News Broadcasting
Indian photojournalist Danish Siddiqui killed in Afghanistan
New Delhi: Indian photojournalist Danish Siddiqui, a Pulitzer Prize winner, has been killed in clashes in Spin Boldak district in Kandahar, Afghanistan, local news channel TOLO News reported on Friday, citing sources.
Siddiqui, a Reuters photojournalist, was covering the situation in Kandahar over the last few days and had been sharing updates from the site. He was embedded with the Afghan forces which came under attack on Thursday evening as per reports.
Danish Siddiqui, a Reuters photojournalist, was killed in clashes in Spin Boldak district in Kandahar, sources confirmed.
The Indian journalist was covering the situation in Kandahar over the last few days. pic.twitter.com/VdvIRGAEa3
— TOLOnews (@TOLOnews) July 16, 2021
“Deeply disturbed by the sad news of the killing of a friend, Danish Seddiqi in Kandahar last night. The Indian Journalist & winner of Pulitzer Prize was embedded with Afghan security forces. I met him two weeks ago before his departure to Kabul. Condolences to his family & Reuters,” Afghan ambassador Farid Mamundzay tweeted.
Tributes poured in from fellow journalists, news organisations as they condoled his sudden death.
An alumnus of Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi, Siddiqui had started his career as a TV news correspondent and later joined Reuters and moved to photojournalism. In 2018, he was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Feature Photography along with his colleague Adnan Abidi for documenting the Rohingya Refugee Crisis. One of the photographs captured by him during the Delhi Riots was featured by Reuters as one of the defining photos of 2020. Siddiqui was remembered for his poignant photographs that he captured courageously while reporting on the Covid-19 pandemic in India.
Over the past few days, Spin Boldak district has witnessed heavy fighting after the Taliban captured a key border crossing that links to Chaman in Pakistan’s Balochistan province.
THREAD.
Afghan Special Forces, the elite fighters are on various frontlines across the country. I tagged along with these young men for some missions. Here is what happened in Kandahar today while they were on a rescue mission after spending the whole night on a combat mission. pic.twitter.com/HMTbOOtDqN— Danish Siddiqui (@dansiddiqui) July 13, 2021
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.
