China has banned the BBC World News television channel in a diplomatic fight with Britain after British regulators revoked the licence of state-owned Chinese broadcaster CGTN. The move late Thursday was largely symbolic, because BBC World already was limited to being shown on cable TV systems in hotels and apartment compounds for foreigners and some other businesses. The National Radio and Television Administration said BBC World News coverage of China violated requirements that news reporting be true and impartial and undermined China's national interests and ethnic solidarity. In Hong Kong, government broadcaster RTHK said it would stop carrying BBC World broadcasts on Friday. Police officers stand guard outside the CCTV (China Central Television) headquarters building in Beijing, home to its overseas arm CGTN (China Global Television Network), in this file photo from last May.

Source: CBC News February 12, 2021 18:33 UTC