He thanked the citizens who went to the Polling Stations, expressing gratitude in particular to those whom he called warriors on the line of contact, referring to the front line of the war in ukraine. Translation in this connection i would like to translation in this connection i would like to thank translation in this connection i would like to thank first translation in this connection i would like to thank first of translation in this connection i would like to thank first of all, would like to thank first of all, citizens of the russia, we are all one team. All citizens of russia, who have come to the Polling Stations today, and voted. Applause. I want to give special thanks to our soldiers, the people who are fighting along the contact line, and providing for the countrys existence. Of course there are many tasks ahead, but when we are consolidated, and i think this is clear to everyone, who ever might wish to intimidate us, whoever might wish to suppress our will, our conscience will, nobody has ever succeeded in doing this in history, and is not succeeding now and will never succeeding now and will never succeed in future. Applause. Well, the white house said the election was obviously not free nor fair. Germany called it a pseudo election, with a result that would surprise nobody. 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 navalnaya, voted at the Russian Embassy in berlin, having queued there for several hours. She was greeted by supporters with flowers and applause. 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. In a message on x she thanked everyone involved in the protests worldwide, posting, its not me, but you who give me hope that everything is not in vain, that we will still fight. With me is Francis Scarr who follows russia for bbc monitoring. We have been following events. You are been keeping a very close tab on everything happening. One of the points that has come out from evening and just picking up from what we said that, from yulia, Alexei Navalny� s widow was that navalny was mentioned by putin by name. How significant is that idem; name. How significant is that very si. Nificant name. How significant is that very significant because name. How significant is that significant because previously putin had refused to utter his name, it was as if he was scared of navalny as a genuine rival, someone who was capable of wring bringing people on the street, unlike any other Opposition Figure and the fact that he has waited until navalny� s death or several weeks after his death, to utter his name shows i think a new level of confidence that putin is fully wear now he is unrivalled in russia, as a politicalfigure. Also, brought up several times, and in several guises was of course the war in ukraine. The percentage of the vote was brought up, nearly ioo , i think was one of the questions that was put to mr putin, in terms of the territory, the annexed territory, but also questioned time and time again as as expects of the war that is currently taking place if ukraine, how important is that for mr putin . I think, well this of course was the first election held since the full scale invasion of ukraine in february 2022, and some people described it almost as a referendum on his decision to invade the neighbouring country. A few weeks ago at his annual State Of The Nation address he claimed that the absolute majority of russians supported his decision to launch what he still calls the special Military Operation, and today he spoke about the high turn out levels in the occupied areas of ukraine, where the election was also held. Of course under conditions which no genuine International Observers would be satisfied by, and putin showed that this, he said this was evidence of people in these areas showing they were not intimidated by threats from ukraine or from the west, and that they were very happy to be part of russia. So, international orforeign concerns about the legitimacy of the vote, whether it was free or fair, we can push that to the side now, because it is done and dusted, all President Putin wanted to be given was that legitimacy by russians. What happens next . Was that legitimacy by russians. What happens next . Well, at the moment, What Happens Next . Well, at the moment. It What Happens Next . Well, at the moment, it appears What Happens Next . Well, at the moment, it appears there What Happens Next . Well, at the moment, it appears there will. What happens next . Well, at the moment, it appears there will be i moment, it appears there will be little change from previously, he has been in power in One Way Or Anotherfor has been in power in One Way Or Another for 2h has been in power in One Way Or Anotherfor 2a year, has been in power in One Way Or Another for 2h year, however there are some reports in the independent Russian Media saying that putin has been waiting for this mandate effectively, to perhaps take some less popular decision, there is talk of course of another conscription wave, this war is not going to end any time soon in ukraine, and putin will need more soldiers to send to the front line, there is also talk of reform to the russian tax system that might happen, previously in 2018 when he was last elected he introduced very unpopular changes to the retirement age, increasing it for men and women, something which did not go down well at the time. The opposition in russia, what state is it in . Did he mention it apart from mr navalny. . He is it in . Did he mention it apart from mr navalny. . He mentioned the Midday Protest from mr navalny. . He mentioned the Midday Protest that from mr navalny. . He mentioned the Midday Protest that was from mr navalny. . He mentioned the Midday Protest that was held, from mr navalny. . He mentioned the Midday Protest that was held, was Midday Protest that was held, was called for by the russian opposition, they should come to Polling Stations at midday and show solidarity by being there at the same time, he appeared dismy si and he is very confident now that he has no real rivals or no real threats, they are either in prison, abroad or dead frankly speaking, and there is no one within russia who can pose any kind of challenge to him at all. 0k, thank you very much indeed. Plenty more on the website. 0k, you are are watching bbc news, we are concluding all the Development Concerning the russian election. An official has said that more than Eight Million russians cast their ballots on line. The first time that electronic voting has been used in a russian president ial vote. Here is our russia editor. Singing it is a strange feature of russian elections that they often dont 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 wholl be president , theres 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 couldnt win, mr putins 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. Ive 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 hed come. It was important for me to see faces of other people who would come here today and to see that im not alone in my political views. For now, therell be no change in the kremlin. This election was never about, would Vladimir Putin win or wouldnt 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 hes 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 whod wanted to be russias president. Here, a ballot paper in place of putins name, navalny� s, and this message. Hes the candidate we wanted. Steve rosenberg, bbc news, moscow. 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. 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, i what do they want from us . To kill her . There are no more kids in gaza. If we want to rebuild gaza, we need many years. Look at the house its destroyed. We dont love hamas and have no relations with them. Nothing is left, shes dead. Only 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 in gaza. 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. 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. Our correspondent, mark lowen, who is injerusalem, gave us his analysis of the conference. Germanys chancellor olaf scholz is keeping the pressure up on Binyamin 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 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 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 in effect called for Binyamin Netanyahus replacement, calling him an obstacle to peace. But you know, in vintage netanyahu style, he is pushing back, hes digging in, he is 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 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 and 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 Questions over the logistics and timing of that operation, if indeed it does happen at all. Meanwhile, israeli families of the 130 or so hostages are urging the government to do a deal to release them before it is too late. Our Senior International correspondent orla guerin spoke to one mother about the agonising wait for her son, who was taken when hamas attacked israel on october 7th. 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 i 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. To haiti next, and after weeks of deadly violence, police say several gang members have been killed in an operation to clear roadblocks and seize weapons in the capital port au prince. A plane sent to evacuate us citizens has departed, but its not clear how many were able to get to the airport. Our Central America correspondent, will grant, is one of the first journalists to be able to get into the country and reports now from cap haitien, where most displaced people have been heading. Cap haitien suffers from almost all of haitis deepest problems grinding poverty, chaos, disorder and corruption, but crucially, not gang violence. So its becoming the main safe haven for people forced to leave the gang controlled capital, port au prince. Another bus load arrives, having run the gauntlet of a dangerous journey. It took us hours longer than it should, as we had to reroute around the gang checkpoints and there was gunfire, says this passenger, who was clearly shaken. Little wonder when you see what hes fleeing. One of haitis main gangs has released a slickly produced video currently circulating online. It shows a well armed militia, a group prepared to take on the haitian state and any International Force which might be deployed here. Mr pierre also fled to cap haitien six months ago. Its almost impossible to pull yourself from poverty in haiti. He had managed it. But becoming a middle class businessman made him a target. The gangs destroyed his business, ransacked his house and tried to kidnap him, and in the process plunged him and his family back into poverty. Translation this is just 2 of the life i used to live. Infact, im not living. Im just existing. The longer the power vacuum in haiti continues, the worse the humanitarian emergency here becomes. In turn, more and more displaced people will flock to the city of cap haitien In Search Of Refuge from the violent gangs that have such a tight grip on the capital. While the Security Situation is that of a failed state, so are the politics. We have violence in haiti. Uri latortue was the head of the senate and is currently under us sanctions for alleged links to Drug Trafficking and gangs. Thats something he denies and points the finger of blame at his opponents instead. The Government Works with the gangs and this is the problem. The government, during the past three orfour years, work with the gangs and in this Situation Police cant do anything. Amid the worsening crisis, the Us State Department has laid on a Charter Flight for americans to leave cap haitien for florida. Several dozen took up the opportunity to flee. However, thats a luxury most haitians arent afforded and must seek a safer place inside haiti instead. Will grant, bbc news, cap haitien, haiti. Steve harley, who fronted the long running band, cockney rebel, has died at the age of 73. His best known song, make me smile, 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. 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. Ooh ooh, la la la. David sillito looking back at the life of steve harley, who has died at the age of 73. Today is st patricks day, and thousands of people gathered in towns and cities across ireland to celebrate. This was the scene in Dublin City Centre where 5000 people took part in the annual traditional parade. The irish president , in his st patricks day message, paid tribute to all irish women and men engaged in peacekeeping and humanitarian work around the world. This is bbc news. Hello. Once this mornings cloud and rain moved away we started to see things warming up, especially as we 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 will see the rain tending to die out in the night. Clearer skies mean temperatures will be around five, six seven degrees, so that is cooler than last night. Six seven degrees, so that is cooler 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 around, still in mild air, Temperatures Widely14 or 15, thanks to that southerly wind ahead of that weather front. That will bring rain 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 skies, sunshine and few showers round as well. 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 uncertainty on that rain, there is no wind to move things about. Scotland and 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 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 damp later in the day in Northern Ireland, but much of scotland enjoying some sunshine, and temperatures 12 to 1a celsius. This is bbc news, the headlines. President putin gave his first speech after his Landslide Victory in an election that featured no real competition he said his success was a testament to the trust his citizens had in him. Germanys chancellor, olaf scholz, says his country cant stand by and watch palestinians Risk Starvation in gaza. Speaking injerusalem, 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 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. Now on bbc news, its newscast. Newscast from the bbc. Hello. Its laura in studio. Hello, its paddy in the studio. And henry at home. And today, paddy, i think we ended up basically doing a lot of really similar things on the wireless and on the telly box,