Ex-Premier defends China visit + Inside the hunt for Dezi Freeman

Hip hop mogul Sean Diddy Combs was due to be sentenced for two counts of transportation for the purposes of prostitution in a New York court on Friday (that's yesterday in our time zone).Crowds began queuing and setting up camp more than 24 hours beforehand to secure a coveted spot to watch the sentencing live in the courtroom. Meanwhile, Diddy made a last-minute plea for mercy in a letter to the judge, claiming he was "sincerely sorry". To get you across the case, today's bonus episode is Natarsha Belling's interview with music industry expert, Associate Professor Catherine Strong from RMIT University, after the verdict was delivered in July. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

4 Okt 13min

Liz Porter has spent decades immersed in the world of crime, from CSI to Silent Witness to the triple murder mushroom trial. The award-winning journalist, true crime author and host of Crime Insiders: Forensics has spent her career showing how science solves the toughest cases. In this chat with Antoinette Lattouf, Liz shares why forensics scientists are the unsung heroes of your favourite true crime thriller and and how blowflies can play a role in solving them. Weekend list with Helen Smith TO LISTEN: Sweet Bobby on Netflix (trust me it's trending) TO LISTEN: Black Rabbit on Netflix TO DO: The Art of Loving Olivia Deans Album TO DO: Arms of Eve jewellery Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpodInstagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcastFacebook: @LiSTNR Newsroom See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

3 Okt 33min

Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban filed for divorce after 19 years of marriage, involving millions of dollars, prenups and allegedly a ‘cocaine’ clause. Society can often slam our obsession with celebrity marriages and divorces as just entertainment, but they can often fulfil a cultural or emotional need, impacting how we view our own relationships. In this episode of The Briefing Helen Smith is joined by LiSNTR’s entertainment reporter Justin Hill on our ‘parasocial’ obsession with celebrity romance. Afternoon headlines: Former NSW police officer accused of murder declares 'the truth will prevail', Palestinian Action Group told Sydney Opera House 'off-limits' ahead of planned rally and Taylor Swifts long awaited album The Life of a Showgirl is here Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpodInstagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcastFacebook: @LiSTNR Newsroom See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

3 Okt 15min

Friday Headlines: Two killed in 'terrorist incident' at Manchester synagogue, new footage sheds light on Dezi Freeman's escape, Queensland to launch state’s first sexual violence peak body, new research shows $25 billion worth of unworn clothes in Aussie wardrobes, and what bizarre encounters have you had with cops? Deep DIve: A soccer team of Uber drivers and tradies is just one win away from making football history - and they’ll get their shot this Saturday. Victoria’s Heidelberg United is taking on A-League heavyweight Newcastle Jets in a clash being billed as a true David v Goliath, with all eyes on whether the semi-pro side can become the first to lift the Australia Cup. In this episode of The Briefing, Chris Spyrou speaks with Heidelberg’s head coach John Anastasiadis and sports journalist Adam Peacock to unpack everything we know about their underdog run and what it means for the future of Australian football. Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpodInstagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcastFacebook: @LiSTNR Newsroom See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

2 Okt 20min

Taylor Swift and Kanye West’s feud has spanned well over a decade, morphing from a single shocking awards show moment into one of pop culture’s most enduring rivalries. Both artists have deftly commercialised the conflict, turning personal grievance into consistent headlines and platinum sales. With the release of Swift's The Life of a Showgirl creating speculation that it's a nod to Kanye’s The Life of Pablo, suggestion the beef is far from over. In this episode of The Beefing, Alexandria Funnell dissects how the feud ignited, why it has endured for so long, and how both Swift and West have survived mass cancellation to emerge as masters of reinvention. Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpodInstagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcastFacebook: @LiSTNR Newsroom See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

2 Okt 14min

US defence secretary, Pete Hegseth, delivered his new set of directives for the US military, including that moving forward he only wants male standards for combat roles and suggested wokeness was infecting the department of war. During the hour-long speech in front of some of the country's top personnel, Hegseth told the crowd he’s tired of seeing ‘fat generals and admirals in the halls of the Pentagon, and leading commands around the country and the world’. In this episode of The Briefing Helen Smith is joined by Donna Manton, a former army major and the chairperson of the Athena project, who explains why the speech could be detrimental for the US military. Afternoon headlines: Historic defence treaty between Australia and Papua New Guinea approved, Global Sumud Flotilla intercepted by Israeli forces in international waters, thousands of Commonwealth Bank users unable to access their online banking and 32 Chunk wins Fat Bear Week contest for 2025 Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpodInstagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcastFacebook: @LiSTNR Newsroom See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

2 Okt 15min

Thursday Headlines: Police are being called to scrap strip searches of young people after landmark win, sunscreen whistleblowers say testing company ‘cut corners’, Geelong Cats apologise for ‘inappropriate’ Mad Monday gags, large companies paying no tax in Australia hits record low, and James Tedesco and Tamika Upton win the Dally M. Deep Dive: During his recent overseas tour, Anthony Albanese invited one of the Middle East’s largest retail chains to set up shop in Australia - pitching LuLu Hypermarket as a serious challenger to Coles and Woolies. So what exactly do we know about the Emirati chain, can it actually lower prices for Aussie shoppers and what does it say about the government’s strategy on cost-of-living? In this episode of The Briefing, Chris Spyrou speaks with Erin Turner, CEO of the Consumer Policy Research Centre, to unpack it all. Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpodInstagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcastFacebook: @LiSTNR Newsroom See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

1 Okt 19min

Donald Trump is eyeing off a Nobel Peace Prize, after scoring nominations from countries including Israel and Pakistan - a surprising nod for a president more often associated with confrontation than conciliation. Trump would join the likes of former Presidents' Barack Obama and Teddy Roosevelt, but was quick to brush off his nomination saying, 'I don’t seek attention. I just want to save lives.' In this episode of The Briefing, Helen Smith is joined by Allan Behm, a special advisor at the Australia Institute, to unpack what a Trump win would mean for the award’s credibility, and whether he could be ruled out of the race altogether. Afternoon headlines: US government shutdown begins after funding deadlock, Australian government expresses safety concerns for Aussies on flotilla to Gaza and AFL scraps centre bounce for men's game. Further listening: The reality of Trump's Gaza plan Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpodInstagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcastFacebook: @LiSTNR NewsroomSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

1 Okt 15min