News Broadcasting
I&B minister Anurag Thakur to visit Dubai to promote Indian M&E sector
Mumbai: The information and broadcasting minister Anurag Thakur will be on a three-day official visit to Dubai between 26-28 March to attend a CEO roundtable with leading personalities of cinema exhibition and television world.
The I&B minister will also visit the India pavilion at the Dubai Expo where media and entertainment week has been going on throughout the week. He will meet ministers and industry leaders during the visit.
The CEO roundtable on Saturday will be attended by Vox Cinemas CEO Ignace Lahoud, Star Cinemas COO Satyajit Pendharkar, Channel 2 Group founder MD Ajay Sethi, ARN Group’s Vivek Sethia and Mathew Johnson, Star TV head – international business Sudhir Nagpal.
On Sunday, Thakur will visit the India pavilion at the Dubai Expo to participate in the event ‘celebrating and taking Indian media and entertainment industry global.’ Eminent film personality Ranveer Singh is likely to join the minister during the visit, according to the statement.
The minister will interact with many leaders of the sector during his visit to the pavilion including Dubai Film and TV Commission Jamal Al Sharif and Dubai Development Authority on 28 March.
The minister will meet a range of people to promote India’s interests in the sector including HH Sheikh Suroor bin Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Nahyan, HE Noura bint Mohammed Al Kaabi, minister of culture and youth Reem Ebrahim Al Hashimy, minister of state for international cooperation, International Humanitarian City member of the board and director general of Dubai’s department of tourism and commerce marketing (Dubai Tourism) E Helal Saeed Almarri Nahyan, Sharjah Media City chairman HE Dr Khalid Omar Al Midfa, department of culture and tourism and twofour54 chairman HE Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Sharjah Media City managing director H.E. Shihab Alhammadi, Tecom Group group CEO Malek Al Malek, Dubai Media City managing director Majed Al Suwaidi, Dubai Studio City and Dubai Production City at Tecom group, Galadari Brothers Group co-chairman Suhail Galadari, Gulf News chairman Abdullah bin Khalifa Al-Attiyah and Middle East Broadcasting Center founder and chairman Waleed bin Ibrahim Al-Ibrahim.
News Broadcasting
News18 India launches Command Centre war explainer with Arya
New show shifts from debates to decoding global conflicts and impacts
MUMBAI: News18 India has rolled out a new war-focused programme, Command Centre, featuring Gaurav Arya, as it looks to offer viewers a sharper, more grounded take on global conflicts amid rising tensions in West Asia.
Positioned as an “insider war room”, the show moves away from conventional panel debates and instead focuses on explaining military developments, decoding strategy and connecting global events to their everyday impact, from fuel prices to economic shifts.
The format leans heavily on visuals and data. The studio has been designed like a command hub, complete with large LED war maps, real-time graphics and an alert system to track developments as they unfold.
At the centre of it all is Arya, who brings his military background to simplify complex war strategies for viewers. His signature line, “Seedhi baat samjhiye”, anchors the show’s promise of clarity over noise.
News18 India managing editor Jyoti Kamal said, “Command Centre, featuring Major Gaurav Arya is designed to deliver accurate insights and a clear perspective on how evolving conflicts impact everyday life, from household budgets to national security. With expert voices analysing every development in real time, the show goes beyond headlines to decode what’s happening now, what it means, and what could come next.”
Echoing the intent, Gaurav Arya added, “In times of war, confusion is the biggest threat. With News18 India’s Command Centre, we are bringing viewers inside the war room, decoding strategies, tracking every escalation, and explaining, in the simplest terms, what it means for India and for every household. Seedhi baat samjhiye, this is where you understand not just what is happening, but what happens next.”
The weekday show will air in the afternoon slot and will also feature Gaurav Shukla, adding to its editorial depth.
With its mix of analysis, visuals and a clear focus on impact, the show reflects a broader shift in news consumption. Viewers are no longer just watching events unfold, they are looking to understand what those events mean for them.
