Finding Pakistan teaming up with China to push its line on terrorism at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation defence ministers’ meet at Qingdao, India refused to sign the proposed joint statement. Defence minister Rajnath Singh, who attended the meeting at Qingdao in China, refused to sign the joint communique as it was silent on the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack in which 26 people were killed but mentioned Balochistan and the hijacking of the Jaffer Express by Baloch militants in March this year. SCO is a 10-nation Eurasian security and political grouping whose members include China, Russia, India, Pakistan, and Iran. Their defence ministers’ meeting was held as a precursor to the annual summit of its leaders set for the autumn.   Hot off the Press Given the SCO norm stipulating consensus, the statement couldn’t be adopted despite overnight talks, as defence minister Rajnath Singh made it clear that perpetrators, organisers, financiers and sponsors of terror acts,

<   For Jordan Bissell, journalism wasn't just a career choice - it was a calling that manifested when she was just five years old. "According to my parents, I wanted to be a reporter since I was five because I was quite a talker," she recalls with a laugh. Bissell's journey through Australian media has been nothing if not diverse. Starting as a casual producer at the ABC in her early twenties, she quickly moved through various roles across different networks.  Her stint at 4BC as a field reporter and newsreader was followed by a position at Channel 9, where she gained some unexpected physical training. "I worked as a field producer for A Current Affair," she says. "I got really strong calves that time from chasing people in heels." After persistent efforts to join Channel 7, her determination paid off when "the lovely Neil Warren" gave her a position as crime reporter, first on the Gold Coast and then in Brisbane.  However, like many journalists, Bissell briefly ventured

  EWC finale 2024 - credit: Luc Bouchon.   The Seven Network today announced it has secured rights to the Esports World Cup 2025 (EWC 2025) in Australia, with the most popular games in the tournament to be broadcast exclusively live and free on 7plus Sport from Thursday July 10 and running until Monday August 25. Taking place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, EWC 2025 pits the world’s top esports clubs and more than 2,000 elite players against one another for a share of US$70 million: the largest prize pool in esports history. EWC 2025 features 24 of the biggest esports titles in the world, including Counter Strike , League of Legends, DOTA, MLBB, PUBG and Honor of Kings, with millions of people expected to tune in around the world during the seven-week event. Teams from across the Asia-Pacific region are competing, including Gen G, Talon and Team Secret. Seven West Media Chief Digital Officer, Gereurd Roberts, said: “By broadcasting the Esports World Cup 2025 on 7plus Spo

TV9 Network hosted the News9 Global Summit UAE on June 19 at Taj Dubai, marking a milestone in India-UAE relations. Held under the theme “Partnership for Prosperity & Progress,” the event brought together leaders from politics, business and culture. Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri and UAE’s Abdulaziz Al Nuaimi highlighted the strength of bilateral ties, while India’s Ambassador Sunjay Sudhir and BAPS’s Brahmavihari Swami added diplomatic and spiritual perspectives. Star speakers included Suniel Shetty, Ektaa R. Kapoor, and Nargis Fakhri, with panels exploring trade, tech, and OTT trends. Actor Vivek Oberoi delivered a powerful address on purpose-driven leadership. The summit, backed by partners like Buimerc, De Beers, and Khaleej Times, reinforced India’s role as a global thought leader and innovation hub.

CNN-News18’s flagship event, the Town Hall, returns on 28 June 2025 with a special edition titled ‘Borders to Business—The Strength of Bharat’, focusing on India’s defence sector and national security. This edition will feature high-ranking defence personnel, government officials and defence experts discussing themes such as modern warfare, indigenous defence production, and lessons from Operation Sindoor. The event will include sessions with Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit, Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh, BSF Assistant Commandant Neha Bhandari, Lt Gen Vinod G. Khandare (Retd.), and DRDO’s Dr Sudhir Mishra, among others. “CNN-News18 has been India’s No. 1 English news channel for over three years now,” said Smriti Mehra, CEO - English & Business News, Network18. “The Defence Edition of CNN-News18 Town Hall brings together sharp minds to discuss the strength and resilience of our armed forces and the success of Operation Sindoor.” Managing Editor Zakka Ja

Congress leader Shashi Tharoor is in Russia to promote a documentary series based on his book Inglorious Empire. The series is produced by Russia’s state-run TV network RT and will air later this year. Tharoor reportedly landed in St Petersburg on June 21 to attend the Economic Forum and then travelled to Moscow, where he met top Russian leaders, including Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and also met members of the Indian community. Apart from promoting the series, he discussed topics like terrorism, the Gaza conflict and India-Russia relations.