Its crunch time in france, as the centrist Emmanuel Macron and far right candidate Marine Le Pen go head to head in the battle to become the nations next president. Polling stations in rural areas have just closed, those in major cities, including the capital paris, stay open for an additional hour. First indications are that turnout is slightly lower than in the 2017 president ial election. A few hours ago, turnout was put atjust over 63 , down two points on 2017. If Emmanuel Macron wins, hell 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. This report from our paris correspondent, lucy williamson. The candidates say this election is about democracy, even civilisation. Many voters say they are being offered a choice between cholera and the plague. Marine le pen� s promise to slash immigration and taxes and ban the Muslim Headscarf in public, or Emmanuel Macron� s plan to strengthen the European Union and make the french work more. Except many people here are not voting for a candidate, they are voting against one. I dont vote for Marine Le Pen, i vote against macron and its a problem in this country now. The people dont want Marine Le Pen and they dont want macron, so what do we do . The friends of Marine Le Pen may be fascist, i dont know, but now i dont want macron. But there are plenty here today who are voting to block Marine Le Pen. One woman told me it wasnt really a choice between cholera and the plague but between cholera and the flu. For me macron is like a particular opponent may be that is not an enemy. Whereas really i think she is outside democracy for me. If Marine Le Pen becomes president , it will be a shame for me to be french. French politics used to be criticised as bland, not any more. It is hard to imagine two more contrasting visions of the country in europe, on nato, on immigration, the economy, french identity. Whoever wins this election, it is unlikely to heal the divisions in france. Some say in this election, it is impossible to pick a side. More than a quarter of voters are expecting to abstain today. The first round, i did vote because i agreed with some candidates that had good ideas. But the second round, i am not because it is not representing me, so that is why i am not voting. The stakes may be high in this election but whether On Basketball Courts or in polling stations, many french people today are not so much electing a president as rejecting one. And lucy is at macron� s headquarters in paris. She says his campaigns confidence over victory has grown. I think they are a bit more confident than they were a couple of weeks ago. As you say, the polls are shifted in their favour since then but not quite enough for mr macron to be at all blase. More than 10 of voters, even a couple days ago, we think they havent decided who to vote for, and if you listen to Emmanuel Macron towards the end of the campaign, he was telling voters to come and vote, the battle isnt won. Even if he doesnt win, polls of all predicted that Marine Le Pen is going to do better this time the last time if that is true, mr macron will have lost already in one very important way. Said five years ago, he said he wanted to remove the reasons for people to vote for the far right. If the polls are correct, he might have added to there. And our europe editor katya adler is at le pen� s headquarters in paris, and explains what is at stake for her party. There is rising tensions here are Marine Le Pen� s headquarters in paris, and this is such a tense election because there is so much at stake. Two very different visions for france, at home and abroad, as we heard from lucy there. So, emotions are extremely high tonight, shot win for Marine Le Pen it wouldntjust shot win for Marine Le Pen it wouldnt just shock a lot of shot win for Marine Le Pen it wouldntjust shock a lot of french people tonight, particularly brussels, Marine Le Pen is a well known eurosceptic. President love penn could be seen as an existential threat to brussels. Thatjog could be reflected in the International Financial markets, affecting the euro currency. But suppressing win for Marine Le Pen will be celebrated here, cheers hoping to bring. Lets 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. Things have just taken a rather surreal turn here, a group of Marine Le Pen and supporters have just walked into this bar clutching a cockerel. For its called marina. This is a former Mining Community and the people in this bar are divided between macron and le pen but they sure are just content with mainstream politics, they believe macron has failed in the last few years but are divided on where to place the hopes, in the penn to provide Something Different or whether macron should be given a second chance. Earlier we followed Marine Le Pen as she came to vote. Marine, marine je taime 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 they feel other politicians arent aware orjust dont care. Laura and yannick 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 well have more to spend. We need a change, so its now or never. We work, we work, and in the end of the month, when you check your payslip, ah, you say, we should get more. Im 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 wasntjust Kissing Babies heads, she was telling them she would protect them, and thats 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 believe he needs more time to deliver. Others think Marine Le Pen is simply too much of a risk. We can speak now live it to some of voters here in this bar. First of all, tell me, you voted for macron but not because you love him . Yes. All, tell me, you voted for macron but not because you love him . Yes, i dont vote for but not because you love him . Yes, i dont vote for macron but not because you love him . Yes, i dont vote for macron but but not because you love him . Yes, i dont vote for macron but against dont vote for macron but against Marine Le Pen because as a communist that i am, i cant vote for radical right. So, in my town, the mayor of my town is a friend of Marine Le Pen, and the opposition is oppressed in my town, so i dont want the opposition of my country to be oppressed. Opposition of my country to be oppressed opposition of my country to be oppressed. Opposition of my country to be o ressed. ~. ,. , oppressed. Which candidate do you think best represents oppressed. Which candidate do you think best represents the oppressed. Which candidate do you think best represents the interests| think best represents the interests of young people in france and here . Well, to be honest, im not really into politics well, to be honest, im not really into politics but i think that Emmanuel Macron has more ambition for peome. Emmanuel macron has more ambition for people, perhaps to give them more for people, perhaps to give them more drive for people, perhaps to give them more drive to succeed in what they want more drive to succeed in what they want to more drive to succeed in what they want to do. More drive to succeed in what they want to do, and to be honest, i voted want to do, and to be honest, i voted macronjust to want to do, and to be honest, i voted macron just to control the expansion voted macron just to control the expansion of the right wing and i think expansion of the right wing and i think thats it. You expansion of the rightwing and i think thats it. Expansion of the rightwing and i think thats it. You have been here a while, think thats it. You have been here a while. You think thats it. You have been here a while, you have think thats it. You have been here a while, you have seen think thats it. You have been here a while, you have seen things think thats it. You have been here i a while, you have seen things change over time, why has this constituency are moved from socialist to far right . Are moved from socialist to farright . Are moved from socialist to farriuht . ,. , are moved from socialist to farriuht . ,. ,. Farright . Here, the mayor has made aood thins farright . Here, the mayor has made good things for farright . Here, the mayor has made good things for the farright . Here, the mayor has made good things for the city, farright . Here, the mayor has made good things for the city, so farright . Here, the mayor has made good things for the city, so i farright . Here, the mayor has made good things for the city, so i think good things for the city, so i think a lot good things for the city, so i think a lot of good things for the city, so i think a lot of mole good things for the city, so i think a lot of people want good things for the city, so i think a lot of people want to good things for the city, so i think a lot of people want to help good things for the city, so i thinkl a lot of people want to help marine because a lot of people want to help marine because the a lot of people want to help marine because the mayor a lot of people want to help marine because the mayor is a lot of people want to help marine because the mayor is very a lot of people want to help marine because the mayor is very good. I a lot of people want to help marine i because the mayor is very good. And a lot of because the mayor is very good. And a lot of people because the mayor is very good. And a lot of people before because the mayor is very good. And a lot of people before here because the mayor is very good. And a lot of people before here were a lot of people before here were fighting a lot of people before here were fighting for a lot of people before here were fighting for the a lot of people before here were fighting for the communist a lot of people before here were| fighting for the Communist Party a lot of people before here were fighting for the Communist Party and the Sociaiist Fighting for the Communist Party and The Socialist Parties fighting for the Communist Party and The Socialist Parties but fighting for the Communist Party and The Socialist Parties but now fighting for the Communist Party and The Socialist Parties but now they. The socialist parties but now they fiht The Socialist Parties but now they fight for The Socialist Parties but now they fight for marine. The socialist parties but now they fight for marine. So, The Socialist Parties but now they fight for marine. The socialist parties but now they fight for marine. So, back to you, ou fight for marine. So, back to you, you voted fight for marine. So, back to you, you voted against fight for marine. So, back to you, you voted against le fight for marine. So, back to you, you voted against le pen fight for marine. So, back to you, you voted against le pen but fight for marine. So, back to you, you voted against le pen but do | fight for marine. So, back to you, i you voted against le pen but do you think in the next five years, if Emmanuel Macron wins, he can deliver for people like you dont necessarily support him . I for people like you dont necessarily support him . I voted for macron to vote necessarily support him . I voted for macron to vote against necessarily support him . I voted for macron to vote against marine necessarily support him . I voted for macron to vote against marine le i necessarily support him . I voted for. Macron to vote against Marine Le Pen but that wont be my president and i will manifest against his Illiberal Politic but to stop Marine Le Pen, it was just macron, so i voted macron. 50 it wasjust macron, so i voted macron. , ,. Macron. So many people here share that view, macron. So many people here share that view. They macron. So many people here share that view, they cockerel macron. So many people here share that view, they cockerel in macron. So many people here share that view, they cockerel in this macron. So many people here share that view, they cockerel in this bar i that view, they cockerel in this bar is causing chaos, as you can see a lot of people in this constituency believe that Marine Le Pen has done enough to soften her image to appeal to those mainstream voters have both her macron have appealed to. She has talked about is of the eu, of course, not necessarily wanting to withdraw france but wanting to make france stronger, are nato too, they have really radically opposed views, so this is a vote, the people are voting on the future of france but also europe, and were now counting down about 45 minutes until they start celebrating or drowning their sorrows here. Studio thank you. And a reminder, we will shortly have a special programme bringing you the result, starting at 17 30 gmt. We should have projectionsjust we should have projections just at the top of the hour of. The programme itself starts at 17 30pm. The us Secretary Of State Antony Blinken is due to visit kyiv on sunday. There are renewed calls for peace talks with ukraines 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. Its Easter Sunday in ukraine with people reflecting on the war which today enters its third month. Our correspondent mark lowen reports from kyiv. A desecrated country is seeking its protector. Orthodox easter, this nations most cherished moment, now less a celebration, more a search for solace. Ukrainians and their defenders engage in what they see as their sacred fight to safeguard their homeland. Translation with the war. In ukraine, christs Resurrection Symbolises life over death, victory over the enemy who came to try to conquer us and enslave our people. We see how our neighbour is morally bankrupt and how ukrainians are united like never before. Ukraines church has long fought for autonomy from russia. The religious battle is now hardened by the military one to throw off the shackles of moscow. Their faith and their fighting are bringing together ukrainians, renewing their spirit of national identity, standing together amidst this countrys intense trauma. Easter is a moment of rebirth and for ukraine this year it is one of strengthening their pride and independence. In russia as well, church and war are intertwined. The president , backed by the patriarch, has called it a holy battle against an immoral west. From the other side, the iconography seems clear president zelensky as ukraines saviour. 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. Dont let fury destroy us from within. For ukraines soldiers, their mission and their meal is blessed, a time to reflect before many head off to the front line in the east, traditions savoured among families divided. Is it sad to be separated from your family at easter . Maybe a little bit, yes, but it is our duty to defend our country like every man in our nation. In ukrainian glory to ukraine. The national chant, glory to ukraine, a ritual that is now a war cry. Do you and your men feel ready for this fight in the east . Of course. Translation this war. Is for ukraines freedom, for european values. It is about whether we return to slavery or stay part of the civilised world. Easter gives us hope as we go to fight. Two months in, there is unity for the battle ahead, but still no hope for a resurrection of peace. Thereve been no further details about Antony Blinkens planned visit to kyiv, which was announced on saturday by president zelesnky. Our correspondent anna foster told me more from kyiv. Its hughly unusual that 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 event 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 would be 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, and he has been very open about this, is more weapons. He has repeatedly asked for more weapons, more 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. Nigerias 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. 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. 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. Our 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. Translation 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. It started to tilt, its 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 1. 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 japans most pristine natural environments, a unesco World Heritage site. They would have begun the day excited. Investigators will now be asking why their captain didnt heed the warnings about the weather. The conservative mp caroline nokes, who chairs the commons women and Equalities Committee has asked the speaker whether the Mail On Sundays Political Editor should have his parliamentary pass revoked. In a story published today, glen owen quoted unnamed conservative mps as saying that labours deputy leader Angela Rayner tries to put borisjohnson off his stride by crossing and uncrossing her legs during Prime Ministers 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 spoke earlier to Political Columnist with the i newspaper, kate maltby. Borisjohnson has condemned it but lets 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, and in the past, thankfully, attacks on women of this nature, viewers havent seen it. This is an unpleasant attack on Angela Rayner which accused her of trying to use her sexuality to distract the Prime Minister in the House Of Commons while she was doing herjob 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 mp5, is pushing this line in a way that a lot of those registered was actually pushed out by the tory party itself. So, they fact that Boris Johnson has now disassociated himself from it is, i think, important, it is a sign that change is happening, but we shouldnt let him off the hook entirely. Is this a westminster problem or an issue with what used to be known as fleet street . Well, sexism and misogyny is 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 in their own workplaces, there are things they cant 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 necks, but i have to say to those people, those of us who work within westminster, the reason we get so angry and that 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 foot in it and it really is like a 70s throwback. That is reflected in the political lobby, which is the group of journalists who work in westminster, who have offices in the parliamentary building, that is still a 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 its not fair to say that is true for all the fleet street, i think. Lets be clear, i think the Mail On Sunday has been a repeat offender. You started this section by talking about caroline nokes, who i respect enormously, suggesting that glen owen might not be a suitable person to have a parliamentary pass. I think thats actually not the right response. I am a journalist myself and i believe passionately in the freedom of expression ofjournalists, to have access to write what they want to write. I believe the right response from us as feministjournalists is to write better than the glen owens of the world. For the first time in two years, rios famous carnival has been taking place. Tim allman reports. Music plays. You can say this for the people of rio they certainly know how to put on a show. But this particular show has been absent for two long years, The Shadow Of Covid looming large. Translation its a moment of rebirth, of understanding l that we have to hope, even though many have gone. This is what carnival� s about showing that we have survived and we will win. Translation this float represents what we lived through in this pandemic. Its also a tribute to those who lost their loved ones, to bring back the joy and celebrate again. A tribute to those lost, a celebration of things to come. Life, passion, energy. The most important thing is to have a good time. And a reminder, we will shortly have a special programme bringing you the result. Hello, again. For many of us, its been a fine weekend with long spells of sunshine. Temperatures well above average as well got up to about 19 degrees around the bournemouth area of dorset. And next door, in poole, some kite surfers were enjoying those brisk north easterly winds. Mind you, its not been like that everywhere this weekend. Through sunday afternoon, weve seen low cloud moving to Northern Areas of scotland. Here, temperatures limited to 17 degrees through the afternoon around some coastal areas. And theres a lot more of that Cloud Upstream Waiting to sink southwards. So our weather is set to turn cloudier and cooler over the coming days. During this evening and overnight, were looking at a largely dry night with clear spells coming and going. That cloud across the north of scotland thickening, there will be some mist patches here, and probably some drizzle developing through the night as well. Otherwise, temperatures between 4 7 degrees, similar to recent nights. Tomorrow, there will be some change in the weather picture. For most of us, we start the day on a sunny note, but cloud will bubble up through the morning and, come the afternoon, were looking at some showers breaking out. Most of these across central and eastern parts of england. There could be some heavy ones towards the south east with hail mixed in. And our winds are still coming in from a north easterly direction. Those winds are travelling across the cool waters of the north sea, hence those lower temperatures we continue to see around our eastern coasts. The warmest weather will be across Southern Wales and South West England where we should see temperatures of 16, maybe 17 degrees in the warmest areas. Otherwise, feeling just a tad cooler. For tuesday, well start to see that cloud i showed you on the Satellite Picture get pulled down through the north sea and then move inland, so tuesday promises to be a much cloudier day. Through the morning, there might even be the odd spit of drizzle. Cool again. 9 11 in central areas of scotland and england. Its across the south and west where well see the highest temperatures 16, 17 possible. Wednesday is almost a carbon copy repeat. Any limited sunshine will be most abundant across these Western Areas of the country. Again, those temperatures just easing down a notch or so. Later in the week, through thursday and friday, well keep a fair bit of cloud. The best of the sunshine across Western Areas. But it will stay largely dry. However, into next weekend, it looks like well see some rain and cooler weather moving in. This is bbc news, im Reeta Chakrabarti live in paris with a special programme on the french president ial election. Emmanuel macron is hoping for a second five year term in the Elysee Palace promising to push on with the reforms which have sometimes proved unpopular. Hi, sometimes proved unpopular. Imjessica parker, 6 macrons hi, imjessica parker, and Emmanuel Macrons Election Night location at the foot of the eiffel tower where he hopes to be the first in years to win a second office. The challenger Marine Le Pen is hoping her right wing brand of eu scepticism and anti immigration policies will change the course of french politics. Im nick beake at the le Pen Headquarters where her supporters are hoping france will elect its first