Senior journalist and social activist Jitu Sharma Rajkhowa was honoured with the Nirantaram Samuddharta award in Bokakhat on Saturday, coinciding with his 60th birthday.   The honour was jointly conferred by nine literary, cultural, and social organisations in recognition of his long-standing contributions to journalism and community welfare.  The felicitation ceremony was organised by the Assam Satra Mahasabha’s Bokakhat District Committee along with several local bodies. Former MLA Jiten Gogoi and Bokakhat MLA and Cabinet Minister Atul Bora attended the event and extended their greetings, The Sentinel reported.  Accepting the honour, Rajkhowa said the recognition would motivate him to continue his work for the betterment of society. The event also featured cultural performances organised by the Bokakhat Artistes’ Society.  

CNBC-TV18 will host the 21st edition of the India Business Leader Awards (IBLA) on January 10, 2026, in Mumbai, bringing together India’s most influential business leaders, policymakers, and industry veterans. The event will be attended by Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. IBLA 2026 will honour leaders driving enterprise growth, national progress, and India’s rising influence on the global stage. The gathering will feature some of the country’s most prominent industrialists, including Mukesh Ambani, Noel Tata, N. Chandrasekaran, Kumar Mangalam Birla, Sunil Bharti Mittal, and Sajjan Jindal, reinforcing IBLA’s stature as one of India’s most prestigious business platforms. Marking over two decades of legacy, IBLA continues to recognise changemakers whose ambition, innovation, and resilience are shaping India’s long-term growth story across indus

Davidson PR & Communications has secured the public relations mandate for South Indian Bank, strengthening its growing portfolio in the BFSI sector. As part of the engagement, the consultancy will handle the bank’s corporate and brand communications, with a strong focus on regionally rooted storytelling aligned with Kerala’s cultural and social context. The mandate includes media relations, narrative building, and stakeholder communications to support the bank’s trust-led growth strategy. Announcing the win on LinkedIn, Davidson PR said the partnership is about “stories that connect with Kerala, building trust, friendship, and financial confidence.”

The journalism fraternity is mourning the loss of two senior journalists who passed away in separate incidents over the past two days. In Pune, Asseem Sheikh (55), senior journalist with The Times of India’s Pune edition, died on January 5 after a prolonged illness. Renowned for his in‑depth reporting on crime, law and order, the judicial system, and issues related to the Pune Cantonment, Sheikh had built a strong reputation in the city’s media circles. Beginning his career at 19, he worked with Mid‑Day and The Maharashtra Herald before joining The Times of India, where he was associated for over 18 years. He is survived by a brother and two sisters, Punekar News reported. In Mysuru, Rajkumar Bhavasar (64), a senior journalist, died on January 4 after succumbing to injuries sustained in a recent road accident. Bhavasar had fallen from his motorcycle near Kalale village in Nanjangud taluk and was undergoing treatment at the Trauma Care Centre on KRS Road. A resident of

In what has been described as another attack on a minority community, Rana Pratap Bairagi (38), a Hindu businessman and acting newspaper editor, was allegedly shot dead by unidentified assailants in Jessore district, according to Mid-Day. Bairagi, who owned an ice-making factory in Kopaliya Bazar, Monirampur, also served as acting editor of Dainik BD Khabar, published from Narail. Additional Police Superintendent Abul Basar told the media that the incident occurred around 5.45 pm on Monday at Kapalia Bazar. Citing local residents and police accounts, Prothom Alo reported that three men on a motorcycle allegedly called Bairagi out of his factory and took him to an alley near the Kapalia Clinic and Diagnostic Centre. He was then allegedly shot in the head at close range before the attackers fled.

Madhya Pradesh chief minister Mohan Yadav on Sunday inaugurated the 31st IES–Digiana Inter Press Cricket Tournament, organised by the Bhopal Sports Journalists Association at the Old Campion Ground. In his address, Yadav emphasised the vital role of journalists in strengthening democracy, praising the contributions of Madhya Pradesh’s media professionals at the national level. He also recalled the legacy of Makhanlal Chaturvedi and Atal Bihari Vajpayee in journalism and literature. The Chief Minister noted that the tournament has been held continuously for three decades, extending his best wishes for its successful conduct. Sports and Youth Welfare Minister Vishvas Sarang, senior journalists, and public representatives were also present at the event.

Veteran journalist N R S Babu was honoured with the first S Jayachandran Nair Award on January 2, as part of events marking the late editor’s first death anniversary. The award, instituted in memory of S Jayachandran Nair, former editor of Samakalika Malayalam Weekly, was presented by artist B D Dathan at Babu’s residence. At a meeting organised by the S J Smaraka Samithi at the Thiruvananthapuram Press Club, Dathan recalled his long association with Nair. Senior journalist M G Radhakrishnan delivered the S Jayachandran Nair Memorial Lecture on “Kerala Politics”, analysing the state’s shifting bipolar landscape, the Left front’s recent electoral setbacks, and challenges facing all three political fronts ahead of the Assembly elections. On the occasion, a book on Nair titled Oru Pathrapravarthakante Anubhavakkurippukalum Ormakalum, edited by P M Binukumar, was also released, The New Indian Express reported.