Victoria hits reset: Ben Carroll takes over amid debt and corruption fears Ben Carroll has been sworn in as Victorian premier after Jacinta Allan’s resignation, inheriting a government under pressure over ballooning debt, crime and integrity concerns. His early agenda includes a construction-sector royal commission and potential rethinks on major projects like the Suburban Rail Loop, signalling a sharp political reset ahead of the next state election. Covered by: Herald Sun, The Age, Australian Financial Review, The Australian. Rates warning returns: RBA flags more hikes as households strain Reserve Bank governor Michele Bullock has signalled another rate rise could be on the table in August if inflation and wages don’t cool, sharpening anxiety for mortgage holders and renters already under pressure. The warning lands as confidence weakens—particularly in WA—raising the political stakes for governments facing cost-of-living backlash. Covered by: Sydney Morning Herald, Austra

West Bengal Chief Minister condemned the assault on journalists during a protest over alleged NEET irregularities in Kolkata, describing mediapersons as "our asset" and assuring strict action against those responsible. The Chief Minister visited the injured journalists at the state-run SSKM Hospital and directed authorities to ensure they received proper medical treatment.  The attack occurred while journalists were covering a march organised by Left-backed student organisations demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the alleged NEET paper leak. Several reporters and camerapersons were injured, including a television journalist who was assaulted while reporting live from Dorina Crossing.   The Kolkata Press Club also condemned the incident, calling the targeting of journalists during protests an "extremely dangerous trend" and demanding action against those responsible.  &n

The Indian media fraternity is mourning the passing of two veteran journalists, Jaswinder Sidhu and Kavungal Narayanan Master, both remembered for their lifelong dedication to the profession. Sidhu, a respected sports journalist in his 50s, died in a road accident in East Delhi. Over his career, he worked with leading media organisations including Hindustan, Dainik Jagran, Amar Ujala, and the Hindustan Times, while also contributing as a freelancer. The Press Club of India, in a tribute on its official X handle, said: “His dedication to sports journalism, unwavering professionalism and insightful reporting earned him immense respect across the media fraternity.” Similarly, Mathrubhumi paid tribute to Narayanan Master, 77, who served as its Hosdurg correspondent for more than five decades. He was instrumental in strengthening the newspaper’s presence in the Kanhangad region and was widely recognised for highlighting public issues, including those affecting endosulf

Upa Lokayukta Justice B. Veerappa urged journalists to uphold ethical values and refrain from resorting to intimidation or "cash for news" practices while gathering stories. Addressing the district-level Press Day programme organised by the District Working Journalists Association in Hosapete, Karnataka, he stressed that journalists should remain committed to truth, even in difficult circumstances, and never compromise their integrity for personal gain. Veerappa also called on media professionals to resist pressure from the powerful and corrupt, describing the pen as a powerful tool to expose wrongdoing. He encouraged journalists to act as watchdogs of society and use their profession to serve the public interest with honesty and courage.     Image credit: Deccan Herald 

The Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) has directed HT Media Ltd and the Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) to conclude ongoing settlement talks in their long-running dispute over access to television ratings data.   The tribunal, which heard the matter before Justice Ram Krishna Gautam, posted the case for further hearing on September 11 after both parties informed it that discussions were underway to resolve the nearly nine-year-old dispute out of court.  

Tuesday, 28 July 2026 #1  ·  Front Page / Times City  ·  Breaking news / Legal affairs Supreme Court: Constitution Guarantees Right To Peaceful Protest, Not Violent Agitation By Dhananjay Mahapatra   ·   The Times of India, New Delhi  ·  Page 5 The Supreme Court, led by the CJI, heard cross-petitions covering alleged police brutality on NEET student protesters, attacks on policemen by rioters, and assaults on journalists, declaring it duty-bound to protect the constitutional right to peaceful protest while equally concerned about injuries to police. The bench announced it would formulate mandatory pan-India standard operating protocols governing both protest management and police anti-riot conduct, rejecting an adversarial approach from the government. The Solicitor General assured the court of unbiased cooperation, while the bench underscored that self-restraint is a hallmark of democratic process. Mahapatra ca

  The Cockroach Janta Party called off its Jantar Mantar agitation on July 25, after the Centre agreed to compensate NEET-leak victims' families and withdraw FIRs against protesters. In the fortnight before that, its "Chalo Sansad" demonstrations produced one of the more sustained runs of on-camera attacks on Indian television journalists in recent memory. Influencing India has accessed the Committee to Protect Journalists' civil-disorder advisory, put together to help journalists covering protests be better prepared. A protest rarely turns all at once. It shifts in increments small enough that a reporter mid-shot can miss them: a chant changes register, a police line tightens, someone near the front throws the first thing that isn't a word. By the time the change is obvious, the decisions that would have kept a journalist safe needed to be made already. CPJ's advisory is built on that premise, so most of it isn't about what to do in the moment.