Imposing a pan-India ban on instant ‘bulldozer justice’, Supreme Court Wednesday said demolition of a citizen’s house merely because he is an accused or a convict, that too without following the due process as prescribed by law, will be “totally unconstitutional”. While the judgement needs to be lauded for putting an end to the barbaric approach adopted by authorities to intimidate alleged criminals or those on the wrong side of the law, Opposition, as well as victims’ associations, have claimed that the apex court could have stepped in earlier and prevented the demolition of hundreds of homes illegally in UP and MP, both ruled by the BJP and alliance partners. The apex laid down a lengthy process for razing illegal structures and ruled that a state can’t breach a family’s right to shelter by demolishing their house because a member is accused of a heinous crime, reported Amit Anand Choudhary and Dhananjay Mahapatra for The Times of India. A bench of Justices B R

Yoni Bashan of The Australian has been awarded the 2024 Sir Keith Murdoch Journalist of the Year at News Corp Australia's 20th annual News Awards.  The prestigious honour was presented by News Corp chair Lachlan Murdoch, recognising Bashan’s exceptional reporting on the October 7 attacks in Israel, according to a media release from the organisation. Murdoch praised Bashan for his determination, recounting how Bashan immediately sought to report from Israel, arriving on the ground by October 10—becoming the first Australian journalist to visit Gaza after the attacks. "He did not shy from danger—he ran toward it, bearing witness to trauma and demonstrating the courage and impartiality that true journalism demands," Murdoch said. The Sir Keith Murdoch Journalist of the Year award honours exceptional journalism, leadership, courage, and a commitment to truth. Named after Sir Keith Murdoch, the founder of News and grandfather of Lachlan Murdoch, the award this year celebrates Ba

Ray Hadley’s record-breaking reign as Sydney’s top radio host has come to an end. In the seventh GfK Survey for the year, his penultimate at 2GB, the veteran broadcaster dropped to third place in the morning slot with an 11.1 per cent audience share, down from 12.3 per cent, SMH reported. This marks his first ratings loss since 2004, ending a remarkable 160-survey streak. Hadley’s departure from the station is set for December, and this latest drop reflects a broader decline at 2GB, which also saw its overall audience share fall to 9.8 per cent—its lowest in over 20 years. The station was overtaken by WFSM, KIIS, and SmoothFM, with Ben Fordham remaining in second behind KIIS’ Kyle and Jackie O. In Melbourne, The Kyle and Jackie O Show continued to struggle, slipping to a 5.1 per cent share in the breakfast timeslot. In contrast, ABC Radio performed well, increasing its share in both Sydney (7.5 per cent) and Melbourne (6.1 per cent). 3AW remained the top station in Melbo

Channel 7’s award-winning journalist Sharnelle Vella and former AFL star Bob Murphy are the new hosts of ABC Radio Melbourne's Breakfast show, replacing Sammy J after his five-year tenure, an ABC press release stated.  Vella, a popular reporter and state political correspondent at Channel 7, brings extensive experience in covering major court cases and state politics. Murphy, a Western Bulldogs legend with 312 AFL games under his belt, has previously hosted a show on 1116 SEN and contributed to The Age and ABC Radio. Both hosts expressed excitement about joining ABC Radio Melbourne. While Vella looks forward to advocating for Victorians while having fun with listeners, Murphy recalls childhood memories of ABC Breakfast as the soundtrack of his family life and is eager to bring a fresh style to the program. ABC Radio Melbourne Acting Manager Shelley Hadfield praised the new duo, highlighting their relatable personalities and unique perspectives. She noted Vella’s deep understa

The Science Journalists Association of Australia has partnered with the University of Queensland Institute for Molecular Bioscience to set up a “first of its kind” paid residency program that SJAA president Jackson Ryan believes will lead to “cross-pollination” of ideas between science journalists and scientists. “The science journalists will work on an independent project of their choosing. But also they'll be very close to the scientists there. They'll be in the same rooms as the scientists.  “It's about giving the opportunity to a science journalist, but also to scientists to be sharing ideas, upskilling and trying to work out what the gaps are for both of our professions.” Ryan believes the aim of the journalist in-residency program is to try and support the ecosystem of science journalism, admitting there are few opportunities for full-time science journalism work.  “There are very few science journalists working full time. We probably have about 20 a

Air India has unveiled a new digital newsroom, designed as a “one-stop hub” for sharing the latest updates, stories, and insights from the airline and its community. Partha Ghosh, Air India’s global head of communications, announced the launch on LinkedIn, stating, “As we take bolder steps in the airline’s transformation journey, the Newsroom will play a vital role in relaying our stories to all of you.” He added that the platform will go beyond standard press releases, offering deeper insights into the people and stories shaping Air India. Alongside the newsroom launch, Air India appointed Varun Goswami as AVP head of creative and content. Goswami, formerly a creative strategist at Facebook, brings over 20 years of experience from top firms, including Uber, Cheil India, J. Walter Thompson, Dentsu, DDB BBDO and more.