wasn't a joke any more. and record—breaking rain in the spanish city of valencia triggers floods and causes chaos to the city's transport system. welcome to our viewers on pbs in america and around the globe. 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 of mariupol, where at least 200 ukrainian civilians are still believed to be trapped. the city's mayor says the russian forces are going all out to defeat the remaining ukrainian forces holed up in the plant. so far, the united nations has evacuated 300 civilians from mariupol and other nearby areas. let's get more on this with our reporter mark lobel. mark, this has been a battle that has been going on for, what, two months? it does look as if potential leaders of the final russian assault specifically on the azovstal plant.— assault specifically on the azovstal plant. and what an assault. let _ azovstal plant. and what an assault. let me _ azovstal plant. and what an assault. let me show- azovstal plant. and what an assault. let me show you . azovstal plant. and what an - assault. let me show you some pictures from that assault. this is unverified footage, it is probably taken place on tuesday or wednesday, the pictures were shown on a pro—russian separatist media outlet. look at that. this is a russian bombardment of that. look at those explosions. the russian troops are inside, according to the ukrainians, and it is called a difficult, bloodied battle, according to the command of the as of regiment in this final stronghold. the resistance is strong. ukrainian soldiers are in there and so are 200 civilians and apparently 30 children. underground, the size of that still plunges around 1500 football pictures. you can see why the battle is dragging on so long. see why the battle is dragging on so long-— on so long. looking at the weaponry _ on so long. looking at the weaponry by _ on so long. looking at the weaponry by air, - on so long. looking at the weaponry by air, also - on so long. looking at the i weaponry by air, also reports on so long. looking at the - weaponry by air, also reports a barrel bombs.— barrel bombs. indeed, indeed. it's important _ barrel bombs. indeed, indeed. it's important for _ barrel bombs. indeed, indeed. it's important for people - barrel bombs. indeed, indeed. it's important for people to - it's important for people to get out of there. the un focusing their efforts on evacuating people, trying to assist that evacuation. 150 or so went on earlier this week. there is a promise from russia to open up a humanitarian corridor the three days starting from thursday, don't know if that will be believe it or not. it is a multi— fronted wall. while this destruction goes on there is an investigation into destruction that has happened already. if i remind you of the mariupol theatre, if we can show you pictures of that, this is that theatre with the signs written on the sides to stop russians attacking it from the skies saying children, there was that awful attack on it, with a 300 people were killed. the associated press have looked into it, spoken to survivors and rescuers, they think double that number, 600 people were killed, making this the single deadliest attack against civilians to date.- deadliest attack against civilians to date. this issue of war crimes _ civilians to date. this issue of war crimes committed i civilians to date. this issue | of war crimes committed by russia being picked up now again. russia being picked up now aaain. ., �* , russia being picked up now aaain. . �* , ., again. that's right. there are two judicial — again. that's right. there are two judicial rates _ again. that's right. there are two judicial rates going - again. that's right. there are two judicial rates going on i again. that's right. there are two judicial rates going on asj two judicial rates going on as they look on the ground for evidence of these war crimes, one of which we have just mentioned, a potential war crime. the us senate on wednesday considering a report that was carried out on behalf of their will�*s larger security watchdog, looking at the first five weeks, we are now in week ten, looking at the first five weeks of what has happened and have a listen to this on the scale of what they have concluded so far. the images and reports suggest that these are not the rogue acts— that these are not the rogue acts of— that these are not the rogue acts of an _ that these are not the rogue acts of an individual unit or individual, but rather, as you mentioned, senator carr arden, they— mentioned, senator carr arden, they show— mentioned, senator carr arden, they show a deeply disturbing pattern— they show a deeply disturbing pattern of abuse across all areas _ pattern of abuse across all areas where russia's forces were — areas where russia's forces were occupying stop the ambassador there referring to execution style killings, sexual _ execution style killings, sexual violence, and torture. those — sexual violence, and torture. those are _ sexual violence, and torture. those are the kinds of things that they think have happened. the important thing here is, not through accountability, but for victims, to act as a deterrent. as we heard in that same hearing from ukraine's prosecutor general dos on monday in 0desa she was saying a 14—year—old boy was killed in a 14—year—old boy was killed in a 17—year—old injured when a student dormitory was attacked there. . ., ., . there. the economic consequences - there. the economic consequences being| there. the economic - consequences being played there. the economic _ consequences being played out as well, we had more response from europe about the energy supplies coming from russia. a lot of focus has been on gas. europe at the moment looking at oil and europe's dependency on russian oil. a united response or not? ., . or not? you and i were discussing _ or not? you and i were discussing it _ or not? you and i were discussing it earlier. i or not? you and i were i discussing it earlier. the percentages of the reliance on oil. even germany, which doesn't have as large a percentage of reliance on oil, still has in the east a pipeline named friendship with russia from which oil comes through and they have to bring tankers over there, they have to dig deeper imports to allow ships to come in so they can connect. there are serious technical problems and the eu wants that oil embargo in place by the end of the year, but it has to be a unanimous decision of the 27 eu member states. now, listen to this, this was when stephen sackett spoke to hungary's communication secretary asking if a phased and oil embargo as proposed by the eu was acceptable, he said no, and this is why. irate the eu was acceptable, he said no, and this is why.— no, and this is why. we are dependent _ no, and this is why. we are dependent on _ no, and this is why. we are dependent on russian - no, and this is why. we are dependent on russian oil i no, and this is why. we are - dependent on russian oil 65%, when _ dependent on russian oil 65%, when it— dependent on russian oil 65%, when it arrives. anne ruston gas, — when it arrives. anne ruston gas, 84%~ _ when it arrives. anne ruston gas, 84%. that makes it clear that _ gas, 84%. that makes it clear that what _ gas, 84%. that makes it clear that what is being 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 we can live with and not for — from what we can live with and not for the _ from what we can live with and not for the reasons of political taste or any kind of taste — political taste or any kind of taste like issue, it is simply the hard. _ taste like issue, it is simply the hard, physicalfacts taste like issue, it is simply the hard, physical facts on the ground, — the hard, physical facts on the ground, there is no substitute. any such — ground, there is no substitute. any such request, any such undertaking would result in the complete ruin of hungary's peoples lives and the hungarian economy — peoples lives and the hungarian econom . ., ., , peoples lives and the hungarian econom . . ., ., economy. that was a no, even with an extra _ economy. that was a no, even with an extra year— economy. that was a no, even with an extra year for- economy. that was a no, even with an extra year for hungary| with an extra year for hungary to get use to the idea. slovakia also has major problems. they said a year is not enough, three years would be enough. that is a real stalemate. at the eu wanders in place by the weekend. and, of course, as we were discussing earlier, this will only take place at the end of the year. each day we're seeing forest taking place, strikesjust in the last few hours in dnipro, kyiv, and in central ukraine. attacks possibly on resupply efforts of the ukrainians as the russians tried to take out resupply efforts as the war continues in the east. i think what we're seeing now is the eu trying to do something but the reality on the ground showing or questioning the effectiveness of it. ., effectiveness of it. ok, and then there _ effectiveness of it. ok, and then there is _ effectiveness of it. ok, and then there is the _ effectiveness of it. ok, and then there is the gas. - effectiveness of it. ok, and i then there is the gas. market, thank you very much indeed. —— mark. let's get some of the day's other news. the us central bank has raised interest rates by 0.5% the most aggressive increase in more than 20 years. the move is intended to tackle rapidly rising prices, fuelled by the war in ukraine. with us inflation at a ao—year high, further hikes are expected. us secretary of state antony blinken has tested positive for covid—i9. mr blinken had hosted both the mexican and swedish foreign ministers in washington over recent days. joe biden's foreign policy chief had been set to make a landmark speech regarding us policy towards china on thursday, but that has been postponed. 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. for months hong kong managed to control the spread of covid—i9. but the 0micron variant overwhelmed the healthcare system and the city recorded the highest death rate in the world. many of those affected are the city's most vulnerable, the underprivileged and elderly. danny vincent reports from sham shui po district. for mr fong, home is a three metre square cage. the city's extreme poor live in subdivided apartments. hong kong is one of the most densely populated cities in the world. until recently, six people lived in this room. but when 0micron hit, he lost two room—mates in the space of a week. translation: one person died on that bed. — the other person also died. he slept over on that bed. we called the ambulance, it got through but no one picked up. for the poor, living with covid means living in tiny apartments where the virus can easily spread. self—isolating is almost impossible. translation: it was too late, he died at about 8:00pm that| night, he suffered a lot, he kept saying he was unwell, he had asthma and underlying illnesses. hong kong is coming out of the fifth wave of covid—i9. this city is stuck between two seemingly opposing policies and its most vulnerable in the society that have suffered. nine families live inside this narrow dwelling. we're taken to another subdivided apartment. since the latest outbreak, they've been living in isolation, supported by social workers. he has been living in his cramped apartment for 12 years, he's barely left his room for three months, he's unvaccinated. many of the elderly in hong kong are reluctant to get the jab. translation: whether or notj to consider getting vaccinated, this is a key question, it depends on whether your health can handle it and is suitable or not. the right decision is in your hands. now the government enforces people to get vaccinated, now it is calling for the fourth jab, it feels like it's never ending. the elderly lives alone without neighbours, if they die no—one will know. china is determined to eradicate covid. in hong kong, the fifth wave led to the highest death rate in the world, here, the impacts will last long into 2022. danny vincent, bbc news, hong kong. stay with us on bbc news, still to come: amber heard gives evidence for the first time in the defamation trial brought by her ex—husband johnny depp. 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 world news — the latest headlines: a bbc investigation finds some of ukraine's most vulnerable children have been left behind in insitutions, after being displaced by the war. ukrainian officials say russia has launched a major assault on the besieged azovstal steelworks in mariupol. amber heard has taken the stand in the defamation trial brought by her former 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. amber heard then countersued depp for $100 million. 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? yes, ut's 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...um...| 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 that she says 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 it's funny, (bleep), 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. i'm nowjoined by anousha sakoui, who is an entertainment peporter at the la times. this peporter at the la times. is being watched by millions this is being watched by millions of people around the world. we've heard from johnny depp. amber heard has sacked a public relations team in the last 24—48 hours. how do people think she has been performing on the stand now?— on the stand now? well, like ou on the stand now? well, like you said. _ on the stand now? well, like you said, this _ on the stand now? well, like you said, this is _ on the stand now? well, like you said, this is weak - on the stand now? well, like you said, this is weak for - on the stand now? well, like you said, this is weak for a l on the stand now? well, like| you said, this is weak for a 5- you said, this is weakfor a 5— week trial and this is the first time that amber heard has been on the stand herself. we had four days ofjohnny depp last week after quite a lot of witnesses to bolster his case. this week we've seen the first witnesses for the defence and, you know, it's obviously early days, we got another week estimated of this trial, next week, and the week after and so far, the public perception has largely been behind johnny depp. there has been reports of the throngs of fans of his that have been outside the courtroom in virginia. we've also seen on social media a lot of bolstering of his case and his side of things, so we will have to see today, as your report showed, there were some quite detailed and explicit accounts of her, the physical abuse she is alleged against her and it was quite graphic and obviously she was in tears a lot of the time. we will have to see not just how the public that the jury just how the public that the jury she was speaking to, how though —— how they will process it. though -- how they will process it. �* , , , ., ., it. it's interesting you are talkin: it. it's interesting you are talking about _ it. it's interesting you are talking about the - it. it's interesting you are talking about the jury, . it. it's interesting you are - talking about the jury, because this isn't a trial being held in new york city on the west coast where you are, this is fairfax virginia. just explain why that is. this is where the washington post, the publisher of the original watergate story is, is that right?— is, is that right? there are a coule is, is that right? there are a coople of — is, is that right? there are a couple of reasons _ is, is that right? there are a couple of reasons why - is, is that right? there are a couple of reasons why the l couple of reasons why the lawyers have addressed this. one it's because the washington 0ne it's because the washington post servers are also because it's more friendlyjurisdiction forward defamation cases. there was an effort to bring the case to california where there are greater defences against defamation but virginia doesn't have those. so that's why the case is being held there. briefly, some people have asked why both of them are continuing with this. this is obviously over his career but the publicity is terrible for them both, isn't it, in terms of their lifestyles and how they both admit to treating each other? �* , ., both admit to treating each other? �* , ., , ., other? it's a good question. i mean, other? it's a good question. i mean. there _ other? it's a good question. i mean, there are _ other? it's a good question. i mean, there are several - mean, there are several standardsjohnny depp has to meet to win his case. he has to prove that she not only lied but did it with malice and then caused financial harm so there are quite a barriers but he has set himself he will also do it to pursue the truth and potentially to bolster his image again, after having lost a lot of work.— a lot of work. thank you very much indeed. _ a massive clean—up operation is underway 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 2h 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. the football shirt worn by diego maradona when he scored his infamous "hand of god" goalfor argentina in the 1986 world cup has been sold for $9 million. the shirt was put up for sale by the former england midfielder steve hodge. the two players swapped shirts at the end of the match. it's the highest amount ever paid for a piece of sporting memorabilia at an auction. 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. bye— bye. this is bbc news, the headlines: human rights groups say the russian invasion of ukraine has led to thousands of disabled ukrainian children being abandoned in institutions that can't look after them. the bbc obtained exclusive access to an institution in western ukraine, where 22 disabled children had been left by their carers who fled to neighbouring countries. moscow has intensified its assault on the azovstal steelworks in the southern port of mariupol, where at least 200 ukrainian civilians are still believed to be trapped. the city's mayor says the russian forces are going all out to defeat the remaining ukrainian forces holed up in the plant. the american actress amber heard has taken to the stand for the first time in the defamation case brought against her byjohnny depp, claiming that herformer husband slapped and hit her in drunken rages.