Artificial intelligence and industry trust were the dominant themes at last week’s CommsDay Summit, according to CommsDay’s Grahame Lynch. Lynch told Influencing AI featured prominently in two areas.  “Firstly, how telcos are using AI in their operations to optimise their optics, the construction and operation of their networks, and the service levels. The other side of AI is the opportunity it presents on the revenue side”.  With outages, scams and regulatory fines affecting the telecommunications sector in recent years, Lynch said trust had become a major issue. “There's a lot of interest in discussing how the industry can restore trust and improve its reputation. We were quite focused on that across the two and a half days”.  He added that industry trust was explored at the event’s new pre-conference session.  Held in conjunction with the Australian Telecommunications Alliance, the session featured the Internet Association of Australia’s Narelle Clark, th

Victoria Labor turmoil puts Jacinta Allan on the brink Leaked internal letters and worsening caucus unrest have intensified questions about Premier Jacinta Allan’s grip on the leadership, with MPs reportedly weighing whether one more bad poll could trigger a spill. The story matters nationally because Victoria’s stability affects major infrastructure, budget settings and federal–state dynamics, while the coverage highlights both internal dysfunction and the political consequences of sustained poor polling. Covered by: The Australian, Australian Financial Review, Herald Sun. Budget tax changes spark business backlash Major business groups are accusing the government of rushing tax changes through parliament, warning of unintended consequences and calling for a review within three years. A parallel critique argues the capital gains tax shift could deter investment and productivity by pushing firms toward dividends over reinvestment—raising the stakes for gro

Noted YouTuber Maridhas was arrested in Madurai on Monday, June 8, 2026, in connection with a case registered by the Chennai Cyber Crime Wing over alleged “derogatory and obscene” remarks made on social media about a woman Minister in Tamil Nadu. According to The Hindu, he was picked up in Madurai and later brought to Chennai. Police alleged that Maridhas had published videos and posts targeting Ministers, including a woman member of the Cabinet headed by Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay, as well as remarks against ruling TVK functionaries. He has been booked under: Section 79 of the Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) — punishment for insulting the modesty of a woman Section 352(2) of the BNS — making, publishing, or circulating false information, rumours, or alarming news (including via electronic means) with intent to create or promote hostility among groups Relevant provisions of the Information Technology Act The arrest has drawn attention to the growing scru

Tuesday, 9 June 2026 #1  ·  Times City  ·  Investigative A Murder Mapped In Advance: DU Professor's Killing — Recces, WhatsApp Calls And Forged IDs In Focus By Abhirup Bhattacharya   ·   The Times of India  ·  Page 4 The story investigates the premeditated killing of a Delhi University professor, detailing how the accused allegedly conducted reconnaissance visits, exchanged WhatsApp messages, and used forged identity documents to plan and execute the murder. The report draws on investigative findings, police sources, and a timeline of planning activities to reconstruct the sequence of events leading to the crime. The piece demonstrates strong original sourcing and structured narrative reconstruction of a complex criminal conspiracy, going beyond a routine crime report to map out the layers of premeditation with specific operational details. #2  ·  Times City  ·  In-de

Vinyl Group’s acquisition of Pedestrian Group from Nine Digital is a small deal in dollar terms, but still a significant one for Australia’s digital media market. The ASX-listed Vinyl Group has agreed to acquire 100 per cent of Pedestrian Group for nominal consideration, with no material cash, debt, scrip or ongoing royalties attached to the transaction. Completion is scheduled for 15 June. For next to nothing, Vinyl will take control of one of Australia’s best-known youth media businesses, including PEDESTRIAN.TV, Pedestrian Jobs, Openair Cinemas and Pedestrian Studio. After the “implementation of a restructure plan”, Pedestrian is expected to contribute between $0.6 – $0.8 million (in pro forma EBITDA) to Vinyl in the 2026-2027 financial year. This is less a conventional media acquisition than a portfolio reshuffle involving three different stories. First, Nine is simplifying its portfolio. Second, Vinyl is doubling down on youth and culture m

For Dhruvi Trivedi, 10, and Viha Bhanushali, 13, being part of Pebbly has meant more than simply appearing in front of a camera. The experience has improved their public speaking skills, sparked an interest in current affairs, and encouraged them to engage more deeply with the world around them. The two are among five young anchors who present news and current affairs on Pebbly, a child-focused digital platform designed to make news easier for children to understand. “From explaining floods and examination controversies to discussing social issues, the young presenters break down complex developments in a language their peers can relate to,” says 26-year-old founder Riya Sumariya Katarmal, who is based in Mumbai. Katarmal says Pebbly was born from a simple observation: while children are highly aware of entertainment, gaming, and social media trends, many struggle to understand the news shaping the world around them. “Children told me there was no platform that explained

Pint of Science Australia co-CEO Brett Van der Leest says the festival would not be possible without its national volunteer network. “We've got over 150 volunteers nationwide who come together, help put this festival together, from all different walks of life. And we all share the common passion for science communication,” Van der Leest told Influencing.  This year’s festival ran from May 18 to 20, attracting more than 4000 attendees across 70 events, 15 cities and 34 venues. Van der Leest described this year’s festival as “fantastic” to create a bigger and better festival with more speakers and events. And already Van der Leest said the festival had received great unsolicited feedback.  “We had a lot of people just emailing us on our socials, telling us how amazing and how thoughtful and how much they learned from our events. “We really appreciate people taking the effort to give us feedback, and it really helps us know that we're on the right track.” Head