Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and former party vice president Balbir Punj passed away on Saturday evening, marking the end of a distinguished career spanning journalism, politics and public life. Punj was regarded as a key intellectual voice within the party and had served as a Rajya Sabha MP. Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tribute on X, calling Punj a “prolific writer, thinker and public intellectual” whose contributions to media and Parliament were “rich in facts and theory.” Modi recalled Punj’s role in strengthening the BJP among students, professionals and intellectuals, and expressed condolences to his family. Journalist Shivani Gupta described Punj as a gracious and knowledgeable figure, noting his ability to speak “the unvarnished truth” with authority. Condoling his demise, Gupta added a personal anecdote, saying, "I met him recently at an event and was, as always, instantly in awe. He had so much knowledge at his fingertips. He knew what mos

The Chennai Press Club on Sunday launched the first batch of competitive exam coaching for children of journalists under its ‘Interest-Based Competitive Exam Training Centre’ initiative. The inaugural class, held on April 19, saw the participation of around 28 students along with office-bearers of the forum. General Secretary Haseef Mohammed said, "The coaching classes are being conducted in collaboration with Aarvam IAS Academy." He added that all office-bearers were present at the inaugural session. The weekly classes will continue until September, with students being trained for upcoming TNPSC examinations as part of the initiative. President Suresh Vedhanayagam and Manikandan, among others, were present.

Zee Media Corporation Limited has announced the launch of ‘GenZ Bharat’, a social-first platform aimed at engaging younger audiences, with a 24x7 live stream set to be introduced soon. Sharing the update, CEO Raktim Das said the move marks a decisive step into the future of media, positioning GenZ Bharat as a platform built for a dynamic and expressive generation. He added that the platform aims to address the gap for young voices in mainstream discourse. The initiative reflects a broader push by Zee Media Corporation Limited to strengthen its digital and youth-focused content strategy.  

According to Data Beings, CNN-News18 led English news live viewership on YouTube across three slots in Week 16 (April 11–17), while Republic World and Times Now dominated key prime-time and late-night bands.  CNN-News18 topped the 2–3 PM (4,430), 5–6 PM (4,478), and 7–8 PM (5,151) slots, maintaining a consistent lead in daytime and early evening. Republic World surged during prime time, leading 8–9 PM with 11,534 views and 9–10 PM with 12,803, the highest recorded in the week. Times Now, meanwhile, led the 10–11 PM slot with 4,910 views, edging past CNN-News18.  Other channels such as India Today, NDTV 24x7, Firstpost, ANI News, and Mirror Now featured across slots but remained behind the top three overall.

Tripura Court has transferred the case of journalist Saikat Talapatra to Sabroom after he alleged he was not receiving a fair trial, according to Tripura News. Talapatra, who has been in judicial custody for over two years in connection with alleged defamatory social media posts under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, claimed the case against him is politically motivated. During a hearing before District and Sessions Judge Gobinda Das in Belonia, he expressed distrust in the presiding court and sought transfer of the case. Taking note of his submission and the fact that most witnesses are based in Sabroom, the court ordered the transfer while extending his judicial custody till May 30. The matter is also under review by the Tripura High Court, where a petition challenging the FIR has been filed. The case has triggered debate around free speech, judicial fairness, and political influence in the state.  

Accredited journalists on election duty were among those casting postal ballots as the three-day voting exercise concluded on Sunday in Thoothukudi ahead of the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections. Along with journalists, government staff, police, and fire and rescue personnel participated, as they will be deployed on polling day. The process, held at the Sub Collector’s office, saw voters arriving in batches and completing verification before casting ballots. Officials said turnout remained steady across all three days, with the final phase proceeding smoothly, Indian’s News reported.

Pepper Communications Group (PCG) has secured the India communications mandate for drivebuddyAI, an AI-based Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) and Driver Monitoring System (DMS) solutions provider.   The partnership aims to position drivebuddyAI as a leading authority in the AI-powered mobility and road safety space. PCG will handle media relations, reputation management, and strategic storytelling to strengthen the brand’s presence among key stakeholders.  Headquartered in Ahmedabad, drivebuddyAI offers AI-powered safety solutions for commercial fleets, automobile OEMs, and Tier-I suppliers. It is a group company of Roadzen Inc. (Nasdaq: RDZN) and serves sectors including e-commerce, hazardous transport, and passenger mobility. Its solutions comply with AIS-184, EU GSR 2144, and EURO NCAP 2026 standards.  Nisarg Pandya, CEO & Founder, drivebuddyAI, said the collaboration will support expansion and global positioning. PCG Group MD Roshan Mohan said