Designed to confirm Vladimir Putin in the presidency. Allies of the late opposition leader, alexei navalny, had called on people to turn out at midday, in moscow and other cities to spoil their ballots or vote for any other candidate. His widow, yulia navalnaya, voted at the Russian Embassy in berlin, having queued there for several hours. As she left, she told reporters she had written � navalny� on her ballot. Her husband died in an Arctic Penal Colony last month and was barred from standing in this election as well as the president ial vote six years ago. These were the scenes in moscow. Thereve been no protest chants. The authorities warned that activists could be arrested. A Rights Monitoring Group in russia says more than 70 people have been detained. Vladimir putin is certain to win, giving him another six years in power. The kremlin has ensured he faces no credible opponent. There have been demonstrations at russian embassies around the world, including the uk, france, tokyo and georgia. These are the pictures from the french capital, paris, where demonstrators held banners. An effigy of President Putin was burnt in prague in the czech republic. Several dozen, mostly russian nationals, took part in a protest in the citys wenceslas square. With me is Francis Scarr who follows russia for bbc monitoring. Hello to you. What have you picked up hello to you. What have you picked up as far as the final day of monitoring . We have gone through a few details but take us through the other main details. It few details but take us through the other main details. Other main details. It seems the kremlin has other main details. It seems the kremlin has been other main details. It seems the kremlin has been keen other main details. It seems the kremlin has been keen to other main details. It seems the kremlin has been keen to keep. Other main details. It seems the i kremlin has been keen to keep this other main details. It seems the kremlin has been keen to keep this a fairly low key affair and really just a show of National Unity. It doesnt want any disturbances around the country that we have seen over the country that we have seen over the last couple of days such as vandalism or arson attacks. In the last few seconds we have just had the first exit polls coming through from Pro Kremlin Pollsters saying that putin has achieved an overwhelming crushing victory of 87 with second place going to the communist candidate with under 5 of the vote. This is even more than the kremlin was hoping to achieve. Reports suggested putin wanted around 80 which would be higher than last time in 2018 with turnout of over 70 will stop it appears he has got that as well. I think more interesting today has been the show of Opposition Support across russia and in countries around the world where yulia navalnaya, the widow of aleksei navalny, asked people to come out at midday in the silent show of protest. They have told people not to bring placards and not to shout Opposition Slogans in order to shout Opposition Slogans in order to avoid arrests. But it does appear that there were spikes in turnout at that there were spikes in turnout at that particular time. In that there were spikes in turnout at that particular time. That particular time. In terms of the warnings that particular time. In terms of the warnings over that particular time. In terms of the warnings over rest, that particular time. In terms of the warnings over rest, if that particular time. In terms of the warnings over rest, if opponents did come out, if they were very vocal, do we know how that has been reported in russia . Many people will be looking at that and saying how can that be legitimate and credible if people cant express their views . There are rights monitors that have been updated on events across the country and recording these arrests very diligently. They have said it is now around 80 people. But ultimately, this was an attempt, a symbolic protest rather than one that was meant to affect any kind of change. It was about people who do not agree with the kremlin, do not agree with the war in ukraine being able to come together and look each other in their eyes in the Polling Queue and realise that they were all there for the same reason. figs queue and realise that they were all there for the same reason. There for the same reason. As you said, there for the same reason. As you said. These there for the same reason. As you said, these protests there for the same reason. As you said, these protests were there for the same reason. As you l said, these protests were worldwide in key cities. Reports of what was said there . We in key cities. Reports of what was said there . In key cities. Reports of what was said there . ~. ,. , said there . We have seen people in london, said there . We have seen people in london. Paris. Said there . We have seen people in london, paris, america, said there . We have seen people in london, paris, america, in said there . We have seen people in london, paris, america, in other. London, paris, america, in other countries as well where russians havent been able to vote such as georgia really coming out to protest. And of course it is much easier for protest. And of course it is much easierfor them protest. And of course it is much easier for them to protest. And of course it is much easierfor them to come protest. And of course it is much easier for them to come out and protest in countries outside of russia. In russia itself, anyone who was demonstrably showing their opposition was subjecting themselves to potential arrest. There was one report of a woman in moscow who was seen writing no to war on her ballot paper before putting it into the ballot box and has been charged with discrediting the armed forces, a charge which can result in several years injail in russia. Just charge which can result in several years injail in russia. Years in ail in russia. Just to remind years in jail in russia. Just to remind our years in jail in russia. Just to remind our viewers years in jail in russia. Just to remind our viewers of years in jail in russia. Just to | remind our viewers of reports years in jail in russia. Just to i remind our viewers of reports of years in jail in russia. Just to remind our viewers of reports of the First Official results, saying that 87. 97 is what President Putin is leading with in the president ial election. When are we likely to hear from him . , election. When are we likely to hear from him . , j~. , from him . Last time in 2018 he gave a seech from him . Last time in 2018 he gave a speech in from him . Last time in 2018 he gave a speech in central from him . Last time in 2018 he gave a speech in Central Moscow from him . Last time in 2018 he gave a speech in Central Moscow Late from him . Last time in 2018 he gave a speech in Central Moscow Late into | a speech in Central Moscow Late into the night around 11 or midnight local time which would be in the next couple of hours in the uk. I think he could wait until tomorrow morning. It is not entirely sure yet. There has not been any confirmation of whether he will speak. But i think what we can predict is it is fairly certain he will come out and he will say that this was a widespread show of National Unity which is the message the kremlin has been pushing over recent weeks, and a popular mandate for him as president so he can continue for another six years. Qm. Continue for another six years. 0k, thank ou continue for another six years. 0k, thank you very continue for another six years. 0k, thank you very much, francis. We will leave it there for now. Thank you. We are going to stay with the russian elections and speak to our Eastern European correspondent Sarah Rainsford who is in kyiv. Hello, sarah. I wonder if news has spread to ukraine or kyiv specifically with officials saying that russias President Putin has effectively won the election with 87. 7 . No great surprise, is it . The election with 87. 7 . No great surprise. Is it . Surprise, is it . Nobody here is waitin surprise, is it . Nobody here is waiting with surprise, is it . Nobody here is waiting with baited surprise, is it . Nobody here is waiting with baited breath surprise, is it . Nobody here is waiting with baited breath to l surprise, is it . Nobody here is i waiting with baited breath to see who wins this election, no. And i think 88 , if thats what he decides to announce as a result, well, 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, it has also been important in anotherway, in 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. 0bviously thats 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, even destroying their passports, even destroying their passports so that they dont have to vote for a president of a company they never wanted to be a part of. Company they never wanted to be a art of. ,. , company they never wanted to be a art of. ,. ,. , company they never wanted to be a artof. ,. , , part of. They had also been reports that they had part of. They had also been reports that they had been part of. They had also been reports that they had been military, part of. They had also been reportsl that they had been military, russian soldiers, turning up at peoples homes and effectively telling them to vote. Its homes and effectively telling them to vote. � , homes and effectively telling them to vote. � , ,. , to vote. Its quite common in russian elections to vote. Its quite common in russian elections for to vote. Its quite common in russian elections for people | to vote. Its quite common in i russian elections for people to to vote. Its quite common in russian elections for people to have a mobile ballot boxes brought to their houses if they live in remote areas, difficult to access areas. Whats been happening in occupied areas of Eastern Ukraine is those people have been going out with those ballot boxes but with soldiers, too, armed men accompanying the Election Officials as they go around the houses. Probably russian officials would say thatis probably russian officials would say that is for security reasons, there is an active war going on. But obviously it is also a means of intimidation. And certainly we have also heard reports, ive heard directly from people in those areas that soldiers are accompanying of Election Officials when they take ballot boxes, closing at polling stations, taking the ballot boxes to the marketplace because they want to persuade and pressurise people in busier spots like markets and Shopping Centres to cast the ballot. So this is not an election like any other in any kind of democracy. It is a show of democracy. It is all about of course engineering putins return to the kremlin. What about of course engineering putins return to the kremlin. Return to the kremlin. What will this now mean return to the kremlin. What will this now mean for return to the kremlin. What will this now mean for the return to the kremlin. What will this now mean for the war return to the kremlin. What will this now mean for the war in this now mean for the war in ukraine . Is it more of the same . Yes. Thats what it boils down to. More of the same. I mean, its been more than two years now since the full scale invasion. Vladimir putin launched it, saying he was protecting russian speakers in Eastern Ukraine against nazism. That rhetoric hasnt changed, the rhetoric hasnt changed, the rhetoric against the west has not changed, in fact it is only intensified so we can only expect more of the same from russia. And uppishly for ukraine that is a pretty depressing prospect. Sarah rainsford, thank pretty depressing prospect. Sarah rainsford, thank you pretty depressing prospect. Sarah rainsford, thank you very pretty depressing prospect. Sarah rainsford, thank you very much indeed. Lets speak to Eleanor Bindman a Senior Lecturer in politics at manchester metropolitan university. Hello and welcome to the programme, eleanor. 87. 7 of the vote has gone to Vladimir Putin. Just to let you know, we have had a bit of reaction coming in. Poland has said that the president ial vote was not legal. Is this going to be a problem, do you think, for Vladimir Putin . I this going to be a problem, do you think, for Vladimir Putin . Think, for Vladimir Putin . I think its an important think, for Vladimir Putin . I think its an important symbolic think, for Vladimir Putin . I think i its an important symbolic gesture if International Foreign governments are recognising that his presidency is illegitimate. I dont think it will make any difference in terms of making him change course or change strategy. But i think particularly for russians who oppose his rule i think its an important symbolic gesture, for sure. I think its an important symbolic gesture, for sure. Gesture, for sure. I must tell viewers. Gesture, for sure. I must tell viewers, that gesture, for sure. I must tell viewers, that was gesture, for sure. I must tell viewers, that was by gesture, for sure. I must tell viewers, that was by the gesture, for sure. I must tell viewers, that was by the afp gesture, for sure. I must tell viewers, that was by the afp news agency. What makes a vote legal . President putin was hoping really for legitimacy. Legitimacy before the world or before russians . Before russians, i think the world or before russians . Before russians, i think hes the world or before russians . Before russians, i think hes pretty the world or before russians . Before russians, i think hes pretty much. Russians, i think hes pretty much given up at this stage in terms of being received as the legitimate president of russia internationally. We know that relations between russia and almost any other country that you can think of apart from a very small group are very strained because of the war in ukraine. So i think this is a performance or a kind of show of legitimacy to russians themselves, but also to make sure that they fully understand that he is not going anywhere and that he is not going anywhere and that he is not going to change course. ~ ,. ,. ,. ,. , course. Why would he need to do that before the russian course. Why would he need to do that before the russian people . Course. Why would he need to do that before the russian people . This course. Why would he need to do that before the russian people . This is before the russian people . This is what i dont quite understand and many people dont understand. When you hear russians afraid, being threatened, you cannot protest on the streets openly in moscow, you will be arrested, how can you have legitimacy if people are afraid of you . Why should he have bothered, why would he have bothered . I think thats a very why would he have bothered . I think thats a very good why would he have bothered . I think thats a very good question why would he have bothered . I think thats a very good question and why would he have bothered . I think thats a very good question and of. Thats a very good question and of course the atmosphere around the selections has been one of absolutely unprecedented repression and intimidation. He does still have and intimidation. He does still have a support base. Its estimated to be around 30 35 of the population, so these are people who will show up and vote for him out of genuine conviction and support for him. But within these types of regimes, obviously russia is now an authoritarian system, it is a dictatorship, elections are still important because he still wants to claim that he is legitimate. 0f claim that he is legitimate. Of course we know he isnt and Many Russians will also feel he isnt but in respects there is a kind of built in respects there is a kind of built in the sort of respect for the leader, for the president , particularly if he is received as russias president internationally as well as within the country itself. So they do still perform quite an important function. Its just a very different function to elections in democracies. fiifi elections in democracies. 0k, Eleanor Bindman, elections in democracies. 0k, Eleanor Bindman, Thank Elections in democracies. 0k, Eleanor Bindman, thank you very much indeed. On to the middle east now. The german chancellor, 0laf Scholz Has said his country Cannot Stand By and watch palestinians Risk Starvation in gaza and called for a longer lasting ceasefire. Gazas 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. Translation honestly, what they want from us . Translation honestly, what they want from us . To translation honestly, what they want from us . To kill translation honestly, what they want from us . To kill her . Translation honestly, what they want from us . To kill her . There i translation honestly, what theyl want from us . To kill her . There are no more kids in gaza. If we want to rebuild gaza we many years. Look at the house, it is destroyed. We dont love hamas and have no relations with them. Nothing is left. She is dead. 0nly her dress is left. This is the best gift from her. 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 against hamas. During these five months, the cost in human lives and the number of civilian casualties has grown to be extremely high. Many would argue much too high. As a partner and as a friend of israel, i have shared my concerns about the development of this war with the Prime Minister. By Fighting Hamas terrorists, israelis pursuing a legitimate goal. Never again. Never again an october 7th. The longer the war lasts, the higher the number of civilian casualties rises, the more desperate the situation of the people in gaza becomes, the more this begs the question, no matter how important the goal, can itjustify such terribly high costs . Or are there other ways to achieve your goal . Take the Ground Offensive in rafah. The Military Logic is one consideration, but there is a humanitarian logic as well. How should more than 1. 5 Million People be protected . Where should they go . I also spoke to the Prime Minister today about the need to provide the people in gaza with comprehensive humanitarian aid supplies. We Cannot Stand By and watch palestinians Risk Starvation. Thats 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. 0laf scholz though. 0laf scholz there. 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. 0ur correspondent, mark lowen, who is injerusalem, gave us his analysis of the conference. Well, germanys chancellor, 0laf scholz, is keeping the pressure up on Benjamin Netanyahu over more humanitarian aid getting into gaza, but also over israels plans to send its military into rafah in southern gaza, where about 1. 4 million gazans are sheltering, more than the more than half of the entire population of the gaza strip. Israel seems determined to push into rafah. The Prime Minister saying earlier in the day that israel is determined to push on to total victory as he says it, which means an operation in rafah to crush hamas and get the israeli hostages back. But that has met with international criticism, not least from the us. President biden said a week ago that that would cross a red line as far as his administration is concerned. And a couple of days ago, the Senate Majority leader in the us the Senate Majority leader in the us, in effect, called for Benjamin Netanyahus replacement, calling him an obstacle to peace. But in vintage netanyahu style, he is pushing back. Hes digging in. Hes facing more criticism both at home and abroad. But he is sounding defiant, saying israel will push on, it will achieve these twin aims of Destroying Hamas and getting the hostages back. And he lambasted his International Critics for, in his words, losing their moral conscience and forgetting about the hamas attack of 7th october. The question is, if the Israeli Military does go into rafah, what would they do with the those sheltering there . They would have to find a safe place for them to be. They would have to provide them with food and water. It would take time. It would take manpower. At the moment, the us says they have not received a detailed plan from israel over the operation in rafah. So there are still big, Big Questions over the logistics and timing of that operation if indeed it does happen at all. Israeli families of the 130 hostages are urging the government to do a deal to release them before it is too late. 0ur Senior International correspondent, 0rla guerin, spoke to one mother about the agonising wait for her son, as soon as i turned my phone on, two consecutive messages came in that had arrived at 8 11 from hirsch. The first of the messages said, i love you. And the second one immediately after said, im sorry. This is rachels, 23 and much missed. Here he is in happier times with his parents. The american israeli is still a hostage in gaza. Five months on, his mother still in anguish. Every morning when i wake up, i make a concerted effort and say to myself, now pretend to be human. So that i can get up. And try to save hersch, my son and the other remaining 133 hostages. What i want to do is lay in a ball on the floor weeping. But that wont help them. Hersh was caught up in this horror when a Music Festival became a Killing Field on october 7th. He sought refuge with friends inside a bomb shelter. But hamas was at the entrance, throwing in grenades. Allahu akbar he was last seen surrounded by gunmen, his left arm blown off, as hamas loaded hostages onto a truck. Do you believe you will get him back . I really do. Hope is mandatory. And, believe it. And i have to believe it. That he will come back to us. Thats what all the families cling to, the belief that their loved ones will be back. They keep protesting, keep pressuring the government to do a deal. A sombre count in hebrew of every day the hostages have been held. Rachel wants an end to the agony and not only for israelis. I feel that so many people are suffering, not just those families of the 134, but there are thousands and thousands of gazan innocent civilians in gaza who are suffering. There is so much suffering to go around. And i would love for our leaders, all of them, to say, were going to do what we have to do so thatjust the normal people can stop suffering. Everybody� s going to have to give in. Theres no perfect scenario. And we need the suffering to stop. Steve harley, who fronted the long running band, cockney rebel, has died at the age of 73. He had been forced to cancel performances last year after being diagnosed with cancer. David sillito reports. Youve done it all, youve broken every code. Steve harley and cockney rebel, and make me smile. It wasntjust 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, 0k, can i hold you to that . He said, yeah. Mr soft, turn around and force the world to watch the things youre 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 wont 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. Sing once again with me. He was given the chance to record the single for andrew lloyd webber� s phantom of the opera, but he was devastated when he wasnt chosen to play the role for the west end. Youve 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. 0oh ooh, la la la. Thats steve harley who has died at the age of 73. You can read more about his life on the bbc news website. Stay with us on bbc news. Hello there. Once this mornings cloud and rain moved away, we started to see things warming up, especially as we got some sunshine coming through. Temperatures widely, 1a, 15 degrees, made 17 degrees across southern parts of england, so warmer than it was yesterday. Were still in this mild air as we head overnight and into monday. This Weather System here eventually bringing some rain. But ahead of that, weve got two bands of cloud with a little rain. Not much on those at all. This second band of Cloud Heading Eastwards will see the rain tending to die out later in the night. Clearer skies ahead of that means temperatures will typically be around five, six, seven degrees. So thats a bit cooler than it was last night across england and wales. Some early mist and fog patches perhaps in the south east of england. You can see how that band of cloud and any rainjust 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 some sunny spells around still in milder air, widely11i or 15 degrees thanks to that southerly wind ahead of that Weather Front there, that will bring some rain in from the atlantic, most of it for northern areas. And that will get swept northwards together with that low Pressure Centre overnight. So tending to dry off in the northwest on tuesday. And were left with a band of cloud and patchy, Light Rain Heading south was followed by some brighter skies, some sunshine and a few showers around as well. Its beginning to turn a little bit cooler across scotland and Northern Ireland on tuesday. Still pretty mild in the southeast. In the southwest, there could be some rain later in the day that may push its way northwards and into wednesday, affect wales, Northern England and perhaps southeast scotland. Still a lot of uncertainty on that rain. Theres no wind to move things about at all. Scotland and Northern Ireland are looking generally dry. Cooler air here, perhaps. Mild, though, and generally dry in the south east of england. Now that band of Rain Willjust tend to fizzle out because its going to get swamped by the next Weather System coming in from the atlantic to bring some wetter weather for the northern half of the uk, mainly overnight. By thursday, that may have cleared scotland and Northern Ireland and well see some patchy Light Rain Heading down across england and wales. It may turn more cloudy and damp later in the day across Northern Ireland. But much of scotland enjoying some sunshine, especially in the northeast and temperatures 12 to 1a celsius. This is bbc news, the headlines. Polls have closed in the president ial election in russia in what was expected to be a foregone conclusion. An exit poll shows Vladimir Putin has won by 88 of the votes. The german chancellor, 0laf scholz, says his country cant stand by and watch palestinians Risk Starvation in gaza. Speaking injerusalem, mr scholz emphasised the terribly 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 russias 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, its time for talking business. Hello, everybody. A very warm welcome to talking Business Weekly with me, aaron heslehurst. Lets go and take a look at whats on the show. Translation we should support farmers, because without them, we have no food. Without them, well have nothing. The worlds failing food system with farmers struggling to make