News Broadcasting
Nik gowing to step down as daily BBC World News presenter
MUMBAI: BBC World News presenter Nik Gowing is stepping back from his daily presenting role on the channel. One of the main presenters on BBC World News since 1996, his roles over the past 18 years have included hosting NewsDesk, World News Today, The Hub and Dateline London. He has presented live coverage on location on many occasions and led the team responsible for developing the highly successful World Debates.
Nik Gowing said, “Like a few other colleagues back in the mid 90s, I took the professional risk of joining a fledgling channel with great global potential and ambitions. It was, though, one that the BBC took a long time to work out how to embrace both commercially and editorially. Now BBC World News is where I always visualised it would get to eventually. It is flying high as one of the ever more successful BBC global news platforms. I have chosen to step back with a great sense of having contributed to achieving so much. I have always been supported by many tremendous and committed colleagues over the 18 years. To them go my enormous thanks and appreciation. A presenter is, after all, the public face of a multi-talented, hard-working team both editorially and technically.”
James Stephenson, Head of News for BBC World News, said, “Nik always recognised the potential for BBC World News to become a successful global channel and has played a key role in building its success. Since our move to New Broadcasting House he has brought his irrepressible energy to raising the quality of our morning output. We hugely appreciate his distinguished contribution to the channel both on and off air.”
Peter Horrocks, Director, World Service Group, said, “Nik has been a mainstay of BBC World News for most of its existence. His gravitas, his energy and his unrivalled contacts book have been essential parts of the channel’s booming success. Nik will move on from daily presenting with the cheers of the audience and journalists of World News ringing in his ears as a mark of admiration for a man who has had a huge impact on the channel.”
Nik will continue to work with BBC World News on an ad hoc basis after he steps down from daily presenting next month.
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.
