Sometimes great challenge is right under your nose i hanako montgomery in tokyo, and this is cnn you are in the cnn and newsroom. I m jessica dean in new york and we begin with breaking news from the middle east where the israeli defense forces say they have located, quote, a number of bodies during combat in the gaza strip, seen an international diplomatic editor, nic robertson is joining us now, live from jerusalem with the latest on this, nic reminding everyone details now very scant. But what are you learning yeah, i have to say as well, this is unusual for the idf to put out this sort of statement to say that they ve located bodies during a combat operation. They don t normally sort of comment on things as actually happening and unfolding and that s what they so as precisely happening at the moment. They re saying that they are working to extract an identify the bodies in this ongoing operation and that asking for people to refrain from speculation, which appears to perhaps indica
There is some mist and fog and a few showers around this morning. They will give way to a dry and decent with sunny spells. Later, some rain in Northern Ireland. Details coming up. Good morning. Its monday, 18th march. Vladimir putin has claimed victory in russias president ial election. Without any serious opposition, a fifth term was seen as inevitable. At least 80 protestors have been arrested across the country for vandalising Polling Stations. Foreign secretary David Cameron hasjoined other western governments in shunning the result. He said, this is not what free and Fair Elections look like. Our russia editor Steve Rosenberg reports. Foeradimir 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 A
Europes first black leader, after winning the welsh labour leadership election. The outgoing First Minister, mark drakeford, will step down from the post next week. Mr gething was born in zambia and is a former solicitor. In his acceptance speech, he highlighted the historic nature of his win. Today, we turn a page in the book of our nations history. A history that we write together. Notjust because i have the honour of becoming the first black leader in any european country, but because a generational dial has jumped too. Like ken and jane, devolution is not something that i have had to get used to, or to adapt to, or to apologise for. Devolution, welsh solutions to welsh problems and opportunities, is in my blood. It is what i have always known through my adult political life and that is the same for a growing number of our citizens and i want us to use this moment as a Starting Point for a more confident march into the future. A march into the future on behalf of a generation that,
Staying with cricket, the former england fast bowler steven finn has retired from professional cricket at the age of 34. It brings an end to an 18 year career in which in took 125 wickets in 36 test appearances between 2010 and 2016. He won three ashes series in that time. He hasnt featured in red ball cricket for over a year after suffering a knee injury. Finn says hes been fighting a battle with his body for the last 12 months. Theres been another coup for the Saudi Pro League. Brazilian star neymar is leaving Paris Saint Germain to join alhilal. The fee is understood to be around 90m euros, plus add ons. The two year deal is subject to the 31 year old completing a medical and all the necessary paperwork. It comes after it became clear neymar was not part of new coach luis enrique 5 plans for the new season at psg. Solves a problem for psg because i dont think they really wanted name are there any more. Also it is good news for the Saudi Pro League because amongst a number of start n