Image source: TOI and HT; Edited by Dinesh Raj M   The Supreme Court on Wednesday emphatically asserted the Election Commission is statutorily and constitutionally empowered to conduct the pan-India Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and that it would not stall the process, while assuring that it would order corrective measures, if any irregularities were brought to its notice. Hot off the Press Rejecting arguments questioning the justification of SIR, CJI Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi pointed out that not a single objection was filed against the updation of electoral rolls after the process was fine-tuned at the apex court’s instance, reported Dhananjay Mahapatra for The Times of India. The Election Commission of India (ECI) also expressed confidence that it can conduct the special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Kerala in the midst of local body elections, telling the Supreme Court on Wednesday (November 26, 2025) that there

  A journalist from Bihar has triggered widespread criticism after claiming that “gay marriages” cause earthquakes, a remark that has gone viral and become the subject of ridicule online. The comments were made by Kanhaiya Bhelari during a discussion on a show hosted by Lallantop, Mathrubhumi reported. During the programme, Bhelari insisted on his claim even as the host attempted to explain the scientific reasons behind earthquakes. His refusal to acknowledge basic geological facts drew sharp reactions from viewers, many of whom called the statement illogical and insensitive. The remark has since sparked debate across social media platforms, with several users questioning the responsibility and reasoning expected from journalists. This is not the first time Bhelari has courted controversy. Only days earlier, he faced criticism for suggesting that married daughters should stay away from their parents’ homes, a comment made while referring to Rohini Acharya, daughter of RJD

It’s not everyday the news is about the news, but that’s what happened this week as Sydney Morning Herald editor Bevan Shields announced he was stepping aside to focus on his health and wellbeing, as well as the next chapter in his career. He will return to the Herald’s newsroom in 2026 in a senior writing role. Shields, a former federal editor for both the Herald and The Age, informed staff on Tuesday afternoon, saying the job had been the honour of his life. Shields will be replaced by Jordan Baker.  The story has been widely covered across the media but the first to suggest something was about to happen came from The Australian’s media writer James Madden who wrote on Sunday evening - two days before the official announcement - that, “Bevan “Sheffield” Shields will next week mark four years as editor of The Sydney Morning Herald. The smart money says that he won’t reach the milestone of five.” Anyone reading Madden&rsq

  The Editors Guild of India has elected journalist Sanjay Kapoor as its new president, with Raghavan Srinivasan as general secretary and Teresa Rehman as treasurer for the year. All three were elected unopposed after no alternate nominations were filed, giving the incoming team a clear mandate at a time when the media industry is grappling with political pressures, technological disruption, and declining job security. Kapoor said the role offers “an opportunity to continue serving a profession I have been connected with for many years,” and described joining the Guild’s leadership as “not merely a symbolic responsibility but a renewed call to engage more deeply with the challenges confronting journalists today.” He added that the Guild remains “a vital space where concerns can be articulated collectively and addressed with clarity.” Reflecting on the changing media landscape, Kapoor said journalism today faces pressure from several d

News Corp Australia has launched a licence agreement to give corporate Australia new confidence to download, share and copy content from across the publisher’s professional and extensive news, information and entertainment network, helping reduce the significant legal and financial risk copyright infringement poses.  The new product, the Corporate Copyright Licence, is a straightforward licence available for companies to cover staff downloading and sharing of News Corp Australia content as well as the right to post copyrighted material externally to digital platforms, including web and social and client emails.   Importantly, given the rise of Artificial Intelligence, the licence also caters for copyrighted content to be used as a prompt in AI tools as well as delivering predictable value and ease-of-compliance. News Corp Australia’s Managing Director, Tech Platform Partnerships Nicholas Gray said many businesses do not comprehend the importance of having the right safeguar

Morning and welcome to Thursday. The Murdoch papers go big this morning on the latest inflation figures - they're up, surprise, surprise - and The Australian leads the way ('The Christmas grimace: CPI, rates tracking north') and focuses on Treasurer Jim Chalmers with a strip of what you might well call grimaces and a nicely designed story complete with The Oz's super graphic style too, that split into two columns - 'The Boast', and 'The Reality', with our man Chalmers looking downcast in the middle. The main front page story there by economics correspondent Matthew Cranston, with Geoff Chambers inside who reckons the 'inflation dragon' "threatens to torch Labor's economic agenda". We'll see, but certainly the cost of living crisis marches on and with the possiblity of interest rate rises, not falls, in the new year, few will be happy, and that includes Mr Chalmers.  The Australian Financial Review ba

Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang on Tuesday, 25 November, urged the state’s journalists to remain an alert and impartial “Third Eye”, stating that his government welcomed fair criticism. He spoke at the National Press Day programme in Gangtok, which was postponed by nine days at his request so he could meet the journalists personally. Expressing his gratitude, Tamang said he valued the media’s constant presence and its role in shaping public understanding. He added that journalists are vital in countering misinformation and highlighting issues affecting the youth, urging them to challenge false narratives, drug abuse, and other social concerns. Tamang said his participation reflected the government’s respect for the press and acknowledged that the administration still had areas to improve. “We are committed to transparency and accountability,” he said. He noted that while journalism in Sikkim operates with greater freedom and mutual respect, challenges such as fa