$2.5bn lifeline for Tomago smelter A $2.5 billion federal–NSW rescue package has been struck to secure long-term power arrangements for the Tomago aluminium smelter, averting closure of a major industrial employer and export asset. The deal underlines the political and economic stakes of keeping energy-intensive manufacturing viable as the grid shifts toward renewables. Covered by: Sydney Morning Herald, The Australian. Banks warn: productivity slump could keep rates high to 2028 Major bank leaders are warning that weak productivity growth could entrench inflation pressures and keep interest rates higher for longer, potentially until 2028. It sharpens the national debate over reform—tax, regulation, skills and competition—as households and businesses look for relief from cost-of-living and borrowing stress. Covered by: The Australian. Housing narrative splits as CBA backs Labor tax changes Commonwealth Bank chief Matt Comyn says fears of a housing downturn are overblown and

Around 400 journalists working across rural Karnataka are set to receive free bus passes following approval from the Department of Information and Public Relations (DIPR), Karnataka. The approval was granted by Commissioner M.N. Anucheth. Following the decision, journalists who had submitted their applications along with the necessary documents will now receive the free bus passes. Thanking the commissioner, Shivanand Tagadur, president of the Karnataka Union of Working Journalists (KUWJ), which has been pressing for the demand, said, “The free bus pass scheme will be a significant help to journalists who travel daily to distant villages for news gathering in rural areas.” He further urged the department to promptly review the applications of the remaining eligible rural journalists and take steps to ensure that everyone receives the free bus pass facility.  

Two journalists working for a news portal were arrested in Assam’s Chirang district on August 10 for allegedly publishing false and misleading content involving state Cabinet minister Pijush Hazarika, police sources said. The arrested journalists were identified as Anjad Ali Ahmed and Habijul Rahman alias Habib Khan. They were picked up from Kajalgaon after police launched an investigation into a report published by the portal Bodoland Times on Sunday. Hazarika had accused the portal of publishing misleading content about him in a Facebook post and said legal action would be taken, India Today reported.  

The South Asian Journalists Association (SAJA) has opened submissions for its 2026 Journalism Awards, honouring outstanding journalism by South Asian journalists and coverage of South Asia and its diaspora. Categories include General Excellence, International, Arts, Culture & Lifestyle, Business, Investigative in honour of Daniel Pearl, Student Journalist and the new Documentary-Short Award.  The new category recognises short documentaries of 40 minutes or less that focus on South Asia. It is open to independent filmmakers from the US and abroad, with eligible films required to have been screened at a film festival, released on a streaming platform, theatrically released or independently distributed online.  Eligible entries must have been published or appeared in a US or Canadian news outlet between January 1 and December 31, 2025. Freelancers and newsroom journalists can apply, while branded content and work published by

The Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) has taken cognisance of allegations raised by former Newslaundry employees over the organisation's handling of workplace sexual harassment complaints, opening a preliminary examination into the matter. DCW Chairperson Lata Gupta confirmed the commission was gathering and reviewing relevant information before deciding on next steps, calling the matter "very sensitive." The development follows a wave of allegations from former employees on social media concerning Newslaundry's work culture and its implementation of the Prevention of Sexual Harassment (POSH) mechanism. Newslaundry's Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) issued a statement on X addressing the allegations, saying the committee has received and acted on four sexual harassment complaints since 2017, with outcomes including termination, suspension and other disciplinary action. The organisation said it is and has been POSH compliant, while acknowledging room for improvement, and invited

For more than a decade, journalist Bilal Ahmed Bhat has reported on an area of Jammu and Kashmir that he believes receives far less attention than politics and conflict: the environment. Editor-in-Chief of Awami Reporter, an independent weekly print and digital newspaper, Bhat has covered illegal earth-filling, construction, corruption and ecological degradation across lakes, forests and other fragile landscapes and has received an award from the Indian Journalists’ Association for Investigative Reporting.   Speaking on Influencing Insider on a recent assignment that turned violent, Bhat alleged that he was assaulted, confined and robbed recently while reporting on suspected illegal earth-filling in an eco-sensitive Dal Lake area in Srinagar.  “I went to the site after receiving information from local sources and began recording the activity. Earth and soil remained in the lake despite claims that authorities had acted, while illegal shops and houses were also being const

Wednesday, 12 August 2026 #1  ·  Times Nation  ·  Investigative Phuket flight incident pushes DGCA to seek ways to make dope rules more stringent By Saurabh Sinha   ·   The Times of India, New Delhi – August 12, 2026  ·  Page 20 An Air India Phuket-Delhi flight suffered a momentary loss of altitude after the pilot-in-command allegedly acted under the influence of psychoactive substances, injuring 20 passengers and four cabin crew; the civil aviation ministry has summoned outgoing CEO Campbell Wilson and DGCA is exploring stricter dope-testing rules. Multiple sources told TOI the pilot was seen sitting on the cockpit floor, attempted to smoke, and was unable to walk properly after landing, while the co-pilot's report attributes the incident to rare technical snags. The broader report contextualises the regulatory gap created by the legal availability of marijuana in destinations like Thailand and Amsterd