BBC director general Tim Davie has urged the UK government to invest in the World Service amid fears cuts have allowed disinformation and propaganda to spread.
In a speech at the Future Resilience Forum, Mr Davie raised concerns that the scaling back of the BBC's World Service, which operates in more than 40 languages, has allowed foreign actors to spread false narratives.
Russian-backed media in Lebanon is now transmitting on the radio frequency previously occupied by BBC Arabic, which was axed last year, after 85 years of broadcasting.
It was part of a package of World Service cuts – which the BBC blamed on a switch to online news consumption and a difficult economic picture – to save £28.5 million ($37.2 million) a year, under which the corporation scrapped radio broadcasting in 10 languages.
Up until 2014, the UK government paid for the World Service. It then handed over most of the cost to the BBC.
Now, amid the absence of BBC Arabic, Mr Davie has warned that unrest in the Middle East is at a “critical moment of challenge for stability and democracy worldwide”.
Describing the spread of disinformation as a “critical threat” to global democracy, Mr Davie said it was vital the UK took action and invested in the world's “most trusted” service.
“Free and fair reporting has never been more essential – for global democracy and for audiences of most need around the world,” he said. “Rapid advances in generative AI have made it cheaper and easier to spread misleading narratives that can potentially influence elections. What we are facing is an all-out assault on truth worldwide – and with it security, stability and democracy.
“No one should underestimate the impact the BBC has had in the global news landscape to this point – as an entirely independent force, with no purpose other than to bring trustworthy information to those who need it most.”
He said the service is now “operating under intolerable pressures” and that its income in the decade to 2020 fell by 30 per cent.
“I think the case is strong for the UK government to look again at taking back responsibility for funding the BBC World Service, as it did for the first 80 years of its life,” he said.
“Because, as our resources have come under growing strain, we’ve been forced to make savings. Closures such as Arabic and Persian Radio have already led to a loss in our global audience of around 40 million.”
Speaking at the meeting on Monday, which was attended by international political figures, Mr Davie warned that news outlets controlled by Russia and China are outspending BBC investment “by a multiple of thousands”.
“Together they are spending an estimated £6 billion to £8 billion on expanding their global media activities – investing hard to grow their audiences in key markets in Africa, the Middle East and Latin America,” he said.
“Across Africa in particular, Russian media is incredibly active in promoting its narratives – with social media influencers amplifying propaganda and so-called activists live-streaming pro-Russia rallies, and this investment is seeing significant returns – not only in terms of the reach of Russian state broadcaster RT and China’s CGTN, but also in terms of trust.
“Perhaps most worrying from the BBC point of view is that we can now see clear evidence of the fact that, when the World Service retreats, state-funded media operators move in to take advantage.”
The latest Global Risks Report from the World Economic Forum found “the most severe global risk” over the next two years will be “foreign and domestic actors” leveraging misinformation and disinformation to “further widen societal and political divides”.
Mr Davie highlighted how the BBC's retreat in Africa has led to other companies filling in the gaps. He said state broadcasters Kenya’s KBC and Liberia’s LBS have both taken up Chinese output on TV and radio.
The BBC monitoring teams detected Russian output being broadcast in Lebanon on the day thousands of pagers exploded, he said.
“What they heard was unchallenged propaganda and narratives being delivered to local communities,” he said. “Had the BBC been able to retain our impartial radio output, these messages would have been much harder for local audiences to find. In this context, the further retreat of the BBC World Service should be a cause for serious global concern.”
The corporation this month released a 90-second film offering a glimpse into the BBC’s fight against disinformation. It follows the launch of BBC Verify, which comprises a team of about 60 journalists who use the latest tools and technology to explain their fact-finding to viewers.
In 2022, the BBC announced the proposed closure of around 382 posts at the World Service as well as the closure of its Arabic and Persian radio services.
In April, an inquiry was launched into the future funding of the service. It will focus on the corporation’s influence as a soft power and look to establish whether increased government support is needed.
The international broadcaster, owned and operated by the corporation, is predominantly funded by the UK licence fee but receives additional grant funding of £104.4 million from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.
The World Service has agreed not to close any language services under its current support package but this condition is set to be lifted in 2025.
Explainer: Tanween Design Programme
Non-profit arts studio Tashkeel launched this annual initiative with the intention of supporting budding designers in the UAE. This year, three talents were chosen from hundreds of applicants to be a part of the sixth creative development programme. These are architect Abdulla Al Mulla, interior designer Lana El Samman and graphic designer Yara Habib.
The trio have been guided by experts from the industry over the course of nine months, as they developed their own products that merge their unique styles with traditional elements of Emirati design. This includes laboratory sessions, experimental and collaborative practice, investigation of new business models and evaluation.
It is led by British contemporary design project specialist Helen Voce and mentor Kevin Badni, and offers participants access to experts from across the world, including the likes of UK designer Gareth Neal and multidisciplinary designer and entrepreneur, Sheikh Salem Al Qassimi.
The final pieces are being revealed in a worldwide limited-edition release on the first day of Downtown Designs at Dubai Design Week 2019. Tashkeel will be at stand E31 at the exhibition.
Lisa Ball-Lechgar, deputy director of Tashkeel, said: “The diversity and calibre of the applicants this year … is reflective of the dynamic change that the UAE art and design industry is witnessing, with young creators resolute in making their bold design ideas a reality.”
Founders: Ines Mena, Claudia Ribas, Simona Agolini, Nourhan Hassan and Therese Hundt
Date started: January 2017, app launched November 2017
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Private/Retail/Leisure
Number of Employees: 18 employees, including full-time and flexible workers
Funding stage and size: Seed round completed Q4 2019 - $1m raised
Funders: Oman Technology Fund, 500 Startups, Vision Ventures, Seedstars, Mindshift Capital, Delta Partners Ventures, with support from the OQAL Angel Investor Network and UAE Business Angels
David Haye record
Total fights: 32
Wins: 28
Wins by KO: 26
Losses: 4
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US Industrial Market figures, Q1 2017
Vacancy Rate 5.4%
Markets With Positive Absorption 85.7 per cent
New Supply 55 million sq ft
New Supply to Inventory 0.4 per cent
Under Construction 198.2 million sq ft
(Source: Colliers)
RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP FIXTURES
September 30
South Africa v Australia
Argentina v New Zealand
October 7
South Africa v New Zealand
Argentina v Australia
Fixtures and results:
Wed, Aug 29:
- Malaysia bt Hong Kong by 3 wickets
- Oman bt Nepal by 7 wickets
- UAE bt Singapore by 215 runs
Thu, Aug 30:
- UAE bt Nepal by 78 runs
- Hong Kong bt Singapore by 5 wickets
- Oman bt Malaysia by 2 wickets
Sat, Sep 1: UAE v Hong Kong; Oman v Singapore; Malaysia v Nepal
Sun, Sep 2: Hong Kong v Oman; Malaysia v UAE; Nepal v Singapore
Tue, Sep 4: Malaysia v Singapore; UAE v Oman; Nepal v Hong Kong
Thu, Sep 6: Final
WORLD RECORD FEES FOR GOALKEEPERS
1) Kepa Arrizabalaga, Athletic Bilbao to Chelsea (£72m)
2) Alisson, Roma to Liverpool (£67m)
3) Ederson, Benfica to Manchester City (£35m)
4) Gianluigi Buffon, Parma to Juventus (£33m)
5) Angelo Peruzzi, Inter Milan to Lazio (£15.7m
THE 12 BREAKAWAY CLUBS
England
Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur
Italy
AC Milan, Inter Milan, Juventus
Spain
Atletico Madrid, Barcelona, Real Madrid
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
GULF MEN'S LEAGUE
Pool A Dubai Hurricanes, Bahrain, Dubai Exiles, Dubai Tigers 2
Pool B Abu Dhabi Harlequins, Jebel Ali Dragons, Dubai Knights Eagles, Dubai Tigers
Opening fixtures
Thursday, December 5
6.40pm, Pitch 8, Abu Dhabi Harlequins v Dubai Knights Eagles
7pm, Pitch 2, Jebel Ali Dragons v Dubai Tigers
7pm, Pitch 4, Dubai Hurricanes v Dubai Exiles
7pm, Pitch 5, Bahrain v Dubai Eagles 2
Recent winners
2018 Dubai Hurricanes
2017 Dubai Exiles
2016 Abu Dhabi Harlequins
2015 Abu Dhabi Harlequins
2014 Abu Dhabi Harlequins
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White hydrogen: Naturally occurring hydrogen
Chromite: Hard, metallic mineral containing iron oxide and chromium oxide
Ultramafic rocks: Dark-coloured rocks rich in magnesium or iron with very low silica content
Ophiolite: A section of the earth’s crust, which is oceanic in nature that has since been uplifted and exposed on land
Olivine: A commonly occurring magnesium iron silicate mineral that derives its name for its olive-green yellow-green colour
Red flags
- Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
- Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
- Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
- Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
- Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.
Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
JAPANESE GRAND PRIX INFO
Schedule (All times UAE)
First practice: Friday, 5-6.30am
Second practice: Friday, 9-10.30am
Third practice: Saturday, 7-8am
Qualifying: Saturday, 10-11am
Race: Sunday, 9am-midday
Race venue: Suzuka International Racing Course
Circuit Length: 5.807km
Number of Laps: 53
Watch live: beIN Sports HD
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Results
6.30pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round-2 Group 1 (PA) US$75,000 (Dirt) 1,900m
Winner: Ziyadd, Richard Mullen (jockey), Jean de Roualle (trainer).
7.05pm: Al Rashidiya Group 2 (TB) $250,000 (Turf) 1,800m
Winner: Barney Roy, William Buick, Charlie Appleby.
7.40pm: Meydan Cup Listed Handicap (TB) $175,000 (T) 2,810m
Winner: Secret Advisor, Tadhg O’Shea, Charlie Appleby.
8.15pm: Handicap (TB) $175,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner: Plata O Plomo, Carlos Lopez, Susanne Berneklint.
8.50pm: Handicap (TB) $135,000 (T) 1,600m
Winner: Salute The Soldier, Adrie de Vries, Fawzi Nass.
9.25pm: Al Shindagha Sprint Group 3 (TB) $200,000 (D) 1,200m
Winner: Gladiator King, Mickael Barzalona, Satish Seemar.
WHAT IS GRAPHENE?
It was discovered in 2004, when Russian-born Manchester scientists Andrei Geim and Kostya Novoselov were experimenting with sticky tape and graphite, the material used as lead in pencils.
Placing the tape on the graphite and peeling it, they managed to rip off thin flakes of carbon. In the beginning they got flakes consisting of many layers of graphene. But when they repeated the process many times, the flakes got thinner.
By separating the graphite fragments repeatedly, they managed to create flakes that were just one atom thick. Their experiment led to graphene being isolated for the very first time.
In 2010, Geim and Novoselov were awarded the Nobel Prize for Physics.
What are the influencer academy modules?
- Mastery of audio-visual content creation.
- Cinematography, shots and movement.
- All aspects of post-production.
- Emerging technologies and VFX with AI and CGI.
- Understanding of marketing objectives and audience engagement.
- Tourism industry knowledge.
- Professional ethics.
