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 vocal critics, his fiercest opponents, are either in exile or in prison, which kind of helps you to
final at wimbledon later today. hello and welcome to bbc news. the battle to become britain s next prime minister is intensifying. eight candidates have now announced they will stand in the contest to replace borisjohnson as leader of the conservative party. the former health secretaries, sajid javid and jeremy hunt, are the latest to come forward with both pledging to cut taxes. the foreign secretary, liz truss, is expected to declare in the coming days. our political correspondent, jonathan blake reports. the two newest entrants to the race are the first to set out detailed plans and both focus on economic policy. jeremy hunt, who lost to borisjohnson in the final two last time round promises to cancel a planned rise in corporation tax and reduce it further. he also would cut business rates to zero in the most deprived areas. sajid javid his resignation triggered the prime minister s final downfall, said he would scrap the recent rise in national insurance, cut income tax
council represented by the people s union, trade unions, associations, to teach keep a check on the parliament along with the abolishing of the executive presidency. that was brought about during an authoritarian time about a0 years ago and we have seen the dangers of so much power centralised on one individual. in the weeks ahead the parliament would have to elect elect a president from one of its members but hopefully that will only be a symbolic president and we will slowly go back to a westminster style parliamentary. in the meantime, sri lanka is facing severe shortages, notjust in fuel but food. they are going to a food crisis and might face famine in a few months time so the entire priority should be around food and agricultural production which was