Stories can change public opinion, challenge prejudice, inspire generations and even alter the course of a person's life. But for actor and author Kabir Bedi, their greatest power lies in something more personal: the ability to give people meaning, help them confront difficult experiences and find the courage to reinvent themselves. Speaking at PRAXIS India in Kochi on Stories as a Force for Good, Bedi drew on his remarkable journey across advertising, Indian cinema, European television and Hollywood to explain why storytelling remains one of humanity's most powerful forms of communication. Addressing an audience of public relations and communications professionals, he began by recalling his own connection to the advertising industry. Before entering films, Bedi spent five years working at Lintas and Ogilvy & Mather, where he was involved in film and radio production. That experience, he said, had kept him connected to the communications profession, even as his career

    A new book by celebrated photojournalist Raghu Rai, the first to be published after his death, explores the lives of animals through a collection of photographs that encourage readers to see them as fellow inhabitants of the planet rather than subjects of observation.   The book features an introduction by animal rights activist Maneka Gandhi, who describes the work as “a heartbroken elegy” and a love letter to animals.   In her foreword, Gandhi argues that animals are more than aesthetic subjects for photography. She writes that they are sentient beings deserving empathy, respect and recognition, and urges readers to look beyond admiration to acknowledge their dignity, emotions and place in the natural world. Through Rai's images, the book seeks to deepen understanding of the bond between humans and animals while offering a visual meditation on coexistence, compassion and shared existence.  

BC Web Wise has been appointed as the integrated digital mandate for Sobisco, the flagship brand of Kolkata-headquartered Sona Biscuits Ltd. The account was awarded following a competitive multi-agency pitch.   Under the mandate, BC Web Wise will handle social media strategy and management, content creation, campaign development, influencer marketing and digital media. The agency will lead Sobisco’s digital transformation, aiming to strengthen its presence across platforms and deepen consumer engagement in its core markets across Eastern and Central India.  With over 35 years of heritage, Sobisco has established itself as one of India’s leading fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) brands. Its product portfolio includes biscuits, cakes, rusks, wafers, snacks and noodles, with a presence across 19 states.  The partnership marks a new phase in the brand’s growth journey, following its announcement of Amitabh Bachchan as its national brand ambassador

Just days after the Supreme Court observed that allowing every citizen to become a journalist could create problems, a report on certain websites allegedly selling press identity cards and microphones bearing media logos for as little as Rs 1,000 raises another concern: how easily can someone claim to be a journalist? Two of these organisations, Asian Union Press and the Indian Press Union (IPU), list identical membership prices, Influencing India found. Each charges Rs 999 for a digital membership that includes a downloadable press identity card. Each charges Rs 1,799 for a physical membership that adds a printed card and a car sticker. Asian Union Press lists "enhanced field credibility" among the benefits of its higher tier. The organisations came to light through an India Today investigation. India Today reported spotting a person at Jantar Mantar, during protests against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, holding a microphone with the IPU logo. Its follow-up

Thursday, 22 October 2026 #1  ·  Times Nation  ·  Breaking news / In-depth feature Cars to brake on their own: Centre plans AEBS mandate from Oct '30 By Dipak Dash   ·   The Times of India, New Delhi  ·  Page Page 4 The Centre is set to mandate Advanced Emergency Braking Systems (AEBS) for all new car models from October 2030, with pre-2030 still-in-production models required to comply by October 2032. The draft notification covering various ADAS safety features — including blind spot detection, lane departure warning, and drowsiness alerts — will focus particularly on taxis. The reporter obtained the development from sources aware of the proposal before any official announcement, framing it within the context of India's road safety crisis and the upcoming commercial vehicle AEBS rules taking effect January 2027. This is a genuine policy scoop obtained ahead of a formal notification, with the

P. Krishnan, former senior deputy editor of Sportstar, passed away in Chennai on October 20. He was 69. Affectionately known as PK Sir, he was a patient teacher to a generation of reporters and sub-editors. An editor of the old school, Krishnan believed editing was about much more than correcting sentences or tightening paragraphs. A master of headlines, Krishnan was behind some of Sportstar’s most memorable cover lines until his retirement in 2020. His editorial skills were matched by a sharp and wicked sense of humour. Krishnan joined The Hindu in August 1980 before moving to Sportstar, where he became a mainstay of the editorial desk for more than 30 years. Paying tribute to him on X, Shayan Acharya, lead-cricket reporting and senior assistant editor at Sportstar, wrote: “Our go-to man for all things grammar and humour. A master of headlines, a no-nonsense editor, and someone whose only aim was to make a reporter’s copy better. Travel well, PK Sir! You will b