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BBC Arabic stops after 85 years of radio broadcasting, no "This is London" anymore

Mere hours separate the Arab world from the end of an era, from hearing the very last bang of Big Ben followed by the words, "Huna London" or "This is London", as 85 years of Arab generations tuning up to the BBC Arabic radio service come to an end.
The broadcasting corporation made the decision last September driven by ongoing financial crisis in Britain. The corporation stated that high inflation rates and increasing expenses pushed it to make difficult decisions of closing down the Arabic broadcast and laying off hundreds of jobs.
This sent shockwaves in the medium, prompting questions of what the future has in store for radio broadcasting, if this is caused purely by economic reasons, or is it a change of heart of British media as Russia and China rise up.
The BBC, one of the world's most notable broadcasts, began its journey in 1920 at Marconi's factory with the iconic phrase, "This is London" The Arabic service was the first non-English broadcast from Britain, and it came in response to fascists Italian radio broadcast, Bari.
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On the 3rd of January, 1938 News Anchor Ahmad Kamal Srour began the very first broadcast to the Near East region with "This is London .. Ladies and gentlemen we are broadcasting from London in the Arabic Language for the first time in history," Since then the BBC had established itself a beacon of reliability, integrity and steadiness.
From Nouakchott to Kuwait, from Portland Place or Bush house in 1940 or News Broadcasting House in 2012, the BBC, with its incomparable editorial values and highly efficient journalists, proved itself the most significant media outlet the Arab world has known.
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2014 was the turning point as financing the Arabic broadcast was no longer under the jurisdiction of the ministry but joined the rest of the broadcasts within the TV tax bracket.
White House certified journalist and former BBC correspondent in Washington D.C. Atef Abduljawwad was deeply saddened by the news and attributed the closure of Arab language broadcast to current financial crisis in Britain, especially as the broadcast refuses revenue inducing advertisements.
On a phone call with KUNA, Abduljawwad relayed the story of his announcement of the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait in 1990, as he received confirmed news of Iraqi forces moving towards Kuwait and broadcasted the news immediately.
Al-Maslami spoke of his own experience in Kuwait, as he met up with avid listeners who have in their possession wonderful recordings of the programs.
BBC indicators affirm that radio broadcasting remains standing in defiance of the times as millions across the world crank up car radios listening to musical tunes or voices relaying hard-hitting news of the world.
With this, the words "Huna London" or "This is London" will no longer echo through radio waves but will fade into the distance.
Source: anews
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BENEFIT AGM approves 10%...
- March 27, 2025
BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the company’s headquarters in the Seef District.
During the meeting, shareholders approved all items listed on the agenda, including the ratification of the minutes of the previous AGM held on 26 March 2024. The session reviewed and approved the Board’s Annual Report on the company’s activities and financial performance for the fiscal year ended 31 December 2024, and the shareholders expressed their satisfaction with the company’s operational and financial results during the reporting period.
The meeting also reviewed the Independent External Auditor’s Report on the company’s consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024. Subsequently, the shareholders approved the audited financial statements for the fiscal year. Based on the Board’s recommendation, the shareholders approved the distribution of a cash dividend equivalent to 10% of the paid-up share capital.
Furthermore, the shareholders endorsed the allocation of a total amount of BD 172,500 as remuneration to the members of the Board for the year ended 31 December 2024, subject to prior clearance by related authorities.
The extension of the current composition of the Board was approved, which includes ten members and one CBB observer, for a further six-month term, expiring in September 2025, pending no objection from the CBB.
The meeting reviewed and approved the Corporate Governance Report for 2024, which affirmed the company’s full compliance with the corporate governance directives issued by the CBB and other applicable regulatory frameworks. The AGM absolved the Board Members of liability for any of their actions during the year ending on 31st December 2024, in accordance with the Commercial Companies Law.
In alignment with regulatory requirements, the session approved the reappointment of Ernst & Young (EY) as the company’s External Auditors for the fiscal year 2025, covering both the parent company and its subsidiaries—Sinnad and Bahrain FinTech Bay. The Board was authorised to determine the external auditors’ professional fees, subject to approval from the CBB, and the meeting concluded with a discussion of any additional issues as per Article (207) of the Commercial Companies Law.
Speaking on the company’s performance, Mr. Mohamed Al Bastaki, Chairman BENEFIT , stated: “In terms of the financial results for 2024, I am pleased to say that the year gone by has also been proved to be a success in delivering tangible results. Growth rate for 2024 was 19 per cent. Revenue for the year was BD 17 M (US$ 45.3 Million) and net profit was 2 Million ($ 5.3 Million).
Mr. Al Bastaki also announced that the Board had formally adopted a new three-year strategic roadmap to commence in 2025. The strategy encompasses a phased international expansion, optimisation of internal operations, enhanced revenue diversification, long-term sustainability initiatives, and the advancement of innovation and digital transformation initiatives across all service lines.
“I extend my sincere appreciation to the CBB for its continued support of BENEFIT and its pivotal role in fostering a stable and progressive regulatory environment for the Kingdom’s banking and financial sector—an environment that has significantly reinforced Bahrain’s standing as a leading financial hub in the region,” said Mr. Al Bastaki. “I would also like to thank our partner banks and valued customers for their trust, and our shareholders for their ongoing encouragement. The achievements of 2024 set a strong precedent, and I am confident they will serve as a foundation for yet another successful and impactful year ahead.”
Chief Executive of BENEFIT; Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi commented, “The year 2024 represented another pivotal chapter in BENEFIT ’s evolution. We achieved substantial progress in advancing our digital strategy across multiple sectors, while reinforcing our long-term commitment to the development of Bahrain’s financial services and payments landscape. Throughout the year, we remained firmly aligned with our objective of delivering measurable value to our shareholders, strategic partners, and customers. At the same time, we continued to play an active role in enabling Bahrain’s digital economy by introducing innovative solutions and service enhancements that directly address market needs and future opportunities.”
Mr. AlJanahi affirmed that BENEFIT has successfully developed a robust and well-integrated payment network that connects individuals and businesses across Bahrain, accelerating the adoption of emerging technologies in the banking and financial services sector and reinforcing Bahrain’s position as a growing fintech hub, and added, “Our achievements of the past year reflect a long-term vision to establish a resilient electronic payment infrastructure that supports the Kingdom’s digital economy. Key developments in 2024 included the implementation of central authentication for open banking via BENEFIT Pay”
Mr. AlJanahi concluded by thanking the Board for its strategic direction, the company’s staff for their continued dedication, and the Central Bank of Bahrain, member banks, and shareholders for their valuable partnership and confidence in the company’s long-term vision.
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