Image source, Dimitri Djuric

A scheme to give financial support to millions of self-employed people in the UK is due to end this weekend.

Chancellor Rishi Sunak is coming under pressure to extend the scheme, with a cross-party group of 113 MPs telling him it offers a "lifeline" to many workers.

Those who qualify get a grant of 80% of their average profits, up to £2,500, for three months. So far, 2.3 million have signed up to grants totalling £6.8bn.

Among them is musical director Yshani Perinpanayagam who said the self-employed have "a very difficult corner to fight".

“If people are missing mortgage payments, there is already an understanding that they need help without them having to prove anything," she said.

"But the self-employed will really have to justify why we can’t pay our bills if the government is not taking a stance that we are worthy of help," she said.

A similar scheme for furloughed workers has been extended to October.

Sunak is expected to set out plans later to ask employers to contribute towards this “furlough” scheme, which currently helps about eight million workers.

Image source, EPA

Russia has reported 232 deaths in the last 24 hours, a record one-day total that has pushed the nationwide death toll to 4,374.

Officials said on Friday that 8,572 new infections had been confirmed, bringing the national tally to 387,623 - the world's third highest after the United States and Brazil.

Andrew Harding
BBC News, Johannesburg

South Africa is wrestling with a huge backlog of coronavirus tests and doctors say this is undermining the country's entire testing scheme.

Tens of thousands of individual samples are being left for a week or more in laboratories before being tested. A shortage of equipment appears to be the main problem.

Doctors here say that such long delays render the results worthless. By the time a positive case is confirmed, that person could have passed the virus on to dozens of others and would probably no longer be infectious themselves.

It's clear that South Africa has developed a serious problem.

The country had some early successes in containing the pandemic, but the infection rate is rising. Cape Town’s hospitals are now close to being overwhelmed and experts say other major cities are likely to follow suit in the coming weeks.

Image source, Getty Images

A pilot of a private plane has landed at a military airfield in north Wales without permission, because he wanted “to go to the beach”.

He’d taken off from Fairoaks Airport in Surrey, and landed at the military site on the Anglesey coast on Monday, according to a report by safety officials.

Wales' restrictions are more stringent than England's - people have been told to stay local and not to drive - and tourists have been urged not to visit.

“The pilot informed the crew manager that he had flown from London to go to the beach", a report by the Defence Aviation Safety Occurrence Report read.

“When informed that this was a military airfield and that the coronavirus restrictions were still present in Wales, the pilot stated that ‘it was okay, because he had it two months ago’."

Scientists believe those who have had the disease may have some immunity to it but it is not known how much or for how long.

The unnamed man - and his aircraft - were allowed to leave the following day, the Royal Air Force (RAF) said.

A statement added: “Whilst irregular, it was assessed that there was no threat to station personnel or the wider public."

Kirstie Brewer
BBC News

Image source, Harriet Shearsmith

As some schools in England prepare to reopen on Monday, some parents' social media feeds have turned toxic.

Marsha's WhatsApp group went into overdrive as soon as it was announced that primary schools and nurseries would reopen for some children on 1 June.

There was outrage, relief, excitement, anxiety. Everyone seemed to have an opinion.

Marsha - not her real name - wrote that she'd be happy to send her son back to school. Then immediately another mum shared a news item about a teacher who'd tested positive for coronavirus.

"This is why I will be keeping Rosie safe at home with me - I'm not putting her life at risk," the other mum wrote.

Parents who have decided to keep their children at home haven't escaped the crosshairs either.

Blogger Harriet Shearsmith was told by some that she didn't care about her children's education, after she wrote that she wouldn't be sending them back when school's reopen in June.

Read more from Kirstie Brewer, who has been speaking to mothers who feel judged or shamed for their decisions.

Image source, Getty Images

Is there anything we do not use Zoom for while social distancing measures are in place due to the cornavirus pandemic?

People have taken to the video conferencing platform for meetings, quizzes and generally keeping in touch with family and friends during lockdown.

Danish Superliga club AGF Aarhus used the technology to bring 10,000 fans to the side of their pitch, despite the season being played behind closed doors, on Thursday.

During their 1-1 draw against Randers, AGF installed a giant screen along the side of the pitch, creating what they call "the world's first virtual grandstand" so fans could support the team for free via Zoom.

Three screens were joined together to make a giant screen with space for 200 fan images at a time.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, AFP

Image source, Meehika Barua

Given the restrictions on international travel, it's no surprise that hundreds of thousands of students who were planning to study abroad this year have been left in limbo.

After China, India sends more students abroad to study than any other country, external.

The BBC's Nikita Mandhani spoke to some of those students who are worried about what will happen next.

"There's a lot of stress and anxiety and tension at this time but not enough clarity," said Meehika Barua, 23, who wants to study in the UK.

Another student said: "It feels a little unfair, especially after spending a year-and-half to get admission into one of these schools."

You can read more here.

Image source, Getty Images

People have been returning to beaches, parks and beauty spots - and now each others gardens - to enjoy the warmer weather in England and Scotland.

But many are finding public toilets are still closed, leaving them with an urgent question - where do I go when I need to go to the loo?

Even when visiting other people's gardens people in England have been advised to wipe everything down if they do need to spend a penny. But in Scotland people have been urged not to go to other people's homes at all.

The British Toilet Association (BTA), said there would need to be a "complete rethink" of public toilets for the post-Covid age.

We've been speaking to those most affected by the loss of the public toilet and ask those most in the know - what is the future of the public toilet?

Image source, PA Media

England's Football Association has announced that the FA Cup quarter-finals have been rescheduled for the weekend of 27-28 June.

The semi-finals will take place on 11-12 July, with the final set for Saturday, 1 August.

On Thursday it was confirmed the Premier League season would resume on 17 June, subject to government approval.

"The competition has been an integral part of the English football calendar for nearly 150 years, and we’d like to thank the Premier League executive and clubs for their support in scheduling the remaining matches during this unprecedented time," said the FA's chief executive Mark Bullingham.

There have been no FA Cup ties since 5 March because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The quarter-final draw, which was made on 9 March, is: Leicester City v Chelsea, Newcastle United v Manchester City, Sheffield United v Arsenal, Norwich City v Manchester United.

Sarah Rainsford
BBC Moscow Correspondent

Russia has reported its highest single-day rise in coronavirus deaths, with 232 fatalities. The surge appears to reflect an increase in people catching the virus in several regions earlier this month.

Outside of Moscow, the majority of deaths were recorded in the southern republic of Dagestan.

It emerged recently that doctors there had been struggling with overflowing wards, minimal protective clothing and a dire shortage of medicines. At least 50 deaths were added to the national count overnight.

The increase comes as the Health Ministry more than doubled its initial count of Covid-19 fatalities in Moscow in April, amid claims that Russia had been under-reporting its statistics.

The ministry said it was applying a "new methodology" and the tally now included cases where an autopsy revealed coronavirus, despite a negative test result. It also said it now included those cases where the virus was a "catalyst" to existing illnesses.

That revision is not yet reflected in the country's overall statistics.

People residing in care homes have accounted for more than half of Covid-19 related deaths in Northern Ireland, official figures show.

The figures from the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency show that by last Friday, 380 (53.1%) of the 716 deaths it recorded in total had been care home residents.

People in Scotland are now able to meet friends and family again as the country begins to ease its lockdown.

People will also be able to take part in some non-contact sports, including golf, which means courses around the country are preparing for play to resume.

Here at The Old Course in St Andrews, staff can be seen readying the greens and fairways.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

The BBC understands the prime minister’s top adviser Dominic Cummings told No 10 officials this morning that there is no plan for him to leave his post and the situation remains that he’ll decide after an operation that was delayed again in March.

The aide has been embroiled in a row over his travel during lockdown, including a 260 mile journey from his home in London to Country Durham.

It comes after the Daily Mail reported, external Cummings was considering leaving his job later this year.

Simon Jack
BBC Business Editor

Image source, Getty Images

In the family game Kerplunk, a collection of marbles is balanced on top of a lattice of supporting rods.

Players of the game take turns to attempt to remove these supporting rods one by one without allowing the marbles to come crashing down.

That is precisely what Chancellor Rishi Sunak will attempt when he starts to remove the government furlough scheme - the most significant pillar of support for millions of businesses and workers.

Can he delicately and gradually remove it without the economy crashing down as unemployment rockets?

We expect that as soon as today, the government will give more detail on its plan that after July employers bear some of the cost of the Job Retention Scheme.

The JRS, or furlough scheme, is currently paying 80% of the wages of over 8 million workers to the end of October at an estimated cost to the taxpayer of £80 billion pounds.

Read more from Simon here.

As lockdown restrictions have eased in England, cities and towns across the country have slowly begun to return to normal.

This video, which shows places like beaches and major roads from above, makes the increase in activity in recent days clear.

Click below to watch.

What will happen if someone has coronavirus in a school? Can you attend school if you live with a vulnerable family member?

With some schools in England beginning to return on 1 June, children have been sending us their questions - with BBC education editor Branwen Jeffreys, on hand to answer.

Resty Woro Yuniar
BBC News, Jakarta

Tourists looking to visit the Indonesian resort island of Bali will need to prove they are free of coronavirus before they start their holiday.

The island hopes to reopen in July - but tourists will need a negative test result from their home country, or Indonesian city of origin, before being allowed in.

They will also need to fill in an online form, set up by the local government, to enable tracing in case needed. Bali saw a decline of nearly 100% in foreign tourists arrivals in April, according to Bali deputy governor Tjokorda Oka Sukawati.

However, Indonesian President Joko Widodo said yesterday that tourist destinations shouldn’t reopen “in haste”.

It remains uncertain when Bali will reopen, but Rai Suryawijaya, a member of Bali's Covid-19 economic recovery team, has told BBC Indonesia that the new normal protocols will be applied to Bali in July.

The island had confirmed 420 Covid-19 positive cases as of Thursday, and four virus-linked deaths.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Science Photo Library

A leading cancer charity in the UK has called for the government to provide clearer guidance for those who are shielding and have been asked to stay at home because they are most at risk from Covid-19.

Macmillan Cancer Support's policy director Steven McIntosh told BBC Radio 4's Today programme there had been issues with people being missed off the shielding list or removed without notice.

"So there is a real lack of communication and, in terms of priorities, the guidance and support available to the people who are most at risk and most isolated should be at the top of the list," he said.

"A brief mention in a press conference from the prime minister is not a substitute for working with the organisations who are most in touch with these people to get clear communications about what the next few months of total isolation means for them."

During Thursday's press conference, Boris Johnson said that despite the slight relaxation of the lockdown rules in England, those who have been asked to shield themselves should continue to do so. However, he said ministers were "looking carefully at how we can make your life easier" and hope to "say more on that soon".

Bethany Bell
BBC News, Vienna

Image source, Getty Images

Hotels are reopening in Austria today, in a further easing of the country's lockdown restrictions.

For now they are only open to citizens, but there are hopes that foreign tourists will be able to visit once the borders with neighbouring countries open in mid-June.

There are also plans to mass test hotel staff in order to try and reassure tourists, and banish the memory of outbreaks of Covid-19 at popular ski resorts earlier this year.

The country hopes to test 65,000 hotel workers a week by the beginning of July, and these tests will be paid for by the government.

Theatres and concert halls are also reopening, but audiences are limited to 100 people and strict social distancing rules apply. There are step-by-step plans to increase audience sizes over the coming weeks.

Image source, AFP

Russia has reported 232 more deaths, its highest number in a 24-hour period, bringing the total to 4,374. New infections, at 8,572, are well down from their peak. That death toll may be under-reported too, as our story on Moscow's decision to revise its number explains.

Swimming in outdoor pools and holding weddings with up to 100 people are now allowed in Austria. After a relatively minor outbreak with 645 deaths in total, restrictions are being lifted fast.

Another meat processing plant in the Netherlands has reported an outbreak - 21 out of 130 staff have tested positive at Van Rooi Meat in the southern city of Helmond.

Spain has decided to move 70% of the country to Phase Two of lifting the lockdown on Monday - cinemas, theatres, concert halls and shopping centres will reopen, in a limited way.

Croatia's reopened its borders to 10 EU countries including Austria, but as Croatia is not on Austria's "white list", returning tourists will need a negative Covid-19 test to come back.