India: a Covid-19 catastrophe

We love a debate down under, and every summer for the last few years, Aussies have been going head-to-head over one topic: CoolCabanas. The humble beach tent has been spotted on sands across the country since 2015, but it’s now sparked a furious debate about Australian beach etiquette. So, while it’s all just a bit of fun, it begs the question: why did something that’s designed to protect us from the sun become so controversial? On today’s episode of The Briefing, Sacha Barbour Gatt speaks with the CEO of CoolCabanas Mark Fraser and TikTokker Guncle Diaries to get their take on the debate and get their verdict on whether Aussie beaches should be cabana free. Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @listnrnewsroom Instagram: @listnrnewsroom @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @LiSTNRnewsroom Facebook: @LiSTNR NewsroomSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

10 Jan 202518min

Headlines: The latest on the LA fires, new data shows Aussies wages up, Birkenstock sues copycats, and Bluey Lego will hit shelves by the end of this year! Deep dive: The new year often comes with a range of emotions - you might be feeling relaxed and revitalised or you might be feeling a little anxious and overwhelmed at the year that lies ahead. But how can we balance the bad with genuine optimism? As part of The Briefing’s series on starting 2025 right, we’re exploring how to cultivate hope and resilience this year. In this episode, Chris Spyrou chats with Alexis Fernandez-Preiksa, author, neuroscience expert, and host of the hit podcast Do You Fucking Mind, to talk through some practical strategies for finding joy and staying positive this year. Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @listnrnewsroom Instagram: @listnrnewsroom @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @LiSTNRnewsroom Facebook: @LiSTNR NewsroomSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

9 Jan 202525min

Five people have been killed and more than 30,000 people are under evacuation orders as the Los Angeles wildfires continue to rage. More than 1000 buildings, including many on Sunset Boulevard, and the homes of celebrities, have been destroyed by the out-of-control fires. The wildfires in the middle of winter have shocked residents and prompted warnings amid the escalating climate crisis that there is now no such thing as a “fire season” in the state - the danger is all year round. On this episode of the Briefing, Bension Siebert speaks with Australian ex-pat Jaxson McLennan from his home near a fire-front in Pasadena. Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @listnrnewsroom Instagram: @listnrnewsroom @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @LiSTNRnewsroom Facebook: @LiSTNR NewsroomSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

9 Jan 202511min

Headlines: Rescued hiker in NSW survived a fortnight on berries and two muesli bars, wildfires have forced thousands to flee in Los Angeles, the pilot in Rottnest Island plane crash identified, and Brisbane (somehow) ranks worst city in Australia for traffic. Deep Dive: As artificial intelligence gets exponentially better at just about everything, it’s making people in all kinds of professions – from teachers to doctors, to lawyers, to retail workers – a little bit nervous. But AI is also making a lot of people very excited, with new, mind-bending capabilities coming online every week. What tools should you be using in 2025 to keep ahead of the curve and make your life a little easier? As part of The Briefing’s series on how to start your 2025 right, Bension Siebert is joined by Toby Walsh, professor of Artificial Intelligence at UNSW, to guide you through what’s out there, what you should be using, and where to start with AI in the new year. Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @listnrnewsroom Instagram: @listnrnewsroom @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @LiSTNRnewsroom Facebook: @LiSTNR NewsroomSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

8 Jan 202523min

Facebook, and its parent company Meta, is saying goodbye to fact-checkers. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg said in an announcement posted to social media that fact checkers had become “too politically biased”, and have "destroyed more trust than they've created, especially in the US". Meta will also change its algorithms to recommend more political content on its platforms. Does the move have anything to do with Trump’s threats to jail Zuckerberg for life for alleged US election interference? And what is this going to mean for our Facebook and Instagram feeds in 2025? Stephen Scheeler knows Mark Zuckerberg and is a former CEO of Facebook in Australia. What does he think of the tech super leader bending the knee to a Donald Trump administration? He joins Bension Siebert on this episode of The Briefing to unpack the announcement, and what happens next. Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @listnrnewsroom Instagram: @listnrnewsroom @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @LiSTNRnewsroom Facebook: @LiSTNR NewsroomSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

8 Jan 202518min

Headlines: Meta scraps independent fact-checkers, Aussie house prices dip, three missing after Rottnest Island plane crash and Donald Trump Junior arrives in Greenland amidst talk his dad wants to buy the country. Deep Dive: A new year often brings reflection, and for many, that means rethinking their job. Does it make you happy? Pay enough? Offer the growth you’re looking for? But changing careers isn’t an easy undertaking, especially when navigating new industries, re-training, the place of AI and figuring out how to put your best foot forward in an increasingly competitive market. To kick off 2025, The Briefing is giving you everything you need to start your year on the first foot. In this episode, Chris Spyrou is joined by career consultant and recruiter Tammie Ballis from Realistic Careers, who shares expert insights to help you successfully change careers in 2025. Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @listnrnewsroom Instagram: @listnrnewsroom @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @LiSTNRnewsroom Facebook: @LiSTNR NewsroomSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

7 Jan 202523min

A recent scroll of your social media feed might have made you feel like you were back in 2020. Footage of overwhelmed hospital emergency rooms in China have been doing the rounds online, with claims that a new and mysterious virus is sweeping the country and making people unwell. So, can we trust these reports? What is actually causing people to get sick in China right now? And are we at risk of it in Australia? On this episode of The Briefing, Sacha Barbour Gatt is joined by Professor Jill Carr from Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute to breaks down HMPV, it’s severity and whether we’re at risk here in Australia. Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @listnrnewsroom Instagram: @listnrnewsroom @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @LiSTNRnewsroom Facebook: @LiSTNR NewsroomSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

7 Jan 20259min

Headlines: Canada’s PM Justin Trudeau announces resignation, man faces court in Fiji over alleged rape of Virgin Airlines crew member, Donald Trump’s election win to be certified by Kamala Harris today, and the Aussies have been snubbed at the Golden Globes. Deep Dive: For a lot of us, consuming news in 2024 could have been best described by one word – fatigue. Exhaustion from the 24-hour news cycle, the growing number of voices telling us what to think about a story and increasing lack of transparency in news sources might have led you to switch off from news as the year came to an end. But news doesn't stop – and in the year of a federal election in Australia, a Trump 2.0 presidency, and everything else that might happen – how should you be consuming your news? This week The Briefing is bringing you everything you need to get cracking in 2025. In this episode of the Briefing Helen Smith is joined by Crikey investigative journalist Daany Saeed and Konrad Benjamin AKA Punters Politics to break down how you can better consume news in 2025. Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @listnrnewsroom Instagram: @listnrnewsroom @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @LiSTNRnewsroom Facebook: @LiSTNR NewsroomSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

6 Jan 202523min