$53b defence boost — but the numbers are under fire The Albanese government is flagging an extra $53 billion for defence over the next decade, arguing it will lift spending to 3% of GDP by 2033 under a revised NATO-style accounting method. Several papers question whether the uplift is real (or repackaged) and whether off-budget borrowing and private-sector financing masks the true fiscal and capability position at a time of heightened strategic risk. Covered by: Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, Australian Financial Review, The Australian, The Australian. Fuel security anxiety deepens as states move to go it alone NSW is weighing an emergency diesel stockpile as the fuel crunch bites the trucking sector, with the Daily Telegraph framing it as a state-led challenge to Canberra’s national fuel-security approach. The Australian adds pressure by highlighting Australia’s low oil production and growing import dependence as conflict-driven shocks threaten prices and suppl

Around 150 journalists gathered at the Guwahati Press Club to protest alleged attacks on the media during the recent Assam Assembly elections. They resolved to escalate the matter to the highest authorities. At the meeting, journalists decided to submit memorandums to President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and the Election Commission of India. Participants expressed concern over remarks attributed to Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who reportedly said he would “politically and intellectually” finish two media groups if re‑elected. They also referred to an alleged attack on the North Lakhimpur office of Asomiya Pratidin, which took place hours after polling ended on April 9. Journalists described these incidents as signs of growing threats to press freedom and called for urgent safeguards, especially during elections. They demanded the formation of an independent media commission with retired judges, legal experts, and civil society members to address

Journalist Deepak Soni, editor of the monthly magazine Swarn Mangalam, died after sustaining critical injuries in a road accident on Friday. His family alleged that delays in arranging an ambulance contributed to his death. Soni was on his way to an agricultural fair when the accident occurred. He was first taken to the District Hospital, but his family said no ambulance was available for nearly two to three hours. They eventually arranged a private vehicle to shift him to Bhopal, where he later succumbed to his injuries. Family members claimed ambulances at the hospital had been diverted for “VIP duties” linked to an agricultural event attended by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, and Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, NDTV reported. The incident has once again highlighted the lack of timely emergency support, especially for media professionals working in high‑risk environments. Last month, Influencing reported on similar gaps, noting

Image of the Day Rajaji National Park now a quick getaway Pankul Sharma for The Times of India reported that with the operationalisation of the Delhi-Dehradun economic corridor on Tuesday and travel time significantly reduced to around 2.5 to 3 hours, as claimed by the govt, the Rajaji National Park’s Mohand range in Uttarakhand is poised to become one of the nearest major wildlife escape destinations for Delhi residents keen on spotting tigers and elephants in the open. It could also emerge as an alternative to Corbett Tiger Reserve and Sariska, experts said. Mohand, which lies on the expressway route, is considered by experts as an area teeming with wildlife, which offers a high chance of seeing herds of Asian elephants, leopards and occasionally tigers. "Besides the abundance of wildlife, Mohand is closer to Dehradun and Mussoorie, which offer a wide range of staying options, giving it an edge over other forest zones," said Dhananjai Mohan, former head of forest force, Uttar

Cheek Media Co is looking to strengthen its commercial side, with CEO Hannah Ferguson saying a new partnerships manager will be key to helping the progressive media outlet grow without losing sight of its values.       After seeing Cheek Media Co was advertising for someone “to help take our indie media company to the next level”, Influencing contacted Ferguson to find out more about the role and Cheek’s future plans. “The most important thing for us, as we build our team, is creating a work culture that embodies our values,” she says. “The right person will need to bring in commercial skills and partnerships experience, but the right attitude and values alignment is equally important for us.” Ferguson stresses a lack of extensive experience shouldn’t stop anyone from applying. “We aren't just looking for someone who is a certain number of years into their career, or has a long list of professional experi

The Free Press Journal, in association with Care Edge, organised a jury meeting to shortlist companies for the India’s Best Annual Report Awards 2025. The awards are in their fourth year, with a structured evaluation framework developed alongside Care Edge now in its third year. The jury was led by former SEBI Chairman M. Damodaran and included senior industry leaders such as P. D. Singh of Standard Chartered Bank (India), Abizer Diwanji of NeoStrat & Advisors LLP, Seshagiri Rao MVS of JSW Group, Vishakha Mulye of Aditya Birla Capital, R. Mukundan of Tata Chemicals, and Padmini Khare of B. K. Khare & Co. According to a LinkedIn post, the panel held detailed discussions to review methodology and parameters. The process involved thorough analysis and debate to ensure fairness, credibility, and consistency. Annual reports of top listed companies were assessed across ten sectors, including capital markets, defence and aerospace, electrical equipment, IT/ITeS, manufacturi

Image Edited by Dinesh Raj M   There is a peculiar irony baked into every cash-for-votes scandal: the person who gets threatened is rarely the one who took the money. In Palakkad this week, MediaOne reporter Sajid Ajmal published footage showing a BJP candidate's associate allegedly distributing cash to voters during the silent campaign period. His reward? Police protection, after the Kerala DGP received intelligence flagging threats from BJP-RSS circles against him. Let that sink in for a moment. A journalist does his job, films evidence, verifies it, publishes it, and the machinery that swings into motion isn't aimed at the accused. It's aimed at the journalist holding the camera. This is not an accident. It is a playbook. The threats against Ajmal are textbook influence suppression: make the cost of reporting so viscerally personal that the next reporter hesitates before pressing record. Welfare Party state president Razak Paleri called for public vigilance