News Broadcasting
Longtime BBC Radio presenter Roger Bennett passes away
MUMBAI: BBC Radio’s longstanding presenter Roger Bennett passed away a couple of days ago. The 69 year old had worked with BBC Radio Bristol since its inception in 1970.
In his years presenting Morning West he received many awards and became the longest serving breakfast presenter on British radio. He won the prestigious Sony Radio Presenter of the Year in 1983; was voted Local Broadcaster of the Year in 1994; and in 1998, was honoured with a Sony Gold Achievement award for his dedication to local radio.
He once said, “To me, local radio is an end in itself. I enjoy it as much now as I did when we set up Radio Bristol in 1970. For me it’s better than ever.” However his proudest moment came when Bristol University presented him with an honorary Masters degree in July 1997. “I was astounded when I heard about the degree but I’m very honoured. It makes it worthwhile getting up at 4.30 every morning for the past 23 years. And it’s an award for BBC local radio too”.
BBC Radio Bristol’s managing editor, Jenny Lacey paid tribute to Bennett saying, “Roger was first and foremost a much-loved member of staff and we will miss him terribly – as will his countless listeners and fans across Bristol. He was a superb journalist who was able to get to the heart of any story, while still being unfailingly courteous to every one of his interviewees. He was very much admired by listeners, who saw him as epitomising everything that Radio Bristol stood for. He had a real passion for his beloved native city and a completely encyclopaedic knowledge of its highways, byways and history. All of us here express our sincere condolences to Roger’s wife, family and friends. He was truly inimitable.”
The BBC says that Bennett had always been at the heart of local news, following his father into journalism at the Bristol Evening Post and at one stage becoming Britain’s only known TV columnist to not own a television set. After 17 years as a print journalist Bennett joined the BBC’s inaugural local news team for Radio Bristol in 1970. Here he began working on Morning West, where – with Michael Buerk as presenter and Kate Adie reporting from the radio car – Roger took to the skies in a spotter plane, keeping listeners advised about traffic conditions.
In 1974, he became the main presenter, a position which he remained until his retirement in 2003. Since then Bennett continued to work for Radio Bristol in a freelance capacity and ever the consummate professional – despite being treated for cancer.
News Broadcasting
Rising Bharat Summit 2026 spotlights India’s global ascent
PM Modi keynotes two-day event with ministers, diplomats and icons in New Delhi.
MUMBAI: India didn’t just host a summit, it threw a coming-out party for a nation ready to own the global stage. The News18 Rising Bharat Summit 2026, held on 27–28 February in New Delhi, emerged as a high-octane platform for ideas, vision and strategic dialogue, uniting national leadership, global policymakers, industry titans, defence strategists and cultural icons under the theme “Strength Within”.
Prime minister Narendra Modi set the tone with a keynote that framed India’s resurgence as a reclaiming of lost potential built over generations. “In previous industrial revolutions, India and the Global South were merely followers,” he said. “But in the era of Artificial Intelligence, India is a partner in decisions and shaping them.” He highlighted the country’s thriving AI startup ecosystem and the recent AI Impact Summit attended by over 100 nations.
Union minister Piyush Goyal (Commerce & Industry) stressed India’s readiness to scale exports and deepen manufacturing, while Ashwini Vaishnaw (Railways, I&B, Electronics & IT) positioned technology and infrastructure as twin engines of growth, especially in AI and digital trust. Jyotiraditya Scindia (Communications & North East Development) revealed India’s ambition to lead in 6G through the Bharat 6G Alliance and partnerships with over 30 countries.
Global voices added depth: former Singapore Foreign Minister George Yeo called India’s development “self-sustaining” and strategically vital; ex-UK Chief of Defence Staff General Sir Nick Carter asserted India deserves a seat at the great powers’ table; and former US Commerce Secretary Carlos M. Gutierrez joined ambassadors from Norway, Germany and Sweden in discussions on geopolitical realignment, sustainability and defence preparedness.
Other speakers included veteran investor Ramesh Damani, World Gold Council CEO David Tait, Vianai Systems founder Dr Vishal Sikka, DeepTech Bharat Foundation co-founder Shashi Shekhar Vempati, defence experts Rajesh Kumar Singh, Sunil Ambekar, Patrick McGee, Tom Cooper and Adrian Fontanellaz, plus cultural and sporting icons Kangana Ranaut, Saina Nehwal, PR Sreejesh, Mohammed Shami, Yuzvendra Chahal, Mithali Raj, Anil Kapoor and Yami Gautam.
The summit was supported by Jio Financial Services (Presenting Partner), Phonepe and DS Group (Co-Presenting Partners), Pernod Ricard India and Kia Seltos (Powered By & Driven By), state governments of Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Uttarakhand (State Partners), and associate partners including NSE, M3M Foundation and Reliance Industries.
Broadcast live across News18 Network, CNBC-TV18 and CNBC Awaaz, the event reinforced India’s image as a confident democracy and emerging global power proving that when strength comes from within, the world can’t help but watch.
