a very warm welcome to bbc news. the latest headlines for viewers in the uk and around the world. i'm mike embley. president trump halts us funding to the world health organization over its handling of the coronavirus pandemic. the reality is that the who failed to adequately obtain, vet, and share information in a timely and transparent fashion. more than one in five deaths in england and wales is linked to coronavirus — the figures show 6,000 more people died than expected at the beginning of april. polling is under way in south korea's parliamentary election. the result is expected to be influenced by the government's handling of the coronavirus crisis.

# 20,000 feet up i saw the lights below me... bringing a little music and light into these uncertain times — grammy award winner mary chapin carpenter performs for us from her living room. hello to you. in the past few hours, president trump has announced he is suspending american funding for the world health organisation. he's alleged that the who, the united nations‘ health agency, has failed to show accountability in its response to the coronavirus outbreak. he also claimed it had failed, earlier this year, to investigate reports from the chinese city of wuhan that conflicted with official accounts about the virus emerging there. this is what he had to say. today i'm instructing my administration to halt funding of the world health

organization, while a review is conducted to assess the world health organization's role in severely mismanaging and covering up the spread of the coronavirus. one of the most dangerous and costly decisions from the who was its disastrous decision to oppose travel restrictions from china and other nations. they were very much opposed to what we did. fortunately, i was not convinced and suspended travel from china, saving untold numbers of lives. thousands and thousands of people would have died. had other nations likewise suspended travel from china, countless more lives would have been saved. instead, look at the rest of the world, look at parts of europe, other nations and regions who followed who guidelines and kept their borders open to china, accelerated the pandemic all around the world.

earlier i spoke to our north america correspondent peter bowes, and put it to him that president trump's attack on the who is being seen as a way of deflecting criticism for his own handling of the matter. that is the main criticism, that president trump is trying to deflect criticism and, especially, criticism based on what he did or didn't do in the month of february. this is after he imposed a ban, effectively a ban on travel from china to the united states, which he has, on many occasions, hailed as a major decision in terms of slowing down the spread of coronavirus in this country. and it seems he was particularly hurt, particularly annoyed by criticism, who criticism of that travel ban at the time. but in terms of withholding funds, $400 million to $500 million, this is a major blow to the who.

the us is the major contributor to that organisation. it isn't a final decision. it is pending a further review. but it does calculate some of the complaints we have heard from donald trump going back several weeks now. peter bowes there. the un secretary—general, antonio guterres, said this was not the time to reduce funding for the who. and in the latest update — the us registered a record 2,228 deaths in the past 2a hours — those figures just published byjohn hopkins university. to take us through how the us is coping, dr craig spencer is the director of global health in emergency medicine at columbia university medical centre, and hejoins me from new york. thank you for your time. i can imagine how busy you are. i

think you caught ebola in west africa? i think this cut would be one of the most disastrous decisions president trump has made recently. this doesn't just impact the usa, it impacts the whole world was that this isa the whole world was that this is a distraction to take the spotlight off book performance in the us. i recognise the who had an imperfect response in africa while working on ebola. but the who is great for future pandemics. they had a small budget already, were already begging for $1 million —— millions of dollars, and they have less funding than some hospitals in the us was that they are caught between political demands and holes little --

political demands and holes little —— hospital priorities. by little —— hospital priorities. by cutting funding, this is going to cut the tools and expertise all over the world to fight coronavirus once it ramps up fight coronavirus once it ramps up in already resource limited settings was that it means more death and disease everywhere, and we here in the us will never be safe until the whole world is safe from coronavirus. the who has been on the front lines of every major disease outbreak in recent history. they need reform, like any organisation, but we must focus on not tearing down the who if we wa nt on not tearing down the who if we want everyone to be safe abroad and in the united states. in what you said alone there is an argument that this is is an impossiblejob on an impossible budget. there is no doubt they failed to really see through what the chinese were doing in the early days of the outbreak? true. i guess i com pletely outbreak? true. i guess i completely agree. they do need some, andi completely agree. they do need some, and i think whoever is in charge of the tampa magna has made some of that reform. they area made some of that reform. they are a different organisation to what they were in 2014—15. with the most recent ebola outbreak,

they were on the ground within a few days to oversee the response. they aren't perfect, they need improvement, i have witnessed it, but the world is safer because of them. what i try to tell people here, especially in the united states, we save all of our contributions to treating smallpox every 26 days because of our work on vaccinating it. what you think where the failings of the who in early days and what difference would it make if things were handled differently? there has been criticism that the decision to declare public health emergency of international concern happened a little later than it should. surely that was not as late as it was in west africa when we knew for many months there should have been a public health emergency. it was days a week later than it should have been. but let's put this in perspective. the exact same day the who declared a public

health emergency of international concern, president trump was rallying in michigan saying this isn't a concern, we only have five cases in the country, and we can control it. if you are asking who has the operational experience to protect us, it's the world health organization. they have done it before and u nfortu nately i they have done it before and unfortunately i don't think our government leadership in the united states has the best track record at this point. it's a problem in the bigger picture that at a time when internationally we need cooperation worldwide, instead what we see is governments competing with each other, and in some cases offering bribes. it's offering to send private jets to pick up equipment they say their populations need when in fact everybody needs it. then we have this announcement from president trump on top of all of that. this is a failure. not only at the us level, at leading at the international level. we need global solidarity to beat this pandemic and there is a stunning lack of us leadership.

we have been fighting for people to get the personal protective equipment, we don't have a federal response. the response is being led by governors. the problem is this isn't going to be the same internationally, and places like central african republic, where there are few ventilators, mechanical ventilators, mechanical ventilators that people need to breathe, there are less in that whole country than my emergency department. it will be magnitudes more significantly impacting there than in the us. we aren't even talking about life—saving tools in other parts of the world and frankly the world health organization is the only organisation that has the trust and skills and presents to help provide all of those tools to places where they will be needed most in the next couple of weeks and next couple of months. skills and presence. craig spencer, thank you for taking the time to talk to us. thank you.

here in britain, the latest official evidence of the human cost of coronavirus shows a very sharp rise in the number of deaths per week throughout england and wales. it amounts to 6,000 more than would be expected at this time of year. the figures relate to the week leading up to the 3rd april. since then the numbers have risen again. there's particular concern about the situation in care homes and in the community at large, as our health editor hugh pym reports. my mum, she was my best friend, she was kind, funny... candice remembers her mother, ann, who died with covid—19. she last saw her when she was in an ambulance on the way to hospital where she died 11 days ago. i'm never going to see my mum again and i'd rather not see the outside again. my mum was only 58 and it just wasn't her time. this is just the worst pain in the world. and i think it's just not worth it, it's just not — going outside and meeting up with your friends. a tragic loss and there are many others suffered by families every day,

and now new statistics reveal there are more than we thought. until very recently, all the focus on coronavirus deaths has been on those in hospitals — that's where the daily data comes from. but the latest set of stats shines some light on the spread of the virus in local communities and deaths there which might be directly or indirectly linked to covid—19. weekly deaths in england and wales were at the highest since records began in 2005, according to the office for national statistics. in the week ending april 3rd, there were more than 16,300 deaths, that's around 6000 more than the average for this time of year. coronavirus cases contributed much of thejump, linked to nearly 3,500. but it's not clear what's behind the rest, possibly some could be caused by people not seeking treatment for other conditions. it is possible that there are further deaths that relate to coronavirus that haven't been recorded as that.

it is possible there are further deaths that relate to other conditions for which people perhaps have not accessed help in the way that they might have done in the past. the head of nhs england, after a big drop in a&e visits last month, has urged patients not to stay away from hospitals. if you're a parent and you're worried about your child, if you're concerned about maybe having a heart attack or a stroke, any other essential need, please come forward, access the nhs — our staff are here to look after you. sir simon, who revealed he himself had had coronavirus and self—isolated forjust over a week, was meeting student nurses and doctors who volunteered for front line work. is it a bit daunting when you think about it? yeah, it is — it is daunting. obviously i have family and friends that i care about. and my health too, as well. but... ..it‘s an important time for everyone, to be part of it.

boosting testing of patients and nhs staff wanting to return to work is an urgent priority. and the government set an ambitious target of 100,000 a day by the end of this month — up from about 15,000 now. and the big pharmaceutical companies say they can help. we'll be fully operational at the end of the month, the beginning of may, and by then, i think that lab's going to be contributing around 30,000 of the target. and obviously we're delighted to participate, we've got many of our scientists who are very engaged in that and keen to support that aspect of solutions. but supplies of personal protective equipment are still tight and there's been an urgent appeal to businesses to produce whatever they can for front line staff to help save lives for the carers as well as the patients they look after. hugh pym, bbc news. the coronavirus pandemic is disrupting political calendars around the world. but in south korea they are pressing ahead with parliamentary elections, despite the risk of infection. polling stations opened a few

hours ago and voting is underway. it has involved a lot of preparation to get polling stations ready, but the government is trying to reassure its 44 million eligible voters that it's safe to leave their homes. from seoul, laura bicker. this is an election like no other. voters must wear masks, stand at least a metre apart. their temperature is taken, they disinfect their hands and wear plastic gloves. these two days of early voting have seen a record turnout. despite the ongoing pandemic, people are still coming here in the thousands to cast their vote. they are going into these little booths here with their plastic gloves, they mark their ballot, and then put it in the box. translation: i thought maybe the election should be postponed because people wouldn't turn up. but now i am here and see

so many others i'm not worried. translation: i don't think we should be worried. this is about our right to vote. patients with coronavirus are also able to vote. special polling booths have been set up outside treatment centres. this woman told us she was thankful for the opportunity. campaigning during a pandemic requires some thought. gone are the mass rallies, replaced by mostly masked encounters. candidates whose main concern was once a slowing economy and stalled peace talks with north korea have now had to show they're doing their bit to fight covid—19. south korea controlled the spiralling number of cases quickly and effectively, aggressively tracing and testing infected patients. the widely praised response has given president moon's once

embattled democratic party a boost. the opposition, however, credit the thousands of health professionals on the front lines. there are fears that holding an election could trigger a second wave of infections. but, for now, south korea is determined to prove what is possible during this pandemic. laura bicker, bbc news, song. stay with us, much more to come on bbc news, including this: bringing music and light into uncertain times, the multiple grammy award—winning songwriter mary chapin carpenter performs from her home.

pol pot, one of the century's greatest mass murderers, is reported to have died of natural causes. he and the khmer rouge movement he led were responsible for the deaths of an estimated 1.7 million cambodians. there have been violent protests in indonesia, where playboy has gone on sale for the first time. traditionalist muslim leaders have expressed disgust. the magazine's offices have been attacked, and its editorial staff have gone into hiding. it was clear that paula's only contest was with the clock, and as for her sporting legacy, paula radcliffe's competitors will be chasing her new world—best time for years to come. quite quietly, but quicker and quicker, she seemed just to slide away under the surface and disappear.

this is bbc news. the latest headlines: president trump halts us funding to the world health organization over its handling of the coronavirus pandemic. let's get more on that. here's an assessment on president trump's latest press briefing from the bbc‘s katty kay in washington. president trump has had a string of enemies that he has criticised and blamed the coronavirus for an hour to the turn of the world health organisation, specifically it seems the president is unhappy with the organisation for being too close to china and at one point in the briefing he said that the two political correctness ahead of saving lives. and it is worth remembering that at the back of

january — who, donald trump specifically supported the world health organisation and president xijinping world health organisation and president xi jinping and so there is some rewriting of history but for the moment he is suspending funding to the who, pending some review. we will have to see how long the review ta kes will have to see how long the review takes and how the funding will resume. and before we go, here's a tale of incredible dedication from one who served his country in tough times. world war two veteran tom moore has been raising money for britain's health service by doing laps around his garden in the uk. the 99—year—old set out to raise £1,000 by committing to 100 laps. instead he has raised over £4000. instead he has raised over £11000. people say they are truly inspired and humbled by his efforts. the american singer songwriter mary chapin carpenter, a multiple grammy winner,

has been trying to bring a little music and light into these uncertain times while everyone is stuck at home. she's launched a series of online gigs on facebook, called ‘songs from home' which have attracted around 60 thousand likes and at least 2 million views. ijust started doing them to sort of bring a little light and hopefully a smile to folks out there and i had no idea that my animals would pitch in like they have so it has been a realjoy. well, apart from having you on live, it isjust a joy, really, to get away, to take people away from some of the horrors of the news. this is a very different vibe for you, isn't it, obviously, from a live gig orfrom a recording studio. how does it feel to be doing it? it is pretty great. it is a first time the bbc has ever come into my house, so i am really excited about that. and, you know, i don't have to dress up or anything, so it feels pretty greatjust to be playing a guitar and making it simple. and of course, there's so much music online now, there's been much more live streaming since

the crisis happened. do you read some of the posts? i have watched some of the posts, some of the pieces and, of course, there's loads of stuff coming from your fans. when i first started doing it, i tried to read all of the comments and the posts and i was able to do so and then it sort of exploded and i have not been able to keep up and i say that with humility. it is a great problem to have. i have been overwhelmed and overjoyed by people's desire to be connected and that is really what it is about. because music is connection and a comfort and a strength. exactly, it is all of those things. will you play for us and what are you going to play for us? i'd love to play you a song. it is called transcendental reunion. i wrote it about actually taking a trip, flying over to the uk, as i do quite a bit as i love to come there and play and record. it is about sort of feeling

a little lost at the beginning of a journey, but then, when you get to the other side, you realise you are with your tribe and it is sort of how i think we are all feeling now, so it's called transcendental reunion. shall i go ahead? i'm going to thank you now because i don't want to be the guy to cut you off before the end. we would be very happy if you just take us to the end of this bulletin. thank you so much. # from twenty thousand feet i saw the lights below me # twinkling just like christmas # we descended slowly # and the curve of the world passed # with all of that flying # above the mighty ocean # and now we all are arriving # grab the carry—on baggage

# join the herd for the mad run # take a place in the long line # where does everyone come from? # as we shuffle on forward # as we wait for inspection # don't be holding that line up # at the end lies redemption # now i'm stamped and i'm waved through i take up my position # at the mouth of the cannon # saying prayers of contrition # so please deliver my suitcase # from all mischief and peril # now the sight of it circling # is a hymn to the faithful

# forgive me for my staring, for my unconcealed envy # in the hall of arrivals # where the great river empties...# # it's hard carts and porters or the people it carries, to be greeted with flowers and fathers and hankies. # there is no—one to meet me, but iam yet there is no—one to meet me, but i am yet all but surrounded, by the tears and the joy unbounded. friends and

relations, over hemispheres, transcendental meetings, all the borders are shared. we are travellers travelling. we are gypsies together, we are gathering, we are full of pleasure. we're going not coming. we'rejust finding pleasure. we're going not coming. we're just finding way, to the next destination, and from night into day... mary shaping carpenter and she told us to go to have facebook page and she has 180,000 followers, and songs and m essa 9 es followers, and songs and m essa g es to followers, and songs and messages to her and from her. you probably know the version

of her song soul companion, her version with james taylor but she is doing it with angus the dog and the cat, very much pitching for a backing slot! thank you for watching. hello there. well, there's another fine and sunny day on tuesday. not quite as chilly but there was a bit more high cloud in the sky in scotland. then it was picked up by the setting sun in stirling, with a fine end to the day here. now, some of the high cloud is pushing southwards now, which means it could well be quite a nice sunrise across some eastern areas as we start off wednesday morning. other than that, it's going to be a chilly start to the day. you can see the skies for many, apart from the high cloud, staying clear. and that will allow temperatures to dip down, close to orjust below freezing in the countryside, to give some patches of frost up and down the country. an area of high pressure firmly with us then as we get on into wednesday, centred close to the uk — it means there's

going to be more fine and dry weather for the vast majority. remember though, there will be a little bit more in the way of high cloud in the sky, which at times will make the sunshine a little on the hazy side. also thicker cloud working in across the northern and western isles. it could bring an odd light shower and some cloudy weather seeping its way southwards across western scotland. just knocking the edge off the temperatures here. otherwise, it's a warmer day. temperatures reaching a high of 18 degrees. now, on into thursday, we're going to see some colder air arriving to the far north of the uk but some warmer air arriving across england and wales. so thursday is a day of increasing contrasts. again, there will be some areas of high cloud around, which will make the sunshine rather hazy at times. we could see some showers arriving towards the south—west of england late in the day, although there is some uncertainty about exactly how many of those are likely to make it down to the ground. and across the north—east of scotland, that's where we've got some cloudy weather, an odd spot of rain, and much cooler conditions but, otherwise, england and wales seeing temperatures into the low 20s. it will feel increasingly warm. for friday's forecast, there is a rather greater

threat of seeing some showery bursts of rain, particularly across parts of southern england, perhaps the midlands and wales as well. turning increasingly heavy perhaps later on in the day but, away from that south—west quarter, it's largely dry but still quite a bit of cloud in scotland and we'll start to see those temperatures cooling off around some of the north sea coasts of england as well. come inland, 17 degrees still not bad for birmingham and for london. now, the weekend, quite cloudy for england and wales. there is the prospect of seeing a little bit of rain for some of us. the driest weather probably in scotland, where it will stay dry and bright.

this is bbc news. the headlines: donald trump has halted us funding to the world health organisation, over its handling of the coronavirus pandemic. the president said the who had "failed in its basic duty and must be held accountable". he also accused the group of promoting china's "disinformation" about the virus. more than one in five deaths in england and wales are linked to coronavirus. new figures show 6,000 more people died than expected at the beginning of april — a record high. but there was also an increase in deaths from causes other than the virus. polling is under way in south korea's parliamentary election. the vote, using paper ballots, is taking place despite concerns that coronavirus will affect the turnout. voters must wear masks and plastic gloves and maintain social distancing. the result is expected to be influenced by the government's handling of the pandemic.