Newspaper headlines: 'Navalny killed by frog toxin' and 'Probe into envoy Andrew'

BBC World
February 15, 2026
AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary
Recent headlines highlight two major stories dominating Sunday newspapers: the death of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, who was killed by a poison derived from dart frog toxins, and calls for an investigation into UK trade envoy Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor. The UK’s Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper led the probe, pointing fingers at the Kremlin, while Russia dismissed the findings as part of an information campaign. Meanwhile, Navalny’s death has been analyzed by Porton Down scientists, with biological samples smuggled from his cell to the UK for testing. Navalny, a prominent critic of Russian leader Vladimir Putin, died suddenly in a Siberian prison in February 2024. The poison used in his killing was reportedly developed from an Ecuadorian frog, which some interpret as evidence that Russia possesses illegal chemical weapons. This revelation has sparked international condemnation and raised concerns about the use of such toxins as tools of state-sponsored assassination. In another significant development, newspapers are calling for a police investigation into Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, a former prince turned UK trade envoy, accusing him of wrongdoing related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. While Mountbatten-Windsor has strongly denied any misconduct, the allegations have drawn renewed attention to his past connections and roles. The stories not only reflect ongoing tensions between the UK and Russia but also underscore broader concerns about global security, political intrigue, and the potential misuse of advanced chemical weapons. For readers interested in world affairs and political developments, these reports highlight the complexities of international relations and the lingering shadows of Cold War-era espionage tactics in modern geopolitics.
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Originally published on BBC World on 2/15/2026