50,000 police and 7,000 soldiers are being deployed to protect voters. it follows the killing of a police officer in central paris on thursday night. the president of afghanistan has declared sunday as a day a mourning for the victims of the taliban attack on a military base close to the northern city of mazar—i—sharif. dozens of soldiers were killed when the militants fired on them in a canteen and as they left a mosque. emergency teams have been despatched to contain an oil spill on one of the canary islands after a ferry crashed into underwater fuel pipes. a three—kilometre long slick is threatening the coast around las palmas on gran canaria, and telde further to the south. 140 passengers and crew were on board at the time. for the first time since the industrial revolution, britain has gone an entire 2a hours without using coal to generate electricity. taxes on co2 emissions and the falling cost of renewable energy have made coal plants less economical in recent years.

duncan burt from the national grid says it's a watershed moment. electricity is a really important pa rt electricity is a really important part of our day—to—day lives and we see that every day in the control room of the national grid but actually those appliances and our favourite gadgets are getting more energy—efficient so we actually see demand for electricity either flat or declining over the next few yea rs. or declining over the next few years. and with that background of really flat demand, we can supply more and more low carbon energy from sources like solar and wind. it's great to see. duncan burt. there'll be a full bulletin at the top of the hour. now on bbc news, it's time for the travel show. on this week's travel show, we are exploring a secret corner of spain full of places that time forgot. really beautiful round here. it's really quiet. we are tackling the great wall

of china, one step at a time. and we're tracking down a wild and secretive creature that's learned to steer well clear of humans. we're looking out at the bottom of the valley here. and that's where the wolves are most likely to get a good breakfast. hello and welcome to the travel show with me, christa larwood, coming this week from palencia in spain. now, this country is one of the world's biggest tourism destinations.

each year over 60 million people arrive on these shores. but they often head for the mediterranean coast and cities like barcelona or madrid. but here in rural spain, many struggling communities are pinning their hopes on becoming the next big holiday hotspot. i've travelled fairly widely in spain, but on this trip i'm heading to a region in the north of the country that i've never heard of before. its name is palencia. only a handful of tourists come here, which is hard to believe, given the breathtaking scenery. and in the middle of this wild countryside, there are amazing, virtually untouched, medieval churches scattered everywhere. nowhere else in europe has so many of these churches, and they give you a real sense that you've stepped back in time. this area may be beautiful, but for centuries it's also been

poor, and traditionally many people had no choice but to leave in search of work, in the hope of a better life. now some of the current generation are hoping that tourism will help bring new life to this region. myjourney begins in the southern part of palencia. one of the medieval pilgrimage routes that led to santiago de compostela goes through this area. in other parts of spain camino de santiago trails are packed with pilgrims. but here, i only see a few. this region of palencia is not very well known. have you found that there are lots of tourists here, or has it been a break from the tourists? i didn't see any tourists. it's a little bit crazy, because i'm from germany and there are not places like this where it's nothing. i continue myjourney along the trail of the camino do santiago.

it's really beautiful around here. it's really quiet. music. i think i've found all the people. gracias. just in case? i think i've just ordered a medieval roast. who knows what might come out? this restaurant has been feeding hungry pilgrims for decades. now offering medieval feasts, they are hoping to put the palencia section of the camino de santiago

trail in the spotlight. there are no pilgrims here today but a local family is celebrating a birthday. and they are clearly getting into the medieval spirit. thank you. where's. .. what do i do for knife and fork? no? ijust pick this up. it does taste really good though. heading north, i reached the mountains of northern palencia. these villages are even further off the beaten track. every village here seems to have a medieval church. there are over 250 injust a small area.

the architectural style is called romanesque and dates back to the 11th century, and it's rare to see so many of them so close together. elsewhere in europe, these types of churches were often altered and modernised over the centuries. here, they remain untouched. wow, that is a key. that's a key and a half, that. this place really properly is just hewn out of rock. in the 12th century this area was very important because the centre of power of this area is very close here. and this is one of the most important place of the kingdom of castilla. after this 12th century, the centre of the power go away of this area. and not so rich in the fields, this area became to be a poor area. so when they had more money,

in later centuries they would come in and tear down the old churches to rebuild them. whereas because this is poor it's been kept perfectly for us. yeah, yeah. many people around here have remained poor right up to this day. over the centuries, most of the villages in northern palencia emptied as people migrated into the cities looking for work. i wanted to see one of these abandoned villages. it's in a precarious condition but i'm safe enough because i'm with an expert on historical buildings who knows this 17th century house very well.

this is like a bedroom of a teenager or something. that's michaeljackson. this is like a bedroom of a teenager or something. that's michaeljackson. donjohnson. wow! i will tell you what, this is like a time capsule of what was cool when this house was abandoned. donjohnson! because of the recent economic downturn in spain, youth unemployment in some areas runs at close to a0%. and as people struggle to find jobs in the big cities, here in the countryside the situation is even bleaker. i've seen all around the world how tourism can help to preserve cultures. but there's also something special that's lost the moment the first

tourist buses arrive. i've seen all around the world how tourism can help to preserve cultures. but there's also something special that's lost the moment the first tourist buses arrive. hopefully the people of palencia get the tourist numbers they richly deserve. but also fight hard to protect the authenticity of their medieval culture, of which, as i've discovered, they are justly proud. still to come on the travel show,

we are snapping up guilty pleasures in new orleans. and i'm falling a little bit in love with a big dog that thinks it's a wolf. the travel show, your essential guide, wherever you are headed. hello, i'm michelle jana chan, your global guide, with top tips on the world's best events in the coming months. we're starting in the us at the new orleans jazz and heritage festival, orjazz fest, begins april 28, which, in spite of its name will be a hub of blues, r&b, gospel, folk, latin, rock, rap, country and bluegrass. this year there'll be a cuban theme

with a conga los hoyos dance parade. food on offer will include creole, cajun and this year also cuban cooking, so you won't be going hungry for crawfish pie or fillet gumbo. meanwhile, in samoa, the five island swim held may 10—13 is a series of open water swims over four days covering a total of 27 kilometres. it's a challenge, no doubt, but even in the heat of competition, don't forget to spot tropical fish among the coral reefs in this polynesian paradise. between april 28th and may 7th, south korea will be celebrating the birth of the bhudda with an extravagant festival of light, the lotus lantern festival. there'll be colourful handmade lantern exhibitions, folk music performances, and parades of dancers, floats and dragons. in italy, the northern city of ravenna hosts a summer music festival in venues including gilded byzantine basilicas, to cloisters,

piazzas, to pine forests. it's a celebration of art, classical music and opera but also dance, drama and jazz. the festival runs from may 25 to july 11. in china, the hard as nails great wall marathon takes place on may 20. it's one of the most challenging long—distance runs, drawing thousands of competitors who choose between the full length course, a half marathon, or an 8.5 kilometre fun run. starting a few hours from beijing in the heart of the mountains, the route involves steep climbs and descents, smooth flagstones to rough surfaces, and over 5000 steps. last year, the fastest speed was three hours, 30 minutes, the time to beat. back in the us, it will be man against machine from may 26—28, when the iron horse bicycle classic takes place in the colorado town of durango.

the event dates back to the late i880s when two brothers raced against each other. the elder was a brakeman on a steam powered locomotive who challenged his younger brother to race the train from durango to silverton. these days, the train takes a shorter route. thousands take part, trying to beat the train before it pulls into its final destination. there are other events around the classic, including mountain biking, bmx races, dual slaloms and team trail rides. at the end of april, yachts from all over the world will be arriving in the caribbean for antigua sailing week. from april 29th there will be five days of competitive racing off the south coast of the island. if you're not on a boat, the next best place to be is shirley heights lookout, with its sweeping ocean views. and try to get here early. some events have already started, including the antigua classic yacht regatta, when the caribbean sea is dotted with elegant vintage yachts and tall ships.

finally, in morocco, the mawazine festival, rhythms of the world, runs from may 12—20 in the capital, rabat. the beats include ragada, musique gnawa and hassani songs, and there'll be more than 100 shows from local moroccan, african and international artists. that's my global guide this month. let me know what's happening in the place where you live, or where you love. we are on e—mail and across social media. until next time, happy travelling. i've come to the mountains in palencia here in northern spain to search for an elusive animal, the iberian wolf. for centuries, these animals have bred both fear and fascination in humans, and here in palencia they are now flourishing like nowhere else in europe. so i've tracked down the man who is leading wolf safaris, much to the amazement

of many of the locals, who have always been taught to fear these legendary predators. but in an ironic twist, the wolves could now help lead the way to the economic salvation that's much needed in this very poor region of spain. tino garcia is the pioneer of wolf tours in palencia. along with his wife, rosa, he's restored a once derelict home and now welcomes visitors who want to catch a glimpse of the local wolves. even though many of his neighbours were sceptical his business would succeed. if you're not a fan of very early starts, then wolf watching is definitely not for you. good morning, christa. que tal? good morning.

i'm tired, that's what i am. living in such close proximity to humans, these wolves have learned to survive by keeping a low profile. so don't expect to hear any hollywood—style howling coming from up in the hills. is this safe? all right, my life's in your hands, tino. it's kind of amazing, driving in the dark. you look out and it's alljust shades of grey. it's amazing how quickly your eyes become accustomed to not having headlights.

we have to be really, really quiet from now on, because these wolves are very used to living with humans who shoot them. so the minute they hear the sound of a human, a car door or a voice, they run for the hills. the iberian wolf was almost hunted to extinction in the 1970s. but as the failing economy forced people to move away from the villages, the wolf population started to climb. but wolves are still hunted today. the culling season only finished two weeks ago, so the wolves are more cautious than ever. but that only increases the sense of adventure when you set out on a trip like this. knowing your guide will have to use all of his skills and training to spot what you've come to see.

it's like looking for a needle in a haystack. tino was just telling me that we're looking out in the bottom of the valley here, because that's where the deer tend to come, and that's where the wolves are most likely to get a good breakfast. for tino, it's important to stay at a distance, so the wolves aren't disturbed. that's it. sorry. that's quite all right. now that we don't have to be quiet, time to take a break and have some fun. 0k. it's quite magical to have the whole mountainside to ourselves. wolf watchers are helping to bring

money and jobs to the area. but for the few remaining shepherds, living alongside a rising wolf population is more challenging than ever. to help them, they have something that's a real match for the iberian wolf, the spanish mastiff. oh, my goodness! can i take him home, please? so what are these dogs used for and why are they so special? so, 30 sheep in one night? did that make you really hate wolves? shepherds can be compensated when any of their livestock

is killed by wolves. but it's a slow and bureaucratic process that doesn't always pay out. tino has got to know wolves individually, after watching the same packs for many years. but there is one wolf who is very special to him. sadly, this isn't the best time of year to see wolves. spring heralds the start of the mating season, and they like to keep their courtship rituals pretty private. tino likes to bring people later in the year when the cubs have grown up.

as the day wears on, i'm beginning to lose hope. if i'm going to see a wolf, i'm going to have to get creative. this is a local breed called the wolf dog. genetically, it's partly domesticated dog, but it's mostly iberian wolf. you are quite wolfie, aren't you? hello. tino says he wouldn't be able to tell the difference between this dog and a wild wolf. that's why the dog is wearing a bright yellow collar, so that locals don't mistake him for a wolf and shoot him. these dogs were bred to protect

cattle from wild wolves. they look like and think like the enemy. and the puppies beg forfood from adults, just like wild wolf cubs do. meeting a wolf dog has given me a little glimpse of a wolf's character, and who knows, maybe i will be back someday and be lucky enough to see the real thing, in the hills here in palencia. i think this is definitely the closest i'm ever going to come to a wolf. well, that's all we've got time for in this week's travel show but coming up next week: ade heads to ghana as the country prepares to mark the 60th anniversary of becoming an independent nation. well, as the country's in party mode, i'm going to have a poke around and see what you can expect from ghana if you travel here. so dojoin us then if you can.

in the meantime, don't forget you can catch up with us while we are out having adventures on the road in real time by following us online and on social media. details are on the screen. but for now, from me, christa larwood, and the rest of the travel team here in palencia, it's goodbye. hello there. with clear skies for many of us overnight, sunday dawns on quite a chilly note. there will be a touch of frost for some rural parts. this was the sunset on saturday evening, taken by one of our weather watchers in south ayrshire, showing the beautiful blue skies. cloud will increase across this part of the world as we head through the day on sunday,

so turning cloudier across northern and western scotland, with a few showers. also some cloud across southern counties of england, and for northern ireland, too. it is, of course, the london marathon on sunday. after a fairly fresh start to the day, by the afternoon, temperatures in the mid—teens. it should be fairly cloudy, but we are expecting it to remain dry. there is just the outside chance, though, of a passing shower in london. so this is 9am, then. you can see quite a lot of cloud across devon and cornwall, up towards east anglia, too, but there will be some brightness around. temperatures around eight or nine degrees at 9:00am, with some cloud across northern england and southern scotland, too. northern ireland starts off a bit cloudier, and that cloud also pushing in across the west of scotland, with some scattered showers across northern parts of scotland. now, moving through the day, then, not a bad day for most of us. it is looking predominantly dry, probably the best of the sunshine in a swathe through parts of northern england, the midlands, and across wales. a bit more cloud to the south of that, but most places staying dry. just that small hint of perhaps a passing shower in london

for the marathon, of course, temperatures here up to around 16 degrees for the middle of the afternoon. further north, more in the way of cloud, and outbreaks of rain, too, down to the fact that we've got this frontal system approaching from the north. that will bring quite a change in weather type as we head through into the new working week. first thing monday morning, in the countryside it, will be very chilly in the far north, particularly across parts of scotland. could be as low as minus four degrees first thing in the morning. and during the day, that cold air filters in across parts of scotland, then into northern ireland, too. some wintry showers in the north. further south, across england and wales, cloud, outbreaks of rain. but we are still in the milder air here, around 16 degrees or so, whereas further north, only around 6—9 celsius. then, as those fronts slip away towards the south, heading towards tuesday, colder air pushes down across all of us, so we return to a quite wintry feel

during the course of tuesday, i think, with that cold, northerly wind. there will be quite a lot of dry, bright weather, with showers particularly towards the east, and a bit of a wintry flavour to those showers. temperatures at best for most of us around eight or nine degrees. could be up to around 13, though, in the far south—east. so that wintry theme continues into the middle of the week. still cold for wednesday and thursday, with wintry showers and night—time frosts. hello and thanks for being with us. the people of france go to the polls in a matter of hours for the first round of one of the most important and unpredictable presidential elections of recent times. combating terrorism is a key issue after the killing of a police officer in the capital on thursday. additional security forces will back up around 50,000 police officers nationwide for sunday's vote.

lucy williamson reports from paris. in the lull before france's presidential vote, those out campaigning today weren't supporting politicians. this rally was for the police. black balloons for those killed in the line of duty.