News Broadcasting
BBC World to launch ‘The Real Cities’
MUMBAI: BBC World in association with InterContinental Hotels and Resorts will launch a five-part series called The Real Cities. Starting on 17 November, the first episode will feature London.
The travelogue will provide an insider’s guide to places that include London, Sydney, New York, Tokyo and Paris through the eyes of their residents. Three locals from each city will take viewers on a tour of individual favourite spots.
The programmes will feature Serpentine Gallery director Julia Peyton-Jones in London, model and handbag designer Alek Wek in New York, fashion designer Colette Dinnigan in Sydney and Olivier Picasso in Paris.
BBC World vice president, sales EMEA and North America Carolyn Gibson said, “So many travel programmes simply show the clichéd tourist sights, and neglect to go behind the scenes to find the hidden treasures of a city that the locals enjoy. The Real Cities is a groundbreaking new series for BBC World, which interviews the famous residents from five major international cities to truly give our viewers an insider’s point of view. We are very proud of this series and hope that our viewers enjoy the insights it offers.”
InterContinental Hotels & Resorts senior vice president, global brand management Jenifer Zeigler said, “We’re thrilled to partner with BBC World to bring The Real Cities to life. The InterContinental brand has always believed in providing our guests with authentic and enriching experiences when they visit one of our destinations. The interviews and insider content provided by The Real Cities is a perfect fit for our customers who live to travel.”
News Broadcasting
Rising Bharat Summit 2026 spotlights India’s global ascent
PM Modi keynotes two-day event with ministers, diplomats and icons in New Delhi.
MUMBAI: India didn’t just host a summit, it threw a coming-out party for a nation ready to own the global stage. The News18 Rising Bharat Summit 2026, held on 27–28 February in New Delhi, emerged as a high-octane platform for ideas, vision and strategic dialogue, uniting national leadership, global policymakers, industry titans, defence strategists and cultural icons under the theme “Strength Within”.
Prime minister Narendra Modi set the tone with a keynote that framed India’s resurgence as a reclaiming of lost potential built over generations. “In previous industrial revolutions, India and the Global South were merely followers,” he said. “But in the era of Artificial Intelligence, India is a partner in decisions and shaping them.” He highlighted the country’s thriving AI startup ecosystem and the recent AI Impact Summit attended by over 100 nations.
Union minister Piyush Goyal (Commerce & Industry) stressed India’s readiness to scale exports and deepen manufacturing, while Ashwini Vaishnaw (Railways, I&B, Electronics & IT) positioned technology and infrastructure as twin engines of growth, especially in AI and digital trust. Jyotiraditya Scindia (Communications & North East Development) revealed India’s ambition to lead in 6G through the Bharat 6G Alliance and partnerships with over 30 countries.
Global voices added depth: former Singapore Foreign Minister George Yeo called India’s development “self-sustaining” and strategically vital; ex-UK Chief of Defence Staff General Sir Nick Carter asserted India deserves a seat at the great powers’ table; and former US Commerce Secretary Carlos M. Gutierrez joined ambassadors from Norway, Germany and Sweden in discussions on geopolitical realignment, sustainability and defence preparedness.
Other speakers included veteran investor Ramesh Damani, World Gold Council CEO David Tait, Vianai Systems founder Dr Vishal Sikka, DeepTech Bharat Foundation co-founder Shashi Shekhar Vempati, defence experts Rajesh Kumar Singh, Sunil Ambekar, Patrick McGee, Tom Cooper and Adrian Fontanellaz, plus cultural and sporting icons Kangana Ranaut, Saina Nehwal, PR Sreejesh, Mohammed Shami, Yuzvendra Chahal, Mithali Raj, Anil Kapoor and Yami Gautam.
The summit was supported by Jio Financial Services (Presenting Partner), Phonepe and DS Group (Co-Presenting Partners), Pernod Ricard India and Kia Seltos (Powered By & Driven By), state governments of Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Uttarakhand (State Partners), and associate partners including NSE, M3M Foundation and Reliance Industries.
Broadcast live across News18 Network, CNBC-TV18 and CNBC Awaaz, the event reinforced India’s image as a confident democracy and emerging global power proving that when strength comes from within, the world can’t help but watch.
