The Briefing

Childhood and dementia aren’t two words you’d expect to hear together, but children are dying from this disease at the same rate as they are dying from cancer.  One in every 2,900 children are born with childhood dementia, a progressive disease that is caused by rare neurodegenerative genetic disorders   It’s a heart-breaking condition that has historically received little attention and research hours. In this episode of The Briefing Antoinette chats to Meg Maack, Director and CEO of the Childhood Dementia Initiative, about what a new grant will mean for those suffering and their families.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There’s a critical current in the Atlantic that moves heat, carbon, and nutrients from the tropics, which is cooled and sinks once it reaches the Arctic. The current is important because it helps regulate climate on Earth. Now this current is slowing, and it’s impact on global climate could be disastrous. At the same time we’ve seen the end of a hot, dry, El Nino weather pattern, which came after three back-to-back wet La Nina’s....and there’s a strong chance that we could see another La Nina next season too – a frequency and sequence that’s never been recorded before. So are these two weather systems linked? Could this be a sign that things might be changing faster than expected? Professor Matthew England from the University of NSW joins host Simon Beaton to answer these questions and more. Headlines: Inflation could fall to within target range by the end of the year  US steps up condemnation of Israel Man who received first pig kidney transplant dies Aussies go wild for Aurora Australis    Follow The Briefing:Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast Facebook: TheBriefingNewsAUTwitter: @TheBriefingAUSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For most families, Mother’s Day is about celebrating our mums and all they do for us. But for those whose Mum is no longer around, it can be a pretty tough day. New research shows this is having a big impact on women, with over 1 million losing their Mum before the age of 44. Now there are fears their grief is being ignored with women reporting higher rates of depression, anxiety, prolonged grief and post-traumatic stress. So, is their pain being ignored? And what can be done to raise more awareness to make sure they get the help they need? On today’s episode of The Briefing, we talk to Danielle Snelling – the Co-Founder of Motherless Daughters Australia to find out.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Keiynan Lonsdale grew up in Sydney’s Western suburbs, with 11 siblings and a dream to make it in Hollywood. From the small screen with shows like ABC’s dance academy to the big screen with Love Simon – he’s ticking off his bucket list. Now after being in the music industry for 16 years Keiynan is embarking on his first headline tour. In this chat with Antoinette Lattouf, Keiynan breaks down his latest role in SBS a Swift Street and what it was like to come out on Instagram. You can find a Swift Street on SBS on demand here WEEKEND LIST TO EAT - Eggplant and meatball pasta from Antoinette's adopted Nonna TO WATCH - Unfrosted on Netflix TO EAT - Deconstructed sushi bowls TO LISTEN - Any soundtrack from Lin-Manuel Miranda Send us your Weekend Briefing suggestions on Instagram at @thebriefingpodcast!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This year marks the 68th Eurovision Song Contest. Starting out as an expression of unity and goodwill after WWII and a technical experiment to create a live televised music competition across so many borders, Eurovision now features 37 countries, including Australia.  So what happened with our entry for this year? And what else has been most controversial throughout the competition?  In this episode, Bension Siebert and Chris Spyrou unpack the history, the scandals, and what’s been most topical so far in this year’s Eurovision event. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Once upon a time, women’s magazines had a place on every hairdresser’s bench top, family kitchen table and teenager’s bedside drawer. That all changed with the advent and surging dominance of online media – and magazine numbers slowly dwindled with dozens of titles axed in Australia. Now, Cosmopolitan, one of Australia’s favourite magazines for women is making a comeback. Publisher of Cosmo, Katarina Kroslakova from KK Press, talks to Sacha Barbour Gatt about why Cosmo is making a comeback now and how she plans to make it successful. Headlines: Joe Biden says the US won’t supply weapons to Israel for Rafah invasion  The Federal Government wants us to have more babies  TikTok, Meta bosses to be grilled on how they damage society in senate inquiry Apple cops it over piano crushing ad   Follow The Briefing:Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast Facebook: TheBriefingNewsAUTwitter: @TheBriefingAUSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Some true crime content – like The Teacher’s Pet or Up and Vanished has helped lead detectives to suspects, even resulting in convictions on cold cases.   But armchair detectives don’t always get it right – like the TikTok star in Idaho who wrongfully accused a professor of murder.   Take the popular Netflix series Baby Reindeer, based on a wild, but true story.  Fans have started to investigate the real-life people characters were based on, despite the writer and director going to pretty great lengths to try to keep their true identities private.  Is online sleuthing here to stay? And can it cause greater harm than good?  In this episode, Sacha Barbour Gatt speaks with Greg Stratton from RMIT, who is currently writing a book about true crime and wrongful convictions. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Popular rappers Drake and Kendrick Lamar are currently embroiled in a very public spat. It’s a feud that has a long history, but things have really escalated. Hip hop journo and author Simone Amelia Jordan explains why this feud is more than petty online drama. Headlines: US pauses weapons delivery to Israel amid Rafah offensive Treasurer forecasts a growth in disposable incomes in Budget sneak peak  Stormy Daniels details Donald Trump encounter in hush money trial World reaches crucial clean energy turning point   Follow The Briefing:Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast Facebook: TheBriefingNewsAUTwitter: @TheBriefingAU  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A local council in Sydney has voted to ban books about same-sex parents from its libraries. Six Cumberland City Councillors voted in favour of the ban, while five, including Mayor Lisa Lake, opposed it.  The New South Wales Government has warned it could breach the Anti-Discrimination Act and even threatened to pull the council’s library funding, as a result.  Councillor Steve Christou proposed the ban, arguing that most of the council’s constituents are conservative and religious, and don't want “any form of sexualised experiences” available to children in the library. But is a same-sex parenting book sexualised content? In this episode, Bension Siebert speaks with Councillor Steve Christou to find out why he proposed the ban.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Professor Amanda Davies from the University of Western Australia discusses Australia's declining birth rate, its implications, and comparisons with the rest of the world. The podcast also touches on topics like the Israel-Hamas conflict, interest rates, TikTok lawsuits, and gender-specific spaces.