and art in the shadow of war. the ukrainian entries at this year's venice biennale. hello and welcome to audiences in the uk and around the world. the united nations has described the war in ukraine, as a "horror story of violations against civilians" and says there's growing evidence war crimes may have been committed. it comes as us satellite images allegedly show a mass burial site, containing around 200 graves, near the besieged southern port city of mariupol, that russian forces have been trying to fully capture for several weeks. they do control most of the area, but hundreds of ukrainian troops are still hiding out in the sprawling azovstal steel plant. president putin has accused ukrainian leaders of refusing to allow their soldiers to surrender. our correspondent catherine byaruhanga has more from southern ukraine. a warning, her report contains some images viewers may find upsetting. haunting, apocalyptic scenes in mariupol. russia has bombarded this city into near submission. once home to about half a million people, thousands are believed to have been killed. emergency workers from russia are filmed here, retrieving the dead. moscow has repeatedly denied that its troops are responsible for the mass killings of civilians in ukraine, but mariupol�*s mayor says some of the worst war crimes have been committed there. translation: they | killed 20,000 people. they did it on purpose. this is what i think. they intentionally prevented people from leaving mariupol. they set this genocide up by closing the city down and using land artillery and air strikes first, and then the warships that arrived later. russian forces have been accused of hiding civilian bodies in mass graves. these satellite images show them appearing over the course of a month. the civilians have been buried in the village of manhush, outside mariupol, the southern city which has been besieged and encircled by russian forces for weeks. the last ukrainian troops in the city are holed up inside the azovstal steelworks, on mariupol�*s coast. 1000 civilians are still said to be in this sprawling industrial complex. on this missing persons wall, most of the faces and names that you can see are people from mariupol, and now, with the ongoing blockade and with communications cut off, it's almost a miracle for people to get out. these women escaped mariupol together on thursday — just a handful of people who made it through with a humanitarian convoy. a friendship born out of the horrors of this war. translation: people are risking their lives under fire. _ they have to because there is no running water, gas or electricity. there is a mosque in the prymorskyi district with a well nearby. a lot of people got killed there. they got caught up in shelling. they were just looking for water in the city. but they are safe now and able to rebuild their lives in new cities and countries. catherine byaruhanga, bbc news, zaporizhzhia. in another development, the un secretary general antonio guterres announced plans to travel to moscow on tuesday, for talks with president putin. he is also planning a separate meeting with ukraine's president zelensky. it comes as a russian general seemed to suggest a new battle plan, which would effectively cut ukraine off from its black sea coastline. it would see russian forces advancing towards a pro—moscow enclave in moldova. moldova has summoned the russian ambassador there to explain. our diplomatic correspondent, paul adams, has more on russia's strategy. the invasion was premised on a quick assault of the capital and the installation of a puppet regime. that engine work, so the focus shifted to the donbas, extending those areas held by pro—russian separatists and securing that land corridor. that's why mariupol is so important. but you still do get glimpses of wider ambitions. you had a russian generaljust wider ambitions. you had a russian general just today talking about southern ukraine, created an even longer court or to another area in moldova. i think given russia's setbacks, that seems like a rather distant prospect. if the assault goes well... for ukraine, just repelling russia's advances in the west is hurling new and heavier weaponry back to where we were on february the 24th. it would reap all —— it would involve taking a lot of territory. thanks to paul for that analysis. a lawyer for the russian opposition politician vladimir kara—murza says he has beenjailed. he was convicted of spreading false information about russia's military campaign in ukraine, under laws which were introduced after the invasion began. mr kara—murza has been added to a list of what the kremlin describes as �*foreign agents�*, and could face up to 15 years in prison when he is sentenced injune. 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. opinion 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. our paris correspondent, lucy williamson, reports. it's a bit late for tips on how to learn to punch on his opponent. after five divisive years in power, what emmanuel macron needs is to persuade voters who'd quite like to punch him to give him their vote instead. florentine and chloe are both teachers here in the suburbs of paris. they voted for mr macron last time. now, they've come to give him a hard time. le pen isjust...huge disaster, but macron is still a disaster, i think, for school and for public services in france. he's killing that, step—by—step. florentine says she'll abstain on sunday rather than vote for macron again. i'm still hesitating. i think if i do it, i might really get sickjust after. he's a good talker, he knows how to try to seduce people, but we're not stupid. chloe gets close enough to shout her question on teacher's pay. "do you think teachers are lazy?", she asks. through the scrum, macron grips her hand, and locks in her vote. translation: he gripped my hand and said, "we're going to do - "something about that, i promise" _ so, i will vote for him, - but i want something in return. there's a real choice on sunday about where france is heading. marine le pen is promising huge tax cuts and to "take back control". emmanuel macron wants a global nation, set on economic reform. divisions here are deepening with every election cycle and voters are now split between two radically different views of the world — with one candidate presenting herself as the spokeswoman of the people, and the other saying he's protecting france from her. dylan says he voted far—left in the first round of this election. on sunday, he's voting far—right. translation: it's not that i like the idea - of voting for marine le pen, but we have to choose between the two, and when you're choosing between cholera and the plague, you choose the lesser of two evils. at herfinal rally, here in arras, marine le pen said voters should choose her to block mr macron. both say the other is dangerous. both spark loyalty in their own fans and loathing in those of their rival. but most voters belong to neither camp, and in this battle over france's future, they're being asked to choose a side. lucy williamson, bbc news, paris. we will cover those results live on sunday night on bbc news. the uk and india have signed a new defence partnership, which includes cooperation on fighter jet technology. the agreement was made during as borisjohnson continues his visit to india, where he's been meeting his counterpart narendra modi. our political correspondent ben wright is travelling with the prime minister and sent this report from delhi the sun shone, the soldiers saluted and the ceremony never flagged. it was the red carpet treatment for boris johnson, who was here for talks with his indian counterpart, narendra modi. after yesterday's torrid day of political turmoil at home, mrjohnson seemed pleased to bask in the welcome. a joyful reception, i wouldn't get that necessarily anywhere in england. this is when the visit got down to business. it's 75 years since india gained independence from britain and both countries say a free trade deal can be signed this year to mark the moment. next week, we're telling our negotiators, get it done by diwali in october. they had a long discussion about ukraine. india has held a neutral position on russia's invasion and borisjohnson did not come here to jab or pressure, but mr modi did call for peace. translation: we emphasised on an immediate ceasefire - in ukraine, and on the use of dialogue and diplomacy for resolving issues. while borisjohnson later confirmed the uk intended to deepen its military commitment to the crisis. so, we're looking at sending tanks to poland. that's to allow warsaw to send its tanks to ukraine, and the prime minister also said british diplomats would soon be returning to the capital. i can announce today that we will very shortly, next week, reopen our embassy in ukraine's capital city. it's been a difficult couple of days for the prime minister, who's now facing an inquiry by mps into whether he misled parliament. you said there'll be a free trade agreement with india by diwali, but considering the number of party investigations going on back home, are you absolutely sure you'll still be prime minister then? ok, the second answer is yes, but... all trade agreements are tricky, to get to your point about trade, ben, and there will be tough asks of both sides, but i'm sure we can do it. boris johnson bristles at any mention of parties and the political problems he faces back at westminster. he is clearly irritated that it's taken the focus away from his efforts to deepen britain's ties with this surging economy. but it's where the party saga goes next that could determine boris johnson's future as he returns to domestic political strife. ben wright, bbc news, delhi. at least 33 people have been killed in a suicide bombing targeting a sufi religious gathering in the northern province of kunduz in afghanistan. more than a0 others were wounded by the explosion in the imam sahib area, which took place soon after friday prayers. two people are in a critical but stable condition after a gunman opened fire in an upmarket district of the us capital, washington. a third person was also wounded in the attack. police said they had searched the connecticut avenue neighbourhood for at least one suspect. no—one has been arrested and the motive's not yet known. stay with us on bbc news. still to come — we report from venice, where the war in ukraine is having a profound influence on the prestigious biennale art festival. nothing, it seemed, was too big to withstand the force of the tornado. the school sealed off, the bodies of the dead still inside. i bodies of the dead still inside. ., ., inside. i never thought that they would _ inside. i never thought that they would actually - inside. i never thought that they would actually got - inside. i never thought that - they would actually got through with it —— go through with it. one of the most successful singer—songwriters of all time, the american pop star prince, has died — the american pop star prince, has died at the age of 57.| has died at the age of 57. didn't has died at the age of 57. i didn't believe it, he wasjust here saturday. _ didn't believe it, he wasjust here saturday. for- didn't believe it, he was 'ust here saturdayi didn't believe it, he was 'ust here saturday. for millions of americans, the _ here saturday. for millions of americans, the death - here saturday. for millions of americans, the death of - here saturday. for millions of i americans, the death of richard nixon in a new york hospital has meant conflicting emotions. a national day of mourning sitting somehow uneasily with the abiding memories of the shame of watergate. liit the abiding memories of the shame of watergate.- shame of watergate. lift off from the space _ shame of watergate. lift off from the space shuttle - from the space shuttle discovery with the huddle space telescope. this is bbc news. i'm mark lobel. the latest headlines. the un describes the war in ukraine is a horror story of violations against civilians and says there's growing evidence of possible war crimes. toby fricker is a spokesperson for unicef — the united nations children fund. he told us about the deep and long—lasting impacts of the conflict on children, and calls for safe passages for the thousands of ukrainians seeking to flee places like mariupol. the un has been calling for this for a while, and everyone has, because what it means is that children and women who are trapped in areas of here the fighting can get out safely, but that's not happening —— heavy fighting. when people do come out, they are taking a massive risk to their own lives. i've met children in icu who couldn't get out of areas of heavy fighting. we continue to call for that because it's urgent. to call for that because it's uruent. ., ,.,, to call for that because it's uruent. ., ., , . ., urgent. you posted a picture of a ounu urgent. you posted a picture of a young girl— urgent. you posted a picture of a young girl called _ urgent. you posted a picture of a young girl called anya - urgent. you posted a picture of a young girl called anya who i a young girl called anya who used that has been in a basement for pretty much two months, the entirety of the conflict. she's now free to play, but can you share her story? play, but can you share her sto ? . �* , ~ story? that's right. we were in zaporizhzhia — story? that's right. we were in zaporizhzhia today _ story? that's right. we were in zaporizhzhia today and - story? that's right. we were in zaporizhzhia today and i - story? that's right. we were in zaporizhzhia today and i met . zaporizhzhia today and i met some families coming in from areas across the southeast. lena and sasha, her brother, had spent nearly two months in a basement and with little water, little food, little space to play, and a dark and damp environment. today, it was almost like the joy of the two of them just playing with some simple toys in a... was great to see. they finally had some peace in an area that's relatively much safer from where they came. but they shouldn't have to do that. children shouldn't have to hide in a basement for two months. it's horrific and the impact is long term in terms of their emotional well—being. find long term in terms of their emotional well- being. emotional well-being. and the stories we _ emotional well-being. and the stories we have _ emotional well-being. and the stories we have heard - emotional well-being. and the stories we have heard about i stories we have heard about what children have gone through, seeing relatives killed and dragged away, just unthinkable. do you find it better to treat children in the country if you have the supplies they are, or outside of ukraine's borders?- supplies they are, or outside of ukraine's borders? there are 2.8 of ukraine's borders? there are 2-8 million _ of ukraine's borders? there are 2.8 million children _ of ukraine's borders? there are 2.8 million children here - of ukraine's borders? there are 2.8 million children here who i 2.8 million children here who are displaced, and it's absolutely urgent that we reach them and provide the support they need. that means providing some normality, some childhood again. but it also means them being able to refer children if they need more specialised counselling to the right services, also reaching children who have fled ukraine. more than 2.2 million children are living outside ukraine. by making sure they access the services they need, but also give them some normality and childhood back. it give them some normality and childhood back.— childhood back. it sounds like the can childhood back. it sounds like they can get _ childhood back. it sounds like they can get some _ childhood back. it sounds like they can get some treatment | they can get some treatment within the country if it's better to do it there. absolutely. unicef is working with authorities across the country. there's absolutely the support here, and we can get it to them, but they first need to get out of the areas of heavy fighting. get out of the areas of heavy fi . htinu. get out of the areas of heavy fiuuhtin. ., ., , fighting. the united nations secretary-general _ fighting. the united nations secretary-general will - fighting. the united nations secretary-general will be i secretary—general will be visiting vladimir putin on tuesday. what do you hope you will achieve?— will achieve? everyone hopes there will _ will achieve? everyone hopes there will be _ will achieve? everyone hopes there will be peace. - will achieve? everyone hopes there will be peace. they - will achieve? everyone hopesl there will be peace. they hope there will be peace. they hope there will be a cease—fire and peace, and for children in ukraine, that's exactly what they need now.— ukraine, that's exactly what they need now. toby fricker, currently _ they need now. toby fricker, currently in _ they need now. toby fricker, currently in denny _ they need now. toby fricker, currently in denny pro, - they need now. toby fricker, j currently in denny pro, thank you forjoining us. —— in dnipro. the fugitive businessman carlos ghosn has told the bbc he would be happy to stand trial on charges of financial wrongdoing in order to clear his name ? but would prefer to do so in lebanon, where he now lives. mr ghosn, who fled japan while awaiting trial, is now the subject of an international arrest warrant issued by investigators in france. here's our business correspondent, theo leggett. he was the high—flying company boss who came crashing to earth. he once ruled over a car—making empire that included renault, nissan and mitsubishi, a man who once rubbed shoulders with presidents. but he was arrested injapan in 2018 and charged with serious financial crimes. a year later, he fled the country before his trial, hidden in this musical equipment box, and travelled to lebanon. he said he was escaping injustice. i did not escapejustice. i fled injustice. mr ghosn has always claimed he was the victim of an elaborate japanese conspiracy designed to derail a merger he was planning between nissan and his french partner, renault. but now it's officials in france who want him in custody. they've been investigating claims company money was misused to fund lavish personal spending. today, he protested his innocence once again. first, they're wrong. there was not one euro from nissan that ended up benefiting me, directly or indirectly — not one euro from renault, not one euro from nissan. but the chances of mr ghosn standing trial in france seem remote. at the moment, he's banned from leaving lebanon because of an interpol red notice issued byjapan. he says he would welcome the chance to fight the allegations against him. you've made it clear that you believe you're innocent of all the charges and claims that have been made against you. how confident are you that you could prove your innocence in a court of law? look, i'm totally confident about that. i am ready because it took me a couple of years to start to get all the documents that are necessary to my defence. now i have them, i have testimonies, we have people who are crucial witnesses who are free to talk. people are starting to talk. some documents are coming to me. i'm ready for it, yes, without any doubt. mr ghosn says any trial should take place in lebanon. he's confident he can prove his innocence if he ever appears in court, but the actions of the french investigators suggest they believe there is at least a case for him to answer. theo leggett, bbc news. the world's most powerful particle accelerator, the large hadron collider, has begun the process of restarting after three years of being shut down for improvements. scientists believe the machine, which smashes atoms together to discover what's inside them, will be able to detect new particles for the first time. they say the improvements on the ring which sits on the swiss—french border could forever change our understanding of the universe. it's the oldest and most prestigious exhibition in the western art world — the venice art biennale opens tomorrow. this year, it's happening against the backdrop of the war in ukraine. the ukrainian art works on display are taking on a special significance ? representing their nation at a time when it's under attack. our culture editor, katie razzall, met ukrainian and russian artists in venice. serene venice has been shaken by world events. first, its international art show was delayed a year by covid—19. now it's taking place in the shadow of war, all of which means unusually the art world is focused on ukraine. there's a new damien hirst for a show defending freedom. and works by maria pryachencko, who's a symbol of the country's national identity. it's about showcasing ukrainian culture. one artist depicts her husband and others who havejoined the army painted as reports of war crimes against civilians in the kyiv suburb bucha were revealed. i was even crying because of bucha. we were on the phone and i thought ironically connected because the painting connected to my tears. russia's pavilion is shut, the artist and curator behind this year's show pulled out when the invasion happened. the only thing to see was an anti—war protest by a russian artist. he was surrounded by supporters, and then swiftly by police. he's a voice of protest, but he does speak for many russian artists, and this russian pavilion is closed, and in a sense, those closed doors symbolised quite how isolated russia is. but some russian art is being shown, including tapestries by this woman. it's screaming, it's crying, all of my feelings is here. she opposes the war. we should stop it and every day, i want that it stops, but it's hard to face each day it's getting worse. the ukrainian pavilion is now centrestage in venice. the artist behind this work, called the fountain of exhaustion, says that it's important that his country is represented here because the russians are attacking notjust ukraine, but its culture. they want to level and demolish ukrainian culture because it- doesn't exist because it's part of russia. _ as they say openly, the war is a punishment for them i and those who don't want to go and understand this is only- part of russia, they have to be physically eliminated. - so, whether it's photographs of mothers who've lost sons in the conflict or a 17th—century icon, these works on show here now reflect the country, a culture that is fighting for its very survival. katie razzall, bbc news, venice. amazing how a voice can make such a profound impact. thanks for watching, goodbye. hello there. at this time of year, wind direction can have quite a significant impact on the weather story. west has been best for the last couple of days. in fact, there was nearly 1a hours of sunshine in argyle and butte, an absolutely glorious story here. just down the road in north wales, well, that was the highest temperature recorded in flintshire with 19 celsius. that's because we were sheltered from a fresh easterly wind coming in off a cool north sea. it dragged in a lot of cloud with it. most of the weather action over the last few days has certainly been across europe where we've seen some hideous weather, wet and windy at times across northern spain and portugal, and that's going to continue for the weekend. for us, though, there will be a lot of cloud, and it's been pushing in off the north sea, and the cloud thick enough for some coastal fog which will linger across the far northeast of scotland. but once again, western areas in scotland, northern ireland, northwest england seeing the best of any sunshine. the cloud will break up across england and wales, but we could see a rash of showers into south wales and southwest england as we go through the afternoon. yes, it's going to be another breezy day, so on exposed north sea coasts, it will be noticeably cooler. we're likely to see those temperatures perhaps peaking at around 12 or 13 degrees. but in western areas and maybe into the southeast, where we see that cloud break up and more sunshine coming through, 18 degrees, once again, is quite possible. so, there's that low pressure bringing yet more wet weather and significant snow across the alps in europe. at the same time, we're under this influence of high pressure, but there'll be plenty of isobars squeezed together, so a significant breeze yet again on sunday. that may well help to break up the cloud a little further on sunday, but it will continue to drag in a lot of low cloud and sea fog across the northern isles and far northeast of scotland. 9—11 degrees here, but with more sunshine and fewer showers, 18, once again, not out of the question. then, as we head into next week, the isobars will open up a little, but we contract that wind direction to more of a northeasterly, a cooler source if anything. so, yes, potentially lighter winds, but that's going to drag in a little more in the way of cool air in comparison to of late. so, we keep the theme dry to close out the month of april, but noticeably cooler than we've seen over the last couple of days. take care. this is bbc news — the headlines. the united nations has described the war in ukraine as a "horror story of violations against civilians" — and says there's growing evidence war crimes may have been committed. it comes as us satellite images allegedly show a mass burial site near the beseiged southern port city of mariupol. the united nations secretary—general is to travel to moscow for talks with president putin. antonio guterres will meet mr putin on tuesday. a ukrainian deputy prime minister has told the bbc only the un can save the lives of tens of thousands of people stuck in the city of mariupol. the french presidential election campaign has concluded