Dan's the man... Welcome to Thursday, and yes, Daniel Andrews, ex-Victorian Premier, is once again front and centre in the news as he poses in a group shot at China's massive display of military might, albeit he's in the back row, but the fact he was there was enough for most of the dailies to well and truly get stuck in. Andrews has been variously referred to this morning as 'a traitor' (The Australian) 'silly, out of depth' (The Australian Financial Review), 'former Premier blasted' (Daily Telegraph) 'useful idiot' (The West Australian), and on and on, and while the SMH leads with the headline 'Dan and his dictator mates' the masthead also carries an analysis from James Massola headed 'Andrews simply doesn't care'. In that piece, which appears in both the SMH and The Age, Massola says Daniels has "lost his moral compass", and "doesn't give a stuff anymore about what people think". I mean, yes, go your own way, but Daniels' move does seem quite extraordinary.  And w

The Achievers PR, a boutique public relations and brand consultancy agency, has secured the strategic PR mandate for buildAhome, a tech-enabled home construction company.  Under this collaboration, the agency will be responsible for managing buildAbome’s overall public relations strategy, media communications, and brand visibility efforts across key markets. This partnership marks a significant milestone in The Achievers PR’s continued expansion in the real estate and infrastructure domain.  Chetan Relhan, founder and CEO of The Achievers PR, said, “We are thrilled to welcome buildAhome to our growing portfolio. As a disruptive force in the real estate and construction space,buildAhome perfectly aligns with our vision to work with purpose-driven, future-ready brands. Our goal is to amplify their voice and help position them as the go-to name for custom-built homes in India.”  This collaboration is expected to further strengthen buildAhome’s market presence while ensur

New Delhi Television Limited (NDTV) has received board approval to raise up to Rs 400 crore through a rights issue of equity shares, offering existing shareholders the opportunity to subscribe to additional shares. The decision, taken at the company’s board meeting on September 2, marks a significant financial move as NDTV seeks to strengthen its balance sheet and expand its reach. According to The Hindu Business Line, “This proposed capital raising will mark a significant step in strengthening NDTV’s balance sheet and enhancing its financial flexibility,” the company stated. The funds will be deployed toward debt reduction, brand-building, content development, and expanding domestic and international distribution. “This rights issue is a decisive step in strengthening NDTV and preparing it for its next phase of growth. With the resources we raise, we will expand our reach and deepen our impact while staying true to the kind of journalism we have always stood for—credib

Flipkart, India’s leading homegrown e-commerce marketplace, has acquired a majority stake in Pinkvilla Media Private Limited, a leading digital infotainment platform. This acquisition is part of Flipkart’s broader strategy to expand its content footprint and enhance engagement with Gen Z and millennial audiences, leveraging Pinkvilla's established brand, capabilities, and loyal audience base. With movies and celebrity news driving trend and influencing consumption patterns, this acquisition aligns with Filpkart’s goal to engage the younger audience.   Ravi Iyer, Senior Vice President, Corporate, Flipkart, commented, “Our acquisition of a majority stake in Pinkvilla is a critical step in our mission to deepen our engagement with Gen Z. Pinkvilla's robust content IPs and strong connection with its loyal audience base are assets that will accelerate our efforts to leverage content as a key driver of growth.” Nandini Shenoy, Founder and CEO of Pinkvilla, said, “The inves

Image source: HT, TOI, Mint and IE; Edited by Dinesh Raj M   The Maharashtra government has granted Kunbi caste certificates to Marathas in the Marathwada region making them eligible for reservation benefits under the OBC category. Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange-Patil on Tuesday declared victory and ended his indefinite fast on its fifth day after the government granted the caste certificates and most of his other demands. Members of the cabinet sub-committee on Maratha reservation, headed by minister and BJP leader Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil, met him and conveyed acceptance of his demands. Hot off the Press The Government Resolution issued by the social justice and special assistance department mentioned about implementing the Hyderabad gazetteer. “In accordance with the historical references contained in the Hyderabad gazetteer, a dedicated scrutiny process shall be conducted to verify documents and establish eligibility of persons from the Maratha community for Kunbi c

Housing stock  Welcome to Wednesday, and the front page of the day has to go to The West Australian - but why? Well, it's a great design, a punny headline, and a serious story - the steep rise in house prices out west, due, report Matt Mackenzie and Jessica Evensen, to a lack of housing, which has seen the number of homes for sale at a record low. It's so bad, say the journos, that people who already have a home are afraid to sell because they can't find a new place to move to. That last bit sounds a bit anecdotal, and indeed most of the quotes for the double page spread inside come from, yes, you guessed it, the real estate folks. Having said that, clearly, the lack of housing and the expense involved is an issue.  On the other side of the country, housing also features - indeed, you could say it's becoming increasingly 'toxic', which is the word Federal Housing Minister Clare O'Neil used to describe NIMBYS who object to their suburbs being host to more houses. That

Image source: TOI and ABC News; Edited by Dinesh Raj M   The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Tianjin unfolded like a diplomatic theatre—three leaders in a circle, laughing for the cameras, while trade wars, border disputes, and terror strikes loomed in the background. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s huddles with Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping signalled warmth, but the subtext was unmistakable: India is caught in a tug-of-war between an aggressive Washington and an assertive Eurasia. Hot off the Press Sachin Parashar for The Times of India reported that Modi and Putin showcased rare personal warmth, riding together in Putin’s Aurus Senat limousine and holding a 45-minute private conversation before their bilateral. Modi avoided calling for a ceasefire in Ukraine but pressed for a “durable peace settlement,” even as he described ties with Russia as “special and privileged.” Putin, for his part, hailed the “positive momentum” in trade, energy, and