live from london — this is bbc news... counting is under way in turkey — in what could be the most important election in the country's modern history. at least five people are believed to have died in myanmar — as a powerful cyclone crashes into the country. president zelensky�*s trip to germany culminates with him being awarded the prestigious charlemagne prize in service of european unity. and — it's british television's big night — the stars come out in force for the baftas. hello i'm lucy grey. counting is under way in turkey's presidential election, with voters deciding whether to end recep tayyip erdogan�*s long grip on power. turnout is expected to be huge.

the poll is one of the most consequential in the country's modern history, with mr erdogan�*s islamic party challenged by an opposition set on a more secular course, and promising closer ties to the west. his main rival is kemal kilicdaroglu, who is backed by a broad opposition alliance and has promised to scrap many of the powers acquired by the president. our senior international correspondent, orla guerin, reports from the turkish capital ankara. a tense moment in a tight election. here and on current voter responded to people in one polling booth. the police were called in. the ballot box matters in turkey and the opposition are on the lookout for fraud. this is a pivotal vote which could mean the end of the blue era.

turkey's authoritarian leader who did in istanbul looking sombre with election officials standing to attention. he said he is praying for turkish democracy. the president smiling secular rival, kemal kilicdaroglu says democracy would be a lot better off without him. kemal kilicdaroglu has emerged here and now having cast his vote. everyone is trying to get a picture. he is the focus of a lot of attention here today, a lot of hopes. he is promising to bring a new beginning, to bring spring to turkey. waiting for him patiently for hours, three generations of one family who hope today will change everything. they brought their baby along, outside her home for the first time ever.

translation: i her home for the first time ever. translation:— her home for the first time ever. translation: i don't want to be afraid when _ translation: i don't want to be afraid when i _ translation: i don't want to be afraid when i speak. _ translation: i don't want to be afraid when i speak. says - translation: i don't want to be afraid when i speak. says her - translation: i don't want to be l afraid when i speak. says her aunts on him. afraid when i speak. says her aunts on him- i'm — afraid when i speak. says her aunts on him. i'm getting _ afraid when i speak. says her aunts on him. i'm getting an _ afraid when i speak. says her aunts on him. i'm getting an interview. afraid when i speak. says her aunts| on him. i'm getting an interview and i am scared- — on him. i'm getting an interview and i am scared- i _ on him. i'm getting an interview and i am scared. i simply _ on him. i'm getting an interview and i am scared. i simply want _ on him. i'm getting an interview and i am scared. i simply want to - on him. i'm getting an interview and i am scared. i simply want to live i i am scared. i simply want to live without fear. we have been silent for so long. but president erdogan has been pulling out all of the stops to survive. invoking religion as he often does. last night he prayed for his political life, in istanbul's converted mosque. and a huge crop carried with him. —— crowd prayed with him. when or lose, some have fears about what may come next. we

are fears about what may come next. - are concerned about what may happen both ways. if he is elected we don't see a good future for the country and if he is not, things may get messy so we just, we will wait and see what happens. we messy so we just, we will wait and see what happens.— messy so we just, we will wait and see what happens. we don't want mass we want to be — see what happens. we don't want mass we want to be happy — see what happens. we don't want mass we want to be happy with _ see what happens. we don't want mass we want to be happy with our _ we want to be happy with our children and we want to live happily in this country. we children and we want to live happily in this country-— in this country. we love our country- — in this country. we love our country- the _ in this country. we love our country. the country - in this country. we love our country. the country is - in this country. we love our country. the country is not| in this country. we love our| country. the country is not a crossroads. _ country. the country is not a crossroads. if _ country. the country is not a crossroads. if neither- country. the country is not a i crossroads. if neither candidate gets more than 50% of the vote turks will be back at the polling stations in two weeks. some live pictures now from istanbul of some votes been counted there. as we were saying huge town —— turn out as expected. let's talk now to our correspondent, silin girit at the opposition�*s headquarters in istanbul. talk us through what you are expecting because we were saying

earlier, that it is expected to be very tight. earlier, that it is expected to be ve tiaht. , earlier, that it is expected to be very tight-— earlier, that it is expected to be ve tiaht. , , , . very tight. yes the race is expected to be very tight _ very tight. yes the race is expected to be very tight and _ very tight. yes the race is expected to be very tight and it _ very tight. yes the race is expected to be very tight and it is _ very tight. yes the race is expected to be very tight and it is already - to be very tight and it is already controversial. there are different results coming from different agencies, if you look at the state engines agency reports then you would think that mr erdogan is winning this election by clear margin. however, if you look at another agency report of the outcome, of the election, then you have a totally different understanding of what has happened today. and that is why opposition figures have been talking to the press live and discrediting the state agency, excusing the state agency of manipulating the results and try to demoralise the opposition supporters so that they leave the ballot boxes. aaron mine, kemal kilicdaroglu called upon all of the

opposition supporters, all citizens to never leave the ballot box until there is a final result. so everyone feels edgy at the moment especially opposition supporters. and no one actually knows who to trust will stop what results to trust. so it is still a wait and see kind of game. we are expecting to have a clear indication of what has happened throughout the day. but the outcome is by midnight local time. it is still a few hours ahead. controversy still a few hours ahead. controversy still continues. just still a few hours ahead. controversy still continues.— still continues. just to explain, ou have still continues. just to explain, you have to — still continues. just to explain, you have to give _ still continues. just to explain, you have to give 50% - still continues. just to explain, you have to give 50% of - still continues. just to explain, you have to give 5096 of the i still continues. just to explain, l you have to give 5096 of the vote still continues. just to explain, - you have to give 5096 of the vote in you have to give 50% of the vote in the first round otherwise people how to go back to the polls again in a couple weeks' time.— to go back to the polls again in a couple weeks' time. today over 6 million voters _ couple weeks' time. today over 6 million voters are _ couple weeks' time. today over 6 million voters are electing - couple weeks' time. today over 6 million voters are electing two i million voters are electing two things one the next president of the turkish republic, two, the next parliament. the parliamentary work will be finalised by the end of

today. but the presidential vote, if neither of the candidates, none of the candidates get over 50% of the votes then as you have said, there will be a runoff which will take place in two weeks. both candidates obviously want to secure the presidency by the end of tonight. but the race seems to be very tight. the mayor a leading opposition figure actually said, according to their numbers, the opposition party numbers, over25% their numbers, the opposition party numbers, over 25% of the votes have been counted and mr kilicdaroglu is leading he didn't actually specify on what margin and mr kilicdaroglu treated himself briefly saying that, we are leading. but what kind of a march are we talking about and are we talking about over 50%? we still are yet to see. we talking about over 5096? we still are yet to see-— are yet to see. president erdogan there is concern _ are yet to see. president erdogan there is concern that _ are yet to see. president erdogan there is concern that he - are yet to see. president erdogan there is concern that he may - are yet to see. president erdogan there is concern that he may notl there is concern that he may not accept the result if he loses. there

has been concerns _ accept the result if he loses. there has been concerns voiced - accept the result if he loses. there has been concerns voiced as - accept the result if he loses. there has been concerns voiced as such i accept the result if he loses. ii—iiff has been concerns voiced as such but president erdogan in last few days has actually discredited all of that concern and he said, i have been elected by people will and i will respect whatever the people have decided. but still, especially the opposition in this country has no trust in president erdogan and they are still feeling edgy, although he has said those words. they still felt on edge that president erdogan would not actually respect the results. a few weeks ago, i had an interview with mr kilicdaroglu and i asked him this question and he replied saying, he will respect the results. we have no such concerns. thank you very much. through for us in istanbul.

one of the strongest storms to hit the bay of bengal in recent years — cyclone mocha — has inundated parts of myanmar, cutting communications and destroying buildings. at least five people are reported to have been killed in the country and the city of sittwe is said to be deep in water, with winds of 200 kilometres per hour causing chaos. disaster officials in bangladesh said there'd been no major damage. around a million rohinga refugees are living in flimsy camps around the city of cox's bazar — 1,300 of those shelters have been damaged. rajini vaidyanathan is in cox's bazar — she's just sent this report. cyclone cyclone mocha arrived with great force. winds gusting at high speeds. it hit the bangladesh miramar coastline. as the cyclone intensified so did the panic. here intensified so did the panic. here in south east bangladesh, hundreds of thousands left their homes in coastal areas for shelter. some even brought their livestock. this woman

carried her two month baby from her home on the banks of the river. every classroom in this school is absolutely packed with people. who have left their homes seeking shelter from the cyclone. there are many mothers with babies, there are young children, there are elderly and the sick. almost everyone here is from a low—lying coastal area stop fishing communities and they are terrified about whether their homes will still be standing once the cyclone passes. for now it is about finding a space to settle here. we met the earlier woman as she look for a place to sit with her baby. for her the cyclone was part of an endless cycle. translation: of an endless cycle. tuna/mom- of an endless cycle. translation: , ., translation: last year under the clone translation: last year under the cyclone destroyed _ translation: last year under the cyclone destroyed my _ translation: last year under the cyclone destroyed my house - translation: last year under the cyclone destroyed my house and i translation: last year under the | cyclone destroyed my house and we were parroted but now i feel it is

damaged again. —— repaired it. how can i live if this keeps happening. we are very poor and we cannot afford to rebuild.— we are very poor and we cannot afford to rebuild. nature was also unishin: afford to rebuild. nature was also punishing the _ afford to rebuild. nature was also punishing the poor _ afford to rebuild. nature was also punishing the poor in _ afford to rebuild. nature was also punishing the poor in the - afford to rebuild. nature was also punishing the poor in the world i afford to rebuild. nature was also l punishing the poor in the world are just a few g camp nearby. hundreds of bamboo shelters damaged by the storm. per hinge of refugees who fled persecution in me and mars more than five years ago already live in miserable conditions. the cyclone just made things worse. as family returns from the shelter, relief no one was killed in the storm yet. evacuations are credited for saving lives is the extreme weather continues to disrupt them. stav danaos is from the bbc weather centre and he explained what the cyclone's trajectory could be as it heads in—land. it is moving in than quickly producing 400 millimetres of rain in the worst affected areas.

that heavy rain and flooding the coastal inundation and landslides, mudslides are going to be a risk but quickly sunday and monday you will notice it almost disappears. it is going to be knocked down to a depression by the end of today and then it will be remnants of thunderstorms as it pushes up into the mountains so they could be a clear up operation but the disturbance in the atmosphere left by the storm will allow for lots of thunderstorms across bangladesh and north—western myanmar. ukraine's president is wrapping up a trip to germany — his first visit since russia invaded ukraine. mr zelensky thanked the country's chancellor for a new package of military aid worth three billion dollars. olaf scholz promised germany would support ukraine for as long as necessary, and would back its attempt tojoin the european union. president zelensky then flew to the german city of aachen, where he received the prestigious

charlemagne prize. the award is given to someone considered to have done the most to promote european unity. previous recipients include winston churchill, pope francis and bill clinton. it's been reported by french media that president zelensky will fly to paris later, for meetings with french political leaders. we'll bring you confirmation of that as soon as we get it. and of course the president visited italy yesterday. next — let's get some analysis from our berlin correspondentjenny hill — on the response he got in germany. he could not been in any doubt of german levels of support that's because on the eve of his visit the german government announced it would send weapons worth 2.7 billion euros to kyiv including more tanks, more anti—aircraft, sorry, anti—air, air defence systems, so he was aware of that support would be coming. he knows that germany already has

sent quite a lot after an albeit, extremely hesitant start in terms of financial aid, military aid to forget that also of germany hosted well overi million ukrainian refugees. but these visits are all about sending messages. and the message of course to the ukrainian people has been one of reassurance and that's why we heard the german leader emphasising the support would continue for as long as necessary but also sending a message to putin that message that he cannot count on ukarine's allies support waning as this war goes on. but zelensky once fighter jets from his allies in that it is something that the german leader does not want to allow. he's one of a number of nato countries that does not think it is a great idea. all sorts of objections and some people say the training of staff

to use those fighterjets, the maintenance on that may be on that may be tricky. i think the chief concern here in germany is that they don't want to supply ukraine with the kind of weapons that could be used to target russia. ukraine has always said it would not do that, but even today as mr zelensky said he was hopeful that he could persuade germany to join an alliance people who provide fighterjets, the german chancellor said that he would stick to the line and his line is that he is only prepared to supply so—called, defensive weapons to ukraine. initial results from thailand's general election show a surge of support for the radical new party move forward. current projections put move forward's seat total very close to the frontrunner thai. between them the two reformist parties are likely to have a substantial majority, making it all but certain that incumbent prime minister prayuth will not have another term in office. but even if they win, it's unclear the military will allow them to form the next government.

well from thai elections — back to our top story — turkey elections. millions of votes are being counted after elections to decide who will lead the country for the next five years. kemal kilicdaroglu claimed that he is in the lead currently. erdogan also claiming that he is in a very confusing situation at the moment. live now to dr lisel hintz who is assistant professor of international relations atjohns hopkins university. she is an expert on turkey's domestic and foreign policy. polls have not been closed for that long but both sides claiming that they are leading currently. i suppose that shows us just how tight this is most it absolutely does. i

think we knew that it was going to be an extraordinary close race going into the election day today. and i

to make sure it can tilt the playing field in _ to make sure it can tilt the playing field in its — to make sure it can tilt the playing field in its favour, it is also the case _ field in its favour, it is also the case that— field in its favour, it is also the case that members of his party including — case that members of his party including the interior minister intimated that if there is an opposition victory, a political coup that it opposition victory, a political coup thatitis opposition victory, a political coup that it is because of the opposition coalition partnering with terrorists. there is a chance he could call any opposition victory illegitimate. just could call any opposition victory illegitimate.— could call any opposition victory illegitimate. just to give context to the selection. _ illegitimate. just to give context to the selection. turkey's - illegitimate. just to give context i to the selection. turkey's economy is really suffering at the moment and this is one of the number one issues for people. at the polls. he also had the earthquakes earlier in the year which were so devastated. and there were a lot of criticism of the government's handling of the response to those earthquakes. i think we even had president erdogan

admitting mistakes were made. how much with the events of the earthquake's response have affected people's those are where things are ready, was the ground already set if you know what i mean in terms of people's disappointment in terms of the economy and the economic situation in general before the earthquake was? the situation in general before the earthquake was? the economy is number one _ earthquake was? the economy is number one on _ earthquake was? the economy is number one on people's - earthquake was? the economy is number one on people's mines. i number one on people's mines. massive inflation and unemployment and 5 million youth voting for the first time who have grown up knowing nothing but erdogan and now i don't know if they will have a child thins the graduate university if they can even get a place there. the economic issues are at the forefront but underpinning that is the state of democracy and whether bc continued move into authoritarianism where we have marginalised lgbtq communities, kurdish communities, rollback and women's rights, all issues that are on the table today in terms of this

kind of referendum on turkey's political system when it comes to the earthquakes we did not see voter preferences shift as much as we thought they may. it seemed as thought they may. it seemed as though those who might have been frustrated with apk response knew that they could be comfortable that had a lot of internal polarisation or ideological differences but have managed to come together and put forward a really impressive, compelling economy focused messaging for people. so there is the sense that we thought there was going to be more frustration after the earthquake in voter shifts but was not. one thing to know is whether people can get back to the region to vote. whether they were able to go back to their homeland. yet hundreds of thousands of people who were displaced and only some of them registered in their new place of residence. so getting back to the polls might have been something that could have been difficult. so i think a number of ways, the

earthquake has shifted the electoral playing field but again it is still too tough to call. it was definitely the case of the economy, the future of democracy and i think frustration with the earthquake were on the ballot. ~ ., ., ,., , with the earthquake were on the ballot. ~ ., ., , ., ballot. what about in terms of aloball ballot. what about in terms of globally the — ballot. what about in terms of globally the impact _ ballot. what about in terms of globally the impact of - ballot. what about in terms of globally the impact of this - globally the impact of this election. what could a president kilicdaroglu mean in terms of foreign policy, the last two decades it has lot alone president erdogan. what we see in terms of the changes in foreign policy if there is a change in leader? i in foreign policy if there is a change in leader?— in foreign policy if there is a change in leader? i think that's a aood wa change in leader? i think that's a good way to _ change in leader? i think that's a good way to put _ change in leader? i think that's a good way to put it. _ change in leader? i think that's a good way to put it. this - change in leader? i think that's a good way to put it. this has - change in leader? i think that's a | good way to put it. this has been change in leader? i think that's a i good way to put it. this has been an absolute personalisation of foreign policy. there has been a discrediting or a marginalisation of institutional knowledge that had existed in the foreign ministry. this was much more and erdogan personalistic influence over foreign policy, i think with a kilicdaroglu

presidency and opposition coalition government, you would see a more professionalisation of foreign policy. i think there would be less of the bombastic rhetoric. i think it would be less of the strong man, row, club we were seeing between leaders like erdogan and putin for example although i would say we don't expect turkey to pivot strongly away from russia irrespective of of which party that comes in for economic and energy reasons, i think turkey needs to maintain its relationship with russia. it has done every michael job of playing the role of mediator between russia and ukraine and i think that is because it cannot along with its nato allies, necessarily sanction russia because it does have a lot of economic and energy needs. i think that there would be a increased push towards the eu or at least more political will for it and certainly, fewer problems with democracy that has concerned a lot of eu officials. so

however, many obstacles calls —— obstacles remain to an eu succession process or a revisitation of the customs issue. so i think there would be some major changes but perhaps not as many as people would expect as if we were to see a kilicdaroglu presidency. thank you for “oininr kilicdaroglu presidency. thank you forjoining us— kilicdaroglu presidency. thank you forjoining us doctor, _ kilicdaroglu presidency. thank you forjoining us doctor, from - kilicdaroglu presidency. thank you forjoining us doctor, from johns l forjoining us doctor, from johns hopkins university. let's get some of the day's other news now. labour is considering extending voting rights to some european union citizens living in the uk if the party wins the next general election. sources suggest the plan would apply to migrants who live permanently in the uk and pay taxes. the conservative party said the plan was "laying the groundwork to drag the uk back into the eu by stealth". scotland's former first minister, nicola sturgeon, "absolutely failed" to deliver for young people, according to scotland's childrens commissioner. bruce adamson says that ms sturgeon didn't tackle child poverty and a rise in mental health issues. the scottish government says its committed to making scotland "the best place

in the world" for young people. a suspected drone has disrupted flights at london's second biggest airport. the runway at gatwick was closed for around 50 minutes. 12 aircraft due to land were diverted to other airports during the incident. in december 2018, the airport was shut for more than a day after a drone sighting. the bafta television awards are under way at london's royal festival hall. they recognise the best british tv shows of last year and some of the winners have already been announced. the psychological adventure show the traitors won the reality and constructed factual award. best entertainment show went to the masked singer.

earlier our entertainement correspondent lizo mzumba spoke to maritn freeman who has been nominated in the leading actor category for the police drama "the responder". first of all not your first baftas nomination but today it was feel special? nomination but today it was feel secial? , . , , special? very much so because it is about your — special? very much so because it is about your peers. _ special? very much so because it is about your peers. your _ special? very much so because it is about your peers. your peers - special? very much so because it is about your peers. your peers are i about your peers. your peers are nominating you and it is a cliche, but i really do, just to be nominated that's it for me. that is the honour. whatever happens today i was to have a great time. haifa the honour. whatever happens today i was to have a great time.— was to have a great time. how was immersing — was to have a great time. how was immersing yourself _ was to have a great time. how was immersing yourself in _ was to have a great time. how was immersing yourself in this - immersing yourself in this wonderfully complex character, problems in his life as a police officer with his personal life, set in liverpool, it is greedy but that is how it felt —— gritty. it in liverpool, it is greedy but that is how it felt -- gritty.— is how it felt -- gritty. it was really hard — is how it felt -- gritty. it was really hard work _ is how it felt -- gritty. it was really hard work it _ is how it felt -- gritty. it was really hard work it is - is how it felt -- gritty. it was really hard work it is very - really hard work it is very rewarding and... you came home every day trained but in the best possible

way. it was a beautifuljob surrounded by other fantastic people some who are nominated today. == some who are nominated today. -- drained. some who are nominated today. —— drained. some of your costars have been nominated was it really a group effort? {iii been nominated was it really a group effort? . ., , , , been nominated was it really a group effort? _, , , , ., effort? of course. everything is a u-rou effort? of course. everything is a group effort- _ effort? of course. everything is a group effort. anything _ effort? of course. everything is a group effort. anything that - effort? of course. everything is a group effort. anything that you i effort? of course. everything is a i group effort. anything that you want to make that is any good of course has to be, there will be countless of scores of people involved in that. so this is the front of the house but things like today but of course, it is all a group effort. and forced me to do myjob back onto my temple if i have other people raising me and lifting the and challenge me to do that. you are watchin: challenge me to do that. you are watching bbc _ challenge me to do that. you are watching bbc news. _ hello there. it's a pretty quiet weather story indeed for the upcoming week and beyond because high pressure looks to be dominating the scene quite a while. so it's going to be mostly dry. there will be a few showers around,

mostly across the north of the uk. could be quite cool as well to start this new week, certainly monday and tuesday both by day and by night, but it will warm up slightly towards the end of the week. now, the game changer has been this weather front, a cold front with some rain on it that's been spreading southwards and eastwards across the country through today. be lying across the south—east by the end of tonight. so a mild—ish night here, but further north—west and the clear skies, quite a chilly one to come. could even see a touch of frost or temperatures down to freezing, i should say. some of the sheltered glens across scotland. so chilly start to the day and you can see why we're in this chilly air mass for monday. still high pressure with us, so it's going to be mostly fine and dry. now we lose that weather front from the south—east. it'll take the rain with it and then its bright for many from monday, sunshine and showers. order of play for the afternoon. most of the showers, scotland, northern ireland, northern and eastern england. quite a keen breeze there. and again across the north of scotland, probably best of the drier weather wales in the south—west where we could see

16 degrees, but for most it's the low to mid—teens that is quite cool for this time of year. and then as we move through monday night, largely clear skies, light winds, that cooler air mass is going to turn chilly once again. could see some mist and fog developing here and there. so into tuesday, we've still got high pressure with us, fewer isobars, i think for many of the winds will be light away from the north of scotland, which we'll also see this week, weather front that could enhance the cloud and shower activity for the northern half of scotland. we could see the odd shower into northern ireland, perhaps northern england too, but the southern half of britain should tend to stay dry after that cool start. should see quite a bit of sunshine, a bit of fair weather, cloud, top temperatures, maybe up to 17 degrees. it's the low to mid—teens again in the north. and then as we move out to tuesday into wednesday, our area of high pressure topples a little bit further eastwards. that will start to bring some slightly milder air off the atlantic. you can see the blue tinge there just fading away as the yellows take over. so it's not going to be a heat wave by any means, but the temperatures will tend to climb a little bit towards the end of the week

and there should be quite a bit of sunshine around. it should be mostly dry, all thanks to high pressure.

this is bbc news. the headlines: millions of votes are being counted in turkey after elections to decide who will lead the country for the next five years. the incumbent president erdogan is seeking to prolong his 20 years in power against a stiff challenge from his main opponent, kemal kilicdaroglu.