Long before he stepped into a newsroom, Vishal Bolivar was already a student of politics As a child, he followed debates about Tamil Nadu politics, national affairs, and international events with unusual curiosity. By the time he began his professional career, politics had already become a daily habit. But his first job was far from journalism. In 2020, Vishal joined TCS Global as a technical support engineer. Like many young professionals, he spent his days navigating software systems and technical queries. Yet outside work, his interest in politics continued to grow. By 2023, he began experimenting with freelance political anchoring while still working in IT. His routine became intense—starting at 6 a.m. and stretching late into the night as he balanced technology work with political analysis. Then came the 2024 parliamentary elections. Encouragement from mentors pushed him to make a decisive move toward journalism. He realised that political storytelling, especially in

A group of journalists from the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, currently on a Press Information Bureau (PIB) media outreach tour, visited Chennai Port, where officials briefed them on the port’s operations and its role in maintaining supply connectivity with the islands. During the visit, officials from the Chennai Port Authority briefed the journalists about the port’s activities. The officials also highlighted the potential of the proposed international container transshipment terminal at Galathea Bay, noting that its strategic location along major global shipping routes could help develop it into a significant maritime trade hub in the Indian Ocean.     Image source: Nicobar Times 

  Our next Influencing Insider session features Aakriti Dhawan — international journalist, producer and host of the Beyond Borders Podcast. With bylines in BBC, Deutsche Welle, TRT World, Mongabay, Citywire, and NDTV, Aakriti reports on global issues including migration, gender, diplomacy, and human rights. Currently based in Germany, her work connects stories and perspectives across borders. In this session, we’ll discuss international reporting, cross-border journalism, podcasting, and the evolving realities of global storytelling. 📅 March 11 | 2:00 PM (IST) Register here: https://app.livestorm.co/mediaconnectconnect/influencing-insider-with-aakriti-dhawan

Somerset Indus Capital Partners has appointed SPAG FINN Partners as its strategic communications partner. The mandate aims to strengthen Somerset’s corporate reputation, highlight the impact of its investment platform, and increase its presence in industry conversations. As part of the partnership, SPAG FINN Partners will handle reputation management, media relations, strategic storytelling and leadership positioning for Somerset across India’s healthcare and investment ecosystem. Established in 2011, Somerset Indus Capital Partners invests in healthcare businesses that expand access to quality care, especially in underserved markets. Its portfolio companies have impacted around 105 million lives, including nearly 21 million patient lives. Mayur Sirdesai, partner of Somerset Indus Capital Partners said the partnership will help share the real-world impact created by the firm’s investments. Aman Gupta, managing partner, Health Practice Asia Lead - SPAG Finn Partn

  India begins rationing natural gas amid West Asia conflict The government on Tuesday moved to ration natural gas supplies, prioritising households receiving piped gas, vehicles running on compressed natural gas (CNG), and units producing cooking gas (LPG), as the conflict in West Asia disrupts liquefied natural gas (LNG) shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, reported Rajeev Jayaswal and Sunetra Choudhury for Hindustan Times. The ministry on Monday night notified the Natural Gas (Supply Regulation) Order, 2026, invoking the Essential Commodities Act (ESMA) of 1955 — giving the directive overriding authority over all existing gas sale agreements and commercial arrangements. The order establishes a four-tier priority system for gas allocation, with supplies to lower-priority sectors — including petrochemical plants, power stations, and oil refineries — curtailed to meet essential demand.  Rs 8.69L-Cr Jal Jeevan Mission cleared Zia Haq for Hindustan Times reported that

Image edited by Dinesh Raj M   For four weeks starting March 6, the loudest scoreboard in Indian television news is going dark. The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting directed the Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) to suspend weekly news ratings, citing “unwarranted sensationalism and speculative reporting” during coverage of the escalating Israel–Iran conflict. The order invoked Clause 24.2 of the 2014 Television Rating Agency Guidelines, a rarely used provision that allows the government to intervene in rating releases during extraordinary circumstances. That matters because in Indian television news, TRPs are not just statistics. They are oxygen. Advertising rates, newsroom strategies and even the theatrical intensity of prime-time debates orbit around weekly ratings. Remove the numbers, and the incentive structure of the entire ecosystem briefly collapses. And this is where the story takes an interesting turn because three days after th

India has recorded 44 shortlists across nine categories at the Spikes Asia 2026, taking its total tally to 77 so far. The latest announcements cover Creative Strategy, Design, Film Craft, Gaming, Healthcare, Media, Music, PR, and Social & Creator. Earlier, India had secured 31 shortlists in categories including Audio & Radio, Brand Experience & Activation, Creative Commerce, Direct, Film, Outdoor, and Print & Publishing, along with two in Innovation, Best Media Info reported. More categories including Creative B2B, Creative Data, Creative Effectiveness, Digital Craft, Entertainment, and Industry Craft, will be revealed on March 11, followed by Glass: The Award for Change and Integrated on March 12. Winners, including those from the Young Spikes Competition sponsored by Meta, will be announced at the Awards Gala at Capitol Theatre, Singapore, on March 12.