The Journalists’ Union of Sikkim (JUS) has opened a 24-hour public reading centre in Gangtok in an effort to keep newspapers accessible as more readers shift towards digital news. Named Khabardani, the centre on M.G. Marg offers newspapers and magazines in English, Nepali and Hindi free of charge around the clock. The initiative responds to a decline in newspaper readership that JUS says is making physical newspapers harder to find while also affecting the livelihoods of vendors who depend on their distribution. “While almost everything is available along M.G. Marg, finding newspapers has itself become increasingly difficult as the number of readers declines. Thus, the centre is a small but meaningful effort to revive the habit of newspaper reading,” JUS president Prabin Khaling told Influencing India. Khaling also pointed to the impact of digital-first news consumption on newspaper vendors, placing the initiative within a wider effort to sustain the print ecosystem rather

Swans scandal deepens as fans split and legal stakes rise The Sydney Swans crisis escalated with fresh allegations of multiple sexual assaults and non-consensual conduct, alongside police inquiries and the prospect of civil action. Papers also focused on the public fallout at the SCG: a record AFLW crowd, then protest walkouts and a supporter base torn between backing the club and demanding accountability. Covered by: Sydney Morning Herald, Herald Sun, The Age, Daily Telegraph, Australian Financial Review, The Australian, The Advertiser. Bird flu crosses into mammals, raising national biosecurity alarm Australia has confirmed bird flu in a mammal for the first time after a fur seal tested positive, intensifying fears the outbreak could spread more widely through wildlife. The development raises the stakes for surveillance and containment, with potential knock-on effects for coastal communities, tourism and animal health management. Covered by: The Advertiser, The Mercury. Free spee

News  Indian PR Firm, Ad Factors PR have expanded its offering to Australian shores, having acquired "a majority stake" in SenateSHJ, an Australian Comms consultancy as per a press release.  Under the terms of the acquistion Senate SHJ will retain its identity and client teams whilst still under the leadership of Co-Founder and Chair Angela Scaffidi AM and CEO Darren Behar, continuing to operate from its Sydney and Melbourne offices. Adfactors PR CEO Nijay N. Nair, who also leads all M&A and global initiatives, will join the SenateSHJ board. Jobs  SHA PR is on the lookout for a new Senior PR Account Manager in Sydney.  A job advert on LinkedIn advertised the role to include "ownership of a portfolio of 5 to 8 clients, leading client strategy and overseeing a dedicated team (including an Account Manager and an Account Coordinator). You possess a high degree of autonomy, a sharp business mind, and an active "black book" of media

Eeshwari Jedhe has joined Daily City News (DCN) as Senior Journalist. She previously worked as a Sub-Editor and Business Writer at Corporate Citizen Business Magazine. Jedhe brings experience in reporting on a range of issues, with a particular focus on Pune’s administration, environment, infrastructure and public concerns. Alongside print journalism, she has also expanded her work in digital journalism and developed her anchoring skills. Speaking to Influencing India, Jedhe said, “I have covered a wide range of subjects, with a particular focus on Pune’s administration, environment, infrastructure and public concerns. While print journalism has remained central to my work, I have also expanded my presence in digital journalism and developed my anchoring skills, allowing me to engage with audiences across multiple platforms.” Jedhe began her journalism career as an intern at EduAdvice and later worked as a journalism intern at Habitat for Humanity Trust bef

The Bihar Cabinet on Wednesday approved a policy allowing social media influencers and content creators to earn up to Rs 1 lakh per video for content related to government schemes, a move two media professionals said risks blurring the line between government advertising and independent journalism. The amendment to the Bihar Social Media and Other Online Media Rules, 2026, was among 13 proposals cleared at a Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary. Under the amended rules, eligible influencers and content creators will receive payments based on the views their videos generate. After 30 days, an additional Rs 10,000 becomes payable for every one lakh views above a prescribed threshold, up to a maximum of Rs 1 lakh per video. The amendments also require periodic verification of followers on listed social media handles, pages and channels, with reviews every six months and advertising eligibility tied to prescribed categories. Separately, the rules allow the Info

Friday, 21 August 2026 #1  ·  Times Business  ·  In-depth feature Govt to amend investment treaty to woo global players By Sidhartha   ·   The Times of India, New Delhi  ·  Page 15 The Indian government is set to amend its model Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) to allow international arbitration after one year of exhausting local remedies, down from the current five-year clause, in a bid to address long-standing grievances of overseas investors. A cabinet note has been moved by the finance ministry, which also proposes expanding the definition of investment from enterprise-based to asset-based, covering shares and equity instruments held for five years or more. The story contextualises the move against India's troubled BIT history since 2015, citing UNCTAD data showing only six countries have signed BITs with India since the model treaty was updated in 2016. The story combines insider sourcing (persons fami

World Photography Day, observed annually on August 19, was marked across India with exhibitions, competitions and events recognising photographers and photojournalists. In Secunderabad, The Hans India photojournalist Srinivas Shetty was felicitated by Sky Foundation president Dr Y. Sanjeeva Kumar in the presence of vice-president O. Pavani and others. In Andhra Pradesh, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu joined photojournalists at the Assembly premises to mark the occasion. Naidu briefly stepped behind the camera himself, taking a group photograph of the assembled photographers. He also extended his greetings to photographers and praised their role in capturing moments that inform and inspire the public. The Journalists’ Union of Sikkim organised a photography competition, with 13 entries shortlisted. Paru Sharma won first place, followed by Bijoy Gurung and Sunny Kumar Rawat. The winners received cash prizes, while certificates were presented to all participants. In Kozhikode