BBC World Service Faces 'Terminal' Cuts

The BBC World Service could lose up to a quarter of its budget, it has been revealed.
Executives are preparing for cuts of 18%-25% after Foreign Office officials indicated its £272m annual budget would be reduced from April next year.
A world Service source told the Sunday Times that the 25% cut would be 'terminal'.
Other BBC sources have predicted that English speaking channels will survive while minority channels could be in danger.
BBC sources say services such as BBC Arabic TV and BBC Persian TV are vulnerable because they cost a combined £34m per year.
The cuts follow a steady scaling back in the World Service's reach. In 2006 it ended its Falkland Islands service and in 2005 it axed 10 foreign language services, saving £12m.
This year it was asked to make a further £7.7m cut because of a funding shortfall caused by a sharp drop in the value of the pound.
The reduced budget will be for the three years from April 2011. A Foreign Office spokesman said the department was unable to give an assurance that the service's budget would be protected.
(LB/BMcc)