BBC News Briefing

16 February, 2026

Sofia has long brown hair and brown eyes and is wearing a green top

Sofia Lotto Persio

Hello. Lyudmila Navalnaya, the mother of the late Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny, has reacted to an assessment that her son died of poisoning. We have the details. From the US, correspondent David Willis explains how the Nancy Guthrie abduction case has gripped the nation. And finally, see why one of Rio de Janeiro's carnival floats has sparked controversy.

TOP OF THE AGENDA

Dozens lay flowers at Navalny's grave

A group of people stands by the side of Alexei Navalny's grave. The grave features a cross and a lack and white picture of Navalny and it is covered in colourful flowers. A person is approaching the grave holding a bouquet of red roses, while another is kneeling besides it.

Mourners visited Moscow's Borisovskoye cemetery on Monday to mark two years since Navalny's death. Credit: EPA/Shutterstock

Lyudmila Navalnaya has said findings by the UK and European allies that her son Alexei Navalny was killed using a poison developed from a dart frog toxin confirm what she knew all along. "We knew that our son did not simply die in prison, he was murdered," she said. The countries' statement noted that "only the Russian state had the means, motive and opportunity to deploy this lethal toxin." Read more about the poison here. Russia has firmly rejected the accusations. Navalny, who died at 47 in the penal colony where he was serving a 19-year sentence for "extremism", had previously survived a suspected poisoning involving the Novichok nerve agent in 2020.

Read now

GET UP TO SPEED

French flag fills the picture. In the centre (on the white stripe of the flag) is a picture of Quentin Deranque with the years 2003 and 2026, and the words in French: 'Justice for Quentin'

Student death puts French far-left under pressure

The death of Quentin Deranque, a 23-year-old maths student and nationalist activist, has been blamed on "far-left" militants.

What to know >

A drone view of the rock formation in the shape of an arch over the sea near Lecce, Italy, May 23, 2017, in this screengrab obtained from social media. Aerialpictures.it/via REUTERS

Italy's 'Lovers' Arch' collapses into sea

The rock formation has collapsed on Valentine's Day after days of heavy rain and strong winds.

See what happened >

A person at home chops a courgette on a wooden choppin board

Review looks into impact of intermittent fasting

A large review suggests the popular practice "may make little to no difference to weight loss and quality of life".

Find out more >

Robert Duvall has short grey hair and blue eyes. He is wearing a suit and tie at a premiere in 2014.

Hollywood actor Robert Duvall dies aged 95

The Oscar winner died "peacefully" at his home in Middleburg, Virginia, on Sunday, according to a statement.

Revisit his biggest roles >

NEWS FROM THE UK

Covid compensation: Students have begun claims against 36 universities over lost learning during the pandemic.

Measles outbreak: Children could be excluded from schools in north London if they are not fully vaccinated against the disease.

Beatles biopic: The Rings of Power actress Morfydd Clark is joining the cast as John Lennon's first wife Cynthia Lillian Powell.

AT THE SCENE

Tucson, Arizona

Why Guthrie's case gripped the US

A banner hangs on the gate outside a local NBC affiliate. It shows a picture of Nancy Guthrie and reads: Bring Her Home

The White House has said the FBI would be giving the investigation its "full resources". Credit: Getty Images

Police have yet to identify any suspects in the abduction of Nancy Guthrie, the mother of Today show presenter Savannah Guthrie. The 84-year-old disappeared in the middle of night from her home two weeks ago. Missing person flyers featuring Nancy's smiling face have made this case impossible to ignore, even for those who don't watch the news.

David has white hair, a white beard and blue eyes. He is wearing a black shirt and a beige jacket.

David Willis, US correspondent

Savannah spent her childhood in Tucson and in November she even invited people into her mum's home for a segment on the Today show. Yellow ribbons now adorn the trees around Nancy's home - but as days pass with no word of her whereabouts, the hope of an emotional homecoming is rapidly giving way to a deepening sense of dread.

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Kelly Himes lives several miles from Nancy's home in the shadow of the Catalina Mountains. Like a growing number of Tucson residents, she felt compelled to stop and say a prayer alongside the growing array of flowers at the end of her driveway. "Nancy's the same age as my mum, the same height as my mum, and she's got the same hair," Himes tells the BBC. "She lives alone just like my mum does. This is someone who could be anybody's mother."

Keep reading

What we know: Find out more about the details of the case.