The Supreme Court of India on Friday confirmed the interim bail granted to journalist Mahesh Langa in a money laundering case linked to allegations of fraud. A Bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant clarified that the order should not be seen as a comment on the merits of the case. The decision came after Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Gujarat government and the Enforcement Directorate, updated the court on trial developments. The top court had granted interim bail to Langa in December 2025, while directing the trial court to proceed on a day-to-day basis for framing charges and recording witness statements. It also asked both Langa and the Enforcement Directorate to cooperate and avoid adjournments. The case is based on FIRs registered by the Gujarat Police in Rajkot and Ahmedabad, following complaints from officials of the Central GST anti-evasion wing. The allegations relate to fraudulent GST registrations and bogus input tax credit claims, The Hindu reported

Nintendo’s Claire Corbel says storytelling and a focus on the human element of PR are central to her approach. That approach saw her take out the David Hellaby Best Media Relations award at this year’s Australian IT Journalism Awards.  “I love the gaming industry. I love video games, and I think building relationships with journalists who share that passion has been a really special thing,” she told Influencing. “I always approach with kindness, with full intention to support, no matter what brand or company I represent and help journalists in every way that I can”. She described the win as “mind-blowing”. “My initial reaction was shock, but I feel so incredibly grateful. “It was just such an amazing night – to see so many amazing people there and to celebrate the industry in general. Being acknowledged with that award was definitely a career highlight. To be nominated by the people that you work with was just such an incredible honour.” Corbel said the

$53b defence boost — but the numbers are under fire The Albanese government is flagging an extra $53 billion for defence over the next decade, arguing it will lift spending to 3% of GDP by 2033 under a revised NATO-style accounting method. Several papers question whether the uplift is real (or repackaged) and whether off-budget borrowing and private-sector financing masks the true fiscal and capability position at a time of heightened strategic risk. Covered by: Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, Australian Financial Review, The Australian, The Australian. Fuel security anxiety deepens as states move to go it alone NSW is weighing an emergency diesel stockpile as the fuel crunch bites the trucking sector, with the Daily Telegraph framing it as a state-led challenge to Canberra’s national fuel-security approach. The Australian adds pressure by highlighting Australia’s low oil production and growing import dependence as conflict-driven shocks threaten prices and suppl

Around 150 journalists gathered at the Guwahati Press Club to protest alleged attacks on the media during the recent Assam Assembly elections. They resolved to escalate the matter to the highest authorities. At the meeting, journalists decided to submit memorandums to President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and the Election Commission of India. Participants expressed concern over remarks attributed to Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who reportedly said he would “politically and intellectually” finish two media groups if re‑elected. They also referred to an alleged attack on the North Lakhimpur office of Asomiya Pratidin, which took place hours after polling ended on April 9. Journalists described these incidents as signs of growing threats to press freedom and called for urgent safeguards, especially during elections. They demanded the formation of an independent media commission with retired judges, legal experts, and civil society members to address

Journalist Deepak Soni, editor of the monthly magazine Swarn Mangalam, died after sustaining critical injuries in a road accident on Friday. His family alleged that delays in arranging an ambulance contributed to his death. Soni was on his way to an agricultural fair when the accident occurred. He was first taken to the District Hospital, but his family said no ambulance was available for nearly two to three hours. They eventually arranged a private vehicle to shift him to Bhopal, where he later succumbed to his injuries. Family members claimed ambulances at the hospital had been diverted for “VIP duties” linked to an agricultural event attended by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, and Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, NDTV reported. The incident has once again highlighted the lack of timely emergency support, especially for media professionals working in high‑risk environments. Last month, Influencing reported on similar gaps, noting

Image of the Day Rajaji National Park now a quick getaway Pankul Sharma for The Times of India reported that with the operationalisation of the Delhi-Dehradun economic corridor on Tuesday and travel time significantly reduced to around 2.5 to 3 hours, as claimed by the govt, the Rajaji National Park’s Mohand range in Uttarakhand is poised to become one of the nearest major wildlife escape destinations for Delhi residents keen on spotting tigers and elephants in the open. It could also emerge as an alternative to Corbett Tiger Reserve and Sariska, experts said. Mohand, which lies on the expressway route, is considered by experts as an area teeming with wildlife, which offers a high chance of seeing herds of Asian elephants, leopards and occasionally tigers. "Besides the abundance of wildlife, Mohand is closer to Dehradun and Mussoorie, which offer a wide range of staying options, giving it an edge over other forest zones," said Dhananjai Mohan, former head of forest force, Uttar

Cheek Media Co is looking to strengthen its commercial side, with CEO Hannah Ferguson saying a new partnerships manager will be key to helping the progressive media outlet grow without losing sight of its values.       After seeing Cheek Media Co was advertising for someone “to help take our indie media company to the next level”, Influencing contacted Ferguson to find out more about the role and Cheek’s future plans. “The most important thing for us, as we build our team, is creating a work culture that embodies our values,” she says. “The right person will need to bring in commercial skills and partnerships experience, but the right attitude and values alignment is equally important for us.” Ferguson stresses a lack of extensive experience shouldn’t stop anyone from applying. “We aren't just looking for someone who is a certain number of years into their career, or has a long list of professional experi