For more than a decade, journalist Bilal Ahmed Bhat has reported on an area of Jammu and Kashmir that he believes receives far less attention than politics and conflict: the environment. Editor-in-Chief of Awami Reporter, an independent weekly print and digital newspaper, Bhat has covered illegal earth-filling, construction, corruption and ecological degradation across lakes, forests and other fragile landscapes and has received an award from the Indian Journalists’ Association for Investigative Reporting.   Speaking on Influencing Insider on a recent assignment that turned violent, Bhat alleged that he was assaulted, confined and robbed recently while reporting on suspected illegal earth-filling in an eco-sensitive Dal Lake area in Srinagar.  “I went to the site after receiving information from local sources and began recording the activity. Earth and soil remained in the lake despite claims that authorities had acted, while illegal shops and houses were also being constru

Wednesday, 12 August 2026 #1  ·  Times Nation  ·  Investigative Phuket flight incident pushes DGCA to seek ways to make dope rules more stringent By Saurabh Sinha   ·   The Times of India, New Delhi – August 12, 2026  ·  Page 20 An Air India Phuket-Delhi flight suffered a momentary loss of altitude after the pilot-in-command allegedly acted under the influence of psychoactive substances, injuring 20 passengers and four cabin crew; the civil aviation ministry has summoned outgoing CEO Campbell Wilson and DGCA is exploring stricter dope-testing rules. Multiple sources told TOI the pilot was seen sitting on the cockpit floor, attempted to smoke, and was unable to walk properly after landing, while the co-pilot's report attributes the incident to rare technical snags. The broader report contextualises the regulatory gap created by the legal availability of marijuana in destinations like Thailand and Amsterd

TIMES NOW Navbharat has launched ‘Garjana’, a new weekday debate show hosted by anchor Rubika Liyaquat, as part of its early prime-time lineup. The show premiered on August 10 at 6 PM and features debates and analysis on politics, governance, social issues, current affairs and major national developments. With Liyaquat at the helm, the programme aims to bring sharp questioning, analysis and diverse perspectives to key issues. The launch adds a new opinion-driven programme to the channel’s weekday evening schedule.   Image credits: TIMES NOW 

RBA holds firm as house prices tipped to fall further The Reserve Bank kept the cash rate at 4.35% but warned inflation risks could still force another hike, while flagging further house price falls that may hit consumer spending and the housing construction pipeline. It’s a sobering signal for borrowers and governments banking on housing supply, with the economic outlook increasingly fragile. Covered by: Australian Financial Review, Daily Telegraph, Courier Mail, The West Australian, The Advertiser, Herald Sun, The Australian, The Age. Migration becomes the new political and economic fault line Fresh RBA warnings that growth is leaning heavily on immigration—while productivity weakens—have collided with a Coalition push to cut net overseas migration below 180,000 and tie intake to housing supply. The debate is sharpening into a national contest over living costs, housing availability and the labour market, with both sides framing migration as central to economic

Aradhya Dubey has been promoted to Assistant General Manager, Corporate Communications at Network18 Media & Investments. He previously served as senior manager, client servicing and media relations at SPAG, a FINN Partners company.  Dubey began his career at Kaizzen as an assistant account manager and later worked as corporate communications manager at Miles Education.  He joined Network18 in May 2023 as Senior Manager, Corporate Communications, and has been with the company for more than three years.  He announced his promotion in a LinkedIn post, expressing gratitude for the support and opportunities he received throughout his career.  “I’m grateful for the trust, support, and opportunities that have shaped my journey so far. A big thank you to the incredible colleagues, mentors, and teams I’ve had the privilege of working with. I’m looking forward to this next chapter, embracing new challenges, and continuing to make an impact,&r

Integrated communications agency One2en Communications has onboarded LivLong 365, formerly known as IIFL Insurance, and QubeHealth-Pay as clients. Under the mandates, the agency will handle business plan communications, data-driven PR, executive profiling, media relations, stakeholder engagement and reputation management for both brands. One2en Founder Saksham Srivastava said the partnerships would focus on building clear and credible narratives to strengthen reputation, stakeholder confidence and long-term business growth. 

The Uttar Pradesh Congress has urged the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) to examine what it describes as a growing pattern of criminal cases being filed against journalists in the state, arguing that the trend risks undermining press freedom and discouraging investigative reporting. In a representation to the Commission, the party cited several journalists, including investigative journalist Abhishek Upadhyay, journalist Mamta Tripathi, reporters from The Wire, Alt News co-founder Mohammed Zubair and the late Vinod Dua, contending that repeated criminal proceedings against media professionals have created a chilling effect on independent journalism. The Congress has sought an independent inquiry into the cases and called for safeguards to ensure journalists are not subjected to criminal prosecution for carrying out their professional duties. The development has renewed attention on the intersection of criminal law and press freedom, an issue that media organisations and fr