this is bbc news: i'm victoria fritz with the latest headlines for viewers in the uk and around the world. in israel, dozens of people are killed in a stampede at a religious festival attended by tens of thousands of ultra—orthodox jews. my husband, the president of the united states, joe biden! president biden holds a rally in georgia, the first stop on a tour to encourage americans to support his sweeping economic plans. portugal's to see a major easing of its coronavirus of its border with spain. actor noel clarke denies sexual harrassment allegations after newspaper reports led to a suspension from bafta.

hello and welcome. emergency workers in israel say at least 44 people have been killed and more than a hundred injured in a crush at a religious festival. tens of thousands of hassidicjews had gathered at the foot of mount meron in the north of the country to celebrate. courtney bembridge has more. eddie has uploaded to social media show the chaotic scenes. tens of thousands of people were crushed together at the foot of mount meron. we had “ust foot of mount meron. we had just finished _ foot of mount meron. we had just finished trading - foot of mount meron. we had just finished trading what - foot of mount meron. we had just finished trading what of l just finished trading what of israel's west disasters. a terrible disaster —— treating, people who came to celebrate

god and lag b'omer, and unfortunately were literally crushed to death. it unfortunately were literally crushed to death.— crushed to death. it was summed _ crushed to death. it was summed to _ crushed to death. it was supposed to be - crushed to death. it was supposed to be a - crushed to death. it was - supposed to be a celebration, a night of prayer, singing and dancing. translation: iwas there, inside. _ dancing. translation: iwas there, inside. it— dancing. translation: iwas there, inside. it was - dancing. translation: iwas there, inside. it was crowded| there, inside. it was crowded and there were around 60,000 — 70,000 people. no place to move and people started to fall on the ground. they fell a lot on the ground. they fell a lot on the ground. they fell a lot on the ground. all the ground. they fell a lot on the ground-— the ground. they fell a lot on the ground. all of a sudden we saw paramedics _ the ground. all of a sudden we saw paramedics from - the ground. all of a sudden we saw paramedics from the - saw paramedics from the hospital running by in the middle _ hospital running by in the middle of cpr on kids. and and one of— middle of cpr on kids. and and one of after the other ambulances started coming up. and then — ambulances started coming up. and then we understood something is going on here. many people who had been watching the event live on television. emergency services struggled to reach those who were injured because of the crowds. the roads were also congested and military helicopters were brought into take the injured two hospitals.

many of the first responders were volunteers, now being offered counselling.- were volunteers, now being offered counselling. many, many --eole offered counselling. many, many peeple were _ offered counselling. many, many people were hurt, _ offered counselling. many, many people were hurt, injured - offered counselling. many, many people were hurt, injured and . people were hurt, injured and killed here. and the volunteers behind us here right now being gathered together for an immediate debrief gathered togetherfor an immediate debrief on the gathered together for an immediate debrief on the cycle trauma unit. the fact that it is a very difficult side. the evening — is a very difficult side. the evening event _ is a very difficult side. the evening event is _ is a very difficult side. the evening event is the - is a very difficult side. the evening event is the start of the religious festival but all future events have been cancelled because of the disaster. courtney bembridge, bbc news. absolutely devastating pictures there. we can now speak to ari kalman — chief political reporter for behadrei hare—deem, israel's largest orthodox news website. you've been at this event yourself in the past — how well managed was it in your experience? how did this happen? lesson, it is a really. _ how did this happen? lesson, it is a really, really _ how did this happen? lesson, it is a really, really small- how did this happen? lesson, it is a really, really small town - is a really, really small town and a really small, maybe 10 feet squared and over 70,000 people trying to get in the

last few hours. everybody trying to get to one small place so you can imagine people are getting crushed when they are getting crushed when they are in a small path trying to get up and over and go and get through. and i think it is a miracle that it didn't happen until it is going on or maybe over a hundred years and it's a miracle it didn't happen until now. it is a terrible tragedy, all of the israeli state and also for the orthodox around the world. also for the orthodox around the world-— the world. you have been to this event — the world. you have been to this event in _ the world. you have been to this event in the _ the world. you have been to this event in the past - this event in the past yourself, how well—managed is it in your experience? it is it in your experience? it is very hard _ it in your experience? it is very hard to _ it in your experience? it is very hard to manage, - it in your experience? it 3 very hard to manage, usually 350 thousand people, around and now may be less during covid—safe the blusher it was shut on this year people are coming back. the largest event since covid a year ago, even

more. i was there a lot of years ago and this is the reason i never came back. i was too afraid and it always looks like it is about to happen, a disaster. thank god it never happened and we see the pictures today of all of the bodies and it is terrible. a lot of kids losing their parents and people up until now don't know if they have found their husband or their son or their husband or their son or theirfather is maybe their father is maybe hospitalised or dead. people are looking for them and it is really a major crisis. really a ma'or crisis. a pretty chaotic really a major crisis. a pretty chaotic scene _ really a major crisis. a pretty chaotic scene there, - really a major crisis. a pretty i chaotic scene there, paramedics struggling to get to the people crushed in the crowds. of course, this will be a time of grieving for the orthodox community but what questions do you think need to be answered in the wake of this loss of

life and the injuries that many more have sustained? first life and the injuries that many more have sustained?- more have sustained? first of all, we more have sustained? first of all. we are — more have sustained? first of all, we are getting _ more have sustained? first of all, we are getting the - more have sustained? first of all, we are getting the first i all, we are getting the first information that police blocked one of the passes to therefore people running away. we need answers why did they do that? and if maybe they didn't know what was going on on the other side? so it's an event that has been going on for years and will go on for the upcoming years and it will need to be arranged in a better way to be safe over the next year's. we understand — safe over the next year's. we understand that about 60 — 70,000 people were attending this festival.— this festival. and usually it is 350,000. _ this festival. and usually it is 350,000. exactly, - this festival. and usually it is 350,000. exactly, but | this festival. and usually it i is 350,000. exactly, but still in this time, _ is 350,000. exactly, but still in this time, 60 _ is 350,000. exactly, but still in this time, 60 or _ is 350,000. exactly, but still in this time, 60 or 70,000 | in this time, 60 or 70,000 people congregating in any area seems improbable. there will be more religious festivals in israel, how can they be handled differently so that things like this, off scenes like this happen again?— this, off scenes like this

happen again? this, off scenes like this ha en auain? , ., . happen again? first of all, we had the same, _ happen again? first of all, we had the same, maybe - happen again? first of all, we had the same, maybe less - had the same, maybe less people, a couple of people killed a few years ago and a big funeralfor one of killed a few years ago and a big funeral for one of the biggest rabbis in the area. it is always a fear and i imagine they will need to sit with the police and thejewish community in the orthodox community and make sure it doesn't happen again to try and find a way to do the next event in a safe way. do the next event in a safe wa . . ~' do the next event in a safe wa . . ~ , ., y do the next event in a safe wa . . ~ , ., , . do the next event in a safe wa. .~g , . ., way. thank you very much for our way. thank you very much for your time- — way. thank you very much for your time. thank _ way. thank you very much for your time. thank you. - president biden has addressed a rally in the us state of georgia to mark his one hundredth day in office. he said that he wanted the very wealthy and corporations to pay their share of tax. georgia is the first stop on a tour by mr biden to urge americans to support his plans to spend trillions of dollars rebuilding the economy. here's larry madowo. joe biden is back on the road,

part of victory lap, part sales pitch. americans use the first when hundred days of the president to compare their campaign promises against their early achievements. joe biden, it might have been a tougher battle with our georgia's two democrat senators who had him control the senate. if you ever wonder if— control the senate. if you ever wonder if elections _ control the senate. if you ever wonder if elections make - control the senate. if you ever wonder if elections make a - wonder if elections make a different, just remember that when you elected the two democratic candidates here, he began to change the environment.- began to change the environment. �* . ., , environment. biden already assed environment. biden already passed a — environment. biden already passed a coronavirus - environment. biden already passed a coronavirus relief| passed a coronavirus relief package that that money directly to most americans. he thinks his multi trillion dollarfamilies and dollar families and infrastructure plan would be just as popular with the ordinary citizens. republicans say it will killjobs and raise taxes but he promises that only the wealthiest americans will pay for it. it the wealthiest americans will -a for it. , ., the wealthiest americans will pay for it— pay for it. it is a once in a generation _ pay for it. it is a once in a generation investment i pay for it. it is a once in a generation investment in | generation investment in america. it is the biggestjobs

plan in this country since world war ii. and this is what it does, creates jobs, rebuilding it does, createsjobs, rebuilding and modernising our roads, highways, our bridges and ports and airports.- and ports and airports. biden will travel— and ports and airports. biden will travel to _ and ports and airports. biden will travel to other _ and ports and airports. biden will travel to other parts - and ports and airports. biden will travel to other parts of l will travel to other parts of the country to sell what he calls a blue—collar blueprint for america. calls a blue—collar blueprint foramerica. it calls a blue—collar blueprint for america. it includes proposals like paid family leave, child tax credits, and two years of pre— community college. i two years of pre- community colleue. ., two years of pre- community colleue. . , ., college. i have never been more optimistic _ college. i have never been more optimistic about _ college. i have never been more optimistic about the _ college. i have never been more optimistic about the future - college. i have never been more optimistic about the future of i optimistic about the future of america, america is on the move again. we are choosing hope overfear. again. we are choosing hope over fear-— over fear. president biden is not only bypassing _ over fear. president biden is i not only bypassing republicans in washington to pitch directly to the american people, he is also trying to appeal to a group that believes in what is now called the big lie. this conspiracy theory that donald trump is the legitimate president because the election was fraudulent. larry madowo, bbc news. portugal is to lift most of its coronavirus lockdown restrictions from saturday. the decision follows weeks of falling infection rates. deaths with covid—i9 have been in single figures in recent days. i'm joined from our reporter

allison roberts in lisbon. hi, allison. injanuary, the country announced what was then the world's worst coronavirus surge, which took the public health system to the verge of collapsing. what changed ? yes it was for a couple of weeks portugal had the world's highest rate of new coronavirus cases and deaths associated with covid—i9. it was essentially that lockdown that we have had since the middle of january and the whole of the mainland of portugal stop the restrictions have only started to be lifted gradually since the 15th of march and so saturday will mark the last of those lockdown restrictions. although there are others that will remain in place as they were in place before such remote working being compulsory where feasible. and it possible for example to buy alcohol unless you are eating

out in the evenings. so there are a number of restrictions that have been put in place throughout the many months but it is essentially, this title lockdown with shops initially being closed and schools being closed has now been lifted. the pm reiterating that an open border with spain does not mean the country can consider the pandemic situation resolved. how well is that message going down with people in portugal? l down with people in portugal? i think it is, really it was quite a traumatic experience, those weeks injanuary quite a traumatic experience, those weeks in january when cases and deaths rocketed and the government has been saying throughout the period of easing that it will be monitoring new cases and other indicators all the way through and it has been repeated again last night, the prime minister said that now they will be monitoring every week rather than every two weeks. there are a number of municipalities that aren't moving forward with the rest of

the country but which are going to be particularly closely monitored because new cases are rather high. there are also eight municipalities that won't be moving forward. they will either be marking time in terms of the restrictions are even going back having had some restrictions reimposed because the rates are just too high. the government is being very cautious after that experience of the beginning of the year. 0k, of the beginning of the year. ok, allison, thank you very much for your time. allison roberts there in lisbon for us. let's get some of the day's other news. brazil has announced that more than 400,000 people have now died with the coronavirus, as the country's health services continue to struggle. brazil has the second highest number of covid deaths in the world, after the us. five people have been arrested over the theft of lady gaga's dogs in los angeles. the singer's french bulldogs were returned two days after being stolen at gunpoint in february. the woman who said she'd found the dogs was one of those detained. the zulu royal family in south africa has announced the death of its monarch.

she was 65 years old and was being treated in hospital for an unspecified illness. she was installed as the interim monarch only last month after the death of her husband. bafta has suspended the actor and director noel clarke just weeks after he received one of its top awards following allegations of sexual harassment and bullying. the kidulthood and doctor who actor vehemently denies any misconduct or wrongdoing. tim muffett reports. viewpoint, itv�*s new police drama starring noel clarke. the actor made his first tv appearance more than 20 years ago and they have been many more since then stop but it is his work behind the camera that has won him huge critical acclaim, with the likes of the hood trilogy with kidulthood, aduu hood trilogy with kidulthood, adult hood and brotherhood. he

received an outstanding contribution award from bafta, wannabe academy's highest accolades. last night, buster issued a statement. it said... —— bafta. it follows a range of allegations concerning the actor's behaviour. allegations which he the humanly denies. in a statement, noel clarke said... tim muffett, bbc news. stay with us on bbc news.

still to come: sport goes silent — football, rugby and cricket start a four—day boycott of social media to try and tackle online abuse. nothing, it seemed, 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 began 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 warfor them. they have taken the capital

which they have been fighting for for so long. it was 7 o'clock 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 world news. our top story: israeli media report at least 38 people have been killed in a stampede at a jewish festival. we will bring you the updated numbers on casualties when we can and we are going to stay with that now. amie liebowitz reports on religion particularlyjewish culture and anti—semitism for our colleagues at bbc world service radio. thank you very much for coming in, amie. we know there were

many discussions about how to conduct this event safely, we know the numbers were restricted on what they have been before but still talking about 60 or 70,000 people in a very small space. why wasn't more done?— very small space. why wasn't more done? ., ., ., more done? i would have to say that the world _ more done? i would have to say that the world has _ more done? i would have to say that the world has to _ more done? i would have to say that the world has to rememberj that the world has to remember that the world has to remember that a lot of israel is vaccinated. you know, israel has opened up. there are bars, there are clubs, people are shopping, going to the beach. you know, not everyone has to do everything via zoom. and so authorities are less concerned about what was happening, of course there were concerns about superspreader events but in reality, this is one of the biggestjewish festivals that we celebrate in thejewish calendar and i'm assuming that authorities thought that, well, there are less restrictions but let attempt to make it as safe as possible in any way they

can. it as possible in any way they can. ., , as possible in any way they can. . , . , ., ' ' can. it may have been covid-19 save in so _ can. it may have been covid-19 save in so far _ can. it may have been covid-19 save in so far as _ can. it may have been covid-19 save in so far as many - can. it may have been covid-19 save in so far as many of- can. it may have been covid-19 save in so far as many of the i save in so far as many of the people attending the event, festival, will have been vaccinated but it does not stop the fear factor. when vaccinated but it does not stop the fearfactor. when people believe, it does not matter whether it is a religious event or sporting event, when people believe that others are being crushed to death, there is a stampede and everyone wants to get out and why was that not managed better?— get out and why was that not managed better? there's more information _ managed better? there's more information coming _ managed better? there's more information coming as - managed better? there's more information coming as we i managed better? there's more information coming as we go i information coming as we go along. of course, this is a fresh story has come in. authorities were not aware of how many people would be participating at this point in time. we do realise that they would have been restrictions. the festival did not go ahead last year. again, i would have to say that the community is very strong, it is very large and is better to expect these types of numbers and handle at

this sort of way and having surprises. this sort of way and having surprises-— this sort of way and having surprises. now, how is the festival normally _ surprises. now, how is the i festival normally celebrated? you say it was not celebrated last year but what sort of events normally take place around the festival? lag b'omer is celebrated _ around the festival? lag b'omer is celebrated throughout - around the festival? lag b'omer is celebrated throughout the i is celebrated throughout the jewish world. it particularly highlights the pilgrimage to mount meron which is where we saw this event occur. it is about visiting the tomb, the anniversary of the death of the sacred rabbi but was involved, and this is mysticism, it is very much based around a couple like belief, there are bonfires, music, learning from the torah and the bible —— kabbalah. and people come together. that is very different to what the rest of the diaspora had to witness this time around. many of us had to celebrate lag b'omer

either digitally, via zoom, as for example the q. week —— the uk has opened up, we have been able to go outside but again, israel is very much vaccinated and ready to party.— and ready to party. you say that, and ready to party. you say that. yes. _ and ready to party. you say that, yes, but _ and ready to party. you say that, yes, but the - and ready to party. you say that, yes, but the israeli i that, yes, but the israeli community in the rest of the world is not and people were online and celebrating this festival and the eyes of the jewish community were on this festival and on mount meron and ijust wonder what that festival and on mount meron and i just wonder what that then means for the community who were watching these events unfold online in real time. it was quite distressing to see. i mean, you could see people being squashed, gasping for air. these images were extremely graphic and upsetting and no—one would want this to happen within any part of our community. of course, there is definitely concern about how many people are gathering — may

come in, tens of thousands of people in one tiny space stop it is right near a city which is a holy city which normally sees these types of numbers throughout but again, we are in covid—19 and it is expected however that you know, there is not that concerned, really, there. ~ ., not that concerned, really, there. ~' ., , ., not that concerned, really, there. ~ ., ~ , there. ok, i know you will keep us undated _ there. ok, i know you will keep us undated so _ there. ok, i know you will keep us updated so thank— there. ok, i know you will keep us updated so thank you - there. ok, i know you will keep us updated so thank you for i us updated so thank you for coming in and talking us through what you understand and the response from the jewish community. thank you, the response from thejewish community. thank you, amie. a social media boycott begins today across the world of sport, from players and organisations to broadcasters and newspapers. it's hoped the protest will put pressure on the likes of facebook, instagram and twitter to do more to abuse and to punish those who do it. i'm joined now by doctor wasim ahmed. he's a lecturer in digital business at the newcastle

university business school in england and specialises in social media and sport. thank you very much forjoining me today. what difference, if any, do you think this boycott will make?— will make? hello, thanks for havin: will make? hello, thanks for having me- _ will make? hello, thanks for having me- i— will make? hello, thanks for having me. i think— will make? hello, thanks for having me. i think is - will make? hello, thanks for having me. i think is the i will make? hello, thanks for. having me. i think is the clubs have kind of launched this boycott, one of the things that is going to happen is generate a lot of media interest. and it's got people talking about what's actually been happening over the last few years. so because of this kind of increased interest, it is put a little bit of pressure on the social media companies to kind of look into how they can handle that kind of process but in recent days as well, social media companies have actually had to come out and detail the steps that they are going to kind of take in the future. but the thing is — kind of take in the future. but the thing is many of the

footballers are very valuable individuals and valuable to companies who use them as iconic figures in their marketing. i wonder whether there is a danger that some of there is a danger that some of the people involved in this will end up effectively biting the hand that feeds them. that is a aood the hand that feeds them. that is a good point _ the hand that feeds them. that is a good point but _ the hand that feeds them. that is a good point but it _ the hand that feeds them. trisgii is a good point but it can also work well the other way as well. if you look at some of the most followed users on the likes of twitter, for instance, a lot of those are kind of sports athletes, in particular soccer or football players actually rank within the kind of most active users on the platform. generating a lot of activity for these social media companies. and then if they decide to kind of boycott the platforms, in the short term it might have a little bit of an effect that if they keep on kind of doing these types of boycott, it might reduce the overall activity of the platforms themselves. the

footballer _ platforms themselves. the footballer marcus - platforms themselves. the footballer marcus rashford's campaign against things like child poverty and hunger were very much sustained by active social media use. to boycotts like this actually undermine social media as a force for good and a force for change? yes, so that is a good point, so there are kind of positives and negatives of social media so we saw through marcus rashford's campaign the kind of positive use of social media. but because it is kind of unfiltered public opinion can be shared on these platforms, i do think there needs to be better systems in place for kind of filtering and blocking out spam. we do a lot of research looking at the kind of tweets and social media posts received by athletes and we do find that they are kind of receiving a lot of abuse and so forth that could potentially be filtered out. we forth that could potentially be filtered out.— filtered out. we are going to have to leave _ have to leave it there for the moment and it will be interesting to see if this

works. give very much for your time today. lilo works. give very much for your time today-— time today. no worries, thank ou! -- time today. no worries, thank you! -- thank _ time today. no worries, thank you! -- thank you _ time today. no worries, thank you! -- thank you very - time today. no worries, thank you! -- thank you very much l time today. no worries, thank. you! -- thank you very much for our you! -- thank you very much for your time- _ now, before we go, if you've a head for heights, then have a look at these pictures — if not, then look away now. at 516m long and 175m high, it's the longest pedestrian suspension bridge in the world. those brave enough to walk across the slightly wobbly arouca 516, as it's called, will have an impressive view of the aguieiras waterfalls in portugal's arouca unesco geopark. it's onlyjust opened for local residents now and can be visited by the general public from sunday. the bridge is secured by steel cables above the paiva riverbed. it's apparently very safe and secure. sooner them than me! i'm not sure you would catch me “p i'm not sure you would catch me up there. do let me know what you think of the stories we're covering and do let the discussion continue on social

media, no blackout for me at the moment! i'm @vfritznews. i will see you in a few minutes with all of the business news. hello. april will continue to try to make amends with a bit more rain before the month is done during friday in the form of showers that will continue into the first weekend of may, and it will stay on the cool side with a risk of frost at night. and then for the bank holiday, look at this area of low pressure — a long way away but it's coming for us on monday. until then, we find ourselves in the wake of low pressure. unstable air, meaning showers and the flow of air coming in from the north—east. some cool direction. temperatures below average for the time of year, and another frost out there for many, as we start the day for friday morning. rather patchy in nature, more likely in the countryside than in the town and city centres, but it will be chilly. there'll be plenty of sunshine. already a few showers running in towards the north sea coastal areas. but after the early sunshine elsewhere, some cloud is going to build

and the showers break out more widely. some heavy, perhaps with hail and thunder. not everybody will catch them, though, and as for temperatures, it is quite cool, particularly along north sea coasts — many of us just in the range of 9—12 celsius. perhaps fewer showers in northern ireland compared with thursday, so more in the way of dry, sunny weather. as ever, the showers — not everybody�*s going to catch them — they will tend to fade away after dark overnight and into saturday morning and with another chilly start, with another patchy frost, but a lot of sunshine to start the weekend, to start saturday. but wait for it, it all happens again. the shower clouds build, the showers break out, some heavy with hail and thunder. they will be wintry, too, over the higher hills and mountains, particularly in scotland. maybe temperatures a degree or so higher on saturday and the winds are light, so if you are in some sunshine, it will feel reasonable, as it will again on sunday after a chilly start, but the showers will get going once again. more cloud gathering out to our west — that's the area of low

pressure i showed you coming in for the bank holiday. now, there's still something to play for in the timing of the arrival of this wet and windy weather moving in from the atlantic on monday. it may well be that the far north of scotland, the far south—east of england stay dry for a large part of the day before the rain gets in. but if you think rain is coming on the bank holiday, the winds are going to be picking up as well and it is going to still be on the cool side for the time of year, you won't go far wrong.

this is bbc news with the latest headlines for viewers in the uk and around the world. $100 billion in sales — amazon delivers a record quarter as the pandemic drives our online spending through the roof. charged up by the tech boom — the s&p 500 closes at a new record high. patently unfair — should poorer countries be allowed to copy covid vaccines? the wto is about to decide. plus, unequal burden — women bear the brunt as the pandemic batters india's economy.