The proposed India CTV & FAST Council (ICFC) has invited organisations across India’s Connected TV (CTV) and Free Ad-Supported Streaming TV (FAST) ecosystem to become founding members and help shape its priorities and governance. The Expression of Interest (EOI), open until October 31, 2026, follows an industry roundtable convened by Runn Media Labs, the company behind RunnTV, in September. Participants included JioStar, Zee, Shemaroo, Magnite and The Trade Desk. ICFC aims to promote transparent advertising, trusted audience measurement, fraud prevention, common standards and fair distribution. The initiative welcomes broadcasters, platforms, advertisers, agencies and technology providers. Submitting an EOI involves no financial or membership commitment.    

Trust tax overhaul sparks $40b fight with business and the Greens Labor’s plan to impose a minimum 30 per cent tax on discretionary trusts is forecast to raise more than $40 billion over a decade, but accountants and business groups warn of costly restructuring and compliance headaches. The Greens are pushing on exemptions (including charities), while NSW moves to waive stamp duty for trust restructures—showing how quickly the federal proposal is rippling through state budgets and household planning. Covered by: Sydney Morning Herald, Australian Financial Review, The Australian. Senate torpedoes $3b aged-care funding plan tied to private health rebates Labor’s bid to cut private health insurance rebates for over-65s—intended to free up $3 billion for aged care—was sunk after the Coalition and Greens combined with crossbench support to discharge the bill. Health Minister Mark Butler has vowed to bring it back, setting up a fresh parliamentary brawl over

Wednesday, 14 October 2026 #1  ·  Front Page / Times Nation  ·  Ground report Pjb anti-drugs activist shot dead on live cam By Neel Kamal   ·   The Times of India, New Delhi  ·  Page Page 1, continued Page 16 Anti-drug activist Parminder Singh Jhota, 45, was shot dead in broad daylight in Mansa, Punjab, while livestreaming a confrontation with chemist Ashwani Kumar whom he accused of selling synthetic drugs. Kumar fired multiple times, hitting Jhota and four bystanders; Jhota died of three bullet wounds. The killing triggered a complete business shutdown in Mansa, political backlash against the AAP government, and Jhota's father — a former Army man — refused to cremate the body until the accused was caught. Kamal reconstructs the killing with precise chronology drawn from CCTV, Facebook live footage, named witnesses and hospital sources, and situates it within Punjab's chronic drug crisis and

The Press Club of India (PCI) held a silent protest march around its premises in New Delhi on Tuesday, October 13, condemning the alleged police brutality and detention of journalists covering CJP protests on October 10. More than a hundred journalists participated.  At the meeting held before the event, senior media professionals condemned the assault and detention of their colleagues covering the protests and called for accountability and respect for press freedom. They said attacks on journalists performing their professional duties undermined their right to report freely and fearlessly. Suhasini Haider, diplomatic affairs editor of The Hindu, condemned the attacks and stressed the need for solidarity within the media fraternity. She said every journalist working on the ground should feel that their colleagues had their back, adding that the issue was also about their right to livelihood. Shoaib Daniyal, political editor at Scroll, recounted his experience at the meeting.

YouTube is updating its Shorts recommendation system to prioritise original content and reduce the reach of videos re-uploaded from other creators without meaningful additions. The change could have implications for news organisations and independent journalists who rely on short-form videos to distribute news and reach new audiences. In an October 1, 2026, announcement, YouTube said channels primarily aggregating or re-uploading other creators’ videos without significant changes would likely see less distribution in the Shorts feed. It encouraged creators to add original commentary, distinctive editing or storytelling rather than making minor technical changes to existing videos. For newsrooms, where multiple outlets often report on the same developments and use similar footage, the shift raises questions about how journalists can distinguish their content and maintain visibility on a platform increasingly emphasising originality. Aman Chhikara, Deputy Manager (YouTube) at

Veteran media executive Ishita Chauhan has launched Cultural (Mis)fits (CMF), a culture company aimed at supporting artists, creators and communities shaping India’s alternative creative scene. Announced in New Delhi on October 8, the company will focus on developing talent, creating cultural intellectual property, producing content and organising live experiences. It also aims to connect emerging artists and cultural communities with brands, audiences and global opportunities. CMF’s initial roster includes Rushil Ranjan, Abi Sampa, Eshna Kutty, Gopal Datt Tewari, Aakash Odedra and Nirvair Rai. It will also work with The Orchestral Qawwali Project, Songs of Bulbul, Jupiter Pe Juice and its own music property, Ruhbaru. Chauhan said the idea grew from her experience of being a misfit and questioning conventional ideas. With more than 20 years of experience across media, brands, content and culture, she wants to create opportunities for talent that may not fit mainstream