welcome to newsday, reporting live from singapore, i'm karishma vaswani. the headlines. the port city of mariupol is still under heavy bombardment as the russians intensify their attacks on the wider region of the donbas. a guarantee of safe passage for ukrainians is the condition for an exchange of russian prisoners of war as the people of mariupol try to flee to safety. we'll also have the latest on germany's decision to stop importing russian oil by the end of the year. in an interview with the bbc, the prime minister of new zealand has expressed disappointment after the solomon islands signed a security pact with china. we began highlighted should

any extent didn't exist we are there to help and support. just then the question, what remains that require such are in agreement with china? and prince harry tells american television he wants to make sure the queen is protected and surrounded by the right people. welcome to bbc news — broadcasting to viewers in the uk and around the world. we begin in ukraine where to save the lives of thousands of people trapped in the port city of mariupol, president zelensky has offered to exchange russian prisoners of war for a guarantee of safe passage for his fellow citizens. the city of mariupol is still under heavy bombardment — as the russians intensify their attacks on the wider

region of the donbas. it's believed 100 thousand people remain trapped there. ukrainian officials have now offered to travel to the city for talks on the evacuation of civilians and military personnel. the last of the ukrainian resistance can be found at the azovstal steel works — a massive industrial plant — as our correspondent mark lowen reports. in the fog of war, russia's ferocious firepower is unrelenting. mariupol, once a thriving port city, besieged and broken. the last bastion of ukraine's resistance is the azovstal steel plant, perhaps a few thousand soldiers and civilians in its bunkers and tunnels — a patch of land holding out against one of the world's biggest armies. and now a rare voice from inside the nightmare. "this is our appeal to the world," says this marine. "it could be the last of our lives,

we are probably facing our final days, if not hours. the enemy is outnumbering us io—i." but today, again, they refused russia's latest surrender deadline — a defiant fight to the end. ukraine's president said he is often an exchange of rossiter two rushers preserve a war. an exchange of rossiter two rushers preserve a war. translation: an exchange of rossiter two rushers preserve a war. translation: we an exchange of rossiter two rushers preserve a war. translation: we are ready for different forms of exchanging our people for the russian people. the exchanging our people for the russian people.— exchanging our people for the russian --eole. , , ., ., , russian people. the russian military the left russian people. the russian military they left behind. _ russian people. the russian military they left behind. they _ russian people. the russian military they left behind. they both - russian people. the russian military they left behind. they both left - they left behind. they both left corpses scattered and abandoned wounded people.— corpses scattered and abandoned wounded people. across the country in k iv it's wounded people. across the country in kyiv it's all _ wounded people. across the country in kyiv it's all what _ wounded people. across the country in kyiv it's all what will _ wounded people. across the country in kyiv it's all what will he _ wounded people. across the country in kyiv it's all what will he not - in kyiv it's all what will he not quite on the western front. from a volunteer centre they send supplies to the east, first aid food and preparations for battle to those under russian assault.

the pride of russian army here. they've gathered spoils of war from an invasion that's not gone russia's way. an invasion that's not gone russia's wa . , , an invasion that's not gone russia's wa , , , ., , an invasion that's not gone russia's wa . , , ., , ., way. this is a badge better to die than to sauna. _ way. this is a badge better to die than to sauna. she _ way. this is a badge better to die than to sauna. she hopes - way. this is a badge better to die than to sauna. she hopes her- way. this is a badge better to die i than to sauna. she hopes her cousin will return with _ than to sauna. she hopes her cousin will return with more _ than to sauna. she hopes her cousin will return with more fragments - than to sauna. she hopes her cousin will return with more fragments of l will return with more fragments of russian losses. to will return with more fragments of russian losses.— will return with more fragments of russian losses. to fill part of him? yes, totally- _ russian losses. to fill part of him? yes, totally. i— russian losses. to fill part of him? yes, totally. i would _ russian losses. to fill part of him? yes, totally. i would never- russian losses. to fill part of him? yes, totally. i would never have i yes, totally. i would never have dreamed my cousin to become a true hero of ukraine and hero of mariupol. it is also a bitter sense of pride in a sense that he is in a life—threatening situation. but i am very proud of him. i dream of the day when he will return and he will be able to meet again and i will be able to tell this to him. if be able to meet again and i will be able to tell this to him.— able to tell this to him. if you could give a _ able to tell this to him. if you could give a message - able to tell this to him. if you - could give a message what would you say to him? you are very strong and yourfamily

say to him? you are very strong and your family loves you a lot and we are waiting for you. you will come back and you will be our hero and you will have a great life in the free ukraine after our victory. praying for that and our families across this nation, those like vladimir whose only child is also fighting in the steel plant. here in kyiv they've fortified their monuments but vladimir knows he can't protect what's most precious to him. translation: it's very hard there. they're running out of ammunition but they don't want to surrender because they can't abandoned the civilians they are protecting. ice to prepare them for the army so maybe it's my fault he joined. to prepare them for the army so maybe it's my fault hejoined. i'm pretty sure i'll see him again but until then, pretty sure i'll see him again but untilthen, i pretty sure i'll see him again but until then, i want to say i love you and are waiting for you. we

until then, i want to say i love you and are waiting for you. 500 miles from the front _ and are waiting for you. 500 miles from the front line _ and are waiting for you. 500 miles from the front line the _ and are waiting for you. 500 miles from the front line the emotional. from the front line the emotional distance can seem further still. with the agony of helplessness comes the hope and dread of news. mark lowen, bbc news, kyiv. in other headlines for you today the prime minister of new zealand has been stressing the importance of reinforcing the international world order in the face of russian aggression. and the use of sanctions as a deterrence. speaking to me in an exclusive broadcast interview on a trip to singapore — she also touched on developments in this region — expressing her disappointment that the solomon islands has cemented a security deal with china, fuelling fears beijing could set up a military base on the island. one of the reasons we've expressed this disappointment at the fact that we have seen now this agreement emerge in support of both the solomons and china has been because

through the declaration, declaration that a specific island foreign members we signed up to x explicitly sets an expectation we look to provide our own security needs is a region. you can see we have done that. the psalms especially both new zealand and australia have heeded the call of the solomons for support during recent disruption. we begin highlighting that should any extended need exist we are there to help and support. so that does then the question what yet remains that require such an agreement with china? ~ ., ,, require such an agreement with china? ., , ., china? would you consider forging closer links. _ china? would you consider forging closer links, military _ china? would you consider forging closer links, military links - china? would you consider forging closer links, military links with - closer links, military links with the us the way australia has done? in an attempt to ward off the influence in the region from china. we've been clear that for some time now we have seen a growing assertiveness in our region, growing interest in our region. from china? specifically from china but also

greater collaboration from an economic or humanitarian perspective from other nations as well. we have to look to the good that can be gained from greater collaboration and art region. there is in need. we can work together in those areas of mutual interest. has can work together in those areas of mutual interest.— mutual interest. has this been a wake-u mutual interest. has this been a wake-up call— mutual interest. has this been a wake-up call for— mutual interest. has this been a wake-up call for you _ mutual interest. has this been a wake-up call for you when - mutual interest. has this been a wake-up call for you when it - mutual interest. has this been a i wake-up call for you when it comes wake—up call for you when it comes to beijing? i wake-up call for you when it comes to bei'ina ? ., �* _, , ., to beijing? i don't consider it a wake-u to beijing? i don't consider it a wake-up call— to beijing? i don't consider it a wake-up call at _ to beijing? i don't consider it a wake-up call at all. _ to beijing? i don't consider it a wake-up call at all. for- to beijing? i don't consider it a wake-up call at all. for some l to beijing? i don't consider it a - wake-up call at all. for some time wake—up call at all. for some time we have been pointing to the fact that we are in a highly contested region. the world is changing around us and our region is a manifestation of that. after some time we've also been calling on the united states, the eu and others to ensure that they look to our region is in the area where as i say, we build those economic relationships as much as we bill those other relationships. on our specific relationship with china we have a fiercely independent foreign policy and i'm proud of the position new zealand takes us up china is a very important trading partnerfor china is a very important trading partner for us china is a very important trading partnerfor us but china is a very important trading partner for us but it's also a

mature relationship for us. we have always been consistent. there are areas that we can work together we will. but they will always be areas where we will not necessarily agree. and when those areas arise we are better to get very forthright and clear in opposition. the better to get very forthright and clear in opposition.— clear in opposition. the war in ukraine. _ clear in opposition. the war in ukraine, new _ clear in opposition. the war in ukraine, new zealand - clear in opposition. the war in ukraine, new zealand has - clear in opposition. the war in | ukraine, new zealand has sent military and financial aid and more sanctions are now on russia. is there a diplomatic way out of this conflict was met ethic the international community continues to invest energy and efforts into economic sanctions that continue to force and put pressure on dialogue. some may question why is it that new zealand at the bottom of the world has taken such an interest in invested so heavily and ensuring we are responding alongside others to the invasion of ukraine? the answer for us is simple, when you are a small nation as we are, you rely on the international world order. you rely on that being upheld, you rely

on multi—lateral institutions enforcing and reinforcing that international order. when you see that threatened, undermined and destroyed by the actions of another, that threatens everyone, including new zealand. fire that threatens everyone, including new zealand-— that threatens everyone, including new zealand. are we facing a world where it is being _ new zealand. are we facing a world where it is being split _ new zealand. are we facing a world where it is being split into - new zealand. are we facing a world where it is being split into two - where it is being split into two sides, as you describe, one that follows the multilateral international order and another that could be defined as hypocrisies? and it's a choice between democracy and hypocrisies that our countries not need to take. hypocrisies that our countries not need to take-— hypocrisies that our countries not need to take. let's not be quick to create a binary _ need to take. let's not be quick to create a binary situation _ need to take. let's not be quick to create a binary situation between l create a binary situation between two differing schisms in the world and instead actually focus in on the perpetrator of this violence, the perpetrator of this violence, the perpetrator of this violence, the perpetrator of the removal of another nations territorial integrity. that is at the hands of russia. we would exercise caution on

being too quick to be alongside that to listen to a war of ideology. it is russia perpetrated this, it is russia that must be spoken firmly against. unless you everything we can diplomatically to ensure that doesn't grow beyond russia. russia has released pictures of what it claims to have been a successful test flight of a new inter continental ballistic missile, known as sarmat. president putin said it would strengthen the combat potential of the country's armed forces and make those who seek to threaten russia think twice. according to the ministry of defence the missile was fired from a site in russia's northwest and reached a target nearly 6000 kilometres away. germany says it will stop importing oilfrom russia by the end of the year — in a bid to hit the country harder with economic penalties — for invading ukraine. germany's finance minister also blamed russia for the current global price rises and the internationalfood crisis. he's been talking with our

economics editor faisal islam. just after the invasion of ukraine, the western world clubbed together to isolate russia, its financial system, its biggest businessmen, and its war chest of hundreds of billions in currency reserves as never before. but it wasn't enough to deter the aggression. absolutely key to this is the role of germany — heavily dependent on russian energy and effective source of hundreds of millions of euros being sent to the kremlin's companies every day. its finance minister, christian lindner, told the bbc it's russia that's responsible for the significant economic consequences of the war. there is an unprovoked, terrible war in ukraine, and russia is responsible for all geopolitical and macroeconomical risks which have their origin in this war. so russia is responsible forfood crisis, for example. ..? for example, inflation, food crisis,

and the possible risk of a serious debt crisis in developing countries. at first, the stringent actions against moscow hit home, collapsing the value of its companies and its currency, the rouble, to record lows. but now, thanks to the flow of energy dollars and euros, it's recovered all of that lost value. when you hearfrom president zelensky last week that europe is sending $1 billion a day to russia for its oil and gas and that, "we don't understand how you can make money out of blood," and he pointed the finger directly at germany and hungary for blocking an oil embargo. no, we are not blocking, we are willing to stop all energy imports from russia, it's just a matter of time. when for the oil embargo? as fast as possible. this year?

as fast as possible. it would cause a physical shutdown of your manufacturing sector, your car—makers, you were to push the button right now? probably, and this is why we prefer sanctions which hurt him more than us as europeans and our single market. i keep g20 summit. but it is the relationship but it is the relationship between germany and russia is absolutely key to the calculations of the kremlin in this war. the minister admitted this was a two—decade miscalculation and germany is now committed to independence from president putin, but they say doing so immediately is just not possible. faisal islam, bbc news, in washington. you're watching newday on the bbc. still to come on the programme. prince harry tells us tv

he wants to make sure the "right people" are around the queen — to "protect her". the stars and stripes at half mast outside columbine high — the school sealed off, the bodies of the dead still inside. i never thought that they would actually go through with it. one of the most successful- singer—songwriters of all time, the american pop star prince, has died at the age of 57. - ijust couldn't believe it, i didn't believe it. we just. he was just here saturday. for millions of americans, the death of richard nixon in a new york hospital has meant conflicting emotions, a national day of mourning next wednesday sitting somehow uneasily with the abiding memories

of the shame of watergate. and lift off of the space shuttle discovery with the hubble space telescope, our window on the universe. this is newsday on the bbc. i'm karishma vaswani in singapore, our headlines. ukrainian officials have offered to travel to mariupol for talks on the evacuation of civilians and military personnel. in an exclusive broadcast interview with the bbc the prime minister of new zealand has expressed disappointment after the solomon islands signed a security pact with china. officials in the us state of new mexico have fined a film production company more than $130 thousand following the fatal shooting of a cinematographer. helyna hutchins died after a prop

gun held by the actor alec baldwin went—off during rehersals last october. safety regulators in new mexico found the production company "knew that firearms safety procedures were not being followed." i'm joined now by our correspondent sophie long who is in los angeles. i know you covered the story right from the start. what's the companies response to this report? weill. from the start. what's the companies response to this report?— response to this report? well, we haven't yet _ response to this report? well, we haven't yet heard _ response to this report? well, we haven't yet heard from _ response to this report? well, we haven't yet heard from the - haven't yet heard from the production company itself and that really was the organisation that was held responsible for halyna hutchins's death. her tragic death really rocked hollywood and left many people demanding to know how a young mother in one of the industries rising stars was shot dead on a movie set. the report today revealed that not only did the production company know that national safety standards regarding gun control on film sets were not being followed, they knew about that and they failed to do anything about

it. so a damning reexport, a scathing report today and that is why the safety officers decided to find the production company the maximum possible penalty under new mexico law which is of course with this tragedy happy. alec baldwin had been rehearsing a scene on a church just outside santa fe new mexico when the gun was discharged. he said that the gun was cold, meaning that it shouldn't discharge like bullets or otherwise of course the gun did discharge and it killed halyna hutchins and also injured the director who is on the set at the same time. director who is on the set at the same time-— director who is on the set at the same time. �* , ., ., ., , same time. are you hearing anything from halyna — same time. are you hearing anything from halyna hutchins's_ same time. are you hearing anything from halyna hutchins's family - same time. are you hearing anything from halyna hutchins's family about| from halyna hutchins's family about this report, any sense from them how there are viewing a? ida. this report, any sense from them how there are viewing a?— there are viewing a? no, i think at there are viewing a? no, i think at the moment— there are viewing a? no, i think at the moment whilst _ there are viewing a? no, i think at the moment whilst this _ there are viewing a? no, i think at the moment whilst this is - there are viewing a? no, i think at the moment whilst this is very --| there are viewing a? no, i think at| the moment whilst this is very -- it the moment whilst this is very —— it was an in—depth report elected to interviews and testimonies it all in

1500 hrs of those. we heard in this report that there were two misfires onset prior to the fatal shooting of halyna hutchins. this is in no way the end of the matter. the criminal investigation is ongoing and criminal charges have not been ruled out. and multiple lawsuits have been filed including one on behalf of of halyna hutchins has been met. that alleges that reckless behaviour and cost—cutting were to blame for her death. in response to that alec baldwin his lawyer said that any claim that baldwin himself was reckless is entirely unfounded. he, halyna hutchins and of course all the others on the set were lying when they said the gun was cold. that was not the case in this tragic incident which read melted in her loss of life then came about. we haven't heard directly from the family yet but i think the important thing to focus on at this stage is that while this has been a comprehensive state to report there are many other investigations all

ongoing at the same time. !great are many other investigations all ongoing at the same time. great to net ou on ongoing at the same time. great to get you on the _ ongoing at the same time. great to get you on the program. _ ongoing at the same time. great to get you on the program. thank- ongoing at the same time. great to get you on the program. thank you j get you on the program. thank you for joining us. let's take a look at some other stories in the headlines. the uk government is calling for a vote on a parliamentary investigation into whether boris johnson misled parliament over lockdown parties to be delayed until the police inquiry has concluded. mps were set to vote later on thursday. the prime minister will miss the vote as he will be on a two—day official trade visit to india. shares in tesla have risen sharply after the electric carmaker reported higher revenue than had been forecast in the first quarter of 2022. income was almost double that of the same period last year, and profits up by more than six—hundred and fifty percent. unlike its rivals, tesla has been able to make more cars through the pandemic despite problems with supply chains. the organisers of the wimbledon tennis championships have banned players from russia and belarus from taking

part in this year's tournament, because of the invasion of ukraine. the kremlin said it was "unacceptable" to make athletes what it called "hostages of political prejudice". the ban will affect the world number two mens player daniil medvedev — and the womens world number four — belarussian are—na sabalyenka. the number of netflix subscribers has fallen for the first time in ten years. 200 thousand customers cancelled their subscriptions in the first three months of this year. netflix has blamed the drop on increased competition, & its decision to suspend its service in russia, following the invasion of ukraine. on sunday voters go to the polls to vote in the french presidential election. opinion polls have seen president emmanual macron increase his lead over marine le pen since the first round earlier this month. but it's thought many voters haven't made up their mind, making this evening's televised debate between the two potentially crucial to their chances. lucy williamson reports from paris.

after weeks of sparring from a distance, tonight it's hand—to—hand combat. the first time in this election that emmanuel macron and marine le pen have fought face—to—face. bonsoir, marine le pen. bonsoir. with just two campaigning days left, and a quarter of voters saying the debate will shape their decision, they've been waiting for this. first up, the big one. rising prices and spending power is le pen's favourite subject. her slogan tonight, give the people their money back. mr macron lectures her on why her economic plans won't work. and then goes for the jugular. her relationship with russia. you're dependent on vladimir putin, he says. when you speak to russia, you speak to your banker.

but what do voters make of it? across the country in reims this evening, voters from all sides, many still undecided, were watching the drama unfold. we see a very different debate from 2017. it appears that marine le pen is much more well—prepared than 2017. she is very calm. she decided to not attack frontally the president, emmanuel macron, and from my point of view, emmanuel macron seems a bit unstable. translation: so far, - it's a very balanced debate. i'm biased, but the arguments are good, and they may change my mind. she is much better than last time, but she's still too weak— in comparison with macron. he is far stronger on every subject. marine le pen'sjob tonight was to show that she was prepared for power. mr macron's task was to show that she was not without looking too arrogant and superior himself.

around ten points separate them in the polls tonight. four days separates one of them from power. lucy williamson, bbc news, paris. prince harry has said — he's trying to ensure the queen is protected — and has the right people around her. speaking to the american tv network, nbc, the duke of sussex said — he and meghan had a "great" time with the queen, when they went to see her at windsor castle last week. it was so nice to see her, she was in great form, which is always got a great sense of humour and making sure she's protected in the right people around her. you sure she's protected in the right people around her.— sure she's protected in the right people around her. you make her huah, people around her. you make her laugh. that's _ people around her. you make her laugh, that's what _ people around her. you make her laugh, that's what she _ people around her. you make her laugh, that's what she says - people around her. you make her laugh, that's what she says what | people around her. you make her. laugh, that's what she says what did you do— laugh, that's what she says what did you do it _ laugh, that's what she says what did you do it again?— you do it again? yes, i did. it was really nice to _ you do it again? yes, i did. it was really nice to catch _ you do it again? yes, i did. it was really nice to catch up _ you do it again? yes, i did. it was really nice to catch up with - you do it again? yes, i did. it was really nice to catch up with her. . really nice to catch up with her. home for me now for the time being is united states. it home for me now for the time being is united states.— is united states. it feels that way as well. does _ is united states. it feels that way as well. does it? _ is united states. it feels that way as well. does it? yeah. _ is united states. it feels that way as well. does it? yeah. 0h - is united states. it feels that way i as well. does it? yeah. 0h welcome with open— as well. does it? yeah. 0h welcome with open arms. got such a great

community— with open arms. got such a great community up in santa barbara. so you feel_ community up in santa barbara. so you feel like that so more for you? yeah _ the queen's 96th birthday has been marked with the release of a photograph showing her passion for horses. (00v)the queen is pictured standing with two of her fell ponies, as the build—up begins for the royal windsor horse show, which commissioned the image.she has travelled from windsor to her sandringham estate to stay at a property loved by her late husband, the duke of edinburgh, for her birthday. and before we go tonight, let's turn to mexico, where zoo animals in the south received a cold treat to help them cope with hot weather. as temperatures reached 100 degrees fahrenheit, workers at the zoo in merida prepared popsicles for the animals, to help them cool down... the popsicles these jaguars are playing with are actually made cats seem to love. that's all for now — stay with bbc world news.

hello. for most of us wednesday was a fine day, lots of spring sunshine around. temperatures widely 16 to 18 celsius and the warmest poppers southhampt ends where temperatures were up to 20 foot up you can see the extent of the sunshine from the satellite picture from wednesday but look at this area of low cloud, that really limited to temperatures through wednesday afternoon across the east side of scotland. not only was a cloudy and misty it was chilly with temperature is just around 7 degrees. we still have that pretty big area of low cloud, missed and now fog affecting eastern areas of scotland for the clout picking up for an occasional spit of drizzle and a time could affect the coast of northeastern that is well. otherwise these are the kind of temperatures that we had to start the day on

thursday. for the next day or so were going to see high pressure dominating out where the picture. the high pressures north of the uk, the winds around the high—pressure coming in from an easterly direction and will tend to strengthen over the next couple of days. as those winds blow across the cool north sea so temperatures will start to ease a little bit of the next couple days. nevertheless, thursday morning getting off to a sparkling, sunny start. for most could be in odd patch of cloud or missed across northeast scotland, slow to clear and maybe one or two more coming onto the coastline into the afternoon. where that happens temperatures just about seven celsius but otherwise, it's another pretty warm day for the time year. again, we are looking at some pretty high levels of pollen for those of you that suffer from hay fever, that something to bear in mind. there will be for the changes in the weather picture on friday, subtle changes the winds will be blowing a bit more strongly. that will knock the temperatures down. also there's going to be more cloud across the south of the uk for the potentially

thick enough to bring a few patches of rain although not amounting to much at all. temperatures 1a or 15 degrees in the best of the sunshine across the northwest, maybe 16 in liverpool. some of the north sea coast 12 degrees would be close to what we will see. for this weekend, we've still got those easterly winds blowing, low pressure to ourselves. for the most part a lot of the beginners could be dried with sunny spells but i wouldn't be surprised if we saw some thicker cloud at times moving into the south or the east of the uk to bring a few patches of rain. if we do see that probably not amounting to too much.

this is bbc news, the headlines some civilians trapped for weeks in the besieged city of mariupol have been able to leave, but officials say there were far fewer than hoped. ukrainian officials have offered to travel to mariupol for talks on the evacuation of civilians and military personnel. russia claims its conducted a successful test flight of a new inter—continental ballistic missile, known as sarmat. president putin said it would strengthen the combat potential of the country's armed forces and make those who seek to threaten russia think twice the united nations says more than five million people have left ukraine since the russian invasion. unhcr said more than half of them, have sought refuge in poland — most of those were women and children.

in an interview with the bbc, the prime minister of