for opposition in russia. also on the programme... donald trump is ordered to pay nearly £300 million by a new yorkjudge, in a landmark fraud case. it's in a landmark fraud case. an enormous fine and he been it's an enormous fine and he's also been banned from running a business in new york for the next three years. labour celebrates two decisive by—election wins, overturning big conservative majorities in kingswood and wellingborough. and could the royal family be brought closer by the king's cancer diagnosis? prince harry thinks it might. on newsnight at 10.30 — the man some said vladimir putin wouldn't dare to kill is reported dead. does alexei navalny�*s death show the russian president's total power or does it give him a political headache?

good evening. there's been international outrage and condemnation at the news that the most prominent opposition leader in russia, alexei navalny, has died suddenly in prison — according to the country's prison service. the 47—year—old was president putin's most prominent and outspoken critic and had beenjailed on extremism charges which were widely considered to be politically motivated. president biden said tonight that president putin was responsible for mr navalny�*s death and that it was yet more proof of his brutality. alexei navalny�*s wife, yulia, said if the reports were true, vladimir putin would not go unpunished for her husband's death. let's go first tonight to moscow and to our russia editor, steve rosenberg. reeta, of all the critics and opponents that vladimir putin has

faced, alexei navalny was by far the most active, the most vocal and the most active, the most vocal and the most dangerous to the authorities. why? because he had charisma, he had organisational skills, and he had this rare ability to connect with people. but in recent years his friends and family had feared for his safety especially after he was put in prison three years ago and today came the shock announcement that he was dead. laughter. smiling, crackingjokes. this was alexei navalny yesterday as he gave testimony by video link from prison. even court officials managed a smile. but today, russia's prison service said that mr navalny was dead. it claimed that inside this penal colony he'd fallen unconsciousness and that medical teams couldn't save him. russian tv rarely mentions alexei navalny. it read out the prison service statement about his death and moved on to other news.

he was vladimir putin's most vocal critic — a protest leader, an anti—corruption campaigner who'd long clashed with the kremlin. i remember this, six years ago. alexei navalny is russia's most prominent opposition figure and president putin's most vocal critic. he's been barred from running in the presidential election. he's now being arrested by police. in 2020, in siberia, he'd been poisoned with a nerve agent and airlifted to germany for life—saving treatment. he accused the kremlin of trying to assassinate him. but as a politician, he felt he couldn't stay away from russia. when he returned the following year, he was arrested on arrival. he'd been in prison ever since, his friends and family fearing for his safety.

just hours after alexei navalny was reported dead, his wife, yulia, made a dramatic appearance at the munich security conference. she couldn't confirm his death, but... translation: if it's true, iwant putin and his whole entourage, l his friends and his government, to know that they will be held responsible for everything they've done to our country, to my family, and to my husband. and this day will come very soon. and once she'd finished speaking, from the hall, a standing ovation. back in russia, president putin was meeting industrial workers. he made no mention of alexei navalny. he knew that by taking on the authorities, he was taking a risk. my message, for the situation when i am killed is very

simple — not give up. not all russians supported alexei navalny, but in moscow and in other russian towns, people came out to remember him. in a country where dissent has been silenced, for many here, just doing this was an act of courage. so at this makeshift shrine, people have been putting down portraits of alexei navalny, they have been laying roses and carnations and lighting candles, as you can see, and here at the end there's a sign which says, "we won't forget and we won't forgive." there's a palpable sense of disbelief. i was seeing the news on my phone and first my reaction was, like, it'sjust a joke, it can't be real. but then the news was come and more and more and more, and i was crying, like, for one hour. what was your reaction when you heard the news about his death? i was with my friends.

i was broken. i really thought that it could have happened. like, never. that is the phrase i've heard so often from russians in recent times — we never thought it could happen. steve rosenberg, bbc news, moscow. there's been shock and dismay around the world at the news of mr navalny�*s death. 0ur security correspondent gordon corera has more. tonight, vigils have been marking the death of alexei navalny, like this one in tbilisi, in georgia. 0thers this one in tbilisi, in georgia. others have taken place in london and berlin. the latest and most high profile of vladimir putin's critics to meet an untimely end. a moment which has also been met

with outrage from western leaders. make no mistake, make no mistake, putin is responsible for navalny�*s death. putin is responsible. what has happened to navalny is yet more proof of putin's brutality. reporter: are you looking at increasing sanctions on russia right now? we're looking at a whole number of options, that's all i'll say right now. we should be clear about what has happened here. putin's russia imprisoned him, trumped up charges against him, poisoned him, sent him to an 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. the suspicions around navalny�*s death are fuelled by the fate of other putin critics. last august, evgeny prigozhin died — the mercenary who'd led an armed mutiny in russia. he was killed in a plane crash. it was, the kremlin said, an accident. in 2015, leading opposition politician boris nemtsov was killed,

shot on a bridge in the shadow of red square. again, the kremlin denied any role. and it's notjust inside russia that opponents of vladimir putin have been targeted. in 2018, sergei skripal, who spied for britain, was targeted in salisbury, along with his daughter. novichok, the same nerve agent once used on navalny, nearly killed them. and in 2006, there was the death of alexander litvinenko, a former intelligence officer and a fierce critic of vladimir putin, poisoned with radioactive polonium in london. since vladimir putin gave the order for the invasion of ukraine two years ago, questions have grown about how far russia's leader is willing to go. this is what ukraine's president had to say today.

translation: obviously he was killed by putin. i like thousands of others who have 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. it's not yet clear exactly what happened to alexei navalny. but vladimir putin's critics seem to know who they hold responsible. gordon corera, bbc news. in a moment we'll go back to steve rosenberg in moscow, but first let's talk to our chief international correspondent lyse doucet, who is at that security conference in munich for us. lyse, world leaders are openly pointing the finger at vladimir putin, but is their outrage likely to be turned into action? well, three years ago president biden vowed devastating consequences

if alexei navalny was to die behind bars. i heard much the same today, from lord cameron, when he said here in munich, there should be consequences. but what? so much of what could be done to punish or try to contain president putin has already been done. wide—ranging sanctions imposed after russia's full—scale invasion of ukraine two years ago, although many question the effectiveness of the sanctions. president putin has been indicted by the international criminal court, a court he mocks. but earlier today i spoke to estonia's prime minister and like all of russia's immediate neighbours she is always thinking about how to deal with this threat right on the borders, and she had two steps she recommended. russia's foreign assets, seizing them in spending that money to rebuild ukraine, something she says that president putin feels. and secondly, establishing a special tribunal for

accountability. for today, and tomorrow, their world will wait for confirmation from alexi navalny�*s family, confirmation that the prison service's account that he is dead is true and that many around the world will then do everything to ensure that his courage and sacrifice were not in vain. that his courage and sacrifice were not in vain-— not in vain. steve, in moscow, alexei navalny _ not in vain. steve, in moscow, alexei navalny was _ not in vain. steve, in moscow, alexei navalny was the - not in vain. steve, in moscow, alexei navalny was the most l alexei navalny was the most prominent of putin's critics. where does this leave opposition to the president in russia?— president in russia? well, even before today. — president in russia? well, even before today, these _ president in russia? well, even before today, these were - president in russia? well, even before today, these were very l president in russia? well, even i before today, these were very dark times_ before today, these were very dark times for— before today, these were very dark times for the russian opposition. i mean, _ times for the russian opposition. i mean, where are the main opposition leaders _ mean, where are the main opposition leaders right now? they've either fled leaders right now? they've either fled into — leaders right now? they've either fled into exile all they are in prison— fled into exile all they are in prison in_ fled into exile all they are in prison in russia. alexei navalny was in prison _ prison in russia. alexei navalny was in prison. now he is dead. also, keep— in prison. now he is dead. also, keep in— in prison. now he is dead. also, keep in mind that ever since the full-scale — keep in mind that ever since the full—scale russian invasion of ukraine — full—scale russian invasion of ukraine the russian authorities have passed _ ukraine the russian authorities have passed a _ ukraine the russian authorities have passed a whole string of new,

repressive laws, aimed at silencing dissent, _ repressive laws, aimed at silencing dissent, silencing criticism of the authorities, of the kremlin, and of the war— authorities, of the kremlin, and of the war in— authorities, of the kremlin, and of the war in ukraine. but i tell you what _ the war in ukraine. but i tell you what struck— the war in ukraine. but i tell you what struck me most today on what was a _ what struck me most today on what was a very— what struck me most today on what was a very dark day here in russia, 'ust was a very dark day here in russia, just chatting — was a very dark day here in russia, just chatting to some of those people — just chatting to some of those people who were laying flowers, i mean. _ people who were laying flowers, i mean, despite their clear sense of shock, _ mean, despite their clear sense of shock, some of them said to me that despite _ shock, some of them said to me that despite everything they still have hope that things could get better, that russia does have a better future — that russia does have a better future ultimately. it was as if they were _ future ultimately. it was as if they were clinging to this hope like some sort of— were clinging to this hope like some sort of shaft of light in the dark. steve, _ sort of shaft of light in the dark. steve, thank you very much and thank you to lyse doucet earlier. donald trump has tonight been ordered to pay £278 million in penalties in his civilfraud case in new york. he's been found to have unlawfully inflated the value of his wealth — to secure more favourable loans and insurance terms. he's also been barred from acting as a company director in new york state for three years.

his lawyer called the ruling a politically—motivated witch—hunt, and said he would appeal. here's our north america editor, sarah smith. this is a political witchhunt... witchhunt. .. it's a witchhunt... i've been going through a witchhunt for years. donald trump's fame and fortune are based in new york real estate. that's why he chose his beloved trump tower from which to launch his political career. now his lies about the value of his properties have led to a massive fine and seen him banned from running a business in new york for three years. his lack of remorse throughout the case was described by the judge as pathological. his lawyer has responded, saying, "this verdict is a manifest injustice, plain and simple. it is the culmination of a multi—year politically fuelled witchhunt that was designed to take down donald trump." mr trump says his mar—a—lago estate in florida is worth over $1 billion. more like 18 million, said the court. when valuing his own penthouse

apartment in trump tower, he claimed it was three times its actual size. this fraud scored trump better rates on loans and insurance deals. during the trial, he said there was no victim and no crime. these loans were all paid off, just so you understand that. they were all paid off. these aren't loans that are due or defaulted on at all. we never even got a notice of any difficulty. the bank, deutsche bank, was extremely happy, they testified they were extremely happy. they paid their full money and some of the loans were paid off early. this is just a witchhunt. inside as well as outside the courtroom, donald trump raged against the charges. judge engoron has ruled his irrelevant speeches and refusal to answer questions directly severely compromised his credibility. the attorney general, letitia james, did run for office promising to get trump, whom she called a conman, and he says she only brought this case because she hates him.

the only thing that matters are the facts and the numbers. and numbers, my friends, don't lie. both of donald trump's sons, eric and donjunior, were also on trial. they have each been fined $4 million and banned from running a new york business for two years. it is just three weeks since another court awarded the writer ejean carroll $83 million in damages from donald trump for defamation. now he has another enormous fine to pay. costs are mounting up and he still faces four criminal trials later this year. when you add altogether his recent finds, donald trump now owes well in excess of $440 million and yet he carries on trying to turn every legal setback into a political advantage and has already e—mailed supporters this evening, asking for them to contribute money to help him, as he puts it, and the

witchhunt against president trump. sarah, thank you very much, sarah smith reporting. here, labour has won a resounding double by—election victory, leaving the conservatives, who saw big majorities overturned, licking their wounds. in wellingborough in northamptonshire, labour overturned a tory majority of more than 18,000, earning themselves a majority of more than 6,000. it was a swing of 28.5% — the second largest swing from tories to labour at any by—election since the second world war. and labour won kingswood in south gloucestershire with 11,000 votes. the performance of reform uk, which used to be the brexit party, will add to conservative fears, with the party coming third in both polls. the swing from tory to labour in kingswood was 16.4%. our political editor chris mason has the story. the polls for the wellingborough constituency have now closed. a night of counting

into the small hours beckoned. encouragement and biscuits on offer. every vote counts. a process for the patient. at silly o'clock, the results and the story of these contests. i do hereby declare that damien egan is duly elected. thank you. cheering. gen kitchen of the labour party is duly elected. cheering. after some sleep for some and no sleep for others, the winners tried to explain their wins. cheering. this is becoming an increasingly familiar sight and sound — a labour victory rally. we ran a campaign on access to nhs, bringing back pride to our town centres, making sure people felt safe and secure on our streets and tackling potholes. i was saying on the hundreds of doors that i knocked, the choice is — what voice do you want in parliament?

do you want a voice on the conservative benches defending this government, or do you want a voice that's talking for the change that we need to see? if there was any triumphalism from keir starmer, he hid it somewhere under the breakfast sofa, merely describing labour as credible contenders come the general election. 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. and for the prime minister today, one key question. isn't it the truth that you're now staring down the barrel of a major general election defeat, whenever it arrives? we've clearly been through a lot over the past couple of years as a country, but i genuinely believe at the start of this year that we're pointing in the right direction. the circumstances of these by—elections were, of course, particularly challenging. now, 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. adding a splash of doom to the conservative gloom, this man with a smile — ben habib is reform uk's deputy leader. what do you say to the conservative critique, and you'll have heard it, that a vote for reform uk makes it easierfor keir starmer to get to downing street? i mean, i'm almost offended by that suggestion because it implies that this is a two—party system where there should be no other entrant. and if your phone rings and it's rishi sunak on the phone saying, "can we do a deal?" you would say what? i'd say, rishi, "you're not a conservative, mate. no deals." reform has managed these results without their honorary president, one nigel farage, whose knack for teasing and trouble causing remains in fine fettle. i think if you asked tory. party members right now, they'd vote for me to be leader and not rishi sunak. _ i of that i have no doubt at all, | and that's backed up by polling. but, look, let's focus.

on this general election. i'm backing reform. we'll have to see what active role i play. - two results today, perhaps not surprising, but still extraordinary. labour, a party crushed just five years ago, who now look as close to government as they have been in nearly a decade and a half. and chris is with me now. where does this leave the parties ahead of a general election? labour have a mountain to climb but they appear to be climbing it. the fearfor they appear to be climbing it. the fear for the conservatives, whether there is much enthusiasm or not for there is much enthusiasm or not for the alternatives, is that there is mounting evidence now that a lot of people who have previously voted conservative are turning their back on the party. if you have been in government for 1h years, you haul around a wicker basket groaning with grievances and people blame the government for all sorts of things going back for years, and whether that blame is deserved or not, and

trying to unpack that is difficult and that is the reality rishi sunak faces. there does not appear to be a widening insurrection within the conservative party, i think these defeats were priced in by plenty of mps, butjust in case supporters of the prime minister are saying don't do it, so lord michael howard, former conservative leader, writing in the daily telegraph, says any talk of a leadership challenge is madness, it would be a fatal distraction, there is still time to turn things around. let me tell you, there are not vast oceans of optimism amongst conservatives, not least because of the performance of reform uk, two third places, but they have been doing a lap of a victory of influence today because of their capacity to spook the conservatives and rishi sunak said the conservative family must come together to beat labour and that is a message about reform uk. chris, thank ou a message about reform uk. chris, thank you very _ a message about reform uk. chris, thank you very much. _ now a look at some other stories making the news today. in the first conviction of its kind,

a woman has beenjailed for seven years for taking a three—year—old british girl abroad to undergo female genital mutilation. it happened during a trip to kenya 18 years ago. amina noor, who is a0 and from london, was found guilty at the old bailey last year. christian bruckner, the prime suspect in the disappearance of three—year—old madeleine mccann in 2007, has appeared in court in germany to stand trial for unrelated sex offences. he faces three charges of rape and two of sexual abuse. bruckner has never been charged with madeleine mccann's disappearance and has denied any involvement. sir chris hoy has revealed he is being treated for cancer. the six—time olympic champion posted on social media that he was diagnosed last year and is undergoing chemotherapy. he said the last few months had been "incredibly difficult" but that he is continuing to work and live his life as normal. and tv presenters ben shephard and cat deeley have been announced as the new hosts of the itv daytime show this morning. the pair are the permanent

replacements for phillip schofield and holly willoughby, who left the show last year. one of the worst methane leaks ever recorded took place last year, at a well in kazakhstan. new analysis shared with bbc verify shows that thousands of tonnes of methane were pumped into the atmosphere over a period of more than six months. methane is a much more potent greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide. bbc verify�*s marco silva has the story. this leak began on the 9th ofjune last year when a blow out was reported at a well meant for extraction of fossil fuels, right here in western kazakhstan. it took authorities more than six months to deal with the slick and satellite images taken during that period show us plumes of smoke hovering over the well until the end of december. now, methane is invisible to the naked eye. but using satellite tools,

scientists can track plumes, like this one right here. and in this case, scientists estimate that as many as 127,000 tonnes of methane were pumped into the atmosphere from this single well. and if you're wondering just how bad that is for the planet, emissions—wise, that's the equivalent to greenhouse gas emissions of more than 700,000 petrol cars over a year. scientists say this is one of the largest man—made methane lea ks ever recorded. the owners of the well, a kazakhstani company called buzachi neft, deny any substantial amount of methane was leaked. as they say, most of it would have burnt as it escaped the well. marco silva reporting. prince harry has spoken publicly for the first time since the announcement of the king's cancer diagnosis. he told american breakfast tv that his father's illness could bring the royal

family closer together. the prince was talking in the canadian town of whistler, where he's visiting the training camp for the invictus games, which he set up for injured military personnel and veterans. emma vardy reports. nearly a fortnight on from his short trip back to britain to see his father, prince harry and meghan stepped out in the snow to meet athletes. the king, he said, had told him personally about his diagnosis. reporter: how did you get the news that the king was ill? _ i spoke to him. and what did you do next? ijumped on a plane and went to go and to see him as soon as i could. what's sort of your outlook on his health? how was it a vision that macau was that for you emotionally? i how was it a vision that macau was that for you emotionally?— how was it a vision that macau was that for you emotionally? i love my famil . that for you emotionally? i love my family- was — that for you emotionally? i love my family. was the _ that for you emotionally? i love my family. was the outlook _ that for you emotionally? i love my family. was the outlook for - that for you emotionally? i love my family. was the outlook for his - family. was the outlook for his health? that _ family. was the outlook for his health? that stays _ family. was the outlook for his health? that stays between i family. was the outlook for his| health? that stays between me family. was the outlook for his - health? that stays between me and him. speaking to one of america's biggest morning shows, this is the first personal interview prince harry has given for more than a year. the couple have been rebranding their image in the us, after stepping

away from royal duties, frustrated with buckingham palace. do you feel american? er, do i feel american? no, i don't know. i don't know. i don't know how i feel. would you think about becoming a citizen? oof, i have considered it, yeah. yeah? yeah. taking on the sliding track in canada while trying out winter sports alongside injured veterans, he's making the most of the freedom to pursue his own projects. harry, what was it like? great! you guys should all have a go. the focus of this visit has been the invictus games, a cause close to harry's heart, and it is a visit the couple appeared to have enjoyed. here, and in the us, they feel they face less scrutiny of their day—to—day lives but prince harry may well be back in the uk more often in future. an illness in the family can have a galvanising or sort of reunifying effect for a family. is that possible in this case? yeah, i'm sure, i've got other trips planned that would take me through the uk or back to the uk. so, you know, i'll stop in and see

my family as much as i can. but, after prince harry's grievances were laid bare last year in his book, a reconciliation still feels a way off. emma vardy, bbc news, whistler in canada. back now to our main story, and the news of the death of the russian opposition politician alexei navalny. two years ago, the documentary film �*navalny�* was released — it went on to win an oscar. in it, alexei navalny was asked the question — if he were to be killed, what message would he want to leave? my message... ..for the situation when i'm killed is very simple — not give up. do me a favour — answer this one in russian.

if you want to see more about alexei navalny and his extraordinary life, you can watch that storyville documentary on bbc two this evening at 11:05pm and on the bbc�*s iplayer. time for a look at the weather. here's louise lear.

after a year so far that has been dominated by named storms, heavy rain, weather warnings, it is quite nice to actually acknowledge and enjoy some of the sunshine when we get it. this was carmarthenshire earlier today and i hope you did get a chance to get out and enjoy it because it will be a slightly different story tomorrow, the high pressure now being squeezed out of the way bite several weather fronts coming in from the atlantic pond at the first is a weak affair but it means a southerly flow, more cloud, misty and drizzly and murky conditions particular across western coast, a bit of drizzle first thing in the morning drifting through north—east england and eastern scotland. following behind, a spell of wet and windy weather it will take its time to arrive and to the east of the pennines, east anglia and south—east england, still mild with some sunshine but the rain will turn quite heavy, moving through wales come up with the irish sea, out of northern ireland into western

scotland and because the gusts of wind of a0 mph front of the far north—east of scotland is not quite as mild an in fact the northern isles, only around 6 degrees but it will be dry and sunny here. going through the evening, that front has to move south and east and it will take its time in doing that, keeping us on our toes for the timing of the rain in the south—east corner but it means a different start a sunday morning. this is the early hours on sunday and you can see how heavy the rain is, through the midlands and into the south—east, hopefully easing off by around ten o'clock, 11 o'clock on sunday morning. but it needs a grey and wet start to sunday, right at skies and a few scattered showers following behind but not a bad end to sunday afternoon for most of us. top temperatures are likely to be between ten and 1a celsius, still mild again. thanks, louise. and that's bbc news at ten. newsnight is just getting under way on bbc two with katie razzall. on bbc one, it's time tojoin our colleagues