The Briefing

Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan is driving Australia’s first right‑to‑work‑from‑home laws, arguing they will boost productivity and help families.
But there's backlash from small businesses, who warn the extra pressure and lack of exemptions will force some to move operations interstate or overseas.
In this interview with Natarsha Belling, the Premier also addresses the mystery of how 90,000 fake followers appeared on her Instagram account.
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Friday Headlines:
More Aussies return from Middle East as thousands flee Beirut
Hizb ut-Tahrir officially banned
'From the river to the sea' and 'globalise the intifada' outlawed in Queensland
Number of kids enrolled in public school drops to record low
Matildas beat Iran 4-0 in Asian Cup clash
Britney Spears arrested in California
Deep Dive: Millions of young men’s algorithms are being taken over by looksmaxxing.
What starts as self-improvement - gym sessions, grooming routines and ‘mewing’ -can spiral into extreme dieting, steroids, cosmetic surgery and even ‘bone-smashing,’ where men attempt to break and reshape their own facial bones to appear more masculine. Critics warn the trend is fuelling a pipeline toward incel culture, wrapped up in the language of optimisation and status.
In this episode of The Briefing, Helen Smith is joined by Sam Cornell a public health researcher who unpacks how the rise of looksmaxxing has racked up millions of views online and is more than vanity – turning into something darker.
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The rapidly escalating conflict in the Middle East is now sending shockwaves through global aviation, with major airspace closures and key international travel hubs suddenly out of action. So what does it mean for Australians planning to travel overseas?
In this episode, Natarsha Belling is joined by aviation expert Professor Ron Bartsch, who explains why this disruption could be the most significant to hit global travel since COVID. With major Middle Eastern airline hubs like Dubai, Doha and Abu Dhabi affected, airlines are scrambling to reroute flights through Asia -- triggering delays, reduced capacity and the likelihood of soaring airfares.
Headlines:
Qatar has evacuated residents near the US embassy in Doha
Canadian PM Mark Carney hasn’t ruled out the Canadian military joining the Middle East conflict
Former Jetstar pilot Greg Lynn has had his application for bail denied while he awaits a retrial for the alleged murder of 73-year-old Carol Clay
The US House Oversight Committee has voted to subpoena Attorney General Pam Bondi
A man has been airlifted to hospital after being attacked by a shark on the Great Barrier Reef
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Thursday Headlines:
First war-trapped Aussies arrive back home
Attorney General pays back $8000 for family flights
Inquiry launched into racism, hate and violence directed at Indigenous people
Scorching temps and hot nights plagued summer 2025/26
Beckhams post birthday messages for estranged son Brooklyn
Your thoughts on our high-speed rail deep dive
Deep Dive: While they were controversial and certainly not everyone’s cup of tea, there was no denying the power and influence of the Kyle and Jackie O show.
So, what happens now that the pair has been dumped from their lucrative $200 million Sydney and Melbourne breakfast radio show on KIIS FM?
Industry insider Craig Bruce joins Sacha Barbour Gatt in this episode of The Briefing to discuss the astronomical rise and sensational fall of Kyle and Jackie O.
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Women’s bodies are back in the headlines with Kelly Osbourne this week slamming online trolls for their cruel and dehumanising comments about her appearance at the BRIT Awards. So, is it ever ok to comment on someone’s body? And when you are concerned someone could be unwell, what do you do?
In this episode of The Briefing, Natarsha Belling is joined by Body Image expert Professor Gemma Sharp from The University of Adelaide to unpack it all.
This episode contains descriptions of disordered eating and body image that may be triggering or distressing for some listeners. For support, call the Butterfly National Helpline on 1800 ED HOPE (1800 33 4673) or visit www.butterfly.org.au to chat online or email, 7 days a week, 8am-midnight (AEDT).
Headlines: The federal government has announced it will deploy six Australian crisis consular teams to the Middle East, Federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers has warned inflationary pressure from the Middle East Conflict will affect the upcoming Budget, and Greens Senator Sarah Hanson Young has called for radio host Kyle Sandilands to be sacked effective immediately.
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