this is bbc news — welcome if you're watching here in the uk or around the globe. i'm annita mcveigh. our top stories... hope that more people in ukraine will be able to escape areas besieged by russian forces: giving safe exit to tens of thousands trapped in the shattered port city of mariupol. western officials say moscow has re—organised its military leadership in ukraine to put a general who commanded russian forces in syria in charge. the brutal story of one family trying to flee from chernihiv north of the capital kyiv — we have a special report. angry scenes in pakistan's parliament between supporters and opponents of the prime minister, imran khan, ahead of a vote of no confidence. campaigning has ended in the first round of france's presidential election, which takes place on sunday. i'm tim wilcox — live in paris — with all the latest on the upcoming french presidential election.

and — to boldly go — the first ever private astronaut mission to the international space station is in the process of docking. ukrainian officials say ten humanitarian corridors have been agreed for today, to evacuate people from regions being besieged by russian forces. they include a route out of the devastated southern city of mariupol.

the governor of the luhansk region urged civilians to flee, after air raid sirens were heard across much of the east of the country, as moscow refocusses its offensive. it's as russia is believed to have reorganised its military leadership in ukraine giving overall charge to this man — general alexander dvornikov — who western officials say has extensive experience of russian operations in syria. meanwhile president zelensky has called for a "firm global response" to friday's missile strike on a railway station in the eastern city of kramatorsk, which killed 52 people. russia has denied it was to blame for the attack. simonjones reports. they were trying to escape the conflict. as russia steps up its offensive in the east of ukraine, people already packed onto this train in kramatorsk, in the hope of travelling to safety, when the missile struck. translation: what did we do | to the russians to deserve this? we are civilians.

described by ukraine as another war crime by russia. translation: as soon _ as the shelling ended, we ran here, and saw a terrible sight — people were running, screaming, crying, praying. it was scary. cars were exploding. there was panic everywhere. nearby, the remains of a missile — painted on it, in russian, the words "for the children". it's unclear whether it might have malfunctioned or whether it was shot down as it was heading for a different target, but western officials believe it's likely it was a russian missile fired indiscriminately. obviously, the targeting of civilians would certainly be a war crime, and we've already called a range of the actions we've seen to date a war crime, but we're going to be supporting efforts to investigate exactly what happened here. russia has denied any involvement, saying no missions were planned in the area at the time. but the ukrainian president says it

shows the need for greater international support for his country. translation: russia's war against our nation may end | in victory for freedom much sooner than many in the world think — if ukraine simply receives the weapons we have asked for. any delay providing such weapons to ukraine, any excuses can only mean one thing — some politicians want to help the russian leadership more than us ukrainians. equipment is being sent, such as tanks from the czech republic, while britain has promised more anti—tank and anti—aircraft missiles. new russian offensives in the east are expected sooner rather than later. in kramatorsk, the human cost of the conflict is clear. the message from the ukrainian government is that russia will be held accountable. simon jones, bbc news. after more than a month of occupation by russian solders, ukraininan forces reclaimed the city of chernihiv and uncovered scenes of devastation left behind. the city sits to the north

of the ukrainian capital, kyiv. its mayor said more than 400 people had died there, and called it "hard to endure". our correspondent anna foster has met one woman whose daughter and husband were brutally killed as they tried to escape from chernihiv, and a warning her report does include some graphic details. veronika kutz, a 12—year—old girl full of energy and promise. a life cruelly ended by a russian shell. nine days into the war, viktoria kovalenko experienced unimaginable horror. as herfamily fled chernihiv, their car was fired on. viktoria's daughter, veronika, and husband, petro, were killed instantly. translation: my daughter got out i of the car and i went to follow. i as i got out, my daughterfell. and then i looked

and her head was gone. she was bleeding from her neck like a fountain. i was holding my baby and i needed to get her to safety. viktoria held her baby daughter close and ran for her life, but that wasn't the end of the ordeal, because she was found by russian soldiers, who took her to the basement of a school and held her there with more than 300 other people for 2h days. viktoria watched people die around her as they struggled without medical help. translation: there were 40 people in my room. - mostly we didn't even move because there was no space to move or walk. just too many people. the lack of movement made people ill. seven days after veronika and petro were killed, viktoria asked her russian captors to bring their remains to the school so she could bury them. there were two graves.

0ne box was bigger, one box was smaller. and two crosses with signs. i started to cover the boxes with earth, but new shelling started, so we ran away before we had finished burying them. if i had the possibility of shooting putin, i would do it. my hand would not shake. this ring has become viktoria's most treasured possession — a gift from her beloved daughter and all she has left of her. anna foster, bbc news, lviv. we'rejoined from lviv by our correspondent, danjohnson. i want to ask about these

humanitarian corridors. how likely is that they will work, allow people to get away to somewhere safer? and spills of anxiousness about the attack on the station. real nervousness _ attack on the station. real nervousness but _ attack on the station. real nervousness but also - attack on the station. reali nervousness but also hope attack on the station. lie—i nervousness but also hope that people can make it healthy these humanitarian safe corridors but everybody knows they have been so many attempts to do that in the weeks and the invasion began in so many times those routes have not proven to be safe. ceasefires have not been respected, attacks have continued and evacuation efforts have had to be called off time and time again in cities like maryville which have been the for weeks on end now but that is a renewed effort today to try and get people evacuated from those towns but there have been as 50 or so people dying at kramatorsk railway station. i have been meeting people of the

trains in lviv today some of them coming off the east because of fear ever need fighting and intensification of russia's military campaign in the donbas. they've made the decision to run that this, get out while they can and try to find a place that they consider to be safe in the hope is that many more people will be able to do that through the afternoon and perhaps into tomorrow as well but no doubt it is fraught with complication and with risk and the expectation is that the russian military campaign really will step up military campaign really will step up in the next few days and weeks now there is a new general in charge of russia's military operation here in ukraine and russia's military as we are men, reinforcing as well. we have seen extra kit coming in to support the ukrainian defences as well so it looks like in the east of the country the conflict really could be about to intensify. thank ou could be about to intensify. thank you much. — could be about to intensify. thank you much. dan — could be about to intensify. thank you much, dan johnson _ could be about to intensify. thank you much, dan johnson in - could be about to intensify. thank you much, dan johnson in lviv. i ukraine and aid groups have been scrambling to get people out

of the country since russia first invaded and people have been pitching in from around the world. a uk commercial intelligence company, audere international, has just donated two ambulances loaded with a tonne of medical supplies in each vehicle. let's go live to warsaw where we can speak to the company's founder and chief executive, charles blackmore. he isjoined by his son, 0liver. thank you both for talking to us today. charles, i understand the ambulances, you are in warsaw because the vehicles came via bear to the uk but they are now in ukraine, is that right? 0liver a good friend and lawyer from america drove the ambulances down last tuesday. the lawyer had bought one and i bought the other and it was two tonnes of medical supplies which we feel the ambulances with, brought them to warsaw and took the matter a

few issues including a breakdown issue border. within deliver them to a town about two miles across the border east last night to a great reception. studio: 0liver, what can you tell is about what you found in that town the reception we got there? absolutely. we arrived at about ten o'clock last night to a very welcoming reception. the ukrainian people are truly magnificent. they are smiling, they are so appreciative, for all these humanitarian aid and assistance and support they feel from the uk, from america, from our allies etc and they feel they couldn't have been more happy to receive this and they took us to a hotel, gave us to a traditional ukrainian dinner where they, sort of, did some more speeches etc and sang some ukrainian songs, so it was a really memorable

evening. 50 songs, so it was a really memorable evenina. ., , songs, so it was a really memorable evenina. . , ., evening. so we really warm reception. _ evening. so we really warm reception, clearly _ evening. so we really warm reception, clearly very i evening. so we really warm - reception, clearly very appreciative of what you are doing. is the plan to make more trips?— of what you are doing. is the plan to make more trips? well, we've been involved in evacuating _ to make more trips? well, we've been involved in evacuating people - to make more trips? well, we've been involved in evacuating people from i involved in evacuating people from ukraine over the last, ever since february the 24th. we are doing the supplies yesterday which are part of our company's work but we wanted to make a gesture. we didn't want to just fly to check and we didn't want to just send something across. we wanted to physically deliver it ourselves as part of a bigger picture here and the reception, as 0liver said, was tremendous and they assured us that the ambulances and the two tonnes of medical aid are going to be going to the front line first thing tomorrow morning, which was, for us, very meaningful and it felt to be so much a part of giving something to these people who are showing such bravery and such a commitment of all being together

against what is happening. winger charles and oliver and i very much for your time today. parliament in pakistan is expected today to decide whether to remove imran khan as prime minister, days after he blocked a similar attempt. parliamentary proceedings were temporarily adjourned — though they have now reconvened. there have been angry scenes between supporters and opponents of imran kha. mr khan has said that if he is ousted from power — he will not recognise an opposition government. last sunday, the country's supreme court ruled that he acted unconstitutionally in asking the president to dissolve parliament before the vote could take place. addressing the speaker in parliament, the opposition alliance leader, shehbaz sharif, asked him to go ahead with the vote of no—confidence. take up this agenda item and no other item! that is the intent of his order. you cannot deviate from this and therefore i conclude my submissions.

shehbaz sharif, there. 0ur correspondent, secunder kermani, joins us from islamabad. hello to you. is up to date with where we are with this. it hello to you. is up to date with where we are with this. it seems as if this political _ where we are with this. it seems as if this political drama _ where we are with this. it seems as if this political drama is _ if this political drama is approaching its climax but really we have been beset by so many twists, turns and delays that you could rule out more of them down the line? in parliament today it seems as if imran khan's party have been trying to further push back this vote of no confidence by giving deliberately long, meandering speeches. that has angered opposition members of parliament husseini delay to the vote of no confidence would be in contravention to the orders of the supreme court. this vote of no confidence was originally meant to take place last sunday but it was blocked at the last minute by imran khan's allies. the supreme court said it should take place today and we'll have to wait and see if that happens. there was some suggestion

it could take place this evening after the meal marking the end of the day of fasting. it is the holy month of ramadan here, and around the muslim world, of course. imran khan and his allies say they are the victim of a us led international conspiracy trying to effect regime change in pakistan because of imran khan's foreign policy decisions including recently visiting russia. his opponents here and american officials have completely dismissed that most analysts don't believe the claim but it is resonating with his supporters and, as you say, imran khan has said he won't accept any government that comes out of this process. ed secunder kermani, thank you very much for that. in islamabad. a british man and a french

teenager have been rescued at sea three days after disappearing while diving off the coast of malaysia. the man said his fourteen—year—old son, who went missing with them, had died. his body has not been recovered. the group got into trouble when they surfaced from their dive on wednesday and couldn't find their boat. they were spotted by fishermen 50 miles away from where they were lost. campaigning has ended in the first round of france's presidential election, which takes place on sunday. most polls are suggesting this election could be more tightly contested than in 2017. the incumbent emmanuel macron is likely to come out on top but his closest rival marine le pen is gaining ground. if no candidate wins a majority in this first round, a second round runoff will be held on 24th april. we can now cross live to paris, to my colleague tim willcox. tim? anita, thank you much indeed. welcome to — tim? anita, thank you much indeed. welcome to palace. _ tim? anita, thank you much indeed. welcome to palace. the _ tim? anita, thank you much indeed. welcome to palace. the sun - tim? anita, thank you much indeed. welcome to palace. the sun is i tim? anita, thank you much indeed. welcome to palace. the sun isjust l welcome to palace. the sun isjust shining through the clouds behind me that this is, of course, either the bitterly divided country politically. none more so than at the moment. emmanuel macron when he

became president in 2017 was the youngest leader since napoleon. he came as a progressive politician but now five years on he is facing a real challenge from the extreme right and indeed the extreme left. now, for emmanuel macron, it is a privacy of central ground. he has taken ideas from the left and right but marine le pen of the national valley party has focused very much on the economy in the past few months and has chipped away it the leap that emanuel macron initially some 20 points nowjust for or five points. as i say, the voting in the first round is tomorrow. two candidates will go through unless one gets more than 50% but that would be highly unlikely. in fact, it has never happened. so, what are theissues it has never happened. so, what are the issues for the french electorate this time? the war, of course has overshadowed recent events in

ukraine. also there pandemic which has led to bailouts and huge costs of the country. in a minute we will be talking about the financial implications of that and what emmanuel macron has done but let's look first of all at the idea of the sexual offence which, of course, is so important not only for emmanuel macron but also for marine le pen and the far right as well. we can speak now to a speaker from toulouse university and they just want to start with you, if i may come about this idea of acetate, sexualisation infants. how much of a nice —— laissite, secularisation in france. laissite has not always been on the political agenda but it has always been addressed in the election and

is one of the candidates favourite weapon especially on the right wing and far right. recently marine le pen declared if she was president she would like to prohibit the wearing of muslim headscarf in the public square which obvious is contrary to the various sense of the public straight and it panders to the most conservative part of the electorate and unfortunately it has grown ever since because the right wing also used it.— wing also used it. france of course is fiercely secular. _ wing also used it. france of course is fiercely secular. marine - wing also used it. france of course is fiercely secular. marine le i wing also used it. france of course is fiercely secular. marine le pen l is fiercely secular. marine le pen found it people were found wearing a hijab in public places they will find as if they were not wearing a seat belt in their car. where does emmanuel macron stand on these issues? fans like so many other european countries has experienced awful terrorism incidents on its land. it has, what, 5.7 million muslims in france as well. where is

0micron positioning himself on this issue? omicron positioning himself on this issue? ., . , omicron positioning himself on this issue? ., ., , ., ., issue? unfortunately emmanuel macron issue? unfortunately emmanuel macron is any situation — issue? unfortunately emmanuel macron is any situation of _ issue? unfortunately emmanuel macron is any situation of double _ issue? unfortunately emmanuel macron is any situation of double standards i is any situation of double standards —— where is emmanuel macron positioning himself on this issue? when he was elected he didn't take the and actually was having a very understanding position on laicite and quite liberal one but he his taken a hard right turn, falling into the trap of having used laicite, especially members of his administration who weapon iced laicite by using a very restrictive vision especially going after muslims and restricting their civil liberties. i'm thinking for example about the anti—separatism and different declarations of his interior ministers. for instance, one declared in 2017 how he was shocked by the existence of ethnic food aisles in supermarkets,

especially those of halal food which were apparently a sign of separatism so everybody played the far right card and one should not be surprised we have in the situation today. we haven't panders to the far right now we have to set record right. the killinus we have to set record right. the killings in the _ we have to set record right. the killings in the bataclan as well, there was an emergency legislation put in place then. has that all been scaled back or not? 50. put in place then. has that all been scaled back or not?— put in place then. has that all been scaled back or not? so, indeed. we have been in _ scaled back or not? so, indeed. we have been in france _ scaled back or not? so, indeed. we have been in france going - scaled back or not? so, indeed. we have been in france going through. have been in france going through horrific terrorist attacks and in this country we passed many pieces of legislation. we have one of the strongest legal apparatus when it comes to an thai terrorism will accept that, unfortunately, today, we use security to the subject more civil liberties and lots of legislation was passed on the grounds of security to restrict, for example, freedom of the press and there were many protests against the

global surveillance law that aims to limit this freedom of expression but also be an thai separatism logo enough the liberty of association as well as religious freedom, so on the grounds of security we are limiting civil liberties and, unfortunately, it has not stopped terrorist attacks from happening. and, again, going against religious people to justify the fight against terrorism is just not working in studies approving it. when i think you much indeed. marine le pen has been focusing very much on the cost of living positive offence citizens.— on the cost of living positive offence citizens. let's 'ust talk about the i offence citizens. let's 'ust talk about the economy i offence citizens. let's 'ust talk about the economy asi offence citizens. let'sjust talk about the economy as it i offence citizens. let's just talk| about the economy as it stands offence citizens. let's just talk i about the economy as it stands at the moment, post—pandemic as we understand and of course will be contributions made to the war in ukraine. we can speak to michael, no relation to eric but assistant professor. the economy has been very

much marine le pen's battleground this time. how much has 0micron done in terms of what he has had to deal with and the cost of living crisis so many people feel?- with and the cost of living crisis so many people feel? during the andemic so many people feel? during the pandemic micron _ so many people feel? during the pandemic micron has _ so many people feel? during the pandemic micron has done i so many people feel? during the pandemic micron has done a i so many people feel? during the pandemic micron has done a lot | so many people feel? during the i pandemic micron has done a lot to protect workers, civil servants and business against the consequence of the pandemic and he is doing some methods against the increase of fuel oil and so on but under this helm he has positioned himself really right—wing, especially putting forward huge pension reform in his platform and now is looking like a right—wing candidate, definitely. pension reform stands at the moment at 62 and he wants to increase that to 65. if you look at the rest of europe that is not particularly young compared to other european countries whether somebody likejohn countries whether somebody like john merchant countries whether somebody likejohn merchant the far left candidate once

it's reduced to 60. how potent political issues that in france? it is an important political issue. 12 years ago the west 16 in france... increase to around 65 within nine years. —— 12 years ago it was 60 in france, increased to 62 was seen as a tough reform. it is controversial and this contributes to the lack of popularity of emmanuel macron. it is stranue popularity of emmanuel macron. it is strange because eventually been speaking to say the cost of living is affecting their lives but when the con to unemployment is doing well. lowest for under 30s and 40s. foreign investment up as well? why is that message not getting through? actually, unemployment is decreasing and it is impressive but there is a phenomenon that economic tests

cannot really explain that in spite of decreasing unemployment wages are not rising and we are in a period of exceptional inflation so, yes, the issue of... 50 exceptional inflation so, yes, the issue of- - -_ exceptional inflation so, yes, the issue of... so the issue of cost of livin: , issue of. .. so the issue of cost of living. for— issue of... so the issue of cost of living. for the _ issue of... so the issue of cost of living, for the majority _ issue of... so the issue of cost of living, for the majority of - issue of... so the issue of cost of living, for the majority of the i living, for the majority of the population, after ten years without actual growth, is important. thanks much indeed. anita, we are in something called la silence electoral at the moment. we're not going to hear from electoral at the moment. we're not going to hearfrom any of electoral at the moment. we're not going to hear from any of the 12 candidates. they stopped at midnight last night. they will be able to speak and we are having special coverage from france tomorrow after a pm in the polls close. thank you. my a pm in the polls close. thank you. my tim wilcox and much more from tim throughout the day and of course if you want to read more about the french presidential election in this first round that is coming up you can do that on the bbc website with

lots of links that two items you might be interested in. i am on twitter at any bbc. well, it was a cold but sunny start to saturday. how's the rest of the day looking? well, not bad at all. but clouds will be bubbling up in the afternoon and we are expecting a few showers, but the majority of the day is going to be dry and bright, at the very least. so here's the satellite picture. big weather systems out in the atlantic but clouds across the uk are coming in from the north at the moment and clipping scotland, and you can see the winds are also blowing in from the north. so it's a chilly source, so our air is cold. now, today we'll see clouds bubbling up right across the country. but i think the sunniest weather will be across the southwest of england and southern parts of wales and probably staying dry here. a few scattered showers elsewhere

and then in the north of scotland, most frequent showers, but disappointing temperatures — seven in aberdeen, no higher than 12 degrees in the south. now, tonight the skies are clear. the winds fall light, a typical recipe for a frosty night. this time of the year, i think in city centres early on sunday morning, it will be around freezing, maybe just below in rural spots. it will be colder than that. but it does mean that sunday gets off to a sunny, crisp start — a beautiful sunrise tomorrow. but the winds are starting to shift direction out towards the west here, and also we see an advancing weather front, so it does mean clouds will thicken across the west, and, actually, elsewhere we'll see clouds bubbling up in the afternoon, so a bright rather than sunny day tomorrow. 0nto monday and tuesday, now. the winds really have changed directio by then. you can see they're coming in mostly from the south or even the southeast. that means a lot of clouds spreading across the uk — outbreaks of rain, so two unsettled days monday and tuesday, but with this change in wind direction also comes a warmer atmosphere from the south. in fact, all the way from the azores and southern climes, you can see that stream of mild air coming our way, notjust

across the uk, but into scandinavia and other parts of europe. and, in fact, you can see the temperatures by midweek could be approaching 20 degrees celsius across england and certainly the mid—teens in scotland. so, let's summarize all of this — a bright but fairly chilly weekend. then monday and tuesday brings a lot more cloud and outbreaks of rain and then warmer from wednesday onwards. enjoy your day.

this is bbc news. the headlines. officials in ukraine say ten humanitarian corridors have been agreed to help people fleeing the war. one of them is for the port of city of mariupol, which has been described as "hell on earth". western officials say a russian general with extensive experience in syria has been put in charge of moscow's operations in ukraine. general alexander dvornikov has been given the job of improving co—ordination between russian forces in ukraine. there have been angry scenes in pakistan's parliament between supporters and opponents of the prime minister, imran khan, ahead of a vote of no confidence. the speaker of the national assembly temporarily adjourned the proceedings — though parliament has now reconvened. and, to boldly go — the first ever private astronaut mission to the international

space station is in the process of docking.