India’s media and entertainment (M&E) industry has bounced back from slower growth, expanding by 9 per cent in 2025 to reach 2.78 lakh crore, according to Information and Broadcasting Secretary Chanchal Kumar. Speaking at the CII Big Picture Summit in Mumbai, Kumar highlighted India’s large domestic market, cultural diversity, storytelling traditions and young creative workforce as strengths in an evolving global media industry. He called for greater investment in intellectual property, sustainable revenue models and financial discipline to support the sector’s long-term expansion. Kumar also highlighted the government’s efforts to create an environment where creative businesses can scale and compete internationally. He pointed to the WAVES platform as an initiative connecting Indian creative industries with global markets, with its next edition scheduled for Mumbai in October 2027. The growth comes as digital consumption, creator-led content and live

Inflation shock puts a Cup Day rate rise back on the table A hotter-than-expected inflation read (4.3 per cent) has markets and economists bracing for another Reserve Bank hike, potentially as soon as Melbourne Cup Day, with talk of the cash rate pushing above 5 per cent. Beyond household mortgage stress, the political sting is growing: Treasurer Jim Chalmers is being pressed to find spending restraint and is also facing scrutiny over who is to blame for persistent price pressures. Covered by: Australian Financial Review, Australian Financial Review, Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, The Australian, The Advertiser, Herald Sun, Daily Telegraph, The West Australian. Albanese under fire over Marrickville golf club grant: “Come clean” demands The Prime Minister is facing escalating pressure over a $6 million funding decision linked to Marrickville Golf Club, with the Opposition accusing Anthony Albanese and Minister Catherine King of misleading parliament about whether sewera

Journalist Siddique Kappan has said his two bank accounts remain frozen as he awaits a Supreme Court hearing on November 2 on his plea for the release of his passport for renewal. “My two bank accounts are frozen. And my passport is already expired in 2021,” Kappan told Influencing India. He said his salary account with the State Bank of India in New Delhi was also frozen and confirmed that he had sought relief for the account through the same plea. Asked whether he expected to get his passport back at the next hearing, Kappan said, “Yes, sure, sure, sure.” He clarified that he was seeking the passport only for renewal. The Supreme Court on October 27 deferred the hearing on his application after the Uttar Pradesh government sought time to obtain instructions. The matter will now be heard on November 2. Notably, Kappan's passport was deposited with investigating authorities as part of the Supreme Court's bail conditions in the Hathras conspiracy c

Fifteen days after seeking an urgent meeting with the Centre and Delhi Police over the alleged harassment and detention of digital and independent journalists at Jantar Mantar, DIGIPUB News India Foundation is awaiting a response and exploring legal options. “We are waiting for a response to the meeting request. However, we are also looking at the legal aspect,” Dhanya Rajendran, co-founder and Editor-in-Chief of The News Minute and founding chairperson of DIGIPUB News India Foundation, told Influencing India. In a letter dated October 12, addressed to Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and the Delhi Police Commissioner, the foundation sought an urgent meeting to raise concerns over the treatment of journalists covering events at the protest site. Protests at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar over alleged irregularities in the Election Commission’s voter roll revision sparked tensions with police. Notably, as many as 37 digital and independent

Wednesday, 28 October 2026 #1  ·  National/Business  ·  Breaking news / In-depth feature Govt identifies 120 items for local production push By Sidhartha   ·   The Times of India, New Delhi  ·  Page Page 17 The government, driven by DPIIT, has identified around 120 products including chemicals, pharma inputs, medical technology, machine tools, aerospace MRO items, and consumer goods for domestic manufacturing support, with three types of intervention planned: short-term protection from Chinese competition, cost-disability incentives, and R&D assistance. The move is part of the Atmanirbhar Bharat strategy, given renewed urgency by the West Asia crisis and China's restrictions on tunnel boring machine shipments. Sources familiar with discussions told TOI the plan aims to replicate the mobile phone manufacturing model across a broader swathe of strategic sectors. Sourced from persons familiar with internal

Technology-focused outfit TechDay has appointed Mara Sugue as its new news editor, following the departure of former editor Mark Tarre last month.  Sugue said her aim was to “bring that human connection back to the work we do.”  “It might sound old-fashioned, but TechDay is about human-powered stories. We want a human behind every story we publish, because that is one of our biggest strengths. It helps us make sure our coverage stays relevant and genuinely matters to the people reading it,” she told Influencing.  “My role is also about bringing that human eye to the news selection process. With so much content being published every day, good stories can easily get lost in the noise. Having someone who recognises their value and gives them the attention they deserve is important.”  Sugue’s role as news editor will see her filter through press releases and news coverage while also managing day-to-day tasks.  She said

Albanese retreats on Marrickville Golf Club grant claim Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has conceded he was wrong to describe a $6 million Marrickville Golf Club grant as being for sewage works, after departmental evidence contradicted the line. The backdown sharpens scrutiny on ministerial accuracy in parliament and gives the opposition ammunition on integrity and accountability. Covered by: Daily Telegraph, The Australian. Taxpayer-funded “advice to pedophiles” ignites child-safety fight The federal government is defending a publicly funded website that critics say downplays guilt for people with sexual fantasies about minors, triggering a fierce Coalition attack over child-protection priorities. The controversy lands amid heightened community concern about online harms and the boundaries of prevention messaging versus perceived normalisation. Covered by: The Australian. Victoria’s Big Build hit with fresh fraud and misconduct allegations New federal data show