News Broadcasting
Current affairs dominate BBC World’s schedule this season
MUMBAI: BBC World has lined up a wide range of programming over the next three months. These will explore contemporary current affairs. The channel will also air documentaries.
New programmes for the channel will include a revealing account of the secret war between the Western intelligence agencies and Al-Qaeda’s networks in The Third World War – Al-Qaeda. Another unique special is One Day of War. This was filmed simultaneously in 16 different conflict zones on 22 March 2004. There will also be full coverage of the US Presidential elections on 2 November.
The three-part series The Third World War – Al-Qaeda will air in November. It looks at the growing global threat from the perpetrators of terror. Soon after 9/11, it became clear that a global enemy could only be countered by an international global response. That would mean unprecedented international co-operation and, critically, the sharing of intelligence between governments and counter-terrorism agencies.
Presented by Peter Taylor, who has covered international security matters for three decades, these programmes focus on the response of the US, Western Europe and South East Asia.
One of the beeb’s major current affairs specials is The World Uncovered. This will confront strong, hard-hitting stories that are affecting people’s lives around the world. Next month, the channel will continue its exclusive investigations into the most contentious global issues. In Ethiopia – A Journey with Michael Buerk, the award-winning journalist returns to the east African country to see what has happened in the 20 years since his reports highlighted the devastating famine there.
The above mentioned One Day of War in December follows the lives of individuals involved in 16 widely different conflicts across the world. Filmed simultaneously by video producers over a single 24-hour period, the two-part documentary reveals shocking stories of the modern world at war.
From Shusila in Nepal to Mukhtar in Somalia, these people reveal their reasons for fighting and their hopes for the future to paint an intimate portrait of the fear, the excitement and, often, the sheer banality of life at war.
In the last week of December, the channel will air World Review. This is a series of programmes that look back at the main stories of 2004 and focusing on some of the key regional issues. On the sports front, the channel will air Spirit of Golf. The four-part series encapsulates the heritage, tradition, nostalgia and competitive skills of the royal and ancient game of golf.
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.






