Tuesday, 28 April, 2026 | There’s a type of tech story that’s time-consuming to put together and that rarely makes the front pages. These stories are about the quiet expansion of systems that government agencies use to collect and analyse citizens’ data. For obvious reasons, neither national governments nor intelligence agencies are keen to highlight just how extensively your personal data is monitored. But the occasional FOI request from a media outlet is successful, which inevitably results in more disturbing news about just how much information the powers-that-be have on everybody. That’s certainly the case with two recent articles from Crikey’s Cam Wilson and Bernard Keane. Wilson’s piece, Calls, messages, police records: How Palantir helped an intelligence agency analyse 42 million data points on Australians, starts by examining a Palantir training manual obtained through FOI. It shows how analysts can ingest and connect phone calls, SMS, met

This morning's The Age CFMEU clean-up suffers major setback as administrator quits The federal government’s effort to clean up the scandal-plagued CFMEU has been hit by a major setback after appointed administrator Mark Irving resigned from the role. The departure comes amid deepening allegations of corruption, organised crime links, internal turmoil and pressure for tougher action against union officials and builders accused of paying bribes. Incoming administrator Michael Crosby now faces immediate pressure to restore credibility to the process, investigate alleged misconduct and show that the government’s intervention can deliver meaningful reform in one of Australia’s most politically sensitive unions. Five-year-old girl missing after alleged abduction in Alice Springs Police are continuing a major search for five-year-old Sharon Granites, who was allegedly taken from her bed at an Alice Springs town camp. Authorities have identified a man in connection

Journalism is often seen as a profession rooted in facts and objectivity. But for those reporting on the ground, especially in moments of crisis and loss, the job comes with an emotional weight that doesn’t always end with the story. Repeated exposure to grief, violence, and human suffering can leave a lasting impact. For many journalists, certain moments, a face, a conversation, a scene, stay long after the assignment is over, shaping how they see both their work and the world around them. Ranjeet Jadhav, an environment journalist and assistant editor at Mid-Day, credits one story with redirecting his career. “I didn’t start out with a fixed plan to cover wildlife. Like many journalists, I was drawn to storytelling and being on the ground, understanding people and situations. But what really shifted things for me was the story of a leopard named Ajoba. He had been radio-collared by renowned biologist Dr. Vidya Athreya, and his journey was remarkable; he travelle

Photo caption: Assam’s eminent litterateur Dr Hiren Gohain, paid tribute to his close friend Nitya Bora during a memorial meet held on Sunday in Guwahati   The media fraternity in Assam is in deep shock following the passing of veteran journalist Nitya Bora on April 22 after a prolonged illness. He was 83. A former editor of the Assamese daily Asomiya Pratidin, Bora had suffered a cardiac arrest six months ago and had been ailing since. He was admitted to a hospital in Jorhat last week, where he had been staying with his daughter and her family. He is survived by his daughter; his wife had predeceased him. Several media organisations and journalist bodies paid tribute to Bora’s contributions to Assamese journalism. Durba Ghosh, President of the Assam Women Journalists Forum, remembered him as a “very good journalist and editor” whose essays and columns were thought‑provoking and widely read. In an official note, Khagen Kalita (President) and Amarendra Deka (Gener

    A senior Kerala journalist has been removed from his role as director of the Institute of Communication and Journalism (ICJ) after being arrested in connection with a sexual harassment case. The Kerala Union of Working Journalists (KUWJ) said it acted immediately following the registration of the case. V E Balakrishnan, 68, was taken into custody based on a complaint filed by a young woman journalist. According to the police, the incident occurred on April 18 during a train journey, where he allegedly misbehaved with her.  Another journalist from Thiruvananthapuram, who said they were in direct contact with the complainant, told Influencing, “According to the victim, the accused allegedly appeared to be under the influence of drugs. When the alleged sexual harassment occurred, she raised an alarm and called for the TTR on the train.” Railway police registered a case under Section 75(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, which pertains to sexual harassment, and he has

Image of the Day   The Economic Times #1  ·  Page 2 / Geopolitics  ·  In-depth feature / Breaking news Iran Renews Oman Ties for Peace Talks With Washington By Dipanjan Roy Chaudhury   ·   The Economic Times  ·  Page 2 Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi flew to Muscat after inconclusive talks in Islamabad to renew Oman's role as a neutral mediator in US-Iran peace negotiations, following the collapse of a planned second round of Islamabad talks after the US delegation's visit was cancelled by Trump. Pakistan's field marshal Asim Munir also visited Oman over the weekend in a bid to restart dialogue, while Araghchi's movements between Islamabad, Muscat, and Russia reveal the complex diplomatic maneuvering underway. The report contextualises China's displeasure at Pakistan's diplomatic overreach and the strategic stakes for all parties involved. Chaudhury provides layered diploma

Representatives of several journalist bodies submitted a memorandum to Information and Public Relations Commissioner C.H. Priyanka on April 23, demanding a review of the newly formed Hyderabad District Media Accreditation Committee. The delegation raised objections to the committee’s constitution, alleging lack of fair representation for major newspapers and leading media organisations. They said recommendations from various journalist unions were ignored and expressed concern over the exclusion of senior journalists. Criticism was directed at the appointment of new members while overlooking experienced professionals. Associations representing photo, Urdu, video, small and medium, and electronic media claimed their suggested names were disregarded, with only favourable individuals included, IND Today reported. Calling for transparency, the delegation argued that the selection process lacked clarity and undermined confidence in the system. They urged immediate reorganisation