this is bbc news. i'm maryam moshiri. our top stories: israelis hold a vigil for the 45 people who lost their lives in a stampede. sunday has been declared a national day of mourning. amid record levels of covid—19 infections, india's vaccine drive stalls, with some states forced to close centres as they run out ofjabs. as foreign troops begin their delayed withdrawal from afghanistan, a warning to the taliban against renewed attacks. the american actress and oscar winner olympia dukakis has died at the age of 89. and an icon of manhattan — the empire state building turns 90.

a national day of mourning is taking place in israel after a deadly crash at a jewish pilgrimage. 45 men and boys died after being trapped in a narrow walkway that was attended by 10,000 mostly 0rthodox dues. a tragedy that has shone uncomfortable light as one of israel's worst peacetime disasters unfolded. for now, grief overtakes the demand for answers. the dead includes a rabbi, foreign nationals reportedly from

america, canada and the uk. and at least 12 children and teenagers. during the stampede, many young lives were suddenly at risk. we received several dozen injured people, among them two children who died. and another 3—4 who were severely injured. the crash happened late at night in a passenger way during a religious section attended by ultraorthodox jewish worshippers. this man says he saw people screaming in fear on a steep ramp trying to get out, but noticed the exit seemed blocked. he says hundreds of people fell and trampled over one another. he thought about coming back to offer help but he says it was too terrifying. prime minister benjamin netanyahu visited the site and promised an enquiry, as questions remain. were the organisers pressured not to limit numbers despite less

space for worshippers in the wake of the pandemic? where prior security concerns raised in previous years at the event properly addressed? did the police help or hinder the events that night? was simple human error to blame? all painful questions at a painful time. all adults in india can now get a first dose of a coronavirus vaccine. that's good news, in theory, for a country that's become the first in the world to record more than 400,000 coronavirus infections in a single day. but many states in india have closed vaccine centres because of a shortage of supplies. and hospitals are still struggling to cope, short of beds and oxygen. devina gupta has more from the capital delhi. 400,000 and counting. surging covid cases now making inroads in india's hinterland.

these villagers in the eastern indian state of 0disha are living in fear. people here are so poor that they can't afford a proper mask, let alone expensive treatment. now three people have tested positive. translation: there are no facilities for i oxygen in our village. we have to go to the city, but how can we when there is a shortage, even in city hospitals? and his concern echoed in this private hospital in delhi, where 12 people lost their lives when the oxygen stock ran out. translation: we begged them to arrange oxygen i from anywhere that they could. during that time, there was a gap of about 45 minutes, when the stock ran out. despite this, we failed. this is a warning that india's running out of time to save lives, as the virus

continues to challenge the inadequate health infrastructure here. experts believe the country needs a national lockdown to prepare better and break the cycle, but so far india's prime minister has opposed this idea, emphasising on vaccinating more people. in fact, in an ambitious plan, he has expanded the vaccination drive to all adults above 18 years. and with an estimated 600 million more people asking forjabs, most vaccine centres have run out of stocks. translation: we were told that it would be a first - come first served thing here but the vaccination centre is deserted. we will see what we are going to do, whether we will get it or not. the government here continues to deny there's a vaccine shortage. but as cases climb, most nations are closing their borders for india. australia has even asked its citizens who have stayed in the country for over 1a days

not to return. a move that will reportedly impact 9,000 australians here. for now, those living here are betting against odds for a vaccine, to get a fighting chance against this pandemic. devina gupta, bbc news, delhi. nimi vashi is a scientist at the memorial sloan kettering cancer center. she is a covenger organiser who is trying to amplify and get help to rural people in india. she joins me from new york. it is so good to talk to you, thank you so much for taking the time to talk to us. how bad is the situation in rural india compared to the cities right now? , ., ., ., ~ now? first of all, thank you for having _ now? first of all, thank you for having me _ now? first of all, thank you for having me and - now? first of all, thank you for having me and talking . now? first of all, thank you - for having me and talking about our efforts. the situation in rural india from everything i know from friends and family is as bad as in urban areas. just like you were showing a couple of minutes ago, the problem is

people have to go into the cities to get any kind of support when they need hospitals. it is worse for those people because they don't have access to great health care infrastructure as people in the cities have. so care infrastructure as people in the cities have.— in the cities have. so what more can _ in the cities have. so what more can be _ in the cities have. so what more can be done - in the cities have. so what more can be done to - in the cities have. so what more can be done to help| in the cities have. so what - more can be done to help those people who clearly are so badly in need? , ., in need? some things we are doinu in need? some things we are doing and — in need? some things we are doing and many _ in need? some things we arej doing and many philanthropic organisations are doing on the ground in india is people have come together and they are making makeshift hospitals, people are sending in oxygen cylinders, we ourselves have arranged for five ventilators and deployed them and we hope to save at least one life with them. it is efforts like these which will save india immensely. if anybody has access to an oxygen concentrator or a ventilator, please send them, that can save india. in

please send them, that can save india. , ., india. in terms of the vaccination _ india. in terms of the i vaccination programme, india. in terms of the - vaccination programme, any aduu vaccination programme, any adult over the age of 18 can get theirfirst vaccine, adult over the age of 18 can get their first vaccine, but we are hearing stories of a lack of access to vaccines. what are you hearing from where you are? yes, the second dose has been delayed for people that i know. but i am surprised the rest of the world... i would like to request president biden to release doses so that india can vaccinate. it is notjust a problem in india, because variants can arise anywhere. please send vaccines to india, because india today can be anybody in the future. i know ou are anybody in the future. i know you are in — anybody in the future. i know you are in new— anybody in the future. i know you are in new york - anybody in the future. i know you are in new york but - anybody in the future. i know| you are in new york but covid has touched you personally as well, hasn't it?— well, hasn't it? yes, we started _ well, hasn't it? yes, we started this _ well, hasn't it? yes, we started this movement, j started this movement, unfortunately when i lost the clinician who treated my father two years ago, he was a close

family friend and when we lost him, every day i am waking up with lots of friends, people in extended networks, somebody who has helped me in all walks of life. people are serious and on ventilators. the last two nights i have been arranging beds and ventilators for my friends and their families. i am so sorry for your loss and thank you very much once again for taking the time to talk to us. . ~' for taking the time to talk to us. . ~ , ., the philippines is battling one of the worst coronavirus outbreaks in asia, with the recent surge centred around the capital manila. president rodrigo duterte has extended the lockdown in the capital region and four neighbouring provinces for another two weeks. earlier this week, the nationwide tally of those infected crossed the one million mark, although many claim the actual number could be much higher. ranjit rye is professor of political science and a fellow of octa research at the university of the philippines in manila.

thank you so much forjoining us, first of all, how serious is the situation becoming in the philippines?— is the situation becoming in the philippines? thank you for havin: the philippines? thank you for having me- — the philippines? thank you for having me- it _ the philippines? thank you for having me. it continues - the philippines? thank you for having me. it continues to - the philippines? thank you for having me. it continues to be| having me. it continues to be serious. but we are in the midst of this surge. but unlike other countries where the surge has been driven by variants, still going up in the philippines and in manila it has reached a peak and it is now a downward trend, which is somewhat good, but the cases are still high and hospitals are still high and hospitals are still high and hospitals are still filled up. we are hoping the extension of the lockdown, communities, government and the private sector working together, will help reverse the surge. haifa help reverse the surge. how worried are _ help reverse the surge. how worried are you _ help reverse the surge. how worried are you that - help reverse the surge. how worried are you that things could develop into something more serious? in could develop into something more serious?— could develop into something more serious? in a surge driven b more more serious? in a surge driven

by more contagious _ more serious? in a surge driven by more contagious variants, i by more contagious variants, you are always worried that the downward trends can easily be reversed. so while we are still challenged by this existing surge in metro manila, we are optimistic that the collaboration between communities, the private sector and government will continue, and government will continue, and we will be able to drive the surge down and overcome it. give us a sense of how successful the vaccination programme has been in the philippines. i programme has been in the philippines-_ programme has been in the philiuines. ., �* ~ ., philippines. i don't know about the success, _ philippines. i don't know about the success, but _ philippines. i don't know about the success, but it _ philippines. i don't know about the success, but it has - the success, but it has started. over1 million people have been vaccinated. it is a bit slow, but that is to be expected given the global supply problem. we hope to pick up supply problem. we hope to pick up the vaccination towards the end of the year but it will still be a long time from now. because vaccination is slow, places like metro manila, countries like the philippines will always be vulnerable to

outbreaks and surges in covid—19. this is a continuing challenge, the vaccine is a step forward but it's taking some time to deploy all over the country, largely because of the country, largely because of the supply problem. which is why i take this platform to urge governments in the west who have excess vaccines to share it with developing countries like the philippines. we need to accelerate the vaccination process and we really need the help of countries with an excess simply, countries with an excess supply, to be given to countries like the philippines who are in great need of vaccines. who are in great need of vaccines-_ who are in great need of vaccines. ~ ., ., ., vaccines. what about manila itself? its — vaccines. what about manila itself? it's a _ vaccines. what about manila itself? it's a hugely - vaccines. what about manila itself? it's a hugely dense i itself? it's a hugely dense city, the region is hugely populated. how difficult is it to manage covid and the variants in that situation? extremely challenging. the government has been playing catch—up as far as the surge is

concerned. in terms of the overall management over the year. it is hard in metro manila because the densest cities, manila is one of the densest cities in the world. when you have a weak public health system and mobility is high, all the ingredients for surges to occur. we are confident now after the third surge, we are optimistic that people will learn and communities will work together with local and national government to prevent surges from happening. terrible surges such as this, prevent them from happening again. 50 such as this, prevent them from happening again-— happening again. so good to talk to you. _ happening again. so good to talk to you, thank _ happening again. so good to talk to you, thank you - happening again. so good to talk to you, thank you for i talk to you, thank you for taking the time to speak to us. thank you very much. police in brussels have fired tear gas and water cannon at anti—lockdown protesters

in a city park. officials said two police officers were injured as they tried to break up the protest. organisers said it was a follow—up to last month's protest which was broken up in a similarfashion. portugal reopened its land border with spain and began the final stage of its programme to ease covid—19 restrictions. it recorded zero fatalities on friday for the second time in a week. as well as the lifting of the border controls, the opening hours for cafes, restaurants and cultural venues were extended, in particular at weekends. the world famous leaning tower of pisa has reopened to tourists for the first time in nearly six months. it was closed on november 3rd after italy was hit by the second wave of the pandemic. only 25 people are allowed inside at a time and have to follow strict social distancing measures. before the pandemic, the monument attracted five million visitors each year. the head of the us—led

military mission in afghanistan, general scott miller, has warned against attacks on foreign troops as they start to withdraw, saying they had the means to " respond forcefully". it comes after the taliban said the militants were no longer bound by an earlier commitment not to attack international forces there. that undertaking was part of an agreement last year which also committed the us to withdrawing all troops by today. the delay to their departure, until september, has angered the taliban. our north america correspondent, peter bowes, is following developments. i think there are mixed feelings across this country. of course, this is america's longest war. we've heard president biden refer to it as the forever war, we heard president trump talking about endless war. they both had the goal of bringing all us forces back home but with a different timetable. in fact, today, the 1st of may, was to have been the deadline set by the trump

administration, and this is why the taliban is seemingly so angry that the united states has apparently broken that agreement and why, over the next few months, with the new deadline of september 11th, there will initially be an increase in the number of forces, a tightening security, with the fear of reprisal attacks. but i think across the country, there is some ambivalence towards afghanistan. it's interesting looking at surveys, public opinion polls over the 20 years about people's opinions in this country towards us presence in afghanistan. it has shifted and moved. initially, there was strong support, and even now, the wound, the deep wound, left by the attacks on 9/11 is still very much part of people's lives, and i think that colours people's opinions as far as the withdrawal of the troops is concerned. so the next few weeks are going to be quite tense, and a lot of people looking on,

a lot of military families looking on with, obviously, very deep personal interest, in terms of the security and the process as it unfolds towards september 11. dr asfandyar mir is based at the center for international security at stanford university. he says the us decision to pull out has ramifications for the afghan government. president biden's decision to pull us forces out certainly extricates america from a very complicated war, but the war itself is not going to end and the conflict is likely to enter a new phase for afghans. there are three major challenges. the first is the question on whether the taliban will attack us forces as they pull out. earlier today, the taliban issued a statement saying that they are not bound by any agreement any more now that the deadline has passed. however, they remain in consultation

on whether to do that. the us military has proactively attacked some taliban ammunition dumps in the south of the country, in a bid to deter taliban violence. the second key challenge is the future of the security forces. us military is worried that these forces may not be able to withstand the challenge of the taliban, that they might collapse. multiple us senior officials have said that. and then the final concern is about the future of jihadists. al-qaeda is degraded, but it still has a presence in afghanistan. the chief of al-anda, ayman al—zawahiri, was assessed to be in afghanistan until mid to late last year, and the most worrying aspect of the jihadist revival issue is that the taliban still retain a relationship with al-anda, and they are only offering very minimal guarantees for now. and al-anda, for its part, is portraying the us withdrawal

as its own victory as well. you are watching bbc news. the headlines: israelis hold a vigil for the 45 people who lost their lives in a stampede. sunday has been declared a national day of mourning. amid record levels of covid—19 infections, india's vaccine drive stalls with some states forced to close centres as they run out ofjabs. the british government is cutting its core funding to the united nations children s fund by 60 per cent. unicef has warned the cut will have serious consequences , particularly for children affected by covid—19. the british foreign office says the government is taking tough but necessary decisions because of the impact of the pandemic on the uk economy. the overall foreign aid budget is being cut by more than five billion dollars this year. is being cut by more than five

our diplomatic correspondent james landale has more. unicef says it will have a devastating impact because humanitarian aid for children around the world, it is acute at the moment notjust in yemen or syria but also they say because of the coded crisis. so many knock—on impact of the pandemic that have increased the demand for non—covid health care that has been crowded out that charities are trying to deal with. the countryside, as you say, the government says look, the pandemic has hit the economy and they are having to make tough decisions and the uk will still be spending £10 billion, $13 billion per year on aid next year. one of the worlds biggest owners. what we are seeing now is drip by drip, the impact it will have on people on the ground.

there are reports of some progress at talks in vienna aimed at rescuing the 2015 nuclear deal that iran struck with the outside world. as a third round of negotiations ended, iran's chief negotiator said the process had slowed, but was moving forward. a russian representative said there was cautious but growing optimism, but european diplomats said much work still needed to be done. one of the world's most famous buildings, the empire state in new york, is marking its 90th birthday. celebrations at the tower will include a special light show and the number 90 illuminated on its famous mast, that king kong clung to in the famous final scene from the film. when the empire state opened on may 1st 1931, it was the tallest building in the world. since then, it's become one of new york's must—see attractions that in pre—pandemic times welcomed more than four million visitors a year. i'm joined now by david farber, professor of modern american history at the university of kansas.

it's good to talk to you, thank you so much for talking to us. this is a fascinating story. tell me first of all aboutjohn j rasco, you can't talk about the history of the empire state building without talking about him first. he building without talking about him first. . , building without talking about him first. ., , ., ., building without talking about him first. .,, ., ., .,, him first. he was one of those amazingly _ him first. he was one of those amazingly wealthy _ him first. he was one of those amazingly wealthy new - him first. he was one of those l amazingly wealthy new yorkers who helped create modern american corporations, he was the force general motors and then in 1928 he got an itch in his fingers to start building skyscrapers. his fingers to start building skyscrapers-_ his fingers to start building s scra ers. ~ , , skyscrapers. why did he build the empire — skyscrapers. why did he build the empire state? _ skyscrapers. why did he build the empire state? it - skyscrapers. why did he build the empire state? it was - skyscrapers. why did he build| the empire state? it was built as much as — the empire state? it was built as much as anything - the empire state? it was built as much as anything to - the empire state? it was built as much as anything to best l the empire state? it was built. as much as anything to best his close friend, walter chrysler, who was putting up another massive and famous skyscraper. the new york elites were looking for one more challenge, little knowing that they were starting a building crazejust as the great depression was

taking off. fist as the great depression was taking off-— taking off. at the time the buildin: taking off. at the time the building craze _ taking off. at the time the building craze happened, l taking off. at the time the - building craze happened, these huge buildings popped up, the depression occurred, the history of the empire state building after that in my mind is very much connected to hollywood and the movies, king kong. did that make it really iconic and famous? if it hadn't been for that film, would it have been what it is today? i think you are right. a little over a year and think you are right. a little overa yearand a think you are right. a little over a year and a half after the building opened, the famous king kong movie was shown throughout the world and the image of king kong grasping the spire of the building, 11100 feetin spire of the building, 11100 feet in the air, it imprinted the building on the minds of americans and people around the world and it became iconic. it is still iconic today despite the fact there are so many buildings that are taller, perhaps even more beautiful than the empire state. it is still so important now, isn't it? i still so important now, isn't it? 4' still so important now, isn't it? ~ , still so important now, isn't it? 4' , , ., it? i think it is still a beautiful _ it? i think it is still a beautiful building i it? | think it is still a| beautiful building but it? i think it is still a - beautiful building but you are quite right it is no longer

nearly the tallest building. and yet there is something about it piercing the skyline of new york city which are made as people. millions of people still come every year, hopefully post covid, up to $75 per person. they make hundreds of millions of dollars just letting people up. is of millions of dollars 'ust letting people up. is that how much it costs _ letting people up. is that how much it costs to _ letting people up. is that how much it costs to get - letting people up. is that how much it costs to get up, - letting people up. is that how much it costs to get up, $75? j much it costs to get up, $75? and loads of people pay it, don't they? i and loads of people pay it, don't they?— and loads of people pay it, don't the ? ., ., ., don't they? i am amazed too, but yes. _ don't they? i am amazed too, but yes. that _ don't they? i am amazed too, but yes, that is _ don't they? i am amazed too, but yes, that is what - don't they? i am amazed too, but yes, that is what they - don't they? i am amazed too, l but yes, that is what they have to pay for the incredible view. maybe we are amazed and a bit tight as well! i know new yorkers must love it, but what do americans feel about the empire state? does it have a national drawer as well? it certainly does. i am impressed that it certainly does. i am impressed thatitis certainly does. i am impressed that it is still a bucket list thing for so many americans, even young people, who still love the empire state building. maybe it is the iconographic king kong message towering above the world.—

king kong message towering above the world. there was the romantic film _ above the world. there was the romantic film with _ above the world. there was the romantic film with meg - above the world. there was the romantic film with meg ryan i above the world. there was the l romantic film with meg ryan and tom hanks when they met at the top of the empire state, they got together, i can't remember what film it was. sleepless in seattle, i think. what film it was. sleepless in seattle, ithink. very what film it was. sleepless in seattle, i think. very much linked to the movies. professor, thank you so much for talking to us, it has been a joy. b. for talking to us, it has been a 'o . �* , ., , for talking to us, it has been a'o. .,~' for talking to us, it has been a'o. .,q the american actress olympia dukakis, who won an oscar for her role in the 1987 romantic comedy moonstuck, has died aged 89. she had a long and distinguished career in theatre, both as a performer and as a director. but it is for her roles in comedy films such as moonstruck and steel magnolias that she found internationalfame. the singer and actress cher, who played dukakis' daughter in moonstruck, has been among those sharing their memories of her — tweeting that she had spoken to dukakis shortly before her death. viola davis, who starred with dukakis in the 1998 film �*the pentagon wars' descibed her as

a "consummate actor" and "a joy to work with". and actor michael mckean, who was taught by her at new york university, tweeted that she "was a great actress who loved the work and loved the theatre." well, there won't be too many of you that got away with a completely dry day. it has been a day where we've seen loads of showers, but as is often the way with showery days, we've also had some fine spells of sunshine between the showers. a sunshine between the showers. covering of hail to of a covering of hail to the roads of leek in staffordshire. you can see the extensive showers today nationwide. although they are beginning to fade away now, still if you left over. the reason we have had so many showers during the day is because over the last few days

we have had cold air move across the uk, that gets heated strongly by the sun in may which causes the showers to break out. the same kind of mechanism into sunday. most of the showers right now have cleared out of the way. just a couple left over for scotland in the first part of the night. another cold night with clearing skies, and a widespread frost. temperatures down to —2 or three in the coldest areas. a cold start to sunday morning, but clear blue skies for many of you. through the day, showers and start to break out across the north—west, and then becoming extensive in most areas into the afternoon. some of the heavier showers across central and eastern england and areas of scotland. temperatures disappointing for the time of year, highs of 11—11l. talking about disappointing weather, here comes your bank holiday.

an area of low pressure in off the atlantic, bringing windy weather and fairly chilly weather and fairly chilly weather as well. it may well start right across eastern areas of the uk but outbreaks of rain will spread from the west quickly, might be cold enough for a bit of snow over the highest ground in scotland and northern england. it's going to be pretty windy and pretty chilly, really, for the time of year. temperatures doing well to get into double figures across england and wales. scotland and northern ireland, 7—9 degrees. maybe the far north of scotland is the place to be to the best weather. after that, showering the most areas, further low pressure coming in from the south—west.

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this is bbc news, the headlines: a national day of mourning will take place in israel on sunday after friday s deadly crush at a jewish pilgrimage. 45 men and boys died after being trapped in a narrow walkway during the festival at mount meron, attended by up to 100,000 mostly ultra—orthodoxjews. india's expanded vaccination drive — offering all adults over the age of 18 a jab — has stalled with some states forced to close centres after running out of vaccines. the country is in the grips of record levels of covid—19 infections, reporting more than 400,000 cases in the last 24 hours. the head of the us—led military mission in afghanistan has warned against attacks on foreign troops as they start to withdraw, saying they had the means to " respond forcefully." the comments come after the taliban said they were no longer bound by an earlier commitment. a campaign has been launched to raise