News Broadcasting
Ravi Sagoo triumphs in BBC Asian Network’s competition
MUMBAI: Ravi Sagoo has beaten off competition from 700 aspiring broadcasters to land a plum job as a radio presenter on the BBC Asian Network in the UK.
On 19 November 2005, the 24-year-old Sagoo will start presenting the national radio station’s Album Chart programme on Saturday afternoons after a panel of five radio producers from the BBC Asian Network decided to award Ravi the slot – after narrowing the final field of hopefuls down to three. Sagoo said, “The whole experience of the competition had a mixed bag of emotions relating to it – lots of excitement and, at the same time, a touch of nerves also. Once the cut was made from 12 to three, I thought I had a good chance. Was I expecting to get the contract? I would say it was 50-50, but you’ve always got to have a touch of faith, which will hopefully carry you through.”
The search for the Asian Network presenter has been a long journey which spanned over seven months around the UK, beginning in April 2005. Ravi has been selected from over 700 hopefuls who initially entered the competition, via post, the BBC New Talent website or by auditioning at the BBC New Talent bus which toured Melas in Bradford; Manchester; city sites in East London; Harrow, West London and Birmingham.
BBC Asian Network assistant editor, Ishfaq Ahmed said, “This was a tough decision – all the finalists were superb. They all had different traits to offer and the decision in the end was to see who would be best suited to the Asian Network presentational style and who would be able to complement our current on-air talent. Ravi complements our existing voices very well but his warm Scottish lilt and his ability to ‘connect’ with our audience just edged it for him.”
The final stage involved Ravi competing against Sandeep Kaur Rai and Hussain Yoosuf. All three finalists took part in a workshop at the Asian Network studios in Leicester, where they met producer Simon Walsh who offered tips to improve their skills – during a day of scripting, playlisting, content-generating, interview arranging and finalising.The finalists were also given the chance to really show what they could do in an individual pre-recorded one-hour programme, which went on air from midnight on 23 October 2005.
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.
