LONDON: Britain’s BBC apologised to Donald Trump on Thursday for editing a speech to make it look like he had advocated violence, seeking to ward off the US president’s threat of legal action, but the broadcaster rejected the basis for a defamation claim.

In a statement, the BBC said its chair Samir Shah sent a personal letter to the White House making clear to Trump that he and the corporation were “sorry” for the edit, adding that the broadcaster has no plans to rebroadcast the Panorama documentary on any of its platforms.

“While the BBC sincerely regrets the manner in which the video clip was edited, we strongly disagree there is a basis for a defamation claim,” the BBC said.

The leaking of internal accusations of bias at the BBC, including in the way it edited a 2021 speech by Trump on the day his supporters overran the Capitol, has forced its top two leaders to quit and for Trump to threaten a $1 billion lawsuit.

That puts the BBC at risk of having to use money paid by its viewers to compensate the US president for an error of its own making, handing more ammunition to critics at a time when growing numbers are cancelling their annual licence fee payment.

Trump’s lawyers had told the BBC to withdraw the Panorama programme, apologise to the president and appropriately compensate him for the harm caused, or face a lawsuit seeking damages of at least $1 billion.

Iran and Qatar on Thursday expressed deep concern over the ongoing tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan, urging regional countries to play a constructive role in preserving peace and stability.

The development came during a telephone conversation between Iran’s Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi and Qatar’s Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdullah Al Thani.

“The foreign ministers of Iran and Qatar, while expressing concern over tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan, stressed the importance of the continued good offices of regional countries to preserve peace and stability in the region,” read a statement issued by Iran’s foreign ministry.

Relations between Islamabad and the Taliban-led administration in Kabul have further deteriorated after Pakistan witnessed two major terrorist attacks in recent days — one targeting Cadet College Wana in South Waziristan and another in Islamabad.

Tuesday’s suicide bombing struck the Islamabad District Judicial Complex, killing 12 people and injuring at least 36 others. The victims included lawyers and petitioners who were present at the court building.

The Islamabad blast occurred on the same day that Pakistani forces cleared Cadet College Wana in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s tribal district of South Waziristan, killing all Fitna al-Khawarij militants— a term used for the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan— who had infiltrated the educational institution.

The statement further said that Araghchi and Thani also discussed and exchanged views on bilateral ties and regional developments.

The two sides emphasised the importance of continuing efforts to strengthen bilateral relations in all areas of mutual interest, it added.

They also discussed the latest developments in Gaza and the recent US draft resolution submitted to the UN Security Council, underscoring the need to continue consultations to prevent violations of the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, particularly their right to self-determination.

This is a developing story and is being updated with more details. 

• Bangladesh interim govt approved July National Charter.
• Charter seeks to reshape politics, constitution, institutions.
• Yunus says political parties will accept it in interest of nation.
  

Bangladesh will hold a national referendum on implementing its ‘July Charter’ for state reform, drafted after last year’s deadly student-led uprising, Muhammad Yunus, the head of the country’s interim government, said on Thursday.

He also reiterated that parliamentary elections will be held in the first half of February and that they would be free and fair.

The interim government approved the July National Charter (Constitution Reform) Implementation Order 2025 on Thursday, and it will be implemented depending on the outcome of the referendum.

“We have decided that the referendum will be held on the same day as the national parliamentary election — meaning, in the first half of February,” Nobel laureate Yunus said in a televised address to the nation.

“This will not hinder the reform process. Rather, it will make the election more festive and cost-efficient,” he said.

The July Charter seeks to reshape the country’s politics and institutions and give constitutional recognition to the 2024 uprising that forced Sheikh Hasina, a long-time prime minister, to flee to India.

It includes increased representation of women, limiting the prime minister’s term, strengthening presidential powers, expanding fundamental rights and ensuring judicial independence.

A majority of political parties had signed the charter in October but the National Citizens Party, formed by the leaders of last year’s movement and four left-leaning parties, had boycotted it.

The NCP said it stayed away due to the lack of a legal framework or binding guarantee for implementing the commitments made in the charter.

Supporters see the charter as a foundation for institutional reform. Critics say its impact could be largely symbolic without a legal framework or parliamentary consensus.

“I hope political parties will accept our decision in the greater interest of the nation,” Yunus said.

“The country will move toward a festive national election and step into a ‘New Bangladesh’.”