The Briefing

Monday Headlines:
One Nation loses support to the Coalition
Trump says strait of Hormuz open despite Iran closure
Australian Universities forced to adopt new definitions on antisemitism and Islamophobia
Aussie students flock to free TAFE courses, but apprentice figures dip
Australia to wave goodbye to paper arrival cards for incoming travellers
Deep Dive: Pattaya has long traded on two reputations: a tourist playground by day, and one of the world's busiest red-light hubs by night.

That darker side made global headlines last month when the body of 17-year-old Tunchanok Donhomla was discovered stuffed inside a suitcase beside a railway line on the edge of the city.

A 45-year-old Australian man has been accused of her murder, which he denies.
The case has reignited scrutiny of an industry that's technically against the law in Thailand, yet thrives in full view - raising questions about corruption, worker safety, and the surprising truth about who's actually driving demand.
In this episode of The Briefing, Chris Spyrou speaks with emeritus professor at George Washington University and author of Sex Tourism in Thailand: Inside Asia's Premier Erotic Playground, Ronald Weitzer to unpack it.
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At this week's NATO summit in Turkey, Donald Trump was once again talking about wanting to take control of Greenland.

So why does the US President keep talking about the country, could the US really try to take it, and what and what does it all mean for Australia?
In this bonus episode of The Briefing, we revisit Tara Cassidy's chat with defence and security expert, Jennifer Parker, who explains why Greenland has become such a fixation for the US president, and why this isn’t as unprecedented as it might sound. Jen explains the strategic value of the Arctic, the role of NATO and Denmark, and why Trump’s rhetoric is alarming key allies.
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Karl Stefanovic launched an independent podcast at the beginning of the year and one Sunshine Coast radio host has been paying VERY close attention.

Henry Bretz has posted dozens of videos parodying Nine's former breakfast king - earning a follow from Karl himself, then an unfollow, and now a full block.

In this episode of The Weekend Briefing, Chris Spyrou sits down with the comedian behind the impressions to discuss his viral posts, what Lisa Wilkinson said when she slid into his DMs, and what he really thinks is going on with Karl's "lurch to the right.”

Plus, Sportsbet has Henry at $34 to replace Karl on the Today Show… so is Channel Nine actually calling?
The Weekend List:
Henry's recco: Olivia Rodrigo’s new album - you seem pretty sad for a girl so in love
Listener Brett’s recco: Madonna’s Confessions II album
To eat: It’s winter which means ... soup! Check out RecipeTin Eats soup recipes here, and the recipe for the Greek lamb lettuce soup here (dill optional, but it’s fine if you’re a dill person).
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Friday Headlines:
SA death possibly linked to Telstra outage
Modi mania sweeps Melbourne
US and Iran exchange fire as Supreme Leader buried
Angus Taylor mounts strongest attack yet on Pauline Hanson
Bonnie Tyler has died at the age of 75
Deep Dive: Ten years ago, in 2015, the world collectively launched 221 objects into space. Last year that number was 4,510, a record by a huge margin. There’s now a record number of satellites and other space objects zooming over our heads.
Why are we shooting so many objects into space? Most launches are coming from the United States, where a commercial space race is well and truly underway. But what are the consequences for the rest of the world?
As mysterious space debris washes up on our shores here in Australia, we speak with Dr Matt Agnew, the scientist (and former Bachelor star) to learn about why we’re launching thousands of satellites a year.
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Thursday Headlines:
Fresh Telstra outage hits customers
Trump says Iran-US ceasefire is ‘over’
Australian rents hit record high
Australians with cancer are living longer
NSW wins 2026 State of Origin
Deep Dive: The tragic death of 27-year-old Melbourne footy player Nathan Fitzgerald has sparked questions over the hidden hazards of shared suburban fields and whether enough is being done to protect local athletes.
This tragedy coincides with an alarming new report from the Australian Sports Brain Bank and Four Corners revealing high rates of the brain disease CTE in deceased players, ramping up the pressure on the AFL to establish formal CTE protocols.
In this episode of The Briefing, neuroscientist Dr Alan Pearce joins us to break down the latest brain research and ask the difficult question: as the evidence stacks up, can footy ever truly be safe again?
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