welcome to bbc news. i'm simon pusey. our top stories: president trump sets out his plan to re—open the american economy. our team of experts now agrees we can begin the next front in our war, which we're calling ‘0pening up america again‘. the lockdown in the uk is extended by at least three more weeks, but we're told there is light at the end of the tunnel. campaigners warn that coronavirus lockdowns will lead to a pandemic of domestic abuse. we hear about the situation in colombia. plus, the 99—year—old british army veteran who's completed a charity walk in his garden — raising millions for health service workers.

hello. president trump has outlined his plans to lift the coronavirus restrictions across the united states, allowing the country to get back to work. he made the announcement hours after it emerged that the number of people claiming unemployment benefits in america had risen by another 5.2 million. he told the news conference that he wanted the economy to get back to normal as soon as possible. and that's what we doing, we're opening up our country. and we have to do that. america wants to be open and americans want to be open. as i have said for some time now, a national shut—down is not a sustainable long—term solution. to preserve the health of our citizens we must also

preserve the health and functioning of our economy. over the long haul you can't do one without the other. it cannot be done. president trump speaking there. our north america correspondent david willis has been examining how this ‘opening up‘ could come into effect. president trump said the onus, as he put it, would be on the state governors. it would be up to them to decide how, when, and where they relax the current guidelines on social distancing. it's more of a phased and gradual reopening that the president talked about today, rather than the sort of dramatic big bang that he had hoped for. he said that some states were in very good shape, as he put it, and would be able to reopen if necessary tomorrow. indeed, he said 29 states were in sufficiently good shape, as he put it, to begin reopening soon. now, this is a much more cautious approach from president trump than what he'd been hoping for, i think, just a matter of days ago.

he did talk at one point about a big bang reopening. and it's a change, a shift in direction, if you like, for a president who has shown a lot of frustration over having to close down the largest economy in the world just at a time when he was looking to revamp or to ramp up his bid for re—election in november, of course, simon. david willis speaking a little earlier. the uk has announced its lockdown will continue for at least another three weeks. standing in for borisjohnson, dominic rabb set out five conditions that need to be met before it can be eased, including falls in both deaths and infections, and ensuring the nhs can cope. in the past 2a hours, the uk recorded another 861 coronavirus deaths in hospital, taking the total to 13,729. our political editor laura kuenssberg has this report. the start of another day... come on, then, kids.

..where looking out the window is the only way to see the world outside. more time for fun for roco and bonnie. but for their parents in wolverhampton, another 2a hours of working, playing, caring and cooking, all within the same four walls. chocolate everywhere. we've already done more than three weeks. and i guess, in some ways, that's been like an extended holiday. we've had the weather, we've just played a lot in the garden. but my fears about more time are more for the children. so i guess there's a danger that you could become quite worried about them missing out on things. as the foreign secretary, in the prime minister's place, confirmed today, that time at home will be longer. the government has decided that the current measures must remain in place for at least the next three weeks. we've just come too far, we've lost too many loved ones, we've already sacrificed far too much to ease up now. but we are now at both a delicate and a dangerous stage in this pandemic. if we rush to relax the measures that we have in place, we would risk

wasting all the sacrifices and all the progress that has been made. and that would risk a quick return to another lockdown, with all the threat to life that a second peak of the virus would bring, and all the economic damage that a second lockdown would carry. you've been very clear about why in your view, and sage‘s view, now is not the time. as you said yourself, in other countries, people have been told when and what to expect. from what you know now, is it more likely that we're looking at another three weeks, or maybe another three months? we can't give a definitive timeframe. that would be to prejudge the evidence, that wouldn't be a responsible thing to do. but our message to the british public is there is light at the tunnel. we are making progress. if i start giving you artificial and arbitrary timeframes, it would be the irresponsible thing to do and i can't do that. come on, play! life under lockdown certainly is a juggle. the rooks think they fortunate, sharing child care and a home office. but the situation‘s intensely

tough for millions of people, and dire for the economy. 0k, darling, let mejust send this quick e—mail. on the eighth floor of this tower block in birmingham, tamika gill lives with her two kids. my kids bicker a lot. they're here together come in a confined situation. it's stressful. i almost fainted yesterday, to be honest. it's like all that stress, because i'm indoors and not being out, like i used to be. so it's kind of made me feel a bit down. so, labour is pushing the government for a timetable of sorts. while i support the extension of the lockdown, i do think the government needs to bring forward the exit strategy to tell us the principles on which things are going to change in a few weeks‘ time. they need to do that, because they need the trust of the public. we‘re asking a lot of them, another three weeks, possibly more of lockdown. but decisions haven‘t been taken about how

and when restrictions will go. and there are nerves about giving the public the wrong impression. likely to ease eventually, step—by—step. when we do, incrementally, ease any of these restrictions, we must consider what we need to do instead to keep the virus under control. for example, testing and surveillance, contact tracing and isolation of people with symptoms. with the progress of the disease flattening, moves towards lessening the limits on our lives are starting to be discussed. but the pandemic will have an impact on all our lives, beyond next week, next month, and perhaps next year. laura kuenssberg, bbc news, westminster. let‘s take a quick look at the latest on how europe is handling the coronavirus crisis now. rich preston has this report. for the second day in a row, francis said on thursday it had seen another fall in the number of coronavirus patients in hospital, but the country‘s

death toll remains high, with nearly 18,000 fatalities and a strict state of lockdown remains in force, raising concerns about the economy. president macron says the future of the european union itself is in danger if the block can‘t work together through the coming months. a sentiment which feels all too real for sentiment which feels all too realfor some countries. sentiment which feels all too real for some countries. yes, it is true that no—one was really ready for this. it is also true that too many were not there on time when italy needed a helping hand at the very beginning. and, yes, for that it very beginning. and, yes, for thatitis very beginning. and, yes, for that it is right that europe, asa that it is right that europe, as a whole, offers a heartfelt apology. italy remains europe's welstead country, with over 22,000 deaths. across europe, countries are slowly, cautiously easing restrictions on movement. germany allowing small shops to open as of next week and for children to return to school. colin says it will reopen parks and forests and

let more people into shops and churches —— poland. slovenia is as people will be able to play noncontact sports and visit holiday homes. but europe‘s creature stretches beyond the continent itself. written, france, and the netherlands all have overseas territories. they say they work together, their armies, navies, and airforces, living vital supplies, food, and medical equipment. french officials say the territories officials say the territories of guadeloupe, martinique have seen 19 coronavirus deaths between them. while many in europe feel the worst has passed, thousands are still dying every day. fear of the virus and has long—term consequences are still very real. rich preston, bbc news. campaigners in many countries across the world have been warning that the coronavirus outbreak will lead to a "domestic abuse pandemic" as vulnerable people spend all day with their abusers. national lockdowns have heightened the danger for women forced to stay at home and less able to call for help undetected. in latin america, one ngo teamed up with other organisations and published recommendations for governments

on how to protect the rights of women and girls during the outbreak. selene soto is a venezuelan lawyer who works for women‘s link worldwide. she joins us live from bogota. thanks forjoining us. talk through the data and the evidence you are seeing for this rise in domestic abuse cases. hi, thank you for having me. at women‘s link we know that global crises like the ones we are facing, we know they are facing a specific risk, like the one you mentioned, they are exposed to more violence because they have to be in lockdown, for example, with their abusers. that is why, we, in partnership with amnesty international and the international planned parenthood federation, we created the set of guidelines on how the states can protect the rights of women and girls

during this crisis. it is important to know that these are obligations that are not suspended because of the crisis and countries and states must observe the most, because if not half the population is not going to receive effective protection. so one of the issues that the government ‘s address is the right to live free of violence, specifically taking into account that the lockdown measures can expose women and girls to more violence, including sexual violence, including sexual violence, for example, so in the list of measures we have included, we recommend, for example, that the judicial authorities consider an extension for protective measures, such as restraining orders, and also that there must be mechanisms or resources available for women to file complaints if they suffer from any kind of violence. and, selene, what kind of things are you seeing during this lock down? what kind of cases and

what kind of statistics are using in terms of a rise in the reporting of cases of domestic abuse? yes, for example, here in columbia there have been some reports indicating that in the last few weeks, where the quarantine measures have started, the lines have received complaints on domestic violence have received more complaints because of the situation. why was explaining before. but also we are worried because one of the measures that has been implemented is the closing of orders and we know that this increases more exposure, more vulnerabilities for women because they continue to cross, but using unsafe paths. so we know now the situation with the border of venezuela or ecuador or other countries and because of the context of the venezuala migration is more difficult and, for women, we know that this is exposing them to be victims of trafficking and any other form of violence. selene

soto, that is all we have time for. thank you for coming on and talking us through what is and talking us through what is a very difficult situation, obviously, people stuck at home and that is the last place they can go, really, is to leave the home because governments are telling them not to. thank you so much for coming on and talking us through that. stay with us on bbc news. still to come: a morning jog through a city in crisis. crossing central park shows how new york is coping with the coronavirus outbreak. 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 has been setting out his plans for lifting coronavirus restrictions in the united states in conjunction with state governors. however, the british government has extended its coronavirus lockdown for at least three more weeks.

should everyone wear a face mask? that‘s one of the big questions people all over the world are asking right now. this week, singapore made wearing masks compulsory in public, and in the state of new york they are also required whenever social distancing is not possible. but many countries are still advising people not to use them unless they‘re sick. to help us understand the science behind this, i‘m joined jeremy howard — a scientist at the university of san francisco and co—founder of the fast.ai research institute. even reviewed the research around facemasks, what is the main thing you found?” around facemasks, what is the main thing you found? i am in author on the latest study, cross disciplinary review of the evidence around facemasks from 19 of the toppled in the area and we found the evidence is surprisingly clear, when we speak, we can transmit this disease by little droplets that come out of our mouth so small that we can‘t see them and any kind of simple cloth mask or

paper towel mask stops them in their track, about 99% effective in stopping them. looked at the data around this and saw is actually countries that have already get out how to keep their economy going without mass destruction, like we are seeing in london and new york, mass death. for example, taiwan and hong kong, there are economy is largely continuing as usual with a few social distancing measures but not lockdown and only have ten deaths each despite taiwan for example having a population of 30 million, they are doing the testing, tracing, the quarantine are potentially infected and facemasks as magic solution which we are seeing working and facemasks are a pa rt working and facemasks are a part of it. you mentioned taiwan and hong kong. why is there a divide when asia and there a divide when asia and the west. japan, china, to re— fix my career, hong kong, masks have been the norm for a few yea rs. have been the norm for a few years. there has been an

important change in east asia. masks have been the norm for people with symptoms but that doesn‘t help in the case because we know half the infections come from people who don‘t have symptoms at the time when the infection happens so what happened, in taiwan and hong kong, there were pretty close to the epicentre of this pandemic. they had people on the ground in were hand, they saw the asymptomatic and re— symptomatic spread so they very quickly realised, everybody needs to wear a mask. they already had the mask wearing culture because they have a history of respiratory pandemics in that region salerno importance of masks and despite the scientific fact, that you can transmit the disease and even if you don‘t know you have it, very quickly everybody realised we need everybody realised we need everybody wearing masks otherwise people are at risk. brieflyjeromy, your advice to anyone in city with a significant coronavirus up a, as well as social distancing, would be to wear a mask. yes, and any mask. you can take a piece of paper towel, staple

rubber band on each end, stick it over your face and that is incredibly effective at stopping the droplets. it won‘t necessarily keep you safe from those around you but it will keep those around you safe from you if you make sure everywhere you if you make sure everywhere you go, everyone is wearing a mask, that will do a greatjob of keeping you safe so we need help here from governments, unions, so in london, the mayor of london is saying, we want to enforce masks throughout our city and this is why. jeremy howard, really interesting to talk to you about that. thank you so much. the brazilian president, jair bolsonaro, has sacked his health minister after the two men openly clashed over how to tackle the spread of coronavirus. the minister had been an advocate of a lockdown. but the president has called for brazilians to go back to work. mr bolsonaro said brazil‘s economy needed to gradually open up, or the country would go broke. new york‘s governor has extended the stay at home order until may 15. despite the restrictions, the city‘s devoted joggers

are finding ways to keep up their regular routines. the bbc‘s tom brook is a runner — he laced up his shoes for a spin around central park, to help bring the pandemic into focus. stopping the spread of the coronavirus is a mission for all of us. the alarm goes off every morning with radio news bringing more gloom. i get up, make some coffee, prepare for my run, don my face mask and go down to the street. i live just 30 seconds from central park. there ijoin other runners. i stop and talk to them, of course maintaining social distance. they may be in the park on a beautiful day, but the pandemic is on their minds. i think about it all the time. i can‘t not. i‘m looking around and seeing people not wearing masks and not wearing gloves and standing too close together and i am on high alert for how far i need to move to stay away from them. this west drive of the central park is part of my route to the right of the grand buildings on central park west. the striking twin—towered art deco apartment building. then the dakota apartment building where the former

beatlejohn lennon was shot dead in 1980. # imagine all the people... opposite the dakota is strawberry fields, the memorial to lennon. beatles songs performed by paulina butterfly provide some solace to pandemic—weary new yorkers. i think i have an ability to uplift through the songs that i choose and the way i sing them, to then... i think that they appreciate that. then across the park to e 77th st and fifth avenue. two blocks east, you enter the war zone. 0n the front lines, lenox hill hospital. extra oxygen supplies are being brought in. at the back of the building, two huge refrigerated trucks. storing the dead. an ambulance driver who‘s travelled up from florida to volunteer his services for free has been getting a lot of positive feedback. what have people said to you about being here in new york?

lots of hugs, lots of pizza and lots of thank yous. that‘s great. # here comes the sun... every time a covid—19 patient is taken off a ventilator or discharged, a refrain from the beatles song here comes the sun is played on the hospital‘s public address system. nowadays, that refrain is being played more and more often. back into the park and another grim confrontation. a temporary field hospital has been rapidly constructed to house covid—19 patients. the hospital has been controversial because critics charge that its sponsor, the christian charity samantha‘s purse, embraces discriminatory practices, particularly against gay people. 1a tents make up this field hospital. this is something you would not expect to see this in what we call a first world country. like the us.

just a bit strange. these really are terrible, terrible times in new york. despite the reduction in hospitalisations, disease and thoughts of dying are inescapable. in the face of this, the struggle to maintain a good disposition continues. tom brook, bbc news, new york. you can visit our website for more information. he‘s been an inspiration to people around the world — and today british world war ii veteran, tom moore finished his challenge to walk laps of his garden to raise money for nhs charities. 99—year—old captain tom has raised more than £16 million — that‘s an incredible $19 million. david sillito reports.

you can‘t start halfway, you start at the beginning. captain tom moore was keen to do things properly on the final leg of a journey that had begun as a family challenge and turned into something extraordinary. i think it‘s an absolutelyl fantastic sum of money, we never would have imagined that sum of money, it‘s unbelievable that people have been so kind. it began just over a week ago. the target, 100 laps to mark captain tom‘s 100th birthday at the end of the month. a world war ii veteran born in keighley, he had served in burma in the west yorkshire regiment. the family hoped they might be able to raise some money for nhs charities and set what they thought was a bold target, £1000. within a day or so, we had reached a couple of thousands and we thought, are we dreaming of the dizzying heights of £5,000 by the end of the month? we just couldn‘t believe it —

were floored at the thought of 5,000. a week later, it had slipped past a million. steady, determined, optimistic, captain tom was proving inspirational. as he began today‘s final lap, the total stood at more than £12 million. he stepped towards the finish line to a chorus of congratulations. hi, tom — ben stokes here. what you have managed to achieve is absolutely fantastic. the funds you have raised for the real heroes today is simply sensational. i want to say thank you very much indeed for everything you have done, it's amazing. congratulations on a brilliant idea and pulling it off and doing it all before your 100th birthday. on behalf of the whole yorkshire regiment family, i'd like to say thank you to you, captain tom moore, for your amazing fundraising efforts. all: thank you, captain tom, from the nhs! and then the moment. 100 laps completed. the millions raised honouring both the nhs and captain tom‘s determination

and eternal optimism. at the end of the day, we shall be all 0k again and for all of those people who are finding it difficult at the moment, the sun will shine on you again and the clouds will go away. however, it‘s not over yet. if people keep giving, captain tom will keep walking. david sillito, bbc news. since that report was put together, the total has gone up together, the total has gone up to $20 million. let's look at the celebration of a mother and her newborn baby. hospital staff in long island, new york cheered as a woman met her baby for the first time. she underwent an emergency c—section, after being diagnosed with pneumonia and covid—19. you can visit our website

for more information. bbc.com/news. and you can reach me on twitter — i‘m @sipusey. stay with us. hello once again. while some areas saw a really glorious end to thursday, the cloud began to fill in across some parts of the british isles, especially in the south. signs of a change, to the extent that there is in the forecast a little bit of rain on the way for some areas. and, for many of you, that will be really quite welcome after a really dry start to april. now, a waft of cloud was all that we really got from this major area of low pressure, throwing belts of weather ever further towards the north. but this is the direction that we‘re looking in over the next few days to see these areas of cloud, bringing perhaps a little bit more in the way of significant rainfall to some as we get through friday, and indeed on into the weekend.

first signs of that change really getting into the south—western counties of england quite early on friday morning. elsewhere, it‘s a dry enough and a fine enough start. you‘ll see that this rain around about lunchtime and the early afternoon gets into the south and central parts of wales, but it struggles to get north of the m4 corridor. and elsewhere, away from the north—eastern shores of england, where again there‘s a fair amount of cloud and an onshore breeze, and still that onshore breeze into the eastern side of scotland, well, there‘s dry and bright weather to be had to western scotland, northern ireland and the north—west of england. and here, we‘ll see the temperatures come into the teens. 0n the east coast, though, eight or nine degrees only. through the course of friday evening, that rain again begins to make a little bit of progress into the northern parts of wales. there are odd heavier, thundery bursts perhaps just trying to get across the channel into the southern counties of england. saturday not a great deal of difference, just that we‘ll see further pulses of showery rain just trying to work their way that little bit further north. so it‘s saturday where we may

well see the odd showery burst of rain just trying to get into the north of england, maybe flirting with northern ireland, but the bulk will be found across the midlands and towards wales as well. not a great deal changing in the overall setup, so again the temperatures on the east coast around about eight or nine degrees. but inland, we‘ll be looking at somewhere comfortably into the teens. come sunday, it looks as though we‘re in for essentially a dry day. perhaps more cloud just coming up through the irish sea into northern ireland, with the chance of a burst of rain here, but elsewhere it‘s dry and fine. and by this stage, at last, at last, we can talk about double—figure temperatures on the east coast.

this is bbc news.

the headlines: president trump has set out his plans for lifting coronavirus restrictions in the us. he said state governors would be allowed to tailor their approach to meet their local conditions. the process would be carried out in three phases, which would be reached sooner in some states than others. however, the british government has extended its national lockdown for at least three more weeks. the foreign secretary dominic raab said any relaxation at this point would risk undoing the progress already made. the announcement came on a day when the uk recorded another 861 coronavirus deaths. brazil‘s president, jair bolsonaro, has sacked his health minister after the two men openly clashed over how to tackle the spread of coronavirus. luiz henrique mandetta had been an advocate of a lockdown — a measure rejected by the president — who called for brazilians to go back to work.