India

Story gist: India enacted new labour laws reducing employee gratuity eligibility from five years to one year of service.

Bias summary: Left-leaning Al Jazeera frames reforms as ‘sweeping’ and highlights ‘union opposition,’ implying controversy and government override of workers. Center India Today uses neutral, factual language emphasizing the benefit change. Right-leaning outlets provide no coverage, omitting pro-business or reform-positive angles.

Story gist: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in South Africa ahead of the G20 Summit. He met Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to discuss cooperation in defence, security, critical minerals, and trade.

Bias summary: Left-leaning The Hindu emphasizes Modi’s bilateral meeting with Australian PM, detailing discussions on defence, security, critical minerals, and trade cooperation. Center Hindustan Times neutrally previews Modi’s arrival and G20 agenda. Right-leaning coverage is absent, omitting potential focus on India’s diplomatic successes or strategic positioning.

Story gist: A Tejas fighter jet crashed during a demonstration at the Dubai Air Show, killing the pilot. The Indian Air Force ordered a probe into the incident.

Bias summary: Coverage limited to center outlet The New Indian Express, which reported facts neutrally: crash, pilot death, IAF probe, without emphasis. No left-leaning outlets, potentially omitting scrutiny of indigenous defense tech failures. No right-leaning outlets, absent framing that might highlight Tejas program’s overall successes or downplay the incident.

Story gist: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar allocated cabinet portfolios for 2025. BJP Deputy CM Samrat Choudhary received the Home Ministry, Nitish retained general administration, and JDU took finance.

Bias summary: Left-leaning Telegraph India frames allocation as ‘BJP’s Bihar grip,’ emphasizing BJP dominance in key portfolios. Center outlet Times of India neutrally reports Nitish ‘ceding’ home to BJP deputy CM while JDU gets finance. Right-leaning outlets absent, omitting potential pro-BJP celebration of strategic gains in Nitish-led coalition.

Story gist: US sanctions on Russian crude oil take effect today. Russian crude shipments to India hit a two-year low as refiners prepare for the sanctions.

Bias summary: Left-leaning outlets like Telegraph India emphasize the two-year low in Russian crude shipments and refiners’ preparations, highlighting sanctions’ impact. Center outlets like Times of India frame it with a nuanced question (‘Yes—and no’), stressing partial effects. Right-leaning coverage is absent, omitting potential focus on policy enforcement success or criticism of India’s Russian ties.