News Broadcasting
BBC World Service launches new service for Afghanistan
KABUL: BBC World Service has announced the launch of a new dedicated schedule of programming for Afghanistan. This features all the key languages of the country. It has also launched three more FM relays in the country.
BBC World Service’s Eurasia Region head Behrouz Afagh was quoted in an official release saying, ” The BBC has broadcast news to Iran, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan and the Gulf – for 60 years in Persian and 20 years in the Pashto language. But this is the first time we have produced a dedicated schedule for Afghanistan itself incorporating the key languages.
“This new schedule is an exciting and historic development for the BBC and Afghanistan. The BBC enjoys an unparalleled reach, and is widely listened to and respected by Afghans.”
The new dedicated schedule features three hour blocks of new programming in the key languages of Afghanistan (Persian and Pashto; plus some English and Uzbek) at breakfast, lunchtime and the evening. The backbone of the new schedule will be domestic and international news.
There will be a strong emphasis on discussion and interactive debate on civil society and democratic politics, particularly leading up to the Loya Jirgah. This is the Afghan Grand Assembly that decides on constitutional changes and takes place next month.
News Broadcasting
UDF poised to return to power in Kerala, says Manorama-CVoter survey
Massive opinion poll projects shift in Kerala politics ahead of 2026 Assembly elections.
MUMBAI: The winds of change appear to be blowing through Kerala’s political landscape and this time, they seem to favour the United Democratic Front. A comprehensive mega opinion survey conducted by Manorama News in partnership with CVoter projects a potential comeback for the UDF in the upcoming Kerala Legislative Assembly Elections 2026. The survey, covering all 140 constituencies with a massive sample size of nearly 90,000 respondents, predicts the UDF could win between 69 and 81 seats.
The ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) is expected to secure 57 to 69 seats, a significant drop from the 99 seats it won in the 2021 elections. This would mean the LDF losing 30 to 42 of its sitting seats. Meanwhile, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), which drew a blank in 2021, is projected to open its account with 1 to 5 seats.
Region-wise, the UDF is expected to make strong gains in Malabar, winning 25 to 34 out of 48 seats, and in Central Kerala, where it could bag 29 to 33 out of 53 seats. In South Kerala, the LDF is likely to retain an edge with 21 to 25 seats, while the UDF may improve to 12 to 16 seats. The NDA could pick up 1 to 3 seats in the southern region.
The survey was conducted between 14 and 26 March 2026, with additional tracker and snap polls carried out from December 2025 to March 2026. A total of 89,693 respondents participated, ensuring representation across all demographics and social segments.
Manorama News has a strong track record of accuracy, with its previous projections closely matching the actual results of the 2019 and 2024 Lok Sabha elections as well as the 2021 Kerala Assembly polls.
In Kerala’s famously fierce political battles, this survey suggests the pendulum may be swinging back. Whether the final verdict matches these numbers or throws up another surprise, one thing is clear, the 2026 Assembly elections are shaping up to be one of the most keenly watched contests in the state’s history.
