this is bbc news 7 these are the latest headlines in the uk and around the world. the ukrainian government urges the un to do more to help bring the estimated 100,000 people trapped inside the city of mariupol to safety. campaigning has ended in france's presidential election — as emmanuel macron and his far—right rival marine le pen urge people to turn out and vote tomorrow. i'm david eades north of paris — where we'll be looking ahead to tomorrow's vote. the parents of madeleine mccann welcome the news that a german man has been formally made a suspect over their daughter's disappearance in 2007.

britain's prime minister borisjohnson dismisses threats to his leadership as the row over lockdown parties in downing street continues. hello and welcome to bbc news. ukraine is urging the united nations and other international organisations to do more to rescue civilians and provide critical aid to areas under attack from russia. in particular officials say more helped is needed to get to people in the besieged southern city of mariupol. there will be a fresh attempt to establish another humanitarian corridor later. ukraine's deputy prime minister says if all goes to plan, evacuations will begin midday local time. russian forces have been trying

to take full control of mariupol for several weeks. un secretary—general antonio guterres is due to meet the russian president vladimir putin in moscow, before travelling on to kyiv. president zelensky claims russia is intending to invade other countries, as simonjones reports. underattack, ukraine's second city, kharkiv. russia's assault is intensifying. the dangers are clear. despite the destruction, some residents are determined to stay. we are going to fight. to fight as long as it is needed for the victory. fresh attempts are being made to get civilians out of mariupol. 100,000 people are still thought to be trapped there. ukraine's deputy prime minister says the evacuation will only succeed with the help of the un.

translation: un right now just observes what is happening in mariupol, and if the world unites and demands that this evacuation happens, only then it can happen. to try to halt the fighting, the head of the un will travel to moscow on tuesday for talks with president putin before going to kyiv to meet president zelensky on thursday. there is a mood of urgency. these satellite images are said to show a second mass grave on the outskirts of mariupol. this family, who've made it to safety, say they walked for five days to escape the conflict. translation: we will never forget what happened. - we cannot. but we need to keep our spirits up and raise our children. russia says it has captured an arms depot in the kharkiv region, containing thousands of tonnes of ammunition. the uk says it's considering

expanding military support to kyiv by giving poland tanks to replace those warsaw is sending to ukraine. we're also looking more at what we can do to backfill in countries such as poland who may want to send heavier weaponry to defend — help defend the ukrainians. and the ukrainian president has welcomed another uk commitment. translation: i am grateful to our british friends - for the important symbolic decision announced today to return the embassy to kyiv. the united kingdom became the 215t country to return a diplomatic mission to our capital, and this shows that we're not the only ones who believe in the victory of life over death. russia has, for the first time, admitted that at least one crew member died when its black sea flagship moskva sank last week. 27 others are unaccounted for. ukraine says it struck the vessel with missiles. moscow has blamed

the sinking on a fire. there's claim and counterclaim. but president zelensky says the attack on ukraine is only the beginning, and that russia intends to invade other countries. simon jones, bbc news. we can cross live to the capi9tal kyiv and our correspondent there, joe inwood. let's talk about the prospects for that humanitarian corridor to get people out of mariupol. we know there have been numerous attempts at humanitarian corridors in ukraine during this war, some have worked, many haven't, so what are the prospects for the efforts today? i think hope more than expectation is the mantra. it should be starting right about now that people should be gathering, women, children, older people, but whether they are we don't know. it is difficult to get information out of mariupol at the moment. it is getting a little easier to get some snippets of what is happening but we will find out

soon. there have been many attempts at these humanitarian corridors, the last one on thursday. it was hoped 6000 people would get out and in the end only four bus—loads state. that same day there was talk of a truce over the easter weekend. it is 0rthodox easter at the moment. that didn't materialise. they hope that we give some respite and chance to get people out, but we will be finding out in the next couple of hours and tomorrow if buses arrive in ukrainian territory, if they arrive in the town of zaporizhzhia. uk intelligence says there has been no major gains by russia in the last 24 no major gains by russia in the last 2a others, despite increased activity. what is your sense of the relative state of play with the fighting? i relative state of play with the fi . htin: ? , , relative state of play with the fiuuhtin? ,, ., ,,,,_ fighting? i guess that probably should not _ fighting? i guess that probably should not come _ fighting? i guess that probably should not come as _ fighting? i guess that probably should not come as much - fighting? i guess that probably should not come as much of i fighting? i guess that probably should not come as much of a | should not come as much of a surprise. the area where the fighting is concentrated is in the donbas in the east of the country, people will have heard of that many times now. this is the heartland of

the uprising started, the insurgency, many years ago, but it is a place where ukrainian forces are very, very heavily fortified. i was there a week ago in some of the trenches and you can see the ukrainians are very well dug in. these are well armed, well equipped and very determined soldiers and so, for the russians, the attacks that are going to be lunching there at the moment, they are coming from above, aerial bombardments, they are going to be devastating but they will be coming up against a determined ukrainian defence is a lack of movement should not be that surprising. lack of movement should not be that surrisinu. ., , ., ., surprising. finally, for the moment, ou surprising. finally, for the moment, you mentioned _ surprising. finally, for the moment, you mentioned hope _ surprising. finally, for the moment, you mentioned hope rather- surprising. finally, for the moment, you mentioned hope rather than - you mentioned hope rather than expectation was the mantra for the efforts around the humanitarian corridor today. efforts around the humanitarian corridortoday. is efforts around the humanitarian corridor today. is it the same for the meeting is expected next week between the un boss, and vladimir putin and president zelensky? i think probably even more so. although antonio guterres is the words murcia diplomat, head of the

word's murcia diplomat, head of the un, will be seeing both presidents, where there could be a window for compromise and agreement, when you have two sides who are most vastly differing in what they want and could accept on behalf of their populations, how he will find common ground there, i don't know. there will be other games to be made i am sure, some talk of drawing down the beginning of a process, maybe, but when you have a situation where one side essentially wants to take over large amounts of the territory of another, how we can find a compromise there, it is quite difficult to learn.— compromise there, it is quite difficult to learn. thank you very much, in ukrainian _ difficult to learn. thank you very much, in ukrainian capital- difficult to learn. thank you very much, in ukrainian capital keev,j difficult to learn. thank you very i much, in ukrainian capital keev, -- much, in ukrainian capital keev, —— kyiv, joe inwood. comments by a russian major general saying control of southern ukraine would give russian forces access to the transnistria region of moldova — have been widely reported. to discuss this i'm joined by igor munteanu, a former moldovan ambassador to the us,

and a former member of parliament. thank you very much for your time today. forviewers thank you very much for your time today. for viewers who don't know much about transnistria, tell us about that region. it is much about transnistria, tell us about that region.— much about transnistria, tell us about that region. it is a breakaway reuion about that region. it is a breakaway region sunported — about that region. it is a breakaway region sunported by _ about that region. it is a breakaway region supported by the _ about that region. it is a breakaway region supported by the russian . region supported by the russian federation in moldova, since 1991 and they have in chisinau, the capital of moldova, and they are blocking the accession of moldova to the european union. and there is collusion with the central government of moldova and now it is seen as an extension of the russian federation. it applies the same laws of the russian federation and it has activated and astronomical debt for activated and astronomical debt for

a gas that it is using what is never paid. a gas that it is using what is never aid. ., . ., . a gas that it is using what is never aid. ., . ., a gas that it is using what is never aid. ., . . ., paid. how concerned are you from the comments from _ paid. how concerned are you from the comments from the _ paid. how concerned are you from the comments from the russian _ paid. how concerned are you from the comments from the russian general l paid. how concerned are you from the comments from the russian general i | comments from the russian general i quoted, saying that if russia can get control of southern ukraine then it would move towards transnistria, where, he claimed, russian speakers were being oppressed? the where, he claimed, russian speakers were being oppressed?— were being oppressed? the danger is that whilst they _ were being oppressed? the danger is that whilst they did _ were being oppressed? the danger is that whilst they did we _ were being oppressed? the danger is that whilst they did we would - were being oppressed? the danger is that whilst they did we would have i that whilst they did we would have to see this kind of dynamic perspective very much the invasion of moldova would be the outcome of the war in ukraine, and i think that we should not underestimate the threats. of course, for the russians, attacking 0desa is of major importance. they have been hit with the cruiser moskva and they have lost one of the major ships of their fleet but nevertheless they would like to see the weaknesses of the region and moldova is seen as a

fragile country. from this perspective i would say that the statement of the general commander of the central district of the russian federation has to be seen as a kind of threat to moldova, to do itself from ukraine, from the global community supporting ukraine, and also it can be seen as a call for action to the proxy groups in moldova to challenge the incumbent government and create different sorts of hybrid actions and to pressure the moldovan government. you think this is about disruption to the status quo in moldova. yes. what preparation _ to the status quo in moldova. yes. what preparation is _ to the status quo in moldova. yes what preparation is moldova making either militarily, or indeed with regards to reaching out to the eu for example? i know that moldova has filled in the eu membership questionnaire. you are currently an associated member, aren't you?

indeed. we have sent a letter indicating we would be like to be seen and accepted as a country in the process of accession to the european union. i don't believe that we are, in moldova, willing to accept a defeat. we have to defend ourselves, but some of the governmental circles would like to see that moldova is regarded as a country it might have an opinion but it would rather it doesn't do anything about it in terms of action, and it is exploited by russia to keep moldova silent and not to support ukraine in any other way. and i think that we have to think seriously in terms of how to defend the country, how to make citizens aware about the threats and how to increase support coming from

the west, to magnify, to expand our internal domestic apparatus to defend the country. if internal domestic apparatus to defend the country.— internal domestic apparatus to defend the country. if you were on track to become _ defend the country. if you were on track to become a _ defend the country. if you were on track to become a full— defend the country. if you were on track to become a full eu - defend the country. if you were on | track to become a full eu member, that would offer the country protection, you believe. yes, definitely- — protection, you believe. yes, definitely. your _ protection, you believe. yes, definitely. your opinion - protection, you believe. yes, definitely. your opinion is - protection, you believe. yes, definitely. your opinion is a l definitely. your opinion is a destination mostly welcomed by the citizens of moldova. we understand very well that this is not a short cut to our internal problems. we have to pass a long transition in order to become a fully fledged member of the european union, but we have to affirm our commitment, and our world to make sacrifices in order to be a part of the larger united european union. for the time being, however, we have to support ukraine in allareas being, however, we have to support ukraine in all areas which are necessary to the ukrainian state, first of all military support, this

is not exactly what moldova can provide, political support, we have to align ourselves to the sanctions, cutting off any ties with the companies and associated with the russian state, but also humanitarian support, and i have to say that we are providing shelter to more than 100 tonne —— 100,000 are providing shelter to more than 100 tonne ——100,000 ukrainian refugees at this point, more than 400,000 refugees fled from moldova, and i think we are having to increase this sort of humanitarian support to ukrainians and also expand the area where defending the country will be larger, and more serious. igor munteanu, former moldovan ambassador to the us, thank you very much for your time. a pleasure, thank you. campaigning has ended in france ahead of

what's expected to be a close run— off between president emmanuel macron, and his far—right rival, marine le pen, on sunday. 0pinion polls suggest emmanuel macron still has the upper hand — but his challenger could perform better than she did when the pair went head to head in 2017. we can cross now to just outside paris. my colleague david eades is in an area where it is interesting to look at what is going to happen in terms of both sides of the vote. this is la courneuve, eight kilometres from central paris, but it is 1 kilometres from central paris, but it is1 million miles from kilometres from central paris, but it is 1 million miles from the glamour of the champs—elysees and the arc de triomphe. this is a working town. and voters here, there is a large immigrant population but overwhelmingly their support went mad at you macron 0ti marine le pen. went to the left wing candidate, who

garnered 22% support across the country, 63% here, laurent melenchon. where votes go now could be important in terms of determining who is going to win and buy you much. the opinion polls are clear. macron is leading this race even if marine le pen is heading for a much better score than five years ago. let's have a look at the impact but the last couple of weeks have made in particular in the course of this campaign. on that, i am joined now by sylvie kauffmann, from the french newspaper le monde. how much change has been over the last couple of weeks and where will all these melenchon votes go? that is the bi all these melenchon votes go? t�*isgt is the big question, as you said. i don't think there has been many surprises since the first round except the big search for melenchon which was surprising. —— the big

surge for. but in those last two weeks when a macron went campaign in which he hadn't done, really, before the first round because he was so busy handling the ukraine crisis. so, he has, ithink, strengthened his lead in the polls are probably in two ways, by doing his best to the bank the new soft and moderate tone of marine le pen, and reminding voters of her views on europe and on russia and on vladimir putin, and also, in appealing to those voters who are meeting in la courneuve, i guess, we choose to vote for melenchon, and this support is going to be crucialfor him in this

run—off. it to be crucial for him in this run-off-— to be crucial for him in this run-off. , , ., run-off. it is interesting that melenchon _ run-off. it is interesting that melenchon has _ run-off. it is interesting that melenchon has said - run-off. it is interesting that melenchon has said though i run-off. it is interesting that| melenchon has said though it run-off. it is interesting that - melenchon has said though it for anything but marine le pen and one can understand why, but at the same time, his message is one of improving the living standards of so many french people, the people that marine le pen would call the forgotten ones, les 0ublies, and there is no clear determination as to where people should go. yes. there is no clear determination as to where people should go. yes, he knows that — to where people should go. yes, he knows that himself, _ to where people should go. yes, he knows that himself, as _ to where people should go. yes, he knows that himself, as a _ to where people should go. yes, he knows that himself, as a potential l knows that himself, as a potential prime minister, we have legislative elections in two months' time and in seven weeks' time after this presidential election. these elections are going to be very important because they will determine the majority which will govern with an ex—president, so melenchon missed the run—off by 1%,

so he was quite frustrated, and he hopes to be able to have a big win and those legislative elections and maybe to be part of a coalition or the next government. that is a tall order, but he wants to try to move, the left, the socialist party has collapsed in this first round of the presidential election, and he hopes to be the one to lead the new left in france. . ., to be the one to lead the new left in france. . . ., , ., in france. can i ask, he has a stron: in france. can i ask, he has a strong ecology _ in france. can i ask, he has a strong ecology messy - in france. can i ask, he has a strong ecology messy to - in france. can i ask, he has a strong ecology messy to sell| in france. can i ask, he has a l strong ecology messy to sell as well. it seems as if a manual macron has taken that on the last couple of weeks to try and learn some of the left—wing voters his way. that weeks to try and learn some of the left-wing voters his way.— left-wing voters his way. that is the main way. — left-wing voters his way. that is the main way, the _ left-wing voters his way. that is the main way, the main - left-wing voters his way. that is i the main way, the main argument left-wing voters his way. that is - the main way, the main argument of a manual macron to attract those voters who voted for melenchon and for the ecologist candidate. he has

made a big step towards fighting climate change in this last week. he has actually stolen one of the proposals of melenchon, he has committed to have a prime minister who will be in charge of the fight against climate change, and that programme will reverberate across the whole government, so that is a big commitment and, that is something he is really relying on to attract those voters. something he is really relying onto attract those voters.— attract those voters. just our last thought, fairly briefly if you can, | thought, fairly briefly if you can, what would be a success for marine le pen from the far right, on an assumption that the opinion polls are not far off the mark and that macron will win. flit are not far off the mark and that macron will win.— are not far off the mark and that macron will win. of course, if we rel on macron will win. of course, if we rely on the _ macron will win. of course, if we rely on the polls, _ macron will win. of course, if we rely on the polls, macron - macron will win. of course, if we rely on the polls, macron is - macron will win. of course, if we rely on the polls, macron is the l rely on the polls, macron is the clear frontrunner, rely on the polls, macron is the clearfrontrunner, but experience clear frontrunner, but experience has clearfrontrunner, but experience has taught us after tom, brexit, to

be very cautious about the opinion polls. but, —— aftertrump be very cautious about the opinion polls. but, —— after trump and brexit. success has been to lead a very effective campaign and to solidify her impression french electorate. 0ver solidify her impression french electorate. over the past two decades, the far right has been steadily progressing in france. that is, in itself, a sad achievement. thank you very much for your analysis, sylvie. it is interesting that almost the last word is a manual macron uttered in the course of campaigning, yesterday evening was to say, don't forget brexit, don't forget the election of donald trump, get out and vote. there was a real concern from his side of defence that the abstention figure could be quite high, and that is perhaps his greatest at this stage.

david, for the moment, thank you very much, david eades. 0ur correspondentjon kay is in portugal and has more on the developments in madeleine mccann's case. we assume that the portuguese authorities here are going to want to question this man, but how is that going to happen? will they want to travel to germany to interrogate him in the prison where he's already being held on unrelated offenses? or will they rely on the german police to do that for them? and how will the british police be involved? the metropolitan police have been involved in this wider investigation over the last few years. will they have questions that they want to ask? so we're still getting a sense of how that's going to work. and remember, the timing here is really important because in the next few days, it will be 15 years since madeleine mccann

was last seen on this beach, since she disappeared here in praia da luz. and 15 years is a really important point here in portugal. after then, it's really difficult for somebody to be made an official suspect, orarguido, in a case like this. so by doing this now, the portuguese authorities have more room in the weeks, months, maybe years going forwards, they have more options. madeleine's parents issued a statement last night. kate and gerry mccann, they said that they welcomed this development, that they saw it potentially as progress. but they know that the people can be made a suspect and then that can be withdrawn. it happened to them years ago. so they pointed out that this man has not been charged with anything. we know that previously he's denied any involvement. i think one of the most moving things they said in their statement is that even after all these years, they still have hope. they have hope that madeleine could still be alive. and they say that they hope in that case that one day

they might be reunited with her. jon kay. the prime minister returns from a trip to india this morning with his leadership under increasing strain. the trip has been overshadowed by the controversy over lockdown parties in downing street. 0ur politcal correspondent jonathan blake is with me in the studio. com news in the last while from downing street?— com news in the last while from downing street? downing street has confirmed the _ downing street? downing street has confirmed the prime _ downing street? downing street has confirmed the prime minister - downing street? downing street has confirmed the prime minister has . downing street? downing street has| confirmed the prime minister has not received a fine for, or received any further fines and fat, from the metropolitan police. no further fixed penalty notices at this point. he has already had one for the event in the cabinet room on the occasion of his birthday. but, amid reports ljy of his birthday. but, amid reports by itv news and others that the metropolitan police has begun issuing fines for the event in the downing street garden on the 20th of may 2020, you might remember that was an occasion where up to 100 or so staff were invited to what was described as a bring your own booze

drinks event, so far, no fine for the prime ministerfor drinks event, so far, no fine for the prime minister for that. drinks event, so far, no fine for the prime ministerfor that. it doesn't mean that others might not be the offering at some point but thatis be the offering at some point but that is number ten putting to bed any claims to the contrary at this point. this any claims to the contrary at this oint. a 1, , any claims to the contrary at this oint. a any claims to the contrary at this point. as boris johnson returns from that tri- to point. as boris johnson returns from that trip to india, _ point. as boris johnson returns from that trip to india, what _ point. as boris johnson returns from that trip to india, what is _ point. as boris johnson returns from that trip to india, what is the - point. as boris johnson returns from that trip to india, what is the lie - that trip to india, what is the lie of the land? some pretty, then conservatives have said they want to see him go. it is conservatives have said they want to see him go— see him go. it is tricky for the prime minister _ see him go. it is tricky for the prime minister at _ see him go. it is tricky for the prime minister at the - see him go. it is tricky for the | prime minister at the moment, see him go. it is tricky for the - prime minister at the moment, things are worse than when he went to india despite his attempts to shift the focus and reassert his authority as prime minister and talk about radios and the response to the war in ukraine. support among and the response to the war in ukraine. supportamong his and the response to the war in ukraine. support among his mps seems to be weakening, with a couple more in the last few days coming out and saying they think the prime minister should go and one prominent backbencher steve dave baker —— steve baker, telling the daily telegraph that he thinks the party will reap the whirlwind of the saga at the local elections in early may. you can keep up—to—date with all of the main use of the day on the bbc

news website, and you can get in touch with me on twitter, i am @annitabbc. lots of dry weather to come across the uk this weekend and on into the week ahead. the cows lying down here in ballymena in northern ireland. that used to be said to be a sign that rain is coming back very little chance here as it stands. these are the rainfall accumulations over the next seven days. the map behind shades and blue but we are down into very pale blue so that means at best a couple of millimetres were some parts of the uk. towards the west, nothing at all. why is it so dry? high pressure. this big high setting to the north of the uk. there is a low planning want you to the continent to the south, the isobars

fairly close together. that is why we are seeing a more easterly wind through the course of the weekend. there is a small chance of some showers across wales and the midlands and south—west of england through the afternoon, may be the odd one getting into yorkshire coming off the north sea coast. 0verall, coming off the north sea coast. overall, we are dominated by dry weather, that easterly wind keeps things feeling particularly cool along the length of the north sea coast was stop sunspots getting their higher than 12 celsius. sunshine further west, and temperatures of around 17 celsius. 0vernight saturday into sunday, the isobars opening up a little bit across scotland. the chance of patchy frost in eastern areas through the small hours. very little change in that weather picture on hold for sunday. if anything, perhaps, more in the way of sunshine on sunday for england and wales. the chance of a shower for the channel islands, for the south—west of england and elsewhere, it is looking dry. still some thick cloud sitting to the north of scotland. temperatures on sunday, still looking at highs of around 16—18

celsius. a change for the beginning of the week. the high pressure is not going anywhere but it is drifting further westwards, so we will see things travelling round to a more northerly direction after the easterly of the weekend and that perhaps as into arctic air. so the view through the coming seven days will be increasingly chilly, temperatures still with a bit of sunshine. not too bad overall, a shade down on where we are likely to be for this time of year, but gone is 17, 18 and we are looking at 14, 15 at best, and a lot of dry weather through the week ahead.

hello, this is bbc news. the headlines... the ukrainian government urges the un to do more to help bring those trapped inside the city of mariupol to safety. downing street confirms the prime minister has not received any further fines for breaking lockdown rules. campaigning has ended in the presidential election in france as emmanuel macron and his far right rival marine le pen urge people to turn out and vote tomorrow.

the parents of madeleine mccann welcome the news that a german man