tv Verified Live BBC News February 16, 2024 3:30pm-4:00pm GMT
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a re navalny collapse. a few people are merging them onto the streets. there was so much, john simpson was talking about the video he made to the mayo of moscow in 2013 and the amount of support that took the authorities by surprise. in those days people were very much more free and able to come out but harder now but some people venturing out and putting flowers there and laying their personal tributes to alexei navalny. welcome to bbc news. let us just after 3:30pm in the uk turn to the main headlines. russia's — prison service says — the jailed opposition figure, alexei navalny, has died. he was vladimir putin's most vociferous critic — this was him in court yesterday. navalney�*s wife made this defiant
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statement in the past hour. i want putin and all his allies, all his friends, his government, i want them all to know that they will be held responsible for what they have done with our country, with my family, with my husband. more on that in the next _ family, with my husband. more on that in the next half— family, with my husband. more on that in the next half an _ family, with my husband. more on that in the next half an hour. - more on that in the next half an hour. the final ruling in donald trump's civil fraud trial is expected later. the former president faces a 370 million dollarfine and restrictions on doing business in new york. in the uk — labour wins two by—elections — in a further blow to the governing conservatives. our top story this hour — breaking news from russia, where the prison service has
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announced that the jailed kremlin critic alexei navalny has died. in a statement, it said he felt unwell after a walk and almost immediately lost consciousness. us secretary of state antony blinken has said russia is reponsible. the 47—year—old was serving a 19—yearjail term for offences widely considered politically motivated. in 2020 he was poisoned with the nerve agent novichok. in 2017, hardtalk presenter stephen sackur spoke to alexei navalny about the dangers he faced in opposing vladimir putin. i guess from 2010, i never had a day in my life when i wasn't under the criminal prosecution because it's the way how they fight me. that's true. you've had convictions, you've had house arrest, and you may well end up in prison again. your brother is currently in prison in solitary confinement. you know that you are treading a very fine line and if you go one inch too far, you'll end up in prison. 0r who knows?
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i definitely don't draw this line for myself. ijust do what i can do in this particular moment. and i don't care about what kremlin is doing, what their strategy about keeping me in prison or releasing me, maybe, you know, that i had actually a moment when they imprison me for five years and i spent the night in the prison knowing nothing about what's going on in moscow, where tens of thousand people came in the street and they forced actually vladimir putin to release me. these people who came in the street, they are not gone. they still live in in this city. they still live in the country. and i'm absolutely 100% sure that my programme for this presidency election is the programme based on the needs of the majority of people. let me stop you there. are you absolutely determined? you talk about your run for the presidency. you're determined, come what may,
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to challenge vladimir putin in the election, which we believe will come in 2018. you are going to run, are you? yeah, i'm going to run. and well, i'm not a naive person. i understand that kremlin is very unhappy with me running, and i understand that they will do everything to prevent me from running. and recently, several kremlin�*s officials said that he is not allowing to allow to participate. but still, i am going to appeal to the people and ask for them support. i mean, in this office where we speak, you've already got your logos organised. navalny 2018. but i put it to you that if you lose this court case in kirov based on accusations of embezzlement and fraud, you will be barred from running. and whatever you tell me about your determination doesn't actually doesn't nothing in the current in the current council. well, as i said, they imprisoned me for five years and they released me on the next day.
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so you see what kind of law the same with my participation in mayoral election. it was almost impossible to participate. but when people came in the street and said, we are not going to recognise this election without him participating. the bbc�*s russia editor, steve rosenberg, gave us his reaction from moscow. well, the russian prison service issued a brief statement, and according to that statement, its version of events. mr. navalny fell ill this morning after a walk inside the penal colony. the russian prison service claims that he lost consciousness almost immediately and that local medical staff, prison medical staff were called to the scene and then an ambulance was called.
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attempts were made, according to the prison service, to revive him, but that those attempts failed cause of death as yet unknown. that is the version according to russia's prison service. we've been hearing in paul's piece that alexei navalny was the kremlin�*s most vocal critic, no doubt about that. and in fact, he was the only opposition leader in this country who had been capable of bringing large numbers of people, large numbers of protesters onto the streets across the country. he got under the kremlin�*s skin, for sure. and as we heard in that piece, he had accused the kremlin of trying to assassinate him back in 2020. let me take you back to moscow to show you the pictures that were just touched on a short while ago. show you the pictures that were 'ust touched on a short while ago. people leavin: touched on a short while ago. people leaving flowers _ touched on a short while ago. people leaving flowers and _ touched on a short while ago. people leaving flowers and tributes, - touched on a short while ago. people leaving flowers and tributes, i'm - leaving flowers and tributes, i'm just reading here from the afp news agency that the moscow authorities have warned against protests after alexei navalny�*s death. that has come from the prosecutors there. people certainly going out to lay flowers and tributes but in terms of
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protests i expect there is a element of definitions about this but the moscow authorities are warning against any form of protest after alexei navalny�*s death. that is worth noting. informationjust coming in from moscow. we will have plenty more reaction to that story just here. we will have plenty more reaction to that storyjust here. we will break away from that for the next few minutes. another big story that's happening in the next cople of hours. ajudge in new york is expected to issue a judgment today in donald trump's fraud trial. the former president has already been found �*liable' for fraudulently inflating the value of assets in statements to lenders. (boxed prosecutors have asked the judge — to fine donald trump 370 million dollars — and to ban him from conducting business in the state. trump has attacked the proceddings, as a politically motivated hitjob. it is just one of several civil cases that he is currently fighting , and yesterday,
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a judge set a date of 25th march for a criminal trial into hush money payments to adult film star stormy daniels. let's speak tojoe moreno — a former us federal prosecutor, to tell us more. how big a deal is potentially what could happen in that new york judgment today?— could happen in that new york judgment today? certainly a big deal judgment today? certainly a big deal. this effectively _ judgment today? certainly a big deal. this effectively could - deal. this effectively could annihilate the trump organisation which has been around for decades. a real estate empire headquartered in new york fining him $300 million plus to revoking his business licence to operate in new york could effectively decimate, it wouldn't leave much remaining. he could relocate to florida, he still has properties in chicago and elsewhere but this is really the heart of his business and so again part of that judgment could be appointing a receiver and winding down the trump
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empire. just receiver and winding down the trump emire., , receiver and winding down the trump emire. , , .,, receiver and winding down the trump emire. , ., empire. just so people watching are absolutely clear. _ empire. just so people watching are absolutely clear. we _ empire. just so people watching are absolutely clear. we are _ empire. just so people watching are absolutely clear. we are not - absolutely clear. we are not awaiting whether he is innocent or guilty here, that part of this all of this happened months ago. he is liable, today is all about the penalty, the penalty, the size of the fine and the potential ban on business and so far in every court proceeding judge has been pretty brutal in his assessment of what donal trump's defence lawyers have been saying. donal trump's defence lawyers have been saying-— been saying. exactly right, before the trial began _ been saying. exactly right, before the trial began they _ been saying. exactly right, before the trial began they found - been saying. exactly right, before the trial began they found him - the trial began they found him liable in what is called summary judgment, papers that were filed before the trial. donal trump was already liable on day one, the last few months as you point out the real issue that they are fighting about issue that they are fighting about is what the penalty should be. donal trump will argue that there are no victims here. those banks and those lenders did not lose a single
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dollar, all those loans were repaid and why should he be decimated as a result. 0n the opposite side the prosecutors are saying, fraud is fraud and we cannot tolerate it. the lord that they are using does not require a fraud victim. what they want to do is make a point, if anybody else is considering what's the trump organisation did repeatedly, and making blatant this statement, statements that were not true about the value of his assets, let this be a warning to you. it is interesting _ let this be a warning to you. it is interesting because this almost cuts right to the heart of the whole image that donald trump has created over decades. this hugely successful billionaire, all of that, everything that has come with it, the art of the deal. all of those successes that he would... bit by bit, if this
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goes against him that gets dismantled and cuts to the heart of him? i dismantled and cuts to the heart of him? ~' , ., , him? i think even before his entrance — him? i think even before his entrance into _ him? i think even before his entrance into politics - him? i think even before his entrance into politics it - him? i think even before his entrance into politics it was | entrance into politics it was assumed that he was a showman more than a businesswoman. even the fact that he claimed he was a billionaire was highly scrutinised. his company is private so it's finances aren't given to the public, it is always sort of secret. the idea that he would misrepresent part of his personal residence which we know is 10,000 square feet and he said it was 30,000 square feet, not even close to reality, and it seems to be consistent with his pattern of valuing his business. even his political acumen and popularity. this is a shot across the bow here to say that someone has to say
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enough is enough. he cannot be allowed at least in the business sense to so blatantly misrepresent all the facts about his business. thank you so much for giving us the heads up as we wait. we are about an hour and heads up as we wait. we are about an hourand a heads up as we wait. we are about an hour and a quarter away from actually hearing thatjudgment. that is the latest on a story we are keeping an eye on. as promised let's return to our main story, the death of alexei navalny in russia. just in the last few moments we are getting the last few moments we are getting the latest comments from the un. she says that the news of the death of alexei navalny is devastating. several un independent expects including myself privately and publicly urge the russian government to entity conditions under which he was being held. we called an
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investigation into credible allegations of torture into him. the essential need for him to receive medical treatment expressly considering his poisoning back in 2020. the appeals were ignored by the kremlin so blatantly was a tragedy for alexei navalny and his family. it is also a bleak day for the rule of law and human rights. the statement ends, a comprehensive and a full autopsy must be carried out as a matter of urgency. a very powerful statements just coming in from the un special reporter under torture. let us speak live to a russian economist and founder of the centre of post—industrial studies in
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moscow. thank you doctor so much. your reaction. all to the news we have heard today from moscow? i would say that my reaction was a lot of sadness. nevertheless it was highly expected because even several years ago when we saw him, i said that this would be his end there. mr putin conceded at alexei navalny as his most dangerous opposites —— opponent. 0ne his most dangerous opposites —— opponent. one of them was going to
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die first, so alexei navalny died first and i think this was putin's plan. first and i think this was putin's lan. ~ , ., �* first and i think this was putin's ian, ~ , ., �* 4' ., plan. we still don't know the details surrounding - plan. we still don't know the details surrounding the - plan. we still don't know the i details surrounding the death, i plan. we still don't know the - details surrounding the death, i was just reading out a statement from the un saying that they were needed to be a full autopsy. we knew that he had been sent to this harsh penal quality, we knew about his health condition, you talked about in a sense the predictability of ending up sense the predictability of ending up in this place. just explain to people watching around the world, perhaps who may not be so familiar with it, just why did vladimir putin fear him so much? he with it, just why did vladimir putin fear him so much?— with it, just why did vladimir putin fear him so much? he feared him so much because _ fear him so much? he feared him so much because he _ fear him so much? he feared him so much because he was _ fear him so much? he feared him so much because he was one _ fear him so much? he feared him so much because he was one of - fear him so much? he feared him so much because he was one of the - fear him so much? he feared him so i much because he was one of the most popular people in russia who opposed him first of all. he undermined his credibility because of his effective
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anti—corruption investigations which anti—corru ption investigations which were anti—corruption investigations which were very popular in russia, 100 million people viewed, his films and his movies about putin's palaces. alexei navalny was one of the most effective people who displayed the tools about putin's regime in russia. ., ., ., ., , russia. you mention the video. i was watchin: it russia. you mention the video. i was watching it only _ russia. you mention the video. i was watching it only a _ russia. you mention the video. i was watching it only a couple _ russia. you mention the video. i was watching it only a couple of— russia. you mention the video. i was watching it only a couple of hours - watching it only a couple of hours ago with alexei navalny fronting that video, it went viral because it showed the opulence, the palaces that vladimir putin had built, and as alexei navalny was highlighting the corruption. we are just putting
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a clip of that on screen the moment. that went viral. was that the biggest driver in terms of why vladimir putin wanted to silence him. wanted to bring these charges against him? hat him. wanted to bring these charges against him?— against him? not only because the roblem against him? not only because the problem with _ against him? not only because the problem with alexei _ against him? not only because the problem with alexei navalny - against him? not only because the problem with alexei navalny as - against him? not only because the | problem with alexei navalny as with many other opposition leaders would say, putin's idea is that he hates those people who are inside russia and who pretend to fight from inside. he doesn't care so much about those that have fled russia.
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he cares about the protests inside russia. this is what disturbs him the most. ., �* ., . “ russia. this is what disturbs him the most. ., �* . . “ , voting took place in kingswood in south gloucestershire caused by the resignation of chris skidmore. in wellingborough where the former tory mp was forced out of his seat. wellingborough... the second biggest drop from the conservative since 1945. it's the second second—largest swing from tory to labour in a by—election since the second world
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war. the performance of reform uk which used to be the brexit party will add to conservative fears as they came in third taking 13% of the vote. that is a record result for them. in kingswood labour toppled a loving thousand majority with nearly 45% of the vote. so keir starmer said the results were fantastic. the tory mp jacob said the results were fantastic. the tory mpjacob rees mogg blamed a low turnout. here is ian watson. in the uk — the labour opposition — has won a resounding — double byelection victory — in a bad night for the
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party bosses were quick to blame him for the scale of the defeat. the result here in kingswood for labour was perhaps a bit less spectacular than it was in wellingborough and there was no underlying scandal or controversy. but in some ways this result could be more significant because in this seat�*s 50 year history, the party that usually wins in kingswood also wins the general election. here. labour activists were celebrating the fact that an 11,000 conservative majority have been transformed into majority of more than 2000 for them. the hard work starts now. from today still hasn't quite sunk in because there's been so much happening. winning candidate damien egan said
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the issue's on the doorstep with the state of the nhs and the cost of living. key themes for the general election too. some voters here in kingswood had been on a politicaljourney and said they were looking for a new direction. i think generally people are looking for change and who knows? it might be, it might work, it might not. but i think people would like to see some input locally. just give it a go. i suppose i would love a change just for like myjob's like safety, reassurance, like being stable. the labour party claims it's the vehicle for change, but its leader says he's not complacent. there is always more work to do. you know, there's a long way to go before this election. and as every football fan knows, you don't win the league by a good win in february. so we've got to keep at this. we've got to earn every vote. the prime minister has had some problems facing his own party recently, but he insisted that labour hasn't yet captured voters imagination.
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i think if you look at the results, very low turnout and it shows that we've got work to do to show people that we are delivering on their priorities. and that's what i'm absolutely determined to do. reform uk. that's the former brexit party came third in both seats and some conservatives are calling for similar policies, lower taxes and lower immigration to win voters back. but there is a lot of common ground between the conservative party and the reform party, and therefore we need to make sure that we appeal to those voters. publicly, labour are celebrating, but privately they are relieved that these byelection victories and wellingborough and kingswood are taking some of the pressure off keir starmer and piling it back on rishi sunak. let us speak tojenny, thank you for joining us. let us speak to jenny, thank you for “oininu us. ~ , ., ~ , , joining us. when pro-minister rishi sunak reacted _
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joining us. when pro-minister rishi sunak reacted to _ joining us. when pro-minister rishi sunak reacted to the _ joining us. when pro-minister rishi sunak reacted to the results - joining us. when pro-minister rishi sunak reacted to the results he - sunak reacted to the results he talked about the fact that there is usually low turnout in by—elections, is that really what is behind this? while speaking to people here today it seems that a lot of people wanted change but low turnout is a factor here. it is normalfor change but low turnout is a factor here. it is normal for by—elections but this time round talking to people i heard them saying that they really weren't interested in taking part in this by—election, may have something to do with the constituency here disappearing when the general election is called. new boundary changes mean there will be a new constituency here but a lot of people felt quite disengaged when i spoke to them however i did come across some conservative voters who said they wanted change and that is why they voted labour this time in the labour voters who were pleased that this area won't be represented by conservative mp any more and that labour has no one and they've hope
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that bodes well for the general election should happen by the end of this year. the main issues that were campaigned on by labour, damien egan the mp that one, he presented himself as the change candidate, he spoke of national issues, cost of living, nhs issues. where the conservatives carried out in more local campaign, concerns around building on the green belt here. one of the things that is worth mentioning is the reform vote here, they got 10% of the vote. they came third. jacob rees mogg the neighbouring mp was quick to play down the labour victory here saying that if you add the reform vote to the conservative vote it would have been more in the labour vote so he was saying that it wasn't that
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impressive. i'm sure labour would be happy to chalk this up as a victory, the mp from the party here... it is boding on well for labour even though that they have a difficult week of headlines around the candidate in rochdale.- week of headlines around the candidate in rochdale. thank you for that and apologies _ candidate in rochdale. thank you for that and apologies for _ candidate in rochdale. thank you for that and apologies for the _ candidate in rochdale. thank you for that and apologies for the sound - candidate in rochdale. thank you for that and apologies for the sound of. that and apologies for the sound of the motorcycle in the background we heard you find any thank you. now uk border force has made arrests after a boat carrying number of people has arrived at a beach. they say one person has been detained for illegal entry and another for facilitating it. a further six people have been taken to hospital for treatment. prince harry has spoken publicly for the first time since the kingsdown stenosis —— kings diagnosis. harry was speaking from the canadian town
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of whistler, he was there for the... we will hear more about his interview in a moment but here is emma vardy who sent us this update from canada. this emma vardy who sent us this update from canada-— from canada. this is whistler slidinu from canada. this is whistler sliding centre _ from canada. this is whistler sliding centre where - from canada. this is whistler sliding centre where the - from canada. this is whistler - sliding centre where the olympic sports of bobsleigh and skeleton and luge take place. if you have seen the film cool runnings you know that these are winter sports that are not for the faint—hearted and today prince harry has been giving skeleton a go. you throw yourself headfirst down a nice track on a tea tray that he certainly seem to enjoy it. he reached speeds of 99 kilometres an hour which isn't bad. he is here along with megan because they are supporting the invicta schemes. it is a sporting event which harry founded to help injured veterans with their recovery. it involves winter sports for the first time only games take place next
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year. athletes here have been receiving coaching in those new winter sports. receiving coaching in those new wintersports. prince receiving coaching in those new winter sports. prince harry enjoyed it so much that he went back to for a second run but when we asked megan she said no way. that a second run but when we asked megan she said no way-— she said no way. that clip of the interview harry _ she said no way. that clip of the interview harry gave _ she said no way. that clip of the interview harry gave to - she said no way. that clip of the interview harry gave to abc - she said no way. that clip of the l interview harry gave to abc news. she said no way. that clip of the i interview harry gave to abc news. i love my family and the fact that i was able — love my family and the fact that i was able to go on a plane and see him i_ was able to go on a plane and see him i am— was able to go on a plane and see him i am grateful for.— was able to go on a plane and see him i am grateful for. him i am gratefulfor. what is your outlook on — him i am gratefulfor. what is your outlook on his _ him i am gratefulfor. what is your outlook on his health? _ him i am gratefulfor. what is your outlook on his health? that - him i am gratefulfor. what is your outlook on his health? that staysl outlook on his health? that stays between him _ outlook on his health? that stays between him and _ outlook on his health? that stays between him and me. _ outlook on his health? that stays between him and me. and - outlook on his health? that staysj between him and me. and illness outlook on his health? that stays i between him and me. and illness in the family can _ between him and me. and illness in the family can have _ between him and me. and illness in the family can have a _ between him and me. and illness in the family can have a galvanising i the family can have a galvanising effect, is that possible here? for sure, i effect, is that possible here? for sure. i see _ effect, is that possible here? for sure. i see it— effect, is that possible here? for sure, i see it on _ effect, is that possible here? for sure, i see it on a _ effect, is that possible here? for sure, i see it on a day—to—day basis — sure, i see it on a day-to-day basis. ~ ., ., , ., ., basis. with more on this we have got our ro al basis. with more on this we have got our royal correspondent _ basis. with more on this we have got our royal correspondent with - basis. with more on this we have got our royal correspondent with us. i our royal correspondent with us. thank you so much for your time. what do you make of the interview?
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it was an interesting first comment from prince harry since we heard about the diagnosis from his father's cancer. he talked about the news about his health and how he jumped on a plane and raced over to london. they had been commentary here about the length of his stay. perhaps only with him for 45 minutes orso perhaps only with him for 45 minutes or so and he said he was grateful for any time with him. there was an interesting exchange about how american citizenship might be a possibility for him because he was talking about how much he loves being in the united states and he said it was something that he had considered, it wasn't a priority but he was thinking about it. it gave us an insight into his life. it was interesting and i'm sure new headlines will be generated by someone who is always in the headlines when he wants to be or
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not. ., ~ , ., headlines when he wants to be or not. ., ~ i. . ., ., not. thank you so much from that shown. not. thank you so much from that shown- there _ not. thank you so much from that shown. there is _ not. thank you so much from that shown. there is plenty _ not. thank you so much from that shown. there is plenty more i not. thank you so much from that shown. there is plenty more on . not. thank you so much from that i shown. there is plenty more on our website, please keep watching bbc news. live from london. this is bbc news. russia's prison service says the jailed opposition figure, alexei navalny, has died. he was vladimir putin's most vociferous critic — this was him in courtjust yesterday. navalny�*s wife made this defiant statement. translation: i want putin and all his allies, _ all his friends, his government, i want them all to know that they will be held responsible for what they have done with our country, with my family, with my husband.
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there's been wide reaction and fierce condemnation of the kremlin from world leaders. we should hold putin accountable for this and no—one should be in any doubt about the dreadful nature of putin's regime in russia after what has just happened. ..confirmed this would be a further sign of putin's brutality. hello, i'm matthew amroliwala. welcome to verified live, three hours of breaking stories, and checking out the truth behind them. hello and welcome to verified live — our programme today — dominated by that news from russia — that the jailed politcial activist, alexei navalny, has died. the putin critic — was being held in a penal colony, close to the arctic circle — serving a 19—year sentence for extremism and fraud charges — charges widely considered to be politically motivated. there's been an avalanche of international reaction.
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