Morning and welcome to Monday. First off, because we all need a nice picture to lift our spirits on a Monday, The Australian Open starts today in Melbourne and there's plenty of coverage of that, including from the city's Herald Sun who have handy-with-the-racket local hopeful Alex de Minaur on the front page (picture by Mark Stewart), and inside too. Could he be the first Aussie man to win a singles title in 50 years, is the question the paper poses on page 1. We shall see... Now onto a grand slam of another kind - the PM takes a hit in the polls. Two easy exclusives on that today, and I say easy because The Australian and Nine both commissioned polls, so it's not like they went out and found those stories, the pollsters did - the journos just had to write them up. But let's be a bit more generous than that - the scribes do also pen some commentary and analysis around those polls results. At The Oz Geoff Chambers did the write-up o

A BSF officer was summoned by the Inspector General and directed to apologise after he allegedly assaulted The Assam Tribune journalist Raju Das at the BSF Umpling camp while reporters were covering a commotion related to the termination of a BSF jawan. The officer, whose identity has not been disclosed, reportedly hit Das with his mobile phone and attempted to grab a gun from another jawan, as per the reports. Shillong Press Club president Deimaia Siangshai raised the matter with the BSF IG and PRO, following which journalists in Shillong strongly condemned the incident, calling for a fear-free working environment. Image : ChatGPT

Renowned journalist and founding editor of the Assamese fortnightly Prantik, Pradip Baruah, passed away on Wednesday, January 14, following a cardiac arrest. He was 88. Pradip Baruah founded Prantikin 1981 and remained at its helm for over four decades, shaping it into one of Assam’s most respected and influential literary and cultural magazines. Under his leadership, the publication became a platform for serious journalism, literature, and intellectual debate. Over the years, Prantik played a crucial role in nurturing and encouraging generations of Assamese writers, poets, thinkers, and social commentators. Known for his fiercely independent editorial vision, Baruah was widely admired for upholding high editorial standards and for keeping the magazine free from commercial and political pressures. Speaking to the media after his demise, his daughter said, “My father was always independent. He never wanted to work under anyone. For him, Prantikwas like his child. We will do ever

Business Today has announced the jury for the 30th edition of the BT–KPMG Best Banks study in Mumbai, which will identify India’s top banking CEOs on Friday, January 16, 2026. The study recognises leadership in one of the country’s most challenging sectors, where decision-making, risk management and constant technological upgrades are crucial.  According to Media News 4U, the jury is chaired by Dinesh Kumar Khara, former Chairman of the State Bank of India.  Other members include G.N. Bajpai, Founder and Chairman of GovEva and former SEBI and LIC chief; Gunit Chadha, Founder of APAC Financial Services and former Deutsche Bank CEO; Zarin Daruwala, Group CEO of PL Capital and former Standard Chartered India and South Asia CEO; Ashima Goyal, Professor Emeritus at IGIDR; Ashish Chauhan, MD and CEO of NSE India; and Surojit Shome, former MD and CEO of DBS Bank India.  The BT India’s Best Banks Awards honour banking leaders who balance growth, inno

The District Magistrate of South Tripura, Muhammad Sajad P, recently held a meeting with journalists from across the district. During the meeting, various issues concerning the media fraternity were discussed, including the infrastructural development of press clubs and a proposal to allocate a new site for the Santirbazar Press Club. Following the meeting, journalists expressed optimism that their concerns would be addressed, Tripura Chronicle reported.

Image edited by Dinesh Raj M   Any journalist worth his or her salt would have a long file of defamation suits they have faced over their career. Some even consider it as a mark of honour for fearless reporting and, more often that not, these cases end up in a compromise after the initial showdown. In India, reporters and editors frequently face defamation lawsuits, often as a tactic to silence critical reporting, with cases involving public figures, corporations, and even police alleging harm to their reputation though legal defenses like "truth" and "fair comment" are crucial for journalists, who argue their work serves the public interest and should be protected, even if facts are "unpalatable". Though rare, there are certain situations when a journalist is forced to file a defamation suit to protect his or her reputation in this era of social media outpour when everyone with an opinion has a mouthful to offload. Last week, the Delhi High C

  A controversy has erupted after journalists were allegedly insulted and manhandled during a press conference attended by senior Cabinet Minister Kailash Vijayvargiya, NDTV reported. The incident occurred at a private hotel during an event linked to the Vikasit Bharat Rozgar Evam Aajeevika Mission Guarantee Scheme (VB‑JIRAMJI). Journalists present said tensions began even before the programme started, when the minister’s social media in‑charge, Lakshmi, allegedly created a dispute over seating arrangements. After the press conference concluded, reporters attempted to ask questions about the Bhojshala‑Kamal Maulana Mosque issue ahead of Basant Panchami (January 23) and the Congress’s Nyay Yatra. Vijayvargiya reportedly left the stage without responding. Soon after, journalists allege that his social media in‑charge and security staff misbehaved, used abusive language, and physically pushed some reporters. The incident sparked anger among media persons, wh