JUDY WOODRUFF: Starting next Tuesday, the U.S. will restrict travel from India due to
the spike in COVID-19 infections there. The move was recommended by the U.S. Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention, and comes as India recorded a new record daily number
of cases, more than 386,000.
As aid shipments from the U.S. and other countries arrived, several states in India ran out of
vaccines, a day before the country is set to expand vaccination efforts.
K. SUDHAKAR, Health Minister, Karnataka, India: We are requesting people of Karnataka, especially
those who are above 18 years, up to 44 years, to refrain from going to the hospitals thinking
that you may be vaccinated tomorrow.
JUDY WOODRUFF: Meanwhile, Brazil's health minister appealed to other countries to share
spare vaccines, as they struggle to pick up the pace of inoculations. The virus has now
claimed the lives of more than 401,000 Brazilians.
The number of fully vaccinated Americans has now topped 100 million. A decline in new infections
has prompted a wider loosening of restrictions. In Southern California, Disneyland reopened
after a 13-month closure. The head of the CDC said more reopenings could be possible
by mid-summer.
DR. ROCHELLE WALENSKY, CDC Director: We're focused on getting people vaccinated and decreasing
the case rates. You know, if we can continue at this pace, case rates are coming down,
vaccinations are going up, then I think July 1 would be a reasonable target.
JUDY WOODRUFF: We will have more on the U.S. vaccination effort right after the news summary.
Also today, the U.S. Transportation Security Administration extended a mask mandate for
travelers on planes, trains, and buses through September 13.
Israel is reeling tonight after a stampede at a massive religious festival left at least
45 people dead and about 150 others injured.
Lindsey Hilsum of Independent Television News has our report.
LINDSEY HILSUM: It was the first major religious gathering in Israel since the lifting of COVID
restrictions. Some 100,000 Ultra-Orthodox Jews were praying and dancing, when, suddenly,
it became clear that something was wrong, an urgent announcement on the sound system:
"Please clear the area. Get out of here."
Hundreds had crowded down a tunnel leading to an exit. Scenes from just before panic
setting show how constricted it was. Then some slipped. Others fell on top. Men tried
to get out through the gaps in the corrugated iron sheets that formed the walls. Rescue
workers struggled to reach the injured.
It's been alleged that the police had cut off key exits. It was desperate. Most of the
dead and injured were men, but children had also been crushed. Paramedics took in stretchers
for those who couldn't move. Those with broken bones will survive, but many died from asphyxiation
or were trampled to death.
Many in this community mistrust the government, so are inclined to blame the authorities,
not the organizers.
RABBI VELVEL BREVDA, Witness: The officers who were there couldn't have cared less. And
when thousands of people didn't know in the back of the line what was doing, pushing and
shoving happened. And Israeli government is responsible.
LINDSEY HILSUM: Prime Minister Netanyahu arrived to give condolences. He allowed the Lag Ba'omer
celebration at Mount Meron to go ahead, against the advice of health officials, hoping to
attract the support of Ultra-Orthodox parties.
BENJAMIN NETANYAHU, Israeli Prime Minister (through translator): The Mount Meron disaster
is one of the worst disasters that has befallen the state of Israel. We mourn the victims.
Our hearts go out to the families.
LINDSEY HILSUM: Today, they rushed to bury the dead before sunset ushered in the Sabbath.
The government has called for a national day of mourning on Sunday.
JUDY WOODRUFF: That report from Lindsey Hilsum of Independent Television News.
President Biden spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to offer condolences and
assistance. The U.S. State Department said multiple Americans were among the casualties.
A car bomb in Afghanistan killed at least 30 people and wounded as many as 90 others
today. The attack happened in the capital of Eastern Logar province. There was no immediate
claim of responsibility. It comes as U.S. troops are set to withdraw by September 11.
Back in this country, Florida's state legislature has approved a bill that curbs voting by mail
and limits the use of drop boxes. Republicans say the legislation will help prevent fraud,
but Democrats argue it restricts voting rights. Republican Governor Ron DeSantis is expected
to sign it into law.
European Union regulators are accusing Apple of violating the bloc's antitrust rules. They
allege that the tech giant distorts competition for music streaming services in their favor
through their App Store. Apple rejected the claims.
The European economy has fallen back into recession, amid pandemic lockdowns and slower
COVID vaccine rollouts. Economic output shrank 0.6 percent in the first three months of the
year in the 19 countries that use the euro. But most economists say they believe an upturn
is on the way, as inoculations ramp up in coming weeks.
And stocks gave up ground on Wall Street today. The Dow Jones industrial average lost 185
points to close at 33875. The Nasdaq fell 120 points, and the S&P 500 slipped 30.
Still to come on the "NewsHour": a front-line look at the struggle to vaccinate a skeptical
public; how forced labor in China creates an economic fight; catching massive waves
in a new documentary on a female surfer; and much more.