this is bbc news. i'm victoria fritz with the latest headlines for viewers in the uk and around the world. ukraine's abandoned children displaced by the war — a bbc investigation finds some of the most vulnerable have been left behind. because of their disabilities they are not treated as human beings. they are only kept alive here. and it's not a problem of the institution, it's a problem of the system. contact lost with the defenders of mariupol as russia launches a major assault on the remaining ukrainian forces there. flash flooding hits valencia as the spanish city sees the rainiest day in 150 years. facebook�*s holding company, meta platforms, gives a sneak preview of its first physical

store in california. (cheering) real madrid fans celebrate as their team pull off a stunning comeback to seal their place in the european champions league final. we start with the plight of thousands of disabled children in ukraine, victims of the russian invasion, who've been abandoned without proper care. the human rights organisation, disability rights international, says its investigation found children with severe disabilities, tied to beds, in children's homes that don't have the facilities to cope. the bbc has visited one institution in the west of ukraine, where disabled children from the east

of the country have been left by carers, fleeing the conflict. this report by our correspondent danjohnson includes some distressing images. here's a sound of the war you haven't heard yet. anna's teeth—grinding anxiety hints at the hidden trauma of ukraine's disabled children, this conflict's most vulnerable and least visible victims. they are nervous, disorientated and distressed. they're not treated as human beings. they're only kept alive here. and they've been dumped in a place that can barely cope. are you certain you can give these children the care they need? ni. the director couldn't believe how their carers fled and left these children behind. translation: they were | so selfish that they ran out of here as fast as they could. i thought they would come in here and tell us who had

epilepsy, who was incontinent, and so on. but then they sat here till lunchtime and left. i don't like criticising my colleagues, but this is not the way it's done. victoria's one of 22 children moved here from an orphanage in donetsk, and left behind when the less severely disabled children were taken to germany. she has frequent seizures, and we're told she's put in restraints at night. victoria is m years old. in fact, these are all teenage girls. the nurse tells me she's not used to dealing with this level of disability and she believes the children aren't able to understand their situation. she asks, "what intellect can you see here?" my heart breaks, actually, as a mother of two children. disability rights experts are documenting the conditions. even though they're in a safe place, their state will deteriorate with time because they are not getting any stimulation, any kind of rehabilitation. and, to me, this is

further disabling them. these were confined lives of institutionalised dependence long before the war. there's no future for these children beyond these walls. these homes are relics of an outdated system. the boss insists a resident sings for us. staff shortages mean older residents help care for some children, and those in from the east have much greater needs than this place can handle. and disability rights investigators filmed at three more nearby institutions struggling with fragile young arrivals. they barely had time to give them any individual attention before the war. now they are left lying in cribs, lying in beds, tied down. total neglect. it's very dangerous. these children with disabilities are paying the price for the war. this flies in the face of any sort of international good practice in terms of the care these girls

should be receiving. but then, on the other hand, this is people trying to do their best in the toughest of circumstances. we were told oksana couldn't speak because of severe learning difficulties, but helena makes a connection. she says, in a full sentence, that her toe hurts. and then oksana spots our microphone. there's a flicker of the potential that could be unlocked. are you taking myjob, oksana? da! there is a call for these children to get more international support or the love and care of a family. but when so many ukrainians are running from war, it looks like thousands will still face lives of loss and waste, unseen and unheard. danjohnson, bbc news, in south—western ukraine. meanwhile, moscow has intensified its assault on the huge azovstal steelworks in the southern port city. with me is our

reporter mark lobel. what more can you tell us? ten weeks into _ what more can you tell us? ten weeks into this _ what more can you tell us? ten weeks into this fighting, the focus as you say in the south on the azovstal steelworks with ukrainians defending its say russians have actually entered the plants now, it's a huge plant size of an international, almost as big as heathrow. inside there are 200 civilians, 30 children hunkering down, desperate to get out. if i could show you some other pet is now, if you look at these, that shows the attacks have intensified, these are unverified photos from russian separatist groups, they are using vacuum bombs raining down on tuesday or wednesday. russia is talking about a three day humanitarian corridor from thursday, to let those civilians inside hold up, out.

but, no word from the ukrainians on that, we know 250 people did come out of that steelworks early this week and 344 came out of mariupol, with the help of the un in the past few hours. president zelensky appealing again to the un to get those civilians out. those ictures get those civilians out. those pictures when _ get those civilians out. those pictures when they _ get those civilians out. those pictures when they came - get those civilians out. those pictures when they came out| get those civilians out. those - pictures when they came out was striking, people coming out into the night, children who hadn't seen the light of day for 60 days, as you say 30 or so still in the steelworks and 250 in total, and we think we might see more people coming out today. let us talk about what might be done on the wider scale, and this eu oil embargo. i understand there has been a bad start to that?— bad start to that? this is a measure _ bad start to that? this is a measure to _ bad start to that? this is a measure to punish - bad start to that? this is a measure to punish russia | bad start to that? this is a i measure to punish russia to make them stop fighting put pressure by stopping to take the oil imports, the whole of the oil imports, the whole of the eu should be behind this is what the eu wants and every

member needs to be onside, and hungary and slovakia who are heavily reliant on russian oil say they don't have substitute all the time by the end of the year to do that. in fact given an extra year to phase out, those countries say they can't do it. let's have a listen to the hardtalk programme, the hungarian communications secretary. hungarian communications secretary-— hungarian communications secreta .~ . , ., secretary. we are dependent on russian oil. _ secretary. we are dependent on russian oil, 65% _ secretary. we are dependent on russian oil, 65% when - secretary. we are dependent on russian oil, 6596 when it - russian oil, 65% when it arrives _ russian oil, 65% when it arrives and russian gas, 84%, that_ arrives and russian gas, 84%, that makes it clear what has been — that makes it clear what has been proposed on behalf of brussels and what we have seen today— brussels and what we have seen today on — brussels and what we have seen today on the table, is very far from — today on the table, is very far from what _ today on the table, is very far from what we can live with, not for the — from what we can live with, not for the reasons of political taste _ for the reasons of political taste or— for the reasons of political taste or any kind of issue, simply— taste or any kind of issue, simply the hard physical facts on the — simply the hard physical facts on the ground, there is no substitute, any such request any such_ substitute, any such request any such indicating what result in the —

any such indicating what result in the ribbon of hungarian lives — in the ribbon of hungarian lives and economy at stake. the minister saying _ lives and economy at stake. tie: minister saying he needs another three years to get this in place. the eu would have liked a decision by this weekend. even with that the oil embargo would come into effect at the end of the year, yet every day we are seeing airstrikes across the country, russian airstrikes, trying to stop the resupply of armaments to the ukrainian army. some of that might happen at the end of the year, the war continues day today. the year, the war continues day toda . ~ , ., ~ the year, the war continues day toda . ~ , ., ,, ., the year, the war continues day toda. , .,~ today. we will be talking a bit more about — today. we will be talking a bit more about this _ today. we will be talking a bit more about this oil _ today. we will be talking a bit more about this oil ban - today. we will be talking a bit more about this oil ban on - today. we will be talking a bit| more about this oil ban on our business news coming up in 25 minutes time. with the author of the book oil and prudent�*s russia and he teaches at king's couege russia and he teaches at king's college london. —— prudent�*s russia. a massive clean—up operation is under way in valencia

after record—breaking rainfall. dozens of cars were swallowed up as floodwater cascaded(gfx through neighbourhoods of the city, leaving homes and businesses completely waterlogged. wendy urquhart reports. this used to be a road, now it's a river. dozens of cars were swallowed up as floodwaters surged through the city's neighbourhoods, leaving homes and businesses completely saturated. "a lot of water fell last night," says this man. "just look at the state of the place." "last night, all the neighbours in the building "were bailing out water for four hours," says another. firefighters face an uphill struggle as they try to rescue drivers who were stranded in their cars. the horrendous weather forced the authorities to shut down several roads in valencia, and the metro system also ground to a halt as torrential rain battered the city for 24 hours non—stop. weatherwise, it's supposed to be dry and sunny for the next few days, which will give people a chance

to clean up the mess that the floods have left behind, but they are unlikely to be able to salvage much because everything is completely waterlogged. wendy urquhart, bbc news. let's get some of the day's other news. local elections are taking place across the uk on thursday. seats in all local councils are being contested in scotland and wales. voters in northern ireland will elect members of the assembly at stormont. in england, 4,500 councillors are fighting for re—election. polling stations open at 7am. colombia has extradited the leader of the country's biggest crime gang and drug baron to the us. president ivan duque confirmed the extradition of dairo antonio usuga, better known as �*0toniel�*. he described him as the world's most dangerous drug trafficker and the murderer of many people including children and police officers.

amber heard has taken the stand in the defamation trial brought by herformer husband johnny depp. he originally sued for $50 million over an article in the washington post, where she claimed she was a victim of abuse. he denies the allegations. a warning, there's some strong language in this report by our correspondent david sillito. thank you, your honour. will you please state your name? it is amber laura heard. amber heard. over the last 3.5 weeks, she has sat in court each day and listened as a series of witnesses and her ex—husband have described her as a violent, emotionally unstable and a liar. this was finally her chance to give her side of the story. why are you here? i am here because my ex—husband is suing me for an op ed i wrote. and how do you feel about that?

i...struggle to have the words. i struggle to find the words to describe how painful this is. this is horrible. this has been one of...this is the most painful and difficult thing i've gone through. this, the beginning of her story of a marriage she said left her injured and traumatised and sitting just feet away in front of her, the man she says assaulted and abused her, johnny depp. do you remember the first time he physically hit you? yes. please tell the jury about it. she said johnny depp had been taking cocaine and it was a comment about one of his tattoos that led to abusive language and violence. he slapped me across the face, and i laughed. i laughed, because i...

i didn't know what else to do. i thought, "this must be a joke." he said, "you think it's so funny, you think you're a funny (bleep)." and he slapped me again. it was, she says, just the beginning of years of abuse. but he was the love of my life. and he was, he was. but he was also this other thing. he was also this other thing. and that other thing was awful. throughout it all, johnny depp sat head down with his notes and jelly beans. all of it, he says, is untrue, but his ex—wife has a much

more to say. david sillito, bbc news. stay with us on bbc news, still to come: real madrid complete one of the greatest comebacks in champions league history to reach this season's final. i, nelson rolihlahla mandela, do hereby swear to be faithful to the republic of south africa. after six years of construction and numerous delays, the channel tunnel has been formally opened by the queen and president mitterrand. but the tunnel is still not yet ready for passengers and freight services to begin. for centuries, christianity and i islam struggled for supremacy. now, the pope's visit - symbolises their willingness to coexist. roger bannister became the first man in the world to run a mile in underfour minutes. memories of victory as the ve celebrations reach their climax. this night is dedicated

to everyone who believes in a future of peace and freedom. this is bbc news. the latest headlines — a bbc investigation finds some of ukraine's most vulnerable children have been left behind in institutions, after being displaced by the war. ukrainian officials say russia has launched a major assault on the besieged azovstal steel works in mariupol. a 75—year—long study

of a woodland near oxford has shown that the timing of spring has shifted by up to three weeks since the 1940s. the wytham woods great tit project is one of the longest running animal tracking studies in the world. scientists, with special permission to access nests and handle the nestlings, have tracked 40 generations of the birds. victoria gill has been to wytham to find out more about the project. than 500 plant species, 800 types of butterflies and moths, and in one woodland site about and in one woodland site about a square mile, there are 1200 specially built nest boxes, because wytham woods near oxford is a very special site of scientific interest. is this the most officially studied woodland in the world, do you think? it woodland in the world, do you think? . ., , , , ., think? it certainly must be one of them. think? it certainly must be one of them- we — think? it certainly must be one of them. we published - think? it certainly must be one of them. we published more . think? it certainly must be one i of them. we published more than 350 papersjust of them. we published more than 350 papers just from the wytham tit project alone. width that

is impressive! this year marks the 150th anniversary of the white tip which project. we are about to meet the white tip which pro'ect. we are about to mee_ about to meet the newest generation. _ about to meet the newest generation. wow. - about to meet the newest generation. wow. how i about to meet the newest i generation. wow. how many other? ., , ., generation. wow. how many other? ., ., other? there are eight, so that is a very standard _ other? there are eight, so that is a very standard size - other? there are eight, so that is a very standard size for i other? there are eight, so that is a very standard size for a i is a very standard size for a great kit. it is a very standard size for a great kit-— is a very standard size for a great kit. it seems a lot. -- treat great kit. it seems a lot. -- great biscuit. _ great kit. it seems a lot. -- great biscuit. you _ great kit. it seems a lot. -- great biscuit. you can i great kit. it seems a lot. -- great biscuit. you can see l great kit. it seems a lot. -- i great biscuit. you can see most of their digestive _ great biscuit. you can see most of their digestive system. i great biscuit. you can see most of their digestive system. yes, | of their digestive system. yes, the are of their digestive system. yes, they are almost _ of their digestive system. yes, they are almost transparent, i they are almost transparent, mounstephen, feed me, feed me. now these parents have a lot of work to do, so they have to find out of 10,000 caterpillars. find out of 10,000 cater-illars. ' z: z: z: z: ., caterpillars. 10,000, to get them to fledge, _ caterpillars. 10,000, to get them to fledge, that - caterpillars. 10,000, to get them to fledge, that is i caterpillars. 10,000, to get them to fledge, that is a i caterpillars. 10,000, to getj them to fledge, that is a lot of work. so i guess mum and dad would just be out gathering caterpillars now and bringing about the nest. two yes, all day long. people are quite divided whether they day long. people are quite divided whether they think they are cute oddly. _ divided whether they think they are cute oddly. i _ divided whether they think they are cute oddly. i think-

divided whether they think they are cute oddly. i think they i are cute oddly. i think they are cute oddly. i think they are cute — are cute oddly. i think they are cute ugly. _ are cute oddly. i think they are cute ugly. they - are cute oddly. i think they are cute ugly. they are i are cute ugly. they are amazing. it is precisely because it has been a continuous study for all those decades that the researchers have been able to see and measure the change in the timing of spring here. 3�*5 measure the change in the timing of spring here. 75 years we have been _ timing of spring here. 75 years we have been studying - timing of spring here. 75 years we have been studying the i we have been studying the biscuits here, we have seen quite a marked shift. —— the tits. quite a marked shift. -- the tits. . , . quite a marked shift. -- the tits. ., , ., , , tits. that is a big shift. exactly- _ tits. that is a big shift. exactly. the _ tits. that is a big shift. exactly. the tits - tits. that is a big shift. exactly. the tits have i tits. that is a big shift. i exactly. the tits have been able to track other members of them, so the whole food chain has shifted earlier in spring. the woods were bequeathed to oxford university by a wealthy local family back in 1942. since then, they have been the sight of dozens of different scientific projects, but the longest running is the great tit study, which chris has been

involved in for more than half a century. what has been in your involvement with their studies? i your involvement with their studies? . ., ., studies? i came in 57, and it is changing. _ studies? i came in 57, and it is changing, but _ studies? i came in 57, and it is changing, but from - studies? i came in 57, and it is changing, but from year i studies? i came in 57, and it| is changing, but from year to year. — is changing, but from year to year. it— is changing, but from year to year. it is— is changing, but from year to year. it is a _ is changing, but from year to year, it is a lovely piece of woodland, which is maintaining pretty— woodland, which is maintaining pretty much the same sort of thing — pretty much the same sort of thin. �* . . pretty much the same sort of thin. �* ., ., thing. and what are your reflections _ thing. and what are your reflections on _ thing. and what are your reflections on the - thing. and what are your i reflections on the seasonal shift? ~ , ., , reflections on the seasonal shift? g ., , ., ., , shift? my thoughts are that is fine, unless _ shift? my thoughts are that is fine, unless it _ shift? my thoughts are that is fine, unless it gets _ shift? my thoughts are that is fine, unless it gets to - shift? my thoughts are that is fine, unless it gets to limits l fine, unless it gets to limits where — fine, unless it gets to limits where the trees or the caterpillars or the birds can't do that— caterpillars or the birds can't do that shift because it is too big — do that shift because it is too bi. �* do that shift because it is too bi 1. ~ ., do that shift because it is too bi, ~ ., , , do that shift because it is too bi. ~ ., , , ., big. and that is still a question _ big. and that is still a question that... i big. and that is still a question that... that | big. and that is still a i question that... that is still a big question _ question that... that is still a big question to _ question that... that is still a big question to answer. question that... that is still| a big question to answer and question that... that is still i a big question to answer and a very— a big question to answer and a very interesting one. the a big question to answer and a very interesting one.— very interesting one. the work he aoes very interesting one. the work he goes on. — very interesting one. the work he goes on, and _ very interesting one. the work he goes on, and whenever- very interesting one. the work. he goes on, and whenever spring happens, it is a busy season for the birds and the scientist because as our climate changes, there rare climate change studies they track exactly how the natural world response become more important as time goes on. victoria gill, bbc news, wytham woods. how

amazing. time to catch—up with all the latest sport. hello, i'm gavin ramjaun, and this is your update from the bbc sport centre. real madrid are through to the european champions league final, after an astonishing comeback against manchester city in the second leg of their semifinal. city won last week's first match 4—3, and looked to be heading for the final, when algerian winger riyad mahrez scored the opening goal of the second leg, after 73 minutes. in the 90th minute, rodrygo made it interesting, when he pulled a goal back for madrid, and in stoppage time he scored again, to wipe out city's advantage. 2—1 to madrid, and 5—5 on aggregate. that meant extra—time, and that's when karim benzema won it for real madrid, converting a penalty, for his 43rd goal of the season. they're now through to a 17th european cup final, and the 13—time winners will face the six—time champions liverpool in paris on 28th may. you know, right at the end with ten minutes or 15 minutes left, you are absolutely dominated with a lot of problems the

opponent can create to you. it didn't happen, and they found it enough, 1—0. the other one, the people support them, so it is a little bit more difficult, and after the penalty that i didn't watch it, it made the difference. it's the semi—finals of the europa league on thursday, with the second leg ties finely poised. scottish champions rangers host rb leipzig of the bundesliga, the germans with a one—goal lead from the first leg. and west ham are behind in their tie in germany, where they take on eintracht frankfurt. the english premier league side trail 2—1 on aggregate, and their manager knows just how big an occasion this is for them, given they're one match away from a first major european final in 46 years. to get to the semifinal of the european competition is huge for anybody, so big for me as welt — for anybody, so big for me as welt i— for anybody, so big for me as well. i want to take the team to the — well. i want to take the team to the final. i'm preparing the team — to the final. i'm preparing the team to — to the final. i'm preparing the team to go to the final. we believe _ team to go to the final. we believe that if we get it right, _ believe that if we get it right, we can do so, but we have — right, we can do so, but we have to _ right, we can do so, but we have to manage that, and the

players — have to manage that, and the players are in the same place as i players are in the same place as i am _ players are in the same place as i am. we know they are in front— as i am. we know they are in frontand— as i am. we know they are in front and we've got a bit to tie — lee westwood says he and "many others" have asked to be released from the pga and european tours, to play in greg norman's saudi—funded golf invitational series next month. englishman richard bland has also requested to be released for the event in hertfordshire injune. westwood says, "if anyone comes along and gives any of us a chance at a pay rise, then you have to seriously consider it". six—time major winner phil mickelson was one of the first high—profile players to seek a release from the pga tour last month. andy murray and novak djokovic renew their old rivalry on thursday, in the last 16 of madrid open. it'll be the first time they've faced each competitively in over five years. also through is rafael nadal. he remains on course for a record—extending sixth madrid open title, after a straight—sets victory over miomir kecmanovic from serbia. nadal won 6—1, 7—6 to reach the last 16, where he'll face belgium's david goffin. and tunisia's ons jabeur is through to the women's semi—finals in madrid to face qualifier ekaterina alexa nd rova.

she beat the former world number one simona halep in straight sets. the number eight seed avenged her defeat against halep in dubai with a 6—3, 6—2 victory, to seal her place in the last four. you can get all the latest sports news at our website — that's bbc.com/sport. but from me, gavin ramjaun, and the rest of the sport team, we'll see you next time. meta platforms is set to open its first physical store. shoppers can try out and buy vr headsets — it's as the company plans to take its virtual reality space — the metaverse — mainstream. emily brown reports. living in a virtual space where people interact is now possible in a real meta store, the first of its kind opening in california. it is the latest push from meta platforms, the company that owns facebook, to promote mainstream interest in what it calls the metaverse.

the company is investing heavily in the metaverse by developing hardware devices that provide access to the virtual world. here, consumers can buy headsets and interactive gadgets. last year it said it would start testing tools for selling virtual experiences within its vr platform. the move comes after the tech giant reported its slowest revenue growth in a decade and warned of a potential revenue drop in the current quarter. it also noted it will be ditching podcasts, just a year after launching the service. it is a time of change for the company which can be seen in reality or virtual reality by the 2 billion people who use meta platforms every day. emily brown, bbc news. you can reach me on twitter — i'm @vfritznews.

your business news in about five minutes' time. see you soon. hello. some spots down the eastern side of england had more rain on wednesday than they've had in four weeks. it is a different weather set—up, though, for the day ahead. high pressure building in will keep most of england and wales dry. closer to weather fronts in scotland and northern ireland, there is a chance of seeing a little rain. in fact, a cloudy and damp start for many places here. and as for temperatures, well, it will be a cooler start. the chilliest parts of england and wales perhaps down to mid—single figures, a little bit lower in some areas. so, a lot of cloud across scotland and northern ireland. the chance of seeing a little light rain. it's more especially in western and mainly north—west scotland. this will be most persistent. eastern and southern scotland may see some sunny spells, and into the afternoon, a few breaking through in northern ireland. for wales and england,

there is a slight chance of catching a shower. the vast majority will stay dry. and though there'll be a lot of cloud around, it'll be a warmer feeling day with some occasional sunny spells, up to 22 in the warm spots in south—east england. so, here, a lot of dry weather will continue as we get on into thursday night, but the rain really gathering into scotland and northern ireland going into friday morning. so, it'll become more widespread and heavier, and it'll be a milder start to the day across the board. so, some rain in scotland and northern ireland, gradually clearing southwards during friday. sunny spells and a few showers following on behind. the rain moves into northern england, heaviest to the west of the pennines, into wales, parts of the midlands, perhaps south—west england getting on into friday evening. whereas ahead of that, there'll still be some sunny spells for a time before it clouds over. and this is where we'll see the day's highest temperatures, just into the low 20s. now, it looks as if those parts of eastern england that have been so dry will see some more rain as we get on into friday night before clearing early on saturday morning and another area of high pressure moves in. could be a lot of cloud

for a time in scotland, northern ireland and northern england. one or two light showers or some patchy light rain and drizzle, and a cooler feeling day towards these north—eastern coasts. whereas elsewhere on saturday, if we do break out into some sunny spells, it'll feel quite pleasant. and then for part two of the weekend on sunday, well, most will stay dry, again with some occasional and pleasantly warm sunny spells. another weather system moving close to northern ireland and especially into scotland, with a chance of seeing a little more rain here. that's your latest forecast. bye— bye.

in champions league history to reach this season's final.

this is bbc news with the latest business headlines for viewers in the uk and around the world. the rising cost of cash. more pressure on consumers as interest rates are hiked around the world. fuelling conflict. the eu moves to ban all russian oil by the end of the year, but hungary threatens a veto. pumping out profit. shell's the latest energy giant to unveil a jump in earnings amid growing calls for a �*windfall tax'. plus — fast track to the top. we meet the 32—year—old who's been handed the keys to a uk retail empire.