Thursday, 13 August 2026 #1  ·  Times Nation  ·  Investigative Judge's testimony evasive, misleading: Panel By Kumar Rakesh, Dhananjay Mahapatra   ·   The Times of India, New Delhi  ·  Page 15 A Lok Sabha Speaker-appointed inquiry committee released a 121-page report finding that Justice Yashwant Varma's testimony regarding the discovery of large amounts of unaccounted cash at his official residence was evasive, incomplete and misleading. The committee detailed how Varma's defence shifted through successive contradictory hypotheses — from denial to allegations of planted money to suspicions about staff — none of which he substantiated with evidence before withdrawing from proceedings and resigning. The report may be placed before Parliament in its next session, after which further action will be decided. The reporters draw on the full 121-page committee report to construct a precise, chro

The Kerala Union of Working Journalists (KUWJ) has welcomed the state government's decision to appoint a Special Public Prosecutor (SPP) in the case involving the death of journalist K M Basheer, who was allegedly knocked down by IAS officer Sriram Venkitaraman while driving under the influence of alcohol. KUWJ President K P Reji told Influencing India, "Through the press body, we had sent a letter to the Chief Minister demanding the appointment of a Special Public Prosecutor to represent Basheer's case for a fair and free trial. Now, with the appointment, we are satisfied." Influencing India has reviewed a copy of the letter sent to the Chief Minister. Reji said the press body and journalists across the state stand in solidarity with Basheer's family and will support them going forward. The move follows tension between the media fraternity and Venkitaraman, who currently serves as Agriculture Director. A few months ago, journalists threatened to boycott a press conference after

$2.5bn lifeline for Tomago smelter A $2.5 billion federal–NSW rescue package has been struck to secure long-term power arrangements for the Tomago aluminium smelter, averting closure of a major industrial employer and export asset. The deal underlines the political and economic stakes of keeping energy-intensive manufacturing viable as the grid shifts toward renewables. Covered by: Sydney Morning Herald, The Australian. Banks warn: productivity slump could keep rates high to 2028 Major bank leaders are warning that weak productivity growth could entrench inflation pressures and keep interest rates higher for longer, potentially until 2028. It sharpens the national debate over reform—tax, regulation, skills and competition—as households and businesses look for relief from cost-of-living and borrowing stress. Covered by: The Australian. Housing narrative splits as CBA backs Labor tax changes Commonwealth Bank chief Matt Comyn says fears of a housing downturn are overblown and

Former journalists turned PR practitioners Harrison Polites, Melissa Mack and Alexander Liddington-Cox have co-founded Nomen Partners - a boutique PR firm that blends solo and agency models. Nomen Partners officially launched last week after operating informally since January. The trio first discussed the venture over drinks around Christmas last year. The firm is aimed at startups and tech disruptors. It will see the trio work with their clients as if they were solo PRs, but put together their resources to “be able to work on joint accounts, share ideas and collaborate because PR is a team sport,” co-founder Polites told Influencing.  “The more brains you have working on it, the better the results can be,” he added.  He added that the trio will be capping the number of clients they’ll work with to ensure a high quality of service.   Nomen Partners launches with an array of clients including Giant Leap, Boman Group, FinTech Australia, Bodd, Simplifi and Revium.

Around 400 journalists working across rural Karnataka are set to receive free bus passes following approval from the Department of Information and Public Relations (DIPR), Karnataka. The approval was granted by Commissioner M.N. Anucheth. Following the decision, journalists who had submitted their applications along with the necessary documents will now receive the free bus passes. Thanking the commissioner, Shivanand Tagadur, president of the Karnataka Union of Working Journalists (KUWJ), which has been pressing for the demand, said, “The free bus pass scheme will be a significant help to journalists who travel daily to distant villages for news gathering in rural areas.” He further urged the department to promptly review the applications of the remaining eligible rural journalists and take steps to ensure that everyone receives the free bus pass facility.  

Two journalists working for a news portal were arrested in Assam’s Chirang district on August 10 for allegedly publishing false and misleading content involving state Cabinet minister Pijush Hazarika, police sources said. The arrested journalists were identified as Anjad Ali Ahmed and Habijul Rahman alias Habib Khan. They were picked up from Kajalgaon after police launched an investigation into a report published by the portal Bodoland Times on Sunday. Hazarika had accused the portal of publishing misleading content about him in a Facebook post and said legal action would be taken, India Today reported.