Press and Courts: A federal judge dismissed Donald Trump’s renewed $10 billion defamation suit against The Wall Street Journal, ruling it cannot be refiled and affirming that public figures’ denials do not bar critical reporting. Media Funding: Malaysia’s RM30 million Media Innovation Fund 2.0 aims to support local newsrooms’ technology and revenue plans; the communications minister said recipients should not make arbitrary layoffs. Newsroom Raids: Nepal police detained journalists over their reporting, then released them after public backlash. Conflicting accounts from police and the Prime Minister’s Office have fueled calls for an investigation. Audience Metrics: Real-time concurrent viewership is gaining value for digital media, shaping platform visibility and sponsor appeal beyond traditional delayed ratings. Independent Press Under Pressure: Russia’s Novaya Gazeta says it will close amid state pressure, while an Egyptian court ordered independent outlet Mada Masr shut and fined its editor. Privacy and Publishing: Indian news publishers are challenging the DPDP Act, arguing it lacks protections for journalism and could restrict reporting and access to public-interest information. Publisher-AI Dispute: Media groups have criticized Meta’s move to scrape news content for AI training without payment.