A BBC journalist shot dead in Afghanistan was killed in a “case of mistaken identity” when a US soldier took him for a suicide bomber, a report has found.

The British government was warned today that it risked hitting Britain's reputation across the world after funding cuts were blamed for the loss of 650 jobs and the closure of five language services at the BBC World Service.

The BBC’s Head of Television News has defended its recent coverage of the disappearance of Madeleine McCann, saying there is “unprecedented audience interest” in the story.

The BBC has dropped plans for Planet Relief, a TV special on climate change, it emerged today.