this is bbc news. welcome if you're watching here in the uk or around the globe. our top stories: voters in france cast their ballot in the final round of the country's presidential election. incumbent emmanuel macron is hoping for a second term in office. his challenger marine le pen seeks to replace him. we'll bring you the latest developments as the results come in. 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. japan says ten people have died off the northern island of hokkaido after a sightseeing boat went missing on saturday.

it's crunch time in france as emmanuel macron and marine le pen go head to head in the battle to become the nation's next president. polling stations will begin closing in exactly one hour from now in rural areas. those in major cities will stay open for an additional hour. first indications are that turn—out is slightly lower than in the 2017 presidential election. a few hours ago, turnout was put atjust over 63%, down two points on 2017. if emmanuel macron wins, he'll be the first french president to be re—elected to the elysee in two decades. for marine le pen, this is her third attempt at winning the presidency

and if she fails, it could potentially be her last. our europe correspondent nick beake has the latest on the presidential run—off from paris. emmanuel macron cast his ballot this morning, hoping to become the first french president to be re—elected in 20 years. but many voters believe he has failed to deliver on big promises during his first term. marine le pen also wants to make history by becoming the first french woman to be president. she has tried to present a softer image, but is accused of holding onto racist policies, including banning muslim women from wearing a headscarf in public. the french aren't exactly thrilled with what is on offer this election. the frustration we found at this market in paris tells a similar story across the country. just listen to patrik, a retired fireman and joel, an office worker. they will not be voting for anyone. translation: | am noti 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. sarah, who is reluctantly voting for macron, doesn't trust the polls that are suggesting 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 the day after and realised it had happened, and it could go the same way in france. a le pen presidency would notjust have an impact on communities across this country, it would also change france's position in the world. that's because she wants to replace the european union with something else and to pull out french troops

from the nato military command. these are radical ideas, particularly at a time when there is war in europe. both candidates have been trying desperately to sell themselves to the undecided millions, maybe not as their ideal choice, but as the best offer in front of them. let's go live now to our correspondent anna holligan, who is in the northern town of henin—beaumont, where marine le pen cast her vote earlier. i trust your drink is out of shot, anna! sadly, none of these drinks are mine. this is a place in a former mining community which recently switched from socialist to far—right. was speaking to some voters in a moment but first, here is a picture of what happened when marine le pen came to cast her

ballot. marine, marine! je t'aime! this is a flavour of the passion marine le pen evokes in her constituency. many people here are struggling with the rising cost of food and fuel and that they feel other politicians aren't aware orjust don't care. laura and yannik are both voting le pen. translation: food shopping, basic costs, even petrol- is becoming really expensive, so travel to work and for the kids' activities, it all costs a lot. and what do you think marine le pen will change for you? with her ideas, i think we'll have more to spend. we need a change, so it's now or never. we work, work, and in the end of the month, when you check your payslip, ah, you say, we should get more. i'm not sure if marine le pen can do

the job, but we could maybe let her have a chance, if i can say that? so, why not? arriving here, people were chanting, marine, we love you. she wasn'tjust kissing babies' heads, she was telling them she would protect them and that's what the people here in her heartland believe, that marine le pen has the potential to protect them and their futures. but even here, people are voting for emmanuel macron too. some people think he needs more time to deliver. others think marine le pen is simply too much of a risk. and even here, there are the same divisions as we are witnessing right across france. let's speak to some voters now. we have is with us

trials, julie and teddy. first, charles can you can you tell us who you voted for and why? four emmanuel macron, you voted for and why? four emmanuel macron. because _ you voted for and why? four emmanuel macron, because it _ you voted for and why? four emmanuel macron, because it was _ you voted for and why? four emmanuel macron, because it was a _ you voted for and why? four emmanuel macron, because it was a vote - macron, because it was a vote against marine le pen. five years ago, i was involved in the macron campaign but now, it has beenjust a decision to be clearly against the far right and to avoid to have a future dictator.— far right and to avoid to have a future dictator. julie, yours are vital macron, _ future dictator. julie, yours are vital macron, do _ future dictator. julie, yours are vital macron, do you _ future dictator. julie, yours are vital macron, do you fear - future dictator. julie, yours are vital macron, do you fear what | future dictator. julie, yours are i vital macron, do you fear what is future dictator. julie, yours are . vital macron, do you fear what is a le pen presidency would bring to your country?— le pen presidency would bring to our count ? , ., �* . , your country? yes, i don't want wish to live in a — your country? yes, i don't want wish to live in a country _ your country? yes, i don't want wish to live in a country that _ your country? yes, i don't want wish to live in a country that is _ your country? yes, i don't want wish to live in a country that is run - your country? yes, i don't want wish to live in a country that is run by - to live in a country that is run by extremists— to live in a country that is run by extremists and hates. i agree with the statements, it is also a vote

against — the statements, it is also a vote against other parties, because fro-one — against other parties, because no—one was there. against other parties, because no-one was there.— against other parties, because no-one was there. , ~ ., , ., no-one was there. teddy, i know you share itjulie's — no-one was there. teddy, i know you share it julie's sentiments, _ no-one was there. teddy, i know you share it julie's sentiments, you - share itjulie's sentiments, you tell me you voted macron but with a broken heart? i tell me you voted macron but with a broken heart?— tell me you voted macron but with a broken heart? i have always been at the far left. — broken heart? i have always been at the far left, politically _ broken heart? i have always been at the far left, politically speaking, - the far left, politically speaking, so when — the far left, politically speaking, so when it — the far left, politically speaking, so when it came _ the far left, politically speaking, so when it came about _ the far left, politically speaking, so when it came about what - the far left, politically speaking, i so when it came about what seem the far left, politically speaking, - so when it came about what seem to be the _ so when it came about what seem to be the choice — so when it came about what seem to be the choice between _ so when it came about what seem to be the choice between two _ so when it came about what seem toi be the choice between two far—right, i had be the choice between two far—right, i had to— be the choice between two far—right, i had to choose — be the choice between two far—right, i had to choose the _ be the choice between two far—right, i had to choose the least _ be the choice between two far—right, i had to choose the least violent - i had to choose the least violent one _ i had to choose the least violent one. unfortunately, _ i had to choose the least violent one. unfortunately, i— i had to choose the least violent one. unfortunately, i couldn't . i had to choose the least violent . one. unfortunately, i couldn't vote for the _ one. unfortunately, i couldn't vote for the eco—socialist _ one. unfortunately, i couldn't vote for the eco—socialist candidate - one. unfortunately, i couldn't vote for the eco—socialist candidate i. for the eco—socialist candidate i was hoping _ for the eco—socialist candidate i was hoping for~ _ for the eco-socialist candidate i was hoping for-— for the eco-socialist candidate i was hoping for. for the eco-socialist candidate i was hoinr for. . . ., ~' was hoping for. what do you think so man have was hoping for. what do you think so many have switched _ was hoping for. what do you think so many have switched from _ was hoping for. what do you think so many have switched from socialist i many have switched from socialist afar right here? does it worry you? because we are in a former industrial area, because we are in a former industrialarea, it because we are in a former industrial area, it was a mining area, it always felt like there was area, it always felt like there was a base in your country, and people moved to communism, then to the far right, and that was something

against against capitalism. and marine le pen it used this way of speaking about social, and she forgot to say that 20 years ago, her father was against jacques forgot to say that 20 years ago, her father was againstjacques chirac, and it wasjust father was againstjacques chirac, and it was just a far—right position against people who are arabian or coming from morocco or algeria, and a lot of them are here because we need them in the extraction mine at the beginning. and now, they wish to tell them, to send them back. it's gratis a! to send them back to the country, but they are french now. very briefly, julie, do you think president macron can be the president of all the people? has

been accused of being elitist and out of touch, do you think you can unite france at this time? i’m out of touch, do you think you can unite france at this time?- unite france at this time? i'm not sure, unite france at this time? i'm not sure. like — unite france at this time? i'm not sure. like i— unite france at this time? i'm not sure, like i said _ unite france at this time? i'm not sure, like i said before, _ unite france at this time? i'm not sure, like i said before, i- unite france at this time? i'm not sure, like i said before, i think. unite france at this time? i'm not| sure, like i said before, i think we sure, like i said before, ithink we are missing — sure, like i said before, ithink we are missing other people and yes, it's scary. — are missing other people and yes, it's scary, but i hope the next etection— it's scary, but i hope the next election in— it's scary, but i hope the next election in five years will have more — election in five years will have more choice.— more choice. there is a lot of expectation _ more choice. there is a lot of expectation and _ more choice. there is a lot of expectation and anticipation. more choice. there is a lot of- expectation and anticipation here, two hours to go until we get the results in and there are a lot of people who voted for marine le pen who feel this time she has done enough to soften her image and convince the mainstream that she is france's greatest hope. not long to go now, we will continue to cover the reaction as a results come in throughout the night. studio: thank you very much indeed. and we will have a special programme bringing you the result, join us for that as france decides. the us secretary of state antony

blinken is due to visit kyiv today. there are renewed calls for peace talks, with ukraine's president again asking to meet with vladimir putin. the united nations is also stepping up its efforts at diplomacy, with visits to moscow and kyiv this week. it's easter sunday in ukraine, with people reflecting on the war which today enters its third month, as danjohnson reports from lviv. vladimir putin may have been to church last night to mark the orthodox christian celebration but he won't convince ukrainians he's a man of peace. their easter is about a resurgent defence of their country. rising again in resistance to russian attacks. at least eight lives were lost yesterday when an apartment block was hit in 0desa. a three—month—old baby died here, the latest sacrifice in eight weeks of war.

the president's easter message was high on symbolism and heavy with condemnation. translation: our souls are full of fierce hatred for the invaders l and all that they have done. our hearts are full of fierce fury. don't let fury destroy us from within. most ukrainians won't be at home this weekend. families are scattered, and so many people are on the move. not many have made it out of mariupol, but the evacuation efforts continue. these are the more fortunate who have reached the relative safety of a temporary shelter. others will spend easter sunday trying to escape russian shelling. the us secretary of state is due to visit kyiv later, bringing goodwill and support. but the prayers across ukraine are for peace and for more of the weapons they say are needed

to protect it. with the latest from kyiv, here's our correspondent anna foster. i asked her about the supposed visit by the us delegation. it's rylan you sure we would hear about a visit like this before it happens, normally these things are conducted with the strictest of security, high—profile visitors are brought in, they have the meetings and they are often taken to various locations and it is always after the events we see the pictures and hear what they had to say, maybe a press conference is held. so the fact president zelensky announced this yesterday evening at that press conference he held in a metro station under the streets of kyiv was highly unusual. they were to be the highest profile visitors from the highest profile visitors from the us to actually come here to ukraine since the war began. president zelensky has been, as we

have heard, publicly been trying to convince president biden to come as well, that visit may be a little further down the line. but what president zelensky has been asking for comments he has been very open about this, is more weapons. is repeatedly asked for more weapons, where heavy duty weapons, more sophisticated, up—to—date weapons, which is what he says ukraine desperately needs if they are to continue to resist the russian advance in the east.— continue to resist the russian advance in the east. those weapons are coming — advance in the east. those weapons are coming in _ advance in the east. those weapons are coming in from _ advance in the east. those weapons are coming in from different - advance in the east. those weapons are coming in from different parts i are coming in from different parts of europe at the moment, it's interesting to see which countries are supplying real hardware on the grounds and others, like germany, which are not, and still caught up in internal debate there. a- in internal debate there. a you're riaht, in internal debate there. a you're right. that's _ in internal debate there. a you're right. that's a _ in internal debate there. a you're right, that's a source _ in internal debate there. a you're right, that's a source of - in internal debate there. a you're right, that's a source of great - right, that's a source of great debate in germany and around the world, in fact. what leaders are almost trying to outdo each other in what they're giving. we are seeing things coming in from different

countries, we heard from the ukjust few days ago they are going to send their old challenger tanks to poland and into ukraine. very dated, cold war era equipments, really, but what is crucial is the sort of thing that is crucial is the sort of thing that is coming in needs to be what ukrainian forces can actually use. some of them are out of the country, being trained to different places on how to use this more sophisticated equipments, but certainly, older equipments, but certainly, older equipment that they know they can get their hands on and use straightaway is vitally important. here in ukraine, all eyes are been on the front line this easter weekend, on places like mariupol, that 500 kilometres mark or so down the eastern part of the country through the donbas, where people have been attempting to celebrate what is a huge day in the ukrainian calendar, 0rthodox easter, and while people have been visiting this beautiful church behind me, not everyone everywhere can go to church today. some of them who are

defending the country have to mark this day a little differently. 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 vessel, which ran into trouble off a peninsula famous for its wildlife and dramatic coastline. 0ur asia pacific editor michael bristow reports. this is the boat that went missing while on a sightseeing trip. a camera appears to capture the vessel as it prepares to leave harbour. one by one, the passengers embark. the boat then gently pushes out to sea. all seemed calm. but one local tour operator warned them not to leave until it was clear it was clear that the conditions at sea would worsen. so i told them not to go, but they did anyway.

the vessel began taking on water near this scenic spot. he started to tilt, it's then thought to have sank. the temperature of the water in this part of northern japan was barely above freezing, making survival difficult. rescuers scoured the rugged coastline for the 26 on board the kazu one. they also searched from the air. some bodies were discovered at sea. others were washed up along the shore. the tourists were visiting one of japan's most pristine natural environments, a unesco world heritage site. they would have begun the day excited. investigators will now be asking why their captain didn't heed the warnings about the weather. nigeria's president muhammadu buhari has described the deadly explosion at an illegal oil refinery as a national disaster. officials say at least 109 people died in the blast in imo state late on friday. mr buhari has ordered the security forces to step up operations to close down illegal refineries in the southeast of the country. nigeria is estimated to lose around

200,000 barrels of crude oil a day to theft from pipelines owned by the major oil companies. corruption has undermined efforts to stop the oil theft. nigeria's president muhammadu buhari has described a british man detained in yemen without trial since 2017 has been released, the foreign secretary has confirmed. luke symons was 25 years old when he was arrested by houthis as a suspected spy. his family and friends have been campaigning tirelessly for his release. in a statement, foreign secretary liz truss said mr symons had been allegedly mistreated and refused visits from family. he has been flown to muscat and will soon be reunited with family in the uk. researchers in britain say they've uncovered a treasure trove of clues about what causes cancer, which could ultimately help diagnose and treat it more effectively. in the largest study of its kind in the uk, scientists analysed dna from thousands of nhs patients.

0ur science correspondent richard westcott has been to a hospital in cambridge to find out more. who have we got with us today? two—year—old aubrey has to do this every waking hour, coming in for chemotherapy to tackle her cancer. but there's something different about her treatment. normal tests could not pin down exactly what cancer she had. the answer lay in her dna. most cancer is caused by faults in your dna so by reading all of it, known as genomes, doctors can spot clues as to what is making you feel ill and how to tackle it. aubrey is one of more than 600 children across than 600 children across the east of england that have had their genomes read. fundamentally, the more aggressive

treatment will be able to give a treatment to cure aggressive tumors, and those less aggressive tumours, less aggressive treatment. the aim is to cure as many as we can with minimal side—effects so they can lead fulfilling lives with minimal side effects. finding out she had cancer in the first place was absolutely heartbreaking, but not knowing what type on how to move forward was a massive struggle as well. so, it was a sort of relief to know and then we thought they can treat her as best as they can now and get a treatment plan together that will work well together for her. paul, so they changed how they treated her, after finding out exactly what the cancer was? yes, different treatment plan, different timescales everything changed, depending on what you have got. the key thing you found out is that it is not inherited, in effect, so you knew your son would be ok? yes, definitely.

in a lab around the corner, theyjust analysed the genomics of 12,000 nhs cancer patients, the biggest study of its kind in the world, producing incredible results, spotting 58 new causes of the disease. the huge growth in dna technology is transforming modern medicine. right now, britain is leading the way in the research. how have you found the filming today, aubrey? grizzles. that about sums it up! the conservative mp caroline nokes, who chairs the commons women and equalities committee, has asked the speaker whether the mail 0n sunday's political editor should have his parliamentary pass revoked. in a story published today, glen 0wen quoted unnamed conservative mps as saying that labour's deputy leader angela rayner tries to put borisjohnson off his stride by crossing and uncrossing her legs during prime minister's questions. ms rayner has condemed the claims as vile lies,

while the prime minister said he deplored what he called the misogyny directed anonymously at her. the paper has declined to comment. for more on this, i'm joined now by political columnist for the i newspaper, kate maltby. what was your reaction when you saw this story today? as i say, boris johnson has condemned it, as has angela rayner. just a matter end there? �* ., , angela rayner. just a matter end there? 1, _., angela rayner. just a matter end there? boris johnson has condemned it but let's be — there? boris johnson has condemned it but let's be clear, _ there? boris johnson has condemned it but let's be clear, he _ there? boris johnson has condemned it but let's be clear, he condemned i it but let's be clear, he condemned it but let's be clear, he condemned it in reaction to an almost unprecedented, united call across the aisle from other politicians and journalists first. what i think is interesting here is that actually, we have seen a real culture of misogyny in westminster for a very long time, a lot of us have campaigned against it for a while comment in the past, thankfully, it

has attacks on women in this nature, viewers haven't seen it. this is an unpleasant attack on angela rayner which may still accuse her of trying to use her sexuality to distract the prime minister in the house of commons while she was doing her her job and he was doing hisjob. in the past, some of these attacks on women have been tacitly condoned by senior male opponents and indeed, this mail on sunday article that quotes tory mps, unnamed tory mps, is pushing this line in a way that a lot of those registered was actually pushed out by the tory party itself. so they factor boris johnson has out by the tory party itself. so they factor borisjohnson has now disassociated himself from it is, i think, important, it is a sign that change is a sign that changes happening but we don't let him off the hook entirely. i5 happening but we don't let him off the hook entirely.— the hook entirely. is this a westminster _ the hook entirely. is this a westminster problem - the hook entirely. is this a westminster problem or l the hook entirely. is this a | westminster problem or an the hook entirely. is this a - westminster problem or an issue the hook entirely. is this a _ westminster problem or an issue with what used to be known as fleet street? ~ , , . , , ,

street? well, sexism and misogyny is somethin: street? well, sexism and misogyny is something that _ street? well, sexism and misogyny is something that we _ street? well, sexism and misogyny is something that we all _ street? well, sexism and misogyny is something that we all experience, - something that we all experience, not just something that we all experience, notjust in westminster, notjust in fleet street, but around all walks of life. but i think there is something very particular about westminster and i think some of your viewers may feel that even their own workplaces there are things they can't say that used to be acceptable, they might think political correctness has gone too far, they might find it quite frustrating there is this new group of feminists and sometimes we might sound like we are about to jump on their next organ, but i have to say to those people, those of us who work within westminster, the reason we get so angry and the story has touched a nerve is that people are just sick and tired of a place that feels like a 70s throwback. and while the rest of the country has gone the other way and there has been this massive, progressive culture shift, westminster, you set footin culture shift, westminster, you set foot in it and it really is like a 70s throwback. that is reflected in

the political lobby, which is the group ofjournalists who work in westminster, who have offices in the parliamentary building, that is still heavily male, although not exclusively male group, and a lot of them are basically living and working in the same culture that fuels misogyny in westminster but it's not fair to say that is true for all the fleet street, i think. let's be clear, i think the mail on sunday has been a repeat offender. you started to section by talking about caroline nokes, who i respect enormously, suggesting that glen 0wen might not be a suitable person to have a parliamentary pass. i think that's actually not the right response. i am a journalist myself and i believe passionately in the freedom of expression ofjournalist, to have access to write what they want to write. i believe the right response from us as foreign minister nice is to write better than the

glen 0wens of the world, to do better. i glen owens of the world, to do better. . ,., , . ., glen owens of the world, to do better. . , . ., ., better. i am sorry, we are out of time, better. i am sorry, we are out of time. thank _ better. i am sorry, we are out of time, thank you _ better. i am sorry, we are out of time, thank you very _ better. i am sorry, we are out of time, thank you very much - better. i am sorry, we are out of i time, thank you very much indeed. l better. i am sorry, we are out of. time, thank you very much indeed. hello. for many it has been a fine weekend with long spells of sunshine, temperatures well above average as well, around 19 degrees in the bournemouth area of dorset and next door in poole, some kite surfers enjoying those brisk, northeasterly winds. it has not been like that everywhere this weekend. through sunday afternoon, low cloud within its northern areas of scotland and temperatures limited to just seven celsius through the afternoon around coastal areas. and afternoon around coastal areas. and a lot more that cloud of stream, waiting to sink southwards, so the weather is set to turn about the cloudier and cooler over the coming days. during this evening and overnight, we are looking at a largely dry night with clear spells coming and going. that cloud across

the north of scotland thickening with mist patches and drizzle over night with clear spells coming and going. that cloud across the north of scotland thickening with mist patches and drizzle overnight as well. temperatures up to seven celsius, so similar to recent nights. tomorrow, change of the weather picture, most of us starting on a sunny note however, cloud bubbling up through the morning and come the afternoon, showers breaking out, mostly across central and eastern england though a few kick one saucy southeast with hail rick stein and the winds are still coming in from the northeast, those rains travelling across the cool waters of the north sea, hence the lower temperatures along the east coast. the warmest weather is in wales and southwest england, with temperatures up southwest england, with temperatures up to 17 in the warmest areas. 0therwise, feeling a tad cooler. tuesday, the cloud will get pulled down through the north sea and then move inland, so tuesday promises to be a much cloudier day and through the morning, even the odd spit of drizzle. cooler again,

the morning, even the odd spit of drizzle. cooleragain, up to 11 the morning, even the odd spit of drizzle. cooler again, up to 11 and eastern areas, across the south and west, we will see the highest temperatures, up to 17. wagon status must a carbon copy repeats. again, you can see the extent of the cloud, any limited sunshine will be most abundant across western areas of the country and again, temperatures easing down a notch or so. later in the week, through thursday and friday, we will keep a fair bit of cloud, the best of the sunshine across western areas but it will stay largely dry. into the weekend, we will start to see rain and cooler weather moving in.