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tv   BBC News  BBC News  February 16, 2024 5:30pm-6:01pm GMT

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, confirmation that no official confirmation that navalny side, lawyers, team, family, they have seen the same statements from the russian prison service as everyone else and that is what people are going on. but all of our correspondence making the point that it is hugely unlikely that they would put out a statement like that unless it was true given just the prominence of alexei navalny. worked just going through some reaction that we have had. we heard from the vice president earlier in the us secretary of state as well. david cameron, the uk foreign secretary has also been talking in the last little while. let's hear from hearfrom him. alexei navalny was an incredibly brave fighter against corruption, and he gave up everything in campaigning for what he believed in. and my heart goes out to his wife and to his family. and we should be clear
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about what has happened here. putin's russia imprisoned him, trumped up charges against him, poisoned him, sent him to a arctic penal colony, and now he's tragically died. and 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. will there be consequences for russia — will there be consequences for russia now?— russia now? there should be consequences _ russia now? there should be consequences because - russia now? there should be consequences because there | russia now? there should be i consequences because there is russia now? there should be - consequences because there is no doubt in my mind that this was a brief freighter against corruption for democracy and look what putin's russia did to him. they trumped up charges presented in commode sent them off to a penal colony and he has died in that is because of the action that russia took. don't look at the resume out not recognise him for the truly dreadful nature that it has. ., for the truly dreadful nature that it has. . , , it has. that line there must be consequences, _ it has. that line there must be consequences, interesting. . it has. that line there must be - consequences, interesting. perhaps we will get an inkling of that when
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we will get an inkling of that when we hearfrom we will get an inkling of that when we hear from the we will get an inkling of that when we hearfrom the us president. as of the pictures we are leaving there because we are not that far away from that news conference. but some sort of, let me take you back before we move on to the pictures from moscow. we have been watching those pictures from the central square in terms people laying tributes. just than the last few seconds we have been seeing these pictures for quite a while, at least one hour or so but there you can see some of the people there you can see some of the people there in the central square being led away. not quite sure as the camera just moves around. we read out earlier a line from the prosecutors, just warning people against protests for the death of alexei navalny. difficult tojust work out what is happening from these pictures, but very clearly, a little bit of disturbance there and certainly some people being led
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away. so we will try and work out exactly what has happened there. and of course, another ominous sign there. throughout the last little while we have been hearing from bill browder and others talking about just the nature, the impossible nature to criticise the putin regime, the authorities there. the camera just barking back around to what we have been watching of last little while to stop that is where the candles, flowers and tributes have been left. difficult to make out what that was, but we will try to find out and bring you a bit more clarity on that in the next little while. but let's return to some of the international reaction there has been. ukrainian president volodymyr zelensky placed the blame on russia's president. translation: we have just learned that alexei navalny has died - in a russian prison. obviously, he was killed by putin, like thousands of others who have
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been tormented and tortured because of this one person. putin does not care who dies as long as he retains his position, and that is why he must not keep anything. putin must lose everything. he must not retain anything. he must be held accountable for what he has done there. let's get a little our international correspondent lyse doucet spoke to estonian prime minister kaja kallas in munich. the estonian prime minister only a few days ago was put on a most wanted list by putin so that, interesting background as we wait to listen to the comments. she was asked by our international correspondent on that initial reaction on the death of alexei
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navalny. putin's playbook hasn't changed. if you think about the past, he has eliminated its political rivals competitors before. if you think about politkovskaya and nemtsov. this is a long list and this is the way dictators operate. i think what we have to do is to understand that this is the way he operates and also we have to continue with, for example, setting up the special tribunal for really prosecuting the crimes that he's committing. when we spoke to lord cameron, the british foreign secretary, about consequences, he said there should be consequences for president putin. what more can the international community do? as you know, there are already many sanctions. i think two things. one is using the frozen assets of russia. i mean, we have been talking about this a lot and we should continue and really come up with the solution. in estonia, we have already done so. we have presented a law to the parliament discussing this. so basically, you know,
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the claim of ukraine regarding the war damages towards russia and russia's claim regarding the frozen assets. we make a settlement of those claims and we don't have to use our taxpayers money to pay for the reparation of ukraine. and this is something that he's really afraid of. and the second thing is setting up the special tribunal for the accountability, not only for the war crimes, but for the crime of aggression. we will come away from that because we are about to seejoe biden. he hasjust walked into that room in the white house. we saw the podium all set up so we are moments away from the us president, his first public comments after that news broke out. let's just bring the microphones up in the pictures up and herejoe biden. bi;
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microphones up in the pictures up and here joe biden.— microphones up in the pictures up and here joe biden. by the news. the re orted and here joe biden. by the news. the reported death _ and here joe biden. by the news. the reported death of _ and here joe biden. by the news. the reported death of alexei _ and here joe biden. by the news. the reported death of alexei navalny. - and here joe biden. by the news. the reported death of alexei navalny. he | reported death of alexei navalny. he briefly stood up to the corruption, the violence and all the bad things the violence and all the bad things the putin government was doing. in response, putin had him poisoned, arrested he had him prosecuted for fabricated crimes, he sent him to prison, he was held in isolation, even all of that did not stop him from calling out putin's lives. even in prison he was a powerful voice for the truth. this is amazing when you think about it. and he could have lived safely in exile after the assassination attempt on him in 2020 which nearly killed him, i might add. but he was travelling outside the country at the time. instead, he returned to russia. he returned to russia. knowing he would likely be
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imprisoned but he continued his work. but he did it anyway because he believed so deeply in his country, russia. the reports of his death are true i have no reason to believe it or not. russians will tell their own sort. make no mistake. make no mistake. putin is responsible for navalny�*s death. putin is responsible. what has happened to navalny is more proof of the brutality of putin. no one should be fooled in russia, at home or anyone in the world. putin does not only target citizens of other countries as we have seen is what is going on in ukraine, he also inflicts terrible crimes on his own people. as people across russia and around the world are morning navalny today because he was so many things that putin was not. he was brave, principled, dedicated to building a russia where the rule of law existed and where it apply to everybody.
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navalny believed in that russia. that russia. he knew it was a cause worth fighting for. and obviously, even dying for. this tragedy reminds us of the stakes of this moment. providing funding so ukraine can keep defending itself against the putin onslaughts in war crimes. there was bipartisan senate vote that passed overwhelmingly in the united states senate to fund ukraine. as i have said before, i mean this in a literal sense, history is watching. history is watching, the house of representatives. the failure to support ukraine at this critical moment will never be forgotten. it is going to go down in the pages of history, it really is. it is consequential. the clock is ticking. this has to happen. we have to have it now. if the real is what we are dealing with with putin. all of us should reject the dangerous statement made by the previous president that invited russia to
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invade our nato allies if they were not paying up. he said if an ally did not pay their dues, he would encourage russia to," do what they want". i guess i should clear my mind a little bit and not say what i'm really thinking but let me be clear. this is an outrageous thing for a president to say. i cannot fathom, cannot fathom rolling over in their graves hearing this. as long as i am president america's dance by our commitment to our nato allies as they have stood by the commitments to us repeatedly. putin and the whole world to know, if any adversary would attack us, our nato outlets would attack us and if putin would attack a nato i like the us would attack a nato i like the us would defend every inch of nato territory. we create unity with our
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nato are to stand up to the threat that putin's should process was send my deepest condolences to the navalny staff and support us for his continuous work despite this loss and display all of the putin attempts to stamp out the opposition and most of all, to his family, especially to his wife, daughter and son who already sacrificed so much for their family son who already sacrificed so much for theirfamily and a son who already sacrificed so much for their family and a shared son who already sacrificed so much for theirfamily and a shared dream for theirfamily and a shared dream for a betterfuture for for theirfamily and a shared dream for a better future for russia. so for a betterfuture for russia. so i just want to say, god bless alexei navalny, his courage will not be forgotten and i am sure it will not be the only courage we see coming out of russia in the near term. thank you. i will be happy to take questions. was this in assassination? the answer is we don't know exactly what happened but there is no doubt that the death of navalny was the consequence of something that putin and his thugs did. d0 something that putin and his thugs did. , ., something that putin and his thugs
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did. i. ., , ., ., did. do you warn putin in geneva of devastating — did. do you warn putin in geneva of devastating consequences - did. do you warn putin in geneva of devastating consequences that - did. do you warn putin in geneva of devastating consequences that if i devastating consequences that if navalny — devastating consequences that if navalny died in brushing custody what _ navalny died in brushing custody what consequences should russia faced? _ what consequences should russia faced? . . , what consequences should russia faced? ., , ., , what consequences should russia faced? ., , ., ., faced? that was three years ago in that the meantime _ faced? that was three years ago in that the meantime they _ faced? that was three years ago in that the meantime they have - faced? that was three years ago in j that the meantime they have faced faced? that was three years ago in l that the meantime they have faced a lot of consequences and have over 350,000 russian soldiers and maintained a position where they have been subjected to great sanctions across the board and we are contemplating what else can be done, but what we are talking about a time when there were no actions being taken against russia and look at what has transpired since. are at what has transpired since. are ou at what has transpired since. are you looking _ at what has transpired since. are you looking at — at what has transpired since. are you looking at increasing sanctions on russia? — you looking at increasing sanctions on russia? we you looking at increasing sanctions on russia? ~ ., ., you looking at increasing sanctions on russia? ., ., ., on russia? we are looking at it a ranue on russia? we are looking at it a ranae of on russia? we are looking at it a range of options. _ on russia? we are looking at it a range of options. anything - on russia? we are looking at it a range of options. anything you . range of options. anything you can do to net range of options. anything you can do to get additional— range of options. anything you can do to get additional aid _ range of options. anything you can do to get additional aid to - do to get additional aid to ukrainians without going to congress?— ukrainians without going to concress? ., , ., , congress? know it is about time they ste u- congress? know it is about time they step no instead _ congress? know it is about time they step up instead of _ congress? know it is about time they step up instead of taking _ congress? know it is about time they step up instead of taking a _ step up instead of taking a two—week vacation. two weeks you are walking away. two weeks! . what are they
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thinking? my god this is bizarre. and reinforcing all the concern and almost i would say panic, i would not say panic, but real concern that the united states made a reliable ally. the united states made a reliable all . , , the united states made a reliable all. , ., .,, the united states made a reliable all. , ., , the united states made a reliable all. , ., ., ally. this is outrageous. are you confident now _ ally. this is outrageous. are you confident now that _ ally. this is outrageous. are you confident now that you - ally. this is outrageous. are you confident now that you will - ally. this is outrageous. are you confident now that you will get l ally. this is outrageous. are you i confident now that you will get the ukraine _ confident now that you will get the ukraine aid — confident now that you will get the ukraine aid given _ confident now that you will get the ukraine aid given what _ confident now that you will get the ukraine aid given what has - confident now that you will get the . ukraine aid given what has happened today? _ ukraine aid given what has happened today? i_ ukraine aid given what has happened toda ? ., , ., ukraine aid given what has happened toda ? .,, ., ukraine aid given what has happened toda? ,, today? i hope to god it helps. the idea we need _ today? i hope to god it helps. the idea we need any _ today? i hope to god it helps. the idea we need any more -- - today? i hope to god it helps. the| idea we need any more -- anything idea we need any more —— anything more to get aid to ukraine. this is in the light of a former presidents statement saying russia, if they do not pay their dues to us, go get them, come on. what are these guys doing? what are they doing? hagar doing? what are they doing? how concerned are _ doing? what are they doing? how concerned are you _ doing? what are they doing? how concerned are you about the anti—satellite capability that russia — anti—satellite capability that russia is developing and what is your administration planning to do in response?— in response? first of all, there is no nuclear— in response? first of all, there is no nuclear threat _ in response? first of all, there is no nuclear threat to _ in response? first of all, there is no nuclear threat to the - in response? first of all, there is no nuclear threat to the people l in response? first of all, there is| no nuclear threat to the people of
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america or anywhere else in the world with what rush is doing at the moment. numbertwo, world with what rush is doing at the moment. number two, anything that they are doing or they will do relates to satellites in space and damaging of satellites, potentially. number three, there is no evidence that they have made a decision to go forward with doing anything in space either us what we have found out was there is a capacity to launch a system into space that could, theoretically, do something that was damaging. it has not happened yet and my hope is it will not. i'll take one more.— and my hope is it will not. i'll take one more. ,, . ., , ., take one more. switching gears, and incredible evacuation _ take one more. switching gears, and incredible evacuation plan _ take one more. switching gears, and incredible evacuation plan to - take one more. switching gears, and incredible evacuation plan to the - incredible evacuation plan to the 1.5 displays palestinians it's sheltering in rafah and what with the consequences be if they move ahead _ the consequences be if they move ahead with the full scale ground invasion— ahead with the full scale ground invasion without clear measures to protect— invasion without clear measures to protect civilians there?— protect civilians there? firstly, i had extensive _ protect civilians there? firstly, i
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had extensive conversations - protect civilians there? firstly, i | had extensive conversations with protect civilians there? firstly, i - had extensive conversations with the prime minister of israel over the last several days almost one hour each. and i have made the case and i feel very strongly about it that there has to be a temporary cease—fire to get these prisoners out, to get the hostages out. and thatis out, to get the hostages out. and that is under way, i am still hopeful that that can be done and in the meantime, i do not anticipate, i am hoping that the israelis will not make any massive land invasion in the meantime so it is my expectation that that will not happen. there has to be a cease—fire, temporarily, to get the hostages. by the way, there are, we are in a situation where there are american hostages, american citizens being held hostage. it is notjust israelis. it is american hostages as well. my
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hope and expectation is we will get this hostage deal and bring the americans home and a deal is being negotiated now and we will see where it takes us. pm negotiated now and we will see where it takes us. �* �* ., ., ., it takes us. an fbi informant at the centre of impeachment _ it takes us. an fbi informant at the centre of impeachment inquiry - it takes us. an fbi informant at the centre of impeachment inquiry has| centre of impeachment inquiry has been _ centre of impeachment inquiry has been indicted for allegedly lying, your reaction to that should the inquiry— your reaction to that should the inquiry be — your reaction to that should the inquiry be dropped? he your reaction to that should the inquiry be dropped?— your reaction to that should the inquiry be dropped? he is lying and it should be — inquiry be dropped? he is lying and it should be dropped _ inquiry be dropped? he is lying and it should be dropped and _ inquiry be dropped? he is lying and it should be dropped and it - inquiry be dropped? he is lying and it should be dropped and it hasjust it should be dropped and it has just been outrageous from the beginning. thank you. see you in ohio. has thank you. see you in ohio. as usual, thank you. see you in ohio. as usual. a _ thank you. see you in ohio. as usual, a shout of questions asjoe biden leaves the room at the end of that statement. he said he was not surprised, but outraged by the reports of alexei navalny�*s that.
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you said, make no mistake, putin is responsible for navalny�*s death. it is more proof of his brutality. he not only targets citizens of other countries, but he targets his own citizens. he went on to say, they were looking at a range of potential options as a consequence. then interestingly, because he turned it around and we have been talking about it with bill browder, it took us to the ukraine aid bill that is currently being blocked by house republicans he said, again, history is watching. if you saw him really animated and angry that the house was now on two weeks of vacation describing that as outrageous. so those, the key planks on today's main story of alexei navalny�*s death and joe biden getting onto talking about that in the impeachment string as well. at our correspondent in washington was listening to that, john sutton worth. absolutely clear
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there that we have heard from the vice president a little earlier that the us holds of russia and putin ultimately responsible for this. yes, this was, as you say, one of the most animated and passionate performances from president biden that we have seen in a a while. firstly, the personal and secondly the political. his remarks about navalny and his bravery and honesty, all of the things that putin is not, is particularly poignant to me. and towards the end, secondly, he is very strong remarks aimed at the us house of representatives were of course that package of aid for ukraine is currently held up. taking the fight to them, but also,
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specifically pointing at donald trump and his remarks he made recently about questioning the us support for nato accolades and essentially, president biden forcefully making the point that here in the death of this man is a reminder of the way, russian authoritarian values standing in opposition to all of the values that democracy holds a deer. and as he said, this is a moment that history will remember. he said, this is a moment that history will remember.— said, this is a moment that history will remember. he was very clear in certain areas _ will remember. he was very clear in certain areas but _ will remember. he was very clear in certain areas but he _ will remember. he was very clear in certain areas but he was _ will remember. he was very clear in certain areas but he was asked - will remember. he was very clear in certain areas but he was asked the l certain areas but he was asked the question, what are the consequences, less clear in that answer. l question, what are the consequences, less clear in that answer.— less clear in that answer. i think that is very _ less clear in that answer. i think that is very interesting. - less clear in that answer. i think that is very interesting. the - that is very interesting. the reporter in that question made the point that president biden himself said that, were russia ever to be held responsible for the death of alexei navalny, were putin to be
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held responsible, in the remarks made in 2021, there would be serious consequences. when asked about that, to reflect back on those comments, he made the point today that, a lot has of course changed in the interim. the russian a full—scale invasion on ukraine in the large swathe of sanctions and put in may not be a huge amount of room to be doing more. and he said that they would look at it in we knew before the news today that vice president kamala harris at the security conference there are discussions at the second anniversary of that invasion about toughening up those sanctions. but we also know a huge number of stumbling blocks that president biden will have had that in the front of his mind. the idea that even with the sections currently announced that the russian economy seems to be showing some resilience, can find other avenues
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to keep the economy going there. shifting for example the markets for its energy exports to china, india, those sorts of things. so perhaps it is difficult to give a clear answer and maybe you do not want a to signal in terms of sanctions. but perhaps heartless detail on that than what people would have liked to have heard. but according to president biden they are working on it. ., ~ , ., , . president biden they are working on it. thank you very much, john sutton worth. as it. thank you very much, john sutton worth- as we — it. thank you very much, john sutton worth. as we return _ it. thank you very much, john sutton worth. as we return to _ it. thank you very much, john sutton worth. as we return to the _ it. thank you very much, john sutton worth. as we return to the light - worth. as we return to the light pictures in central moscow with just the constant line of people coming with flowers adding to the growing tributes there to alexei navalny in the centre of moscow. we will keep an eye on those pictures, we will continue to return to that to bring you regular updates. there has been so much traction since this story first broke. but for the next little while, towards the tail of our programme we will come away from the
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main story today. the death of alexei navalny. that has been announced by the russian authorities. just time now to turn to one more story here in the uk. the political story. labour won two resounding victories in a bad night for the conservatives. labour overturned large majorities in kingswood in south gloucestershire, after the resignation of overturning a majority of 18,000. the largest since the second world war. reform uk which used to be the brexit party will add to conservative fears as they came third taking 13% of the vote. in kingswood, labour topped with an 11,000 majority with nearly 45% of the votes. keir starmer called the results fantastic thing they should people want to change and the tory mp blame toa
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to a low turn out. just time to let's speak to henry hill who is the deputy editor of conservative supporting blog, conservativehome... your top line analysis of what we have seen?— have seen? the by elections basically confirm _ have seen? the by elections basically confirm everything | have seen? the by elections . basically confirm everything the polls have been saying for the last year or so which is that the conservatives are heading, as things stand, for a heavy defeat at the general election if the prime minister, if the conservatives managed to win one of them than that may change, the narrative, the same it did last year, but the bare—bones tax would not change. labour even on the kingswood strain smaller than in willingboro. it also shows that reform uk are capable of cutting the conservatives of the first time they have actually managed to return a double digit vote share in an election outside of european elections. that is going to worry conservative campaign or quarters. the problem for them is the party will fund the seats with labour and the general election, the parties
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that are going to be taking tory seats are labour in the lib dems. so tories need to focus on reform and the risk alienating those on the outside. , , , ., ., outside. given everything you have to set in that _ outside. given everything you have to set in that analysis, _ outside. given everything you have to set in that analysis, does - to set in that analysis, does it make sense to have a strategy for rishi sunak that essentially says, follow and stick to the plan when the plant has brought them to this place? he the plant has brought them to this lace? ., , ., ., . .,, ., place? he does not have much option. it is very difficult _ place? he does not have much option. it is very difficult for _ place? he does not have much option. it is very difficult for incumbent - it is very difficult for incumbent governments, especially governments that have been in powerfor11i governments, especially governments that have been in power for 1h years to campaign as a change candidate and, given the fiscal circumstances are incredibly higher and he leaves are incredibly higher and he leaves a divided party would be extremely difficult thing if rishi sunak were to do it, to set out an ambitious plan. labour has not done it either. their pledge was the most interesting pledge which has not been cut for labour. so if he came up been cut for labour. so if he came up with a plan would alienate people
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it would not identify users for the elections of his best hope and what will be in actually defensive election is to use the budget to try and create as many men as popular. the music is playing so that means we are coming to the end of the programme. thank you for those thoughts and your time joining programme. thank you for those thoughts and your timejoining us here on the programme. thank you for watching at home or around the world. hopefully we will see at the same time tomorrow. bye—bye. hello there. it's been feeling almost spring—like for this time in february. temperatures yesterday reach highs of 18 celsius in one or two spots across the country. today is also quite mild, maybe not quite as mild as yesterday. we should see more sunshine around, particularly across the south of the country. there's yesterday's very mild air moving on into the near continent. we're still in that mild air mass.
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some colder airjust looms to the far north of scotland and the northern isles on those northerly winds there, but elsewhere light winds for the rest of today, variable cloud, one or two spots of light, rain and drizzle in worthern and western areas. the best of the sunshine across southern britain. those temperatures up to 13 or 1a degrees in the warmest spots. something a bit cooler there from the north—east of scotland — six to eight degrees. as we head through this evening and overnight, little change. it stays mostly dry. there will still be some thicker patches of cloud, some spots of light, rain and drizzle, particularly in northern and western areas. again, the odd clear spell. where we have the clearer skies across north—east scotland, it will turn quite chilly here, down to one to three degrees, but a milder night to come for most — up to ten degrees there for plymouth. as we start the weekend, well, we've got this ridge of high pressure which will bring a fine start to saturday, but weather fronts will be ganging up on us out west. that will bring some wetter and windy weather as we move through the day. so a lot of cloud around on saturday. again, this weak weather front ahead of the main weather fronts will bring some spots of light rain and drizzle to scotland, northern england. a little bit of brightness perhaps through the morning across eastern areas,
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but then the stronger winds, the rain push into northern ireland. that crosses the irish sea into western britain, certainly into western scotland. you could see some heavier bursts there. again, very mild for the time of year — 12 to 1a degrees, despite all the cloud. as we head through saturday night, it looks like the wet and windy weather spreads across the country, but still a question on how quickly the weather fronts clear england and wales as we move through sunday. i think sunday starting off pretty wet. quite damp and breezy across large parts of england, wales, particularly east anglia and the south—east. we could see a bit of a hang back in north wales, north midlands, northern england, but that should tend to clear away towards the north sea later in the day. then we should see some sunshine around. certainly scotland, northern ireland fairing best with the drier and brighter weather on sunday. again, mild for the time of year. it stays mild into the start of next week, as well. there will be further rain at times, particularly towards the end of the week where it starts to windier and the temperatures will be coming down closer to the seasonal norm.
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today at six — russia says the country's most prominent opposition leader, alexei navalny, has died in prison. seen at this court hearing just yesterday, prison authorities say he collapsed after going for a walk. his wife says russia's leaders are to blame. translation: they will be held - responsible for what they have done with our country, with my family, with my husband. translation: i want to and his whole entouraae translation: i want to and his whole entourage to — translation: i want to and his whole entourage to know _ translation: i want to and his whole entourage to know that _ translation: i want to and his whole entourage to know that they _ translation: i want to and his whole entourage to know that they will - translation: i want to and his whole entourage to know that they will be i entourage to know that they will be held responsible for everything they have done to our country, to my family and to my husband. mr navalny�*s family have yet to
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confirm his death, but in towns and cities across russia tonight, people have been laying flowers in his memory. cheering labour celebrates two by—election victories — it overturns big conservative majorities in kingswood and wellingborough. prince harry speaks publically for the first time since it was announced the king is being treated for cancer. i love my family and the fact that i was able to get on a plane and go and see him and spend any time with him, i'm gratefulfor that. and, we're behind the scenes as designers, buyers and celebrities gather to celebrate llo years of london fashion week. coming up on sportsday later in the hour on bbc news — one of the quickest test centuries scored in india. ben duckett leads the fight back in the third test.

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