Welcome to Tuesday and you can take your pick this morning from 'surprise coup', 'sharks circle', 'resolute Ley', Battin down', 'vultures circling', 'Nat's all' and of course, 'killling season'. Yes there's a right old ding-dong across the Nationals and the Liberals as leadership rumours circle, err, like sharks or vultures.  Let's start with federal Liberal leader Sussan Ley who is digging her heels in and standing her ground as chief political commentator James Massola points out in The Age/SMH ('Vultures are circling but 'killing season' is unlikely to be Ley's final curtain'). He says in the final week of Parliament - yes pollies do have nice long holidays - "there is heightened speculation [not least from the media, it should be said...] she could face a leadership challenge." Those potential challengers are, of course, right-wingers Andrew Hastie and Angus Taylor. Now, if Ms Ley needs a plus - and oh boy does she - it is there in the Australian Financial Review and a

Journalists’ associations and media bodies across India marked National Press Day on Sunday, November 16, with a unified call to uphold credible journalism in the face of rising misinformation, fake news, and AI-generated content. In Assam, commemorations spanned multiple districts. At the DC Office Conference Hall in Dhubri, the event was jointly organised by the District Information and Public Relations Officer (DIPRO) and the district administration. Speakers included Additional District Commissioner Banti Talukdar, DIPRO Snigdha Rani Das, senior journalists Jyotirmoy Chakraborty and Bijoy Kumar Sharma, Dhubri Press Club president Rajib Sharma, secretary Nurul Amin, and Dhubri Journalists’ Association president Pranabshish Roy, The Sentinel Assam reported. Talukdar emphasised the dangers of unchecked information, noting that fake news often spreads without verification. She urged the media to uphold accuracy and safeguard public interest, reiterating the press’s role as th

Image source: NDTV, TOI and HT; Edited by Dinesh Raj M   JDU president Nitish Kumar, who gears up to take oath as Bihar chief minister for a record 10th time after decimating the Opposition, has also managed bring out the ongoing feud between Lalu Prasad's children in the open. In a day of high drama, all four daughters of the RJD patriarch walked out of their home accusing INDIA bloc's CM candidate Tejasvi Yadav and his associates of 'abusing' them. Their brother Tej Pratap Yadav, disowned by his father and ousted from the party last year, also spoke up against Rohini’s “humiliation”. Hot off the Press Lalu, his younger son and political heir Tejashwi, and other family members have maintained silence, an indication of the division and conflicted emotions within. The party too has kept mum. Some party leaders suggested that differences among the siblings have long been simmering as Tejashwi took firmer control of the party and leaned on a set of advisers loyal to him to r

The All Manipur Working Journalists’ Union (AMWJU) and the Editors’ Guild Manipur (EGM) strongly condemned the reported attempted abduction of Naharolgi Thoudang editor Khoiram Loyalakpa by unidentified armed individuals near Mantripukhri, United News of India reported In a joint statement issued from Imphal, both organisations called the incident a direct assault on press freedom and said it posed a grave threat to the safety and security of journalists performing their duties. Both the orgisantion bodies have urged the Manipur Police and other relevant authorities to immediately launch a thorough investigation, identify those responsible and take swift legal action to ensure justice.

Writer and journalist G. Ramakrishna recently received a special annual award from the Betageri Krishna Sharma Trust. The honour was also presented to B. T. Jahnavi, a prominent Kannada writer and H. S. Shivaprakash, a leading poet and playwright. Speaking during the occasion Ramakrishna urged young people to strengthen their critical thinking and scientific temper, warning against the growing spread of misinformation across media platforms, The Hindu quoted. At the event, Basavaraj Kattimani Trust Chairperson Yallappa Himmadi urged the youth to produce literature that raises critical questions about social and economic issues. He said progressive and secular values must be practised, not just discussed. The Trust also presented awards to K. Akshata, Wilson Kateel, Manikanth Godimani, Santosh Naik, Pralhad D. M., Manjula G. H., Shivaraj Arali, Sri Mudradi, Sri Vidya and Arif Raja.

Veteran journalist and former president of the Chandigarh Press Club, Nalin Acharya, passed away on Sunday after a prolonged illness, News Arena India reported. Former Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal expressed his grief on X, saying, “Deeply saddened to learn about the passing of senior journalist Nalin Acharya, former President of the Chandigarh Press Club. His unwavering commitment to journalism and tireless service to the press community will always be remembered. My heartfelt condolences to his family, colleagues and loved ones during this profound time of grief. May his soul rest in peace.” Senior journalist Taruni Gandhi also expressed sadness over Acharya’s passing and wrote, “We have lost our gem, Nalin Acharya ji, to cancer. He was truly a fighter, a wonderful human being and a fine journalist. He was former President of the Press Club, Chandigarh.” His last rites were performed at the crematorium in Sector 25, Chandigarh.

On November 16, India observed its 59th National Press Day, a day that marks the establishment of the Press Council of India in 1966 under the Indian Press Council Act, 1965, and celebrates the essential role of a free and responsible press in society. The media, often referred to as the fourth pillar of democracy, plays a crucial role in shaping public opinion, driving development and holding power to account. As a powerful tool for progress, it is vital that the press remains free from bias and continues to uphold its duty to inform and educate the masses. For decades, the media has been at the forefront, safeguarding the interests of millions and fostering transparency. National Press Day also reflects on the roots of India’s press freedom. The Indian Press Council Act, 1965, which first established the PCI, was repealed in 1975. A new Act was enacted thereafter, and the PCI was reconstituted in 1979 as an independent body tasked with preserving press freedom and ensuring high