News Broadcasting
Iraq issues marching orders to CNN
MUMBAI: The wheel has come full circle. CNN, which made its reputation covering the 1991 Gulf War from Baghdad, has been ordered to leave Iraq along with two other US TV news broadcasters.
Journalists working for CNN, ABC and NBC have been ordered to leave the country within the next few days by Iraqi officials, who have accused them of being a propaganda machine for the US government, The Guardian has reported.
The Guardian has quoted the BBC and US broadcaster CBS as saying they had not been asked to leave the city.
Journalists for CNN have been expelled briefly from Iraq on five occasions since the broadcaster first opened a Baghdad bureau in 1990. However, Jane Arraf, the current CNN bureau chief, has been based in Baghdad for four years and her departure will effectively close CNN’s Baghdad bureau for the first time.
The Iraqi authorities have told CNN that when its staff are allowed back into the country, only one non-Iraqi journalist will be granted a visa and for no longer than 10 days.
That seems a load of bombast on the part of the Iraqis though. The way the US-led putsch is proceeding, CNN’s absence from Baghdad should not be of too long a duration.
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CNN pulls out all stops in Iraq attack coverage
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.
