Thursday, 2 July 2026 #1  ·  Times Nation  ·  In-depth feature 100 days on, less than 1% of Bengal SIR cases have been disposed By Debashis Konar, Srishti Lakhotia   ·   The Times of India, New Delhi  ·  Page 6 West Bengal's 19 Special Investigation of Rolls (SIR) tribunals have disposed of only around 30,000 of 33 lakh pending appeals in 100 days since becoming operational — less than 1%. At the current pace, clearing the backlog would take over 25 years. The report also details resignations by senior judges, the absence of online tracking infrastructure, and the cascading human consequences including a young Agniveer aspirant temporarily denied police clearance due to SIR deletions. The story combines hard data, institutional accountability, and a concrete human-impact case (the Agniveer aspirant) to illustrate systemic failure across judiciary, state administration and Election Commission — a

The Journalists' Development Union of Tripura (JDUT) has condemned remarks allegedly made by Tripura BJP IT Cell In-Charge Chandan Debnath against the state's media, after he reportedly referred to journalists as "Jan-Shatru" (enemy of the people). The remarks have triggered outrage among journalists across the state, with JDUT demanding a public apology and warning of a democratic protest if Debnath fails to comply. The controversy stems from the Tripura government's recent decision to bar senior doctors from private practice. On Tuesday, the resulting rush of patients to GBP Hospital and Agartala Government Medical College (AGMC) led to overcrowding, straining the hospitals' limited infrastructure, a situation several news organisations covered. Speaking to Influencing, JDUT Secretary Raju Bhowmik said, "Following the decision to prohibit private practice by senior doctors, patients who earlier visited them at private clinics were seen flocking to government hospitals, leading to

Vashi Integrated Solutions has appointed Pitchfork Partners Strategic Consulting as its strategic communications partner.  The mandate includes corporate communications, media engagement, and brand visibility initiatives aimed at strengthening Vashi's market presence and supporting its next phase of growth. The partnership will focus on building a stronger corporate narrative around the company's scale, innovation, and long-term vision.

Omnicom Media Group has won Adidas' global media mandate, valued at an estimated $512 million, ending WPP's eight-year association with the account.  According to sources, the mandate covers full-funnel media planning and buying, consumer insights, and measurement across global markets. According to reports, the business will be led by PHD within Omnicom Media Group.  The win comes as Adidas increases its marketing investments ahead of major events such as the FIFA World Cup 2026. Neither Adidas nor Omnicom has officially commented on the appointment.

ICAC widens probe into alleged Liberal donations scandal NSW ICAC has confirmed an eight-week public inquiry (Operation Rosny) into alleged illegal political donations linked to fugitive developer Jean Nassif, drawing in Liberal Party figures, Strathfield councillors and Catholic Schools NSW. The story lands as a high-stakes integrity test for the NSW opposition and the broader political fundraising ecosystem, with different papers emphasising either the institutional scope or the party fallout. Covered by: Sydney Morning Herald, Daily Telegraph. Housing turns: tax changes blamed as prices and investor loans slide National property prices are falling sharply, with competing narratives emerging: the PM is framing it as a win for first-home buyers, while the RBA and economists warn investor lending is dropping fast and the market could cool harder than expected. It’s a politically charged cost-of-living story because it pits affordability against household wealth, construction activ

Newspaper distributors ensure papers reach millions of homes every morning, rain or shine. Yet, they remain invisible to the government.  In an effort to raise awareness on this blatant neglect of a vital workforce, on July 1, which also marks Kannada Press Day, newspaper distributors in the state have launched the Newspaper Distributors Charitable Trust in Bengaluru, renewing calls for long-overdue recognition and welfare measures for those who form the last mile of the print media industry. K.V. Prabhakar, media advisor to the former Chief Minister, at Majestic, inaugurated the trust. It aims to support thousands of distributors and their families across Karnataka through financial, educational and emergency assistance. Addressing the gathering, Prabhakar called newspaper distributors "the oxygen to the nerves of print media organisations." "Their service of delivering newspapers to people's doorsteps every day, irrespective of rain, cold or scorching heat, is highly commenda

Wednesday, 1 July 2026 #1  ·  Times City / National  ·  Data story 45% of homes will need electrical upgrades to charge EVs: Study By Atul Mathur, Dipak Dash   ·   The Times of India (New Delhi Edition, July 1, 2026)  ·  Page 10 A study by the Alliance for an Energy Efficient Economy and Kazam, drawing on data from over 80,000 residential EV charger installations across tier-I, II and III cities, finds that nearly 45% of Indian homes require electrical infrastructure upgrades before they can safely support EV charging. The research identifies legacy wiring, absent dedicated parking, fire-hazard liability gaps and high retrofitting costs as structural barriers, and is published against the backdrop of Delhi's new EV policy mandating electric-only two-wheelers from April 2028. Policymakers privately acknowledge that EV batteries typically need replacement within 7–8 years, adding further cost consideratio