International
Trump Files $10bn Lawsuit Against BBC Over Edited Capitol Riot Documentary
Trump Files $10bn Lawsuit Against BBC Over Edited Capitol Riot Documentary
US President Donald Trump has filed a massive $10 billion lawsuit against the BBC, accusing the British broadcaster of defamation and election interference over a documentary that allegedly altered his January 6, 2021 Capitol riot speech.
The lawsuit, filed on Monday in a federal court in Miami, seeks damages of at least $5 billion on each of two counts, including defamation and violation of the Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act. Trump, 79, said the action followed claims that the BBC documentary deliberately “put words in my mouth,” suggesting the broadcaster may have used artificial intelligence (AI) or deceptive editing techniques.
The documentary in question aired last year ahead of the 2024 US presidential election on the BBC’s flagship current affairs programme, Panorama. It featured an edited version of Trump’s speech delivered to supporters on January 6, 2021, shortly before the storming of the US Capitol, where lawmakers were certifying Joe Biden’s 2020 election victory.
According to the lawsuit, the BBC spliced together two separate portions of the speech, making it appear that Trump explicitly urged supporters to attack the Capitol. Trump’s legal team described the broadcast as a “malicious and deceptive” act aimed at damaging his political prospects.
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“The formerly respected and now disgraced BBC defamed President Trump by intentionally doctoring his speech in a brazen attempt to interfere in the 2024 Presidential Election,” a spokesperson for Trump’s legal team said. The statement further accused the broadcaster of pursuing a “leftist political agenda” in its coverage of Trump.
The controversy triggered significant fallout within the British Broadcasting Corporation, which serves a global audience. Last month, the BBC director-general and the organisation’s top news executive resigned after internal documents revealed the extent of the editing error, sparking public and political backlash in the UK.
Trump’s lawsuit claims the edited clip was “fabricated and aired one week before the election” to influence voters against him. While the BBC has denied claims of legal defamation, its chairman, Samir Shah, sent Trump a formal letter of apology. Shah also told a UK parliamentary committee that the broadcaster should have responded more quickly after the error was identified in an internal memo later leaked to the media.
The legal action marks the latest in a series of Trump lawsuits against media organisations, several of which have ended in multi-million-dollar settlements, reinforcing Trump’s aggressive legal stance against what he describes as unfair media treatment.
Trump Files $10bn Lawsuit Against BBC Over Edited Capitol Riot Documentary
International
US Embassy Warns Nigerians Against Visa Fraud, Threatens Permanent Entry Ban
US Embassy Warns Nigerians Against Visa Fraud, Threatens Permanent Entry Ban
The United States Embassy in Abuja has issued a stern warning to Nigerians against involvement in visa fraud, cautioning that providing false information or submitting fake documents during the application process could result in a permanent ban from entering the United States.
In a post on its official X handle on Monday, the embassy emphasized, “Visa fraud has serious consequences. Lying or providing fake documents can lead to permanent visa bans under U.S. immigration law.”
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The warning coincided with a meeting between US Ambassador to Nigeria Richard Mills and Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Yusuf Tuggar, where both leaders discussed bilateral relations and areas of cooperation between the two countries.
The embassy reaffirmed its commitment to working with Nigeria on issues of mutual concern, urging visa applicants to adhere strictly to the rules to avoid jeopardizing future travel opportunities.
US Embassy Warns Nigerians Against Visa Fraud, Threatens Permanent Entry Ban
International
(UPDATED) Sydney Bondi Shooting: Anti-Semitic Attack Leaves 16 Dead, 40 Injured
(UPDATED) Sydney Bondi Shooting: Anti-Semitic Attack Leaves 16 Dead, 40 Injured
Two alleged gunmen responsible for the deadly shooting at a Jewish Hanukkah celebration on Sydney’s Bondi Beach were a father and son, police confirmed on Monday, as Australia mourned its worst gun violence in nearly three decades.
The 50-year-old father was killed at the scene, bringing the total deaths to 16, while his 24-year-old son remains in critical condition in hospital. The pair have been identified by local media as Sajid Akram and Naveed Akram.
Authorities described Sunday’s attack as a targeted antisemitic incident, which left 40 people hospitalized, including two police officers in serious but stable condition. Victims ranged in age from 10 to 87.
The incident occurred at a packed Hanukkah event attended by roughly 1,000 people in a small park near Bondi Beach. Witnesses reported that the attack lasted approximately 10 minutes, sending attendees scattering across the sand and nearby streets.
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A bystander hero, identified as Ahmed al Ahmed, tackled and disarmed one of the shooters during the attack, saving lives. The 43-year-old fruit shop owner, who was shot twice, underwent surgery, and a fundraising page supporting him raised over A$350,000.
Police stated that the father had held a firearms license since 2015 with six registered weapons. Home Minister Tony Burke noted the father arrived in Australia on a student visa in 1998, while his son is an Australian-born citizen.
Videos from the scene indicated that the attackers used what appeared to be a bolt-action rifle and a shotgun, although authorities have not released full details about the firearms.
Keywords for SEO: Sydney Bondi Beach shooting, Jewish Hanukkah attack, father and son gunmen, Australia gun violence, antisemitic attack, Sajid Akram, Naveed Akram, Ahmed al Ahmed hero, Bondi Beach tragedy.
(UPDATED) Sydney Bondi Shooting: Anti-Semitic Attack Leaves 16 Dead, 40 Injured
Entertainment
Hollywood director Rob Reiner, wife Michele found dead in LA home
Hollywood director Rob Reiner, wife Michele found dead in LA home
Legendary Hollywood film-maker and actor Rob Reiner and his wife Michele have been found dead in their Los Angeles home.
Authorities are investigating the incident as an apparent homicide after police and firefighters were called to the couple’s house on Sunday afternoon in an upmarket neighbourhood of LA.
Reiner is known for directing classic films including The Princess Bride, This is Spinal Tap, When Harry Met Sally, Misery and A Few Good Men.
“It is with profound sorrow that we announce the tragic passing of Michele and Rob Reiner,” a family spokesperson said in a statement to US media.
“We are heartbroken by this sudden loss, and we ask for privacy during this unbelievably difficult time.”
Police said a 78-year-old man and 68-year-old woman were pronounced dead at the home, but officers did not immediately identify the couple or the circumstances surrounding their deaths.
Police also said no-one had been arrested, but that no suspect or person of interest was currently being sought.
A spokesperson for the Los Angeles Fire Department told the BBC they received a call at about 15:38 local time (23:38 GMT) for medical aid to a home in Brentwood, a neighbourhood that is home to many celebrities.
Robbery homicide detectives from the LA police department also responded to the home and have opened a homicide investigation.
In a news conference on Sunday night, police did not offer any details about the deaths or what they found when they responded. Deputy Chief Alan Hamilton said both bodies were still inside the house, more than six hours after police and firefighters had been called.
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Police also did not give details about any injuries the pair sustained, nor if any weapon was found or used. Hamilton said a cause of death would be determined by the LA coroner’s office.
‘Big-hearted genius’
California Governor Gavin Newsom released a statement that confirmed the death of Reiner and his wife.
Newsom said he was “heartbroken” by the deaths and called Reiner a “big-hearted genius behind so many of the classic stories we love”.
Former US President Barack Obama said he and wife Michelle were also heartbroken by the couple’s deaths.
“Rob’s achievements in film and television gave us some of our most cherished stories on screen,” he said. “But beneath all of the stories he produced was a deep belief in the goodness of people – and a lifelong commitment to putting that belief into action.
“Together, he and his wife lived lives defined by purpose. They will be remembered for the values they championed and the countless people they inspired. We send our deepest condolences to all who loved them.”
Rob Reiner, the son of comedy great Carl Reiner, started his career in the 1960s and made it big playing Meathead in groundbreaking TV sitcom All in The Family in the 1970s, which scored him two Emmy Awards.
He achieved futher success with cult mockumentary This Is Spinal Tap in 1984, which he directed as well as playing on-screen director Marty DiBergi.
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That began a run of classic Hollywood movies directed by Reiner, including Stand By Me (1986), The Princess Bride (1987), When Harry Met Sally (1989), Misery (1990) and A Few Good Men (1992), the latter of which scored him an Academy Award nomination for best picture.
He reunited with Spinal Tap for long-awaited sequel Spinal Tap II: The End Continues, which was released this September.
Reiner also co-founded the successful Castle Rock Entertainment production company.
He was married to Laverne & Shirley actress Penny Marshall from 1971 to 1981 and is the adoptive father to Marshall’s daughter, actress Tracy Reiner.
He married Michele Reiner, an actress, photographer and producer, in 1989. The couple have three children together.
Michele owned the Reiner Light photography agency and production house.
LA mayor Karen Bass called the incident a “devastating loss for our city and country”, and paid tribute to the couple’s charity work for childhood development and LGBTQ+ advocacy.
“Rob Reiner’s contributions reverberate throughout American culture and society, and he has improved countless lives through his creative work and advocacy fighting for social and economic justice,” she said.
Hollywood director Rob Reiner, wife Michele found dead in LA home
Source: BBC
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