russia no longer had access to the black sea because. it was only under catherine the great that is changed. it gave russia a new identity as a major european state and returned to its cultural roots which had been led by prince bloody mary back in the tenth century the most which of course we are. situated outside the gates of the port city of sebastopol on crimea's southwestern most point by the ruins of the ancient greek city of trysts arsenals. in one thousand nine hundred two seen vladimir's cathedral was built in the middle of the excavation site on the very spot where prince fled emir of the kevin rose is said to have adopted the christian faith. let him near had conquered no switch at the time belonged to the byzantine empire in a military campaign. he planned to crown his victory by mary. the daughter of the byzantine emperor. byzantium consented to the union but only if the prince agreed to be christened. let him use acceptance of the faith laid the foundations for the christianisation of the russian empire. centuries later rus

intended for an older project to sell stream pipeline that pipeline was intended to dominate the black sea market in the same way that north stream has come to dominate the baltic sea pathway. launched the initiative together with western european firms in two thousand and nine. but in late twenty fourteen in the face of rising pressure from brussels and washington putting abandoned the south stream project. construction on its successor turf stream pipeline began it may twenty seventeen the new pipelines also pave the way for a new political alliance between moscow and ankara. but the us also has a keen interest in southern europe particularly when it comes to energy supplies geopolitical concerns and economic profits. people feel that the u.s. wants to exert economic political and legal pressure that. they've threatened to take measures against companies that enter into energy partnerships with russia will please the girl you're pursuing this was substantial bigger and it's a simple as that let's have it look you up. but for russia to energy is anything but a game. in northern europe the

as the home of russia's black sea fleet crimea has always been strategically important for moscow this year it's elects a really important to. so let's assume the ready made putin with all the autocratic tools he has at his disposal he's going to win this election and he's going to win it comfortably what does that actually mean well barring a revolution what will get is six more years of putinism and we know from our experience that putin basically responds to the vulnerabilities that he sees in russia's position with very forceful aggressive behavior so i think we're probably going to see more flashpoints with the west like what we're seeing at the moment i don't think either side wants a full scale confrontation let's hope for for all our sakes that doesn't happen but it's blowing a piece in i think it's also got a bit of an issue with the economy he's had plenty of opportunities to reform the economy diversified over the years but he hasn't taken those opportunities so what we're probably going to see is the continuation of this system where stay connected all agog to divide the sp

it blanketed the mountains of that black sea resort. >>> gas prices keep climbing towards the $4 an averageuis has the east expensive gas at $2.22 per gallon. >>> see what happened when people were confronted with giving up their allegiance to save some money. >>> and up next the accuweather forecast. >>> we are down to the final four. curry spoke pregame hoping to curry spoke pregame hoping to prove his coach at&t has a network with thousands of best-in-class security experts. which means... more of the eye balls you want watching the network... & less of the ones you don't. more experts preventing security issues... & less security threats impacting our customers. more of a highly secure network with more security products available for further protection... & less per month. switch to at&t internet for business. more & less - that's the power of &. >>> the oakland a's add a hefty parking surcharge for fans at the game. >> we were there where parking fans gave an ultima. say $30 to park and say go a's. we found some die hards two would rather take a hit to their wallets. >> it will be $50

for seven days in early february 1945, the big three met at yal that, a soviet resort on the black sea the center of history, 25-year-old zoya was there the day they divided the world. >> in that wonderful big room were the fireplace and roundtable and discussion took place. >> germmy would be occupied. >> it was an important to stalin politically to have the conference in yalta? >> absolutely. he understood there were people who would like to get rid of him. all paranoids are, he is suspicious. >> even towards zoya. >> probably they didn't trust me too much because i was too friendly with the americans to the first time in teheran. >> goodwill among the allies quickly dissipating. and the 63-year-old president roosevelt was falling ill. >> i have seen those eyes and i was mesmerized. it was absolutely clear in his mind but i saw that he was suffering. >> yalta would be his last meeting with churchill and stalin. he'd not live to see victory in europe nor the collapse of the anti-hitler alliance. may 1945. as american and british troops invaded germany from the west, the red army ruthl

yeah well here down on the warm assures of the black sea i think pro putin feeling is perhaps even higher than it is in other parts of of russia of course since the antics ation of crimea in two thousand and fourteen and an exception that most countries around the world say was illegal this has been incorporated into the russian administrative system and a lot of attention has been put on making sure that the vote here in crimea goes the right way and that the turnout is high i mean in sevastopol where i am that didn't need much work after say because this is always been a russian leaning place this is the home of the black sea fleet. and that we saw a large warship going process just a few minutes ago so the role of service stoppel was perhaps in like it integral in putin's thinking about taking over crimea two thousand and fourteen so what we have here i think is the celebration of russian notice there are pro russian songs old songs playing on the loudspeakers around the city and people here have felt that this is basically a chance for them to reaffirm the decision that they made in t

starts by getting slightly north and you fly over the middle of germany, austria, then over the black seaast of india, across the island of sri lanka. i think about 10 hours in we should be flying over colombo and at that stage quite a lot of people, possibly me, would think that is enough, let's stop here and have a break. but no, you then have to do a 3500 stretch right across the indian 0cean, the equivalent of its own london— new york flight. finally, you arrive at six o'clock british morning at lunchtime in western australia, so you have a very long night and australia, so you have a very long nightand a australia, so you have a very long night and a very long day. australia, so you have a very long night and a very long daylj understand why people would want to be on this maiden journey but i understand why people would want to be on this maidenjourney but i do wonder, you touched upon it briefly, people do like stopping, perhaps, if you have a long journey, it does break it up having a couple of hours to stretch legs. certainly, and better for the planet but i do think social media

sporting event of the year with the opening of the first fi for world cup football park in russia's black sea resort of sochi as well as armor to match is the master classes world cup veterans are on hand there as well including the portuguese striker nunu gomes who was at saturday's opening ceremony. it is not my first time here in russia but it's my first time here in this city and i'm glad to be here if. i had the opportunity to meet this wonderful city one of those cities of the world russia is a beautiful country a lot a lot more bigger than than my in portugal particle is a small country comparing comparing to russia but. of course russia even if he's big we have some similar things regarding culture and i'm happy to be here and i'm happy also that russia will finally will the world cup portugal is coming to this world cup crowned is the european champions they are so to speak or one of the favorites or could you name one or a few obstacles that you expect the team to come across at this world cup a lot of eyes are looking to our national team and the maybe that could be one of the reas

we've doubled our maritime deployments to the black sea. we've exercised theater anti-submarine warfare operations, executed bomber assurance and deterrence missions and europe and for the we've deployed fifth generation first time, fighters to europe. the u.s. has taken these acts in coordination with nato since the 2016 warsaw summit, nato has made significant gains in meeting its security commitments. nato has implemented its enhanced forward presence with four multinational battle groups backed by 29 nations. it is also established a tailored forward presence in the black sea region. additionally, the u.s. and nato are putting a spotlight on russian meddling and interference, countering russian misinformation with truthful and transparent information and reinforcing our winning narrative of sovereignty, freedom, the dignity of the individual, and the rule of law. the second major threat we face throughout the european area of operations is violent extremist terrorist groups. since 2014, europe has endured 18 major terrorist attacks. whi

as the home of russia's black sea fleet crimea has always been strategically important for moscow this year and select a really important to. like a world let's assume the uprooting with all the autocratic tools he has that is disposal is going to win this election and win it comfortably what does that actually mean well of course barring any kind of revolution what it means is six more years of putinism and from what we know of putinism he responds to what he views as as russia's vulnerabilities with aggressive behavior so we're likely to see more flashpoints emerging with the west the kind that we're seeing right now and there is i don't think much of an attitude on either side for a full scale conflict but let's hope for all our sakes that that can be avoided he hasn't i guess his critics would say rory because he can't big up the economy i mean you got what nineteen twenty million people russians living officially in a state of poverty so what's his political calling card now. well yeah i mean he has had plenty of chances are over his rule that his reign if you want to call it has

mulch and you preparations going to play in terms of friends to stay in and get energy done by the black sea b.d. and i somebody thought that would cool too also when you're in the great results and see why sure. as a coach you look for similar seems to play well does it not matter as you just about keeping to you know that was a lot of folks who speak a little conflict take it in the big events you beat up and spit out a lot of media and then teams similar to argentina and i never played something each night after the teams of the past six seven each. month for. the association here is a coach i would say it's got the manager looking to get six assaults in this state really each of the face of death in the eyes of facilities on final it just takes work days the best they fly to train in the stadium will train at the training ground level to the stadium and then so information really on the final decisions on the rules and regulations referees of a stadium is an indication of how they're going to work. and just things like be a out of the league which looks like it's likely although the fina

will malt and you preparations going to break in terms of friends staying in givenchy down by the black sea be a nice summer resort i would cool to also when you're in a great results and see why sure noise as a cold look full city seems to play well does it not matter as you just about anything to do you know and then there's a lot of folks just meet new people take it in use big events big city you don't get a lot of media attention and then teams similar to argentina and i mean never really something each night after the teams of the past six in the east. or the football association it was a coach i would say it's got the manager looking to get out of the six starts to end this state really should taste of death in the eyes of facilities on final it just takes. place the best way to ply their trade in the stadium will train at the training ground travel to the stadium and then so information really on the final decisions on the rules and regulations referees of the state giving is an indication of how they're going to work. and just things like be a alley which looks like it's likely alt

mulch and you preparations going to play in terms of frankie's the stain in givenchy done by the black sea beauty and i somebody thought i would fulfill seven year in the great results and say oh i sure know. as a coach you look for all single seems to play well does it not matter as you just about keeping ticking over was a multiple too sweet little conflict take it must be events you meet up and spit out a lot of media and then teams similar to argentina and i mean never played something each night after the teams in the last six in the east. on the football association and there was a coach said that the manager looking to get at the six assaults in this state really is just a taste of death in the eyes of facilities on final it just takes work days the best they ply their trade in the stadium role to train at the training ground travel to the stadium and then so the information really on the final decisions on the rules are right. elation referees obviously giving as an indication of how they're going to work. and just things like the a.o. you need which looks like it's likely a final

even when sebastopol became part of independent ukraine russia's black sea fleet stayed put. when russia annexed crimea and twenty fourteen not even russia's closest allies recognize the move but the locals like activist or good drama all of that doesn't matter. crimea and russia she says sharon i didn't see we didn't we all greet just die of relief it was about returning home before i didn't have a country i could be proud of when the olympics were on i always supported russia when it came to reading my child bedtime stories the stories were russian ones which i told my kids about russian history russians are as good that's what i nosed to get. back in twenty fourteen the west responded with economic sanctions that just took place international companies left and mcdonald's became peace good. more crucially so did many banks sanctions mean the international cards are not accepted in crimea and it's not possible to withdraw cash it's the same story with foreign mobile phones crossing into crimea means losing signal but apart from sanctions what else has changed for people in

romania's black sea coastline has transformed into a glacial fairy scene.the frozen balustrades and icy remains of the abandoned constana casino. the main news again, the un says that conditions in yemen after three isa that conditions in yemen after three is a conflict are catastrophic. officials say 20 million civilians need civilian —— need humanitarian help. houthi rebels are battling against forces loyal to the former president backed by the saudis. and you can get in touch with me and most of the team on twitter. i'm @bbcmikeembley. thank you for watching. hello there. as far as meteorologists are concerned, the first of march is the first day of spring. but what we have to contend with through the day ahead is a continuation of this spell of severe disruptive wintry weather. still that met office red warning, still in force through central portions of scotland and west towards glasgow. a larger area of northern eastern scotland, covered by an amberwarning. in all these areas, snow showers will continue to feed in relentlessly as we head through the e

and i for the crimea to develop an entire black sea coast so we have. our roads and we need to move on to regional roads now that federal roads. are actually much better now the situation is a little worse with regional roads local roads of course. i would like to appeal to mayors and governors you need to be focused on and with rude quality of your roads all the time you need to use new technology new solution us infrastructure mortgage loans. cycle contracts and so on and. and of course we need to increase safety on our roads we need to reduce issues she said he might tell us we're in for traffic accidents over the next few years so we need to double our. might be on a road construction and mates in the us and russia i know that but i'd need to. do you know earmark over eleven trillion or rubles from different sources for this purpose this is a lot considering that in twenty one thousand two hundred seventeen away spending six point four trillion rubles on that that's a lot to you but we need to bring it up to eleven trillion that is that i know we're

biggest sporting event of the year with the opening of the first fifo will cup football in russia's black sea resort of sochi as well as much is a master classes will cut veterans' rules on how to include the portuguese striker you know goma she was there something days opening ceremony. it is not my first time here in russia but it's my first time here in this city and i'm glad to be here if. i had the opportunity to meet this wonderful city one of those cities of the world russia is a beautiful country a lot a lot more bigger than than my in portugal particle is a small country comparing comparing to russia but. of course russia even if he's big we have some similar things regarding culture and i'm happy to be here and i'm happy also that russia will finally will the world cup portugal is coming to this world cup crowned is the european champions they are soon to speak or one of the favorites or could you name one or a few obstacles that you expect the team to come across at this world cup a lot of guys are looking to our national team and the maybe that could be one of the reasons that inc

romania's black sea coastline has transformed into a glacial fairy scene.e the frozen balustrades and icy remains of the abandoned consta na casino. and you can get in touch with me and most of the team on twitter. hello there. as far as meteorologists are concerned, the first of march is the first day of spring. but what we have to contend with through the day ahead is a continuation of this spell of severe disruptive wintry weather. still that met office red warning, still in force through central portions of scotland and west towards glasgow. a larger area of northern eastern scotland, covered by an amberwarning. in all these areas, snow showers will continue to feed in relentlessly as we head through the early hours. some showers further west and south as well, and here the winds will be picking up, so it will feel bitingly cold up there. but of most concern is the weather across northeastern scotland into northeast england, 10—20 cm of snow falling here, perhaps even a little more than that through the central belt of scotland. that will continue to ca

sporting event of the year with the opening of the first fifa will cup football pocket russia's black sea resort of sochi as well as much is masterclasses will cut veterans were also on hand including this weekend strike a new no go on today's opening ceremony. it's not my first time here in russia but it's my first time here in this city and i'm glad to be here if. i had the opportunity to meet this wonderful city one of those cities of the world russia is a beautiful country a lot a lot more bigger than than my in portugal particle is a small country comparing comparing to russia but. of course russia even if he's big we have some similar things regarding culture and i'm happy to be here and i'm happy also that russia will finally. the world cup portugal is coming to this world cup crowned is the european champions they are soon to speak or one of the favorites here could you name one of the few obstacles that you expect the team to come across at this world cup a lot of guys are looking to our national team and the maybe that could be one of the reasons that increase our responsibility

sporting event of the year with the opening of the first pfieffer will cope football park and russia's black sea resort of sochi as well as much as a masterclasses world cup veterans are also on hand including a portuguese strike a new gomez who was at saturday's opening ceremony. it is not my first time here in russia but it's my first time here in this city and i'm glad to be here if. i had the opportunity to meet this wonderful city one of those cities of the world russia is a beautiful country a lot a lot more bigger than than my in portugal particle is a small country comparing comparing to russia but. of course russia even if he's big we have some similar things regarding culture and i'm happy to be here and i'm happy also that russia will last finally. the world cup portugal is coming to this world cup crowned is the european champions they are soon to speak or one of the favorites or could you name one or a few obstacles that you expect the tea to come across have this world cup a lot of eyes are looking to our national team and the maybe that could be one of the reasons that increase ou

biggest sporting event of the year with the opening of the first fifo will cup football in russia's black sea resort of sochi as well as much is a gnostic plus is world cup veterans are also on hand including the portuguese striker you know who was at saturday's opening ceremony. it is not my first time here in russia but it's my first time here in this city and i'm glad to be here if . i had the opportunity to meet this wonderful city one of those cities of the world russia is a beautiful country a lot a lot more bigger than than my in portugal portugal is a small country comparing comparing to russia but. of course russia even if it's big we have something similar things regarding culture and i'm happy to be here and i'm happy also that russia will still finally will the world cup portugal is coming to this world cup crowned is the european champions they are soon to speak or one of the favorites here could you name one of the few obstacles that you expect to see to come across at this world cup a lot of guys are looking to our national team and the maybe that could be one of the reasons th

so you know this this this place is russian essentially in there has always been the home of the black sea fleet even in the post soviets years when russia had to lease severstal. all of ukraine now it's back in russian hands once more and for the people here it's essentially a celebration to be able to reaffirm their russian this. vote in russian presidential elections for the first time so there are no complaints that i've heard here in sevastopol about what is going on with this election and who they are expected to vote for many thanks for being is the crimean perspective on the russian presidential election. still to come this half hour britain accuses moscow off stockpiling the nerve agent used on a former spy and his daughter dispensed dismissing russian suggestions they came for me. and twelve days after the anti muslim riots broke out sri lanka's president lifts a nationwide state of emergency. welcome back with some fairly heavy rain in the forecast for much of southern and eastern china on monday shanghai away down towards fuzhou and hong kong with threats of rain sunny warm rai

but first we can go to steve rosenberg, who is in krasnodar near the black sea.he british invented fairy tales? the response tonight from the russian foreign ministry described theresa may's statement in the commons as a circus show, dismissing the allegations against moscow as this information campaign, talking about fairy tales. and that is no surprise because in recent days we have had several russian officials dismiss claims that moscow is linked to this attack as auntie russian hysteria. i think the biggest problem that britain faces right now is the way it is perceived by the kremlin, and it is perceived by the kremlin, and it is perceived as a weak country. moscow hears british politicians huffing and puffing but believe they're huffing and puffing but believe they‘ re capable of huffing and puffing but believe they're capable of blowing the house down, of taking strong measures against moscow. so, i think the key question now, if london concludes that this was a state—sponsored act of force against britain, what measures can britain perhaps together with

as the home of russia's black sea fleet crimea has always been strategically important for moscow this year and selects a really important to reach allan's how does iran running. well still ahead on al-jazeera why lawyers in australia have filed a private prosecution against the leader of me and mom and son sue jean. one year before elections in nigeria people are demanding changes to the struggling economy from sitting president mahmoud abbas hardy. how we may well be just a week and a half away from the summit type as it's now but the british isles will see some very wintry weather they speak to one through the next couple of days at the moment is not too bad now area of cloud shielding its way in here but now the winds coming in from the atlantic so relatively mild air temperatures into double figures that will change as we go on through the next couple of days even by sas the afternoon the coldest us into to gain base from the east many base from the east this one seven celsius on saturday is that cold around minus nine in moscow shippy about freezing so we must go on the coats on

hold one of his last big campaign events this place has always felt russian it's the home of the black sea fleet people have come here to hear him speak and many of them are excited but you a little bit as we get it but not in the others it's clear why we have these festivities we're all here for russia why is the president we'd like to think that he loves us more than others sevastopol is one of his favorites sixteenth one year don't wish to. ship i think it's one hundred percent true that every true citizen of sevastopol every two crimean supports putin short of the date of this election was specifically chosen to fall on the fourth anniversary of the reunification of crimea with russia he will rarely hear it cold and an exception here and persian is reminding people that he is the gatherer a russian. could be a warden of that was just. four years ago you made a historical decision thanks to our historical decisions of us topple and crimea reunited with our common home oh marland mama russia. now crimea is a special case and the enthusiasm for putin isn't necessarily matched in russia's

election and several stop or is a special case within crimea this is been the how you move russia's black sea fleet . decades it's always been a russian majority city so people here feel very strongly that this is a celebration as some of the votes of told us this morning we're seeing whole families coming out one man even said that he had traveled all the way from haifa in israel. and vote for his particular candidate so this is kind of seen as a completion over of an electoral cycle four years ago russians here in crimea voted overwhelmingly in that referendum that most countries in the world saw as the thinnest of democratic veneers on and it'll be illegal anik sation that's not the way is viewed here of course so they see this is a sort of completion of that cycle we've gone through a referendum parliamentary elections and now crimean voting for the first time in a russian presidential election of course you might see many are celebrating there is a minority that will not be celebrating there always is in any election. absolutely i mean crimea has a population a sizable population but it

we've doubled our maritime deployments to the black sea. we've exercised theater anti-submarine warfare operations, executed bomber assurance and deterrence missions and europe and for the first i mean, we've deployed fifth generation fighters to europe. the u.s. has taken these acts in coordination with nato since the 2016 warsaw summit, nato has made significant gains in meeting its security commitments. nato has implemented its enhanced forward presence with four multinational battle groups backed by 29 nations. it is also established a tailored forward presence in the black sea region. additionally, the u.s. and nato are putting a spotlight on russian meddling and interference, countering russian misinformation with truthful and transparent information and reinforcing our winning narrative of sovereignty, freedom, the dignity of the individual, and the rule of law. the second major threat we face throughout the european area of operations is violent extremist terrorist groups. since 2014, europe has endured 18 major terrorist attacks. w

of and now making its way slowly across here some very stormy conditions in around that into the black sea some big thunderous showers in place here another area of low pressure bringing some rather disturbed weather rain sleet and at times snow into denmark right across into poland and then an area of showery rain just piling in from the six so we're looking at temperatures getting up to around eleven twelve there for london and. paris blustery showers streaming in will see some wet weather coming in the west and frogs to northern areas of spy portugal as a wintry mix that just around the baltic states some snow over the alps and it is the weather whether it's a northern parts of the balkans there's that's a lively weather that we still have in place into the southeast and call it will clear through brought the skies come back in behind for friday twelve celsius thirteen celsius warsaw and berlin as the moderate getting in place still some blustery shots for some possible and in wells for a time a while we got some rather wet weather also just clipping the far north of africa for a time i

across the middle east over the next few days still a little bit of cloud just rolling out of the black sea from turkey just pushed out it was a caspian sea even though too much wet weather to speak of as we go on through the next dial so there will be some sal as of maybe some snow over the high ground into turkey pushing a little further east was through georgia edging towards armenia further south it's generally settled and sunny and more of that sunshine as we go on through wednesday twenty celsius and by very best not bad twenty seven the in baghdad meanwhile a little more cloud over towards took my stand is back to stand seven celsius the massey as we go on through the middle pos all the way a warm sunshine meanwhile across iran put into thirty one cell she is here in doha over the next couple of days that's about as this gorgeous weather coming in for much of this week then so we are starting to look pretty good now as you try to across the western side of south africa we could do with the right of course into cape town the west weather's still clinging on into the eastern cape littl

we could see hostilities against american ships and aircraft operating in the baltics and the black seait puts russia on the same level as north korea. when kim jong-un had his half brother taken out in malaysia with a nerve agent vx. this one novichk is considered to bun of the most of deadly nerve agents available. the leaders have set a meeting for april 27. it will be the first time since 2007. the finalized agenda not set yet. but everyone is thinking this is a huge step forward. particularly in front of the potential meeting between president trump and kim jong-un. what is significant to this? >> the establishment of an agenda. you put your finger on it. i don't think the president should be on air force one unless there are understandings and guarantees before he leaves. he should be in a position that he knows denuclearization on the korean peninsula will occur. there will be real verification measures of a kind that haven't been in place by any of the previous presidents. this is a great opportunity for the united states. but it's a high-wire act. if he fails he falls far from

celsius that by route over the next couple of days still a child so wanted to share was up towards the black sea so to he could still see a little bit of wet weather maybe some wet weather some winter weather still in place over towards far east of the region but for many it's going to be settled and sunny a touch cooler in task a touch warmer in kabul at around fifteen degrees celsius but it won't cross the arabian peninsula it's getting warmer still as we go on through the next few days hopefully the winds dying down here in ca twenty nine celsius on tuesday picking up to thirty one scones freewebs day a gentle breeze of those days are really will feel very nice as we go on through into the middle possible for this week not to bad too across southern africa a little more plow pushing towards the western cape a sign of a great run for i'm afraid the eastern cape charles wanted to shout at the wet weather in tucson for more than piles of mozambique and the good parts of towns in the. the with sponsored boycotts on use. the scene for us when they're on line which is a very nice time in yemen that

as the home of russia's black sea fleet sevastopol has always felt like a russian city even in the years before crimea was annexed when this territory was leased off ukraine so the polling stations here bustled with cadets naval officers military policemen and civilians most seemingly happy for crimea to be voting in its first russian presidential election and most seemingly happy to cost their ballot for one man. yes this is that of course we voted for the president of the russian federation for number one vladimir putin. if he didn't take civil stop all in the whole of crimea under his arm it would have ended up in the wrong hands if he didn't do what he did who knows who would have been in charge of this fleet now watches or thirty's want to connect this presidential election as much as possible with another vote that happens four years ago and so everyone in the cast their ballots in this polling station today and around sebastopol gets a medal and this medal has the dates of the referendum sixteenth of march two thousand and fourteen that referendum of course in which the annexation

at the end of summer twenty fifteen in his luxurious villa on the black sea putin suddenly seemed quite relaxed. he had understood that direct confrontation was not a good strategy for breaking out of isolation and he had a plan. the time for revenge had come. north of one of the organization so obviously water was literally. water from the still lives of the reasons that were the most the got a first of all he pushed ahead with a daring move in syria. guten ordered a massive intervention in support of bashar al assad's regime. hundreds of missions were flown to destroy any resistance against the syrian dictator in months of bombing. the west was surprised but nevertheless allowed putin to carry on not without its own all teary motives. our calculation was that russia risked being in a situation where it was stuck like afghanistan where over time it would have to spend more and more resources to prop up assad and thus far russia has not become unfortunately exhausted by its intervention in syria help with it although the russians wanted to avoid getting bogged down in syria and their in

as the home of russia's black sea fleet crimea has always been strategically important for moscow this year and selects a really important to reach alan's how does it run. let's go back to those latest developments on the deteriorating relationship between the u.k. and russia and also specifically we're going to talk about the mysterious death of a russian ex-pat in the u.k. barker following that story for us neve was the focus the main focus of the investigation there. well peter on friday the police are looking into the death of nicholai klitschko said that they were launching a murder inquiry and he was founded his house here behind me on monday with what police described as a compression marks on his neck and you can see the scene here there are two forensic tents on his front driveway the curtains are drawn there's been a police presence and continuous guard outside the building now for several days he was jus to appear in court on monday to answer long stand standing challenges that him being brought against him by his former employer ara flaws russia's national carrier where he

a special case within crime here this is a port city a naval city it's the hard to move russia's black sea fleet and has been for centuries there's been a whole procession of. naval cadets sailors and military police moving into this polling station behind me because their ballots today we've been to other polling stations as well and there's a general atmosphere of celebration here uprising that is is what it was described as by one vote so we spoke to which is this a celebration people have been coming with their families one man told us that he come all the way from israel high for an israel to vote for his favored candidate we could probably guess who that candidate is for crimea. this vote is important it's the kind of culmination of a four year cycle four years ago crime in voted in that referendum which most countries around the world viewed as a kind of thin democratic veneer on war what was essentially an illegal annexation then they went through two years ago parliamentary elections and now from means of voting for the first time in a russian presidential election of course and w

as the home of russia's black sea fleet crimea has always been strategically important for moscow this year it's elects a really important to reach allan's how does it running. now the u.s. attorney general jeff sessions says five the f.b.i. his deputy director andrew mccabe less than two days before you could retire with full pension mccabe had been a frequent target of criticism from donald trump the u.s. president took to twitter to cheer the sacking saying andrew mccabe fired a great day for the hardworking men and women of the f.b.i. a great day for democracy sanctimonious james komi was these boss and made mckay look like a quiet boy who knew all about the lies and corruption going on at the highest levels of the f.b.i. rules when jordan has more on the controversial tenure of under mccabe andrew mccabe was an f.b.i. agent for twenty two years rising to deputy director and then acting director after his boss james komi was fired by the trump white house in twenty seventeen but just before he planned to retire on march eighteenth mccabe two was dismissed in a statement released la