this is bbc news. the headlines: the united nations is setting up an investigation into alleged war crimes by russian forces in ukraine, prompting moscow to complain that it's being demonised by western countries. the bbc has seen footage showing two unarmed civilians near kyiv being shot in the back by russian soldiers. it's one of more than 10,000 cases of alleged war crimes being investigated currently. the white house has announced that the us has passed more than one million deaths from covid—19. it's the highest official total in the world, although the world health organization believes the true number may be higher in other countries. a wildfire in orange county, south of los angeles, has burned at least 20 mansions to the ground. fire officials say the blaze has scorched 199 acres since it started on wednesday. hundreds of people have been

forced to evacuate their homes. now on bbc news, the travel show. coming up on this week's travel show — making ancient greece more accessible. i mean, this is an extra part of the trip. this is a part that only we get. chuckles. we meet the woman who helped the famous stray cats of athens survive through the pandemic. ps—ps—ps. she's so cute. and we're off to spain for a taste of the sun. oh, my god! that crushing sound! and back. and back? wow! look at that!

history and accessibility can sometimes feel like they're at odds with each other. i love a historical site as much as the next person, but with narrow walkways, flights of stone steps and worn—away surfaces, a visit can feel like a herculean task. it's a bit of a mission! i'm making my way up to the acropolis —

which, in greek, means �*high city�* — which doesn't look nor sound very wheelchair—friendly. so before covid, it was a proper mission to get up to the acropolis if you had any sort of mobility issues. basically, you had a 15—minute hike up a load of steep stairs and loads of steep ramps before you came to any sort of accessible pathway. but since then, things have changed. the acropolis is greece's number one tourist attraction and pre—pandemic, over3.5 million people climbed to the top each year. one good thing to come out of the lockdowns was there was finally the time and the space to make the site more accessible to those with mobility issues. just seen a sign for a disabled entrance, i think. yeah. know what? it's still a mission to get up here. i can see why the ancient greeks were so fit. you have to be a god to get up this ramp. let's do it!

which way am i going? this way? thank you. remember when i said it was a is—minute hike up some stairs to get to the acropolis? those are the stairs i'm talking about. wow! i'd never make it up there. hello. hello! but help is at hand. all i have to do is catch my breath and admire the scenery as i wait for the brand—new lift, built to comfortably accommodate two wheelchairs at a time. but not everyone sees it as an improvement with some critics calling it a modernist eyesore. well, i think it beats climbing flights of steps any day of the week! this is all right. look at this view. this isjust... i mean, this is an extra part of the trip. this is a part that only we get! chuckles.

all the other good old—fashioned two—leggers have to go up the stairs! and this is what i'm talking about. after just a0 seconds in the lift, and using the acropolis�* new accessible paths, i get to experience all of this. the acropolis has a long history and over its time, it�*s been used as a fortress, a mosque, and it�*s even been blown up. but its headliner has got to be the parthenon — a temple dedicated to the ancient greek goddess athena, who gave the city of athens its name. wow! i have never been so happy to see concrete. that is amazing. i�*ve actually been here before and the last time i was here this was all rough and gravelly

and really hard to push along. but now, i get to experience the acropolis, and i get this wonderful view of the parthenon. this is brilliant. i want to take these concrete slabs home! but �*improvements�* is not a word some would use when describing the work carried out at the site. not everyone is happy with the renovations that have gone on here at the acropolis. you know, some people have complained about the concrete slabs being laid down, saying that it�*s hiding the original features of the acropolis, and even wounding the stone here. but i�*ve been told that these slabs can be raised and you�*ll still have the original features and, actually, look — this is some of the original stone — and it�*s smooth anyway. rival historians claim the work carried out is a means to get more tourists to visit and is disrespectful to the site�*s diverse past.

i�*m heading down to the acropolis museum to meet a man who knows a thing or two about ancient history, and he believes the ancient greeks themselves would have been ok with this upgrade. ancient greek civilisation, culture is an anthropocentric anthropocentric culture — that means they created their gods in the image of themselves. zeus, hera, aphrodite, and so on. and between them, they had hephaestus, a very hard—working metal smith and very powerful god, and he was lame. wow! that�*s incredible! disabled gods, or gods with disabilities. i�*m learning so many new things. this is amazing. and i�*m also told that accessibility at the acropolis is not a new thing.

even in the archaic period — that means 6th century bc — there were ramps leading up to the temple of athena. not the parthenon, because the parthenon didn�*t exist until the 5th century. but even earlier, there is evidence for this ramp as well. and many times, it has been interpreted that it was for the animals to be sacrificed. but it is not only that — it is also for all the people, helping disabled people and older people or pregnant women and so on, so that they have a good and easy accessibility towards the temple of the goddess. and the conversation has got quite heated.

you know, people have said that it�*s the disneyfication of the monuments here, it�*s wounding the rock, it�*s barbaric. yeah, what are your thoughts on that? come on. these are politics, and politics... it is actually, democratically speaking, different options of different people. you cannot look with my eyes and i cannot look with yours. there are plans in place to make the site even more accessible with the installation of further paths. i, for one, think this attraction is setting a good example to historic monuments throughout the world. and i�*m really happy that i get to experience the acropolis now.

well, if you�*re planning on visiting athens any time soon, here�*s a rundown of things to maybe look out for. you might find yourself paying through the nose to get onto one of athens�* many beaches. entry fees can push up into the hundreds of euros at somewhere like astir beach during peak season. vouliagmeni lake is a good alternative. it has sunbeds, hot springs and limestone caves for about 15 euros each. athens�* open—air amphitheatres are a really special place to go and see a concert or play. patti smith and diana krall are both appearing this summer at the 0deon herodes atticus, at the foot of the acropolis. applause. if you�*re a fan of the classics, plays by aeschylus, sophocles and euripides

are on at the ancient theatre of epidaurus, with full english subtitles. i think i�*ll need �*em! many visitors pass through the vast and ancient piraeus port on their way to the greek islands. while you�*re there, check out the old workshops and warehouses in surrounding streets. in recent times, the buildings have become a hub for contemporary art galleries. a brand—new metro line can whisk you there from central athens in around 50 minutes. and athens is known for its open—air cinemas. throughoutjune, july and august, you can catch classic films and new releases in some beautiful outdoor spots. the screenings take place under starry skies in the city�*s squares, museums and parks, and some are totally free of charge. right, stay with us, because still to come

on the programme... ps—ps—ps. she�*s so cute! ..i meet the woman who helped hundreds of her four—legged friends survive the pandemic here in athens. and kate is off to malaga in spain to take on another culinary challenge. and take another one. the olive oil is going to be totally different. but they look identical to me! yeah, but, you know, i promise, it�*s going to be a total different taste. so don�*t go away. these are just some of the cats of athens. if you�*ve ever visited greece, then there�*s a good chance a feline friend has made a cameo appearance in your trip outside a taverna or at an ancient ruin. these guys are everywhere. ps—ps—ps.

she�*s so cute! i�*m meeting samika, a volunteer at athens—based cat charity nine lives. we are a team, nine lives, and we feed every day here in acropolis and in many other places around the centre of athens. wow. i mean, that�*s a big job. there are many, many cats in athens. yes. we feed around over 500 cats around the centre. the team at nine lives definitely have their work cut out. so i�*ve decided to help sambika with the dinner—time shift and get some grub out to these furry athenians. they are always together. these two? yes. best friends. how did the pandemic affect the work that you were doing, and also the welfare of the cats? well, suddenly, because

the town was empty, you could see so many, many cats — revealed a lot of cats we didn�*t know that there were around, and we had to feed more because probably some of them were eating around tavernas who were not any more open. hello, diego! this is diego! oh, you recognised because of the eye? yeah, he lost his eye, er, recently. hello, baby! baby, come here. this isn�*tjust about keeping these cats�* bellies full — feeding them breeds trust and allows nine lives volunteers to carry out important health checks. it�*s not so — so much food for them. town is not the physical environment for the animals. they don�*t have enough food and they wouldn�*t be so healthy. they would be a little bit

skinny, sick, and if we didn�*t sterilise them, there would be thousands. yeah. so, they would die. yeah. they wouldn�*t survive. no tourists meant no tavernas. and if it wasn�*t for volunteers, these guys would have gone hungry. mewing but as athens opens up again, should we all be sharing our meals with the local cats? 0k, they can give them a treat, as, er, as far is not problem for the owner. i do it also when i eat in a tavern! she chuckles animals mustn�*t eat, actually, ourfood. and sometimes it can be dangerous for them

because usually they give the bones of the fish. i always carry now with me cat food so i don�*t have to take from my plate and give to the animals if i am outside. i have something always. right, next time i�*m in athens, i�*ll be packing cat biscuits for sure! well, to finish up this week, we�*re leaving the cat food behind and heading off to spain, where kate hardy buckley is on the lookout for something far more enticing to add to her menu. i�*m in malaga, a sun—kissed port city in southern spain. now, every summer, i normally pass straight through here to another town further along the costa del sol. but this time i�*m sticking around. with its fertile soil, the sea air, and over 300 days

of sunshine a year, this region is perfect forfinding the best produce. jose carlos garcia is one of malaga�*s finest ambassadors of gastronomy. he suggested we meet at the mercado central to explore some local produce that inspired his michelin—starred restaurant. what are we going to cook together? before i leave the market, i pick up the almonds

for our ajoblanco soup. first up, i visit finca la torre — producers of one of the world�*s most premium extra virgin olive oils. these are like 100—year—old trees. ja, ja. wow. even more. wow. victor perez tends to his 3a,000 olive trees with such care, his olive oil receives the perfect score at competitions. we take, you know, one olive, and take another one. the olive oil is going to be totally different. they look identical! yeah, but, you know, i promise it�*s going to be total different taste. in a few weeks, they will become a little bit yellow and they will be more tender. it�*s the signal that the olive oil content, it is full now. that means harvest time, and victor prioritises quality, not quantity.

from this tree, we will get around 30, a0 kilos. so that�*s only three or four bottles. it is, yeah, three or four bottles. from the moment the olive leaves the tree to the bottle, how long does that take? the whole process, it takes around two hours. two hours?! since we have to be really, really, really, really fast. there�*s no other way. this estate dates back to roman times, and today we�*re pressing the olives the old—fashioned way. oh my god. that crushing sound! and back? yeah. wow. look at that! unlike wine, which often improves with age, olive oil is best fresh. it�*s delicious. i�*m going to go back to london now and start drinking olive oil in a wine glass! they chuckle i�*ve also got to bring chef jose carlos something from the sea. and i�*m just in time for the fishermen coming in from their night trawl. i�*ve seen sardines, i�*ve seen anchovies, boquerones. it doesn�*t get much fresher than this. this is absolutely amazing.

the noise, the pace, all the chatter. literally, yourfish is off the boat, into auction, and in a matter of hours onto a plate. i pick up some sardines — a fish synonymous with this city. last on my list is the pitaya — the dragonfruit. it�*s beautiful. this cactus fruit, often associated with southeast asia, originates from southern mexico. its production in spain has grown exponentially in the last few years.

and now tojose carlos garcia�*s michelin—starred restaurant at the marina. the easy stuff for me, the difficult stuff for you. 0k! we grind the almonds to create the base of ajoblanco soup. it�*s totally changed colour. it�*s a magnificent creamy white. jose carlos takes the freshest ingredients and turns them into something beautiful.

wow. she sighs dreamily oh, my god! it�*s beautiful. mm! so fresh. the crunch of the fruit and then the sweet sliminess of the sardine — absolutely fenomenal! well, that�*s your lot for this week. just before we go, a quick word about next week. wow! there�*s so many mummies here, vivian. carmen�*s back in chile — where this time she comes face—to—face with the ancient civilisation that�*s been given new unesco recognition for humanity�*s oldest examples of mummification. oh, wow! it�*s quite small.

what can you tell me about this mummy? so make sure you catch that if you can, and also check us out on social media. but for now, from me, ade adepitan, and the rest of the travel show team here in athens — where it�*s so good to finally be out on the road again together with you guys — it�*s goodbye, and see you next time.

hello again. we�*re looking at a fairly windy day today across northern areas of the country, and there�*s a bit of rain around, as well. this is where the rain�*s been over recent hours, it�*s been quite wet in northern ireland. a few splashes from northern england, north wales, but the majority of the rain has been working its way across scotland. it will continue to move its way eastwards over the next few hours, the rain ending to become confined, really, to north—western areas of scotland, where it will be quite heavy at times, quite windy, as well. these are kind of temperatures as we head into the first part of friday morning. so it is a mild start to the day, 9—1! celsius. then for many of us, it�*s a bright enough start, as well. some sunshine to come for england and wales, but a different story for scotland, where low pressure will be pushing this band of rain, particularly across northern and western areas. through the day, there should be an improvement with a bit of sunshine coming through across eastern and southern scotland, but perhaps staying quite damp across northern

areas, particularly for the northern isles. the rain reluctant to push away. in the sunshine across england and wales, the wind�*s a little bit lighter to the south, and there will be a bit more of that sunshine, so warmer — temperatures reaching 22 celsius or so, but quite cool underneath those windier conditions in scotland with that rain, as well. well, into the weekend weather prospects, well, we have some thundery showers that we are watching to come up from the south. however, on saturday, should be a largely dry day with sunshine for the majority of the country, given those brighter skies are working in across scotland, and to a degree northern england and northern ireland, as well, we�*ll see those temperatures climbing a little bit here. i7 celsius or so for glasgow, 17—18 in parts of northern ireland. but it�*s in eastern england that we will see that day�*s highest temperatures — up to 22—23 celsius. saturday night time, there probably will be some thunderstorms coming up from the south. now, these are going to be hit or miss in nature. the first batch of thundery showers probably not bringing a huge amount of rain, but could bring lots of lightning, but, as we get into sunday and then monday, as well, there is a greater chance of seeing some heavier downpours develop over time. still on sunday, there will be some places that stay dry with some hazy spells of sunshine. it will start to feel a little

bit more humid in the south compared with recent days. i9 celsius in glasgow, still into the low 20s across parts of the south and east, but then monday, we�*ve got rain or thundery showers that will break out a little bit more widely. some of the rain quite heavy.

welcome to bbc news. i�*m nuala mcgovern. our top stories: alleged war crimes by russian troops near kyiv — the un human rights council orders an urgent inquiry and the bbc sees first—hand evidence of unarmed civilians shot dead as they walk away. translation: they| killed a 65-year-old. what for? i am not so much furious as full of grief. hundreds forced to flee from a fast—moving wildfire in southern california that�*s already destroyed dozens of mansions. biden�*s baby formula crisis — following days of criticism, the us president announces measures to tackle the nationwide acute shortage. a team of astronomers unveil the first image of the monster black hole lurking at the centre

of our galaxy.