welcome to newsday, reporting live from singapore. i'm arunoday mukharji. the headlines: in front of a crowd of thousands, the queen takes the salute from the balcony of buckingham palace with members of the royal family, kick—starting four days of platinum jubilee celebrations. a spectacular military fly—past, as planes spell out "70", paying tribute to the queen's tenure. some travelled from all over the world. her majesty the queen has been faithfully serving us and the commonwealth for the last 70 years. fireworks and beacons light up the skies across the uk and in commonwealth capitals, as part of the tributes.

also in the programme: as ukraine approaches 100 days of war, president zelensky urges western nations to step up their weapons deliveries — with russia now in control of 20% of his country. and after winning his defamation case against ex—wife amber heard, we look at why johnny depp lost a similar court battle in the uk. live from our studio in singapore, this is bbc news. it's newsday. welcome to the programme. queen elizabeth has overseen a fly—past of 70 aircraft on the first day of events to mark her platinum jubilee. the 96—year—old british monarch

wasjoined on the buckingham palace balcony by family members for the aerial display. she also attended the lighting of beacons at her residence, windsor castle. our royal correspondent nicholas witchell was there. for all that she wants thejubilee to be about local communities creating their own special memories, in the end, it's all about her. after all, there wouldn't be a platinum jubilee if there weren't a monarch who served for 70 years. it was her that the crowds had come to see. the queen appeared on the balcony of buckingham palace, but for the first time in her reign, she did not attend trooping the colour herself. that's just too physically demanding for her now. earlier, it had been the prince of wales who'd led the royal party from buckingham palace down to horse guards. also riding on horseback behind charles were prince william, the duke of cambridge, and princess anne, the princess royal.

and riding together in one of the carriages, the cambridges�* three children, prince george, prince louis, waving away happily in the middle, and princess charlotte. hello! and the more the crowd waved, the more louis waved, until his sister decided that that was probably enough. as the procession made its way down the mall, a group of animal—rights protesters broke through the tight police cordon and attempted to disrupt one of the marching bands before being dragged away by police. 0n horse guards parade, the footguards had formed up — plenty to look at for those newcomers to the parade, plenty to get used to for these newcomers. they will see it many times in years to come. absent from the parade, the duke of york, stripped of his role as honorary colonel of the grenadier guards.

keen young eyes were watching from the windows overlooking the parade ground. the duke and duchess of sussex were also watching from the same building. their presence was caught by photographers. at buckingham palace, the royal standard was being raised to signify that the queen had arrived from windsor, ready for her appearances on the palace balcony. the military parade on horse guards over, the crowds were allowed up the mall towards buckingham palace. they filled the spaces around the victoria memorial. 0n the balcony, the queen and the working members of the royalfamily and their children, one of whom was about to steal the show. 0verhead, there was a fly—past, the finest britain's armed services could offer. watching was four—year—old louis, still waving for all he was worth — fascinated by what he was seeing overhead one moment, clapping his hands to his ears the next.

the queen, of course, has seen it all before and takes all such things in her stride, just as she's done throughout her long reign. her 70 years on the throne were marked in style. the platinum jubilee celebrations for the reign of queen elizabeth ii are under way. nicholas witchell, bbc news, at buckingham palace. well, good wishes have been pouring in for the queen from around the world. among those paying tribute was president macron of france and president biden of the united states. you have been a constant presence and a source of wisdom for the leaders of our two countries. this year, the 70th of your reign,

we celebrate your achievements. we are gratefulfor your courage and we share the respect and love that the british people and the commonwealth have always shown you. during those events, people from all over the uk and those visiting from many parts of the world, gathered to stand in the crowd and watch the ceremonies. the bbc�*s reeta chakrabarti was on—site and in the crowd. she's been speaking to some of the spectators. it was ten deep on the mall as people gathered to watch the parade. those at the back couldn't really see much. but that seemed to bother absolutely no one. it's incredible. i've never seen it like this, and itjust really feels like a very special occasion. we're delighted to be here. you can't see very much from back here. does that matter? no. do you know what's actually really helpful? all of the cameras in front of us. we've been getting some quite good shots of what's going on anyways.

some people have travelled thousands of miles to be here. you came from canada? yeah. oh, my goodness! specifically for this? specifically for this. her majesty's platinum jubilee. we came here ten years ago for the diamond jubilee. - extraordinary. thank you. and why, why have you come all this way? because her majesty the queen has been faithfully serving us i and the commonwealth for the last 70 years. i "claire was there." yeah. claire, why are you here? well, i think it's a very special occasion. we're never going to see this again, are we, really? not with our queen, bless her. and ijust feel it's very special, and you've got to be part of the atmosphere. for others, this was the tonic needed after the last long two years. incredibly proud to be part of this, and this sense of togetherness, which we haven't really felt in a long time, especially due to the pandemic. it's really special. and why are you here?

oh, i'm here celebrating the occasion. _ you know, it's nice bringing communities together. - and we're all here. you know, that's why i'm here. where have you come from today? all the way from, - you know, southport, england's classic resort. so, yeah, just soaking it - all up, making the most of it. we were just chatting, and you were saying you thought these days are very special for a particular reason. just tell me again. i just think it's great that all the good things about our country are exhibited today. cos, like, all the people come out, and there's a sense of togetherness and it's just a great event. i was here 20 years ago, it's just great to be here again. it's the atmosphere... it's the atmosphere, the sense of community, all together, all for the country and for the queen. it's great. you sounded emotional. i am a little bit! queen elizabeth is the uk's longest serving monarch, she is also head of the commonwealth, made up of 5a nations, nearly all of which are former colonies. as the queen celebrates 70

years on the throne, how is the historic anniversary of her coronation in 1952 being seen in those countries? is the connection still strong? we're joined by professor cindy mccreery in sydney to reflect on what australians think of the queen's celebrations and how the relationship with the monarchy is changing notjust there but elsewhere. thank you very much, professor mccreery forjoining thank you very much, professor mccreery forjoining us thank you very much, professor mccreery forjoining us on mccreery for joining us on newsday. mccreery forjoining us on newsday. you'rejoining us from australia, as we said. just give us a sense on how the celebrations are being marked there. i celebrations are being marked there. ~ . , celebrations are being marked there. ~ ., , ~ , ., ., , there. i think many australians are excited _ there. i think many australians are excited to _ there. i think many australians are excited to celebrate - there. i think many australians are excited to celebrate the . are excited to celebrate the queen'sjubilee, but are excited to celebrate the queen's jubilee, but we are excited to celebrate the queen'sjubilee, but we need to be clear the celebrations are muted here, other than the decorations on buildings, the lighting of the candle last night by the prime minister

anthony albanese. i think many people are watching the celebrations in the uk. there are celebrations planned, such as services of thanksgiving in churches here, concerts, but on the whole, the australian celebrations more muted, and there is a good reason for that. we have had a recent federal election, electing a new labour government, and already in the paper, there is an editorial saying, long live the queen but it is still time for us really to continue becoming a republic for this is also... also a time of reflection and consideration of the future. d0 reflection and consideration of the future-— reflection and consideration of the future. i. ., , , the future. do you get a sense, professor _ the future. do you get a sense, professor mccreery, _ the future. do you get a sense, professor mccreery, that - the future. do you get a sense, professor mccreery, that this i professor mccreery, that this is the same perception in other countries as well, especially the former colonies?- the former colonies? yeah, obviously — the former colonies? yeah, obviously there _ the former colonies? yeah, obviously there will - the former colonies? yeah, obviously there will be - the former colonies? yeah, obviously there will be a . obviously there will be a variety of views, and people within countries will have different opinions on this, but if we look at the fact that

barbados, which up until that point, was really a country with very close ties with britain, very loyal barbadian community in the uk, even barbados became republic in november last year, i think thatis november last year, i think that is a sign that even countries with very long and historic highs to britain and its monarchy, some of them are thinking about changing their constitutional relationship with the uk and becoming republics. and i'm not too guessing it is going to happen overnight, but it is coming in the future. overnight, but it is coming in the future-— overnight, but it is coming in the future. there is, however, a lot of curiosity _ the future. there is, however, a lot of curiosity about - the future. there is, however, a lot of curiosity about the - a lot of curiosity about the british royalty as well. how do you see popular culture adding to those perceptions, for instance the tv programme the crown? nearly 73 million people worldwide watched the crown since 2016. what do you think that tells us?— that tells us? absolutely. i think that _

that tells us? absolutely. i think that is _ that tells us? absolutely. i think that is how _ that tells us? absolutely. i think that is how people i that tells us? absolutely. i - think that is how people under but uk history, it is fictional, and we need to remember people were not monarchists love the crown, so seeing them as interesting celebrities rather than subscribe into monarchy as a model, but is the case that the queen herself is mild around the world, whatever people's clinical persuasion, and i don't think that is what you change —— is admired. what could be the change is how people view the next british monarch, prince charles has huge shoes to fill, and people in other countries may think it is not appropriate to be a commonwealth country. professor mccree , commonwealth country. professor mccreery. thank — commonwealth country. professor mccreery, thank you _ commonwealth country. professor mccreery, thank you for _ commonwealth country. professor mccreery, thank you for your - mccreery, thank you for your thoughts on newsday. the queen's platinum jubilee has also been marked here in sinagpore. the bbc�*s nick marsh was at the celebrations

and filed this report. this is one of the 5a beacons being lit in every commonwealth capital city to commemorate queen elizabeth's platinum jubilee. now tonight here in singapore, we saw bagpipes playing, there were traditional dances, there were speeches, there was music, and then finally, after a quick blast of the bugle and an official proclamation, the beacon was finally lit. and it was by the chieftain of the st andrew's society singapore. that's a scottish society dating back all the way to the 1830s here in singapore. of course, singapore was under british rule for 140 years. it got its independence from britain in 1965, and the historical ties do go deep. the educational system, the legal system, they're based on what things were like during the british rule. and you just have to take a look at the place names,

the colonial buildings, the statues you see, particularly in the central part of town, to see the legacy of colonialism all around. but it does have to be said that the relevance and perhaps the importance of the monarchy isn't what it once was. this, after all, was a private event. the platinum jubilee wasn't something that the average person in the street was talking about, there was hardly any mention in local media, but nevertheless, there was enough pomp and ceremony for a colourful and lively event to match all the others taking place right around the globe. you're watching newsday on the bbc. still to come on the programme: after winning his defamation case against ex—wife amber heard, we look at why johnny depp lost a similar court battle in the uk. the queen and her husband began their royal progress to westminster. the moment of crowning

in accordance with the order of service by a signal given, the great guns of the power. tributes have been paid around the world to muhammad ali, who's died at the age of 7a. 0utspoken but rarely out—fought, ali transcended the sport of boxing, of which he was three—times world champion. he was a good fighter and he fought all the way to the end, even through his illness. yes, he did. uefa imposes an indefinite ban on english clubs playing in europe. today is the 20th anniversary of the release of the beatles' lp sgt pepper's lonely hearts club band, a record described as the album of the century.

this is newsday on the bbc. i'm arunoday mukharji in singapore. our main story: in front of a crowd of thousands, the queen takes the salute from the balcony of buckingham palace with members of the royal family, kick—starting four days of platinum jubilee celebrations. in other news, president zelensky has called for weapons deliveries to ukraine to be stepped up — as he warned that russia now controlled a fifth of his country. he has also met the new us ambassador to ukraine, bridget brink. she has given herfirst broadcast interview to the bbc�*sjoe inwood, who reports from kyiv. the battle for severodonetsk is not over, it seems. this is how one ukrainian soldier experiences it. bodycam footage released on social media shows intense street fighting as they try to hold back the russian advance. "calm down, calm down — it's ok," he says. one of his colleagues

has been hit. they apply pressure to the wound before trying to get him to safety. it has been increasingly hard to get a clear picture of what is happening on the ground. even as the fighting rages, the region's governor knows this city may fall. translation: it's not - the battle for severodonetsk which is most important. we need to win the war. the luhansk region became the fortress to hold back a huge influx of russian forces. by holding them back, we don'tjust keep them at a distance — they lose equipment and personnel. meanwhile, we receive weapons from our partners. and it's weapons like these they're talking about — long—range rocket artillery called himars. it's thought they could change the course of this war. it's great to be in kyiv. thanks so much for coming out. they're being delivered by the united states, and today the new american ambassador met the president, and then the media.

she also gave the bbc her first international broadcast interview. part of our goal in providing all of this security assistance is also to strengthen the ukrainians' hands at the negotiating table, so it helps create a better situation for ukraine, as they may be looking at some point to how this conflict ends. but i think it's quite remarkable, the success that the ukrainians have had. russia's invasion has triggered an expansion of nato, with finland and sweden applying to join the defensive alliance. could ukraine one day follow them? ultimately, ukraine will have to decide what it wants in its future, and then as is with the membership process, the leadership of nato countries then also make a decision. so i think if we're in that... would you support it? if we're in that position, i think we're in a very good position, because right now we've got to help ukraine win the war.

but that moment is still a long way away. cities in the path of russia's invasion are still emptying out. this was sloviansk earlier today, a key russian target. those who can flee, those who can't face an increasingly uncertain future. joe inwood, bbc news, kyiv. a ceasefire in yemen has been extended for another two months. the country's civil war started in 2014, when houthi rebels took over the capital, prompting a saudi—led military intervention in support of the government a year later. the united nations estimates more than 400,000 people have died in the conflict. the actor amber heard is planning an appeal after losing a defamation trial against her former husband johnny depp over allegations of domestic abuse. ms heard says she's heartbroken whilejonny depp says

ms heard says she's heartbroken whilejohnny depp says he has his life back. but many questions are being raised about the level of online abuse and the wider impact this case could have. from washington, here's david sillito. johnny depp wins in his lawsuit... stunning verdict, victory forjohnny. this morning, - the growing fallout... amber heard had alleged she had endured years of abuse. the jury didn't believe her. however, her lawyers are not giving up yet. her next move is appeal. she is heartbroken. she is heartbroken, and one of the first things that she said when she came back from the verdict when we went into the conference room was, "i am so sorry to all of these women." this is a case that's struck deep. 0nline, it has become almost inescapable. i've been following it on, like, tiktok and stuff. i you've been following it on what? tiktok. if you go on tiktok, it kind i of like appears in your feed.

i think it's really weird to publicise a domestic abuse trial like that. the number of views of videos with the hashtag #justiceforjohnnydepp has now topped 19.5 billion. yes, 19.5 billion. this online torrent has left many deeply concerned. i fear that the impact will be quite negative — from the memes, to the hashtags, to the online bullying, victims are watching this and they are thinking about, "how will i be treated if i come forward?" and it should be noted, in a previous uk trial, amber heard's allegations werejudged to be "substantially true", but this second trial has been very different. and remember, amber heard was not writing in the washington post asjohnny depp's ex—wife, she was a spokeswoman, an ambassador, for a civil rights association talking about women's rights and #metoo, and many people watching her testimony began to have doubts on what impact it could all have on a wider movement.

take yasmine bedward. she got 4.4 million hits for one of her videos about the trial, and what drew her in were concerns about amber heard. this is someone who has become the face of a movement that - women have been fighting l for for years, and so to have someone be at the front of that |and not be truthful is damaging to not only the organisation, but i think women overall. . but, forjohnny depp, who has this week been performing in the uk, the trial has changed everything. for team johnny, its case closed, reputation restored. david sillito, bbc news. anger against foreign nationals working in south africa has led to concerns of yet another outbreak of anti—immigrant violence in the country. president cyril ramaphosa has called anti—foreigner sentiment "deeply disturbing", saying it echoes his country's apartheid past.

0ur correspondent lebo diseko has been speaking to immigrants in one south african township who say they're living in fear. a business that was once a dream come true. now the sight of a recurring nightmare. this mozambiquan barber says he's been repeatedly attacked by south africans who accuse him of taking their jobs. he's asked us not to show his face or use his name. the first time they came here, there were seven of them. they made us lie down. they took the machines, hairdress and even displays. we had no choice but to let them take them because they had guns. i'm afraid because when they come here, i don't know what will happen. they could kill me. this isn't the first time that anti—foreigner sentiment has been an issue in alexandra, a marginalised community on the doorstep of one of johannesburg's richest areas.

it's in this township in 2008 that xenophobic violence began and then spread around the country. with competition for increasingly scarce resources, once again, some locals are blaming other africans. among the loudest voices, a campaign whose name means "to push back" in zulu. alexandra's dudula movement has been closing down businesses it claims are run by illegal immigrants. we will not let those names that you just said, hooligans, vigilantes, break the spirit of the community who are fighting for what is rightfully theirs. if the government does things the right way, there won't even be anything to do with vigilantism and harassment. we also get harassed. we were attacked on march 7th by foreign nationals with bricks and sticks, weapons. so something really seriously need serious attention.

most of the foreigners we've spoken to say they're just too scared to go on camera. but we've heard again and again that people have had their businesses smashed up and been threatened. there's just a real sense that people don't know what's going to happen next. the owners of this stall say they live in fear after south africans armed with whips stole their stock. it's not the life this 19—year—old imagined for himself when he came to south africa from mozambique last year. my dream when i came tojohannesburg was to get a good job and earn money. i just want to live my life like other people do. i'm so scared. i'm even thinking of moving to another country. both south africans and foreigners say they feel forgotten by people with power because they're poor. a divided community united in despair. libo diseko, bbc news, johannesburg.

that's all for now, but do stay with bbc news. hello. 0bviously, so many events taking place over thejubilee weekend and many of us are hoping for some fine weather. and, yes, there will be plenty of sunshine around but also some heavy showers lurking on the horizon. they will be very hit—and—miss, though. now, the recent satellite picture showed the cloud which we had during the course of thursday into friday across the northwest of the uk, so some wet weather through the early hours, southwestern scotland, northern england, into wales too, but elsewhere across the country, there is actually a lot of dry weather to be had. 13 degrees at 8am in the south, 8 degrees expected in aberdeen. now, how about friday daytime, then? cloud and rain comes and goes, i think, in the northwest of the country, and then eventually most of that should

fizzle out and give way to some sunny spells. however, to the south, across the midlands and wales, we could see showers brewing in the afternoon — again, very hit—and—miss. and our temperatures, 22 in london on friday, up to 20 degrees in the western isles of scotland, but for some of us, it'll be closer to the mid—teens, particularly on the north sea coasts. and that's because of the fresh winds blowing off the north sea. and this is the forecast for friday night. so, friday night, many of us having dry weather, but through saturday, there is a change taking place to the south of us, a weather front here. high pressure in the north, so it's scotland, from saturday, that has the best of the weather — windless weather, clear blue skies, stunning conditions here. fine weather also stretching into the lakes and northern ireland, but in the south, there will be more cloud and a good chance of catching some showers, from southern wales, along the southern counties, maybe a little bit further north. and then, saturday night

into sunday, there is a risk of thunderstorms across southern areas of the uk. they will be drifting in from the south. the forecast will keep changing. these are very notorious to forecast. the shape of these storms change, the areas they affect may change. but the point is that through the course of sunday morning, we think that area of thundery weather will be drifting further northwards. but even once it clears in the south, showers could return in the afternoon, so a very unpredictable day for southern parts on sunday.

white macbook and back. singapore. president biden is expected to deliver a primetime tv address shortly — on tackling gun violence. it follows a string of mass shootings which have led to renewed calls for action on gun safety in the united states. recently, of course, there was the attack at the elementary school in texas, in which 19 pupils and two teachers were killed. and in past weeks, a grocery store in new york was also targeted as well as yesterday's gun attack at the medical

building in oklahoma.