The Briefing

The death of 32-year-old Australian man Rory Sykes in the devastating Los Angeles Palisades fire in January 2025 was described by police as a tragic accident. His mother Shelley spoke publicly about her grief, sharing stories of her disabled son who had defied the odds throughout his life.
But instead of compassion, what followed was a torrent of online abuse and dark conspiracy theories, with trolls levelling heinous accusations against a mother mourning her child.
In this bonus episode of The Briefing, Natarsha Belling is joined by 7News Spotlight investigative journalist Sarah Greenhalgh, who set out to understand why Shelley Sykes became a target.
You can watch Spotlight on 7Plus
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Stephanie Alexander may be one of Australia’s most influential culinary figures, but her impact goes far beyond the kitchen. Long before becoming a household name, she was shaping the way Australians think about food - through restaurants, writing and a deep commitment to simple, seasonal cooking.
You might recognise her from appearances on MasterChef, but for many, Stephanie’s presence has been constant on the bookshelf with her iconic book The Cook’s Companion guiding generations of Australians through everything from kitchen basics to timeless recipes.
In this conversation with Sacha Barbour Gatt, Stephanie reflects on 30 years of The Cook’s Companion, the philosophy that has defined her career, and why she believes good food doesn’t need to be complicated - just thoughtful, shared and perhaps best enjoyed with a roast chook, a glass of red and a proper cloth napkin.
See Stephanie at Melbourne Writers Festival on May 10th and find The Cook's Companion 30th Anniversary Edition here
Weekend list with Helen Smith
Listener Laura TO LISTEN: Matt Corby's new album Tragic Magic
TO WATCH: Roommates on Netflix
TO WATCH: The Lion King at the Hollywood Bowl

TO TRY: Medicube Collagen Night Wrapping Mask and Medicube PDRN Pink Collagen Gel Mask
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Headlines:
Dr. Reza Adib, parter of former Queensland Premier, charged with rape
Calls for calm after grief and rage in the Northern Territory
Trump is briefed on further Iran strikes
House prices fall in Sydney and Melbourne
Cellmate claims there’s an Epstein suicide note
... and the brands that Aussies trust most
Deep Dive:
In 1991, an American physiologist made the wild claim that a human could run a marathon in under two hours. Last weekend, that physiologist was proven right, when Sabastian Sawe ran the London Marathon in 1:59:30.
In this episode of The Briefing Natarsha Belling is joined by the pioneering American physiologist, Dr. Michael Joyner, to talk about the extraordinary human achievement of the sub-2 marathon, and what it takes to push yourself to the limit.
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When two police officers were shot dead in regional Victoria, the man accused vanished into the bushland. What followed was one of the most extensive manhunts in Australian history.
7NEWS journalist Michael Usher and Crime Editor Cassie Zervos take you inside the case from every angle: what happened, how it unfolded, his ideology, and the impact on those left behind.
Dezi Freeman: The Hunt, is a 7NEWS and LiSTNR co-production.
Listen to the podcast on Secrets We Keep or watch the vodcast on 7+.
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Friday Headlines:
Violence erupts in Alice Springs after Jefferson Lewis arrested over the death of Kumanjayi Little Baby
Australia in talks with US to open Strait of Hormuz
Queensland rules out gun buyback
Chalmers criticised for ‘grandfathering’ CGT and negative gearing changes
NSW women claim first Origin win
Deep Dive: The new Michael Jackson biopic has opened to rave reviews from fans and has broken box office records here in Australia.
But the film is courting controversy with critics saying it’s sanitised and ignores some of the grittier details of the artist’s highly contentious life.
In today’s deep dive, Sacha Barbour Gatt is joined by entertainment guru Justin Hill to break down everything we need to know about the new Michael Jackson movie, Michael.

Further listening from headlines:
Bondi Beach Royal Commission findings
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