Rambo in the Alps, Tehran in the Shadows. Just what the heck is going on? From bush ambush to Tehran’s bungling proxies, Australia’s front pages were ablaze with violence, vengeance and a government finally forced to act. First, a sovereign citizen’s murderous “rambo-like” rampage in Victoria’s Alpine bush put police in the crosshairs. Then ASIO pulled the thread of a stolen VW and found Tehran tugging at Australia’s social fabric — and the papers had a field day. Rambo in the Alps The Age owned the police shooting story today (“ESCAPED INTO BUSH” ) with superb coverage by Cameron Houston and Carly Jaeger reporting that the 56-year-old sovereign citizen Dizi Freeman, who locals described as “a strange cat”, is the target of a major manhunt in Victoria’s Alpine region after allegedly ambushing police at a remote Porepunkah farm, killing two officers and wounding a third. Houton and Jaeger report Freeman is “armed with a homemade shotgun, a rifle and

Image source: NDTV, BT, SAG and Infotech; Edited by Dinesh Raj M   India’s tax landscape could be on the brink of its biggest reset since GST was introduced in 2017. With a council meeting set for early September, the government is weighing sweeping reforms to simplify the slab structure, reduce levies on key goods, and give consumers relief ahead of the festive season. But while traders and households may cheer, the bigger question is whether the revenue math will hold up. Hot off the Press Sidhartha for The Times of India reported that the GST Council is expected to move all food and textile products into the 5 per cent slab. Cement, long burdened with a 28 per cent tax, could see a cut to 18 per cent—a demand pending for years from the construction sector. Levies on salons, beauty parlours and health insurance policies may also be slashed. The Times News Network also noted Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s push for “Swadeshi” in Ahmedabad, urging citizens to buy only

The governance of AI is increasingly being discussed, so not surprisingly, it was front and centre at the Tech In Gov conference.  Freelance technology journalist Chris Griffith told Influencing that it was the number one concern people had.  “We're seeing a transition from discussing generative AI to agentic AI, as it's called. Government departments, particularly those in customer service, are looking at implementing agents, which could make big changes in the workforce that we have.  “I was saying that people for ages have been wanting to understand how AI will change their workplace. I think looking at how agents will operate will give at least one perspective on that because it will be causing major automation in companies, private and public”. This year’s Tech In Gov was held at the National Convention Centre in Canberra and featured both an exhibition and a conference  “It was a fantastic event. In fact, it was the most successful Tech In Gov [the organisers

  Andrew Greene.   Today both Guardian Australia and The Australian cover the departure of the ABC’s embattled defence correspondent Andrew Greene who the outlets report has now left the national broadcaster.  The Australian’s Steve Jackson reported a week ago that Green had hired “one of the country’s leading law firms, Addisons, in a show of force that suggests he will not be leaving the ABC without a fight”. But on Monday afternoon, reported Jackson, Greene tendered his resignation to ABC management following a two-month investigation into the alleged scandal which revolved around accepting airfares to a defence contractor event. The story originally surfaced after the ABC’s very own Media Watch host Linton Besser accused Greene of accepting return business-class airfares to Europe and accommodation from international defence contractor ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems while covering a story about their German shipyards in June – but failing to disclose the arra

Got a great podcast idea that’s been bubbling away? Whether you’re an aspiring creator or an experienced podcaster, SBS Audio wants to hear from you. Submissions are now open for fresh and original podcast pitches across broad topics – from news and sport, language and culture, to First Nations, food, and beyond. SBS Podcast Commissioning Editor, Joel Supple, said: “Whether you’re a seasoned podcaster or picking up the mic for the first time, the award-winning SBS Audio podcast team is ready to nourish your budding ideas. Shortlisted entries will receive guidance and production support to help develop their podcast from pitch to publication.” This year, SBS Audio is particularly interested in pitches exploring ideas around the upcoming FIFA World Cup 2026™ and Indigenous languages. But all themes and genres – big or small – are welcome. Last year’s national call-out attracted more than 200 submissions, leading to series like Love without Limits, Fallout: Spies

  WFH, WIO, WTF? Who knew that just what we needed was another polarising culture war? Come over here Gender and Identity. Pick up your step Race and History. What’s keeping you Free Speech vs Hate Speech? Hey, Immigration vs Border Control, get a move on. I want you all to meet the new guy: Work from Home vs Work in the Office. And it’s all kicking off in Victoria, WFH ground zero. As Sumeyya Iianbey reports in the Australian Financial Review today, Reece chief executive Peter Wilson has branded Victoria “the toughest place in the country to do business,” arguing you can’t unleash creativity over Zoom. Ilanbey reports Wilson saying “his Cremorne HQ once buzzed with energy” but now “we have struggled to get people to come into the office, and so if you don’t do that, you aren’t going to unleash the innovation part of your strategy.”  Wilson is the latest CEO to brand Victoria an economic laggard, as banks and toll-road bosses lament a fragile recove

Hisense India has appointed Adfactors PR as its strategic communications partner. Through this collaboration, the Hisense Group aims to improve its market visibility and elevate the brand's credibility in India. Adfactors will focus on driving impactful and innovative media communications, while amplifying influencer engagement across India. It will also strengthen Hisense India’s thought leadership on global consumer electronics trends and smart technology integration, while highlighting the brand’s product innovations and category expansion initiatives. Hisense India CEO Pankaj Rana said, “The consumer electronics market in India is highly competitive, with demand growing steadily due to rising disposable incomes, increased internet penetration, a tech-savvy youth population, and an expanding middle-class. In this dynamic landscape, effective brand storytelling is essential. Partnering with Adfactors PR gives us the right partner to shape and share our story. With strategic