Image source: CNN, BRICS-Wikipedia and Mint; Edited by Dinesh Raj M   At the BRICS summit in Rio de Janeiro, Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivered a sharp message to the international community: "Condemning terrorism should be a matter of principle, not convenience."  Hot off the Press As reported by The Times of India, Modi invoked the recent April 22 terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, to underscore the global need for uniform, uncompromising standards against terrorism. In a significant diplomatic win, the BRICS joint statement condemned the Pahalgam attack explicitly and echoed India’s call for "zero tolerance" against terrorism. The Indian Express’ Shubhajit Roy highlighted Modi’s larger message to the Global South—that BRICS must set an example by becoming a credible, inclusive voice, not a bloc burdened by geopolitics. Meanwhile, The Hindu's Saurabh Trivedi reported that India refused to sign the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) joint decl

There were smiles aplenty last Thursday evening, as prominent South-Asian trade publication Marketing-Interactive launched its Australian brand at The Ivy Penthouse in Sydney. Marketing-Interactive Australia’s launch was marked by a speech by Editor Matthew Eaton. Eaton had previously launched the title in Hong Kong in 2007 and was previously Group Editor across the Singapore, Malaysia, and China editorial teams, from February 2011 to January 2016.  Matthew Eaton, Editor Marketing-Interactive Australia Following the launch speeches, Marketing-Interactive Australia Editor Eaton told Influencing, “It’s been huge for us; we understand it's not a given here. The trade press is incredibly strong in Australia. There are some excellent brands that have been in this market for a long time.  “So, we wanted to come in and bring something a little different.”  Eaton continued the publication “wasn’t starting from scratch” either, referencing the publication’s “amaz

Triple M has switched off the mics across its entire network until 6pm today for its seventh annual No Talk Day, a campaign designed to create space for Australians to check in on their mental health and each other. All programming, including shows, news, traffic and advertising will pause across 49 stations nationally and on the LiSTNR app. Instead, listeners will hear a curated selection of music, messages from listeners, mental health professionals, and some of Triple M’s most recognisable talent reflecting on their own experiences. The initiative, run in partnership with Lifeline, targets a sobering reality: an average of 8.8 Australians die by suicide every day, with three in four being men. For a brand with a predominantly male audience aged 25 to 54, the cause is personal and persistent.  

AWW Editor Sophie Tedmanson.   The Australian Women’s Weekly Health Summit will expand to five cities around the country this year, delivering a mix of expert insights, real stories to connect and engage with Australians. The 92-year-old magazine, published by Are Media, will be visiting Sydney, Melbourne, the Gold Coast, Adelaide and Perth from 9 August to 11 October.  The publication’s editor, Sophie Tedmanson, said: “The Weekly has always been a trusted voice in women’s health, guiding and supporting generations of women through every stage of life. From our first issue in 1933, health has been a core pillar of our brand. The 2025 Health Summit will not only build on that legacy, it will also amplify our mission to lead the national conversation on women’s health, spark connection, and break down taboos through shared stories that reflect the lives of real Australian women. “This isn’t just about wellness. It’s about turning up for women at every stage of th

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) has released the Grant of Permission Agreement (GOPA) for private FM broadcasters selected under Phase III, Batch III. This is a key step in operationalising 730 FM channels across 234 cities. E-auctions are set to begin later this month. The Union Cabinet approved the third batch of auctions in August 2023 with a reserve price of Rs 784.87 crore. Applications opened in October, and in April 2024, auction rules were tweaked to extend bidding rounds from 30 to 60 minutes. The GOPA outlines legal, financial, and operational terms for selected bidders. Licenses are valid for 15 years, are non-transferable without Ministry approval, and come with financial and infrastructure requirements. Stations must go live within 18 months of signing the agreement. The auction has drawn interest from major players like DB Corp, HT Media, ENIL, and Sapphire Media. A total of 19 pre-qualified bidders are competing, with a focus on Tier-II and Tier-I

Storyboard18 has learned that TAM Media Research, the media data intelligence firm and joint venture between Nielsen (USA) and Kantar (UK), is preparing for a fresh innings in India’s audience measurement space with the launch of a multi-screen digital ratings service.   The company is in active discussions with Big Tech firms and Distribution Platform Operators (DPOs) to build a cross-platform measurement system that reflects evolving viewer behavior in the digital age.   This move follows the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting’s (MIB) recent draft policy, released on July 2, which liberalizes ownership and governance rules for ratings agencies—removing restrictions on board roles and cross-holdings that previously limited competition.   TAM, which has operated in India for over two decades, has already applied for a license to function under the revised framework, and its application is currently pending with the MIB. TAM CEO LV Krishnan told Storyboa

PRmoment has announced the PRmoment Health and Wellness Comms Awards, which will recognise excellence in healthcare and wellness communication across APAC.   Entries from India and across APAC countries are eligible. The companies should have conducted active campaigns between April 2024 and July 18, 2025.   PR consultancy firms with health and wellness practices can apply on or before July 04, 2025.   An Online Jury meeting will be held on August 01, 2025, and the Awards evening is on August 29, 2025.   The jury includes Adhitya Veeraraghavan, head, health sector at Edelman India; Farah Bookwala, corporate communications lead at GSK India; Hemali Bhutani, managing director at GCI Health India; Masooma Pathre, director of communications at Asia Medtronic; Sangita Gopinath, director of growth and business initiative; Sharmistha Ghosh, senior vice president, healthcare and social impact, Avian WE; Shilpa Sindhwani Wadhwa, head, nutrition, health and wellness; Shipra