case be a special programme on the case on bbc iplayer. you're watching bbc news. these are headlines. police investigating the disappearance of madeleine mccann a certain reservoir in portugal. rolf harris dies at the age of 93. and the uk plans to widen the number of prohibited animals in the ivory trade. sport now, and a full round—up from the bbc sport centre. hello from the bbc sport centre. police in spain have detained three people in connection with racist abuse directed at the real madrid footballer, viniciuer,

during a match on sunday. the brazil international has been the target of such abuse numerous times this season, the latest occuring during real�*s league match at valencia. the game was paused in the second half after vinicius reported opposition fans to the referee. there has been widespread condemnation of how the incident has been handled, with the player himself, who wasn't at training today, saying after the match that "la liga belonged to racists." la liga have released a statement today...

real madrid manager carlo ancelotti said on tuesday he expected viniciuer to remain at the spanish club despite the racist abuse he's faced, and the bbc also spoke to former real madrid president ramon calderon. it isa it is a problem. i haven't said that it isn't. but it is not a problem of spain, it is a problem with the whole world, and i have been in many countries with problems like this in stadiums and in the streets, and something we have to fight against. how? i suppose we need racism awareness within the population, that this kind of thing cannot be tolerated, but not only in spain. everywhere in the world. manchester city manager pep guardiola believes there will be an inevitable drop off in intensity from his players, now the premier league title has been retained. but he has warned that major challenges still lie ahead — as his side chase a treble. he was speaking ahead of their league match against brighton on wednesday,

after his team wrapped up a fifth title in six years at the weekend. it's been a successful season for brighton too as they qualified for european football for the first time in the club's history. brighton is playing, something unique, something special, the way they move in the way they do, and it is a challenge for us. they had to play against chelsea, and how they will feel tomorrow, i don't know, but i think the best way to prepare for the finals is to be ready. some good news for arsenal fans, as forward bukayo saka has signed a new long—term contract with the club. he said arsenal was the "right place to make the next step". the england forward has scored 14 goals for the gunners this season, contributing 11 assists. atjust 21, he has already made 178 appearances

for the club and has featured in all arsenal's premier league games over the past two campaigns. exeter wingerjack nowell says he will not make himself available for england's world cup squad later this year. the 30—year—old has been capped 45 times for england and has been to the last two world cups. speaking to the rugby pass offload podcast he said "no world cup...i'm just going to chill." adding that it was a bit of a hard decision, but one he had to make for himself and his family. nowell is set to join french side la rochelle this summer, with the world cup starting in september. and that's all the sport for now. thanks forjoining us. a bbc investigation has found that some vapes which were confiscated from school pupils in england contained high levels of lead and other metals. laboratory tests showed children using them could be exposed to lead levels over twice the safe amount.

most of the products were illegal and had not been registered with regulators. live now to deborah arnott from the campaign group, action on smoking. how surprised are you by the findings, that children have been gaining access to the vaping products and also what is in them? our surveys show children are getting access to the apes which is illegal, illegalto getting access to the apes which is illegal, illegal to sell vapes to children —— getting access to vapes. most retailers are responsible but those who are selling to children are also selling illegal vapes and you cannot be sure what they will contain. the uk standards, products that meet uk standards, should not have high levels of metal, and the

laboratory did the investigations and they said this was something they had never seen before, and that is because of the fact that what they were was illegal vapes and the thing that concerns me is that children, more than half of children believe that vapes are as harmful as smoking so telling them that there is heavy metal in them were not put them off but it risks discouraging aduu them off but it risks discouraging adult smokers who switch to vaping from doing so and encouraging them to go back to smoking, thinking it is no less harmful than vaping. that is no less harmful than vaping. that is a discounting _ is no less harmful than vaping. that is a discounting -- _ is no less harmful than vaping. that is a discounting —— disconcerting thought, but i suppose the difficulty here is on one hand you have got to get the message across to smokers that vaping might be a

better alternative but at the same time make sure that children are not getting into vaping. you time make sure that children are not getting into vaping-— getting into vaping. you need to make sure _ getting into vaping. you need to make sure children _ getting into vaping. you need to make sure children are - getting into vaping. you need to make sure children are not - getting into vaping. you need to i make sure children are not getting into vaping but what we need to do to achieve that is stick to regulation and between 1982 when we first started measuring a child smoking and 2000, there was no change in the number of children smoking, 19% of 11—15 —year—olds in 1982 and it is 19% in 2000 although after that it fell dramatically and thatis after that it fell dramatically and that is because of a ban on advertising promotion and large health warnings on packets and mass media behaviour change campaigns, increasing the price of tobacco, the ban on smoking in public places, so it was new regulatory framework and the knowledge of children about the harms of smoking grow between 1982 and 2000 but it did not lead to a reduction in the number of children smoking, and there were far more children smoking in 2000 than there

are vaping now. is it children smoking in 2000 than there are vaping nova— are vaping now. is it 'ust about regulation? h are vaping now. is it 'ust about regulation? the _ are vaping now. is it 'ust about regulation? the law_ are vaping now. is itjust about regulation? the law is- are vaping now. is itjust about regulation? the law is clear . are vaping now. is itjust about. regulation? the law is clear that it is illegal to sell vaping products to children under the age of 18 but that has happened. it is illegal to have the quantities of lead found in these vaping products but that has happened. is the problem wide than just deregulation? —— wider. we happened. is the problem wide than just deregulation? -- wider. we need more enforcement _ just deregulation? -- wider. we need more enforcement and _ just deregulation? -- wider. we need more enforcement and that _ just deregulation? -- wider. we need more enforcement and that is - just deregulation? -- wider. we need more enforcement and that is why - just deregulation? -- wider. we need more enforcement and that is why we j more enforcement and that is why we were supportive of the government announcement that they will put an additional 3 million into enforcement against the sale of illegal sudan and more enforcement is needed. —— illegal vapes and law enforcement is needed. at the moment of the border force cannot stop them coming into the country because of the way the regulations are structured and that needs to be changed. if products are found at the border that do not meet uk standards that have not been notified, they should be sent back to where they came from immediately and they should not be allowed onto the uk market.—

and they should not be allowed onto the uk market. deborah, will relieve it there for now. _ the uk market. deborah, will relieve it there for now. thanks _ the uk market. deborah, will relieve it there for now. thanks for - the uk market. deborah, will relieve it there for now. thanks forjoining i it there for now. thanks forjoining us. —— we will leave it there for now. we have some live pictures from portugal. 0ngoing investigation and you can see some of the tents which police i'm using as they dig near the reservoir in portugal in this long—running investigation into the disappearance of madeleine mccann. this dam is about 50 kilometres from where she went missing as a three—year—old in portugal 16 years ago. the operation is being led by german police and they are looking for evidence to link her disappearance to christian brueckner, a german man who was made a formal suspect by portuguese prosecutors last year, we expect the search to last maybe a couple of days which is what the authorities have suggested. they continue

looking for close that could help them understand what led to the disappearance of madeleine mccann. we continue to follow that story. russia says it's now defeated the insurgents who crossed the borderfrom ukraine to launch attacks in the belgorod region. villages had been evacuated after coming under sustained shellfire, with several people injured. the russian defence ministry claims to have killed 70 of the attackers, while driving the rest back across the border. it continues to insist they were ukrainians, but two russian paramilitary groups have claimed responsibility, saying this was an attempt to overthrow vladimir putin's regime in moscow. live now to ourjournalist at bbc russian, sergei goryashko. if russian paramilitary groups are claiming responsibility, why is the kremlin blaming ukraine for these

attacks? ., , , attacks? the kremlin has multiple reasons and _ attacks? the kremlin has multiple reasons and one _ attacks? the kremlin has multiple reasons and one of _ attacks? the kremlin has multiple reasons and one of those - attacks? the kremlin has multiple reasons and one of those is - attacks? the kremlin has multiple reasons and one of those is that l attacks? the kremlin has multiple i reasons and one of those is that the attacks came from ukrainian territory and another that the attackers were using the weapons and machinery delivered from the western countries to the ukrainian military, so the ukrainian military gave those weapons to these so—called russian insurgency groups and we have just received information that the governor of the belgorod region has just announced a counterterrorist operation has been cancelled. so a little more than 2a hours after the attack happened, russian authorities claimed they have managed to control the situation and to draw back the

attackers from russian soil. the? attackers from russian soil. they have pushed _ attackers from russian soil. they have pushed back _ attackers from russian soil. they have pushed back these attackers, they have announced, but what has has the kremlin said about this? has vladimir putin said anything about this incursion? hat vladimir putin said anything about this incursion?— this incursion? not very much. he has been on _ this incursion? not very much. he has been on tv — this incursion? not very much. he has been on tv today _ this incursion? not very much. he has been on tv today delivering i this incursion? not very much. he - has been on tv today delivering some remarks on the war in ukraine, saying that russia is strung together and everything is going according to plan. he did not mention specifically the belgorod region, leaving others to make the remarks on this situation. the spokesperson was not that vocal about it either and theyjust said the situation remains under control and russian authorities are doing whatever they can and he was not given too many comments on the

situation in belgorod, telling journalists to ask the questions to the ministry of defence. hag? journalists to ask the questions to the ministry of defence. how unusual is it that we — the ministry of defence. how unusual is it that we are _ the ministry of defence. how unusual is it that we are seeing _ the ministry of defence. how unusual is it that we are seeing this _ is it that we are seeing this paramilitary group crossing over from ukraine into russia? there was a similar situation _ from ukraine into russia? there was a similar situation before _ from ukraine into russia? there was a similar situation before and - from ukraine into russia? there was a similar situation before and this . a similar situation before and this is another part of russia bordering ukraine but the attack was not that sophisticated. the insurgency group did not manage to get something like a tank inside russian territory. belgorod itself has been under shelling and attacks for almost a year, really, and there were different types of attacks on different types of attacks on different villages bordering with

ukraine but it was just shelling or drone attacks and not like a special forces unit coming into russian territory. so even if it was not that significant in military terms, psychologically, in terms of information and warfare, this is a very big move from the ukrainian side and this is another public humiliation for russia.- side and this is another public humiliation for russia. from bbc russian, thanks _ humiliation for russia. from bbc russian, thanks for _ humiliation for russia. from bbc russian, thanks forjoining - humiliation for russia. from bbc russian, thanks forjoining us. i around the world and across the uk. this is bbc news. the train soon will. —— the train now approaching does not stop here yet but it soon will. the station

opens to the public on the 27th of may and workers are putting the finishing touches to the new stop on the line between reading and basingstoke. it has been built with an eye to future growth. we basingstoke. it has been built with an eye to future growth.— an eye to future growth. we have built a station _ an eye to future growth. we have built a station which _ an eye to future growth. we have built a station which is _ an eye to future growth. we have built a station which is fit - an eye to future growth. we have built a station which is fit for - an eye to future growth. we have built a station which is fit for the | built a station which is fit for the future so two and three carriage trains running now but in the future those could expand to up to six carriages and beyond with automatic closing doors. carriages and beyond with automatic closing doors— closing doors. green park started out as a site _ closing doors. green park started out as a site for _ closing doors. green park started out as a site for business - closing doors. green park started out as a site for business but - closing doors. green park started out as a site for business but it i closing doors. green park started out as a site for business but it isj out as a site for business but it is now a sizeable spill—over from reading itself and these are the latest more than 1179 homes being built here. it is all part of the explanation of why this will be one of a handful of new stations open this year. you're live with bbc news. in its latest forecast, the international monetary fund says the uk should avoid a recession this year. last month, it predicted that the economy would shrink by 0.3%

but it now expects growth of 0.4%, thanks to "resilient demand" and falling energy prices. but it's also warned that inflation remains "stubbornly high". with more on this, let's speak to our business correspondent, ben king. tell us more about what the imf have said. , ., tell us more about what the imf have said. , . , ,, ., ., , said. they have substantially u - . raded said. they have substantially upgraded their _ said. they have substantially upgraded their forecast - said. they have substantially upgraded their forecast for i said. they have substantially i upgraded their forecast for the said. they have substantially - upgraded their forecast for the uk economy, they expect to see growth of 0.4% this year rising to 1% next year, and amongst the reasons they have done this, the change in prime minister and chancellor in that time, they have praised the current chancellor for restoring stability after the mini budget we had last year which saw the government propose a very large unfunded increase in tax cuts. jeremy hunt responded to this today and he said that the uk is on the right path but the job is not that the uk is on the right path but thejob is not done that the uk is on the right path but the job is not done yet and he that the uk is on the right path but thejob is not done yet and he is

highlighting the fact that 1% is an improvement on a declining economic output, but it is still way below where the government and most politicians would like to see the uk economy performing.— politicians would like to see the uk economy performing. there is some aood economy performing. there is some good news but _ economy performing. there is some good news but every _ economy performing. there is some good news but every silver - economy performing. there is some good news but every silver lining - good news but every silver lining has a cloud and they are warning about borrowing and inflation as well? ., , , about borrowing and inflation as well? . , , , well? that is right. they see stubbornly — well? that is right. they see stubbornly high _ well? that is right. they see stubbornly high inflation - well? that is right. they see stubbornly high inflation in l well? that is right. they see i stubbornly high inflation in the uk economy and they do not think inflation will return to its 2% target until 2025 which is six months later than the previous projection from them. the managing director of the imf has warned against tax cuts like those we saw during the mini budget in september last year, saying they are neither affordable or desirable, which is not to say the imf is against the idea of any public spending and they actually encourage an increase in public investment either to increase

productivity which could be to infrastructure spending like trains or roads and also on the green transition, the economy is trying to move away from fossil fuels to renewable energy which is usually expensive but the imf says investing in that is not necessarily bad for the uk's long—term economic prospects. the uk's long-term economic prospects-— the uk's long-term economic --rosects. ., ., ., , prospects. thanks for “oining us. our business * prospects. thanks forjoining us. our business correspondent - prospects. thanks forjoining us. i our business correspondent there. the uk government has tightened the rules on international students who want to bring dependants to the uk. from next year, only those studying post—graduate research courses will be allowed to bring relatives with them. the news comes two days before official figures are expected to show another increase in migration to the uk. live now to westminster and our political correspondent damian grammaticas. what is the balance that the uk is trying to strike? the immigration numbers are going up but at the same

time immigration of foreign students is something that has been quite good for universities? something that the government _ good for universities? something that the government itself - good for universities? something that the government itself has i good for universities? something i that the government itself has been pushing and promoting because that influx of foreign students brings in foreign money and they pay much higherfees to attend foreign money and they pay much higher fees to attend uk in universities so it is an important source of income that supports the university sector and an important source of revenue for the uk so it has an important economic benefit but balanced against that you have the context that this is a government that came into power, at the last election, with a manifesto, a promise, that it would bring migration numbers down, net migration, the balance between those leaving and arriving, and in 2019 at the time it was about a quarter of a million people per year being added to the uk population, and the government said it would bring that below that level but instead it has doubled and those figures that are

due to come out this week about some expecting it will actually have tripled by the time we see the figures this week. these contribution from refugees from ukraine and people from hong kong who have been allowed in under a visa scheme —— there is contribution. but at the heart of it the government is facing a political issue, the promise was made to bring it down and it is trying to find ways to do that and the route it is now taking is this move to restrict those coming on for higher education and their ability, most of them to bring family members and dependents. interesting, looking at the numbers, so what is driving the increase? more than hundred and 35,000 visas granted to dependents of foreign students last year and that was nearly nine times the figure in 2019, so is this a trend or where there specific causes over the last couple of years? the there specific causes over the last coople of years?— there specific causes over the last couple of years? the government has not been clear—

couple of years? the government has not been clear about _ couple of years? the government has not been clear about why _ couple of years? the government has not been clear about why they - couple of years? the government has not been clear about why they think i not been clear about why they think the number has jumped not been clear about why they think the number hasjumped but not been clear about why they think the number has jumped but you are right, the number of student visas issued three years ago until last year, in the space of three years, almost doubled, the number of students coming, for higher education courses, and the number of family members increased more than eightfold and it is not clear why but that has been against a backdrop of the government wanting to attract more students and we had the post—pandemic lifting of, much more movement happening post—pandemic. but the government has identified that as the one way it can bring down this number, this net migration number, so from the beginning of next year, from january, the only people who will be able to bring family members will be those on postgraduate research courses, so basically masters courses are generally taught and postgraduate

research and phd is, that is research. 0nly around one in ten of those doing postgraduate studies in the uk is on a research course so the uk is on a research course so the last majority would be restricted from bringing their family members. —— the large majority. universities is a competitive environment, though, and people could go to other countries, and the government should tread carefully, they have been told, as they are rolling the policy out. thanks forjoining us. iraq is well known for its marshlands and riverways. but the passge of time — and a severe drought — are taking their toll. ancient traditions are dying out — but there are people who are trying to do something about it — as tim allman reports.

it could be any point in the last 5000 years, but this is a way of life which is in danger of disappearing. but not if this man has anything to do with it. his boatyard in basra is set to be the last place where they build these long, narrow flat bottomed canoes. it is important and it stems from the fact it is a part of our heritage, he says, and other countries see their interest in that and encourage the revival so why do we not do the same, he says? no one knows exactly when the canoe was first invented but it was a long time ago. they were a familiar sight on the waterways of this country but now they are outnumbered by modern vassals which for some is notjust a shame but a cultural tragedy ——

modern vessels. translation: {littler modern vessels. translation: older boats have a — modern vessels. translation: oiir�*, boats have a disconnection between them and the environment, it is like driving a taxi, i'm talking about a spiritual connection.— spiritual connection. here in ba . hdad spiritual connection. here in baghdad a _ spiritual connection. here in baghdad a flotilla _ spiritual connection. here in baghdad a flotilla of - spiritual connection. here in baghdad a flotilla of boats l spiritual connection. here in i baghdad a flotilla of boats sets spiritual connection. here in - baghdad a flotilla of boats sets out on the river, wanting to highlight the historical importance. a vessel from the past which they hope still has a future. we have more now on one of the main stories we have been following, the search for madeleine mccann. we have got live pictures from portugal of the area where the search is happening. police have started digging near a reservoir in portugal in this long—running investigation and these pictures are

coming from the dam 50 kilometres from where madeline mccann went missing 16 years ago. it is where the police have been searching and they have set up tents around the dam and police have been digging around the area. this operation is happening in portugal but is being led by german police because they are looking for evidence to link the disappearance of madeleine mccann to christian brueckner, a 45—year—old german national who was made a formal suspect by a portuguese prosecutor in 2022. so police officers from portugal, germany and the uk have been holding briefings while the search has continued and we are continuing to find out more as the search goes on and it is expected to last maybe two days, it could be more, but we have heard from the german state prosecutor saying that he did not give any concrete information as to where the

search operation is based but we continue to follow the search. stay with us here on bbc news. hello there. a quick look back at yesterday and when we recorded 23.1; celsius at cardiff, the highest temperature of the year this year and a course of this month, but how does that compare with the month of may in recent years? we are firmly bottom of the league because normally we have much higher temperatures so we can agree there has been no heat wave and that is not going to be one any time soon. although high prices and charge the winds are coming in off the atlantic rather than spain and france and that often brings much warmer weather conditions. that said, in the may sunshine we have around over the next few days it will feel pleasantly warm, but the

air is a bit cooler today and it will not be as warm as yesterday, but still pleasant if you are out and about in the sun, northern scotland, a few patches of light rain, temperatures 14—15, but for most we are in the high teens to late 20s today. overnight tonight, the week weather fronts continue to pester the far north of scotland and it will not be raining all the time withjust a bit it will not be raining all the time with just a bit of dampness in the air at times with just a bit of dampness in the airat times and with just a bit of dampness in the air at times and the rain will be pretty light and patchy. it is dry away from that with clear spells, temperatures 7—9, and the forecast tomorrow is predominantly dry with sunshine and it is across scotland where the weak weather front will move in bringing in a few spots of rain but nothing especially significant. temperatures in the high teens to late 20s for most and 22, maybe 23 in parts of the south west midlands, which will be one of the warmest areas, but with all the sunshine around, the sunshine is

strong which makes it feel warm and we have those high levels of uv so if you are outside for any length of time, maybe consider sun cream. similar story on thursday, more dry weather and sunny spells and the temperatures, 23 or so in the warmest spots which is likely to be in south—east wales and maybe the south west midlands and south west england as well. through friday and the holiday weekend, a lot of dry weather, and it will feel warm in the may sunshine, and it could peak at around 2a in the warmest spots. goodbye for now.

live from london, this is bbc news. police investigating the disappearance of madeleine mccann begin searching a reservoir in portugal. an appealfor calm in cardiff, after the death of two teenagers in a crash led to rioting. a man who murdered 7—year—old nikki allan in sunderland more than 30 years ago, is sentenced to a minimum of 29 years in prison. a bbc investigation finds some vapes confiscated in schools contain lead and other metals. hello, welcome to verified live, 3 hours

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