Amid escalating tensions between India and Pakistan following the Pahalgam attack, the US secretary of defence Pete Hegseth has told defence minister Rajnath Singh that the Trump administration fully supports India’s fight against terrorism and its right to defend itself. Russia has also firmly backed India in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack, emerging as one of the first nations to condemn the strike and express unconditional support for India’s war on terrorism while the Chinese have pitched for de-escalation of hostilities in the neighbourhood. Hot off the Press A U.S. State Department readout on the call between external affairs minister Jaishankar and US Secretary of State Mark Rubio stated that Mr. Rubio “expressed his sorrow for the lives lost in the horrific terrorist attack in Pahalgam, and reaffirmed the United States’ commitment to cooperation with India against terrorism,” adding that he “encouraged India to work with Pakistan to de-escalate tensions

  Daile Cross. WAtoday editor Daile Cross has left the company after 10 years at WAtoday for a new role as Communications Director at Clarity Communications. Announcing the move on LinkedIn, Cross said, “It's a wrap. Ten years + at WAtoday (the second stint) and now I'm moving on. “It was a very hard decision to leave the tremendous team I've been leading as editor for almost four years, a group of journalists who I love and admire.  “Colleagues with whom I have celebrated weddings and babies, milestones and media awards. People that made the newsroom a supportive, collaborative, inspiring and often hilarious place to work.  “I often say online journalism is a team sport, and the WAtoday team always fought hard for the wins. Investigations, breaking news, live blogging ... you name it we did it all. “And I still love journalism. “It's not only the massive news stories that I will look back on as being amazing times in the newsroom. Finding Cleo alive, Covid and

Network18 has emerged as India’s leading digital news network, overtaking Times Internet across all major platforms, as per ComScore’s March 2025 rankings.  With 315 million unique visitors (UVs), Network18 outperformed Times Internet by 55%, solidifying its leadership in the digital news space. News18.com alone recorded 251 million UVs, surpassing The Times of India’s 183 million.  On social media too, Network18 leads with double the reach of its closest rival, TV9 Network, capturing 54% of India’s 389 million social media users.  Even without counting social media traffic, Network18 remained on top in the News and Information category with 183.2 million UVs, edging out Times Internet’s 182.3 million.

  Neville Stevens.   The Australian Press Council’s chair Neville Stevens has decided to retire before the end of the year, the council has confirmed and they are looking for his replacement.  The APC said today, “This is a unique leadership opportunity for a person of the utmost integrity with the ability to guide and unify diverse perspectives. The Chair leads the Council, which includes public, independent journalist, and publisher-nominated members, and plays a central role in promoting high standards of media practice and freedom of expression in Australia.” Stevens has been chair of the APC since January 2018, after a 30-year career in the public service, and chairs on the board of several private and public organisations. He spent eight years at the Department of Communications, IT, and the Arts, between 1993 and 2001, where he was involved in telco reform, and helped develop broadcasting and media policy. He was made an officer in the Order of Australia in 2002

SBS Alone Australia contestants.   SBS On Demand has achieved its highest month on record (excluding the FIFA World Cup in 2022) in terms of total users on the back of the launches of Season 3 of Alone Australia and the final series of The Handmaid’s Tale. Consumption on SBS On Demand is also up 18.0% in FY25, with more than 2.24m active accounts logging into the platform in April. This uplift also follows the second season of Rogue Heroes which dropped over February and March. To date, Alone Australia has had a Total TV National Reach of 2.68m, The Handmaid’s Tale has had a National Reach of 2.31m, and Rogue Heroes has had a National Reach of 2.24m. “These are exceptionally strong audience numbers and underline the strategic importance of SBS On Demand in our broader video strategy,” said Kathryn Fink, SBS Director of Television. “Alone Australia continues to be a hit – engaging audiences in the ultimate test of endurance. Importantly around 40% of the Alone audie

Nine has today announced the appointment of journalist Joel Dry as the new co-presenter of 9News Queensland's 6.00pm bulletin, alongside Melissa Downes. Dry will start his new role in August. This appointment marks a significant return to Nine for Dry, who began his television reporting career with the network in Adelaide in September 2009 before moving to Channel 9 Queensland in December 2011 and later serving as a federal politics reporter for Channel 9 in Canberra. Dry is stepping into the role previously held by the legendary Andrew "Lofty" Lofthouse, who retired earlier this year. Melissa Downes said, "This is an exciting time for 9News Queensland, a regeneration, and I know the team will be just as delighted as I am to have Joel joining me on the 6pm news desk. I know he will bring a new energy to the newsroom and his insightful reporting will add depth to our bulletin, offering our viewers an even richer understanding of the stories that matter most. "We are th

  Peter Dutton campaigning at a produce market in Pooraka in the Adelaide seat of Makin this morning. Photograph: Mick Tsikas/AAP   Well it’s almost here - poll booths open nationwide tomorrow morning and by Saturday evening we will know if the Albanese government resumes or if Peter Dutton’s Coalition takes power. Or, of course, it could be a minority government of either stripe. We shall see.  This morning Peter Dutton has said he believes tomorrow’s result could be a miracle for the Liberal party, like the 2019 election which Labor widely expected to win. Speaking to ABC AM's Sabra Lane this morning, Albanese is asked whether he’s worried this election could deliver a surprise result for the opposition. Albanese says he “certainly take[s] nothing for granted”. The Australian’s Geoff Chambers and Dennis Shanahan have called Exclusive on a story headlined ‘Peter Dutton banking on ‘surprises’ in key seats’.  The thrust of that piece is Coalition campa