Meet the woman who calls war zones home

Lyse Doucet is a proud Acadian woman who was born in a small town in Canada and went on to become the BBC’s chief international correspondent - having just the other week returned from reporting in Iran.  She's spent her career on the ground in some of the most dangerous and infamous war zones - ranging from Damascus to Tehran and the Ivory Coast to Gaza, but she’ll be the first to tell you that there’s a lot more to these places than the conflicts they become known for.  In this chat with Sacha Barbour Gatt, Lyse unpacks her new book which takes place inside the walls of Afghanistan’s first luxury hotel, the importance of truth in journalism and how to make a home even in the midst of bombs and wars.  You can see Lyse at Sydney Writers Festival on May 24 Weekend list with Helen Smith Listener Roxy TO WATCH: The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives on Disney+ TO WATCH: Nakba video by NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani  TO DO: Skin check! TO WATCH: At home with the Fury's on Netflix Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpodInstagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Headlines:  Australian man dies after fall on Inca Trail to Machu Picchu  Guzman y Gomez is closing its doors on US business  New Zealand’s Finance Minister invites Aussies over after latest budget changes  Stephen Colbert's Late Show finale begins  Deep Dive:  Kylie Minogue kept her second cancer diagnosis a secret – until this week. Australia’s pop princess has a tell-all Netflix documentary out now, which includes the stories of her 2021 diagnosis and her struggle to become a mum. Filled with home footage, the documentary gives an insider look at Kylie’s rise, her losses, her loves, and the music that helped her through.  In this episode of The Briefing, Natarsha Belling is joined by entertainment reporter Justin Hill.  Follow The Briefing:   TikTok: @thebriefingpod  Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast   YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcast See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Friday Headlines:  Australian flotilla activists released More ‘ISIS brides’ heading to Australia Pauline Hanson announces Norway-inspired gas policy, staffer tells journalist to ‘shut up’  New documents reveal Queen’s hopes for Andrew  Legendary BBC international correspondent Lyse Doucet on the Weekend Briefing Deep Dive: The sudden departure of Kyle and Jackie O has triggered a power struggle in Australian radio, leaving KIIS’s parent company ARN on the hunt for listeners.  In a surprising move, the network has gambled on television veterans Karl Stefanovic and Eddie McGuire to headline a brand-new national show.  In this episode of The Briefing, industry expert Craig Bruce joins Sacha Barbour Gatt to break down the strategy behind the move and whether this controversial pairing can help save the embattled network.  Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpodInstagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Headlines:  Paul Keating backs the CGT changes The US reveals arrest warrant for Cuban ex-president World’s first trillionaire? Two big tech companies are going public Aussie unemployment climbs higher than expected Avalon airport resumes flights after a hairy scare  Deep Dive:  Diphtheria was eradicated in Australia, so why is the government spending $7.2 million to contain an outbreak? The disease kills one in ten people, and can present as slow-healing sores or a respiratory infection – and there are now about 200 cases in Australia. Vaccination prevents the disease, but it's made a resurgence in the NT, WA, SA, and Queensland. In this episode of The Briefing, Natarsha Belling is joined by epidemiologist A. Prof. Sanjaya Senanayake. Follow The Briefing:   TikTok: @thebriefingpod  Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast   YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcast See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Thursday Headlines:  Israeli minister condemned for taunting handcuffed Gaza flotilla activists Anthony Albanese meets with the family of Kumanjayi Little Baby NRL player announces immediate retirement after MND diagnosis Queensland's new public hospital to refuse VAD or abortions Melbourne teen becomes youngest Aussie to reach Everest summit Deep Dive: AI-generated images of The Prime Minister as a startup co-founder, tradie and “silent business partner” have flooded social media this week - all in protest of one controversial Budget measure.  The government’s plan to scrap the 50% capital gains tax discount on most assets from 2027 has sparked backlash from startup founders and small business owners, who say it could punish innovation and push investment offshore.  In this episode of The Briefing, Chris Spyrou speaks with ABC Business Daily host Daniel Ziffer about what capital gains tax actually is, why business owners are panicking, and whether the fears stack up.  Further listening from headlines: Inside Everest’s death zone Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpodInstagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Headlines:  Minns enters the tax reform chat, as Chalmers and Taylor spar over CGT Putin arrives in China to meet Xi Jinping, days after Trump leaves Trump threatens Iran again, a day after calling off another strike Hillsong’s Houston has another problem with porn on Twitter Kylie Minogue’s second cancer diagnosis revealed in doco  Deep Dive:  The war in Iran has taken all attention away from the ongoing, four-year-long war between Russia and Ukraine. Now the tide is turning against Putin, with Ukrainian drone strikes reaching Russian cities and Russia’s army losing territory. In this episode of The Briefing, Natarsha Belling is joined by Dr. Malcolm Davis, defence expert at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wednesday Headlines:  DFAT seeking confirmation on the welfare of Aussies on board flotilla reportedly taken by Israel Questions about BOM efficiency after Gold Coast rainfall Australia's 'biggest diphtheria outbreak’ in decades spreads into Qld, SA and WA SA politicians walk out of One Nation leader’s maiden speech Axing carparks in apartments could make them cheaper Deep Dive: A recent social media exchange between American airline JetBlue and a customer has sparked not only a broad conversation about how companies are watching us, but also a lawsuit.  We know that our clicks are being tracked when we browse for things online and that data is being collected and used to set prices ... but this could be the first time it’s been openly admitted to.  In this episode of The Briefing, Sacha Barbour Gatt is joined by marketing expert Professor Nitika Garg who explains exactly what surveillance pricing is and how it’s being – and could be used - against us.  Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpodInstagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Headlines:  47-year-old man faced court after being charged over alleged murder of wife and two children PM Anthony Albanese addresses AI images slamming tax changes Five dead after Mosque shooting in US Bunnings bomb threat in Brisbane Shakria to be paid nearly $90 million AU  Deep Dive: A bombshell new report has revealed a concerning amount of alcohol sold at Australian bottle shops is contaminated.  The top drug and alcohol experts found unsafe levels of methanol and plastics during testing and are now calling for a crackdown on retailers and also better regulation.  In this episode of The Briefing, Natarsha Belling is joined by Dr Nicholas Taylor from the National Drug Research Institute who explains how dangerous this contamination is and the deadly side effects.   Follow The Briefing:   TikTok: @thebriefingpod  Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast  YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcast See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In part two of our chat with the deputy leader of the Liberal Party, Senator Jane Hume, we get into her party’s migration policy and what the “right mix” of migrants looks like in Australia.  After announcing welfare would be limited to citizens in its budget reply, the Coalition has been asked whether it’s failed in its promise to not become ‘One Nation Lite’ and if its future could include Pauline Hanson’s party.  Hume responds to those questions, as well as Sussan Ley’s claims that the Coalition is worse off now than it was when she was dumped. Listen to part one here. Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpodInstagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tuesday Headlines:  Elon Musk loses high profile lawsuit against Open AI Australians among those on-board Israeli-seized Gaza flotilla Sydney triple murder a suspected domestic violence incident Global scramble underway to try to stem Ebola outbreak  Social media ban preventing Aussie teens from accessing news Two men arrested over stunt at Punch the monkey’s enclosure Deep Dive: The Coalition has spent the last year in the political wilderness, battling an increasingly influential One Nation and a failure to present genuine and clear policies.   Last week, opposition leader Angus Taylor issued his budget reply speech, with a focus on taxes and migration as a way to win back disaffected voters.   In this special two-part interview, Sacha Barbour Gatt speaks with the deputy leader of the Liberal Party, Senator, Jane Hume, about whether this budget platform will be the one to claw them back votes and re-cement them as a meaningful opposition to Labor.  Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpodInstagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.