Author: Arabian Media staff

On a dark, cutting-cold night in January, a well-heeled crowd was listening to a piano recital at the Institut Français in London’s South Kensington. Alexandre Tharaud started with a lilting Debussy Prélude before giving Ravel’s “Une barque sur l’océan” its full measure of listing and swaying. But the audience — wealthy French people resident in the city — were not principally here for the programme of impressionist music.Afterwards, they repaired to the Institut’s elegant double-height library for speeches and presentations about philanthropy. The French ambassador, Hélène Duchêne, switching between host and native language, talked of the UK as a country…

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Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 kicked off a massive arms procurement race for Kyiv. Officials looked just about everywhere for weapons they could ship to the frontlines. However, Ukraine has lost hundreds of millions of dollars on fraudulent arms deals in the process. The FT’s Ukraine correspondent Isobel Koshiw and investigative reporter Miles Johnson share their reporting. Mentioned in this podcast:How Ukraine lost hundreds of millions on arms deals gone wrongUkraine arms procurement feud risks eroding western trust, G7 warnsToday’s FT News Briefing was produced by Ethan Plotkin, Sonja Hutson, and Marc Filippino. Additional help from Sam Giovinco,…

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Unlock the Editor’s Digest for freeRoula Khalaf, Editor of the FT, selects her favourite stories in this weekly newsletter.European defence companies say Japan has accelerated its opening to non-American suppliers of military equipment since the election of US President Donald Trump.Tokyo’s increasing willingness to look beyond its traditional defence partner for procurement was the main focus of attention at Japan’s largest-ever defence sector trade show in Makuhari near Tokyo this month.It comes after Trump has rattled US allies around the world by raising questions about Washington’s commitment to joint defence.Company representatives at the three-day Defence and Security Equipment International event…

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Image credit: Supplied Ascot Racecourse has today announced a landmark partnership with BEYOND Developments, a pioneering real estate brand born in Dubai. The collaboration sees BEYOND become the Official Real Estate Partner of Ascot and Royal Ascot across all 26 race days, including the globally renowned Royal Ascot in June. This partnership represents a convergence of legacies – on one side, the enduring heritage of Ascot, a symbol of British tradition; on the other, BEYOND, established in Dubai, a city where the love for horses runs deep and equestrianism is an integral part of its cultural fabric. “We are thrilled…

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Unlock the Editor’s Digest for freeRoula Khalaf, Editor of the FT, selects her favourite stories in this weekly newsletter.The European Commission is investigating four large adult content websites — Pornhub, Stripchat, XNXX and XVideos — over concerns that they are failing to protect minors online.The investigations fall under the Digital Services Act, which sets out how tech companies should police the internet and aims to keep European citizens safe online. “The online space should be a safe environment for children to learn and connect,” said the EU’s tech chief Henna Virkkunen. “Our priority is to protect minors and allow them…

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Image credit: Getty Images The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development in Saudi Arabia has launched a new “CV Upload” service for domestic workers through the Musaned platform. Read-Saudi’s business boost: Here are the latest tax exemptions According to a Saudi Gazette report, this service allows employers to utilize the platform when transferring a worker’s services to a new employer. Advantages of the service The ministry explained that the service is an innovative model aimed at facilitating the selection of domestic workers based on their résumés and enabling a smoother, more efficient transfer of services. The process is fully…

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