BBC boss Tim Davie was today read the riot act by the Culture Secretary over its Gaza documentary that used kids linked to Hamas.

Lisa Nandy expressed her “deep concern” at the widely-denounced programme and demanded an explanation into the failings.

PA

BBC Director-General Tim Davie was rebuked by Lisa Nandy[/caption]

The show Gaza: How To Survive A Warzone was narrated by a child whose father it later transpired is Hamas’ deputy agricultural minister.

A furious backlash saw the BBC forced to pull the documentary offline and launch an investigation.

Ms Nandy said: “It is essential that the BBC maintains the highest standards of reporting and governance that the public rightly expects.

“In my discussion with the BBC Director General, I expressed my deep concern about the issues around their recent documentary on Gaza and I pressed for answers on the checks and due diligence that the BBC carried out.

“It is paramount that the investigation the BBC is conducting sheds light on what happened and who knew what when. I expect to be kept informed of the outcome of their investigation.”

Following the documentary’s transmission on BBC2 last week, it emerged that the narrator, 13-year-old Abdullah Al-Yazouri, is the son of Hamas’ deputy agriculture minister.

It then transpired that a second child, 11-year-old boy Zakaria es-Sersek, has been filmed waving a gun, posing beside a Hamas fighter, and glorifying the October 7 architect. 

The Sun revealed how the BBC spent £400,000 of licence payers’ cash making the programme.

Following outcry from MPs, diplomats and campaigners, the Corporation said removed the documentary from the iPlayer.

A statement said: “There have been continuing questions raised about the programme and in the light of these, we are conducting further due diligence with the production company.

“The programme will not be available on iPlayer while this is taking place.”

Critics called it a “new low” for the embattled broadcaster’s coverage of the Israel-Hamas war. 

Danny Cohen, former director of BBC Television, blasted: “This is a shocking failure by the BBC and a major crisis for its reputation. 

“The BBC’s commitment to impartiality on the Israel-Hamas war lies in tatters. The BBC’s senior leadership needs to wake up now and admit the corporation has a serious problem.”

Alex Hearn from Labour Against Antisemitism said: “This is a crisis for the BBC’s leaders who have serious questions to answer about why this Hamas propaganda film was made and broadcast to the nation on primetime TV.

“It is a new low in editorial standards for the BBC in its biased reporting of the war in Gaza.”

The BBC has faced criticism in its coverage of the war, especially its initial refusal to brand Hamas a terrorist group.

OXFORD UNITED’s proposed new stadium has been delayed after the club “failed to address key planning issues.”

The U’s are hoping to build a brand new 16,000-seater stadium on an area of land known as the Triangle, just north of the city.

AFL Architects / Oxford United

Oxford United are planning a new 16-000-seater stadium[/caption]

AFL Architects / Oxford United

A decision on the project has been delayed[/caption]

United are enjoying a strong season back in the second tier for the first time since 1999.

Despite being strong favourites for an instant return to League One, Gary Rowett’s side are currently 8 points clear of the drop.

But plans for a new ground have hit a snag after Cherwell District Council requested an extension to “consider additional information.”

The ambitious plans will see the creation of a 180-bedroom hotel, restaurant, conference centre, gym and community plaza alongside the stadium.

Oxford had initially expected the planning application would be heard in early 2025.

In a statement, the club claims this date was “was always subject to change.”

They add that “information on key topics including Green Belt, transport, highways, ecology and biodiversity…has been addressed.”

But Suzanne McIvor of the environmental organization Friends of Stratfield Brake accused the club of “poor planning.”

BEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERS

Per the BBC, she said: “OUFC is putting an extraordinarily positive spin on a planning application that was poorly prepared and which, from the outset, failed to address key planning issues.

“The club must accept responsibility for the delay which is due to its failure to provide timely and sufficient information to Cherwell District Council.”

Jonathon Clarke, Oxford United Development Director, claims the plans have received 2,400 comments in their favour.

Clarke said in a statement: “I’d like to reassure our supporters that planning extensions such as this are common practice with significant developments which require extensive studies and careful examination. 

“We continue to have positive meetings with key stakeholders and fully appreciate the need to ensure everything is in place for a favourable decision to be made.

“This incredible, once in a lifetime project will secure the long-term future of the Club and deliver multiple benefits to local communities.

“The fact the application has received more than 2,400 comments in our favour is a testament to the overwhelming support for this project.”

If you ever wanted to experience how it feels like to kill Nazis during the Second World War, then Call of Duty: World War 2 is just the game for you. The game is one of the most accurate depictions of what World War 2 was like and the story is inspired by real events […]

This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire

A mom-of-two says she was so stressed by her wedding preparations that her brain “had enough” — and she went into psychosis. 

Would you like fries with that? How about a Krispy Kreme donut?

Up your printer game with this great deal...

Your perfect city getaway is just a tap away.

Lefty taxypayer-funded Hunter College is promoting a hateful course that targets Israel over "settler colonialism, genocide" and "apartheid" and "infrastructure devastation," furious Jewish watchdog groups charge.

Navi Mumbai, Feb 26 (SocialNews.XYZ) Gurkeerat Singh Mann scored an unbeaten half-century as India Masters rode on their all-round brilliance to convincingly beat England Masters by nine wickets in another enthralling match in the International...

The post IML 2025: Gurkeerat’s fifty guides India Masters to clinical 9-wkt win appeared first on Social News XYZ.

THE case of former garda Paul Moody was adjourned today to make progress in the case.

Moody, 44, was listed for arraignment at Dublin Circuit Court but he did not enter a plea in relation to five charges of harassing, intimidating and demanding money from a woman in 2016 and 2017.

Instead the court heard that there has been contact made by the defence with the Director of Public Prosecutions.

And the case will be back before the court in a few weeks’ time with the hope of progress in relation to the case.

Moody had previously been charged at District Court level over the offences before the case was sent forward to the Circuit Criminal Court, which can impose harsher sentences.

The accused, who has a previous address of St Raphael’s Manor, Celbridge, Co Kildare, is accused of demanding money from his alleged victim.

It’s claimed he made an unwarranted demand of payment of money from with menaces in 2017.

He also allegedly intimidated the woman in 2016 while he was further charged with three counts of harassment on separate dates including the Coombe Hospital in Dublin 8.

Moody formerly served as a member of An Garda Siochana.

Collins

Moody is set to return to court in a few week’s time[/caption]