The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Tuesday sought responses from the Centre, Facebook and the Punjab government on a petition filed by journalist Maninderjeet Sidhu, challenging the removal of his Facebook pages over alleged copyright violations. Sidhu, an independent digital journalist, told Influencing India that the action against his platforms reflects a broader pattern targeting critical voices in Punjab. “What is happening in Punjab is different -- highlight any wrongdoing of the party and your social media page will be banned immediately,” he said. Explaining how this operates, he added, “Official social media handles of news publications are illegally flagged claiming copyright violations. When repeatedly flagged, the page gets blocked. Similarly, I was targeted.” His main Facebook page, which had over 3.5 lakh followers, was removed in March 2026. Another platform, “Lok Awaz TV,” with more than 9 lakh followers, had been taken down earlier in January. Sid

Fuel security in the spotlight as Middle East tensions bite Anthony Albanese says Australia’s fuel stocks are secure for weeks as he heads to Singapore to shore up priority supply arrangements, amid volatility linked to the Middle East and the Strait of Hormuz. Several papers frame the same moment very differently: government reassurance versus warnings that reserves are critically low and the system is exposed. Covered by: Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, Australian Financial Review, The Mercury, NT News. Diesel shock returns—cost-of-living and the bush feel it first Diesel prices are surging back above pre-levy-cut levels, erasing promised savings and feeding through to freight, farming and everyday prices. The coverage underscores how fuel costs are becoming a political pressure point, with regional and small-business impacts front and centre. Covered by: The West Australian, Daily Telegraph, Courier Mail, Herald Sun. Pressure builds for Australia’s stance on Ir

BJP leader Kirit Somaiya was involved in a heated exchange with local journalists during his visit to Aarey Colony to inspect alleged illegal construction. According to reports, journalists at the spot questioned Somaiya, asking, “Why raise your voice when a question is asked?” The remark further angered him, leading to demands for journalists’ ID cards and the confiscation of a mobile phone. A video of the incident has been shared by Gallinews India, highlighting the growing trend of political leaders clashing with journalists and, increasingly, confiscating their mobile phones during confrontations.

  The Greater Chennai City Police have arrested YouTuber ‘Savukku’ Shankar in Andhra Pradesh after he allegedly challenged the police on social media to arrest him. Shankar was earlier arrested in December 2025 in connection with extortion cases registered at Saidapet and Adambakkam police stations. He later secured interim bail from the Madras High Court, but police said he violated bail conditions. Following this, the court permitted police to arrest him again if required. Officials said Shankar had been hiding in another state while continuing to post defamatory content online. A special police team tracked him to a lodge in Andhra Pradesh, where he was staying with an associate. He was brought to Chennai and produced before a court, The Hindu reported.

  A 45-year-old journalist, Devendra Sharma, died after being hit by a car in the Malviya Nagar area late Tuesday night. The accident occurred between OTS and RIC near MNIT, when a car rammed into his motorcycle. Sharma, who was returning home from work, was thrown onto the road and sustained serious injuries. Police rushed him to Sawai Mansingh Hospital, where he died during treatment on Wednesday morning. A case has been registered based on a complaint by his brother Dinesh Sharma, and the Road Accident Police Station East is investigating the matter, Tarun Mitra reported.

Among the many revelations that the US-Israel-Iran war has unveiled to us over the past five weeks, a key takeaway for journalists has been how popular Substack has become as a medium for disbursing allegedly unbiased news as well as publishing freewheeling opinion pieces. Almost any journalist/expert who commented on the war as well as the economic fallout referred the audience to a Substack newsletter where they claimed to publish full details independently. The staggering growth of Substack as a news distribution platform is no longer a new phenomenon. According to the latest Press Gazette report on the top 50 English-language news sites in the world in 2026, Substack was ranked third recording 37 per cent year-on-year traffic growth and has been the leader for seven months prior to the breakout of the war when Al Jazeera took over the top spot. For those of you who still haven't explored Substack, it is a platform that allows internet users to subscribe to free or paid new