welcome to bbc news — i'm ben boulos. our top stories... the $6 trillion plan. president biden pushes the biggest spending programme since world war ii — to reboot the us economy. belarus�*s leader accuses the west of trying to destablise his country. he's met president putin as tensions mount over last week's plane diversion. india's hidden death toll. covid is killing thousands every day but the figures show only a fraction of the tragedy. we have been told 26 people have died here with symptoms of covid—19 in the past month. but none of them were actually tested. that means they are not included in india �*s official death toll from the virus.

thousands of manchester city and chelsea fans arrive in portugal ahead of saturday's champions league final. and, love them, hate them or eat them — how americans are dealing with a once—in—a—generation invasion of cicadas. hello and a warm welcome to the programme. president biden has unveiled his budget proposal for next year with the highest level of federal government spending since the second world war. he's says it's the time to invest in america — but republicans have called the plan �*insanely expensive�*. mr biden is calling forjust over $6—trillion worth of post—pandemic spending which still needs congressional approval. he's demanding huge investments in infrastructure, education and green technology but he faces a political battle to deliver it. here's the president speaking

at an event in ohio. the bottom line is this — the biden economic plan is working. we've had record job creation. we're seeing record economic growth. we're creating a new paradigm. and now, 50% of all of america, more than any other country, is fully vaccinated. applause. 75% of seniors — black, white, hispanic, across—the—board — are fully vaccinated. we're getting lives back. the american economy's coming back. our correspondent david willis is in los angeles with more on how significant this budget would be for the us. there is of course a long way to go with this, all the way through until the end of september. but president biden is making clear that he has very

ambitious goals as far as the american economy is concerned. this would represent the biggest federal spending programme in this country since the end of the second world war and herald a return to what some are calling the days of big government with the focus very much on social safety nets for the poor and middle class. some of these measures we already knew about, $2 trillion plus for rebuilding american infrastructure, almost the same amount for improvements in education standards here and there is also money earmarked in this proposal for dealing with climate change, gun violence and aggression. —— immigration. now republicans have condemned the measures outright. the senate leader, their leader of the senate mitch mcconnell said this plan would lead to what he called americans

drowning in debt, deficit and inflation. butjoe biden believes that this economy needs to be reimagined. he believes that the days of so—called trickle—down economics should be behind us, they simply don't work. he believes there should be an economy that is more from the bottom up, if you like. but you're absolutely right, there is a long way to go on this, a lot of negotiation ahead, and it's going to be quite a bitter exchange, i think, as we go forward in this with republicans very much dug in in opposition. i'm joined now by clarke judge, the managing director of the white house writers group and a former speechwriter for president ronald reagan. very good to have you with us. it's good to be with you. isn’t it's good to be with you. isn't the moment _ it's good to be with you. isn't the moment of— it's good to be with you. isn't the moment of the _ it's good to be with you. isn't the moment of the huge - it's good to be with you. isn't the moment of the huge economic shock of the pandemic exactly the time when the government needs to use its borrowing fire

to stoke up an economic recovery and if not now, then when? . , recovery and if not now, then when? , . when? last year, when there was a tremendous _ when? last year, when there was a tremendous amount _ when? last year, when there was a tremendous amount of - a tremendous amount of borrowing done, this is in fact, we were coming out at the pandemic very, very rapidly at the change of administrations, nothing has changed since then. we were vaccinating people at an accelerating rate, having got a vaccine faster than bite years than anyone had predicted except for mr trump and his group. so, we were on the right track. the problem here is that president biden is planning to spendin president biden is planning to spend in a way, you mentioned the second world war, at the time of the second world war, we were the most financial capable entity in the history of the world. very little debt

comparatively easy taxes, compared to now, and that's a large part of the reason for the success... but now we are in a totally different situation.— in a totally different situation. , , , situation. ok, but is president biden not— situation. ok, but is president biden not continuing _ situation. ok, but is president biden not continuing along - situation. ok, but is presidenti biden not continuing along the spending track, exactly the same as his republican predecessor, donald trump? the final spending proposal had a price tag of $4.8 trillion as well? �* ., ., well? and whether that would have not well? and whether that would have got through _ well? and whether that would have got through a _ well? and whether that would | have got through a republican congress is another matter but he is putting under infrastructure things that have nothing to do traditionally or even logically with infrastructure. they aren't roads, bridges, transportation, communication and that is the sort of thing that should be put in other bills for debate on their own merits, not trying

to put together a bill that is all things to all people. there is something _ all things to all people. there is something else _ all things to all people. there is something else i _ all things to all people. there is something else i want - all things to all people. there is something else i want to i is something else i want to touch on with you because also in congress, the proposed commission to look into the disturbance, the riot, the insurrection at the capitol on the 6th of january was blocked. that's despite people like the mother of the police officer brian sicknick died shortly after that, said that not having a commission to look into what occurred as a slap in the face of all the officers who did theirjob that day. what would you say to her on behalf of i suppose republican colleagues who voted against such a commission? that colleagues who voted against such a commission?- such a commission? that the democrats — such a commission? that the democrats should _ such a commission? that the democrats should come - such a commission? that the i democrats should come around and try to be evenhanded and try to work out a compromise with the republicans, the democrats put out a programme for that commission which was basically designed to echo the democratic narrative, they did

not look at the overall level of violence in the country, they did not, they tried to make this something that will tell their narrative and the republicans would then get a chance to have a minority report which the media would ignore. it was something that was not in keeping with the gravity of the situation. {lila gravity of the situation. 0k, many thanks _ gravity of the situation. 0k, many thanks indeed, - gravity of the situation. 0k, many thanks indeed, really good to have you with us. thank you. the white house has said it is developing a list of sanctions against key members of the belarusian goverment. it's a response to the forcing down of a commercial plane to capture an opposition journalist last week. at a meeting with russian president vladmir putin on friday, the leader of belarus, alexander lukashenko, said the west is trying to destabilise his country. sarah rainsford reports from minsk. in belarus, marrying an opposition politician can make for a very lonely life.

for a whole year, volha's only contact with her husband has been these letters from his prison cell. pavel writes poems for her, long stories for their son but this week, olga finally got to see him. and pavel was still chanting defiance, even in court. the trial had been closed, with relatives only let in for the guilty verdict. translation: we weren't allowed close, we could only shout - i love you or make heart signs, but even to look at each other was a hugejoy. pavel sevarinich is a lifelong dissident, but now his three—year—old is growing up without his dad. he was arrested before belarus erupted in protest over the re—election of president alexander lukashenko. translation: it's - a really long sentence. our son will be ten

when he gets out, but i don't think he will serve it all. i don't let myself think like that. people here are afraid, but there's real pressure on lukashenko and i think any spark could ignite things again. the protesters have been forced to retreat from the streets for now, though. many have fled abroad, hundreds more are behind bars. i've never known belarus like this, not in all the years i've been coming here. people now are just terrified to speak out, because with the crackdown with all the arrests, you never know who they'll be coming for next. last week, they came for the journalists. vasil was nervous about talking, but his wife was arrested with 14 people in her team at the country's best—known independent news site. today, he was waiting to hear if marina had been charged. so, is there any news, anything new? no news. no news? no news. alexander lukashenko

is crushing dissent here, and yet vasil believes last year's protests were a turning point. in public, nobody demonstrates because it is really dangerous, but the people didn't change their mind. they need the change for the country. change was the rallying cry of the protests here, and some still see glimmers of hope for the future. sarah rainsford, bbc news, minsk. the head of the world health organisation has called for countries to immediately share vaccines, saying equitable access to vaccines was essential to ending the pandemic. dr tedros gebryseus said he wanted at least 10% of the population in every country to have been vaccinated by september. our spring to september goal

means me must vaccinate 250 million more people in low and middle income countries including all health workers and the most at risk groups is the first priority. if countries immediately share doses of covax and if manufacturers prioritise covax, we can reach this target and save a lot of lives. dr monica gandhi is an infectious diseases physician and professor of medicine at ucsf. she recently co—authored an article entitled "american kids can wait" arguing vaccines would be better given to those in the world more vulnerable to covid—i9. i put to her that some parents may not like the idea of vaccines for their children being delayed. we wrote this article more as a theoretical point that children are much less a risk of symptomatic or severe covid than adults and certainly health care workers in countries that are hard—hit are

as we speak, dying without access to vaccines so that they can't even take care of people who are getting sick. so yes, it is a theoretical argument, we are not actually saying you have to take your doses and give them elsewhere but it brings up the larger issue of global equity. in brings up the larger issue of global equity-— global equity. in terms of measures _ global equity. in terms of measures that _ global equity. in terms of measures that wealthier. measures that wealthier countries can do to help less well—off countries, what is the single biggest thing you think that could be done? you single biggest thing you think that could be done? you knowl think there _ that could be done? you knowl think there are _ that could be done? you knowl think there are five _ that could be done? you knowl think there are five things - that could be done? you knowl think there are five things but l think there are five things but i will give you the simple answer. i'm going to give you two. one is what was said, mobilising the surplus doses, which we have come up most of the surplus doses have been bought up by wealthy countries with more than we need to vaccinate our populations including 12—15, we have about 300 million surplus doses in the united states alone is estimated by the duke research centre and those can be immediately mobilised and given to covax programmes that can

distribute them and the second is waving temporarily intellectual property patterns on the vaccine which will enable more and more production to get us notjust to the goal of 10% by september which is actually quite a low goal but keep on going as fast as we can to get to the end of the pandemic. to get to the end of the pandemic— to get to the end of the pandemic. to get to the end of the andemic. , .,, _ , pandemic. some people say this issue of waiving _ pandemic. some people say this issue of waiving the _ pandemic. some people say this issue of waiving the patterns, i issue of waiving the patterns, the copyright protections that protect profits of the drug makers who have developed these vaccines is something, it would be a gesture because even if you waved those protections of the copyright, there would be problems in manufacturing capacity and the expertise in those countries. they still wouldn't necessarily be able to make any more than they are at the moment?— the moment? you know, that is often the counter _ the moment? you know, that is often the counter argument - the moment? you know, that is often the counter argument but| often the counter argument but i have looked into this and compared this to the hiv movement, where at the same objection was levied, that actually, we can't make these in the country anyway, so let's

just let the majoring manufacturer companies make them and wait to be distributed. these are harder to make and there is capacity in other countries, india alone has this capacity and in fact, made antiviral therapy, hiv medications for the world and they could not get the pattern is waived for ten years from 1996 into well into 2004, while we were still arguing the same question that you said just now. and because of that, people in sub—saharan africa who had hiv died, truly died needlessly because we said the same thing back with retroviral therapy. at least 300,000 people are now known to have died in india's second wave of coronavirus — with may likely to be the deadliest month so far. but the true death toll could be several times higher especially in rural areas where the virus is now spreading. access to healthca re there is almost non—existent as our international correspondent orla guerin found when she travelled to beer har, one of the poorest areas in india.

funeral pyres are now a prism for the pain of a nation. he is lost in grief for his mother, one of the latest victims of covid—i9 in the state of bihar. with so many dead across india, cremation costs have soared. some families here have been reduced to entrusting the bodies of their loved ones to the sacred waters of the ganges. prime minister narendra modi, whose ratings are falling, has been remembering the dead with a show of emotion. but within hours, "crocodile tears" was trending on social media here. the full scale of india's tragedy may never be known.

we crossed the ganges to reach the vast hinterland. in ruralareas, like the village of birpur, we found a landscape of neglect and untold stories. so can you tell me, are many families affected here? no social distancing either, and no masks in sight. this is the other india, not rising but left behind. people here say the living are barely counted, much less the dead. we've been told that 26 people have died here with symptoms of covid—i9 in the past month, but none of them were actually tested. that means they're not included in india's official death toll from the virus.

now, this isjust one village, but you can multiply this across india. take a look at the village health centre. imagine having to rush here in an emergency. it's an empty shell, carefully padlocked. this neglect is not unusual in rural india. it takes three hours to get to a hospital. many can't afford the journey. the village leader has lost neighbours and friends. he blames the prime minister.

when we returned to birpur for a second day, health workers had been dispatched to the village. a local source told us the visit was a token gesture because we had been on the ground. hello, hi, we are from bbc news. this health worker finally had some vaccines. so, she waited in vain. there is vaccine hesitancy in the village, but in much of the country, there's no vaccine to be had. covid has cut across india like a scythe, bringing anguish for the living and indignity

for the dying. and for the prime minister, the accusation of failing his people. orla guerin, bbc news, on the banks of the ganges. thousands of fans are descending on the portuguese city of porto — ahead of saturday's champions league final between chelsea and manchester city. sixteen—and—a—half thousand supporters will be allowed into the stadium to watch one of the biggest events in sport — after the venue of the final was switched from istanbul because of covid. our sports correspondent natalie pirks reports from porto. music. wembley may have been a more practical choice for an all—english final... singing. ..but now they're in porto, fans are more than happy. for the train to london, it's 100 quid, and it's 400 quid to come here. you get the sun, you get the beer and the people are better.

wembley would've been nice because you could've had a lot more drink and a lot more people, but you can't really beat this, can you, to be honest? it's our first— champions league final. you can't not follow| your team, can you, with or without a ticket? i've missed two games in 42 years. it was essential that i was here, even though there were a lot of hoops tojump through. yes, it hasn't exactly been simple. # portugal, portugal, we are coming...# on top of the usual flight and hotel price hikes, three covid tests are needed to get in and out. well, more than 11,000 city and chelsea fans have tickets and will be in the stadium, but plenty more have travelled without tickets and are planning to watch it in the bars around porto, which close at 10:30pm at night. during the day, the atmosphere was one of mutual respect, albeit under a watchful eye. like most tourist cities, porto has lost millions during the pandemic, but now the hotels are full for the first time since last march. it was important for - the economy, to the local

economy, for the restaurants, for the hotels, for the shops, i for the tourists, for- the boats, for example. so, it's like kick—off- fora new moment here in porto and north portugal. both teams overcame stellar opposition to be here, but this is city's first champions league final. for pep guardiola, there's no greater feeling. i'm the happiest man in the world right now to be in here, so it's a privilege. it's an honour, and we're going to try to do our best. tonight, the police presence has intensified. they've maintained a mostly hands—off approach so far. the prize for fans is the most coveted trophy in european club football, but the nation's reputation is also at stake. natalie pirks, bbc news, porto. every 17 years they cause havoc and the occasional shudder. billions of cicadas known as brood x or brood 10

are emerging in a synchronized event that only happens in the us. and as the bbc s nada tawfik reports from the state of newjersey ? the great eastern brood is causing quite the buzz. it's a sight and sound that will make your skin crawl. billions of periodical cicadas emerging out of the earth and overtaking the eastern united states. the rare spectacle has americans in awe. it was deafening, really deafening... the grants have lived here for decades, and like clockwork, the brood x cicadas have arrived at the same time every 17 years to mate. it can get so loud that some of theirfriends have mistaken the male insects' droning song for a police siren. because of my hearing disadvantages, i don't put my hearing aids when i come out in the garden. otherwise i get the whole sound magnified. the mass emergence and its timing is all part of a clever survival strategy

to evade predators. then the metamorphosis from nymph to adult happens relatively quickly. so, here we have a fully grown female that's now ready to mate and lay her eggs. she'll only live 4—6 weeks, though, after being underground for 17 years. cos this is when they're most vulnerable, right here, - cos their body is so soft. it's a magical time for entomologist drjessica weir, whose16—year—old daughter wasn't even alive the last time she saw these insects. the world was a very different place back then. george bush was president, and facebook was just launched. you know, a lot of people - for centuries have been calling these things locusts, i but they're the opposite of locusts cos they'rel not actually a plague, they're not destroying crops. they're actually living their life completely i in exclusion of humans, i and they're great nutrition. i'm going to put two on this one... yes, you heard that right, these critters are a culinary delicacy. cicadas are a flavour bomb. they have so much

flavour and add a scent of umame to the dish. chefjoseph has been cooking with the star ingredient to encourage americans to reimagine bugs as a protein—rich, sustainable food source. i think i'm ready. may i? yes, please. ok, i'm going to go with this one here. bug appetit. a burst of springtime in your mouth. there's a booth for the sound and lights. for others, the noisy critters are just downright disruptive. it's safe to say shakespeare is not in love with the cicada. this theatre company has had to cut its outdoor season short. the last time i directed a show out here, i sat over there with two huge badminton rackets and just screamed as they came at me and swatted them away. the takeover may be dramatic, but it is temporary. soon, the larvae of the new generation will burrow their way into the ground, resetting the 17—year cycle. nada tawfik, bbc news, newjersey.

that's it for the moment. i will see you very soon. hello there. friday was a bit of a disappointing day thanks to a weak weather front which brought more cloud around and also some light and patchy rain. but for the weekend, as high pressure builds in, conditions will improve. we'll see increasing amounts of sunshine, and it will turn warmer as well. so, here's our building area of high pressure today. it'll be pushing these weather fronts out into the atlantic, so we'll see a lot of sunshine into the afternoon. because we will start off rather grey through this morning thanks to the legacy of yesterday's weather front. a little bit of drizzle here and there close to the west coast. but increasing amounts of sunshine into the afternoon, and that could set off an isolated heavy shower here and there, particularly across the higher ground in the north. and there could be a little bit of low cloud and mist affecting north sea coasts. but with more sunshine around, we could make 19—20 degrees,

maybe even warmer than that in one or two spots. now, as we head through saturday night, any showers will fade away. we'll see some low cloud and mist rolling into eastern scotland and eastern england, but further west, skies should remain clear. those temperatures will range from around 7—11 degrees. so, on into sunday, then, our big area of high pressure's dominating the scene, slowly pushing out into the north sea. that's going to bring a lot of dry weather around. it will start quite grey and cool across eastern scotland and eastern england, but that low cloud and mist will burn back to the coast thanks to the strong late may sunshine. many places will be dry with widespread sunshine around, so it's going to be warmer. temperatures reaching 22 degrees there for glasgow, 21 or 22 or 23 degrees in parts of england and wales. now, as we head on into bank holiday monday, our area of high pressure will be out in the north sea, and that's going to draw some warm air up from the south or the south—east off the near continent. so, combine that with the strong late may sunshine, it's going to feel even warmer. 23, 24, maybe even 25 degrees somewhere, so that will be challenging the warmest day

of the year so far, which was set back in late march. tuesday, we do it all again. south—southeasterly winds, plenty of sunshine around. it's going to be another very warm day. a bit of fairweather cloud bubbling up into the afternoon. those temperatures ranging from low to mid—20s celsius. always a little bit fresher along some southern and eastern coasts. now, as we head through the week, there isjust the chance at the moment that we could see some thundery showers moving up from the south, particularly through wednesday and thursday. otherwise, we should continue to see quite a bit of sunshine.

this is bbc news, the headlines: us presidentjoe biden has proposed a $6 trillion budget to boost the us economy and fend off competition from china. mr biden is demanding huge investments in infrastructure, education and green technology. the plan, the biggest since the second world war, still needs congressional approval. the us says its preparing a list of key members of the belarussian government who will face sanctions. it's after a passenger plane was intercepted to capture an opposition journalist. meeteing russia's president putin, belarus's leader accused the west of trying to destabilise his country. the head of the world health organisation's warned the coronavirus pandemic won't be over until at least 70% of the global population has been vaccinated. dr tedros ghebreyesus wants at least 10% of every country to be innoculated by september. now in a few minutes,

it'll be time for newswatch. but first, here's click.