The Briefing

Headlines: First hostages freed in Israel-Gaza ceasefire deal Peter Dutton promises tax-free lunches for small businesses TikTok back online for American users after Trump promises to save it Djokovic skips post-match AO interview awaiting apology from Nine Deep Dive: Who decides what beer is served on tap at your local bar, pub or club?   It might not be obvious from all the brands and styles of beer on offer, but something like 80% of the beer we drink in Australia is owned by two Japanese megacompanies Lion and Asahi - both of which have spent millions of dollars buying up craft breweries in Australia.  And if you're a pub owner in need of renovations, or a new tap system, or you’re opening up a new venue, there's a good chance you'll be hearing from one of these companies, calling to make an offer that’s hard to refuse. Mazen Hajjar is CEO of Hawkers Beer, one of the largest independent producers in Victoria. He argues there’s a market duopoly at play, and it’s strangling what might otherwise be a thriving craft beer industry in Australia. He joins Bension Siebert on this episode of The Briefing to explain why.  Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @listnrnewsroom Instagram: @listnrnewsroom @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @LiSTNRnewsroom Facebook: @LiSTNR NewsroomSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kris Fade was told he wasn’t made for radio - now he’s one of the biggest media personalities in Dubai. The Lebanese-Australian presenter has become a household name in the Middle East and is gaining fans around the world after appearing in drama-packed reality show Dubai Bling. In this chat with Antoinette Lattouf, Kris reveals why he’s stepping back in season three, how fame has changed his life from his beginnings in Sydney, and what it takes to be on the show. Weekend List TO WATCH: Kunk on Earth on Netflix TO DO: Sauna and cold shower on the cheap TO DO: IKEA Breakfast Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @listnrnewsroom Instagram: @listnrnewsroom @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @LiSTNRnewsroom Facebook: @LiSTNR NewsroomSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Gen Z has been dubbed the most 'unserious generation' - but is it true? Viral social media posts of young creators dancing in front of LA's fires and storm damage in Sydney have prompted the theory that the generation can't seem to take anything - CEO's being shot, natural disasters, a cost of living crisis - seriously. But what's behind the behaviour, and is it a fair generalisation? In this episode of The Briefing Sacha Barbour Gatt, is joined by Gen Z representatives Chris Spyrou and Helen Smith to discuss if and why Gen Z is so unserious. Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @listnrnewsroom Instagram: @listnrnewsroom @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @LiSTNRnewsroom Facebook: @LiSTNR NewsroomSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Headlines: Israel stalls on signing Gaza ceasefire deal, Trump could save TikTok, the AO has a new villain and new study shows older siblings and girls are their parent's favourites. Helen Smith's deep dive on TikTok is available now on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Deep Dive: When you think of hot days, you might think of iced drinks, flicking on the AC or rushing to your nearest beach. But, what about more crime? Science says the two are connected, with one Australian study suggesting by the end of the century – we'll experience over 1.5 million more crimes all thanks to a global rise in temperatures. Is there any truth to it and if so, what is it about the heat that encourages criminality? In this episode of The Briefing, Chris Spyrou is joined by Associate Professor Lindsie Arthur from the University of Melbourne’s School of Psychological Science to unpack it all.  Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @listnrnewsroom Instagram: @listnrnewsroom @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @LiSTNRnewsroom Facebook: @LiSTNR NewsroomSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After 15 months of violence and bloodshed, a ceasefire deal between Hamas and Israel has finally been reached. While there have been celebrations in the streets of both Gaza and Tel Aviv, the road to peace in the region will be long and is far from guaranteed. So, what happens now an initial deal has been struck and what hurdles stand in the way of a permanent end to the war? Professor Greg Barton, Chair in Global Islamic Politics at Deakin University joins Bension Siebert in today’s episode of The Briefing to discuss the ceasefire and what we can expect to happen next.  Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @listnrnewsroom Instagram: @listnrnewsroom @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @LiSTNRnewsroom Facebook: @LiSTNR NewsroomSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Headlines: Israel and Hamas reach ceasefire deal, Bill Shorten to leave politics nine days early, Coles to ban the sale of knives after staff stabbed and Vukic and de Minaur through to round three of the AO, Kokkinakis and Tomljanović crash out. Deep Dive: Casinos are usually synonymous with high rollers and high stakes. But running a business of the size and scale of a casino comes with big risks and big expenses – despite having a possibly never-ending stream of clientele addicted to participating in what you’re selling.  With that in mind – how did we end up in a situation where our largest publicly traded casino operator is in serious financial trouble? The Star Entertainment Group – who operate casinos in Sydney, Brisbane and the Gold Coast – could be broke within weeks.Charles Livingstone is a gambling expert and associate professor at Monash University – he joins Chris Spyrou on this episode of The Briefing to explain how that’s possible and what we need to know about what might happen over the coming months.   Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @listnrnewsroom Instagram: @listnrnewsroom @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @LiSTNRnewsroom Facebook: @LiSTNR NewsroomSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The end is nigh for TikTok, which is set to be banned in the US on the 19th of January.  After US congress passed the laws that would effectively ban the app last year – unless someone buys it from its China-based parent company, ByteDance – American’s reacting with dismay and humour – with some users already jumping ship to a new Chinese social media platform ‘Red Note’. But will it actually happen, or will Trump, Musk or Zuckerberg step in and stop it in the final hours? And if it goes ahead, what will using TikTok look like for the rest of us going forward? In this episode of The Briefing Helen Smith is joined by Cam Wilson, writer of Australian daily tech newsletter The Sizzle, and Associate Editor of Crikey, to unpack how this ban would work and if it will change anything for Australian users. Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @listnrnewsroom Instagram: @listnrnewsroom @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @LiSTNRnewsroom Facebook: @LiSTNR NewsroomSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Headlines: Australian man captured while fighting in Ukraine reportedly killed, Gaza ceasefire and hostage deal ‘on the brink,' Donald Trump would have been convicted in election case if he didn’t win, Sam Kerr appears in court over alleged racial harassment charge, Princess Kate says she’s in remission, Aus Open update. Deep Dive: Are we ready to ‘build Australia’s future’, or are we looking to get the country ‘back on track’? That's the big question – and pitch – both Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and leader of the Coalition Peter Dutton have launched this week as we enter the first stage of campaigning for our upcoming federal election. Both campaign slogans are short but come with layered meaning – about the state of the country, and what each major party thinks the average Australian is looking for when they go to cast their vote. But which one has more cut through – and is anyone even listening anymore? On this episode of The Briefing, Bension Siebert is joined by former Prime Minister of Australia Malcolm Turnbull to get his verdict on which campaign slogan sounds like a winner, and what they say about how the major parties sees us, and if we’re headed towards a minority government.  Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @listnrnewsroom Instagram: @listnrnewsroom @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @LiSTNRnewsroom Facebook: @LiSTNR NewsroomSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Donald Trump spent the past week threatening to buy Greenland, annex Canada, re-name the Gulf of Mexico and take over the Panama Canal, potentially by force. Trump returns to the Oval Office as US President for the second time next week, and he talks a big game about expanding US territory - but are these empty threats, or could he actually do it? On this episode of the Briefing, Sacha Barbour Gatt and Bension Siebert discuss the possibilities. Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @listnrnewsroom Instagram: @listnrnewsroom @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @LiSTNRnewsroom Facebook: @LiSTNR NewsroomSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Headlines: Kyrgios hints at retirement, Federal MP calls for mandatory sentences for antisemitic vandals,  JD Vance walks back Trump’s promise to pardon Jan 6 rioters and Climate activists vandalise Charles Darwin’s grave. Deep Dive: How do you know if you’re really buying an organic product? Insiders have accused producers of falsely labelling products, prompting a new bill that was introduced by the Coalition last year - a big deal for an industry worth $2.3 billion in Australia. How can we really know the journey a product is taking before it arrives on the shelf at the supermarket? If the labelling isn’t accurate, should we just give up on buying organic all together? In this episode of The Briefing, Helen Smith is joined by Erin Turner, chief executive of the Consumer Policy Research Centre, to explain how the government can better regulate the sector and how it could change what’s on our shelves. In a statement, Peak industry body, Australian Organic Limited told The Briefing: "Australian Organic Limited welcomes the new bill as a way to ensure the word ‘organic’ can only be displayed on products sold by the thousands of certified organic operators who adhere to a strict set of principles and pass regular auditing checks to display a certification mark on their labels." Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @listnrnewsroom Instagram: @listnrnewsroom @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @LiSTNRnewsroom Facebook: @LiSTNR NewsroomSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.