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Donald Trump is suing the BBC for $10bn over its editing of a speech he made to supporters before the storming of the US Capitol in 2021.
The president alleged the broadcaster “intentionally, maliciously, and deceptively” edited his January 6 speech before the insurrection, in an episode of Panorama just over a year ago. The edit, which used sections of his speech almost an hour apart, suggested Trump told the crowd: “We’re going to walk down to the Capitol and I’ll be there with you, and we fight. We fight like hell.”
The BBC had previously acknowledged the edit was an “error of judgment” and apologized to Trump, but has insisted a defamation claim was groundless, and has now responded to Trump’s attack by vowing to defend itself. Stephen Kinnock, a UK government minister, said it was “right that the BBC stand firm” despite “some mistakes made in that particular piece of film”. And Ed Davey, the leader of the Liberal Democrats, accused the Trump administration of having “clearly set out they want to interfere in our democracy, which includes undermining our national broadcaster”.
On what basis is Trump suing? He’s seeking $5bn in damages on each of two counts: alleging that the BBC defamed him, and that it violated Florida’s Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act.
Europe ready to lead ‘multinational force’ in Ukraine as part of US peace plan
European leaders have backed the deployment of a “multinational force” in Ukraine as part of a US proposal for a peace deal between Moscow and Kyiv.
In a statement, the leaders of the UK, France, Germany and eight other European countries said troops from a “coalition of the willing” with US support could “assist in the regeneration of Ukraine’s forces, in securing Ukraine’s skies, and in supporting safer seas, including through operating inside Ukraine”.
The proposal formed part of a fresh package of security guarantees, backed by the White House, that US and European leaders hope could offer a breakthrough in the peace talks.
What roadblocks remain to a deal? The main one is the future of the Ukrainian territories occupied by Russia.
What’s Donald Trump’s view on this? He’s appeared to suggest that to receive security guarantees, Ukraine must cede the parts of the eastern Donbas region that it still holds to Russia – something Volodymyr Zelenskyy has previously rejected.
This is a developing story. Follow the latest in our live blog.
Rob Reiner’s son Nick arrested in connection with deaths of his parents
Nick Reiner has been arrested on suspicion of murder after the deaths of his parents, celebrated actor-director Rob Reiner and Michele Singer Reiner, according to the Los Angeles police chief.
Nick Reiner, 32, was taken into custody on Sunday night. Jail records initially showed that his bail had been set at $4m, but he was later ordered to be held without bail, the police said.
The screenwriter was arrested after his 28-year-old sister, Romy, reportedly found their parents dead at home with wounds consistent with a knife attack.
What do we know about Nick Reiner? He has dealt with drug addiction and homelessness, first entering rehab at the age of 15. His experiences inspired the film Being Charlie, which he co-wrote and was directed by his father.
In other news …
The governor of Rhode Island insisted on Monday evening that law enforcement was sparing no effort to catch the shooter who killed two people and wounded nine others at Brown University on Saturday.
The US military on Monday launched another round of deadly strikes on boats it claims are trafficking narcotics, killing eight people. Some legal experts say the bombings, which have killed at least 90, amount to unlawful killings.
Buenos Aires will on Tuesday host an international meeting of former Opus Dei members who say they were trafficked into domestic servitude as minors.
Stat of the day: US aid funding cuts have shuttered at least 1,394 family planning clinics
Cuts to US aid funding have directly caused the closure of at least 1,394 family planning clinics, a report has found, depriving millions of people, including sexual assault survivors, from access to contraceptives or care. The International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) conducted a poll of its members, finding that 1,175 of the shuttered clinics were in Africa.
Culture pick: Michael Douglas on One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest on its 50th anniversary
Fifty years on from its release, Michael Douglas is struck by how One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest still feels relevant. The tale of an individual raging against the system is “about as classic a story as we’ll ever have and it seems timeless now, with what’s going on in our country politically, about man versus the machine and individuality versus the corporate world,” Douglas, who produced the movie, says.
Don’t miss this: Musicians are deeply concerned about AI. So why are major labels embracing it?
There’s no denying it – AI music is no longer just a joke. With AI-created songs topping Spotify’s viral chart and one of the US Billboard country charts, artists are understandably worried that the endless slop generated by machine learning systems will squeeze their livelihoods even further – especially now labels are teaming up with gen AI companies. They claim the tools are democratizing music talent; others see it as diluting the value of creativity.
Climate check: ‘No water, no life’ – famed Tigris River in danger of disappearing
Iraq’s Tigris river once formed part of Mesopotamia’s “fertile crescent”, but is now heavily polluted and at risk of drying up. The country’s once-excellent water infrastructure system never recovered after being targeted by the US in 1991’s Operation Desert Storm. The volume of water reaching Baghdad has also been restricted by Turkey damming the Tigris upstream, while the climate crisis has Iraq in the grip of its worst drought in nearly a century.
Last Thing: Drunk Virginia raccoon merch raises $250,000 for animal shelter
Merchandise commemorating the raccoon that went viral after it barged into a Virginia liquor store, smashed bottles and passed out drunk in a bathroom has raised more than $250,000 for the local animal shelter where he slept off his hangover. It soon emerged that the animal had a rap sheet, having previously broken into a local karate studio and a department of motor vehicles office.
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