MUMBAI: BBC World has lined-up new presenters for anchoring its live news programmes at 6 PM and 7 PM (EST) from Washington and London starting on 28 June.

BBC News correspondent based in the BBC's Washington bureau Katty Kay will co-present the Monday to Thursday news programmes with colleague Mike Embley in London. Every Friday, the New York-based presenter of World Business Report, Tanya Beckett, will be in Washington to anchor the two programmes with presenter Zeinab Badawi as her co-host in London.

BBC World editorial director Sian Kevill said, "These two BBC World news bulletins bring an international agenda to our audiences in the US and around the globe. One of the main advantages is that we will be able to attract top guests into the Washington studio, but we're as likely to be talking to them about the Middle East, Africa or a top sporting event, as we are about US affairs. Katty is an experienced BBC correspondent with a distinguished track record who is increasingly well-known in the USA, and Tanya is already an established BBC World figure, as the presenter of World Business Report."

BBC World news bulletins are shown on 229 public television stations throughout the US, and four times daily on BBC America. The presenters of these two bulletins will lead from Washington with the main news, then cross to London for a round-up of the day's events. Using high-profile guests to broaden discussions, the two half-hour programmes offer viewers an international perspective on the issues of the day.

Kay said, "I am looking forward to bringing BBC World's global audience a balanced bulletin of world affairs, not just US-based stories. We will select guests who are authoritative and passionate about international issues as well as US politics." Kay will be closely monitoring and covering this year's elections in the US.