Furore over pollies' taypayer-funded jollies lands at all the dailies this morning, with other stories on Joyce revealing his motives for joining One Nation, a killer found guilty, another new Liberal state leader, plus much more in today's news. Stories by Phillip Coorey, Ronald Mizen, Jack Quail and Noah Yim, Geoff Chambers, James Massola and Natassia Chrysthanos, James Campbell, Linda Silmalis and Jessica Wang, Chip Le Grand and Keiran Rooney, Paul Starick, Peter Carruthers and Emma Cam, Eleanor Campbell and Dana Daniel.

IndiGo’s nationwide flight disruptions which left lakhs of flyers standard, had also left photojournalists as well looking for last-minute travel options on Friday, December 5, just a day before the India–South Africa ODI in Visakhapatnam. With multiple flights into the city cancelled for the third consecutive day, photographers on assignment found themselves facing steep fares, no-seat situations, and complete uncertainty, The Hindu reported.

The Maharashtra government has given the go-ahead to provide a plot of land on Senapati Bapat Road for a new Press Club building in Pune. The land, measuring a little over 8,000 sq ft, will be handed over to the Pune Journalists' Trust.

Hindustan Times hosted the 23rd edition of the Hindustan Times Leadership Summit (HTLS) 2025 from December 4 to 6, with the Aditya Birla Group as its presenting partner.

TODAY'S TEN: Our lead today is an analysis of media reports on the Goa inferno, what caused it, and who's responsible for the lives lost. In our SPOTLIGHT section, we bring you the horrific murder of a DTC bus driver by guests at a wedding party in an extreme case of road rage. Our TECH story of the day is launch of BharatGen Technology Foundation and India's crash at World Junior Hockey semi-finals is the most important SPORTS update that you need to be aware of.

Journalist Nilanjana Bhowmick has received major relief from the Delhi High Court, which ruled that a journalist cannot be held responsible for defamation if the information they publish is factually correct, no matter what tone or writing style they use.

If all goes as planned, the Odisha government may soon give pensions to journalists, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi informed the state assembly on Thursday, December 4. He said that a proposal for providing pensions to journalists is under consideration.

This year’s Best Australian Science Writing anthology has a strong human connection, according to co-editors and science communicators Zoe Kean and Tegan Taylor.

The JournalismAI Academy 2026 is open for registrations. The free, 5-week online training program is designed for journalists and media professionals across the Asia–Pacific region.

Cricket of course, plus fire and water, crime and punishment, U16 ban on its way, 'Kingpin blitz' and 'Night of mayhem', plus more in today's news roundup. Stories and pictures by Sitthixay Ditthavong, Alex White, Chris Vedelago and Marta Pascual Juanola, Harry Brill and Gary Shipway, Stephen Rice, Lucy Macken, Ryan Cropp, Lisa Mayoh, Joseph Olbrycht-Palmer, Paul Sakkal, Will Stanton and Joe Hildebrand.

Senior video journalist Damodar passed away on Thursday, leaving his family, colleagues and the wider media fraternity in shock and grief.

In yet another incident of manhandling and misbehaviour towards journalists, a case has been reported from the Kuthanur area of Palakkad district. The incident occurred when a journalist sought a response from Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala regarding Congress MLA Rahul Mankootathil, who has been accused in a sexual harassment case.

House of Communication India, has won the nationwide PR mandate for PropertyPistol, a tech-driven real estate consulting company.

Lead: IndiGo’s meltdown grounded India this week, with over 500 cancellations exposing how a single crew-planning failure can choke the entire aviation ecosystem in minutes. Spotlight: Rajasthan HC backed an adult couple’s right to live together, even though they were not of marriageable age. Tech: Cohesity is betting $1 billion on Bengaluru, power engineering and support for 600+ India clients. Sports: Arjun Erigaisi out-blitzed Viswanathan Anand to clinch the Jerusalem Masters. Entertainment: THR India captures the industry’s grief as AVM Saravanan — producer, studio patriarch behind generations of Tamil cinema — passes away at 86.

After 15 years navigating the dynamic world of media across London, Sydney, and Melbourne, journalist and TV producer Troy Nankervis is working with a colleague on a new venture - a podcast dedicated to men's wellness titled Working on It, Real Talk for Modern Men.