hagan this is bbc world news, i'm monika plaha. our top stories. anger and poor organisation mars nigeria's closest elections in recent memory, as millions vote for a new president. the uk and the european union appear to be on the brink of finalising a new deal on post—brexit trading rules covering northern ireland and the republic. i think the talks on reforming the protocol are inching towards a conclusion. certainly the deal isn't done yet. turkish officials investigate more than 600 people over substandard buildings that collapsed during this month's earthquakes. international aid agancies continue to focus on helping survivors. some of these guys have been

flying over 1000 hours since the earthquake struck. they say they will continue to keep going as long as aid is needed. china fails to condemn russia's invasion of ukraine, causing tensions at a meeting of the 620 major economies. and over 2,000 people take part in copenhagen�*s annual "light run" as the city celebrates being designated this year's unesco world capital of architecture. hello and welcome to bbc news. votes are being counted in nigeria's most competitive presidential election in decades. the process has been largely peaceful, but there were some reports of violence in lagos earlier. the contest is a tight race between three frontrunners,

as mayenijones reports. frustration and anger. many nigerians want to take part in this election but have been disappointed by the lack of organisation. gang violence and threats by militant islamists have made voting difficult in some regions. and in this polling station on the mainland of lagos, electoral officials never even showed up. there is nothing free and fair in this election. most people passing through this place were telling us that they were not able to vote. they are cancelling polling units all over this place. we have stayed here since past ten and this is past three. we've not heard anything, we've tried to call them. i have a twitter account, i've been trying to tag any officials. actually it's a sin _ for you to stay at home today. young urbanites who want better

economic opportunities have been encouraging each other to vote on social media. and it seems to be working. in lagos, despite the lack of organisation, voters told us more people showed up than in the last elections. turn—out here in lagos, nigeria's most populous city, tends to be quite low. in 2019, only 18% of the electorate showed up but here, in one of the city's neighbourhoods, people tell us that the turnout is unusually high. at 6pm, three and a half hours after polls officially closed, some polling units were onlyjust opening. having a third candidate for the first time is an encouraging sign, in a region where democracy feels under threat. but whoever wins will have to deal with a struggling economy, high youth unemployment and widespread insecurity. mayenijones, bbc news, lagos. britain and the european union appear to be close to finalising a new deal on post brexit trading rules for northern ireland.

under the current protocol northern ireland follows some eu laws, and goods arriving from the british mainlund are subject to checks. 0ur political correspondent iain watson reports. the political stakes for rishi sunak are high. a deal with the eu appears to be moving closer. this would avoid a trade war between the uk and its largest market, but it could lead to a growing gulf within his own party, with some mps wanting the entire brexit agreement in northern ireland upended, and unless the democratic unionist party approve a deal, they won't agree to rejoin a power—sharing government at stormont. so, the prime minister has taken to the pages of usually conservative supporting newspapers to reassure sceptics in his own ranks that any deal won't be a sell—out. in an interview with tomorrow's sunday times, he says...

but in the sun on sunday, he seems to suggest that his oven—ready deal still requires a few more ingredients. as for that progress, it's understood that any deal would make it much easier and less bureaucratic to move goods from great britain to northern ireland and there would be a less rigid application of eu law on vat rates and subsidies to industry. the irish prime ministerfelt that things were moving in the right direction. certainly, a deal isn't done yet but i do think that we are inching towards a conclusion and i really want to thank the uk government and the european commission and the northern ireland parties for the level of engagement that they have done in recent months to get us to this point. we would just encourage everyone to go the extra mile. this weekend the prime minister says he is giving it everything he's got to achieve a deal, but it might be easier to reach an agreement with the eu than northern ireland's dup, so the political risks for

the prime minister remain high. turkish officials say they're now investigating more than 600 people in connection with buildings that collapsed during major earthquakes earlier this month. more than 50,000 people are known to have died in the earthquakes which struck turkey and syria. turkey's justice minister says more than 180 suspects are injail pending trial, including construction contractors and building owners. experts say many of the buildings that collapsed were made with poor materials and did not comply with safety standards. 0pposition parties have accused president erdogan�*s government of failing to enforce building regulations. as international aid flows into the area, the focus now is on helping survivors, but getting help to those who need it can be challenging. 0ur correspondent laura bicker reports from turkey.

aid that was slow to arrive is now in full flow. helicopter after helicopter of tents, food, medicine all crammed on board. no more room, signals this load master. there are more than 100 flights a day from here. international aid from the us and the uk has also ramped up. 0ur aircraft is stacked, with tents around our feet. we head over the mountains, towards one of the ten zones in a state of emergency, to get an idea of the scale of this disaster. this is by far the biggest logistical operation turkey's forces have ever faced. they've got more than 100 kilometres along a fault line to cover, with tens of thousands in need, and most of them need these, which need room in a helicopter.

we're flying to the first drop—off, near hatay, the worst—affected region in turkey. in the city of antakya, survivors say help took more than two days to arrive. at least 20,000 people lost their lives here. further down the coast, it took more than two weeks to get basic shelter to the people of remote kapisuyu. villagers need to stay to feed their livestock. guner�*s daughter was killed in the earthquake. she's now too frightened to live under this roof, especially after the area was hit by another tremor on monday. translation: we live in fear. we can't sleep well at night. . when the quake happened, we suddenly woke up. what can we do?

we can't go outside either, it's cold. there is nothing that can be done. tents are temporary. guner says she needs a new home. there have been major challenges to overcome. airports are damaged and landing in remote areas has been difficult. some of these guys have been flying over 1,000 hours since the earthquake struck. they say they will continue to keep going as long as aid is needed. many of them off camera have told us about the harrowing moment when they had to fly in the earthquake—affected zone. they say they were medically evacuating casualties for hours, but they say they'll keep going as long as they can. aid is now getting to most who need it. but the long—term plan to help

the tens of thousands in crisis is still unclear. laura bicker, bbc news, in the skies over hatay. let's get some of the day's other news. tens of thousands of people have held demonstrations across israel against planned legal rehforms. against planned legal reforms. the prime minister benjamin netanyahu insists his government is carrying out the will of the people. the proposed changes would give ministers the power to appoint supreme courtjudges and end the court's ability to review or annul legislation on constitutional matters. the french president emmanuel macron says that a long—delayed trade deal between the eu and a group of four south american countries can't go ahead unless they follow european environmental policies. french farmers fear competition from the mercosur countries if they are not subject to the same environmental standards.

protests have been held in the tunisian capital tunis against a speech by the president calling sub—saharan migrants "illegal hordes". the demonstrators accused president kais sayeed of racism and called on him to apologise. the african union has strongly condemned what it described as racialised hate speech aimed at fellow africans. sharp divisions over the war in ukraine have emerged at the g20 finance ministers�* meeting in india. moscow has accused the united states and other western nations of destabilising the talks. no closing statement was agreed, as russia and china refused to accept a passage condemning russian aggression. 0ur political correspondent leila nathoo is in bangalore, and sent us this analysis of india's role. it's here in the hills

near bangalore that the first major meeting of the g20 under india's presidency has taken place, a forum to discuss issues affecting the world economy. the fallout from the ukraine war is having a huge impact. but prime minister modi's address was notable for the absence of any mention of russia's invasion. instead only referencing rising geopolitical tensions. india maintains a neutral stance on the war, a position starkly at odds with g7 countries condemning russia, reaffirming their support for ukraine and calling for further sanctions. india wants a very different conversation, it wants to use its presidency of the g20 to represent developing nations who don't have a seat at the table of major economies, to champion their needs. so it wants to talk about food security, sustainable growth, countries' debt burdens. india is growing in international, political and economic importance and increasingly wants

to set its own agenda. more than 350,000 residents are still without power in the us state of michigan, three days after one of the worst ice storms in decades knocked out utility poles and wires. tens of thousands across the western united states are also without power as a rare cold weather system continues to pummel parts of california, and as vandhna bhan reports, the blizzard is set to hit the southern states on sunday. exchanging the dry hilltops and blues skies of california for snow and freezing rain has been welcomed by many with excitement. i welcomed by many with excitement.— welcomed by many with excitement. i live where there is like no _ excitement. i live where there is like no snow _ excitement. i live where there is like no snow ever, - excitement. i live where there is like no snow ever, the - excitement. i live where there is like no snow ever, the only| is like no snow ever, the only snow i got was hale. it's pretty exciting. we have been building snowmans.— building snowmans. parts of northern california -

building snowmans. parts of northern california reported| northern california reported several inches of snow by friday. it several inches of snow by frida . , ~ several inches of snow by frida. , . friday. it is nice because i don't have _ friday. it is nice because i don't have to _ friday. it is nice because i don't have to drive - friday. it is nice because i - don't have to drive somewhere, to enjoy— don't have to drive somewhere, to enjoy this weather. i can't io to enjoy this weather. i can't go snowboarding or anything here, — go snowboarding or anything here, but i still enjoy the fresh _ here, but i still enjoy the fresh air_ here, but i still enjoy the fresh air the snow brings. driving _ fresh air the snow brings. driving is _ fresh air the snow brings. driving is proving difficult in these hazardous conditions, with snow laden roads in some parts, and flooded streets in others forcing road closures. a number of cars were reportedly trapped in the rising waters. it's just the rainfall we had in the past couple of months, and then this has been an ongoing storm for a couple of days now. ongoing storm for a couple of days nova— days now. these rare winter conditions — days now. these rare winter conditions pummelling - days now. these rare winter conditions pummelling los i conditions pummelling los angeles has forced a blizzard warning for the first time in more than 30 years. the cause, a mass of low pressure driven from the arctic. and it's not the only storm the united states is battling. further north—east, an ice storm in michigan has left 300,000

without power for michigan has left 300,000 without powerfor a third michigan has left 300,000 without power for a third day. but while this storm has passed, the one in california continues to move south. with a large hail and damaging winds set to impact 0klahoma, texas and kansas on sunday. climate scientists say there has been an increase in the sheer number of storms across the united states, a sign of warming temperatures. and while this storm is extraordinary compared to the past, it'sjust storm is extraordinary compared to the past, it's just the beginning of what we are about to see in the future. this is bbc news, the latest headlines. anger and poor organisation mars nigeria's closest elections in recent memory, as millions vote for a new president. the uk and the european union appear to be on the brink of finalising a new deal on post—brexit trading rules for northern ireland.

0livia newton—john's family, friends and dignitaries are gathering alongside stars of stage and screen at a state memorial service in melbourne. those attending the service have been asked to wear "a touch of orange", 0livia's favourite colour, in honour of the star. 0ur correspondent in australia, phil mercer, joins us now. thank you very much forjoining us, phil. thank you very much forjoining us, phil. the thank you very much forjoining us, phil. the ceremony thank you very much forjoining us, phil. the ceremony is getting under way. family photos were being shared. tell us more about it, and what can we expect from this state memorial. we expect from this state memorial-— we expect from this state memorial. , , , memorial. this is being held, this memorial _ memorial. this is being held, this memorial service, - memorial. this is being held, this memorial service, at - memorial. this is being held, this memorial service, at a i this memorial service, at a very large concert hall in the australian city of melbourne. it has a capacity of 2500 people, and we understand it is packed to the rafters with fans, family members, former colleagues and other dignitaries as well. at the moment, we are hearing from

0livia newton—john's husband, john eastman, who was with 0livia john eastman, who was with olivia newton—john as she was battling the cancer that claimed her life in august of last year. she was 73 years of age, and she is being remembered at this memorial service in southern australia as a woman who lived an extraordinary life, who was a cultural icon. she was the daughter of a british m15 agent who served during the second world war. she had ambitions to be a vet, but because it was her musical talents that sent her musical talents that sent her into globalfame, best known of course for playing sandy in the film grease in 1978. it was one of the most successful film musicals ever made. it really was, in many eyes, the role that really did define 0livia eyes, the role that really did define olivia newton—john. but before that she really had a

successful career as a country singer. later in life having been diagnosed with breast cancer, she became a champion for research and fundraising. so this was a very full life thatis so this was a very full life that is being remembered by many, many people, not only in melbourne, being live streamed online and also televised live around australia as well. find around australia as well. and members _ around australia as well. and members of _ around australia as well. and members of the _ around australia as well. and members of the public, friends and family in the audience. as you mention, also being live streamed light across the world. what does this memorial mean, notjust to her loved ones but also to her fans worldwide?— ones but also to her fans worldwide? ., ., g ., worldwide? olivia newton-john was born in _ worldwide? olivia newton-john was born in the _ worldwide? olivia newton-john was born in the late _ worldwide? olivia newton-john was born in the late 1940s, - worldwide? olivia newton-john was born in the late 1940s, and in the mid—1950s she moved with herfamily to in the mid—1950s she moved with her family to australia, and she appeared on various talent shows, became a very successful country singer before that break—out role in grease in 1978. that not only launched

her, but also known for her work in charities. in 2020 she became a dame, honoured by the late queen elizabeth ii in the new year's honours list. so a career spanning six decades, doing so many things, so many different people remembering herfondly at this different people remembering her fondly at this memorial cities in melbourne.- cities in melbourne. phil, thank you _ cities in melbourne. phil, thank you very _ cities in melbourne. phil, thank you very much. - the european union is bringing in more sanctions against the russian mercenary group wagnerfor human rights abuses in three african countries. i've been speaking to drjonathan shroden, a military analyst from washington, about the group's global activities. wagner's what is known as a private military corporation, a pmc.

it operates outside of the law inside of russia, in so much as pmcs are technically outlawed there, so it is mostly unacknowledged by the russian government and various individuals believed to be in control of the wagner group. globally it operates in a lot of locations, it has been active in syria, very active in ukraine as part of the russian invasion, and increasingly active across africa. so it's mostly active in the central african republic and sudan, but also present in mali, libya and half a dozen other countries in africa as well. on that note, why does the wagner group operate in africa? for a couple of reasons. it offers russia some plausible deniability, in terms of the activities it engages in, in africa. which is to say, russia's interested in a lot of resource extraction from africa, and using the wagner group to advance those types of economic interests allows it

to do so in ways that it doesn't have to formally acknowledge. it can get those resources in ways that are unavailable to it otherwise. a second reason is it allows russia to displace other countries that have had traditional influence in africa. the most notable is france, which used to be quite active in the central african republic as well as in mali, but has been effectively kicked out of those countries and replaced by wagner. and why does the european union want to impose sanctions on their activities outside of europe? again, a couple of reasons. one, a sort of moral aspect. wagner has been involved in gross human rights abuses pretty much everywhere it has operated, but specifically in africa it's been accused of rape, torture, extrajudicial killings and executions. so from a moral perspective, this is a company, wherever it goes, instability

tends to follow. the second reason, and i should say human rights abuses as well... the second reason, that instability that wagner tends to bring with it is something european powers would like to avoid in africa. what happens in africa doesn't usually stay there, with respect to european countries' views, so they are concerned with the spread of wagner and the instability it tends to bring with it. the french film on the adamant has been awarded the golden bear for best film at the berlin film festival. the award is considered the festival's top prize. it was given to french director nicolas philibert�*s documentary which is about a floating day care centre for adults with mental disorders on the bank of the river seine in paris. we do not always distinguish very clearly between patients and carers.

and that's fine. i try to reverse the image that we always have of mad people, so discriminating, so stigmatising. i wanted us to be able, if not to identify with them, at least recognise what unites us beyond our differences. something like a common humanity. the feeling of being part of the same world. now to denmark, where the copenhagen lights festival came to an end this weekend, with nearly 2,000 people taking part in a "light run". the city has been designated as unesco world capital of architecture this year, as sofia bettiza reports. they braved the february cold

weather and ran for eight kilometres across copenhagen. all the runners were given an led light chain to wear during the race. so they themselves became a feature of the copenhagen light festival. we've been running in copenhagen with all this artwork and lights all over in cold february... it's just fantastic, i can't wait to see the art as i run through my hometown. the art is 55 light installations scattered around the city, like this sculpture made entirely of reused plastic. or this installation, called "0n the other side of the sun". i thought the festival was an art piece in itself and to be part of this going through the streets and corners of copenhagen was quite an experience. this lady ended the race

with her two daughters. it was very pretty, we were looking at it and everyone was stopping and we could take pictures, it was very beautiful. it was very good plans all over so we could see all the different places. despite the weather, people still come here and meet with friends and walk around. all the city streets and routes have been filled up with people. really enjoying this. we are really thankful for this and also waiting for next year. the 23—day festival is now in its sixth year. in a country where the winter is bitterly cold, with snow and frosty winds, many danes have come to love this festival which they say celebrates life and brings people together. you're watching bbc news.

more on the website. you can reach me on twitter — i'm @monikaplaha. hello. high pressure continues to dominate the weather picture this weekend. now, the best of the sunshine on saturday was across western areas, but the high pressure not only brought these sunny skies to northern ireland, but also brought this squished cloud as the air descended down through the atmosphere. whereas further east, we had extensive cloud really for most of the day and a number of showers coming in off the north sea. now, yesterday's satellite picture, you can see the extent of the cloud. it was particularly cloudy across these northeastern areas. but if we take a look at the satellite picture in a bit more detail, this cloud sheet is going to continue to feed in this kind of direction, which will take cloudy weather into northern england, the north midlands and north wales, whereas we've got much clearer skies in this part of the north sea, drier air and that's set to move into east anglia,

southern england and the south midlands. so there will be changes in the distribution of cloud as we head into sunday. now the clearest of the skies over the next few hours across southern areas of england, southern wales, scotland, northern ireland and perhaps parts of western england, there'll be quite a widespread frost. the lowest temperatures, west scotland get down to about minus five degrees. so it will be a cold start, but extensive cloud will continue to feed in across northern england, the north midlands, north wales with some light showers coming in from the north sea, whereas across east anglia, the south midlands, probably southern wales and definitely most of southern england you should have more in the way of sunshine compared with yesterday. the other place that will do quite well for sunshine, west scotland and maybe northern ireland, because here we're close to the centre of high pressure and that high pressure continues to build in on monday. so again, it's probably west scotland and northern ireland will have the best of the day's sunshine, otherwise probably a little bit more in the way of cloud filtering down the north sea. so it could well be a cloudier picture across england, wales and eastern scotland through monday.

tuesday, well, the high pressure is still there. however, this is a troughjust coming in from europe. and what that will do is it will thicken the cloud a little bit across southern areas, enough to bring some scattered showers in. so you might find a few patches of rain here, not expecting anything to be particularly heavy, whereas the weather should be drier with the best of any sunshine again for west scotland and northern ireland. temperatures continue to be quite close to average, really, for the time of year and with the high pressure staying close by the british isles really through the rest of the week, the weather stays quiet with cloud varying day by day.

this is bbc news. the headlines: there's been widespread anger and frustration during nigeria's closest presidential election in recent memory, as poor organisation and logistical problems led to severe delays at polling stations. there were also reports of violence, including gunshots near a polling station in lagos. the uk and the eu appear to be on the brink of finalising a new deal on post—brexit trading rules covering northern ireland. the british prime minister says he is "giving everything" to secure an agreement, as his government is determined "to get the job done". officials in turkey say they are investigating more than 600 people over sub—standard buildings that collapsed during this month's earthquakes. meanwhile, international

aid agencies say reaching