News Broadcasting
BBC gives Shakespeare a makeover in the UK
MUMBAI: This is an attempt by UK broadcaster BBC One to fulfill its committment to engage and entertain the widest possible audience with Shakespeare’s stories in new and original ways. To this end BBC One has commenced production on four modern adaptations of Shakespeare plays.
Shirley Henderson will play Kate opposite Rufus Sewell’s Petruchio in Sally Wainwright’s version of The Taming of the Shrew. In the new version the vitriolic, aggressive and shrewish, Kate is an opposition MP who is instructed to find herself a husband to make her more electable. The romantic comedy explores the complexities of relationships against a backdrop of glamorous London circles and politics.
Much Ado About Nothing gets a makeover with a television flavour. Actress Sarah Parish plays Beatrice, presenter of a popular early evening regional news show. Her ex-lover and arch enemy Benedick, played by Damian Lewis, is hired as her co-anchor. One of the Bards most famous tragedies Macbeth is transposed to the enclosed and heated world of a top restaurant kitchen.
BBC head of drama series and serials Laura Mackie says, “There have been modern versions of Shakespeare before but these new interpretations remain true to the originals. At the same time, they are unashamedly a very personal take by each writer – our aspiration is that they work on their own terms for a modern audience.”
The BBC is also working with the Shakespeare Schools Festival on a celebration of Shakespeare with a one-off festival night across the UK on 3 July. 10,000 children (aged 11-16) from 400 schools will perform abridged plays in 100 theatres.
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.
