News Broadcasting
CNN to air previously unseen Al Qaeda footage in lead up to 9/11 anniversary
MUMBAI: CNN International has launched an exclusive weeklong series of never-seen-before footage taken from multiple videotapes recovered from inside Afghanistan by CNN’s senior international correspondent Nic Robertson.
These tapes graphically reveal the expertise, resources and resolve of the Al Qaeda terrorist movement, says the channel. The five installments of Terror on Tape will air throughout the week and conclude with a CNN Special Report summarizing the series.
Robertson worked several weeks to track the story, relying on sources cultivated during his years of reporting from Afghanistan. Experts tell CNN that these tapes show Al Qaeda operatives training in the field as they practise assassinations, kidnappings and urban combat, says the release.
In many cases, the footage is the video version of discarded documents discovered by CNN’s Mike Boettcher last year in Afghanistan. In that discovery, CNN reported on papers, notes, documents and instruction manuals left behind when Al Qaeda fighters fled Kabul. Many of the documents and manuals included instructions on how to hijack and blow up airplanes, how to build bombs and how to explode trains, ships and other modes of transportation.
Each day, CNN International will broadcast reports on these tapes.
19 August Terror on Tape: Chemical Tests. CNN reviews the Al Qaeda tape library together with a report which shows chemical weapons testing on dogs. Experts discuss various possible chemical agents that could have been used and agree that the tape shows Al Qaeda’s capabilities to be greater than previously thought.
20 August Terror on Tape: Roots of Hatred. For the first time, viewers can witness a video of Osama Bin Laden’s May 1998 news conference where Al Qaeda declared war on the West. The tape provides a fascinating glimpse into the workings of the terrorist group.
21 August Terror on Tape: Explosive Force. Buried in a movie video, a detailed primer on how to manufacturer TNT from scratch, using easily available materials.
22 August Terror on Tape: In Training. Viewers can examine methods of training in Al Qaeda camps including urban hostage taking and assassinations. The training video matches techniques described in written material were earlier obtained by CNN in Afghanistan and from Al Qaeda’s terror manual.
23 August Terror on Tape: Face of Evil. The tapes gives an insight into the persona of Osama Bin Laden and how one can gauge from the Al Qaeda tapes future plans up the organisations’ sleeve.
The programmes will air Monday-Friday 6.30 am during News Biz Today 9.30 am during BizNews 4.30 pm during Asia Tonight and 7.30 pm during Asia Tonight Hongkong time.
News Broadcasting
Kamlesh Singh receives Haldi Ghati Award from MMCF
India Today Group editor honoured for three decades of journalism at Udaipur ceremony.
MUMBAI- Kamlesh Singh just turned a lifetime of sharp words into a shiny shield because when journalism wakes up a society, even the Maharana of Mewar wants to pin a medal on it.
The Maharana of Mewar Charitable Foundation (MMCF) conferred its prestigious Haldi Ghati Award on Kamlesh Singh, a senior editor at the India Today Group, during a ceremony in Udaipur on 15 March 2026. The national award, instituted in 1981-82, recognises “work of permanent value that initiates an awakening in society through the medium of journalism.”
Singh, who leads several editorial initiatives including Aaj Tak Radio, the Teen Taal community and The Lallantop, was presented the honour by Lakshyaraj Singh Mewar, Managing Trustee of MMCF. The citation highlighted his three decades of contributions to Indian media, innovations in digital journalism, mentoring young reporters, and his popular podcast persona “Tau” on Teen Taal, which fosters thoughtful public discourse.
The Haldi Ghati Award, named after the historic Battle of Haldighati symbolising valour and resilience, is one of four national awards given annually by MMCF. Past recipients include Tavleen Singh, Piyush Pandey and Raj Chengappa.
Other honourees this year included Padma Vibhushan Pt Hari Prasad Chaurasia, Vedamurti Devvrat Rekhe, Treeman of India Marimuthu Yoganathan, Vir Chakra Capt Rizwan Malik, and US-based researcher Molly Emma Aitken, who received the Colonel James Tod Award for contributions to understanding Mewar’s spirit and values.
In an era where headlines often shout louder than substance, the MMCF quietly reminded everyone that real journalism isn’t about noise, it’s about the quiet, persistent work that stirs society awake, one thoughtful story at a time.
