seven percent threshold that the parties need to get proportional representation in the lower house of parliament this election day that will be the exception if a party gets six percent it will get seats in the house if it gets five percent of the vote it will get one season the house is considered quite important the representation in the house of parliament this is the first time in russia's modern history the lawmakers are going to be taking up position for a period of five years well as we continue on into the evening with our election coverage my colleague tessa us still has been taking a closer look at some of the major political parties and how they line up. this right here is the state duma the lower chamber of the russian parliament where laws are adopted and all bills are first reviewed and the term comes from the russian dumont meaning to think it was founded in one thousand nine hundred six but does survive the one nine hundred seventeen revolution however it did bounce back in one thousand nine hundred three when a new constitution was introduced and the upcoming election and the ma

and this bill is going to be introduced today in the lower house of parliament. it is likely to be passed in the next few days. it will be a major step towards fighting corruption. but only this step may not be big enough. other steps have to be taken to fight against corruption. >> called the think we will give its new legislation -- how do you think we will get new legislation to fight corruption? >> if the legislation is going to be a major step forward, along with it, there are other bills, which are expected to be passed. other steps at the level of judicial administration and other steps will be equally necessary to fight against corruption. it would be a signal that corruption is no more acceptable. >> thank you so much for joining us. the cost of the terrible floods in thailand's, hundreds of people died and tens of thousand lost jobs and factories forced to close. the cleanup is making progress, but the full recovery will take a good deal of time and money. our correspondent has been talking to the finance minister. >> a landscaped submerged. farmland an

in the apostle or house of parliament has passed a bill -- india's lower house of parliament has passed a bill to curb corruption. they hope this will bring to an end the protests. anna hazare is on a hunger strike. there could be chaos and anarchy if i'm elected activist force through change, -- is unelected activists force through a change. >> normally, i would welcome this move. i think the action by the lower house is not because they really wanted to do something about corruption. this is only because they wanted to be seen to be doing something. the debate in the parliament shows that all political parties are more interested in scoring political points rather than taking any effective action. the government ministers even said that we should be seen to be sending a signal. what they did not say is that date should not do anything but a signal should be sent. >> there are fears in australia that hazardous substances might have been released into the huge flood waters covering parts of the country. a cyclone swept across the northern territory. thomas and joseph have the story. --

the russians and the east of the country have begun version of as elections to the lower house of parliament to start do you much good hope in the country the outcome of most interest is whether the really good night had a bunch of monitors to keep it's much joy she had over two thugs competing with another six possibly. up next the most expensive renovation in the history of stage the legendary bolshoi theatre has been find their returns to its full glory all season long as takes inside. the great. journey. hello and welcome to the must go out so in this week's program we'll be exploring the magnificence of both so i think it's up to six years the main stage of the historical landmark has been dogged but now it's going to ring chandeliers a shining once again so join me martin andrews as we explore the historical and magnificent building that fuses its classic original designs with modern technology state's craft and high tech facilities as the main cultural symbol of russia the bolshoi theatre has finally returns to its glory striking day or night illuminated exterior now shuns proud after

well it was one of three rounds of voting for the lower house of parliament nine out of twenty seven provinces have voted including cairo and alexandria the remaining provinces will go to the rest of this month and january and then they will be voting for the upper house of parliament this entire election process will not be over before march now as you correctly say the muslim brotherhood is showing the largest support base at this stage and this is not in an expected it is the largest the oldest and the most well organized political group in here in egypt in spite of the fact that it was once banned according to the brotherhood's own exit polls its freedom and justice party is expected to walk away with some fifty percent of votes this will be followed by the salafi are newer which looks thick to get some twenty percent of the election ballots now there has been some concern particularly among sick universe that the muslim brotherhood might form an alliance with the surface are newer and the brotherhood has going to have this nice lifestyle new it is a much more conservative party

this was the first of three rounds of voting for the lower house of parliament nine out of twenty seven provinces have voted including cairo and alexandria the remaining problems as well voted the rest of this month and january and then they will be voting for the upper house of parliament this entire election process will not be over before march now the muslim brotherhood is showing the largest support base at this stage and this is not an unexpected it is the largest the oldest and the most well organized political group in here in egypt despite the fact that it was once banned now there has been some concern that the muslim brotherhood might form an alliance with eastern afghanistan or and the brotherhood has denied this the sufis partner is a much more conservative party it has a much stricter interpretation of islam and now this is the first election that is being hold since the former egyptian president hosni mubarak was forced to step down that in february and the election results were initially clarified wednesday at that stage there were delayed the announcement was given that

inaction by the time reserve on tuesday we also wait the german chancellor's address the lower house of parliament later today and the russian markets bounced back from earlier morning declines of all u.s. and european debt problems are still weighing on the markets let's have a look at some individual sham moves otherwise x. really bank is trading on the half a percent higher oil company tad nafta is gaining its net profit rose fifty percent in the first nine months of the year and financial group a case is to much is trading lower despite reports third quarter net profit growth seventy five percent to three hundred nineteen million dollars. the global economy is confronted by a series of risks as it approaches twenty twelve in some cases such as eurozone debt a critical failure could result in a severe recession russia has had a relatively successful two thousand and eleven producing a balanced budget at historically low inflation those are banks here as well first of all it predicts next year the economy will gain momentum in the absence of external shocks we project will prices of one hundred

this will be a house of parliament the stage will be in january and then there will be votes i'm told for the opera house of parliament the boasting that has happened so soft by a knowledge going to quite smoothly a lot of egyptians coming to the streets to actually explain this vote this is real vote in the post mubarak era. well despite what has been called a high turnout since the pharaohs there was still a lot of people boycotting the vote so what are the people's expectations especially those who aren't suffering or square. well certainly there is a significant number of egypt's ones who are against these elections most of them have been taking to the streets of the past two weeks that in months earlier this year they say that these votes are legal they say that they did not change in real reality on the ground and the rallying call in cast in the square does remain the same and that is for the wounded military to step down immediately the concern among these egyptians is that it doesn't really matter whether you hold elections or whether you change the face of the government it

be formed with a significant majority in parliament to come for me isn't on this policies not next week we'll see the second phase of voting this is for the house of parliament the third phase will be in january and then there will be virtually hold for the upper house of parliament also be there is a significant number of egypt since who are going to these elections most of them have been taking to the streets of the past two weeks and months earlier this year they say that these votes all illegal they say that they did not change a real reality on the ground and the rubbing cord into the square does remain the same and that is for the military to step down immediately the concern amongst these egypt is. it doesn't matter whether you hold elections or whether you change the face of the government it is still the military who are pulling the strings behind the scenes now today saturday we do expect the announcement of the new cabinet that is being formed by the new prime minister come out all guns or we he has already named some of the cabinet at least a dozen ministers one of whom are actually ministers from the previous regime in the same for

he made the comments as he met with leaders of the parties who won seats in russia's lower house of parliament after the december the fourth polls. a deadly attack in belgium. in the city of killing at least three people and injuring dozens more officials say the attacker who died in the incident had served time in jail and was on his way for police questioning when he launched the. sanctions on syria and one sided pressure up won't work russia's foreign minister condemns the west for ignoring atrocities committed by position groups. said the gangs want to create a humanitarian catastrophe and pave the way for a foreign intervention in the country. and supporters of the former ukrainian prime minister have stormed the court building where the conviction was appealed and. was sentenced to seven years behind bars for abuse of power while in office. but i'll be back with more on those stories another update you know for you in about fifteen minutes from now in the meantime despite america's military withdrawal from iraq washington is still preparing plans to control the country's rich oil reserve

that this is just the first phase of what will be a three phase election only for the lower house of parliament and only after that will be an election for the the house of parliament that indeed is the same continues it does do the religious parties a huge mandate by which to govern the country there are those critical questions that have not yet been answered and these are just how much power this new parliament will have and indeed just how much power the army is willing to hand over the use of prime minister kemal guns already has started naming his new cabinet but included in that naming is at least a dozen ministers from the previous government who will be holding the same positions included in it is the same foreign minister the same information minister and we're now hearing from egyptian state television that the full cabinet will be named on saturday just reinforces what people here is we have been saying from the beginning and that is that the army if you're serious about handing over power that this appointment of kemal al gonzales was just merely windows dressing that we've seen mu

russia's six state team or the lower house of parliament has held its first session of the heated debate this saturday and not in from the ruling united russia party was chosen as the speaker it comes as protests continue against the elections two weeks ago sparked by allegations of vote rigging by colleague spoke to yet that in the garage that had enough you've been following the events. it was a very intense first session of the state to my heated debates and raised voices for sit at the voting the voting for a new duma speaker with two hundred thirty eight boyce's four and eighty eight against a new speaker has been chosen and that's ruling united russia's candidate to get not a second government shot full advance last week when a serbian i wish can until recently crowned in chief of style to step down for a duma seat that pup from that opposition will have a louder voice in the new duma with united russia failing to secure a constitutional majority is believe that the lower house of the russian parliament will again become a field of heated debates and now that united russia does not

liberal democratic policy at eleven percent now is proportional representation in the lower house of parliament that means that these full parties to deposit the seven percent threshold the number seats that they will get in the diva correspond directly to the percentage of the national vote is why this figure is poor since the russian election committee has actually released early numbers of what the seats in the team a kid play outside and the need to make it look like this united russia with two hundred thirty eight seats the communist party with ninety two seats sarah she was sixty four states and the liberal democratic party with fifty six seats now you can see old a united russia in the lead it has lost its majority compare that to four years ago when it had sixty four percent of the vote that gave it three hundred and fifteen seats in the stadium a full hundred fifty seats in take two they don't need a three hundred to get a majority so it does seem that they've they've lost the majority we've seen a lot of public support playing out in the fading biggest prize you heard to say the unite

six state house of parliament has held its first session after heated debates for the ruling united russia party was chosen as the speaker as protests continue. to go by allegations of vote rigging my colleague. spoke to you get that in there. who've been following events for us. it was a very intense first session of the state duma heated debates and raised voices for receipt of the voting the voting for a new duma speaker with two hundred thirty eight voices for and eighty eight against a new speaker has been chosen and that's ruling united russia's candidate to give not a skin government shot full advance last week when a serbian i wish can until recently kremlin chief of staff stepped down for a duma seat apart from that opposition will have a louder voice in the new duma with united russia failing to secure a constitutional majority is believe that the lower house of the russian parliament will again become a field of heated debates and now that united russia does not have a majority of the committees fourteen out of twenty nine committees are will be controlled by the three oppositio

you tell us about well during the first plenary session of the news the elected lower house of the russian parliament members of the opposition gathered for an unsanctioned protest outside the stadium when according to opposition bloggers over twenty people were arrested also today is well known for its harsh criticism of the russian government was released from custody where he spent the last fifteen days after he was arrested during opposition rallies which took place shortly after the parliamentary elections in the country which took place on the fourth of december there also been a number of demonstrations including one in moscow when over twenty thousand people gathered on one of the city's main squares to do months in a no means of the results of the parliamentary elections claiming their results were falsified to polling that's russian president's meeting with ordered an investigation into the case and already fifty criminal cases were filed in that respect and at twenty one polling stations the voting results were a no over and that does not change the outcome over the parliamentary election

minutes past the hour here in moscow the first session of russia's six state duma the lower house of parliament is under way it comes of more than two weeks after elections spog mass protests over alleged fraud that you're caught in the ghetto but i joins us live from the parliament building for details on this to read others do it is different from the previous one tell us how the seats are spread and what can we expect from it they still missing deep different and opposition will obviously get a much louder voice in the new do much with united russia failing to secure a constitutional majority it's widely believed that the lower house of the russian parliament will again become a field of heated debates well you know as russia won the december fourth vote got the majority of the seats and the new duma but in the form worse than four years ago losing almost two hundred seats now that united russia doesn't dominate all the committees that is as it was in previous. previous two months would change the approach towards law mean i would like to address this question to political analyst to meet pe

russia is a sixth state to deal with the no house of parliament has held its first session after heated debate said again that from the ruling it out of russia party was chosen as it speaker when it comes as protests continue against the elections two weeks ago followed by allegations of vote rigging all my colleague. spoke to me they got jovana tight enough has been following the events but it was a very intense first session of the state duma heated debates and raised voices for a sit in the boat the boat ing for a new duma speaker with two hundred thirty eight always says four and eighty eight against a new speaker has been chosen and that's ruling united russia's candidate to give not a skin government shop full advance last week or so we're not wishing until recently kremlin chief of staff to step down for a duma seat apart from that opposition will have a louder voice in the new duma with united russia failing to secure a constitutional majority is believe that the lower house of the russian parliament will again become a field of heated debates and now that united russia does not

about ten minutes past the hour here in moscow russia is the sixth state duma the lower house of parliament has held its first session after a heated debate so to get out of this can from the ruling united russia party was chosen as the speaker it comes as protests continue against the election some two weeks ago sparked by allegations of vote rigging let's cross live now it was. over and over for more details on this hello to both of you starting with you first or so we know the name of the new speaker and now tell us how with the elected we believe there were some some fiery debate in the process it was very intense rhodri heated debates and raised voices could be heard before the voting and with two hundred eighty five voices for and eighty eight against a new new speaker of the state duma has been chosen that is as you said united russia's candidate. well the government to stop the advance shuffle advance last week when mr not wishin until recently kremlin chief of staff stepped down and said that he will go to dumont and united russia put forward his candidacy for opposition parties ho

with united russia failing to secure constitutional majorities believe that the lower house of the russian parliament will again become a field of heated debate some of them we witnessed today and also now that united russia doesn't control the majority of the comedians fourteen out of nine twenty nine committees are now controlled by opposition parties it's also believe that the approach towards lawmaking will change however political analysts say that for opposition that not only means a victory but actually poses a serious challenge if they're ready to take full responsibility for some crucial laws. the truth of the debate is changing because now the opposition we have said about half of the elite is so they will control four to commit itself this way to then and this is a significant victory for them at the same time a significant this because they will have to show that they're ready to share the responsibility for the fate of the country that they're able to provide a constructive criticism for the policy. new ideas so we'll see how these two mobile function and. the opposition is ready for the

parliament building. in the new lower house of the russian parliament the state duma opposition will have large more representation than it used to have with the country's leading political party united russia not getting the constitutional majority of the votes it used to have securing only two hundred and thirty eight seats in the country's parliament as opposed to three hundred and fifteen it's nice to have however still united russia got most of the votes but we are expecting some heated debates including all on choosing the new speaker of the stadium which we will be updating you on throughout the day now fifteen year committees out of twenty nine will be headed by the parliamentary majority the united russia party six by the country's communist party and the liberal democrats and fair russia will gets to have sure you meet each of them since the election day on december the fourth there's been a number of debates about the outcome of this parliamentary election and the opposition rallies to places most go along some twenty thousand people gathered for a peaceful demonstration against the outcome of their par

the previous lower house of the russian parliament is the sites that opposition parties have much more a presentation in the new states do right now so we're expecting some heated debates throughout the day especially on the topic of choosing a new speaker of the state duma which is going to take place today ok in the time thanks very much indeed for bringing us this update and talking over the reporting there outside the state duma. how new year's jazz standard is away and we are starting our own countdown with ten special reports on. events that shaped twenty eleven and we're looking back at major stories through the eyes of our correspondents who witnessed them and we start with an area that saw a fair share of both breakthroughs and failures space projects consistently made it into the headlines but there was much more that didn't espied all over now reveals . one of the biggest landmarks that we saw this year was the fiftieth anniversary of your first spaceflight just before one of the nasa astronauts went up there i was having to chat with him about what it actually meant to have

watching r t a russia's six a duma the lower house of parliament begins its first session on wednesday comes more than two weeks after elections that sparked mass protest over alleged fraud are just to tell you all the joins us live from the parliament building. to an italian l. the stairway is different from the previous one so tell us how the seats are spread and what can we expect frolics work. well in the new lower house of the russian parliament the state duma opposition will have much more representation than it used to have with the country's leading political party united russia not getting the constitutional majority of the votes it used to have securing only two hundred and thirty eight seats in the country's parliament as opposed to three hundred and fifteen it's nice to have however still united russia got most of the votes but we are expecting some heated debates including on choosing the new speaker of the state duma which we will be updating you on throughout the day now fifteen year committees out of twenty nine will be headed by the parliamentary majority the united ru