we cannot stand by and watch palestinians risk starvation. that's not us. that is not what we stand for together. a state of emergency in iceland, after a fourth volcanic eruption in as many months. # come up and see me, make me smile # or do what you want...# and steve harley, the frontman of the rock group, cockney rebel, has died at the age of 73. hello and welcome to bbc news. i'm lukwesa burak. we start with the russian presidential election, as official results are starting to come in.

an exit poll has suggested that, as expected, president putin is heading for a landslide win, taking nearly 88% of the vote. the final day of voting saw large queues form at some polling stations, in an apparent show of dissent. allies of the late opposition leader, alexei navalny, had called on people to come out at midday in moscow and elsewhere to vote for any other candidate or spoil their ballots. there were no protest chants and the authorities had warned that activists could be arrested. a rights monitoring group in russia says more than 70 people were detained. mr navalny�*s widow, yulia, was amongst those who queued for several hours outside the russian embassy in berlin to vote. she was greeted by supporters with flowers and applause. after voting she told reporters that she had written the name of her late husband on her ballot paper. she also thanked her fellow russians for queuing so long.

a russian election official says more than eight million russians cast their ballots online. this is the first time that electronic voting has been used in a russian presidential vote. our first report is from our russia editor, steve rosenberg. singing it is a strange feature of russian elections that they often don't look like elections. outside polling station 1321 they were putting on a carnival to entertain the voters, the cast of actors a large one. but when it comes to who'll be president, there's only one star of the show. in this race, vladimir putin was pretty much unbeatable. there were other candidates, but no serious challenger. potential rivals are quickly removed from the political stage, forced into exile or put in jail

and elections tightly controlled by the kremlin. but if they couldn't win, mr putin's opponents could at least protest. and they did in many parts of russia. opposition figures had called on russians to flood polling stations at midday to vote against putin or spoil their ballots. a symbolic protest against the system. we were here. i've never seen queues like this before at a russian polling station. before his death in prison, alexei navalny had backed the protest. it took courage to come. the authorities had warned that large crowds at noon would be viewed as illegal gatherings. i was here. ivan, not his real name, told me why he'd come. it was important for me to see faces of other people who would come here today and to see that i'm not alone in my political views.

for now, there'll be no change in the kremlin. this election was never about, would vladimir putin win or wouldn't he? elections here are designed to ensure he wins and wins big. from the outset, for the kremlin, this vote was about creating the impression that mr putin has a mandate from his people, not only for war in ukraine, but also for what he's doing at home. transforming russia into an increasingly militaristic society in confrontation with the west. but across town, muscovites continue to pay tribute to alexei navalny, the man who'd wanted to be russia's president. here, a ballot paper in place of putin's name, navalny�*s, and this message. "he's the candidate we wanted." steve rosenberg, bbc news, moscow.

the british foreign secretary, david cameron, has been tweeting about the russian election, he says the polls have closed in russia, following the illegal holding of elections on ukrainian territory, a lack of choice for voters and no independent osce monitoring. this is not what free and fair elections look like. the white house said it was obviously not free nor fair. germany called it "a pseudo—election with a result that would surprise nobody." with me is francis scarr who follows russia for bbc monitoring. hello there transition, reaction from round the globe and people not that impressed or surprised? i from round the globe and people not that impressed or surprised?- that impressed or surprised? i don't think we should _ that impressed or surprised? i don't think we should have _ that impressed or surprised? i don't think we should have expected - that impressed or surprised? i don't think we should have expected any. think we should have expected any other reaction, it was very clear, even before voting day this was not going to be an election held according to democratic international standards. president putin has cleared the opposition, those on the ballot, the other three were very much loyal mps within the

russian state duma. people like navalny had died. a candidate who was campaigning a few weeks ago, on a very nominally anti—war line but soft and not particularly critical of president putin, even he was. allowed on to the ballot, the election authorities claimed that the number of signatures which he had been elect collecting in support, that is something you have do as an independent, some were ini have lid. so even before today, whether we look at any kind of ballot stuffing or anything like that, it wasn't a free or fair election. that, it wasn't a free or fair election-— that, it wasn't a free or fair election. ., election. so the figure at the moment. — election. so the figure at the moment. i — election. so the figure at the moment, i mean _ election. so the figure at the moment, i mean obviously l election. so the figure at the - moment, i mean obviously these are early exit polls are putting up up towards 88%? is that right? round 50% of votes _ towards 8896? is that right? round 5096 of votes have _ towards 8896? is that right? round 5096 of votes have been _ towards 8896? is that right? round 5096 of votes have been counted i 50% of votes have been counted according to the election authorities and president putin's heading for 88 pearls with his closest on 4%. heading for 88 pearls with his closest on 496.— heading for 88 pearls with his closest on 496. ., ., , ., _, closest on 496. how does that compare to revious closest on 496. how does that compare to previous election? _ closest on 496. how does that compare to previous election? it _ closest on 496. how does that compare to previous election? it is _ closest on 496. how does that compare to previous election? it is less - to previous election? it is less tiuht to previous election? it is less tight than _ to previous election? it is less tight than before, _ to previous election? it is less tight than before, i _ to previous election? it is less tight than before, i think- to previous election? it is less tight than before, i think we i

to previous election? it is less l tight than before, i think we can say, but what is particularly interesting, is the results coming interesting, is the results coming in from occupied ukraine, where of course, the kremlin is keen to present this as a genuine show of support for russia through these, the ukrainians who have been annexed by the kremlin, and who president putin at the start of the full scale invasion over two years ago claimed he was protecting, so with have seen figures of 95% in support of kremlin from donetsk, and figures over 90% from donetsk, and figures over 90% from crimea as well, which was annexed earlier in 2014.1ust from crimea as well, which was annexed earlier in 2014. just remind me how many _ annexed earlier in 2014. just remind me how many people _ annexed earlier in 2014. just remind me how many people are _ annexed earlier in 2014. just remind me how many people are we - annexed earlier in 2014. just remind me how many people are we talking| me how many people are we talking about in terms of population in annexed ukraine?— about in terms of population in annexed ukraine? several million, ci , ci annexed ukraine? several million, city. city of — annexed ukraine? several million, city. city of been — annexed ukraine? several million, city, city of been nets _ annexed ukraine? several million, city, city of been nets sets - annexed ukraine? several million, city, city of been nets sets a - annexed ukraine? several million, city, city of been nets sets a large | city, city of been nets sets a large city, city of been nets sets a large city but in her son, —— kherson russia doesn't control the main psities so we are talking about rural areas.— psities so we are talking about rural areas. that is interesting. thank you _ rural areas. that is interesting. thank you very _ rural areas. that is interesting. thank you very much. - rural areas. that is interesting. thank you very much. to - rural areas. that is interesting. thank you very much. to let.

rural areas. that is interesting. | thank you very much. to let you know, we may well will hearing from president putin shortly, we are monitoring those lines coming out from moscow, we will cross there as and when he he appear, as you would expect the ukrainian president has also been responded to those exit poll figures. saying that vladimir putin was power hungry and wanted to �*rule forever�*. in his nightly video address, mr zelensky said that russia's presidential election was an illegitimate imitation. our eastern europe correspondent, sarah rainsford, who's in kyiv says most ukrainians will find predictions of a landslide win for mr putin, comical. i think people here willjust laugh at that, frankly. they will also say it underlines a difference these days between russia and ukraine which is a democracy versus a dictatorship. but of course, for ukraine this does have significance, even though people will be shrugging off the result to some extent. i think this does mean at least six more years of vladimir putin in the kremlin and that does mean more war in ukraine, more missiles, more drones, more violence from russia towards this country.

so it is important. i think it has also been important in another way, in the sense that, of course, much of eastern and southern ukraine, or parts of eastern and southern ukraine, are occupied by russian forces and the election has been taking place in those territories. and russia wants that election, those people in that part of ukraine to show their support for vladimir putin. they want a big display, kind of display of support for russia, for putin, for the annexation which russia has announced in those regions. obviously that's the official picture. i think the true picture is completely different because we have been speaking to activists on the ground who said turnout in actual fact has been very low and that people are under extreme pressure to take part. but they have been resisting. they have been hiding

their passports, even destroying their passports so that they don't have to vote for a president of a country they never wanted to be a part of. let's speak to james nixey, the russia—eurasia programme lead at chatham house. hello there to you james, welcome to the programme, so, high 80s, the figures at the exit polls are reporting back. what are you making of that? i reporting back. what are you making of that? . ~ reporting back. what are you making of that? ., ~ ., , of that? i make of it it is irrelevant _ of that? i make of it it is irrelevant because - of that? i make of it it is irrelevant because the l of that? i make of it it is - irrelevant because the figures are what the kremlin wants because it has decided well before the vote, those are the figures that are appropriate to somebody of putin's supposed stature, this is not an election as you and i understand it, it's a reanoint. and election implies somebody is to be elected by means of choice and they didn't have one. did means of choice and they didn't have one. , ., ., .,

means of choice and they didn't have one-— well. i one. did he have to do this? well, it's a good — one. did he have to do this? well, it's a good question, _ one. did he have to do this? well, it's a good question, why - one. did he have to do this? well, it's a good question, why should i it's a good question, why should such an obvious authoritarian power? it would be a difficult move to stop them, but it's a referendum on the war, it's a show of support for the war, it's a show of support for the war, and even if it is faked, then that still is important to putin because this is the first wartime election they have had and it is important to show that this is still a popular war. that may not necessarily be true, we know from say, when there have been conscriptions for people to turn up to fight for ukraine, they were unpopular but the polling stations were burned down, so it is a somewhat desperate measure but it probably will work, because always has done. i probably will work, because always has done. ., �* ~ ., probably will work, because always hasdone. ~ ., ., has done. i don't know if you are able to fill— has done. i don't know if you are able to fill in _ has done. i don't know if you are able to fill in the _ has done. i don't know if you are able to fill in the gaps _ has done. i don't know if you are able to fill in the gaps for - has done. i don't know if you are able to fill in the gaps for us, - able to fill in the gaps for us, what is the feeling and the support for russians, for continuing this war, because conscriptions may well now start to rise, he is going to

need more boots on the ground isn't he? he need more boots on the ground isn't he? . �* . need more boots on the ground isn't he? , �*, ., , need more boots on the ground isn't he? , , he? he is, it's a very good question. _ he? he is, it's a very good question, while _ he? he is, it's a very good question, while and - he? he is, it's a very good question, while and it - he? he is, it's a very good question, while and it is l he? he is, it's a very good i question, while and it is also he? he is, it's a very good - question, while and it is also a subtle question because it is easy to say the war should finish but it depends on what term, everyone one of the other election candidates, he was against the war but only if there was a surrender on russia's terms so it takes a lot of digging into and we can't trust the polling into and we can't trust the polling in russia these days when it's a question of that much subtlety. very roughly speaking maybe 15—20% of people are genuinely against the war and wish it to stop and want ukraine to be a better country, another 20% at the other end are nationalistically inclined to take ukraine and go further and there is a soft middle, round 60%, and they are somewhat apathetic, prisoner of their own consciences and those of the, that is the second population

the, that is the second population the kremlin needs to reach and will reach one way or another. band the kremlin needs to reach and will reach one way or another. and alexei navaln , reach one way or another. and alexei navalny, continuing _ reach one way or another. and alexei navalny, continuing to _ reach one way or another. and alexei navalny, continuing to be _ reach one way or another. and alexei navalny, continuing to be a _ reach one way or another. and alexei navalny, continuing to be a thorn - reach one way or another. and alexei navalny, continuing to be a thorn in l navalny, continuing to be a thorn in the side of president putin. these protest, and you know, coming out at midday, navalny for midday, would that have done anything apart from irritate him?— irritate him? well, i think irritation, _ irritate him? well, i think irritation, this _ irritate him? well, i think irritation, this is - irritate him? well, i think irritation, this is a - irritate him? well, i think. irritation, this is a sensitive creme, so that is certainly true. navalny has a reach from beyond the grave. people will remember him for a long time, longer than this farcical election. but they have an uphill struggle. they need to reinvent itself to work out how and to whom it can make a difference, thatis to whom it can make a difference, that is not easy. 50 to whom it can make a difference, that is not easy.— to whom it can make a difference, that is not easy. so many nuances, james that is not easy. so many nuances, james thank _ that is not easy. so many nuances, james thank you — that is not easy. so many nuances, james thank you so _ that is not easy. so many nuances, james thank you so much - that is not easy. so many nuances, james thank you so much for- that is not easy. so many nuances, james thank you so much for that. l james thank you so much for that. james thank you so much for that. james nixey.

now some of the day's other news and to the middle east. the german chancellor, olaf scholz has said his country cannot stand by and watch palestinians risk starvation in gaza, and called for a longer—lasting ceasefire. gaza's hamas run health ministry says 61 palestinians were killed overnight, including 12 members of the same family whose house in deir el—balah was hit. medical sources most of the victims were women and children. this girl has been speaking about her cousin who was killed. speaking after talks with benjamin netanyahu injerusalem, mr scholz said he had shared his concerns with the israeli prime minister over what he called the �*terribly high costs' of the war in gaza. translation: honestly what do they want from us? _ translation: honestly what do they want from us? to _ translation: honestly what do they want from us? to kill— translation: honestly what do they want from us? to kill her, _ translation: honestly what do they want from us? to kill her, there - translation: honestly what do they want from us? to kill her, there are l want from us? to kill her, there are no more kids in gaza, if we want to rebuild it we need many years. look at the house, we don't love hamas and have no relations with them. nothing is left. she's dead. only her dress is left. this them. nothing is left. she's dead. only her dress is left.— only her dress is left. this is the best rift only her dress is left. this is the best gift from — only her dress is left. this is the best gift from her. _ only her dress is left. this is the best gift from her. speaking - only her dress is left. this is the | best gift from her. speaking after talks with binyamin _ best gift from her. speaking after

talks with binyamin netanyahu i best gift from her. speaking after talks with binyamin netanyahu in| talks with binyamin netanyahu in jerusalem mr scholz said he had shared his concerns with the israeli prime minister over what he called the terribly high costs of we cannot stand by and watch palestinians risk starvation. that's not us. that is not what we stand for together. much more humanitarian aid is needed continuously, reliably. i shared my concerns with the prime minister. that provision of aid from israel into gaza and the conditions for distribution must be urgently and massively improved. and finally, we need a hostage deal with a longer lasting ceasefire. i know how difficult it is to reach an agreement with the hamas terrorists, but we understand the hostage families who say after more than five months, the time has come for a comprehensive hostage dealfor saving those who are still held captive. mr netanyahu said israel would not leave palestinian civilians trapped during its planned military

operation in the city of rafah in southern gaza, where more than a million people are taking refuge. i assured chancellor scholz that our goal in eliminating the remaining terrorist battalions in rafah goes hand—in—hand with enabling the civilian population to leave rafah. it is not something that we will do while keeping the population locked in place. in fact, we will do the very opposite. we will enable them to leave because our consideration for reducing and minimising civilian casualties has guided us and will continue to guide us in the future. now it's time for a look at today's sport. we'll start with the frenetic fa cup quarter final between manchester united and their rivals liverpool

which was eventually won in the 120th minute by manchester united. it was a hard fought 4—3 victory but liverpool were 2—1 ahead at half time. anthony equalised in the 87th minute for united to take the game into extra time. with the match looking like it was heading for penalties at 3—3, 21—year—old amad diallo scored in the 120th minute to send united into the semi finals were they will face coventry city the team show resilience, determination to win this game. we have had so many setbacks so i am really proud of the team, not only in this game but the whole season. we have had so many setbacks. of course, when it is manchester united against liverpool, one of the world's best football matches and this is happening. i think this is historical. i cannot ask for more. the boys gave everything. the start was not great and then our decision—making wasn't great, look found a better player but how they played in moments

was absolutely exceptional. you have to accept the result, that is what we do, obviously. chelsea are heading to wembley again after they beat ten—man leicester city 4—2 at stamford bridge thanks to two stoppage time goals. chelsea were 2—0 ahead at half time before letting their lead slip with leicester city coming back to 2—all. but after leicester's callum doyle was sent off, the championship side were eventually made to pay in the 92nd and 98th minute. in the 92nd and 98th minute, for a 4—2 win for chelsea. that is football, that is the fa cup, it is the beauty of the fa cup and we are involved in the fa cup, and we are involved in the fa cup, and yes, of course, i think first of all, i think we really deserve and the qualification for the semifinal, and we got that, and then the team keep calm, and try and until the

end, that is why it ended 4—2. i am happy to go the i am happy to go the wembley for the semifinal. and the draw has been made for the semi—finals. coventry will play manchester united. while manchester city will meet chelsea. ties will be played at wembley on the weekend of april 20th and 21st. west ham had two goals disallowed for handball as they drew 1—1 with aston villa in the one premier league match of the day. after a big defeat for tottenham in the race for the top four on saturday, villa's point takes them three points clear in fourth. west ham stay seventh. mikael antonio scored and had a second goal ruled out, while there were 104 minutes in the game after an injury time winner for west ham was taken off the board following a lengthy var review to the disappointment of the hammers boss david moyes. we have had two this week as well, one against freiburg and one midweek

didn't go well for us. i guess the rules as any touch at all from the arm is going to be disallowed. it is their decision not our, we can't do anything about it. tennis's world number one, iga swiatek, has won the indian wells title for the second time after beating maria sakkari of greece in stright sets. swaitek hasn't dropped a set all week in the california desert and she beat the world number nine, 6—4 6—love. it is swiatek�*s second title of the season. the men's singles final between defending champion, carlos alcaraz and daniil medvedev starts in the next hour. and that's all the sport for now. steve harley, who fronted the long—running band, cockney rebel, has died at the age of 73. his best known song, make me smile (come up and see me), reached number one in the british charts in 1975. harley had been forced to cancel performances last year after being diagnosed with cancer. david sillito looks back on his life.

# you've done it all, you've broken every code...# steve harley and cockney rebel, and make me smile. it wasn'tjust a huge hit, it was one of those songs that never seems to have gone away. # you spoilt the game, no matter what you say... and right from the beginning, there was a feeling about it. they always ask me, did you know at the time that it would be a big hit? actually, we did think it would be. i knew the managing director of emi at the time who came to abbey road where i was mixing it. he said, "number one." and i said to him, "ok, can i hold you to that?" he said, "yeah." # mr soft, turn around and force the world to watch the things you're going through. ..# during his �*70s heyday, there was more than a touch of glam theatricality and single—mindedness. some of that determination grew out of his childhood. polio had kept him in hospitalfor years.

at three and a half years old, here, i caught polio. there was an epidemic at that time. they said, "stephen won't live through this." but during those years in and out of hospital, he developed a passion for music, and after a spell as a journalist, he began trying out his songs at folk clubs before finally hitting the big time. but when his chart success began to slide, his attention shifted to another musical avenue. to slide, his attention shifted # sing once again with me... to slide, his attention shifted he was given the chance to record the single for andrew lloyd webber�*s phantom of the opera, but he was devastated when he wasn't chosen to play the role for the west end. # you've done it all, broken every code... nevertheless, he continued to perform. the effects of his childhood polio were lifelong, but onstage in the spotlight he said it was the one place he could forget

it all and simply be steve harley, the rock star. # ooh—ooh, la—la—la. ..# today is st patrick's day, and thousands of people are gathering in towns and cities across ireland to celebrate. the event, which dates to 1762, is one of the world's largest irish heritage festivities. but it's notjust ireland,, celebrations are happening in lots of places around the world. sofia bettiza reports. millions of people are coming together this weekend to celebrate st patrick's day. now, this, for example, is new york, which has the largest irish community in the us. and you can see here lots of people attending the st patrick's day parade on fifth ave. but one of the most iconic celebrations is here in chicago, where the tradition

is that the chicago river is infused with about 40lb of green dye. everybody is saying "happy paddy's day, happy paddy's day!" it's great. and it doesn't matter who you are or where you're from, it is fab. yeah, it's absolutely... everybody wants to be irish today. and why not? we all are. but it is notjust the us. this is the spanish capital, madrid, where more than 500 bagpipers marched in the city centre. take a look. they even celebrate st patrick's day injapan, which is on the opposite side of the world from ireland. these images here are from tokyo and you can see lots of people in green having a great time. so, why is it that so many people get involved in the celebration, even if they have no connection to ireland? well, st patrick's day was originally a religious holiday, but when it was imported to the us

by irish immigrants, it transformed into a show of irish—american solidarity, and today, it has become a celebration of irish culture, music and dance — and, of course, enjoying a glass or two. stay with us here on bbc news. hello, once this morning's cloud and rain moved away we started to see things warming up. especially as we got some sunshine coming through, temperatures widely 14, got some sunshine coming through, temperatures widely14, 15 degrees, made 17 degrees in the south, so warmer than it was yesterday. we are still in this mild air, as we head overnight and into monday, this

weather system here eventually bringing some rain, but ahead of that we have two bands of cloud with a little rain, not much on those at all. this second band of cloud heading eastwards, we will see the rain tending the die out. clearer skies mean temperatures will be round five, six seven degree, so thatis round five, six seven degree, so that is schooler than last night. some early mist and fog in the south—east, you can see how that band of cloud and any rain dies out. lots of sunshine then following on behind but in the west in the afternoon, the winds will pick up through the irish sea, northern ireland and western scotland, and we start to see that weather system bringing in some rain. but ahead of that a decent looking day with sunny spells round, still in mild air, temperatures widely 14 or 15, thanks to that southerly wind ahead of that weather front. to that southerly wind ahead of that weatherfront. that to that southerly wind ahead of that weather front. that will bring rain are from the atlantic, most for northern areas and that will get swept northward with that low pressure centre overnight, so tending to dry off in the north—west on tuesday and we are left with a band of cloud and patchy light rain

heading south wards, followed by brighter sky, sunshine and few showers round as westminster. it is beginning to turn cooler across scotland and northern ireland on tuesday, still pretty mild in the south—east, in the south—west it could be rain later in the day, that may push its way north wards and into wednesday, affect wales, and perhaps scotland. still uncertain the i on that rain, there is no wind to move things about. scotland and northern ireland looking generally dry, coolerair northern ireland looking generally dry, cooler air here perhaps, mild and generally dry in the south—east. now that band of rain will tend to fizzle out, because it is going to get swamped by the next weather system coming in from the atlantic to bring wetter weather for the northern half of the uk overnight. by northern half of the uk overnight. by thursday that may have cleared scotland and northern ireland, and we will see patchy lighter rain heading down in england and wales, it may turn cloudy and dam the day in northern ireland, but much of scotland enjoying some sunshine, and temperatures 12 to 14

celsius. niesmt

this is bbc news, the headlines. exit polls and first results show vladimir putin has won a predictable landslide in russia's presidential election, in an election his opponents condemned as a sham. the last day of voting was marked by silent protests at polling stations.

the german chancellor, olaf scholz — on a visit to israel — says his country can't stand by and watch palestinians risk starvation in gaza. mr scholz emphasised the high costs of the war against hamas on civilian lives. ukraine says it hit an oil refinery in southern russia overnight, as part of a campaign to undermine russia's economy. the kremlin says the attacks were timed to disrupt the russian election. and a state of emergency in iceland, after a fourth volcanic eruption in as many months. the village of grindavik is evacuated, only weeks after residents were allowed to return. now on bbc news, it's the royal photo re—touch, and a warning this programme contains flashing images. let's turn to some major news out of great britain. this photo of the princess of wales and her children has now been pulled from circulation. at the moment, those picture agencies are unable to say, "hand on heart, we think this image is totally genuine."

0k, well...