Would disagree and would say that this poll is neither free nor fair nor transparent. Vladimir putin does not face a major challenge. There are three other candidates on the ballot paper, but his most vocal critics, his fiercest opponents, are either in exile or in prison, which kind of helps you to win what we expect to be a landslide. There have been reports that Public Service workers have been strongly encouraged to come out today on day one of this election, to cast their votes. I mean, there are so many things to say about this election. Vladimir putin dominates the airwaves, dominates the screens, on russian television, much more than any other candidate. So it will be no surprise, i think, when he is eventually declared the winner. Here in the uk, the conservatives are under fresh pressure over ties to a party donor at the centre of a racism row. The party has refused to confirm, or deny, reports that the donor has reportedly given more money to the party, than was known public
87. 8 of the vote in the president ial election which was tightly controlled by the kremlin, with no credible opposition candidate allowed to run. The Electoral Commission says turnout was 77 which would be a post soviet record. Mr putin said the result demonstrated Peoples Trust in russias current path, and when russians were united, no one could intimidate or suppress them. As our Russia Editor Steve Rosenberg reports, in a rare move 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, our will and 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 before mr navalny died, some colleagues of mine told me there was an idea to ex
Hello, and welcome to unspun world here at the bbc s headquarters in central london. In this edition is now the moment when the russians turn the tide in ukraine. It is russia making its size and resources count. Its russia that can throw more men at its fight. Haiti, arguably the worlds most ungovernable country, erupts yet again. The Security Forces in haiti are clearly in a situation of disadvantage against these gangs, who now control big sections of the capital, port au prince. And will the oceans one day be navigated by Ships Without A Single Human Being On Board . Future vision of lots of Companies Looking into this to have, say, a captain sitting there on land in charge of multiple ships sailing the oceans Around The World. Things arent looking at all rosy for ukraine at the moment. The days when Russias Armed forces were slow, clumsy and predictable have gone. Theyve upped their game. And the huge advantage russia has in manpower and industrial might has started to tell. Ukrai
Live in east jerusalem. The United Nations and the us have expressed concern about israels plans for a military operation in rafah. The city, at the south western edge of gaza, has seen the arrival of hundreds of thousands of palestinians taking refuge from the fighting elsewhere in the strip. 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. I think the consequences of a Ground Operation in rafah under the current circumstances would be catastrophic for the people of gaza, for the palestinians. It would be catastrophic for the humanitarian situation. It would be catastrophic or around. 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 rafah with officials in washington. Heres Us National Security council spokesman, john kirb
We begin with the news that thousands of Police Officers serving in Northern Ireland were dreading, that details of their surnames and places of work have fallen into the hands of dissident republican groups who do not support the peace process. The Chief Constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland confirmed this today after last weeks data breach, in which details on more than 10,000 employees was mistakenly released online. A document posted on a wall in largely catholic west belfast, close to the sinn fein office, allegedly shows some of the information that was uploaded. Sarah girvin has the full story. When news of the psni data breach broke six days ago, the forces Chief Constable said he was aware of claims from dissident republican paramilitaries that they had access to it. Today he confirmed the information was in their hands. We are now confident that the Workforce Data set is in the hands of dissident republicans and it is therefore our Planning Assumption that they