With just a day to go for the swearing-in of the new Maharashtra Chief Minister, the tussle for the CM and Deputy CM positions appears to have come to an end. Chaitanya Marpakwar for The Times of India reported that in a breakthrough in power-sharing talks between BJP and Shiv Sena, Eknath Shinde has agreed to join the new Mahayuti govt and will likely be one of two deputy CMs to be sworn in on Thursday in a govt that could be led by BJP’s Devendra Fadnavis after he met the caretaker CM at his official Varsha residence on Tuesday evening. The face-to-face interaction between Fadnavis and Shinde took place six days after they were in New Delhi for a meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah. "Fadnavis will take oath as Chief Minister along with Shinde and (NCP leader) Ajit Pawar as deputy Chief Ministers in the presence of PM Narendra Modi," a senior BJP leader told Shubhangi Khapre and Vallabh Ozarkar of The Indian Express. The delay in selecting the leader of the legislative

Kylie King, Albury councillor and co-host of 2AY Breakfast with Matt Griffith, will leave her radio role at the end of 2024, Radio Info reported. Her contract with Ace Radio Network will not be renewed for 2025. King has hosted the breakfast show for nearly six years including a previous stint with Kev Poulton before both ran for local council. While still hosting, King became Mayor of Albury with Poulton becoming Mayor of Wodonga. Later, he left the station. King's final day on the show will be December 20. She will continue her involvement with Ace Radio Network in a different capacity.  

Adam Cooney, former Western Bulldogs star and host of Armchair Experts, revealed on his SEN Breakfast radio show that Channel 7 has axed the popular AFL talk show after seven years, Mumbrella reported.  Cooney expressed his disappointment calling it a “sad day,” and pointed out how he never expected the show to end. He also reflected on the show’s humble beginnings starting on Twitter(now X) before evolving into a broadcast program. During the announcement, Cooney mentioned Hutchison and his colleague Kane Cornes, suggesting their moves had directly impacted his role. This move marks a significant shift in Channel 7's AFL programming and highlights the ongoing reshuffling of broadcasting talent. This cancellation is part of a broader talent shake-up at Channel 7 following the high-profile defection of several well-known figures from Nine including the entire Footy Classified team. This group, led by Craig Hutchison, will reunite at Seven with Hutchison set to host a new AFL

For the first time, India will host the 20th Asian Women’s Handball Championship (AWHC) from December 3 to 10, 2024, at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in New Delhi. Organised by the Asian Handball Federation and presented by the World Handball League (WHL), the championship will feature powerhouse teams from South Korea, Japan, Iran, China, Kazakhstan, and Hong Kong, DD News reported.  The tournament will be exclusively broadcast by Doordarshan, with live coverage of the finals and highlights airing during prime time. Matches will also be streamed live on SportCast India’s YouTube channel, ensuring accessibility for millions of fans across the country. Swapnil Jain, Managing Director of Pavna Group and Co-Promoter of WHL, emphasised the significance of hosting the event: “This is a defining moment in the history of Indian women’s handball and a significant step toward transforming the sport in the country. As India takes the global stage with the 2024 Asian Women’s Han

Last night, Influencing held the 2nd edition of our Influencing RED Xmas Party. Before the event, Influencing CEO Phil Sim debuted the company's newest tool, "Asynchronous Interviews," designed to speed up the entire workflow behind news distribution, conducting interviews and content creation.  There was lots of festive cheer around the room, with drinks, karaoke, and food. Please enjoy the photos below! Influencing would like to thank those who attended and wish you all a Merry Christmas.     

Swapnil R Mishra, former senior correspondent at The Free Press Journal, covers health, BMC, and railways in Mumbai. With a surprising transition from microbiology and forensic science to journalism, he brings a distinct and insightful perspective to his ground reporting. 1) How did you get started in journalism? I had never envisioned a career in media or journalism. My educational background includes a Bachelor's degree in Microbiology and a Postgraduate degree in Forensic Science, which are far removed from the media field. The turning point came when my father suggested I visit The Free Press Journal's office for an interview. Although initially skeptical about entering the media industry, I successfully cleared the interview and was hired as an intern. During my six-month internship, I covered a diverse range of stories from crime to demonetisation, as well as hospital conditions and BMC policies for the city. I often tell my colleagues and friends that I became a reporter

After a week of parliamentary stasis, the government and the Opposition have reached a fragile consensus to hold a constitution debate next week (Dec 13, 14 &16), as reported by The Hindu's Sreeparna Chakrabarty. The agreement brings temporary relief to both Houses, which have been mired in repeated disruptions over critical national issues like the Adani controversy, the violence in Manipur and Sambhal, and ideological divides within the Congress-led Opposition alliance. The impasse, analysed by Liz Mathew for The Indian Express, underscored deep-seated tensions. The Opposition has been accused of stalling debates to corner the government on sensitive issues, particularly the alleged misuse of central agencies to shield corporate interests and silence dissent. However, a report by the Hindustan Times highlighted the government’s firm stance, accusing the Opposition of politicising sensitive topics instead of addressing them constructively. The Manipur violence and the Sa