for funeral directors to manage it —— difficult it has been a very difficult. itill" manage it -- difficult it has been a very difficult-— manage it -- difficult it has been a very difficult. our teams are always wantin: to very difficult. our teams are always wanting to do _ very difficult. our teams are always wanting to do the _ very difficult. our teams are always wanting to do the right _

very difficult. our teams are always wanting to do the right thing. - wanting to do the right thing. they�*re wanting to say yes to whatever their requests are, to say goodbye to their loved ones, but unfortunately have not always been able to do that in order that we keep people safe. and over so that we have stuck to those restrictions so it will give our teams in the funeral profession the opportunity to be able to help so many more families say their very best goodbyes. families say their very best goodbyes-— families say their very best aoodb es. ., , families say their very best oodb es. ., , ., families say their very best aoodb es. ., , ., ., goodbyes. has it actually come to a situation where _ goodbyes. has it actually come to a situation where a _ goodbyes. has it actually come to a situation where a funeral _ goodbyes. has it actually come to a situation where a funeral director i situation where a funeral director has had to, i�*m sure very politely, but effectually turn people away? yes. and it is tragic for people not to be able to have at those people with them at a difficult time. i think we all could see simply with the queen who very recently, last month, was sat at her own in a funeral in order that they kept to the restrictions so i think this opportunity when it is safe to do to to have people to attend will be a step forward for people in the grieving process. the funeral is not the end, but it gives people the opportunity to start that very difficult process. t opportunity to start that very difficult process.— opportunity to start that very difficult process. i have lost a

close relative _ difficult process. i have lost a close relative during - difficult process. i have lost a close relative during this - difficult process. i have lost a i close relative during this period, lots of people will have done. e—mail have done as well. i have friends who must be right at the start of a pandemic and the situation was effectively down to three at a funeral. in the sense, the rules were eased and they had been more sensitive to people because my concerns, but unavoidably, some of the restrictions. are there any changes you think can be beneficial in terms of how we approach funeral? t you think can be beneficial in terms of how we approach funeral? i think there had been _ of how we approach funeral? i think there had been some _ of how we approach funeral? i think there had been some changes i of how we approach funeral? i think there had been some changes in i of how we approach funeral? i think i there had been some changes in terms of some of the administration processes which have become more streamlined, which i think of are able to continue with those, that will help the industry and sector. but i think we have also become more creative. i think using technology, certainly we have been able to help a lot of families be part of a service if they were not physically able to be there through the use of streaming and technology. and i think some of those things will help moving forward because not everybody will always be able to travel to attend a funeral if they are living abroad. but being able to do those things will help people in the

future as well.— things will help people in the future as well. jane stuart, chief o eratin: future as well. jane stuart, chief operating officer _ future as well. jane stuart, chief operating officer -- _ future as well. jane stuart, chief operating officer -- gillian i future as well. jane stuart, chief. operating officer -- gillian stuart. sport and for a full round up, from the bbc sport centre, here�*s austin. good afternoon. the manchester united supporters trust have urged the glazer family to engage more with fans to avoid a repeat of the protests seen at old trafford yesterday. in an open letter to the club�*s owners, they�*ve asked for the family to rebalance the ownership structure in favour of supporters. the group also want them to appoint independent directors to the club�*s board. around 200 united fans invaded old trafford to show their frustration yesterday, causing their premier league game against liverpool to be postponed. well, united have released a statement in the last couple of hours saying they "remain committed to dialogue and engagement with our fans through the fans forum and other appropriate channels". well, here�*s ian stirling from the

manchester united supporters trust. we support lawful protest. but we don�*t want anything to distract me from the government�*s response and putting the fan made a review into government and supporter ownership. that is what needs to continue here and that is what will deliver the change and that is what we will continue to work on. so one question now is when can the match be re—arranged for. well, this is united and liverpool�*s combined schedules until the end of the season — and, as you can see, it�*s already pretty tightly packed. there�*s three games in three days next week, before another three the week after. both clubs play on the 19th of may, before the final day of the season on the 23rd when every team in the league plays at the same time. so, as you can see, there�*s not much room for it to fit in. staying with football. the premier league say they are enlisting the help of the government to protect

the football pyramid and the integrity of the football community after the failure of the breakaway european super league. in a statement, they said they are determined to hold the clubs accountable for their decisions and actions. and added that, with the help of the fa, they will impose additional rules and regulations to ensure the league�*s principals are protected. and they will introduce a new charter that all club owners wil be required to sign, commiting them to the core principles of the league. now it�*s the last day of the world snooker championship in sheffield. three—time champion mark selby against shaun murphy in the final. and there�*s a full house inside the crucible to watch the drama unfold. crowds have increased throughout the tournament with a full house of 980 in for the final. the first capacity crowd at a sporting event in the uk for more than a year. after an eight—month season of silence and a social distancing, we

are about to hear the crucible roar like never before. cheering it isjust billing cheering it is just billing to hear the roar of the cloud like that, again isn�*t it —— brilliant to hear the roar of the crowd. and these are the live scenes from inside the crucible now. selby had a 10 frames to 7 lead overnight — the pair have been closely—matched since, but selby is still out in front. he leads by 12 frames to 9 — 18 frames needed for victory. you can follow the action throughout the day on bbc two. and dan evans�* brilliant clay—court season continues, the british number one is through to the second round of the madrid masters after beating france�*sjeremy chardy in three sets. evans reached the semi—finals of the monte carlo masters last month, and is looking more and more comfortable on the clay. he took the opening set on a tiebreak.

chardy then took the second in the same way, but evans was too good in the decider, sealing it 6—2. he�*ll face eitherjohn millman or hubert hurcatch in the second round. that�*s all the sport for now. i�*ll have more in the next hour. thank you very much, austen. sirjeffrey donaldson, has confirmed he is standing for the leadership of the democratic unionist party. the leader of the party�*s mps at westminster faces competition from stormont�*s agriculture minister, edwin poots. the current dup leader arlene foster resigned last week and stands down at the end of may. she�*ll continue as northern ireland�*s first minister until the end ofjune. she is in and she is leaving the party as it no longer censor what she believes and built up our next century will be built on the of

persuasion. century will be built on the of persuasion-— century will be built on the of ersuasion. , ,.,, persuasion. this will need positive leadership. _ persuasion. this will need positive leadership, strategy _ persuasion. this will need positive leadership, strategy and _ persuasion. this will need positive leadership, strategy and values, l leadership, strategy and values, strong, united, focused. this will also require party structures capable of communicating clearly and consistently to the people of northern ireland. capable of working with a strong and growing team built around real partnership between our representatives in our local councils, in the assembly, and at westminster. let�* speak to our ireland correspondent chris page who is in belfast. it is not a huge surprise he has made this announcement today, but in some ways it does not simplify things very deeply because if it has a candidate who is an mp, how can he also be first minister? yes. a candidate who is an mp, how can he also be first minister?— also be first minister? yes, well, the thinking _ also be first minister? yes, well, the thinking would _ also be first minister? yes, well, the thinking would be, _ also be first minister? yes, well, the thinking would be, i - also be first minister? yes, well, the thinking would be, i think, i also be first minister? yes, well, the thinking would be, i think, ifl the thinking would be, i think, if sojeffrey donaldson won, he would lead unionism, lead at the democratic unionist party, the

largest unionist party, from westminster, remain sitting in the house of commons, and then he would nominate somebody else in the assembly party to take over the role assembly party to take over the role as first minister. that is... sir geoffrey has not specifically said what his plans would be if he is elected as ndp leader —— sir jeffrey. if he is elected as dup leader. it looks like that will be the case if his leadership rival edwin poots is the leader. he is currently agriculture minister in the stormont executive but has let it be known that if we can dup leader, he will not be putting himself forward to be first minister. thatjob will go to somebody else in the party and mr boots sees his role primarily as party leader and his priority will be preparing for the stormont assembly election —— mr poots. so

whether the jeffrey donaldson assembly election —— mr poots. so whether thejeffrey donaldson or mr poots becomes leader of their party, it is highly likely that neither will be the first minister at stormont. so will be the first minister at stormont-— will be the first minister at stormont. . ., stormont. so we could even envisage a tri - le stormont. so we could even envisage a triple leadership _ stormont. so we could even envisage a triple leadership with _ stormont. so we could even envisage a triple leadership with poots - a triple leadership with poots leader, to other people, jeffrey at westminster and someone at stormont. 0bviously, westminster and someone at stormont. obviously, it will presumably be done to the mps, the nla who chose. -- mlas. done to the mps, the nla who chose. —— mlas. is there much commemoration taking place to mark the 100 years of partition? t taking place to mark the 100 years of partition?— of partition? i think it is fair to say there _ of partition? i think it is fair to say there are _ of partition? i think it is fair to say there are a _ of partition? i think it is fair to say there are a few— of partition? i think it is fair to say there are a few minor i of partition? i think it is fair to i say there are a few minor events going on. there are other events planned for later on in any year, obviously. 0ne planned for later on in any year, obviously. one of the major reasons why today is not being marked by major events is because of the pandemic. sojeffrey donaldson, knowing there is a few minor events going on. there are other events planned for later on in any year, obviously. 0ne planned for later on in any year, obviously. one of the major reasons why today is not being marked by major events is because of the pandemic. sojeffrey donaldson, knowing that eddie is symbolic for unionists in particular, well, it is no coincidence that he has chosen sa

to launch his bid to be dup leader. it is one of the anniversaries, northern ireland, that is looked on it by different people with different perspectives. you see it as any birthday of the state they value, the state that secured a place in the united kingdom for irish nationalist, though, it is the anniversary of the partition of the island of ireland and a source of great injustice. some will want to celebrate the centenary, others will want to ignore it, or even lament it, you could say. but nonetheless, it, you could say. but nonetheless, it is generating lots and lots of debate, notjust about it is generating lots and lots of debate, not just about the it is generating lots and lots of debate, notjust about the passive guard railing, but about its present and, of course, its future. chris page, thank you very much —— not just about the past in northern ireland but out its present and future. this weekend football clubs and their players have been boycotting social media in protest over online abuse and racism. police in london alone say the number of hate crimes against people of an asian background have trebled since the start of the pandemic. but campaigners and authorities agree many more go unreported. the bbc�*s special correspondent fergal keane has been meeting victims of the attacks. 0ne old white lady,

she uses herfinger, points out to me and screams at me, saying, "yol- chinese, - you have the chinese virus, just go back to your country". translation: when the train - was approaching camden road station, the tall, young white man who was sat next to me started making a noise, trying to get phlegm up from his throat. and when the train stopped at the station, he spat at me. i was on my way home and this kid shouted "coronavirus" at me. i there was no one else in the street and it was directed at me, - and this happened at the start of the pandemic. _ anti—asian racism didn�*t begin with the pandemic, but victims say it has escalated dramatically. this has exploded since the beginning of the virus. this really affects both the emotions and mental health and the whole atmosphere in the community. dr pong wang was jogging near his home in southampton

when racist comments were shouted from a car. they punched me on my face and my nose was badly hit. the physical injury can be healed very easily, but most importantly, it is the inner side. how do you restore yourfaith in humans? ..not just your nose but your mouth, your eyes, your hair, your voice. the fear around coronavirus has helped inflame xenophobic attitudes around the world. conspiracy theories have spread online. and victims told us the rhetoric of some leaders caused enduring harm. donald trump: the chinese virus. ..kung flu. ..the nation which unleashed this plague onto the world, china. the issues in america transfer themselves over to the uk quite regularly, and obviously, that is in the media regularly as well.

so it gives a voice to people and somebody as powerful as trump, with his views, emboldened the racists. it is an atmosphere in which older prejudices have revived. dan su�*s supermarket symbolises a korean family that is fully integrated into british society. but recently, his wife and baby daughter were racially abused in an affluent west london suburb. i remember very clearly feeling how sad i was. it was my first reaction. because this is the country that i was born in and i grew up in, and i love... ..everything about this country. communities long established in britain, part of the country�*s culturalfabric, are being targeted. the sense of belonging, reflected in london�*s chinese new year celebrations, is challenged by racism. now, an opposition mp of chinese descent wants tougher policing of hate crime.

we�*ve got to get really tough with social media sites that allow and spread hatred online, and as well as that dehumanising kind of rhetoric and racism, there is on the other hand as well this racism that is a conspiracy theory, that we are trying to take over the world. in these and many other lives, the politics of the pandemic and superpower rivalries have unleashed via. but also, a determination to confront prejudice. translation: i am not a virus. why did he spit at me and discriminate against me? just because i look asian, it doesn't mean i'm a virus. fergal keane, bbc news. now it�*s time for a look at the weather with darren bett. hello there. rain is continuing to spill eastwards across more of the country, setting in late afternoon into the early