BBC News Briefing 28 February 2024 - Prince Harry has lost a High Court challenge against the British government over the level of his security protection when he is in the UK - read more.

 

View this email online 28 February, 2024 BREAKING NEWS Prince Harry has lost a High Court challenge against the British government over the level of his security protection when he is in the UK - read more. Sofia Lotto Persio Hello. Yulia Navalnaya has addressed the European Parliament ahead of a vote condemning the death of her husband, opposition leader Alexei Navalny, in a Russian prison. In the US, Kayla Epstein talks to the New York medical students whose tuition fees have been waived following a philanthropist's donation to their school. As Iran prepares to hold parliamentary elections, Caroline Hawley hears from women who will protest against the regime by not casting their ballots. Finally, scroll down for a tale about an iconic English pub, the arson attack that destroyed it, and the community campaign to rebuild it.   TOP OF THE AGENDA Navalny's widow addresses EU lawmakers Yulia Navalnaya has vowed to continue her husband's work to fight for a "free Russia". Credit: EPA In the days following her husband Alexei Navalny's death in a Russian prison colony on 16 February, Yulia Navalnaya has picked up his mantle as a prominent critic of President Vladimir Putin. Speaking to European lawmakers and students from across the continent in Strasbourg, Ms Navalnaya called on countries to treat the Russian president as the leader of a criminal organisation, using the legal tools at their disposal. Ahead of her speech, Mr Navalny's spokesperson announced that the activist's body would be buried at a cemetery in Moscow on Friday, two weeks before the start of Russia's presidential election, where Mr Putin is set to win another six-year term. Ms Navalnaya addressed the feeling that "Putin cannot be defeated at all", channelling her husband in saying: "If you want to defeat Putin you have to become an innovator. You have to stop being boring." Follow reaction to her speech on our live page. • Jailed Russian activist: Oleg Orlov, co-chair of the Nobel Peace Prize-winning organisation Memorial, was sent to prison for two and a half years. • Ksenia Karelina: The boyfriend of the US-Russian citizen detained in Russia on suspicion of treason has called on the US government to help bring her home. • Espionage: A sixth person has been charged with being part of a suspected Russian spy ring operating in the UK. WORLD HEADLINES • White House race: Donald Trump is projected have won the Republican primary in Michigan, extending his lead over rival Nikki Haley. Projections also show US President Joe Biden on course to win the Democratic primary, despite a protest vote over his stance on the war in Gaza. • Sri Lanka: Organisers of a party advertised with the line "Face control: White" have apologised after the event sparked a backlash and was cancelled. • IVF in Alabama: State legislators have introduced bills to protect fertility treatments after a ruling declaring frozen embryos to be children prompted clinics to suspend those services due to their legal risk. • Run-DMC: Rapper Jam Master Jay's godson and childhood friend have been convicted of murdering him in New York City in October 2002. • Alain Delon: French police have seized 72 firearms and more than 3,000 rounds of ammunition from the home of the film star, who allegedly did not have the right permit. AT THE SCENE |   New York, USA The life-changing gift of free tuition  Philanthropist Dr Ruth Gottesman, a former professor at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, has made a $1bn (£790m) donation to the school so students can enjoy free tuition in perpetuity. The announcement took students by surprise, and suddenly changed their outlook on their studies, careers and lives. Kayla Epstein, BBC News "It felt like an answered prayer," said Sam Woo, a first-year medical student from the Midwest who wants to focus on addiction medicine and providing healthcare to low-income patients. "Something that I think about a lot when choosing my career path is money, because it's really important for me. I come from a low-income background and street outreach is not the most lucrative field," Mr Woo, 23, said. "But now I don't have to worry about, 'Okay, I should choose a specialty that pays more, so I can support people back home and so I can support myself.' I can actually do things I'm really passionate about.". Read more reactions BEYOND THE HEADLINES Iranian women's defiant silent protest Azad was left traumatised by her time in prison, saying: "The memory of jail is with me every moment." Credit: BBC Iran is holding parliamentary elections on Friday, the first vote since the mass demonstrations sparked by the death in custody of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in September 2022. Caroline Hawley speaks to three women who are refusing to vote as a form of protest over a regime they do not recognise. What they say SOMETHING DIFFERENT Loud luxury Saltburn's costume designer Sophie Canale blended aristocracy with Y2K fashion. Here's how And finally... The owners of an English pub called The Crooked House have been ordered to rebuild it after it was destroyed last year in a suspected arson attack. Here's the catch: "Britain's wonkiest inn" will need to be reconstructed in all its lopsided glory. I'm not sure if this a bricklayer's worst nightmare, or the masonry job of a lifetime. Take a look, and let us know what you think. US Election Unspun newsletter Cut through the noise in the race for the White House, every Wednesday to your inbox. Sign up here MORE BBC NEWSLETTERS • Football Extra: Latest news, insights and gossip from the Premier League, weekdays. Subscribe. • Royal Watch: The full story from royal correspondent Sean Coughlan, every Thursday. Subscribe. • Tech Decoded: Timely, trusted tech news from global correspondents, twice-weekly. Subscribe. Do you have suggestions for what we cover in BBC News Briefing? You can email me to let me know what you think. And why not forward it to friends? They can sign up here. Find all our newsletters here. While you're at it, add newsbriefing@email.bbc.com to your contacts list and, if you're on Gmail, pop the email into your “Primary” tab for uninterrupted service. Thanks for reading! – Sofia