Good evening. One of the most prominent figures in american politics, the Majority Leader in the senate, has called for new elections in israel. Chuck schumer says Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has lost his way and accused him of pushing support for israel to new lows. Mr schumer, a democrat, and the highest ranking jewish official in america, also called for the Palestinian Authority president , mahmoud abbas, to step down, saying a new generation of leaders was needed, to work towards peace. All this comes as the us imposed sanctions on three extremist Israeli Settlers in the occupied west bank, whove been accused of harassing and attacking palestinians. The Settler Movement is controversial with many countries, including the uk, which sees israel as an occupying power, and the settlements as illegal. Israel disputes this. West Bank Violence has surged since the start of the gaza war, triggered by hamas s attack on israel on october seventh. The us and uk have already imposed fin
And when parties have to report it. This is one of the many problems that we have in our system. It appears to be born out of historical reasons rather than anything else. We do have, for what is supposed to be a very transparent system, quite a complicated one in which there are various different registers updated at various different points. The electoral commissions register is only updated every quarter and i think this story has sort of renewed questions about whether thats really appropriate in this day and age when websites can be updated at the drop of a hat. That was the conservative Party Response so far when it came to frank hester s donations, that they have reported everything that needed to be reported in the public sphere. You have looked into this closely, could you tell us how big a donor frank hester is, how important he is to the tory partys treasure chest, essentially . Sure, i would say first of all, for many people, even political obsessives and conservative figur
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