News agency Asian News International has filed a defamation suit in the Delhi High Court against YouTuber Mohak Mangal, alleging that his recent YouTube video against the news agency contains defamatory and misleading statements, tarnishing the organisation’s reputation. According to Livelaw, the suit has been filed against a video titled “Dear ANI” published by Mangal on May 25, 2025. The plea stated that Mangal claimed in his YouTube video that ANI is using its copyright to trap people and is involved in extortion and blackmail. According to the suit, Mangal urged viewers to unsubscribe from ANI and misrepresented the agency’s communications using AI tools. ANI claims the video damages its reputation, goodwill, and registered trademarks. The suit also names comedian Kunal Kamra and AltNews co-founder Mohammed Zubair for allegedly amplifying Mangal’s claims on social media. ANI has sought the removal of the video and a court order preventing further use of its trademar

Experience Commerce (EC), a Cheil SWA Group company, has secured the digital and media mandate for Tropical Agrosystem (India) Pvt. Ltd., a key player in crop protection and plant nutrition. The agency will drive the brand’s digital transformation through social media strategy, creative storytelling, and performance marketing.  Handled from EC’s Mumbai office, the mandate spans Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn, focusing on connecting with both rural farming communities and urban audiences. EC will also roll out an integrated campaign via its production arm, CYLNDR India.  Chandrika Rodrigues of Tropical Agro said the partnership supports their vision for sustainability and deeper consumer engagement.   EC’s Bhawana Daga emphasised their goal to build digital experiences that reflect the brand’s legacy and forward-looking mission.  This collaboration comes as Tropical Agro expands its digital footprint to better engage evolving agricultural communities across

Jack in the Box Worldwide has secured the social media mandate for Kotak Mahindra Prime Limited, the vehicle financing arm of Kotak Mahindra Bank, following a competitive multi-agency pitch. Under this partnership, the agency will be responsible for crafting and executing Kotak Mahindra Prime’s social media strategy across platforms. The focus will be on delivering engaging, relevant content that connects with audiences and builds a strong, consistent digital brand identity. Commenting on the win, Farhatnaz Ansari, Managing Partner and Business Head at Jack in the Box Worldwide, said, “Kotak Mahindra Prime plays a crucial role in empowering customers through smart financing options like car loans, two-wheeler loans, and loans against property. We’re thrilled to develop a content strategy that deepens engagement and strengthens the brand’s connection with its digital audience. Our approach will emphasize data-driven insights, impactful storytelling, and platform-first thinki

  Taste.com.au, said by owners News Corp to be the number one food media brand with an audience of more than 4.5 million*, has unveiled what the company says is the biggest evolution in its history.  The all-new taste.com.au has been designed to streamline the weekly grocery planning, shopping and cooking journey with innovative features and enhancements that connect every stage of the process. Informed by extensive research and user testing, taste.com.au's most ambitious site rebuild to date is now live. The site includes totally new and intuitive navigation for easier content discovery, a redesigned homepage, new site sections, and recipe page improvements that enable users to shop all of taste.com.au’s recipes online at Coles. In the twelfth year of their digital partnership, taste.com.au and Coles have collaborated to enhance their industry leading shoppable recipe platform. Recipe-to-cart is now fully integrated across all 50,000 taste.com.au recipes, allowing users to a

Image source: ET, Assam Tribune and The Hindu; Edited by Diensh Raj M   In a move sparking nationwide debate, the Assam government has approved a scheme to issue arms licences to indigenous people living in districts it deems “vulnerable”—particularly those with a significant migrant Muslim population near the Bangladesh border. The policy, announced by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, targets areas like Dhubri, Morigaon, Nagaon, Barpeta and South Salmara, where the administration claims indigenous Assamese feel under threat due to demographic changes and “illegal infiltration.” Hot off the Press As reported by Utpal Parashar for Hindustan Times, the state argues that arming local residents will boost their confidence, deter illegal encroachments and ensure the safety of those who feel pushed out of their land. Sarma explicitly connected the move to longstanding demands from the Assam Movement era (1979–1985), which had called for stricter action against illegal

Forbes India marks its 16th anniversary with a special edition titled “Giant Strides”, focused on the theme of disruption as a catalyst for progress. The issue explores transformative shifts across India’s economy, society, and culture, featuring insights from leaders across key sectors. Contributors include Santosh Iyer (Mercedes-Benz India), Praveer Sinha (Tata Power), Abhinav Bindra, Nandan Nilekani (Infosys), Sanjeev Bikhchandani (Info Edge), Rajesh Jejurikar (Mahindra & Mahindra), and Sharvil Patel (Zydus Group). A redesigned cover reflects the edition’s theme of ambition and reinvention.

<>   In amongst all the bad news around local newspaper closures and reporting staff being hollowed out as cost-cutting abounds, the good news is there are some really bright spots, as Claire Stutchbery of LINA revealed in this last week’s Influencing Insider interview.  Stuchbery is executive director of the Local & Independent News Association, an organisation which supports local and independent digital news publishers across Australia.  As facts on LINA’s own website point out, from January 2019 to December 2023 there were 204 newsroom contractions and 151 expansions across Australia — a net decrease of 53 newsrooms over three years.  But Stutchbery points to the success stories that span diverse approaches, each tailored to their community's unique needs.  “We have a member called the Tasmanian Enquirer who's just been shortlisted for a Walkley Award for some of the work that they're doing around environmental and science reporting,” said Stutchbery