Some pictures live from a Polling Station in moscow. Now, there is the potential for a run off vote if no candidate wins more than 50 in the first round. But with many of mr putins opponents unable to run, it seems inevitable that Vladimir Putin will be re elected without the need for that second ballot. Our russia editor, steve rosenberg, is following developments in moscow. Vladimir putin has been in power a long time, right, 25 years almost as president or Prime Minister. And hes expected to win a fifth president ial term. Now, this whole event, this three day event, which starts today, is being presented by the russian authorities almost as a celebration of democracy. The kremlin just a few days ago described russian democracy as the best democracy in the world. Critics of the kremlin 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
once the book came out, i felt i felt incredibly free. i felt a huge weight off my shoulders. hello and welcome to bbc news. ukrainian forces have come under increased pressure from russian troops in the besieged city of bakhmut which russia has been trying to capture in months of intense fighting. the deputy mayor of the city has told the bbc that the 4,000 civilians still living there out of an original population of 75,000 - have no gas, electricity or water. thousands of russian troops have died trying to take the eastern city. if it falls, it would be the first russian victory of note in more than six months. 0ur diplomatic correspondent, james landale, reports from kyiv. munitions explode this is bakhmut, or at least what s left of it, after some of the fiercest fighting since russia invaded ukraine. for more than six months, ukrainian forces have held off a ferocious onslaught, but now russian commanders are growing increasingly confident, including the leader of t
The leader of the Liberal Democrats, sir ed davey, says the party is considering scrapping some of their House Building targets because the current approach is leading to the wrong houses being built in the wrong places. The lib dems had pledged to build 380,000 homes each year if they come into power, but its expected that will be abolished tomorrow, at the partys annual conference in bournemouth. Live now to our Political Correspondent helen catt. What are we expecting to be announced . What are we expecting to be announced . ,. , announced . This is about the issue of housin announced . This is about the issue of housing targets. Announced . This is about the issue of housing targets. It announced . This is about the issue of housing targets. It is announced . This is about the issue of housing targets. It is quite announced . This is about the issue of housing targets. It is quite a of housing targets. It is quite a contentious issue, particularly in the sort of areas that the Libe
elected president of niger. we call for his immediate release. we condemn any effort to seize power by force. live now to the bbc s nicolas negoce, who is following the story from dakar. welcome, bring us up today on the latest developments? the first the latest developments? tue: first development, the latest developments? tte: first development, the fact that the constitution. the borders are closed. we still don t have any news about the president, president bazoum who was selected two years ago. but we know the military is control right now. there are no institutions working freely in niger. institutions working freely in ni . er. , , niger. interestingly, the president. niger. interestingly, the president, president - niger. interestingly, the - president, president bazoum is a key western ally and that is why we have heard from france
nicolas negoce is my colleague with bbc afrique and joins us live from 0uagadougou. how has it all gone? it sounds very exciting. it how has it all gone? it sounds very exciting- very exciting. it was really nice and very exciting. it was really nice and exciting. - very exciting. it was really nice and exciting. more i very exciting. it was really i nice and exciting. more than very exciting. it was really - nice and exciting. more than a week, 170 films made by africans were showcased to the population. fespaco as you said is the biggest african film festival, the first edition took place here in burkina faso in 1969 and since then, each two years, film lovers gather here in burkina faso to exchange, to talk, to discuss about the future of african cinema. ., , about the future of african cinema. .,, , cinema. and it hasn t been the most smooth cinema. and it hasn t been the most smooth week cinema. and it hasn t been the most smooth week in - cinema. and it hasn t been