Joe Aston has reduced his stake in Rampart to 92 per cent Joe Aston’s Rampart could be valued close to $30 million after it took on five new investors in a $2.3 million transaction. The deal comes just 18 months into the media start-ups journey, with the former Australian Financial Review Rear Window columnist Aston launching the masthead in early 2025. The new investors include the former CEO of Nine Entertainment David Gyngell and long-time Packer family financial adviser Ashok Jacob. Aston said Rampart “didn’t need external capital to continue on its already steep trajectory as one of Australia’s fastest growing media brands”, however the investment received would allow it to be “turbocharge investment in Rampart’s journalism”. “I look forward to sharing our plans for that investment very soon, but broadly speaking it will mean new hires; new editorial verticals, events and podcasts; and improved technology – all congruous with our vision of producing deep

AFL concussion clause sparks integrity and duty-of-care storm Geelong has been forced to abandon a secret agreement that attempted to shift concussion-related legal liability onto a player, triggering condemnation from the AFLPA and alarm from medical and football figures. The episode intensifies scrutiny of how clubs manage head-injury risk and raises pressure on the AFL to disclose what it knew and tighten governance around player welfare. Covered by: Herald Sun, The Australian, The Age, The Advertiser. US “support framework” at HMAS Stirling reignites base debate The US has established a new military support framework at HMAS Stirling in WA, with about 2300 Americans involved to sustain ongoing submarine operations—despite government denials it amounts to a US base. The development is politically sensitive as Australia balances AUKUS-era deterrence planning with sovereignty concerns and public transparency about the scale of US presence. Covered by: The Austr

It's Cam Wilson's job to know AI inside and out. That means testing every tool and service he can get his hands on, but AI never bleeds into his reporting. ABC AI Reporter Wilson said, “I absolutely don't use AI to do any of my reporting, but the most useful thing I've found with AI is to vibecode personal scripts/GUIs/web apps. I'm not a coder, and I think software is the place that AI has proven itself most so far”, while conducting an AMA on r/Australia.    In a separate question, he added his job depended on his instincts and believes that AI isn’t better than his abilities to listen and communicate with real people.  “I wouldn’t want to give up those skills because they’re my craft”.  Wilson said that currently he was most interested in covering AI stories happening in real time, about real things affecting people.  During his AMA appearance, Wilson discussed various AI topics includin

The Government of India has strengthened online safety regulations by introducing stricter timelines for social media platforms and other intermediaries to remove child sexual abuse material (CSAM), deepfakes and other unlawful content. Under the amended Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, platforms must remove unlawful content within three hours of receiving a court order or a government direction, down from the earlier 36-hour timeline. Content involving nudity or morphed intimate images must be removed within two hours of a complaint. The government has also directed platforms to label AI-generated content, deploy technical measures to detect and prevent harmful synthetic content, and strengthen compliance with due diligence obligations. It said intermediaries that fail to comply with the rules could lose their safe harbour protection under the Information Technology Act and face legal action.

Liqvd Asia has secured the digital communications mandate for Narayana Health. The agency announced the partnership on LinkedIn, stating that it will support the healthcare provider's communication strategy. Founded in 2000, Narayana Health has grown into one of India's largest hospital groups, operating 55 healthcare facilities across the country and maintaining an international presence in the Cayman Islands. Liqvd Asia said it looks forward to shaping the healthcare brand's communications with a focus on clarity and responsibility.

The South Asian Journalists Association (SAJA) has invited submissions for its 2026 journalism awards, recognising outstanding work by South Asian journalists and journalism covering South Asian issues worldwide. This year's awards feature categories including general excellence, international, arts, culture & lifestyle, business, investigative (in honour of Daniel Pearl), student, and a new documentary-short category. Entries will be accepted until 11:59 p.m. ET on September 1, 2026. Journalists can submit their work through the SAJA website.  

Four people have been arrested by Puducherry police for allegedly assaulting Rajkumar, a reporter with a Tamil daily, while he was covering an incident involving the removal of banners put up by supporters of Independent legislator Azhagu alias Azhaganantham.  The incident took place on Sunday when Public Works Department (PWD) officials were removing banners installed on Vazhudavur Road ahead of the inauguration of the MLA’s office.  Police said the legislator’s supporters opposed the removal of the banners, following which an argument broke out. Rajkumar was allegedly attacked while recording the exchange between officials and supporters.  He suffered injuries to his head and neck and was treated as an outpatient at a government hospital. Police have also registered a separate case against unidentified persons for allegedly erecting the banners.