this is bbc news, broadcasting in the uk and around the globe. i'm david eades — live in clichy — northwest of paris. our top stories... the french make theirfinal choice for president with emmanuel macron well ahead of his far right challenger in the opinion polls. both candidates have urged people to get out and vote amid concerns of a record low turnout. hello, i'mjoanna gosling in london. also on the programme: as russia's war on ukraine enters its third month, us secretary of state antony blinken is expected in kyiv, the first top us offical to visit since the invasion. emergency workers say, 10 people have died in northern japan, after a sightseeing boat went missing on saturday.

and british boxer tyson fury retains his wbc heavyweight title after beating dillian whyte at wembley stadium. good morning from clichy in the northwestern suburbs of the french capital, paris. i want to throw you up to the north of france, where marine le pen is. this is one of marine le pen�*s heartlands in the north—east of france. she has been kissing babies

and greeting crowds and i have been speaking to some of the voters who think she is their greatest hope of change. they talk about not being able to fill their tanks and putting food on their tables and they fear another five years of emmanuel macron will mean more at the same and that is why they are prepared to vote for this woman. many are saying they are not concerned about our immigration policies and on the eu which would mean a more fractured continent. what they are concerned about is the cost of living which many people here cannot afford any more. ., , ., many people here cannot afford any more. , ., , ., ., more. the opinion polls are not favourable _ more. the opinion polls are not favourable for _ more. the opinion polls are not favourable for her. _ more. the opinion polls are not favourable for her. a _ more. the opinion polls are not favourable for her. a few - more. the opinion polls are not favourable for her. a few days i more. the opinion polls are not i favourable for her. a few days ago her team were talking about her being very serene and having the wind in her sales, the sense that victory was in their grasp, but given where she is, that is the overriding pet message they are trying to pump out at the moment?

absolutely. marine le pen has never been closer to the presidency. she is behind emmanuel macron in the polls but the chances are not beyond the realms of success, of possibility and that is what people are pinning their hopes on. she has been talking about things like reducing the retirement age, increasing the minimum wage, thinks people will feel in their pockets, but on the other side she talked about the eu, she has softened her stance on so many issues and softening her own image. she has had something of a makeover, and so has been learning about how to breed cats during lockdown and being a single mother. this is where it will matter in the heartlands, 22% voted for the third place candidate, they might need to win those supporters and here, this used to be a socialist area. they have switched

to the far right and that is what marine le pen and her team are hoping the rest of the country and enough of the people here in france will do in their votes to help her win in the country. i5 will do in their votes to help her win in the country.— win in the country. is there a discussion — win in the country. is there a discussion on _ win in the country. is there a discussion on a _ win in the country. is there a discussion on a more - win in the country. is there a discussion on a more private| win in the country. is there a - discussion on a more private level of what would be regarded as a successful vote even if she were not to win? �* . ., , successful vote even if she were not to win? a . , ., ., ., .,~ to win? actually, i am going to take ou to win? actually, i am going to take you further— to win? actually, i am going to take you further in _ to win? actually, i am going to take you further in to _ to win? actually, i am going to take you further in to see _ to win? actually, i am going to take you further in to see if— to win? actually, i am going to take you further in to see if we _ to win? actually, i am going to take you further in to see if we can - to win? actually, i am going to take you further in to see if we can get . you further in to see if we can get closer. she has been speaking to people that i have mental she is not like to say anything under french rule. —— i have been told. covid, if he wins, will be entitled to another five years. —— emmanuel macron. what happens after that. she has said before this will be her last run, but she is a force here. now that

president macron has swept up the whole of the middle ground, the country is deeply fractured so whoever takes power here in france will be tasked with trying to bring together this nation, many of whom who are voting for this woman haney. a few years ago for the mainstream, this may have been inconceivable, she wants to ban the headscarf, limit immigration and give more powers to the working classes of france and many in the people in the past two might have found oval for marine le pen impossible —— a vote, thinking it is possible. i am trying to get closer, she is making sure everyone who is going to vote in here is getting a selfie. she has been mixing with their families whom we have been speaking to hussain macron is out of touch, he is

elitist, he does not represent them and although he promised change five years ago, they feel as though they have been left behind, they are disillusioned and disenfranchised. they were expecting a lot of blank votes, not obviously here in this area, where all of these people are planning to vote for merlene le pen —— marine le pen. she has a baby nr harmsjust now. there is —— marine le pen. she has a baby nr harms just now. there is the round of applause. —— harms just now. there is the round ofapplause. —— in harms just now. there is the round of applause. —— in her arms now. you can see who they believe in. everything that we see and we hear and it chimes to the message you have been giving as about the softening of marine le pen, she has become a much more plausible candidate to far more people, as simple as that.— candidate to far more people, as simple as that. precisely. this used to be a mining _ simple as that. precisely. this used to be a mining community- simple as that. precisely. this used to be a mining community and - simple as that. precisely. this used | to be a mining community and many simple as that. precisely. this used i to be a mining community and many of the people we have been speaking to

have been talking about their grandparents working in the mines, they have been working as mechanics one group of young people told us and they cannot get work any more. this is a relatively isolated community and have to drive a distance to get to places where they need to be for work and they cannot afford to put petrol in their tanks any more. petrol has gone up in price by 40% and that is the issue that has dominated the campaign, the cost of living. while we saw president macron in russia talking to president clinton, that is also something that has concerned mainstream voters here in france. —— president vladimir putin. her links with their russian president has caused her some concerns. the main issues have been on the price of food and fuel and how much these people believe that marine le pen

can fix those issues, but of course the repercussions for a vote for marine le pen will be felt well beyond france and well beyond this community, right across europe and the world because her position on nato is different. she has talked about if she wins the presidency, she wants a reconcile near —— reconciliation. macron has adopted a different position on nato. france is a founding member of the eu, once a more united europe whilst marine le pen has talking about empowering french people, taking more control back from france and people are pointing at the polls and saying she is so far off, it will not happen, people are talking here about exit and the victory of donald trump and many of the issues that existed there, the distal measurement in the sense of being left behind by these immune communities ——

disillusionment. it immune communities -- disillusionment.- immune communities -- disillusionment. , , disillusionment. it is interesting to feel that _ disillusionment. it is interesting to feel that fervour _ disillusionment. it is interesting to feel that fervour around - disillusionment. it is interesting to feel that fervour around a - to feel that fervour around a candidate at a time when there has so much talk about what is the point of voting. it has been a rather depressed mood across much of france over the past couple of weeks building up to the election itself. emmanuel macron, he will be voting in the same neck of the words a little bit later. we will be keeping our eyes across that. if i bring you back here, we are north—west of paris. i have to say, marine le pen's chances of any great success in that polling booth are slim. in the first round she knocked up 7% of the first round she knocked up 7% of the vote here. emmanuel macron getting over 28% and it was the left candidate who scored most highly getting into the high 40s of support. a lot of vote available here for both of those candidates and they need them. and they are

worried about people turning up. worth pointing out, this is the start of the easter holidays in paris, what would you do, come and vote on a sunday or would you have pushed off on your holiday on friday? it is an important issue and both candidates are aware of it. let's can —— i catch up with it with the european can —— correspondent. the french aren't exactly thrilled with what is on offer this election. the frustration we found at this market in the capital is the same story across the country, just listen to this woman an office worker and patrick, a retired fireman. they will not be voting for anyone. translation: | am notj going to vote for marine because i hate the far right. but macron is not that different. he is president of the rich — arrogant, contemptuous. translation: i do not hate marine, she has got better, she's _

calmer, more mature. her speech is more poised but i do not agree with her on the more sensitive policies. another demonstration this weekend — street protests have been a running theme in macron's time in office. the economy is growing, but millions say they feel poorer. marine le pen has seized on this and has also won support by presenting a softer image but still has controversial policies, including banning muslim women wearing a headscarf in public. sarah, who is reluctantly voting for macron, does not trust the polls that suggests le pen will lose. i am still worried because i used . to believe brexit would not happen, i used to believe trump| would never be elected. and each time i got up. in the morning just after, and i realised it had - happened and it could go the same way in france. a le pen presidency wouldn'tjust have an impact on communities across this country,

but would also change france's place in the world — that is because she wants to replace the european union with something else and to pull out french troops from nato's military commands. these are radical proposals at a time when there is war in europe. and marine le pen has been under fire to explain her previous admiration for vladimir putin, including this visit to the kremlin five years ago. both candidates have been desperately trying to sell themselves to the undecided millions, maybe not as their ideal choice, but the best offer in front of them. nick beake, bbc news, paris. one of the issues was issue of the planet and climate change. i'm joined now by cecile

marchand who is a climate activist for alternatiba paris. iam i am interested to know if you feel encouraged at all by the fact that issues of climate have taken a bit more of a central role in the second phase of the selection? i more of a central role in the second phase of the selection?— phase of the selection? i would not sa i feel phase of the selection? i would not say i feel encouraged, _ phase of the selection? i would not say i feel encouraged, there - phase of the selection? i would not say i feel encouraged, there is - phase of the selection? i would not say i feel encouraged, there is an l say i feel encouraged, there is an urgency and the topic has not been present in the campaign overall. it has been addressed in the debate but what we face today is we have a very difficult choice to make between climate denial lists, marine le pen, who wants to dismantle the little progress we have made and a climate lyre, emmanuel macron.— lyre, emmanuel macron. those are stronu lyre, emmanuel macron. those are strong caricatures. _ lyre, emmanuel macron. those are strong caricatures. le _ lyre, emmanuel macron. those are strong caricatures. le pen - lyre, emmanuel macron. those are strong caricatures. le pen has - lyre, emmanuel macron. those are strong caricatures. le pen has notl strong caricatures. le pen has not

denied recently, nonetheless i recognise she wants to dismantle wind turbines which i am sure you find very difficult to swallow. president macron is residing over our government that has... what is he doing wrong? our government that has. .. what is he doing wrong?— our government that has... what is he doing wrong? there is a huge gap between what _ he doing wrong? there is a huge gap between what he _ he doing wrong? there is a huge gap between what he says _ he doing wrong? there is a huge gap between what he says and _ he doing wrong? there is a huge gap between what he says and what - he doing wrong? there is a huge gap between what he says and what he . between what he says and what he actually does and the reality in france is that this woman has been contained twice for climate inaction. he has not helped france to be on track again. every time there is a decision to make, macron prefers the profits than the people on the planet. fine prefers the profits than the people on the planet-— prefers the profits than the people on the planet. one of the measures he has taken _ on the planet. one of the measures he has taken in _ on the planet. one of the measures he has taken in the _ on the planet. one of the measures he has taken in the last _ on the planet. one of the measures he has taken in the last few - on the planet. one of the measures he has taken in the last few weeks l he has taken in the last few weeks is to reduce the cost of gasoline and diesel and put a cap on prices

forfuel in people's and diesel and put a cap on prices for fuel in people's comes because it is an economic necessity. how do you square that circle? i it is an economic necessity. how do you square that circle?— you square that circle? i was not talkin: you square that circle? i was not talking about — you square that circle? i was not talking about that _ you square that circle? i was not talking about that specific - talking about that specific decision, i recognise it as an economic necessity and at that time we are not going to get rid of it. we are macron has failed is taking the structural measures he needed to take before to reduce our fuel dependency. he has refused to ban domestic flying, refused to put a measure to ban the sale of very highly omitting cars. these sort of measures, we knew we needed to anticipate and he refused to anticipate and he refused to anticipate it and today we are in a situation where we have to subsidise things again. you situation where we have to subsidise things again-— things again. you are part of this international _ things again. you are part of this international extension - things again. you are part of this international extension rebellion | international extension rebellion action, —— extinction. you took

portraits out at places like the one behind as. isn't the point for you that that is because you don't really have a strong candidate to support you in terms of ecology and climate in france at the moment? it is not true, the political ecology was at at the gates of several rents for the presidential elections, so it is an important topic for people. it is an important topic for people to vote, more important than five years ago. it is not true to say we do not have a candidate to represent as. we need to block off the far right, it is one thing we are clear about it, but it does not mean that... you ever get selected today, that... you ever get selected today, that person will have to deal with a strong climate movement on the streets. pl. strong climate movement on the streets. �* . . , strong climate movement on the streets. �* . . .,

streets. a clear message coming from one climate activist. _ streets. a clear message coming from one climate activist. one _ streets. a clear message coming from one climate activist. one of— streets. a clear message coming from one climate activist. one of the - one climate activist. one of the many issues people having to work out and deal with. for most people it is a case of who is the devil you like least that you are going to have in the lec palace, it is a difficult time to vote. a lot of people holding their noses as they come into the polls. still that anxiety about the potential for a high number deciding frankly in this case are not to vote at all. the polls will close at seven o'clock local time in paris. back to you, joanna. as russia's war on ukraine enters its third month, the us secretary of state antony blinken and defence secretary lloyd austin are due in kyiv on sunday, the first top us officials to visit since the invasion. their trip's been announced by president volodymyr zelensky, though not confirmed by washington. it comes after a russian missile strike on a residential block in the black sea port city of odesa killed at least eight people on saturday. vincent mcaviney reports.

thick black smoke cutting through the calm of a saturday afternoon in odesa. this was the aftermath of a missile strike on the city. homes collapsed into one another, cars crashed and burned by blown out rubble and glass. through the debris, firefighters led those who could still walk to safety. others were not so lucky. yuri, who lived in the building posted these images of his wife and three—month—old daughter who were both killed in the attack. the ukrainian authorities have said the missiles were fired from the caspian sea — two hit military facilities with another two hitting residential buildings. translation: first we heard | explosions somewhere far away and then next there was a very loud explosion next to us. all the windows were smashed in my apartment and my parents�* apartment.

i instantly smelt smoke, a very strong smell, and we gathered all we could and ran, ran from the 12th floor. at a press conference in one of kyiv�*s metro stations which has doubled as a bomb shelter for the past eight weeks, residents are lenski could barely containhis anger. a three—month—old child was killed he says, one—month—old when it started. can you imagine what is going on, filthy scumbags, how else can they be called? there are no other word. president zelensky revealed anthony blinken along with the us defence secretary lloyd austoin. defence secretary lloyd austin will visit ukraine today, the most senior officials to visit since the war began. odesa sits on the southern coast. while much of the fighting has focused on the east of the country, this city started to reduce its curfew and remove some of its street defences. it has come as a shock to residents who have experience relative calm over recent weeks, prompting them to hope

that the worst was behind them. but saturday's attack shows russia's aggression is still discriminant and random — part of putin's calculation to try and wear ukrainians down by keeping them in constant fear. last night, while the russian president was at a service for orthodox easter, president zelensky called for a direct meeting with him to bring this war to an end. peace talks have not taken place for several weeks and vladimir putin seems in no mood to repent for his aggressive invasion over the past 60 days. but with no sign of the west easing its support for ukraine, might he be ready to resurrect those peace talks? vincent mcaviney, bbc news. japan says the bodies of ten people have been recovered, after their sightseeing boat sank off the northern island of hokkaido. the search continues for the other passengers — a total of 26 were on board. the authorities lost contact with the "kazu one" on saturday, after the crew reported that it had begun sinking. with me is our asia pacific

editor, michael bristow. what is the latest on the search effort? . ., , , . what is the latest on the search effort? _,, , . , what is the latest on the search effort? , , . , . effort? helicopters and boats are still out there _ effort? helicopters and boats are still out there looking _ effort? helicopters and boats are still out there looking for - effort? helicopters and boats are still out there looking for the - still out there looking for the other 17 people, 16 people have not been found, but hopes are fading that they will be found alive. this boat sank on saturday afternoon, it is a full day since it went to the sea and that area of japan, is very cold area, above freezing at this time of year. a chance of finding those people alive are very slim that the authorities are still looking to try and find them, the bodies at the very least. what looking to try and find them, the bodies at the very least.- bodies at the very least. what is the area like? _ bodies at the very least. what is the area like? the _ bodies at the very least. what is the area like? the tourists - bodies at the very least. what is the area like? the tourists were| bodies at the very least. what is i the area like? the tourists were on a cruise in — the area like? the tourists were on a cruise in an _ the area like? the tourists were on a cruise in an area _ the area like? the tourists were on a cruise in an area which _ the area like? the tourists were on a cruise in an area which is - the area like? the tourists were on a cruise in an area which is right i a cruise in an area which is right at the northern entry of japan, quite cut off from the rest of the country and it seemed in pristine

condition, a unesco world heritage site, its birds and sea life there and that is why people go and have a look. even in winter when the sea around there is a spined and a slow into spring, people like to go there and see this natural environment and thatis and see this natural environment and that is what is drawn tourists to the area now. in this particular accident, it seems the weather wasn't particularly good, winds and local fishing wasn't particularly good, winds and localfishing boats had come to show at a time when this tourist boat was out in the water. so perhaps in the coming days there will be questions asked about why this boat was going out there if the weather was bad. presumably too early to say what caused it? ., ., . , . ., caused it? too early at the moment. the communication _ caused it? too early at the moment. the communication from _ caused it? too early at the moment. the communication from the - caused it? too early at the moment. the communication from the boat i the communication from the boat about saturday lunchtime was it was taking on water, a couple of hours later it said it was tilting badly

about 30 degrees and then no more. the presumption is it sunk in high waves and that is a case of trying to find the bodies of the people who were on board that vessel, two crew members and 2a passengers, two children included in that. so members and 24 passengers, two children included in that.- children included in that. so the search goes _ children included in that. so the search goes on _ children included in that. so the search goes on for— children included in that. so the search goes on for them. i children included in that. so the search goes on for them. thankj children included in that. so the i search goes on for them. thank you, michael. let's look at some of the day's other news: at least six migrants including one child have drowned off the coast of lebanon. they were in a boat when it capsized near the port of tripoli. nearly 60 people are believed to have been on board the boat — including both lebanese and syrian citizens. more than 45 people have been rescued. slovenians are voting in a parliamentary election, with the prime minister, janezjansa, and his right—wing sds party hoping to form a government for the fourth time. he's facing strong opposition from robert golob, the leader of the green, centre—left freedom movement. opponents of mrjansa accuse him of populism and xenophobia. shanghai has reported a total of 39

covid deaths for saturday — shanghai has reported a total of 99 covid deaths for saturday — easily its highest daily figure since a strict lockdown was imposed in the city four weeks ago. china's financial capital is now battling china's biggest coronavirus outbreak to date. it's been tightening its rules, recently evacuating many people while their homes were disinfected. tyson fury has retained his title as wbc heavyweight champion, after beating dillian whyte in front of 94,000 people at wembley stadium. fury knocked out whyte in the 6th round of the bout. afterwards he again vowed to retire from the sport. iam going i am going to go home with my wife and kids, spent a lot of time on the road, i have been a long time and fulfilled everything i wanted to fulfil. i am going to retire undefeated. two—time ring

magazine... it has not been in my area. all roads lead to the gypsy king and i was unbeatable in this game. i will not rule out exhibitions for sure. you know, i want to have fun. entertain, it is what i do best. i am a legend in this game and you cannot deny it. i am the best heavyweight there has ever been, there has not been when that could beat me. do you know why? i am not beenjust that could beat me. do you know why? i am not been just confident. six foot mainframe. can move like a middleweight and hit like a thunderstorm and can take a punch like anybody else. don't forget you can stay up to date any time on the bbc website and you can get in touch with me on twitter. thank you for your company stop.

hello. a lot of dry weather to come across the uk for the remainder of today and well on into the week ahead as well. very scant amounts of rainfall to come through the remainder of april. today the winds are a little lighter than they were on saturday, but still quite blustery. and they'll be easterly or north easterly winds, quite a big area of low pressure sits to the south of us, sinking into europe. this big high to the north across iceland, though, is what's bringing us predominantly dry weather this sunday. some showers just to clear the south west of england through the afternoon. and we could see one or two for northern england, the midlands, southern scotland and northern ireland through the afternoon, but they will be very, very scattered. always cooler along the north sea coast with the wind off the sea, some shelter towards the west. we could be looking at highs

of 17 or 18 degrees. through the evening and overnight, a few more showers maybe for the north east of england. overall, though, a lot of dry weather, a bit more cloud for eastern scotland in the nightjust gone. i think it will be a little milder here for first thing on monday, essentially a frost—free start to the new week. a few areas getting down the lower end of single figures in terms of temperatures. now, for monday, our high pressure centre just shifts a little bit further westwards. that swings our wind direction round to somewhat more of a northeasterly. and it also kind of weakens the effect of the high, if you like. so monday, after a fine start, i anticipate there'll be more cloud bubbling up through the day and a greater chance of that cloud towering high enough come the afternoon to squeeze out a few showers. they will be fairly well scattered again though across the uk, but a greater chance of many areas seeing them through monday, although eastern coastal counties looks set to remain dry monday into tuesday, the high pressure still with us, as i said, it's going to stay very much with us through the rest of the week. but we switch to a more

northerly wind direction, tapping into arctic air. and it also looks like we'll pull in more cloud initially from the north sea, but it'll spread quite a way westward. so much more overcast skies on tuesday and a cooler feel thanks to the arctic air. temperatures still making it into the mid teens in the best of the sunshine, butjust nine or ten along the length of the north sea coast and then the remainder of the week, it looks like we will tend to stay in arctic air with a northerly airstream. still a lot of dry weather to come. there will be some sunny spells, just look out for some local pockets of frost later in the week.

this is bbc news. i'm joanna gosling. the headlines: voters in france head to the polls to decide their next leader in the final round of the country's presidential election. as russia's war on ukraine enters its third month, us secretary of state antony blinken is expected in kyiv, the first top us offical to visit since the invasion. it comes as eight people, including a baby, were killed in a russian missile strike at the sea port city of odesa. emergency workers say ten people have died in northern japan after a sightseeing boat went missing on saturday. and british boxer tyson fury retains his wbc heavyweight title after beating dillian whyte at wembley stadium.