BBC director general Tim Davie, news CEO Deborah Turness resign over Trump documentary edit
London: The Director General of Britain’s BBC, Tim Davie, and the Chief Executive of News, Deborah Turness, have resigned following mounting criticism over alleged bias at the corporation, including the editing of a speech by U.S. President Donald Trump.
The BBC has been embroiled in a series of allegations after an internal report by a former standards adviser was leaked to the Daily Telegraph newspaper, which cited failings in its coverage of the Israel-Hamas war, trans issues and a speech made by Trump, as reported by Reuters.
The White House had recently denounced the broadcaster as a “propaganda machine” after its flagship Panorama programme was found to have edited two parts of Trump’s speech together so he appeared to encourage the Capitol Hill riots of January 2021.
Trump in the BBC documentary was shown telling his supporters that "we’re going to walk down to the Capitol" and that they would "fight like hell", remarks he made in a different part of his speech.
In a statement announcing his resignation, Davie, who has led the BBC since 2020, said he had taken the decision after reflecting on the “very intense personal and professional demands” of the position.
"This is entirely my decision, and I remain very thankful to the Chair and Board for their unswerving and unanimous support throughout my entire tenure, including during recent days," news agency quoted Davie as saying.
Trump's press secretary Karoline Leavitt described the BBC as “100% fake news" and a "propaganda machine" in an interview published on Friday. Davie will stay on for the next few months while a replacement is found.
Deborah Turness, the Chief Executive of BBC News, also stepped down from her position. In a message to staff, she rejected the recent allegations, stating that claims of institutional bias within BBC News were unfounded.
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What is Iran’s 10-point plan? Key demands ahead of US talks in Islamabad
Tehran/Islamabad: Iran has outlined a 10-point plan as the basis for upcoming talks with the United States, expected to begin in Islamabad on April 11, according to a statement from the Iranian Supreme National Security Council.
The plan lays out Tehran’s key political, military and economic demands, and is being seen as a framework for negotiations following the recent escalation in the region.
Strait of Hormuz at the centre
A major focus of the plan is the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global shipping route. Iran has proposed “controlled passage through the Strait of Hormuz in coordination with the Iranian armed forces,” which it says would give the country a unique economic and geopolitical position.
The plan also calls for the “establishment of a safe transit protocol” in the Strait that would guarantee Iran’s dominance under an agreed mechanism.
Call to end conflict
Iran has demanded “the necessity of ending the war against all elements of the axis of resistance,” signalling its expectation that hostilities should stop not only in Iran but also involving allied groups in the region.
US troop withdrawal
Another key demand is the “withdrawal of US combat forces from all bases and deployment points in the region,” indicating Tehran’s long-standing position against American military presence in West Asia.
Sanctions relief and compensation
The plan places strong emphasis on economic measures. It calls for “full payment of Iran’s damages according to estimates,” along with “the lifting of all primary and secondary sanctions and resolutions of the Board of Governors and the Security Council.”
It also seeks “the release of all Iranian assets and properties frozen abroad,” which have been a major point of contention for years.
Binding global guarantee
Finally, Iran has demanded that all these terms be formally recognised through “a binding Security Council resolution,” suggesting it wants international legal backing to ensure enforcement.
What this means
The 10-point plan reflects Iran’s broader push for security guarantees, economic relief and regional influence. The upcoming talks in Islamabad are expected to test how far both sides are willing to negotiate on these demands.
