this is bbc news 7 welcome if you're watching here in the uk or around the globe. our top stories. in pakistan prime minister imran khan is ousted from power in a vote of no confidence. armoured vehicles and new missiles — borisjohnson pledges more support to ukraine after talks with president zelensky in kyiv. there is a huge amount to do to make sure that ukraine is successful, that ukraine wins and that putin must fail. campaigning has ended in the first round of france's presidential election, which takes place on sunday. and there we are. and mission accomplished — as the first all private astronaut team ever launched

to the international space station — completes docking. the prime minister of pakistan imran khan has been dismissed from office after losing a vote of no—confidence. the country's parliament finally held the ballot tonight after the ruling party delayed it for 13 hours. this is the moment the speaker of the house announced the result: 174 members have recorded their vote in favour of the resolution, consequently the resolution for the vote of no confidence against mr imran khan, the prime minister of the islamic republic of pakistan has been passed by a majority of the total

membership of the national assembly. our pakistan correspondent secundar kermani has been following events in islamabad. there has been a day and night of intense political drama. it is now after two o'clock in the morning and parliament is still in session. supporters of the opposition have been celebrating, you can perhaps hear them in the background. for a while it looked like the vote of no confidence would not happen, as if his party would block it for a second time despite an order from the supreme court. instead after the delay of a day in parliament and meandering speeches from imran khan's allies, before midnight parties walked out of parliament and a new speaker of the house said voting would start. once it was clear voting would begin, the result

was a foregone conclusion and that is because a number of imran khan political allies had already publicly deserted him, giving the opposition the majority in parliament. they will now get to select and nominate their own candidate for prime minister. that will happen in the next couple of days. he will face real challenges in government, not least from imran khan because he is still insisting he is the victim of an international conspiracy, orchestrated by the united states in conjunction with his domestic political opponents because of his foreign policy decisions, including a recent trip to russia. most analysts and his political opponents have denied any truth to the allegations but it has resonated with his voters. he said he will not accept any imported government and has called for his supporters to take to the streets in protest

on sunday evening. let's get some reaction now — we can hearfrom sajjad kareem, who is a former uk member of the european parliament and ran the eu friends of pakistan group. he joins us from lancashire in the north of england. thank you for talking to us. there has been no reprieve has been no thank you for talking to us. there has been no reprieve for imran khan, your reflections on the political drama in pakistan today? there is a lot of theatricals _ drama in pakistan today? there is a lot of theatricals and _ drama in pakistan today? there is a lot of theatricals and drama - lot of theatricals and drama involved with these situations but ultimately it is an issue of due process, which has got to take its course and be completed. that is what we have seen this evening. unfortunately it did take the involvement of the supreme court of pakistan to give the necessary deadlines and direction as to how the process needs to be completed

but ultimately, despite resistance from the government, and every opportunity was used to try and filibuster the whole situation, i suppose there was just a hope in imran khan's mind that something would come through at the 11th hour to save him. but this is an issue of due process that had to be completed and has now therefore been completed. and has now therefore been completed-— and has now therefore been comleted. , ., . completed. tickets back to what started the _ completed. tickets back to what started the process _ completed. tickets back to what started the process to _ completed. tickets back to what started the process to begin - completed. tickets back to what i started the process to begin with. what has led to this moment where imran khan has himself lose his position of leadership? are you still there? i am. position of leadership? are you still there? iam. i hope you heard my question. i still there? i am. i hope you heard my question-— still there? i am. i hope you heard my question. i most of it. the issue is, this is not _ my question. i most of it. the issue is, this is not something _ my question. i most of it. the issue is, this is not something which - my question. i most of it. the issue is, this is not something which hasl is, this is not something which has come about in a matter of days, it

is a situation which has been building up within pakistan for some time. it involves both issues of a domestic nature and issues of a foreign nature. all of which of course become intertwined in inland can's personal leadership style and the way he was conducting his affairs as prime minister. there has been a whole series of events and decisions taken by helen over the course of the last three and a half years which in one way and another have contributed to us arriving at this particular point. he found he lost some of his key supporters and allies from inside and outside of the parliament in the months running up the parliament in the months running up to marier today and then of course he eventually lost his majority in the house as well.

ma'ority in the house as well. when it majority in the house as well. when it comes to — majority in the house as well. when it comes to what _ majority in the house as well. when it comes to what happens _ majority in the house as well. when it comes to what happens next, - majority in the house as well. when it comes to what happens next, who do use coming into fill the position?— do use coming into fill the osition? , , ., . position? this is now crucial because there _ position? this is now crucial because there has - position? this is now crucial because there has been - position? this is now crucial because there has been a i position? this is now crucial- because there has been a period of very real turmoil in pakistan. therefore there is a need for a government come forward. i hope with a consensual policy framework to deliver and allow the people of pakistan a very real contrast to what they have experienced over the last few months certainly. the individuals that are at the forefront now, the leader of the opposition, shehbaz sharif, younger brother of nawaz sharif. his name has been put forward as the prime minister to replace imran khan and then of course he will have to form a coalition government. within the

coalition government the people's party will play a very prominent party will play a very prominent part and it will be very interesting to see whether the grandson and son of benazir bhutto, to see what part he will play. it is also important to understand that shehbaz sharif is an individual who comes with a tremendous amount of both parliamentary experience and executive government experience as well. that may well provide the sort of leadership that pakistan needs at this moment in time, bearing in mind the very real turmoil it has gone under the the very real turmoil it has gone underthe imran khan the very real turmoil it has gone under the imran khan style of leadership. we under the imran khan style of leadership-— under the imran khan style of leadershi. ~ , ., , ~ , under the imran khan style of leadershi. , ., , ~ , ., leadership. we should be keeping an ion that. thank— leadership. we should be keeping an ion that. thank you _ leadership. we should be keeping an ion that. thank you for _ leadership. we should be keeping an ion that. thank you forjoining - leadership. we should be keeping an ion that. thank you forjoining us - ion that. thank you forjoining us with your analysis.

it was a foregone conclusion that when they were allowed to vote they would vote against imran khan. he should have resigned which is the normal practice in parliament. the fact he did note resulted in protracted court battle. the supreme court gave clear orders as to how the proceeding and outward be conducted today and his followers refused to follow that. u nfortu nately refused to follow that. unfortunately he leaves the country in a bit of a political mess. he has also endangered relations with foreign countries. i think he will only be remembered for having disrupted all of that rather than something positive. ithink disrupted all of that rather than something positive. i think his legacy is calling all his opponents

corrupt and traitors to the country. it is the legacy of polarisation. he appeals to a lot of people who felt the old guard of pakistan politics was no longer delivering and had been riddled with corruption but he did not deliver effective government. in the end, he will be remembered like donald trump is a person claiming to be the new broom but simply not understanding government and remaining a flame—thrower until the very end. the uk prime minister boris johnson, has become the latest western leader to hold face to face talks with ukraine's president, volodymyr zelensky. during the meeting, he praised what he called the president's "resolute leadership," and the "invincible heroism" of the ukrainian people. he also set out a new package of financial and military aid, including an offer of 120 armoured

vehicles and new anti—ship missile systems, for the war with russia. mr zelensky welcomed the uk's support for his country, and urged other western allies to intensify the pressure on moscow. our europe correspondent, mark lowen, has this report, on today's talks. how are you? little time for the niceties when you are a leader at war. volodymyr zelensky hosting boris johnson today. pressing the flesh of a key western backer. you are looking well. unbelievable considering which you have been through. the strength of the underdog, ukraine's president battling for the survival of his country, welcoming and pleading for the outside world to help fight russian aggression. the unannounced talks came as britain pledged 120 armoured vehicles and new anti—ship missile systems. the two men were keen to suggest ukraine is on the front foot, a walkabout in kyiv inconceivable

a fortnight ago. borisjohnson basking in praise for his support from the public and the president. translation: we have to exert pressure in the form of sanctions and i'm grateful to the united kingdom that continues and intensifies sanctions and also provides significant support to ukraine by reinforcing our defence capacity. the other democratic western countries should follow the example of the united kingdom. from borisjohnson, arriving as horrors are announced from neighboruring towns, warm words for a leader he called a lion. i thank you for what you have been able to do, i think your leadership has been extraordinary. i think what putin has done in places like bucha and irpin, his war crimes have permanently polluted his reputation and the reputation of his government.

borisjohnson was long keen to come here to kyiv but was waiting for the security situation to stabilise following the withdrawal of russian troops in the area and while this city has calmed, the renewed russian offensive in the east has made ukraine push even harder for more military aid. russian tanks pushed on today as a governor in the east urged civilians to flee immediately, warning of troops massing nearby. bucha is now free of russian troops and shows what might lie in store elsewhere. 360 people are said to have died here. ukraine, the david against goliath, is still crying out for help. in the east of the country, civilians have been urged to leave the area immediately, because russian forces are increasing their shelling and may be planning a mass assault.

two missiles hit a train station in the city of kramatorsk on friday, killing more than fifty people, trying to escape fighting in the area. at least four of the dead are children. our defence correspondent, jonathan beale, has sent us this report, from the city. they were supposed to be taking a train to safety, but instead they were leaving kramatorsk by ambulance. most of the severely injured in the attack had already been taken west to larger hospitals. these, the walking wounded. still needing surgery to remove the pieces of shrapnel from their bodies. and still clearly traumatised. translation: | heard a lot | of explosions and i fell down. when i got up, a lot of people were already dead. it was only me who stood up from the floor. it is a wonder, god saved me. i have a penetrating chest injury from one side and my legs

are wounded, like everywhere. i got the shrapnel into my groin, into my artery, i fainted twice, lost a lot of blood. medical staff work day and night to save the lives of the dozens injured, not all made it, six died before they had the chance to operate, including a young child. translation: there were life threatening injuries, _ amputations, torn limbs, torn feet, stomach wounds and brain injuries. those were the severe cases. it is surreal what has happened, itjust cannot be explained. i cannot imagine what kind of person takes a decision to launch a missile into a place where civilians are gathering. these were the chaotic scenes after the strike. thousands had gathered at kramatorsk station, hoping to get a train to safety. many of them women and children.

they were among the dozens of bodies lying on the ground. aleksei was still looking through the wreckage this morning. normally, he helps recover the bodies of ukrainian troops killed in battle. but, yesterday, he was having to gather the remains of unarmed civilians. the innocents of this war. translation: when you see our future i being killed, the future of ukraine, i you cannot control your emotions, you understand it is genocide and they are killing us just because we are ukrainian and you see that when you look at the bodies of the women and children. investigators were still examining the remains of a missile nearby. eyewitnesses say they saw multiple explosions, raising the possibility that it may have contained cluster munitions. it is still not clear what exactly happened here, whether this missile might have been shot down and that is why some of it is still intact,

but the state railway company says that a number of missiles were fired at the railway station, and despite russia's denials of responsibility, people here think it was a deliberate attack. jonathan beale, bbc news, kramatorsk. we can go live to kyiv and speak to oleksandra matviichuk, the head of the humanitarian ngo head of center for civil liberties. thank you for talking to us, despite what must be a very difficult time. i don't know if you're able to put into words what your emotions are now there has been a slight reprieve in russian trips have gone back? when the region was released from

russian _ when the region was released from russian troops we have not felt relief _ russian troops we have not felt relief because the future atrocities was discovered and we were in shock and now— was discovered and we were in shock and now we — was discovered and we were in shock and now we are in grief. other volunteers_ and now we are in grief. other volunteers took testimonies of people — volunteers took testimonies of people from villages before they were liberated so we know about extrajudicial killings, torture is an of— extrajudicial killings, torture is an of civilians but we were overloaded by the scope and systematic nature of this crisis. 30 systematic nature of this crisis. so not systematic nature of this crisis. not relief but systematic nature of this crisis. sr not relief but grief from witnessing the horrors that have happened just outside kyiv, but what is the feeling in the city now? are things returning to some kind of normal? people returning to city despite the fact that _ people returning to city despite the fact that our mayor asks us not to return_ fact that our mayor asks us not to return because it is not safe and

infrastructure is not prepared for returning — infrastructure is not prepared for returning a — infrastructure is not prepared for returning a huge amount of people. but city— returning a huge amount of people. but city become to provide more sign of life _ but city become to provide more sign of life if— but city become to provide more sign of life if i_ but city become to provide more sign of life if i can say so. cafes are more — of life if i can say so. cafes are more open _ of life if i can say so. cafes are more open that were closed, small businesses — more open that were closed, small businesses return. sol more open that were closed, small businesses return. so i hope that russian _ businesses return. so i hope that russian troops will never return but there _ russian troops will never return but there is _ russian troops will never return but there is no — russian troops will never return but there is no guarantee, we will not be able _ there is no guarantee, we will not be able to— there is no guarantee, we will not be able to withdraw them outside our country— be able to withdraw them outside our country before. we be able to withdraw them outside our country before-— be able to withdraw them outside our country before. we set -- we saw the head of the — country before. we set -- we saw the head of the european _ country before. we set -- we saw the head of the european commission - head of the european commission reacting with visible shock at some of the scenes she saw and she commented that war crimes are apparent, do you share that assessment? i apparent, do you share that

assessment?— apparent, do you share that assessment? ., , ., ., assessment? i can only add that it is a small city _ assessment? i can only add that it is a small city with _ assessment? i can only add that it is a small city with only _ assessment? i can only add that it is a small city with only 40,000 i is a small city with only 40,000 people before the arrival of russian troops so if we see that kind of atrocity bucha what the hell awaits us in marier pool 100s and thousands of people live. us in marier pool 100s and thousands of people live-— of people live. what is your reaction — of people live. what is your reaction to _ of people live. what is your reaction to the _ of people live. what is your reaction to the assistance l of people live. what is your - reaction to the assistance provided ijy reaction to the assistance provided by borisjohnson reaction to the assistance provided by boris johnson from reaction to the assistance provided by borisjohnson from the uk today? in mariupol. i by boris johnson from the uk today? in mariu ol. ., , by boris johnson from the uk today? in mariuool-— in mariupol. i am very grateful because we — in mariupol. i am very grateful because we need _ in mariupol. i am very grateful because we need weapons - in mariupol. i am very grateful - because we need weapons desperately. they were expected in the next several week, we need a defence system, we need anti—tank weapons and a lot more so every weapon which provides for us by great britain and other western democracies help us to

defend our country. the example of bucha shows russia... so we need weapons. bucha shows russia... so we need weaons. ., ~' bucha shows russia... so we need weaons. . ~ i. bucha shows russia... so we need weaons. ., ~ ,, y . bucha shows russia... so we need weaons. ., ~' , . ., weapons. thank you very much for “oininr us weapons. thank you very much for joining us and _ weapons. thank you very much for joining us and sharing _ weapons. thank you very much for joining us and sharing your- weapons. thank you very much for joining us and sharing your news. | joining us and sharing your news. she is head of the centre for civil liberties which is a humanitarian ngo. thousands of people have gathered in the sri lankan capital, colombo, to protest against the country's deepening economic crisis. the demonstrators are calling for the president, gotabaya rajapaksa, to step down. so far, the president and his brother, the prime minister, mahinda rajapaksa, have refused to resign. our correspondent, rajini vaidyanathan was among the protests. thousands have gathered here in the capital for a day of mass protests. there is a real strength of feeling here, lots of anger, most all of it directed against the government, in particular against the country's president.

during the afternoon protesters have been shouting and chanting and calling for him to step down. so far the president and his brother are refusing to resign. they say they will continue in government and get sri lanka through this crisis. people here and not convinced and that is why this is continuing to impact millions of people across this island nation. i talked to many families here today, middle—class families who have good jobs who say they are struggling to put food on the table for their children. they say the value of their salaries has gone down, prices have risen so much. also they say even when things are available and affordable, they struggle to get their hands on them because everything is in such short supply, food, fuel, gas, everything. they say this movement is going to continue. it has brought the country together, people from all backgrounds, rich and poor, young and old,

all united to say they will not stop their protest until gotabaya rajapaksa and family leave power. voting in the french presidential elections start tomorrow. recent polls show a dramatic fall in president macron's lead over his main challenger, the far—right leader marine le pen. our paris correspondent, lucy williamson says there's now not a lot between the two candidates on the eve of sunday's vote. they are very close indeed, the top two contenders. the latest poll put them point apart. macron isjust two points macron is just two points ahead macron isjust two points ahead of marine _ macron isjust two points ahead of marine le — macron isjust two points ahead of marine le pen in the second round. other polls putting them may be a point or two

further apart but it is really very close indeed. what has changed which coincided with the war in ukraine, president macron tied up with the war and talking to president putin, didn't start campaigning until three weeks ago and his rival marine le pen has been campaigning for much longer and she has been focusing on— rising prices which is seen as close to the hearts of voters and something else which they are concerned about because of the war in ukraine. marine le pen has quite close ties to russia but has been nimble in shifting her position since the war began. she has gained from the fact that mr macron— she has gained from the fact that mr macron had a late nationalist rival has not been as fast on his feet and has lost a few votes which have gone to her. all of this has been a snapshot and we want nor the middle of france until the votes come in tomorrow for us. there are 12 candidates for the vote. people will go to

the polls tomorrow and cast their ballots and the top two candidates will go through to a run—off vote in two weeks. for a long time those two top candidates have been seen to be president macron and his far right rival, marine le pen. that is what the polls have been saying. president macron promised to re—make french politics five years ago and he certainly has done. now — a moment of space history — as the first all—private crew has arrived at the international space sation. this is their arrival a few hours ago. the male crew — called axiom—1 — are the first all—private mission to the international space station. they are led by a former us astronaut, michael lopez—alegria. the passengers are us entrepreneur and aerobatic pilot larry connor, israeli investor eytan stibbe, and canadian entrepreneur, mark pathy. the mission set off from florida's kennedy space centre on friday and is expected to last eight days.

that's all for now, thank you for your company. stay with us on bbc news. hello there. we've got a little ridge of high pressure moving in and that is killing off saturday's daytime showers, allowing those skies to clear and temperatures to fall away so do expect a frosty start to sunday, lots of blue sky and sunshine to begin with but quickly clouding over from the west. so here is that little ridge of high pressure moving over into europe and all eyes focused on this area of low out in the atlantic, this beautiful bass clef swirl of cloud which is going to gradually spill in cloud and eventually some rain from the west. so, enjoy the early morning sunshine, yes, a frosty start. unusual now for mid april but as we push into the afternoon, the sunshine turning increasingly hazy, they will be showery outbreaks of rain into northern ireland, a bit more of a breeze here as well. highs in northern ireland, england and wales, ten to 13 degrees. a little bit colder, still,

in the far north—east of scotland and the northern isles. now, as we move through sunday evening and overnight, we will continue to see quite a lot of cloud pushing in. that low pressure is really taking its time before it brings in potentially heavy rain but nevertheless, that cloud acting like a blanket, preventing those temperatures from falling quite as far. so, monday morning won't be quite as chilly, will see overnight lows, generally, between three and seven degrees. so, a slightly greyer start to the day, and we will see some outbreaks of sharp showery rain pushing in from south—west england, wales, into northern ireland. some of these showers could be quite heavy, with the odd rumble of thunder mixed in their but if you dodged the showers and keep some sunshine around that low pressure, the wind direction coming from the south—easterly, so not quite as cold, highs of 17 degrees. we still keep the cold air in place into the far north of scotland but not for long because that southerly wind driving around that low pressure will push milder air

little bit further north as we go through the next few days. so, on tuesday, yes, still the risk of some showery outbreaks of rain, again some of it heavy, possibly even thundery, but if you dodged those showers and you keep that sunshine, particularly across east anglia and south—east england, once again we could see 19, possibly 20 degrees. so, the rain, the dividing line between that's slightly colder air sitting in the far north of scotland but it will head in your direction. and you can see, as we head towards the easter weekend, once that rain eases away, it will be dry and relatively milder in comparison to the last few days.

no this is bbc news, the headlines armoured vehicles and new missiles — borisjohnson pledges more support to ukraine after talks with president zelensky in kyiv. there is a huge amount to do to make sure that ukraine is successful, that ukraine winds and that putin must fail. that ukraine wins and that putin must fail. this evening pakistan's prime minister imran khan has been ousted by the opposition after losing a vote of no confidence. campaigning has ended in the first round of france's presidential election, which takes place on sunday.