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
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
Left cyprus three days ago and is carrying 200 tonnes of food supplied by an american ngo. Teams from the ngo in gaza have built a floating jetty to unload the cargo. Food and basic supplies are desperately needed in gaza, and the Israeli Police force is deploying thousands of officers acrossjerusalems old city for ramadan s first friday prayers at the al aqsa mosque, with tensions high amid the war. Lets go live now to anna foster at damascus gate. Welcome to eastjerusalem, this is damascus gate, you are talking about the first friday prayers of ramadan which have passed peacefully. There was really tight security, all the streets were closed by Israeli Soldiers and police. They were only allowing worshippers from certain demographics, there was nobody here between the ages of ten and 50. A huge number of people come here for the first friday prayers and we have seenin the first friday prayers and we have seen in previous years violent clashes in this area and because of that addition
Lizzie Greenwood Hughes is there for us. Once again, Willie Mullins has triumphed in the Sport Ofjump Racing at the cheltenham gold cup, for in six years for the irish maestro and two in succession although his margin of victory was not as great as last year, this was our ghibli a more impressive performance from the horse because the ground is testing soft but heavy and places for more than 30 years where the word heavy has been in the official going here at cheltenham. But he saw off is hugely talented competitors, so it was another poor day for the bookmakers here, but a great day and great week for the cheltenham festivals most successful winning trainer, Willie Mullins. Here he is speaking to laura scott. It mullins. Here he is speaking to Laura Scott Laura scott. It has been extraordinary, laura scott. It has been extraordinary, our laura scott. It has been i extraordinary, our horses laura scott. It has been extraordinary, our horses were in such extraordinary, our horses were i
For the quadruple. It is quite different. If it is always like this, the team up with a Higher Quality shows good attitude, what we did, it will be tricky. Where is the chance . The long time in my life, ive worked for smaller clubs, so you can win games but you need a little bit of help from the apartment, we didnt give any help. We showed at the top, top, top attitude, so it was difficult. Elsewhere, Bayer Leverkusen remarkable unbeaten season goes on but only after a dramatic finish in their second leg against qarabag. The german side were trailing 2 1 but then scored twice in stoppage time to win 3 2 on the night and 5 4 on aggregate. The win extends leverkusen s unbeaten run to 37 matches in all competitions this season. Not such a good night for fellow german side freiburg as they lost 5 0 at west ham in their second leg whilst ac milan comfortably beat slavia prague. Fellow italian side atalanta beat Sporting Lisbon whilst Roma Lost At Brighton but still progress winning 4 1 on