hello and welcome to bbc news. a national day of mourning is taking place in israel 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. mark lobel reports. morning, a tragedy. 0ne morning, a tragedy. one that shown an uncomfortable light on israeli society amid the search for how what 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 we have another three or four children who are severely injured. the crash happened late at night the passageway in a man's section during a religious festival attended by ultraorthodox dues. this man he says he saw people screaming in fear on a steep mmp screaming in fear on a steep ramp trying to get out but noticed that the exit seemed blocked. hundreds of people fell and trampled over one another. he thought about coming back to offer help but

he says it was too terrifying. the prime minister visited the site and promised an enquiry as questions remain.— questions remain. were prior warnings _ questions remain. were prior warnings of _ questions remain. were prior warnings of the _ questions remain. were prior warnings of the risk - questions remain. were prior warnings of the risk of - questions remain. were prior warnings of the risk of a - warnings of the risk of a disaster from warnings of the risk of a disasterfrom israel's warnings of the risk of a disaster from israel's state watchdog heeded? should numbers have been limited this year? did the police help or hinder the events that night? mas did the police help or hinder the events that night? was a simle the events that night? was a simple human _ the events that night? was a simple human error- the events that night? was a i simple human error to blame? all painful questions at a painful time. the us and nato have begun the formal withdrawal of troops from afghanistan, after a presence in the country for nearly twenty years. the withdrawal will continue until september the 11th — and comes at a time of escalating violence. today the taliban warned they no longer consider themselves bound by a promise not to target international forces.

let's get some of the day's other news. police in brussels have fired tear gas and water cannon at anti—lockdown protesters in a city park. officials said 2 police officers were injured as they tried to break up the protest. 0rganisers 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—i9 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 the world —famous leaning the world—famous leaning tower of pisa has reopened tutorials for first time in of pisa has reopened tutorials forfirst time in nearly 11 months. 0n the 25 people are allowed in time at any time, and they have to follow strict social distancing measures. the oscar—winning actress 0lympia dukakis has died at the age of 89 in new york. she was known for her roles

in films such as moonstruck and steel magnolias. the singer, cher, who starred alongside dukakis in moonstruck, described her as an "amazing" actress. more than a 100,000 people turned out for france's traditional may day protests. but in the country's capital of paris, police arrested 46 people as demonstrations turned violent. police huddled together as they struggle against hooded protesters, and teargas follows. more than 100,000 peoplejoined in follows. more than 100,000 people joined in traditional may day protests across france, but in paris, they turned violent. bank windows were destroyed, fires were blazing

as thousands of police officers were deployed to control the situation. and there was more than just situation. and there was more thanjust a situation. and there was more than just a may day custom that propelled the protesters to the streets of. propelled the protesters to the streets of-_ streets of. translation: this is to prevent — streets of. translation: this is to prevent may _ streets of. translation: this is to prevent may in _ streets of. translation: this is to prevent may in the - streets of. translation: this| is to prevent may in the coming months of being identical to what we have experience before the lockdown. meaning restructuring of companies, a lot of money given to those already who had a lot and even less given to those who did not have anything. the less given to those who did not have anything-— have anything. the protesters were made — have anything. the protesters were made up _ have anything. the protesters were made up of— have anything. the protesters were made up of unionists, i have anything. the protesters| were made up of unionists, as well as members of the movement behind a previous wave of anti—government protests. this time, they are demanding the government to reconsider changes to france's unemployment benefits, and with an upcoming election in france, theissue an upcoming election in france, the issue was front of mind to candidates. the issue was front of mind to candidates-— candidates. translation: tomorrow _ candidates. translation: tomorrow could _ candidates. translation: tomorrow could be - candidates. translation: | tomorrow could be beautiful, tomorrow could be bright, so i hope i can come back on may the

first, 2022, as the president of the country to see you. when president _ of the country to see you. when president macron _ of the country to see you. when president macron was _ of the country to see you. when president macron was ever - of the country to see you. when president macron was ever met| president macron was ever met jo elected, he promised major reforms, but changes often met with resistance. 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 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 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 14 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. 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 that the actual number could be much higher. ranjit rye, professor of political science at the university of the philippines in manila, told me the situation in the philippines, is extremely serious. we are in the midst of this search, but unlike other current demo countries where the surge, which has been driven by variance are still going up in the philippines it has reached a peak and is now in a downward trend, which is

somewhat good, but the cases are still high and hospitals are still high and hospitals are still filled up so we are hoping that the extension of the lockdown and communities, the lockdown and communities, the government and the private sector working together will help reverse this surge. horse help reverse this surge. how worried are _ help reverse this surge. how worried are you _ help reverse this surge. how worried are you that - help reverse this surge. how worried are you that things could become worse and develop into something more serious? in a search driven by more contagious variance, you are always worried that trends, downward trends could easily be reversed, and so, while we are still challenged by this existing surge in 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 - philippines? i don't know about the success, but it has startedl the success, but it has started and over1 million people have been vaccinated. it is a bit slow, but that can be expected given the global supply problem. we hope to pick the vaccination up towards the end of the year but it will still be a long time from now, and because vaccination is slow, places like central manila, countries like the philippines will be always vulnerable to outbreaks and surges in covid—19, so this is the continuing challenge, the vaccine is a step forward, but it's taking some time to deploy all over the country, largely because of the supply problem which is why i would like to take this platform, also to urge governments in the west to have access to vaccines, to share them with developing countries like the philippines, we need to accelerate the vaccination progress and we need the help of countries that have access supply to be given to countries like the philippines who are in great need of vaccines.

pope francis has begun a month—long series of prayers for the end of the pandemic. he recited the first rosary at st peter's basilica in rome. 30 other roman catholic shrines around the world will take turns throughout may to read their own prayers, which will be broadcast online. the pope says covid—19 has forced countries to make of all cultures and social classes. in his prayer he asked that money be diverted from armaments to scientific studies which would help prevent future pandemics. the british government is cutting its core funding to the united nations children's fund by 60%. 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 $5 billion this year. 0ur diplomatic correspondent james landale has more. well, unicef say it will have a devastating impact simply because the demand for distributing humanitarian aid to children around the world is acute at the moment, notjust in the crisis spots like yemen and syria but also because of the covid crisis. there are so many knock—on impacts of the pandemic that have increased the demand for non—covid healthcare, that has been crowded out by the pandemic, that the charity is trying to deal with. they say this cut will have an impact on that. the contrary side, the british government says, the pandemic has hit the economy, they are having to make some tough decisions at the moment and the uk will still be spending £10 billion, $12—13 billion a year on aid next year. it's still one of the biggest donors, it is just having to spend less. what we are seeing now is just,

drip by drip, what impact that will have on people on the ground. this is 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. let's stay with that story now, and earlier i spoke to nimi vashi, who is a cancer scientist in new york. she has become a �*covenger�* organiser, who is trying to amplify and get help to rural people in india. i asked her what she's hearing. the situation in rural india, from everything owner from friends and families is bad in urban areas. and as you are showing a couple of minutes

ago, the problem with rural areas is people have to go into the cities to get any kind of support, as in hospitalisation, that they may need. and rural people do not have access to great healthcare infrastructure as do the people in cities have. what more can be done, do you think, to help those people who clearly are so badly in need? so, some things that philanthropic organisations are doing on the ground in india is people have come together, and they're making makeshift hospitals. people are selling oxygen cylinders, concentrators. we have ventilators arranged and have deployed them to hospitals and we hope to save at least one life with them. and its philanthropic efforts like these that would help india immensely. if anyone has access to an oxygen concentrator or ventilator, please send them

and do not hoard them. in terms ofthe and do not hoard them. in terms of the vaccination _ and do not hoard them. in terms of the vaccination programme, l of the vaccination programme, obviously know any 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, where you are? yes, vaccinations as in the second dose for people have been delayed. but what i am surprised about is the rest of the world is not helping with this. i would like to use this platform to request president biden to help india vaccinate its population. it is notjust india, it could soon be a world problem because variance can arise anywhere. so, anyone with vaccines, please send them to india. i vaccines, please send them to india. ~ ., ,, vaccines, please send them to india. ~ ., ., india. i know you are in new york, india. i know you are in new york. but— india. i know you are in new york. but it _ india. i know you are in new york, but it has _ india. i know you are in new york, but it has to _ india. i know you are in new york, but it has to be - york, but it has to be said, covid has touched you personally, hasn't it? yes. we started this — personally, hasn't it? yes. we started this movement, - started this movement, unfortunately, when we lost the clinician who treated my father

two years ago. mackey was a close family friend of ours when we lost him ——he was. and people in extended networks, mentors, and people. the last two nights i have spent them arranging ventilators and beds for my friends and family. irlimi for my friends and family. nimi vashi talking _ for my friends and family. nimi vashi talking to _ for my friends and family. nimi vashi talking to me _ for my friends and family. nimi vashi talking to me there. - residents of care homes in england will be able to go out for walks and visit relatives' gardens without having to self—isolate afterwards, following new rules which come into force on tuesday. the government was facing legal action over the issue after the charityjohn's campaign — which pushes for better visiting rights — argued that care home residents were being discriminated against. 0ur health correspondent, jim reed, reports. john kemp's mother, sheila, has lived in a care home in eastbourne for the last two years. the 92—year—old has seen her family recently, but sitting two metres apart, wearing ppe.

from tuesday, they can walk together on the seafront again. with my mother, it means she can actually go out, get into the fresh air, be able to go on the seafront, see people, have a cup of coffee, a cup of tea somewhere. 0bviously, spending quality time, rather than time with ppe in between us, and again, just spending time together and reflecting on the past and the future, as well. it's exactly three months since all care home residents should have been offered a first dose of the covid vaccine in england. with infections now down to levels seen last summer, the government says it's time to relax the strict rules around trips outside the home. the majority of care home residents not only have had their first dose, but also their second dose, so we can take these sort of cautious steps forward, and, as i say, another step back towards normal. we look forward to being able to do more opening up in the weeks ahead.

from tuesday, residents who leave a care home in england will no longer have to self—isolate for 14 days on their return. they can visit a relative's garden, a park, oranother outdoor space, and they will be able to go inside to vote. but if they leave, they'll still have to be accompanied by a visitor or care home worker and those who leave for a medical appointment will still have to self—isolate. the change comes after a legal challenge from campaigners who called the existing restrictions barbaric. they welcomed the move but said it's come far too late. i think this guidance was always so bizarre, so cruel and so discriminatory. i mean, it was illegally imprisoning people in care homes. it was depriving them of their liberty, it was doing incalculable harms. residents of scottish and welsh care homes are already able to meet outside without needing to self—isolate. while in northern ireland,

outdoor visiting is allowed in homes that do not have a covid outbreak. jim reed, bbc news. five people, including a 16—year—old boy, have been arrested on suspicion of right—wing terrorism offences. 0fficers carried out a series of raids in keighley in west yorkshire, swindon and anglesey in north wales. bomb disposal experts were called to a property in keighley after the discovery of what officers described as "potentially suspicious material." nightclubbing returned to liverpool on friday night — only a trial — but the first time people have been allowed on to the dancefloor since the pandemic began. and on sunday, it's the turn of live music as a festival will be held in the city with an audience of 5,000. now, even if it is a success, it may come too late for many as new research suggests a quarter of festivals with a similar capacity have already been cancelled. our business correspondent, katy austin, reports. boomtown in hampshire hasjust been called off for the second

year running, blaming lack of insurance for covid—related cancellation. the sheer volume of money, we're talking millions of outlay, that we have to commit to, all these costs ahead of the event, it just became very evident that we were just in an impossible position without being able to have the backing of insurance to mitigate the risks. 0ne trade body says around a quarter of larger festivals have already decided to cancel for this year, and most of those still scheduled to go ahead are due to happen injuly and august. but it says for many of those there's still a huge amount of uncertainty. it says a government—backed insurance scheme is needed, similar to what other countries have done. and our own government has invested in a scheme for film and tv production, which we understand has been very successful. there are models, there are ways of doing it. nozstock in herefordshire is sold out for late july. how certain are you,

as we stand here today, that it will go ahead? sadly, we can't be certain. we're desperate to get on with it, but the issue of insurance makes it an incredibly risky venture. they say late may is the cut—off for making a final call. a government spokesperson told us it had supported festivals through the culture recovery fund and is exploring what further support it may provide. katy austin, bbc news. 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 the 1st of may, it was the tallest building in the world. since then it's become one of new york's must—see more than 4 million visitors a year. david farber, professor of modern american history at the university of kansas, says the building was

the brainchild of a visionary businessman. he was one of those amazingly wealthy new yorkers who really create modern american corporations. mackey was the force behind general motors, the dupont co, and in 1920 he got and each in his fingers to start building skyscrapers. and he built the — start building skyscrapers. and he built the empire state? why did he build the empire state, what was it built for? i did he build the empire state, what was it built for?- what was it built for? i think it was built _ what was it built for? i think it was built as _ what was it built for? i think it was built as much - what was it built for? i think it was built as much is - it was built as much is anything to impress his closed brand, walter kreisler, putting up brand, walter kreisler, putting up a very famous skyscraper today. i think these new york elites were looking for one more challenge, little knowing they were starting their building praisejust they were starting their building praise just as the great depression was taking off. last great depression was taking off. �* , , off. at the time this building craze happen. _ off. at the time this building craze happen, these - off. at the time this building craze happen, these huge i craze happen, 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 and king kong. is that what made it

really iconic and famous? if it hadn't been for that film, would it be the kind of thing that it would it be the kind of thing thatitis would it be the kind of thing that it is today? i would it be the kind of thing that it is today?— that it is today? i think you are right- _ that it is today? i think you are right. a year and a halfj are right. a year and a half after the building open, that they miss king kong movie was shown throughout the united states and much of the world, and that image of king kong grasping the spire of the building, some 13— 1400 feet in the air in printed —— was imprinted in the minds of people around the world. and became iconic.— became iconic. there are so many buildings _ became iconic. there are so many buildings that - became iconic. there are so many buildings that are - became iconic. there are so i many buildings that are taller, perhaps even more beautiful than the empire state, it is still so important now, isn't it? ~ 4' , still so important now, isn't it? . ~ , , still so important now, isn't it? ~ ~ , , ., it? well, i think it is still a beautiful— it? well, i think it is still a beautiful building, - it? well, i think it is still a beautiful building, but - it? well, i think it is still aj beautiful building, but you it? well, i think it is still a - beautiful building, but you are quite right. it is no longer nearly the tallest building. millions of people still come every year, at least before covid—19, and it was $75 a person. there hundreds of

millions of dollars just letting people up to the hundredth floor.- letting people up to the hundredth floor. is that how much it costs?! _ hundredth floor. is that how much it costs?! $75! - hundredth floor. is that how much it costs?! $75! and i hundredth floor. is that how i much it costs?! $75! and loads and loads of people pay that, don't they? i and loads of people pay that, don't they?— and loads of people pay that, don't they? i am amazed, too. yes. don't they? i am amazed, too. yes- that _ don't they? i am amazed, too. yes- that is — don't they? i am amazed, too. yes. that is the _ don't they? i am amazed, too. yes. that is the adult - don't they? i am amazed, too. yes. that is the adult fee. - yes. that is the adult fee. maybe we are both amazed and a bit tight? i know new yorkers must love it, but what do americans feel about it? it must have a national draw as well? it must have a national draw as well? . ., , ., , must have a national draw as well? . ., , ., well? it certainly does. i am impressed _ well? it certainly does. i am impressed by _ well? it certainly does. i am impressed by the _ well? it certainly does. i am impressed by the fact - well? it certainly does. i am impressed by the fact it - well? it certainly does. i am impressed by the fact it is l impressed by the fact it is still one of those things, a bucket list being for so many americans. —— thing. it is the iconic king kong message of it, towering above the world, people love it.— towering above the world, people love it. the duke and duchess of cambridge have released a picture of their daughter princess charlotte to mark her sixth birthday, which is on may the 2nd.

the photo was taken by her mother kate this weekend in norfolk. thank you for watching. bye—bye. hello again. well, there probably aren't too many of you that escape with a completely dry day today day of sunshine and showers but the showers have been really widespread. yes, all those skies look like these at times, well, the times we had the heavens opened up my quite an impressive shower bringing a covering of hail to staffordshire. you can see how extensive today's showers have been. nationwide, really. they will be beginning to fade away now, there are still a few left over. the reason we have had so many showers during the day is because over the last few days we've had a lump of cold air move across the uk, and that gets heated strongly, it causes

the air to rise and chose to break out. this mechanism is with us on the forecast into sunday. most of the showers have cleared out of the way, just one or two left over for scotland to take us into the first part of the no. it's another co—ordinate with clearing skies, light winds and a widespread frost. temperatures getting down to —2 or —3 in the coldest areas. a cold start to the day on sunday morning but a lovely start with clear, blue skies for many of you through the day, though, so will start to break it initially across the north—west of the country and then they will become really extensive for most areas as we head into the afternoon. probably some of the afternoon. probably some of the heaviest showers across central and eastern england, eastern areas of scotland and these temperatures, well, a bit disappointing, really, for this time of year, size of 11— 14 degrees for most of you. and talking about disappointing weather, here comes your bank holiday. yeah, it's an area of low pressure coming in of the atlantic, bringing wet weather, bringing windy weather, bringing windy weather, bringing fairly chilly weather as well. and may will start of

bright across eastern areas of the uk but outbreaks of rain will quickly spread in from the west, it might well be cold and have a little bit of snow mixed in of the highest ground in scotland and northern england, and it's going to be pretty windy. pretty windy and pretty chilly, really, the time of year. temperature is doing well, getting into double figures across england and wales. to the north, scotland and northern ireland, about 7-9 , and northern ireland, about 7—9 , may the far north of scotland the place to be with the best of the weather. after that, it's these pretty showery for most areas and we could see further low pressure coming in from the south—west. that's your latest weather.

this is bbc news. the headlines:

a national day of mourning will take place in israel on sunday after friday's deadly crush atj 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—0rthodoxjews. 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 not to attack international forces. a campaign has been launched to raise money to build a memorial in st paul's cathedral to those who've died as a result of coronavirus.

costing £2.3 million, it would be the first