Trump tariff threat puts Australia’s trade nerves on edge The Trump administration has proposed a new 12.5% tariff on Australia and dozens of other countries, citing alleged failures to enforce bans on forced-labour imports. Canberra is pushing back hard, arguing the move is unjustified under the free trade agreement, but the threat sharpens uncertainty for exporters and adds a volatile new front to Australia’s economic diplomacy. Covered by: Sydney Morning Herald, The Age. One Nation surge reshapes the political map Polling analysis suggests Pauline Hanson’s One Nation is growing across unexpected demographics—women, younger voters, wealthier Australians and inner-city residents—while major-party support softens. The shift raises the stakes on housing, cost of living and immigration, and foreshadows tougher preference dynamics and policy pressure in marginal seats. Covered by: Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, The Australian. Tax fight intensifies as Greens, crossbench and

Wednesday, 3 June 2026 #1  ·  Nation  ·  Investigative Coempt edged past TCS in tech eval, lens now on tender design By Times News Network   ·   The Times of India  ·  Page Unknown The story investigates the tendering process behind the CBSE's Central Repository Management Project (CRMP), revealing that officials denied Hyderabad-based Coempt Technologies was favoured over TCS despite scoring higher in technical evaluation. The report draws on tender documents, evaluation scores, and sources to examine alleged irregularities, conflicts of interest, and a parallel disqualification of Coempt by Kannur University in a separate digitisation deal. The story demonstrates strong document-driven investigative journalism, cross-referencing tender evaluations, whistleblower inputs, and official denials to expose a procurement controversy with national implications for CBSE infrastructure. The parallel Kannur Universit

  The West Bengal Legislative Assembly's decision to restrict journalists' movement within the Assembly complex has sparked concerns about press freedom and democratic accountability, with several journalists describing the move as a "gag" on the media. Under the new guidelines, reporters and photographers will no longer be allowed to move freely within the Assembly premises or interact with legislators in corridors, chambers, and common areas. Instead, media personnel will be confined to designated press corners, with access to lawmakers and ministers regulated by Assembly authorities. The move has triggered criticism from journalists, who argue that limiting access to elected representatives will make it more difficult to gather information and hold public officials accountable. Senior journalist Anomitra Chatterjee, Assistant Editor with Ei Samay, termed the order a "gag". “This is just to disturb the communication between MLAs and journalists. They do not want to be ques

In a significant move to widen welfare coverage, the Karnataka government has expanded its free bus travel scheme for journalists, extending eligibility to part-time journalists and correspondents in addition to full-time media professionals. The Department of Information and Public Relations issued a revised order on May 27, 2026, amending its earlier notification from June 30, 2025. Under the previous rules, only full-time journalists with at least 11 months of service in newspapers, news agencies, television channels and digital media organisations were eligible. The amended order now includes part-time journalists and correspondents, ensuring broader access to the scheme. Shivananda Tagadoor, State President of the Karnataka Union of Working Journalists (KUWJ), welcomed the decision: “The move is expected to benefit a larger section of media professionals, particularly those working as part-time reporters and correspondents across the state. We thank the government for appr

Minimum wage surge reignites inflation and rate-hike fears The Fair Work Commission’s decision to lift award wages by 4.75% and the minimum wage by 6% from July 1 is being framed as overdue cost-of-living relief for low-paid workers, but a fresh inflation risk for an economy already on edge. Business groups and some economists warn higher labour costs will flow into prices and could keep the RBA in tightening mode, while unions argue the rise is essential to stop real wages going backwards. Covered by: Australian Financial Review, The Age, Courier Mail, Daily Telegraph, The West Australian. Budget politics: Labor under fire on tax changes and campaign tactics Labor’s post-budget agenda is drawing scrutiny on two fronts: a rushed parliamentary timetable for proposed CGT/negative gearing changes and questions about whether granny flats will qualify under the new settings. Separately, the government is accused of blurring the line between parliamentary entitlements and poli

For decades, Television Rating Points (TRPs) have been the currency of India's television industry, influencing advertising revenue, programming strategies and increasingly, editorial decisions. As competition for audience attention intensifies across television, digital platforms, and social media, the influence of ratings has become a subject of growing debate. While broadcasters view TRPs as essential for business sustainability, journalists and industry observers continue to raise concerns about transparency, representation, and the impact of ratings-driven decision-making on news coverage. Dr Anubha Jain, senior journalist at ETV Bharat, said audience engagement often depends on storytelling rather than subject matter alone. "While editorial judgment remains central to journalism, audience analytics are increasingly shaping how stories are selected, timed, and presented. In my experience covering science and technology as a journalist, I have observed that even highly comp

American journalist Sari Botton left her job assuming another role would soon – or at least eventually – follow. Botton had spent decades as a writer and editor, including as an essays editor for Longreads. She had experience, judgement and a track record. But like many journalists, especially those of a certain age, she found the industry she loved no longer loved her back. “At 54 I left one job assuming I’d be able to get another,” Botton told Influencing. “Then I had difficulty even getting interviews at places where I should have been a shoo-in.” When Botton did manage to land a first-round interview, they rarely went well. “I was being interviewed by people 25 years younger than me, and they were speaking to me in condescending ways, saying things like, ‘Are you sure that after all these years it’s not time for you to move onto something else?’” Botton said. “I didn’t get second interviews,