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Trump media company drops defamation suit against The Guardian after legal setback
Case withdrawn weeks after court blow, leaving media battle quietly unresolved
LONDON: In a quiet but telling move, Trump Media & Technology Group has dropped its defamation lawsuit against The Guardian, bringing an abrupt end to a legal fight that had been simmering since 2023.
The case stemmed from a report published by The Guardian in March 2023, which alleged that federal prosecutors were examining roughly $8 million in loans received by TMTG, the parent company of Truth Social. The report suggested the funds came from opaque entities linked to an ally of Russian president Vladimir Putin and were under scrutiny for potential money laundering.
TMTG, backed by Donald Trump, strongly denied the claims, calling the report false and defamatory. The company argued that it was never under investigation and accused the publication of damaging its reputation during its proposed merger with Digital World Acquisition Corp.
However, the lawsuit hit a major hurdle in November 2025 when Florida circuit court judge Hunter Carroll dismissed the initial complaint. The ruling hinged on a key legal principle. As a public figure, TMTG needed to prove “actual malice”, meaning the journalists knowingly published false information or acted with reckless disregard for the truth. The court found that threshold had not been met.
While the judge allowed TMTG to amend its complaint, which it did in January 2026, the case never regained momentum. Just days before a scheduled hearing in April, the company filed to voluntarily dismiss the lawsuit “without prejudice”, leaving the door open, at least in theory, for a future refiling.
For its part, The Guardian did not hold back. A spokesperson for the publication said the dismissal was “long overdue” and maintained that its reporting was based on careful fact-checking and robust sourcing.
The withdrawal marks a rare retreat in a broader legal offensive by Trump and his associated businesses against media organisations. Several other high-profile cases remain active, including litigation involving the BBC and The New York Times.
In the end, despite strong rhetoric and sustained effort, TMTG’s case against The Guardian appears to have fizzled out rather than reached a decisive conclusion, a reminder that in defamation law, proving harm is one thing, proving intent is quite another.
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Bayer launches nationwide initiative to boost pre-natal nutrition in India
Doctors set Guinness World Record with unified pledge for comprehensive maternal care.
MUMBAI: Bayer has taken a bold step to fill a critical gap by turning doctors into a powerful chorus for better maternal nutrition. Bayer’s Consumer Health Division has launched a groundbreaking nationwide initiative to advance pre-natal nutrition in India. The effort was showcased at the Annual Conference of the All-India Congress of Obstetrics and Gynaecology (AICOG), where over 300 doctors gathered at the Bayer booth and recorded videos delivering a unified call for comprehensive nutrition.
In a first-of-its-kind effort, 700 healthcare professionals across India recorded a single, synchronised pledge, “I declare my support for 100% nutrition by recommending the right essential micronutrients to every woman.” This collective statement, uploaded on a bespoke platform in just one hour, set a Guinness World Record for the largest live, unified pledge by doctors in pre-natal nutrition.
India faces a severe burden of nutritional deficiencies among women, with nearly 60 per cent affected by anaemia and over 70% experiencing calcium deficiency. These gaps are especially critical during preconception, pregnancy, and lactation. The initiative advocates moving beyond a limited focus on iron and folic acid to a more holistic approach that includes a wider range of essential micronutrients, including calcium, which is vital for maternal bone health and fetal development.
Bayer head of marketing and digital consumer health for South Asia Ritu Mittal, said, “This initiative aims to move beyond awareness and inspire meaningful action by harnessing the collective voice of the medical community. Our focus is on equipping healthcare providers with the right knowledge to support every woman’s nutritional journey.”
Dr Alaka Godbole, a senior gynaecologist, reinforced the message, “Maternal nutrition requires a comprehensive and sustained approach. Ensuring the right balance of nutrients can support healthier pregnancies and better long-term outcomes for both mother and child.”
The campaign aligns with national programmes such as Mission Poshan 2.0 and will be rolled out across digital platforms to create a unified call to action for healthcare providers, caregivers, and communities.
In a country where maternal nutrition remains a pressing public health challenge, Bayer has found a creative way to amplify the message by getting doctors to speak with one powerful, record-breaking voice. The initiative not only highlights the problem but also offers a clear, collective solution: comprehensive nutrition for every woman, every day.
