Foreign

Trump Threatens $1bn Lawsuit against BBC

By Web News 219

US President Donald Trump says he has an “obligation” to sue the BBC over an edited version of his January 6, 2021 speech shown in a Panorama documentary.

Speaking on Fox News, Trump accused the BBC of having “butchered” his words and “defrauded” viewers, claiming his remarks were “calming,” not inciting.

“They actually changed it… I have an obligation to sue because you can’t allow that,” he said.

Trump’s lawyers have demanded a retraction, apology, and $1 billion (£759m) in damages by Friday 22:00 GMT.

BBC chair Samir Shah earlier apologised for an “error of judgement,” while the corporation said it would respond “in due course.”

The controversy stems from a Panorama episode aired before the 2024 US election, which spliced two parts of Trump’s speech, implying he urged the Capitol riot.

A leaked BBC memo revealed that adviser Michael Prescott warned the edit was misleading.

The fallout led to Director General Tim Davie and Head of News Deborah Turness resigning.

Downing Street declined comment, calling it a BBC matter.

Meanwhile, Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy promised accountability in the BBC’s upcoming charter renewal talks.

The Culture Committee will question Shah, Prescott, and other BBC board members.

BBC/Maxwell Oyekunle

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Foreign

Mid-air Collision Leaves Four Dead in Australia

By Web News 673

Four people have died after a mid-air collision between two helicopters near Seaworld on Australia’s Gold Coast.

According to Queensland Police, initial investigations suggest the crash happened as one aircraft was taking off and the other was landing.

Those who died were travelling in the same helicopter. Three other passengers are in critical condition.

Fix of the six people on the other aircraft, which made an emergency landing, suffered minor injuries.

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau is investigating the collision, which happened at about 14:00 local time.

The two aircraft came down near a tourist strip known as Main Beach, about 75km (47 miles) south of Brisbane.

Gary Worrell of the Queensland Police Service told reporters the four deaths and three serious injuries had all occurred in the same aircraft.

“It’s a difficult scene,” he said. “Due to the area it’s located, on the sand bank, it was difficult to gain access, to get our emergency services to the scene to manage it appropriately.”

Images from the crash site show debris strewn around the area and a mangled helicopter apparently lying upside down opposite the Seaworld resort.

The other helicopter has the popular marine park’s logo on its fuselage and appears to have made an emergency landing after the collision.

Seaworld Drive, the main access road to the marine park, has been closed to traffic by local police.

They urged motorists and pedestrians to avoid the area as first responders inspect the scene.

Investigators from the ATSB’s offices in Brisbane and Canberra are being deployed to the scene to gather evidence, examine the wreckage and interview witnesses.

ATSB chief commissioner Angus Mitchell has also asked eyewitnesses who saw the collision or the helicopters in flight to contact investigators.

A preliminary report will be made public in the next six to eight weeks, with a final report to follow once the investigation is complete, he added.

The Gold Coast region is currently in its peak tourist season, with children on their summer breaks.

BBC/Taiwo Akinola

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Health

[PHOTOS] BBC Training for FRCN Content Providers Begins in Ibadan

By Web News 953

A five day BBC Media Action Capacity Building Training for selected content Providers of Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, FRCN Ibadan Zonal Station is ongoing at Studio one, Broadcasting House, Dugbe, Ibadan.

Zonal Director, FRCN Ibadan Zonal Station, Mrs Bolatito Joseph declared the training open.

ZD FRCN Ibadan, Mrs. Bolatito Joseph
Mr. Deji Arosho, Head, Production & Training, BBC Media Action Nigeria
GM, Premier FM, Alhaji Aderemi Omotosho

Olaolu Fawole

Foreign

Man blows up part of house while chasing fly

By Web News 814

A man has blown up part of his house in France while trying to swat a fly.

The man, who is in his 80s, was about to tuck into his dinner when he became irritated by a fly buzzing around him.

He picked up an electric racket designed to kill bugs and start swatting at it – but a gas canister was leaking in his Dordogne home.

A reaction between the racket and the gas caused an explosion, destroying the kitchen and partly damaging the roof of the home in Parcoul-Chenaud village.

According to local media, the unnamed man had a lucky escape, sustaining just a burn to the hand.

However, the fate of the fly is not known, news outlet Sud-Ouest notes.He has since checked into a local campsite while his family repair the house.

BBC