Transcripts For BBCNEWS BBC 20240704

Hello, im rich preston. Welcome to the programme. We begin in russia, where large queues suddenly formed at some Polling Stations earlier in an apparent show of dissent during elections 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. 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 seventy 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. Protests were also held at russian embassies abroad. Mr navalny� s widow, yulia, was among those queuing outside the Russian Embassy in berlin. There have been demonstrations in the uk, france, tokyo and georgia. And the czech republic. We have an excellent line up of people to talk us through events. Sarah rainsford, in kyiv, and our North America correspondent, will vernon, who is outside the Russian Embassy in washington dc. But first, lets speak to Vitaliy Shevchenko the Russia Editor at bbc monitoring. Vitaliy, talk us through the events of the day. How long left to go on the polls . Of the day. How long left to go on the olls . ~. ,. , of the day. How long left to go on the olls . ~. ,. The polls . Well, voting has closed in almost all the polls . Well, voting has closed in almost all of the polls . Well, voting has closed in almost all of russia, the polls . Well, voting has closed in almost all of russia, including i in almost all of russia, including moscow. People are still casting their ballots in areas west of moscow in areas such as kaliningrad. The Authorities Say that turnout has exceeded 73 which is a very high figure and a figure that the kremlin would be happy to see, whether its accurate or not because if you see this election as a way of legitimising Vladimir Putins rule you really need high figures. There were queues of people forming, or getting bigger around about midday as the opposition said supporters of the late Opposition Leader Alexei Navalny should come to Polling Stations around about midday. But there is no way of telling really which of the people in those queues were supporters of the opposition or which peoplejust came were supporters of the opposition or which people just came to vote in fact. Actors of the same queues were by the opposition as evidence of how successful their Silent Protest was and pro kremlin media as well which said that, well, look, how happy our citizens are to come and vote. You mentioned citizens are to come and vote. You mentioned that citizens are to come and vote. You mentioned that 73 turnout. We have heard of several arrests being made, around 70 arrests. What have people been arrested for and have there been arrested for and have there been demonstrations and scuffles, or has it all been quite peaceful . It has it all been quite peaceful . It has been mostly peaceful. It is not exactly clear what the alleged transgression committed by those people is. There are reports of people is. There are reports of people being arrested because they came to Polling Stations around about midday which is something that the authorities apparently try to prevent because it is generally seen as an expression of pro opposition sentiment. But by and large, voting has been peaceful and uneventful. Whatever pro opposition activists came to Polling Stations, they didnt hold any political posters or chant political slogans. Pictures are being shared on social media of ballots cast by these Opposition Supporters with anti war and anti putin messages scrawled on them. But this is pretty much all these people can do, come in silence to Polling Stations or write these messages anonymously on Ballot Papers because everything else, any vocal demonstration of Pro Opposition Support is very likely to lead to arrests. Proopposition support is very likely to lead to arrests. Vitaliy shevchenko, likely to lead to arrests. Vitaliy shevchenko, editor likely to lead to arrests. Vitaliy shevchenko, editor for likely to lead to arrests. Vitaliy shevchenko, editor for bbc shevchenko, editorfor bbc monitoring, thank you. 0ver shevchenko, editorfor bbc monitoring, thank you. Over to kyiv and are corresponding to Sarah Rainsford who is there for us. Good evening. We are looking at another six years in powerfor president putin. How does this look for ukraine . ~ putin. How does this look for ukraine . Putin. How does this look for ukraine . ~ ~ ukraine . Well, it looks like the continuation ukraine . Well, it looks like the continuation of ukraine . Well, it looks like the continuation of a ukraine . Well, it looks like the continuation of a war ukraine . Well, it looks like the continuation of a war that ukraine . Well, it looks like the I Continuation of a war that Vladimir Putin launched in 2014, escalated two years ago, and is clearly intent on continuing to carry out now. That is of course a war which means missiles, drones and shelling every day in ukraine. So it is certainly not good news for this country and it is certainly not something that is a surprise either because of course this is a totally engineered election in russia. I think whats interesting in what is happening today in russia if you are looking at it from ukraines perspective is the vote taking place in occupied parts of eastern and southern ukraine. So those areas where of course if you think back to the beginning of Vladimir Putins full scale invasion, he claimed that russian speaking citizens there needed protecting by moscow. That is the key reason for launching his war. Now, he wants and the kremlin wants to see you now those very people who are in those occupied areas that russia claims to have annexed, they want to see them going to the polls and gratefully voting for Vladimir Putin. I think there will be people there who do support russia but we have been talking to people on the ground in those areas who definitely dont. They have been talking about the extreme pressure on them to take part in this election including from armed soldiers who are accompanying Election Officials with ballot boxes in those areas. A lot of pressure to achieve a high turnout in those areas. But people are resisting. We know from people ive been speaking to that in fact the real turnout is pretty low and also we have heard about people who have not only been trying to avoid going to the Polling Stations, they are even going as far we have been told is putting their passports through the Washing Machine so they are totally useless and that they cant be forced without any kind of official documents to take part in this election for a president of a country they never wanted to be a part of. It country they never wanted to be a art of. , ,. , country they never wanted to be a art of. , i. , ~ part of. It is interesting you talk about occupied part of. It is interesting you talk about occupied parts part of. It is interesting you talk about occupied parts of part of. It is interesting you talk about occupied parts of eastern | about occupied parts of eastern ukraine, their weekend marks the tenth anniversary since russia annexed crimea. 0ver tenth anniversary since russia annexed crimea. Over the weekend ukraine has been striking back with a on russian Oil Refineries. Tell us a on russian Oil Refineries. Tell us a bit about what has happened. This is a strategy a bit about what has happened. Ti 3 is a strategy that we have seen increase in recent days and weeks. Certainly in the last week alone there have been six tracks that ukraine has confirmed on russian Oil Refineries and oil depots. The latest was the one overnight in krasnodar in Southern Russia and unofficial here in ukraine has confirmed that was a Ukrainian Drone strike. They say this is all about putting pressure on the russian economy. They are going after russias oil exports, starting fires, trying to damage infrastructure, trying to basically affect the war machine in russia so that they therefore can damage russias ability to attack ukraine. This is something we will see increasing. President zelensky has talked about ukraines long range drones, hes talked about a whole new strike force in the air. Trying to take the war in that sense to russia, notjust physically, to take the war in that sense to russia, not just physically, not russia, notjust physically, not just impacting the infrastructure but its also about a psychological war, showing that ukraine does have the capacity now to strike a much deeper inside russian territory. {lilia deeper inside russian territory. 0k, sarah, deeper inside russian territory. 0k, sarah. Always deeper inside russian territory. 0k, sarah, always good to get your analysis, Sarah Rainsford in kyiv. Lets go to washington and our correspondence will Vernon Outside the Russian Embassy there. We have been hearing about demonstrations outside russian embassies in europe. Give us a sense of the picture there in dc. ,. ,. , give us a sense of the picture there in dc. ,. , in dc. Good afternoon from the Russian Embassy in dc. Good afternoon from the Russian Embassy in in dc. Good afternoon from the | Russian Embassy in washington, in dc. Good afternoon from the Russian Embassy in washington, dc where there is a Polling Station open inside the embassy for russians to come and vote in this election that we know is not a genuine election, it is not free and fair, but nevertheless there are quite a few people here, a few hundred i would say, and washington, dc and the surrounding areas dont contain huge numbers of russians but there is still a fair turnout here. Most of the people here, i would say, are here for the noon against putin event, thats when Alexei Navalny� s supporters have called on russians to attend Polling Stations in russia and abroad to register any kind of protest vote against Vladimir Putin. There are people here with anti kremlin banners and posters, they have set up a stage and there are various people giving speeches. Lots of anti war message is here and ukrainian flags and colours. In terms of what the American Government is saying about this voting process, the Us State Department condemned what it called sham elections being held in occupied ukraine. You heard sarah talking about it there. The state Department Also said that russian people deserve free and Fair Elections with a real choice of candidates and washington will watch this election and will have plenty to say when it concludes. But russia and the war in ukraine is a hot political topic here. It is an Election Year in the united states. Two very different approaches to russia and the war in ukraine from the two candidates in this election. Former President Donald Trump often speaks very warmly of Vladimir Putin. He is sceptical about support for ukraine. Joe biden on the other hand, a great supporter of ukraine, a very firm backer of the us� s ally in its fight against russia. Mr biden is currently trying to get a piece of legislation through congress that would grant 60 billion of desperately needed military aid to the ukrainians. So that bill, that piece of legislation for that aid that would grant that aid currently stuck in congress, republican lawmakers, many of them not too happy about approving that bill. So russia and the war in ukraine, hugely significant here, especially in this crucial, closely fought Election Year and two very different approaches, two very different approaches, two very different policy areas from two very different policy areas from two very different candidates. Lmilli different policy areas from two very different candidates. Different candidates. Will vernon, thank ou different candidates. Will vernon, thank you very different candidates. Will vernon, thank you very much. Different candidates. Will vernon, thank you very much. Will different candidates. Will vernon, thank you very much. Will vernon j different candidates. Will vernon, i thank you very much. Will vernon in washington, dc. We also heard from Sarah Rainsford in the Ukrainian Capital Kyiv and Vitaliy Shevchenko, the Russia Editor for capital kyiv and Vitaliy Shevchenko, the Russia Editorfor bbc monitoring. Thank you all very much. Lets speak to mikhail zygar, a russian born journalist, filmmaker, and author of all the kremlins men inside the court of Vladimir Putin. Mikhail zygar, thank you for being with us. Good to get you on the programme. We have heard about these Protest Votes. Noon against putin demonstrations could notjust in russia but Around The World. Are these people demonstrating thinking that these protests might actually make a difference . It is that these protests might actually make a difference . Make a difference . It is hard to tell. It is hard make a difference . It is hard to tell. It is hard to make a difference . It is hard to tell. It is hard to tell make a difference . It is hard to tell. It is hard to tell if make a difference . It is hard to tell. It is hard to tell if those i tell. It is hard to tell if those participants of that Protest Voting inside of russia was huge enough. But obviously we have seen very long lines in many european cities, and in many cities all Around The World. So obviously we can say that yulia navalnaya, the widow of alex navalny, has become the new and very significant political leader and Opposition Leaderfor significant political leader and Opposition Leader for all russians Who Live Outside of russia. These elections are Who Live Outside of russia. These elections are going Who Live Outside of russia. These elections are going ahead, Who Live Outside of russia. These elections are going ahead, newsl elections are going ahead, News Organisations Around The World talking about how the results are a foregone conclusion. I wonder if you can talk to us about the reasons the kremlin is doing this. Im thinking in particular back to the days of the soviet union and the power struggles at the leadership of the party. How much is this not about Vladimir Putin securing six years as president but actually securing the opportunity to reshuffle those around him . I opportunity to reshuffle those around him . Opportunity to reshuffle those around him . I think thats a bit ceremonial around him . I think thats a bit ceremonial because around him . I think thats a bit ceremonial because the around him . I think thats a bit i ceremonial because the kremlins bureaucracy needs all those elections and there is a long time tradition that they have to prepare for another campaign, they have to spend their budgets, they have to organise the campaign and to earn new titles, new decorations, new medals for that. So its very important for them to have this tradition. But it might surprise you ive heard from my sources that right now, during the last month in the kremlin, there were serious discussions if some kind of new amendment to the russian constitution are needed and putin must stay without any real action. So probably this president ial election is going to be the last one, at least in putins lifetime. In terms of the big figures in public life in russia, the big businessmen, the oligarchs, the big politicalfigures, how much businessmen, the oligarchs, the big political figures, how much does Vladimir Putin have their support . I would say that the situation has changed a lot because during the first months after the full scale invasion of ukraine, i would say since march tilljune, july, even 0ctober since march tilljune, july, even october 2022 a lot of people were in panic. 0ligarchs, middle class, middle of a business, even bureaucracy. A lot of people were pretty sure that that had been a fatal mistake of Vladimir Putin and the situation was terrible, the russian economy seems to be collapsing. But now the situation is quite different. Now a lot of people are sure that putin is winning. The russian economy is in a much better shape. And i would say that the situation is so stable so there is a consensus in russia double the russian elite that putin is going to get away with it and he is going to be winning this brutal war in the upcoming years. They support him. Mikhail zygar, author of all the kremlins men inside the court of Vladimir Putin and i thank you very much for being with us. There is much for being with us. There is much more on this story of course on the bbc news website and the bbc news app. All the coverage of the russian president ial elections from our correspondence Around The World. You can check it all out online. Lets go to The Middle East now. The german chancellor, 0laf Scholz Has said his country Cannot Stand By and watch palestinians Risk Starvation in gaza. Speaking after talks with Benjamin Netanyahu injerusalem, mr scholz said he had shared his concerns with the israeli Prime Minister, as a partner and as a friend, over what he called the � terribly high costs of the war against hamas. 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. That was 0laf scholz, the german chancellor, had to say. Mr netanyahu said israel would not leave Palestinian Civilians trapped during its planned Military Operation in the city of rafah, 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. Lets speak to our correspondent, mark lowen, who is in jerusalem. Good evening. It seemed at points during this Press Conference as if there were polite but firm disagreements with mr netanyahu slightly pushing back against International Pressure from one of his closest allies. Yes. And i think this is classic netanyahu really to hit back, to dig in when he feels under pressure. He is under pressure here in israel from within his own cabinet, from the families of the hostages, still 130 knot back home, and increasingly from International Allies who are growing exasperated with Benjamin Netanyahu who you will remember a couple of days ago when chuck schumer, the Us Senate Majority leader in effect called for netanyahus replacement and those words seem to be endorsed by president biden. Today you had the german chancellor here injerusalem with smiles and handshakes and support for an ally of germany. But also real concerns over israels plans for rafah. And yet at a Cabinet Meeting early in the day, Benjamin Netanyahu was defiant. He said the Israeli Military will go into rafah to pursue what he called total victory and heilan busted his International Critics for getting the 7th of October Hamas attack on israel and losing what he called their moral conscience for forgetting. He is preparing for an Operation Into Rafah but i think there is an alternative view on this also which is that ahead of Ceasefire Talks in doha that are due to get under way and to which israel says it will send a delegation, netanyahu is talking tough on rafah in order to up the pressure on hamas ahead of the Ceasefire Talks. This is looking at things in the short term. What of the two men have to say about the longer term view of the future and the peace and stability of the region . Benamin netan Ahu Stability of the region . Benamin netanyahu said i stability of the region . Benamin netanyahu said he i stability of the region . Benamin netanyahu said he would b stability of the region . Benjamin netanyahu said he would not stability of the region . Benjamin i netanyahu said he would not accept any Ceasefire Deal to leave which would leave israel weak. What that means in effect is any deal that would leave hamas in place is a constant Security Threat next door. He has talked about how israel needs to have in effect permanent security responsibility over gaza. But in terms of the actual detail over the day after, when the gun is full silent it is still vague. With the Palestinian Authority which runs the west bank, the other part of the palestinian territories, would that have a role to play in gaza . Israel is against that. The us and others are in favour of it. The Palestinian Authority is currently trying to find new leadership, actually. Would there be some kind of broader International Authority running gaza . What role would israel itself have to play . All of this is still up have to play . All of this is still up in the air. And that is well before we actually receive real detail over what Israel Intends to do with the 1. 4 Million People sheltering in rafah if indeed the Israeli Military do move in there. If they are going to evacuate them to another part of gaza, they need to another part of gaza, they need to find a safe place for them amidst the wasteland of gaza, the need to find food, water, shelterfor all of those people before the israeli incursion. So there are still huge Question Marks and the us have said they have not received any detailed plans from the Israeli Government over the incursion into rafah. Mark lowen in jerusalem, over the incursion into rafah. Mark lowen in jerusalem, thank over the incursion into rafah. Mark lowen injerusalem, thank you very much as always. The us embassy in haiti says it is arranging a Charter Flight to evacuate american citizens from the northern coastal city of cap haitien. Many of the several hundred thousand people displaced by haitis gang related violence have fled there. Many from the capital Port Au Prince. The embassy warned that americans would have to travel to the airport at their own risk. The situation in Port Au Prince remains very volatile where gangs control most of the capital. 0ur Central America and carribean correspondent will grant gave us this update on that. It appears there was quite an extensive swat Team Operation in an area of the capital and that is where it is known to be one of the strong holds ofjimmy sherry� s ear, also known as barbecue, they were either trying to capture him or kill him but they were successful in neither of those attempts. There were a number of casualties on the side of the gangs by all accounts but if anything it is begetting more violence. Today there has been more shooting in the capital and a sort of quite fierce response by the gangs to the Police Operation. This paints a picture of what is going on, it is cat and mouse game is going on in the neighbourhoods with the police who are obviously outnumbered by the gangs at this stage unless they get serious reinforcements in the coming weeks and months. By all accounts it is becoming extremely serious in Port Au Prince. Here where we are in cap haitien the way it is seen is the fact there are so many people arriving from the capital, way they can, we have seenjust arriving from the capital, way they can, we have seen just now in fact while we are waiting to come on air to speak to you, a bus coming from Port Au Prince. There are very few running because it is so dangerous. It took extra hours because it had to go out of its way because of the Police Operation and the response by the gangs, adding on ours to the journey. It is extremely frightening for those who were on the bus and travelling this way. But its less frightening to get here and make thatjourney frightening to get here and make that journey than frightening to get here and make thatjourney than it is to remain at home. We are seeing more than 360,000 internally displaced people, and of course the aid to deal with the humanitarian emergency is simply not coming in at the pace it should. It is a trickle, if that. Imilli it is a trickle, if that. Will grant, it is a trickle, if that. Will grant. Our it is a trickle, if that. Will grant, our central it is a trickle, if that. Willl grant, our Central America correspondent. A reminder of our top story. Most polls have closed in russia in the president ial election in russia. Voting continues in some parts of the country and in russian embassies overseas. About 74 people have been arrested across russia. There have been Protest Votes including a noon against putin. People being called out to spoil their Ballot Papers. We have seen long lines at russian embassies Around The World. Including in london, tokyo and in washington, dc. Thats it from me for now. Ill be backin thats it from me for now. Ill be back in a minute. Bye bye. Hello, wants this morning because my cloud and rain with the way we started to see things warming up, especially as we got some sunshine coming through. Temperature is widely 14, some sunshine coming through. Temperature is widely14, 15 degrees, 17 degrees across southern parts of england so warmer than it was yesterday. We are still in this mild air as we head over night and into monday. This Weather System here eventually bringing some rain. Ahead of that we have two bands of cloud with a little rain, not much on those at all. The second band of cloud heading eastwards would see the rain tended not die out late in the rain tended not die out late in the night. Clear skies ahead of that means temperatures will typically be around five, six, 7 degrees, a bit cooler than it was last night across england and where is. Some early mist and fog patches in the south east of england. 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 in the afternoon the winds will pick up through the irish sea, Northern Ireland and Western Scotland and we start to see the Weather System bringing in some rain. Ahead of that, decent looking day with some sunny spells around. Still in mild air, temperatures widely 14 or 15 degrees thanks to that southerly wind ahead of that weather from there. That will bring some rain in from the atlantic. Most of it for Northern Areas and that will get swept northwards together with the low pressure over night, so tending to dry off in the north west on tuesday. We are left with a band of cloud and patchy Light Rain Heading southwards followed by some brighter skies, some sunshine and a few showers around as well. It is beginning to turn a little cooler across scotland and Northern Ireland on tuesday. Still pretty mild in the south east. In the south west there could be some rain later in the day and it may push northwards and into wednesday affect wales, Northern England and perhaps south east scotland. Still lots of uncertainty on the rain. There is no wind to move things about. Scotland and Northern Ireland are looking generally dry, cool it out here perhaps. Mild and generally dry in the south east of england. That band of Rain Willjust tend to fizzle out because it is going to get swamped ljy because it is 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 it may have cleared scotland and Northern Ireland and we will 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 the north east, temperatures 12 14 c. Live from london, this is bbc news. The german chancellor, 0laf scholz, has stated that his country Cannot 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. Yulia navalnaya, the wife of the late russian Opposition Leader Alexei Navalny, has been in berlin at a protest against Vladimir Putin on the final day of voting in russias president ial elections. 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. Hello, im rich preston. Much more to come on those stories that sport now. Sport and for a full round up from the bbc sport centre, heres karthi. For the second time in two days, an fa cup quarterfinal has been settled by two injury time goals. This time its chelsea, who are heading to wembley again after they beat ten man Leicester City 4 2 at stamford bridge. The late goals came from substitutes Carney Chukwuemeka and noni madueke after chelsea let a two goal half time lead slip. An extraordinary 30 yard own goal from axel disasi, plus a much more intentional goal from Stephy Mavididi drew leicester level. But the game swung back towards chelsea after leicesters callum doyle was sent off, with the championship side eventually made to pay in the 92nd and 98th minute. Two late goals and a 4 2 win for chelsea. That is football and that is the beauty of the fa cup and we are involved in the fa cup. Yes, of course, i think that most of all that was deserved, the qualification for the semifinal and we got that. The team kept calm and tried until the end and that is why the end was 4 2. Im so happy to go to wembley for the final. In the last quarter final of the day, its 2 2 between manhester united and liverpool. Scott mctominay opened the scoring for United Afterjust ten minutes but Alexis Mac Allister and mo salah brought liverpool back into it and gave them a 2 1 lead just before half time. But an 87th minute equaliser from anthony means it has gone to extra time. Marcus rashford had the chance to win it for united in the last seconds but it is still 2 2. West ham had two goals disallowed for handball as they drew 1 1 with aston villa in the one Premier League match of the day. After a big defeat for tottenham in the race for the top four on saturday, villas point takes them three points clear in fourth. West ham stay seventh. Mikael antonio scored and had a second goal ruled out, while there were 104 minutes in the game after an injury time winner for west ham was taken off the board following a lengthy var review, to the disappointment of the hammers boss david moyes. To this week as well, one against freiburg and one in midweek as well didnt go for us. For handbills this week have gone against us. I guess the rules as week have gone against us. I guess the rules as any week have gone against us. I guess the rules as any touch week have gone against us. I guess the rules as any touch at week have gone against us. I guess the rules as any touch at all week have gone against us. I guess the rules as any touch at all from i the rules as any touch at all from the rules as any touch at all from the arm the rules as any touch at all from the arm is the rules as any touch at all from the arm is going to be disallowed. Is the arm is going to be disallowed. Is not the arm is going to be disallowed. Is not our the arm is going to be disallowed. Is not our decision, we cant do anything about it. Its finals day at tennis� indian wells tournament. The world number one, iga swiatek will play greeces maria sakarri in about half an hours time. In the mens draw, the two time grand slam champion Carlos Alcaraz ended jannik sinner� s19 match unbeaten run to reach the indian wells final. The defending champion dropped the first set 6 1 in a match that was interrupted by rain, but took charge of the second and third sets in a match of the highest level this was the long rally on match point. Alcaraz is aiming to win his first title since wimbledon last year and he is the first man to beat the Australian Open champion sinner this year. I am really happy to classify for the final. It means a lot to me to play such a great level and play anotherfinal and of course winning today. We have a really good rivalry, 16 match streak. And to be able to win Something Like this, its incredible for me. Something like this, its incredible for me. ,. ,. , Something Like this, its incredible for me. ,. ,. ,. , israeli families of the 130 or so hostages are urging the Israeli 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, 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 hersh. The first of the messages said, i love you. And the second one immediately after said, im sorry. This is rachels son, Hersh Goldberg polin, 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 hersh, 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 seventh. 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, notjust 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. That mother was speaking to 0rla guerin. An election official from the kremlin has been quoted as saying more than 8 Million People voted online in the election, polls have now closed. Across most of russia. There are parts of the country where polls are still open. Polls are still open are many russian embassies Around The World, where we have seen some demonstrations over the last 24 hours. 0ne Demonstrations over the last 24 hours. One of those embassies was berlin, where the wife of the late russian Opposition Leader Alexei Navalny was. She wrote her late husbands name for the ballot paper when she cast her vote, it has been reported. Sources in ukraine have confirmed to the bbc that its drones hit an oil refinery in Slavyansk Na Kubani in Southern Russia overnight. It comes as the governor of the Belgorod Region says one person was killed, and 11 wounded in Ukraine Shelling there. The ukrainian source said refineries were being targeted to undermine the russian economy and its oil exports. The editor of Ukraine Alert at the atlantic council, peter dickinson, from kyiv, told me why ukraines current strategy is to focus on russias Oil Refineries. They have escalated in recent weeks. They have escalated in recent weeks. They have escalated in recent weeks. They have been sending more drones, have been targeting infrastructure, objects further away from ukraine, deeper inside russia. The goals seem to be threefold. The immediate and most most practical implication of these attacks is to try and reduce the supply of fuel to the invasion force, to that to the tanks, the trains, the artillery that are that are active in ukraine, the russians, the Russian Military in ukraine. There is also the overriding goal, i suppose you could call it, of undermining russias economy. Oil and gas are the key engines of the russian economy. Volodymyr zelensky, the president of ukraine, has spoken about the need to strike at the most vulnerable points of the russian war machine. And i think a third point is also on a symbolic level to demonstrate to russia that ukraine can strike back, that it does have the capabilities to strike back, and it will do so. 0n those first two points you mentioned, that the practical matter of preventing fuel, getting to russian troops, and the second matter of the economy and hitting russia in the pocket. How effective will these strikes be . Well, the short answer is we dont know yet. Its still early days. Ukraine has had a number. There are indications, lets say, that these attacks are having an impact. Beginning in march, russia imposed a six month ban on exports of different types of gasoline, which many have linked to these attacks. Theres also been signs of price rises for gasoline within russia. So there are indications that these attacks are bearing fruit, as it were. A number of refineries that have been hit have reported stoppages in production. But i think it will take some time before we get a better idea of how impacted this can genuinely be. Its still very early and ukraine is still also working out how best to target it. Russia is also in a Learning Process of looking how to defend their refineries. So its probably, its a sort of cat and mouse game. Its still in its early stages. I think well have a better idea in the latest spring months towards may and maybe early summer. And on a practical level, how is ukraine doing this . Because weve seen these strikes on various plants dotted around russia. How physically does ukraine do this . Well, ukraine has placed a very significant emphasis in terms of its domestic military capabilities on the development of a more long range ground capabilities. Of a more long range drone capabilities. Ukraine is, as is well known, very heavily reliant on the west, on its western partners, for a lot of its military supplies. But those supplies have come with conditions. Many of ukraines western partners have said, we can provide you with weapons for use in ukraine alone. We do not allow these weapons and do not condone the use of these weapons inside russia. So ukraine has been very much focused on developing long range drones in order to be able to strike at targets within russia. We saw this in the early months of the war on a much smaller scale. But now what were seeing, i think, is the result of this long term strategic decision to prioritise the production of drones. And ukraine has the capabilities to do that. The question now is really how big, what sort of volumes ukraine can produce and whether russia will be able to defend its Energy Infrastructure effectively. A British Government minister has denied the governing Conservative Party has an issue with race, after its biggest donor, frank hester, allegedly said the black mp, diane abbott, should be shot and made him want to hate all black women. Mr hester has apologised for being rude. The Prime Minister is under pressure to reveal how much mr hester has given the party, but one of his ministers, mark harper, said reports mr hester had made a further £5 million donation were speculation. Heres our political correspondent, helen catt. Its a matter of record that frank hester has given £10 million to the tories. Theyve been resisting pressure to hand it back after the pm said his alleged remarks were racist. But there have also been reports that he has either given or is in line to give another 5 million. A senior conservative this morning wasnt offering much clarity on that. I dont know whats going to happen in the future. I dont know whether hes going to be minded to give us more money in the future. But there are proper processes and then they will be declared in the usual way, as the Prime Minister said, so that they are very transparent and that people can make judgements accordingly. Do the conservatives have a problem with race . Absolutely not. As the Prime Minister himself said this week, we are a party proudly led by the first British Asian Prime Minister with the most ethnically diverse cabinet theres ever been. A former Conservative Adviser said he was disappointed by how the party had reacted. There is absolutely no way that any minister would have been told to come out and not condemn those l remarks as racist and misogynist i if i was in downing street. So, the problem is not. Just the Prime Minister, it is also his advisers, people who were myl former colleagues. Ijust do not know what they are playing at. We have to do better. The renewed Focus On Diane Abbott has also raised difficulties for labour. There have been calls, including at this rally on friday, to reinstate her as a labour mp. She was suspended last april after she wrote a letter to a newspaper saying thatjewish, irish and traveller people didnt experience racism all their lives, for which she apologised. I very strongly support keir starmer� s drive against anti semitism. It had to be rooted out of the party. But i would be sad if diane abbott leaves her. Ends her political career and she has been an amazing trailblazer not a member of the labour party. Another senior labour figure insisted the process had to be respected. The simple truth is, if you have an independent process, i dont get reports on it. That process has to be allowed to look into all the matters without political pressure, as it does for every other case. For now, the reverberations from mr hester� s reported remarks continue. Helen catt, bbc news. Meanwhile, the leader of the liberal democrats, sir ed davey, has told activists at the partys Spring Conference in york in the north of england that they have the opportunity to make the forthcoming general election a once in a generation event. He accused both the tories and labour of Tinkering Around The Edges of the challenges facing the country and called for all parties to come together to tackle issues like social care for the sick and elderly. To finally forge the agreement has been kicked down the road for so long so that everyone can get the care they need when they need it, in their own homes if possible. So that no one is hit with catastrophic costs or forced to sell their home just because they or their loved ones need care. A State Of Emergency has been declared in South West Iceland after the fourth volcanic eruption in as many months. The village of grindavik has been evacuated again only a month after residents were allowed to return. Sean dilley has the latest. Its a breathtaking sight. Nearly two miles of lava spewing from the ground. An eruption so violent, it transformed the Reykjanes Peninsula sky. Its the fourth eruption here since december. We are evacuating. The lavas coming. Residents in the nearby fishing town of grindavik were only allowed to return last month. Now theyve been told to leave again. Ive never experienced anything like that before. Ill be honest, i wasnt scared or anything. Ijust hope everybody got out 0k. But it was an experience that i dont like, but, at the same time, wow, how could this happen . I couldnt wait to come here. Even during the Emergency Evacuation of the nearby blue lagoon, a Photo Opportunity that was just too difficult for these swimmers to miss. The Icelandic Meteorological Office said the eruption started shortly after 8pm last night, less than 30 miles from the capital of reykjavik. This was definitely expected. There had already been several statements issued from the Icelandic Met Office aboutan imminent eruption in the area. The first cues of this moving towards the surface actually happens only about 15 minutes in advance of the eruption breaking to the surface. This is the seventh eruption since 2021. Its believed the area is entering a new volcanic era, that could last for decades, if not centuries. Sean dilley, bbc news. Earlier we spoke to 0ddur Thordason a journalist with icelands National Broadcaster ruv. Heres what he said. Well, the latest development. Fortunately, everyone is safe. As you said, the town of grindavik was evacuated late last night, as was the blue lagoon spa. Some 700 guests and staff were quickly rushed to safety yesterday, so no one was harmed. The latest developments are that the power of this eruption has decreased quite immensely since starting late last night. And were probably going to see the power diminish quite more in the coming hours, and probably it Willjust Peter Out and phase out in the coming hours and perhaps the next day. The pictures that we always see with this kind of Volcanic Activity are phenomenal. Theyre mesmerising photos. To you guys, they are, in some ways, part of everyday life. Now, if someone lives in an area where tornadoes are common, they make sure they have a decent basement. If someone lives in an area where there is lots of snow and ice, they probably have decent winter tyres on their car. How does someone live in preparation for regular Volcanic Eruptions . Well, i think the small population helps us. We are in close contact with one another. With our authorities, the Civil Defence authorities, and Planning Evacuation Routes is quite simple in iceland, or it tends to be. So we have strength in our relatively small numbers. So we are able to band together and Work Together and ensure that everyone is safe and sound once something of this magnitude happens. Steve harley, who fronted the long running band, cockney rebel, has died at the age of 73. His best known song, Make Me Smile Come Up And See Me , reached number one in the british charts in 1975. Harley had been forced to cancel performances last year after being diagnosed with cancer. David sillito looks back on his life. 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. 2 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. Today is st patricks day and thousands of people are gathering in towns and cities across ireland to celebrate. The event, which dates to 1762, is one of the Worlds Largest Irish Heritage festivities. But its notjust ireland celebrations are happening in lots of places Around The World. Sofia bettiza reports. Millions of people are coming together this weekend to celebrate st patricks day. Now, this, for example, is new york, which has the largest Irish Community in the us. And you can see here lots of people attending the st patricks day parade on fifth ave. But one of the most iconic celebrations is here in chicago, where the tradition is that the Chicago River is infused with about 40lb of green dye. Everybody is saying happy paddys day, happy paddys day its great. And it doesnt matter who you are or where youre from, it is fab. Yeah, its absolutely. Everybody wants to be irish today. And why not . We all are. But it is notjust the us. This is the spanish capital, madrid, where more than 500 bagpipers marched in the city centre. Take a look. They even celebrate st patricks day injapan, which is on the opposite side of the world from ireland. These images here are from tokyo and you can see lots of people in green having a great time. So, why is it that so many people get involved in the celebration, even if they have no connection to ireland . Well, st patricks day was originally a religious holiday, but when it was imported to the us by irish immigrants, it transformed into a show of Irish American solidarity, and today, it has become a celebration of irish culture, music and dance and, of course, enjoying a glass or two. Thats it from me for now. 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 widely14, 15 degrees. 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. The 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 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 temperatures, widely 14 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 southwards, followed by some brighter skies, some sunshine and a few showers around it 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. 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 14 celsius. Live from london, this is bbc news. Silent protests against Vladimir Putin have been seen at Polling Stations across russia on the final day of an election designed to keep him in power. The german chancellor, 0laf scholz, warns israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about the � terribly high costs� of the war in gaza. We Cannot Stand By and watch palestinians Risk Starvation. That� s not us. That is not what we stand for. That is not what we stand for together. Come up and see me, Make Me Smile or do what you want. And steve harley, the frontman of cockney rebel, has died at the age of 73. Hello and welcome to bbc news. I� m lukwesa burak. We start russia, where results are due in the next couple of hours in the president ial election in what� s expected to be a foregone conclusion. Polls have closed. Earlier, large queues formed suddenly at Polling Stations in an apparent show of dissent on the final day of elections designed to confirm Vladimir Putin in the presidency