we've seen body after body being brought in. it's hard for anyone to keep count, but what workers have been telling me is that the real scale of deaths caused by covid—19 in india is a lot higher than what official numbers reflect. a showdown over privacy — facebook and apple, fall—out over the launch of a new software system which asks users for permission before their activity is tracked. and, the year's most prestigious film awards — the oscars, are due to be handed out in a live — scaled down — ceremony in los angeles.

the excitement is building here in hollywood but this is in oscar's year like no other. hello and welcome to audiences in the uk and around the world. first, international efforts are under way to help india — as the country suffers critical oxygen shortages and record daily coronavirus infections. the united states is the latest country to offer emergency medical equipment. britain has begun flying out 600 items, including ventilators — while france and germany will also send crucial supplies in the next few days. the indian prime minister, narendra modi, has described the surge of coronavirus infections in his country as a storm that has shaken the nation. our correspondent, yogita

limaye, reports from delhi. with every pyre that burns, india's self belief is dying. each funeral is a story of personal loss and national shame. charanjeev malhotra has been helping to cremate the dead for decades. "i've never seen such a terrifying situation. "i can't believe that we're in the capital of india. "people aren't getting oxygen, and they're dying "like animals," he says. "we don't even have enough resources to "cremate them properly." outside, shivangi mehra's on the phone, organising oxygen for the hospital she works in. nothing, nothing is being done. i don't know if government is sleeping, or what they are doing. i am totally disheartened with the situation that i am seeing. the government

is a literalfailure. a person cannot live here in delhi. a person cannot even die peacefully in delhi. she is waiting to cremate her grandfather, who died, she says, because there wasn't enough oxygen. this small hospital in north delhi is facing a daily struggle. and we have been spending sleepless nights since the last one week. at times we feel like crying, because we are not able to help patients properly. every day, it is the same scenario. we are left only with two hours of oxygen. and we are only getting assurance from the system, no oxygen. and so, families are being told to organise oxygen. at one medical shop, we found people with empty cylinders, waiting to buy their own supply for loved ones who urgently need it. people are being told the

government is rushing and oxygen. but it is already too late. since almost the very start of pandemic, scientific consensus has regarded a global vaccination programme as the only real way out. but some scientists are warning that a longer term response to the disease is needed, given that we don't know how long recipients of a vaccine will remain immune for. and some experts believe antibody testing will become a key part of this response. one of them is dr leong hoe nam, an infectious disease specialist who joins me live from singapore. first, welcome to bbc news. we do talk a lot about vaccinations but it is not the only way out. in fact it is not the only way out of the pandemic.— the only way out of the pandemic. the only way out of the andemic. ~ pandemic. right, ithink there are other _ pandemic. right, ithink there are other factors _ pandemic. right, ithink there are other factors besides - pandemic. right, ithink there are other factors besides justl are other factors besides just vaccinations. you need to take into consideration prevention and replication and hence the mutants come that they are causing a huge problem in india

and we saw itjust. this is really dreadful news but coming back to vaccines, vaccines have been very effective. we are shown in history we wipe out smallpox and contain polio to a smallpox and contain polio to a small region and the problem with the vaccines with covid—i9 is within the year of covid—i9 coming out, the virus has adapted to the vaccines which we have kind of rendering them less effective. so the solutions to mutations which is driving india's problem at this point in time is from nature itself. if you look at individuals who have been vaccinated, there are some people who do get infected and some people who don't get infected and this after exposure to mutants. why is there a difference? what is separates the sheep from the goats? at the end of the date we hear people say maybe we need a third vaccine just to boost the antibodies but i think it is rather criminal to talk about a third vaccine dose

when many people in the world, more than 140 nations and have not had the vaccines. so more than 140 nations and have not had the vaccines.— not had the vaccines. so doctor ou are not had the vaccines. so doctor you are saying _ not had the vaccines. so doctor you are saying do _ not had the vaccines. so doctor you are saying do not _ not had the vaccines. so doctor you are saying do not think - you are saying do not think about extra boosters and jabs, think more about monitoring antibodies to monitor how patients are responding to? spot on, because at the end of the day, the amount of antibodies to determine how quickly you will faucet with this are various concerns of the mutants and if you can measure the antibodies and then in turn and you can determine the kind of protection it has if the person doesn't have. so for example if i were to come here and we do the right tests and saviour antibodies are fine so you do not need a booster, infect your booster can be saved for somebody else or another nation, so having the right test is important but those tests are by the predicament that some are more equal than the others.—

equal than the others. doctor dr leong _ equal than the others. doctor dr leong thank _ equal than the others. doctor dr leong thank you _ equal than the others. doctor dr leong thank you so - equal than the others. doctor dr leong thank you so much l equal than the others. doctor. dr leong thank you so much for your time we have to leave it there but it is really important to talk about long—term programmes so thank you so much forjoining us. let's get you some of the day present other news stories now. fighting has erupted in the somali capital, mogadishu, between different sections of the security forces. some support the opposition while others back the president, whose mandate was recently extended by two years. the egyptian parliament has voted through harsher new laws against female genital mutliation, with those found guilty facing up to 20 years in prison with hard labour. a series of amendments to the existing law criminalissing fgm has also raised the maximum sentence for a non—medical individual to ten years in prison if the victim dies. ireland's prime minister has sharply criticised european football's governing body for dropping dublin as one of the venues to host matches for the delayed euro 2020 tournament. micheal martin said uefa had made "the wrong call" and was "out of order" to insist that fans had

to be at the games. the 93rd academy awards the oscars will begin in los angeles in the next hour. it'll be a very different occasion with part of the ceremony being held at the city's historic art deco train station. from los angeles, sophie long reports. the iconic art deco union station has undergone an eight—year face—lift ahead of its starring role in a ceremony which producers are promising will look and feel like a movie. that's the real magic of the movies. mank leads the field with ten nominations, a traditional contender in an untraditional year. nine of the 20 nominated in the main acting categories are people of colour... i know what i'm doing. ..including chadwick boseman and viola davis for their roles in ma rainey�*s black bottom. chloe zhao could win best director for nomadland, which would make her only the second woman to do so in

the awards' 93 year history. but she faces stiff competition from emerald fennell, for promising young woman, which could also deliver best actress for carey mulligan. so this is where the magic will happen. the vast majority of the ceremony will take place right here in person. there'll be no zoom calls and there's a dress code. there's been a very clear "no thanks" to sweat pants. it will be smaller — only nominees and their plus ones have been invited. the producer of aardman�*s shaun the sheep: farmageddon will be among them. excited, nervous, kind of unsure what to expect but, you know, to have the opportunity to go is just fantastic. composer and director kris bowers has been nominated for a concerto is a conversation, a short documentary about his family. do you know what it is going to be like? because everybody has to get tested and also most

people are vaccinated, once you are on the premises, i think it is like masks off, and it will definitely feel as, like, normal as they can make it, which i think will be pretty wild. definitely the biggest event i've been to since covid started. so finally, the oscars buzz is building. oh, the finale is going to be sensational, and we're building to it now. you feel it. when you see the transformation, what's happening inside the station and the wild anticipation you feel, your heart quickens, because it's so good. sophie long, bbc news — not in hollywood, but downtown la. let's go to our own starring double act in la tonight — our la correspondent peter bowes and the presenter of the bbc�*s talking movies, tom brook. you know them both. gentleman you look fantastic, over to you. you look fantastic, over to ou. . ~' you look fantastic, over to ou. . ~ , ., y you look fantastic, over to ou. . ~' , ., , . you. thank you very much indeed and we heard _

you. thank you very much indeed and we heard from _ you. thank you very much indeed and we heard from sophie - you. thank you very much indeed and we heard from sophie she i and we heard from sophie she was downtown los angeles which is a few miles in that direction. we are now in the centre of hollywood a few blocks in that direction is the dolby theatre which is the traditional venue for the oscars but as we have been hearing this has been an extraordinary year with split menus and hubs around the world in london and paris for those nominees who are on able to during this pandemic unable to get to los angeles. in oscar's ear like no other and also a very eclectic mix of movies in contention i think it is a common theme that a lot of the stories are either inspired by or based on true events. no madman inspired by the financial crash of 2008 —— no madman and very likely to take the top prize of the night being best picture and as you heard tom burke from talking movies is with me, do you agree that that seems to be the runaway favourite? it was

washed at _ runaway favourite? it was washed at the _ runaway favourite? it was washed at the venice - runaway favourite? it was j washed at the venice film festival— washed at the venice film festival last year and it was anointed _ festival last year and it was anointed oscars frontrunner status— anointed oscars frontrunner status right then and there and it stayed — status right then and there and it stayed in that position all the way— it stayed in that position all the way through. —— nomadland. it is the way through. —— nomadland. it is a _ the way through. —— nomadland. it is a very— the way through. —— nomadland. it is a very fine film. it has great _ it is a very fine film. it has great performances. i think the thing _ great performances. i think the thing that really has impressed me he — thing that really has impressed me be academy voters as it is about— me be academy voters as it is about something as you mention, to about something as you mention, io do— about something as you mention, to do with — about something as you mention, to do with people's lives in a way— to do with people's lives in a way to— to do with people's lives in a way to do— to do with people's lives in a way to do with economic dislocation, the great recession, something that really— recession, something that really does resonate for some and i— really does resonate for some and i think that chloe zhao the director— and i think that chloe zhao the director has done something very— director has done something very admirable, she has brought together— very admirable, she has brought together professional actors like obviously francis mcdormand with real life nomadic people.- mcdormand with real life nomadic people. mcdormand with real life nomadic --eole. �* ., ., ., nomadic people. and chloe zhao certainly the _ nomadic people. and chloe zhao certainly the favourite _ nomadic people. and chloe zhao certainly the favourite to - nomadic people. and chloe zhao certainly the favourite to take i certainly the favourite to take the award for best director, a chinese film—maker that if these oscars are notable for anything else, it is they are the most diverse of all the oscars since they started. you

are absolutely _ oscars since they started. you are absolutely right. _ oscars since they started. you are absolutely right. in every way — are absolutely right. in every way they— are absolutely right. in every way they are diverse. more than 70 women— way they are diverse. more than 70 women have got nominations if you _ 70 women have got nominations if you look— 70 women have got nominations if you look at all the nominations and i think that chloe — nominations and i think that chloe zhao will win for best director— chloe zhao will win for best director which would be very impressive. she will be only the second woman to have won a best— the second woman to have won a best director oscar. and if you look— best director oscar. and if you took at — best director oscar. and if you look at the acting categories, ithink— look at the acting categories, i think there are nine actors of cotour— i think there are nine actors of colour who are nominated in the four— of colour who are nominated in the four key acting categories so it— the four key acting categories so it will— the four key acting categories so it will be a very interesting year and i think the ceremony will be very interesting as well.- the ceremony will be very interesting as well. and that is dominating _ interesting as well. and that is dominating everything - interesting as well. and that | is dominating everything and time you and i have done this for many, many years, you've done it a few more years than i have but this year it is very unpredictable in terms of the look of the sermon itself taking place in the main station in downtown los angeles, very cavernous ticketing hall waiting room because they figure they can make abide by the rules of social distancing in that kind

of thing. but we don't know what to expect do we? steven soderbergh — what to expect do we? steven soderbergh who _ what to expect do we? steven soderbergh who is _ what to expect do we? steven soderbergh who is one - what to expect do we? steven soderbergh who is one of - what to expect do we? steven soderbergh who is one of the | soderbergh who is one of the three — soderbergh who is one of the three producers of the oscars ceremony— three producers of the oscars ceremony has made it clear that it is going — ceremony has made it clear that it is going to be like watching a movie — it is going to be like watching a movie from the moment you to increment— a movie from the moment you to increment this will be a three hour— increment this will be a three hour movie in which presenters and there — hour movie in which presenters and there are not that many of them, — and there are not that many of them, they will serve as leaders _ them, they will serve as leaders in a way and guide the audience — leaders in a way and guide the audience through this story and the nominees will be part of a story— the nominees will be part of a story and _ the nominees will be part of a story and somehow they will win prizes _ story and somehow they will win prizes. but i think it is going to he — prizes. but i think it is going to be something really good for some _ to be something really good for some crisscross something to look — some crisscross something to look forward let's hope it isn't _ look forward let's hope it isn't the _ look forward let's hope it isn't the good but it is a very challenging time for the academy because of the films in contention this year... to academy because of the films in contention this year. . .— contention this year... to be asked not — contention this year... to be asked not many _ contention this year... to be asked not many people - contention this year... to be asked not many people havej contention this year... to be - asked not many people have seen them. i have been matching those films, the titles of films to people around los angeles the last few days and you get blanca looks when mention ma rainey�*s black bottom and some of the other contenders as well. —— blank looks. and that is always a challenge. looks. and that is always a challenge-— looks. and that is always a challenue. ~ ,,., , challenge. absolutely we live in a new era _

challenge. absolutely we live in a new era in _ challenge. absolutely we live in a new era in a _ challenge. absolutely we live in a new era in a way. - challenge. absolutely we live in a new era in a way. i - challenge. absolutely we live in a new era in a way. i am i challenge. absolutely we live | in a new era in a way. i am old iremember— in a new era in a way. i am old irememberthe 1970s in a new era in a way. i am old i remember the 1970s when the godfather was in the running for an— godfather was in the running for an oscar godfather was in the running foran oscarand godfather was in the running for an oscar and everybody in the country knew about the godfather, they knew what it had been nominated for and what the film _ had been nominated for and what the film was about. and as you say, _ the film was about. and as you say, ma — the film was about. and as you say, ma rainey's black bottom, people — say, ma rainey's black bottom, people don't have a clue. nomadland they don't have a clue — nomadland they don't have a clue. things have changed and i think— clue. things have changed and i think people have for the been saturated a lot this year sitting _ saturated a lot this year sitting at home and streaming films— sitting at home and streaming films that it is hard for some of these _ films that it is hard for some of these films to break through. of these films to break through-— of these films to break through. let's see what happens. _ through. let's see what happens. we _ through. let's see what happens, we have - through. let's see what happens, we have a - through. let's see what. happens, we have a long through. let's see what - happens, we have a long night ahead of us. time for the moment thank you very much indeed. the oscars getting under way in just over indeed. the oscars getting under way injust over one indeed. the oscars getting under way in just over one hour from now. under way in 'ust over one hour from now.— under way in 'ust over one hour from now. ., ., ,, from now. peter, tom, thank you very much — from now. peter, tom, thank you very much for— from now. peter, tom, thank you very much for supper _ from now. peter, tom, thank you very much for supper can't - very much for supper can't wait. stay with us on bbc news, there is much more to come. nothing it seems was too big to withstand the force of the tornado. the extent of the devastation will lead to renewed

calls for government help to build better housing. internationally there have already been protests. sweden says it received no warning of the accident. indeed, the russians at first denied anything had gone wrong. only when radioactivity levels begin to increase outside russia were they forced to admit the accident. for the mujahideen, the mood here is of great celebration. this is the end of a 12—year war for them, they've taken the capital which they've been fighting for so long. it was 7am in the morning - on the day when power began to pass from the minority- to the majority — when africa, after 300 years, reclaimed its last white colony. -

this is bbc news, the latest headlines. international aid is being sent to india — as it battles a ferocious second wave of covid — and oxgen shortages. indonesia says a navy submarine that went missing on wednesday has been found — split into three pieces — on the sea bed. it follows an extensive search of an area south of the natuna islands, where the vessel disappeared. it's been confirmed that all 53 crew died. the military has not yet answered whether the decades—old german—made submarine was overloaded when it sank. david campa nale reports. nothing it seems was too big to withstand the force of the tornado. a bit ofa a bit of a technical glitch. let's move on to something about tech and the big tech world.

apple is expected to release a significant update to its operating system this week. it's already sparked a row with another tech giant — facebook. it will allow users to decide whether or not they want to be tracked by advertisers. so what does it mean for the industry and the rest of us? here's our media editor, amol rajan. two of the most powerful men in history are engaged in a very modern conflict. tim cook of apple and mark zuckerberg of facebook are in an ideological and commercial argument about how open the internet should be. and it's coming to a head with apple releasing the latest update to the operating system on its iphones, what's known as ios 14.5. until now, if you own an apple phone, all of the apps you have downloaded have automatic access to something called your... this is a building block of digital advertising. it allows companies, if they want, to track your activity across other apps and so build a detailed picture of your behaviour, your location, interests, spending habits and much else besides. with ios 14.5, apple is going to flick an enormous

digital switch and only allow companies to track your activity on their own apps unless you give explicit permission. in other words, presumed consent will be no more. facebook has launched an extraordinary pr campaign against apple, taking full—page adverts out in us newspapers saying these moves would limit businesses wanting... they argue that apple, currently worth over $2 trillion, that's nearly three times facebook�*s value, are motivated by money because they take up to 30% commissions from sales through the app store. apple argue this is about the principle of privacy. though tim cook said a few weeks ago it he wasn't focused on facebook, back injanuary he also said... ouch.

the open, advertiser—fuelled web does have huge advantages for small businesses and many users, but it involves trade—offs. our data trails mean we are targeted and often manipulated in ways we don't fully appreciate. apple control the hardware, and so have the power here. that's one reason why facebook are investing so heavily in the hardware of the future, augmented reality smart glasses combining encyclopedic knowledge with what's in front of our eyes. apple are believed to be working on a rival project. the deeper question here is how much does privacy matter to you in this digital age? and while we ponder that, the battle between cook and zuck is shaping our future. let's return to the oscars, we are so close to the film were positive biggest event. i have been talking to one of the nominees, the nominee of hunger

ward, nominated in the short document or category for some and this follows doctors trying to save people from starvation in yemen. here is a short clip from the trailer. a little earlier, i talked to hunger ward # director at the oregon—based director skye fitzgerald, this is a third in the trilogy that he says is from that humanitarian film making for some i asked him what it meant if he would take on the award.— what it meant if he would take on the award. winning the oscar would be a _ on the award. winning the oscar would be a huge _ on the award. winning the oscar would be a huge win _ on the award. winning the oscar would be a huge win for- on the award. winning the oscar would be a huge win for the - would be a huge win for the unity diaspora and for awareness surrounding the current conflict in yemen. from a personal level, it would be gratifying for work on the

phone but the big win would be on the largest stage in the world making more people throughout the world aware about what is happening yemen. —— work on the film. you -- work on the film. you persuaded _ -- work on the film. you persuaded a _ -- work on the film. you persuaded a doctor - -- work on the film. you persuaded a doctor and l —— work on the film. you persuaded a doctor and nurse to let you film the most emotional distressing scenes. how hard was it to get to that point? well you probably know, there is a generally sick embargo the country that prevents journalists and film—makers from getting easy access so our first hurdle doing the film was reallyjust first hurdle doing the film was really just getting first hurdle doing the film was reallyjust getting into the country and getting the paperwork to be there and of course the second hurdle was do you build trust with doctors and nurses and families who are doing the most intimate of work, right? spending there every day simply trying to save the life of a child. and that process for us was based on a foundation of trust that took a long time before we arrived in

the country to lay the foundation for the project trying to learn about their work and how we could collaborate closely with them to get the word out about this vital life—saving work they are doing. i vital life-saving work they are doinu. ~' , ., vital life-saving work they are doinu. ~ i. ., , doing. i think you had been there less _ doing. i think you had been there less than _ doing. i think you had been there less than two - doing. i think you had been there less than two hours l doing. i think you had been - there less than two hours when you first saw a child die in front of you and i want to ask you notjust by engaging the subjects, the people there, but also the audience, you are showing something so horrific and disturbing, is it a struggle to think about keeping the audience with you? yes. struggle to think about keeping the audience with you?- the audience with you? yes, of course it is. — the audience with you? yes, of course it is, and _ the audience with you? yes, of course it is, and that _ the audience with you? yes, of course it is, and that was - the audience with you? yes, of course it is, and that was one | course it is, and that was one of the greatest tensions in the film is how much is too much? and yet i always resort to this principle that to use nick kristof�*s words, images can galvanise and i believe deeply that the power of cinema as a visually driven medium can do something absolutely unique that if done with respect and

the right level of intimacy and allowing those we are filming to have the fullest measure of dignity, that we can show hard things and her things that people should see so that they understand what is happening so we can marshal resources towards changing the current geopolitical dynamic. so was it hard to film a child passed away in front of us? absolutely. and both the doctor and the family of that child wanted us to try to include as much of that footage as possible so that the rest of the world knows what's happening. the world knows what's hamenin, ., . happening. oscar-nominated director skye _ happening. oscar-nominated director skye fitzgerald - director skye fitzgerald bringing the situation in yemen to a bigger audience. bringing the situation in yemen to a biggeraudience. he bringing the situation in yemen to a bigger audience. he told me he will be arriving at union station at about now as one of tonight's nominees. good luck tonight's nominees. good luck to him. now let's bring you some spectacular pictures of a volcano erupting injapan. this

volcano erupting injapan. this volcano erupted in the early hours of sunday and sent ash and smoke more than 2000 metres up and smoke more than 2000 metres up into the sky. authorities have been cautious, set up a two km exclusion zone around the mountain. it is in a relatively remote area and police say no damage has been reported so far. one of the stories we will keep an eye on for you. stories we will keep an eye on foryou. let's stories we will keep an eye on for you. let's remind you of our top stories. united states is the latest offer emergency medical aid to india whose emergency services have been overwhelmed by the massive surge of coronavirus cases there. the supplies include urgently needed oxygen and ventilators and raw materials to support india's domestic production of the astrazeneca vaccine and ever other storage remind you is that the oscars are due to begin, oscars 2021. we have live coverage that we are bringing here on bbc world news but we also have live coverage on the bbc website.

you can see the page they're telling you about the stars gathering reminding you what is at stake. thanks for being with us. hello. the sunny, dry theme to the april weather continued to the april weather continued to the course of the weekend. this was the picture in wiltshire on sunday, similar to many areas from a blue sky overhead but quite dry and in fact quite cracked ground. some parts of southern england have seen barely any rainfall throughout the entire month so far. now this week a return to some scattered showers. we won't all be seeing them, but there is, thankfully, a little bit of rain in the forecast. and things turning a bit colder as well. we've got a small, slow—moving area of low pressure moving in from the north, slowly slipping south over the next few days. so monday morning, then, starts off on a bit of a milder note. particularly for scotland where we've got more cloud. still likely to see a frost across parts of england and wales, particularly

in the north. monday morning, then, initially quite a bit of cloud in the south but that will tend to break up so quite a lot of sunshine coming through. there will be more cloud for scotland with some patchy showers heading in and they will be heavier during the course of the afternoon for parts of eastern scotland. one or two into northern england and northern ireland. further south in the sunshine it's also less windy than recent days as well, so we are losing that biting easterly wind. still a bit of an onshore breeze making things cooler around the east coast, but further west temperatures for the likes of cardiff and belfast are up to about 16 degrees on monday. and then as we move through monday night into tuesday this area of low pressure still with us as it moves its way south we will start to see some showers rotating around that area of low pressure. so hit and miss scattered showers on tuesday, but they will probably avoid east anglia and the southeast where we could really do with a bit of rainfall around. staying quite mild in the south, up to about 16 degrees in the sunshine, but turning colderfrom the north as the winds start to come in from a northerly direction. just 7 degrees or so for aberdeen. into wednesday i think the focus of the showers probably for wales and the southwest of england.

fewer showers around elsewhere, perhaps one or two around these east coasts where it is, again, going to feel chilly. just 7 degrees for the likes of aberdeen. but could well be 15 or 16 for southern parts of england and wales too. but as low pressure drifts off towards the near continent that's going to open the doors for these cold north or north easterly winds, once again coming down from the arctic. so temperatures in the cold side towards the end of the week for thursday into friday, just about getting into double figures by day but do be prepared if you've got gardening plans, we could well see a return of frosty nights. bye for now.

this is bbc news,

the headlines. the international community is sending urgent medical aid to india — as the country grapples with a surge in coronavirus infections. britain, france and germany all said they were sending respirators and equipment in the next few days — and the us is lifting a ban on sending raw materials to india. indonesia says a navy submarine that went missing on wednesday has been found split into three pieces on the sea bed, all 53 crew have been confirmed dead given under water rescue vehicle owned by singapore was sent down to get visual confirmation of the wreckage. the 93rd academy awards are due to begin in los angeles with a strong representation from actors of colour — and british stars — due to pandemic retsrictions part of this year's oscars ceremony is being held at the city's historic art deco train station. now on bbc news

it's hardtalk with stephen sackur.