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
Hello and welcome to newsday. We start with russia, where president putin has hailed his predicted victory in russias president ial election, saying it would allow the country to become stronger. He had been the only serious candidate and now has a 5th term in office, after a landslide 87 of the vote. But there was defiance in the form of large queues at some Polling Stations in russia heeding the call of allies of the late Opposition Leader, Alexei Navalny who urged people to turn out to spoil their ballots or to vote for any other candidate. Mr navalny died suddenly in a penal colony in russia last month. At least 80 protesters were arrested. His widow Yulia Navalnya cast her vote at Russias Embassy in berlin. There were protests held and queues to vote in a number of other countries. In london there was a line a mile long outside the russian embassy. From moscow heres our russia editor steve rosenberg. For Vladimir Putin, six more years in the kremlin. Russias president is sounding
As the bbc s russia editor Steve Rosenberg reports, mr putin also mentioned his late critic, Alexei Navalny, by name. For Vladimir Putin, six more years in the kremlin. Russias president is sounding more confident than ever. Translation whoever might want to intimidate us, whoever might want to suppress us, ourwilland our conscience, they have never been able to do it, and never will. Then, mr putins first Public Comments on the death ofjailed Opposition Leader Alexei Navalny. Translation you may be surprised, but a few days i before mr navalny died, some colleagues of mine told me there was an idea to exchange him for certain people in prison in the west. You can believe it or not. I said, i agree, even before he had finished talking. But what happened happened. Election results on russian tv, not a hold your breath moment. The winner, by a mile and a half, Vladimir Putin. What an incredible level of support and unity around the figure of putin, he says. And a powerful signal to the w
Elsewhere in the territory. The Israeli Military had previously urged civilians to go there but now, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says he has approved plans for an assault on hamas militants believed to be based there. The un issued this warning. The consequences of a Ground Operation in the current circumstances would be catastrophic for the people of gaza, for the palestinians. Catastrophic for the humanitarian situation. It would be catastrophic all round. The us is one of israels most important supporters but it seems that the Israeli Government has not shared details of the planned assault on gaza with officials in washington. Heres Us National Security council spokesman, john kirby. We have not seen it. We certainly welcome the opportunity to see it. As i said, we cannot support a major offence in rafah the doesnt also include a credible, achievable an executable plan to take care of the safety and security of malt in a million gazans. To move on right now in a major way wit