When the Taliban retook Afghanistan in August 2021, the country’s embassy in Canberra stayed open. It’s an embassy in exile – staffed by diplomats from the former administration – and advocating on behalf of Afghans here in Australia. Until now, there have been 17 embassies of its kind around the world – in countries that don’t formally recognise the Taliban. But recently, Germany decided to expel its embassy’s exiled staff and instead invite representatives of the Taliban regime. Today, press gallery journalist Karen Middleton on diplomacy in exile – and life under the Taliban for the people of Afghanistan. If you enjoy 7am, the best way you can support us is by making a contribution at 7ampodcast.com.au/support. Socials: Stay in touch with us on Instagram Guest: Press gallery journalist Karen Middleton Photo: AAP Image/Mick TsikasSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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14:58
Why protests are getting more dangerous
Melbourne photojournalist Alex Zucco was cleaning her camera lens when a police officer hit her directly in the face with a stream of capsicum spray at a protest outside the Melbourne Land Forces International Land Defence Exposition last year. In July this year, a police officer allegedly punched former Greens candidate Hannah Thomas in the face at a pro-Palestine rally, seriously injuring her eye. Lawyers and activists say these incidents fit a pattern of increased police force against protesters – including so-called ‘less-lethal’ tools such as baton rounds, flash-bang devices and capsicum spray. Today, journalist and author Ariel Bogle on how decades of restricting the right to protest have created a permissive environment for the use of force by police. If you enjoy 7am, the best way you can support us is by making a contribution at 7ampodcast.com.au/support. Socials: Stay in touch with us on Instagram Guest: Journalist and author, Ariel Bogle Photo: Alex Zucco / SOPA Images/Sipa USASee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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13:47
The outdated trans study still doing damage
In the 1970s, eight children in Perth were sent to a psychiatric hospital to be ‘treated’ for being transgender. Their experiences became the basis of a medical study that claimed kids could be cured of their identity. Now, nearly forty years after it was released, that same study is being cited in arguments against trans healthcare and being used to shape policy and law. Today, Walkley Award-winning journalist and founding editor of ABC Queer, Mon Schafter, on how a forgotten experiment from another era is still influencing the culture war over trans healthcare. If you enjoy 7am, the best way you can support us is by making a contribution at 7ampodcast.com.au/support. Socials: Stay in touch with us on Instagram Guest: Walkley Award-winning journalist and founding editor of ABC Queer, Mon Schafter Photo: Supplied: Jayne McFadyenSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Spotify and the AI arms race
Recently, Spotify’s founder, Daniel Ek, announced he’s stepping back from running the company. He leaves as one of the richest men in his home country of Sweden – with Forbes estimating his wealth at $9.6 billion. In a departure note to staff, Ek said he wants to focus on creating more European “supercompanies” – companies he described as “developing new technologies to tackle some of the biggest challenges of our time”. The move comes months after Ek’s involvement in the global defence industry was revealed, prompting an artist backlash, with some pulling their music from the platform. Today, we’re bringing you an episode we recorded in July with author and journalist Liz Pelly, which exposes Ek’s investments in AI-based military technology and Spotify’s embrace of AI in music. If you enjoy 7am, the best way you can support us is by making a contribution at 7ampodcast.com.au/support. Socials: Stay in touch with us on Instagram Guest: Author and journalist Liz Pelly Photo: Janerik Henriksson, TT News Agency, FileSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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14:25
'ISIS brides' and broken environment laws
Labor is trying to land one of its toughest reforms – an overhaul of Australia’s environmental laws. Environment Minister Murray Watt says he wants to speed up housing and energy project developments, make it clear where construction can and can’t go ahead, and create a federal environment watchdog. After a failed deal with the Greens in the last parliament, Labor is now dealing with the Coalition. So what will that mean for the environment? Today, contributing editor at The New Daily, Amy Remeikis – on Labor’s wheeling and dealing – and the Coalition’s continued identity crisis. If you enjoy 7am, the best way you can support us is by making a contribution at 7ampodcast.com.au/support. Socials: Stay in touch with us on Instagram Guest: Contributing editor at The New Daily, Amy RemeikisSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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