When veteran journalist Kumar Kadam began travelling across Maharashtra in 2005, he was racing against time. Many of the activists, journalists and ordinary citizens who had participated in the Samyukta Maharashtra movement were growing old, and Kadam feared their memories would disappear with them if no one recorded their stories. Two decades later, that effort has received official recognition. On Wednesday, Maharashtra Cultural Affairs Minister Ashish Shelar informed the Assembly that the state government would acquire Kadam's archive comprising 150 rare photographs, 35 interviews and several historical documents related to the Samyukta Maharashtra movement. The collection was examined by a government-appointed committee before the decision was taken, The Print reported. Describing the movement as one of post-Independence India's most significant mass movements, Shelar said the archive would help preserve the history of the struggle that culminated in the formation of Maharash

In front of police personnel, with cameras rolling, Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Dina Patil turned on the reporters questioning him. "Why are you asking again and again?" he said. "If you come for a reaction again, I will beat you. I am saying this in front of the police and camera." The outburst, captured on Thursday, set off protests by journalists' associations across Mumbai and Thane and, by the end of the day, a press boycott of Patil himself. Patil, the Mumbai North-East MP, was among the six Lok Sabha members who recently crossed from the Shiv Sena (UBT) to the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena. He had been answering questions calmly about his defection until reporters asked about his daughter, corporator Rajul Patil, who has publicly chosen to stay with the Uddhav Thackeray faction. That is when he lost his temper, hurled expletives and issued the threat on camera. Ganesh Thorat, a reporter with TV9, who was part of the group outside Patil's residence, told Influencing, "He was calmly

  Friday, 26 June 2026 The Times of India #1  ·  Times City  ·  Breaking news Digital arrest scam: CBI teams raid 80 locations in 16 states, arrest key agents By Vibha Sharma   ·   The Times of India  ·  Page 2 CBI launched Operation Chakra-VI after scammers created a fraudulent web portal mirroring the Supreme Court of India's official site, with 60 special teams executing coordinated searches across more than 80 locations in 16 states. Two key operatives who laundered nearly Rs 2 crore through shell companies and mule bank accounts have been arrested, and investigators found evidence the network victimised foreigners, prompting alerts to international law enforcement. The targeted syndicate is allegedly linked to over 200 digital arrest scam cases nationwide. The story distinguishes itself by explaining the technical and psychological architecture of the scam in granular detail — AI-generated

Karl Stefanovic has officially departed Nine and the Today Show following the controversy over his interview with far-right British activist Tommy Robinson. A statement released by Nine this morning said: “Nine Entertainment and Karl Stefanovic have agreed that it is no longer possible for him to continue hosting Today at the same time as his independent podcast”. “While Karl and Nine had previously agreed he would leave Today at the end of this year, they have subsequently decided he will leave the Network immediately.”  Meanwhile, the Sydney Morning Herald’s Bevan Shields revealed that an email sent to staff on Friday by Nine chief executive Matt Stanton said it was “the right time for Karl to move on from the Today show and Nine”. “Karl has been a fixture on our screens for over two decades, so we know this is a significant change for our viewers and all of us here at Nine, however it’s the right time to make it,&rdqu

Labor ditches ‘widow tax’ as budget backflips blow a $1b hole The Albanese government has reversed course on the so-called “widow tax”, signalling further budget changes as it negotiates a difficult parliamentary path for its broader tax agenda. The AFR warns the cumulative backdowns leave a $1 billion gap and could compound fiscal pressure if major NDIS reforms slip, underscoring how political compromise is reshaping the budget’s credibility and priorities. Covered by: Australian Financial Review, Australian Financial Review, The West Australian. Indigenous Voice push reignites as unions break with PM The ACTU is urging Labor to “try again” on an Indigenous Voice-style body, reopening a politically fraught debate after the referendum defeat and highlighting pressure on the government from within its broader progressive base. The union movement is also pushing for an Australia Day date change, sharpening the culture-war edge and raising questions about Labor’s appeti

The Chennai Press Club (CPC) has alleged that a small group of individuals is attempting to disrupt its functioning and undermine its democratically elected administration. In a series of statements, the organisation said the December 2024 elections restored democratic governance after nearly 25 years, reflecting journalists’ collective push for transparency and accountability. Since then, the current office‑bearers have worked to strengthen the institution and advance journalists’ welfare. According to the CPC, certain individuals have been spreading misinformation, filing complaints, and creating confusion among members in an effort to weaken the elected leadership. The club claimed these actions challenge the democratic mandate given by journalists. It also referred to a protest held on June 21, 2026, stating that it lacked support from the wider journalist community and did not represent the majority’s views. Concerns were also raised over a tree‑planting

The Chennai Press Club (CPC) organised a felicitation ceremony on June 20 to honour the children of journalists who excelled in the Class 10 and Class 12 board examinations. The event was held at the Press Club premises. Educationist Prince Gajendra Babu, attending as chief guest, congratulated the students on their achievements and encouraged them to pursue their goals with dedication while contributing positively to society. Awardees were recognised across State Board and CBSE categories: Class 10 (State Board): 1st: Z. Asim, son of H. Zakir Hussain (Fire Line News) 2nd: A. Mithra Sri, daughter of R. Anand (Nutruku Nooru) 3rd: V.A. Dhanya Sri, daughter of M. Veeraraghavalu (Dinakaran) Class 10 (CBSE): 1st: J.K. Nikesh Kumar, son of S.J. Kandiban (4D People News) 2nd: R.V. Kanishkar, son of M. Rajaguru (Dinamalar) 3rd: A. Farhan Shah, son of Abdul Hameed (CNN‑News18) Class 12 (State Board): 1st: S. Priya Mithra, daughter of M. Sury