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The world is on fire. There's a coup. A former president is being indicted. Inflation is through the roof, and AI is taking our jobs. What does it all mean? Each week, Matt Bevan explains the biggest story in world news while hiding in his basement from assassins and authoritarian regimes.
108 Episodes
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Iran and Israel are caught in a cycle of revenge.On April Fools' Day, there was a huge escalation in the conflict when an Israeli air strike killed 16 people, including two Iranian Generals.Two weeks later, the skies over Israel lit up with a counterattack.It might seem like in this conflict, anything goes, but each response and retaliation is a calculated move.Israel knew the attack was coming and almost every drone and missile was intercepted.So, when the game of chess begins, how does it end?Last time the revenge cycle started to turn, Donald Trump was in the White House, and the wheel only stopped because of a tragic mistake.This time, Israel's response could change the trajectory of the conflict in the Middle East.Subscribe to If You're Listening on the ABC Listen app.Check out our series on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H_dbh10orQc
Lifting Indians out of poverty lies at the core of Narendra Modi's wildly popular political strategy. And it's worked: during his Prime Ministership, India has risen from the tenth largest economy in the world to the fifth. But this rising tide has also widened the gap between the rich and the poor in India, and has raised questions about Modi's ties to business leaders who have turned the nation's rise to their own advantage.
People don't like wind farms. They say they're bad for wildlife, they affect property values and they create pollution.But are any of these claims true?Today, the wind farm debate and how it nearly tore the small Australian community of King Island apart.This episode of If You're Listening is a live recording from the Newcastle Writers Festival.Subscribe to If You're Listening on the ABC Listen app.Check out our series on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pZ-9hfWk8TI
In 2002, Narendra Modi's carefully crafted political story was rocked by a series of deadly attacks in his home state of Gujarat, where he was the highly popular Chief Minister. Thousands were killed in a wave of riots that lasted for three days and became a major national scandal.Modi's role in the violence has been heavily contested in the decades since, but he has never been able to shake the association in the minds of some Indians. How did he manage to survive such a high-profile catastrophe, and what is the legacy of those terrifying riots today?
The Duterte and Marcos families are the Montagues and Capulets of the Philippines.They are, depending on who you ask, the country's most famous statesmen, thieves, murderers or heroes.They have tussled for power for nearly 60 years, and now there are talks of secession splitting the country in two.Could this family feud literally tear the Philippines apart?Want to watch Matt present If You're Listening live from the Newcastle Writers Festival this Sunday, April 7? A stream will be posted to this channel on YouTubeSubscribe to If You're Listening on the ABC Listen app.Check out our series on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5pPcV54kiQ
In January 2024, Narendra Modi travelled to the northern Indian town of Ayodhya to attend the consecration of a Hindu temple with a very contested history. The site had previously been occupied by a 500-year-old mosque, and had become a focal point of broader disputes between India's Hindu and Muslim communities.That fight over one hill in Ayodhya resulted in a demolition, mass protests and deadly retaliations across India. It also gave Modi a cause he could champion throughout his rapid political rise.
1Australia’s housing market is, like many places in the Western world, in the midst of a crisis that feels like it will never be solved. Owning a property in an Australian city has only drifted further out of reach for most Australians in the last decade, and there are very few practical solutions on offer. Is it possible to actually unpick this situation?Japan offers a useful example. Thirty years ago, property in Tokyo was the most expensive in the world. Today, home ownership in that same city is comparatively affordable, with plenty of available stock on the market. How was this massive turnaround achieved, and how can other countries learn from the Japanese model?
When Narendra Modi left home, it wasn't to begin a career in politics. He wanted to be a monk. Modi's teenaged pilgrimage would take him across India, following the trail of his country's most influential religious leader. It was a journey that would ultimately steer him towards politics, and lay the foundation for some of his most popular and controversial philosophies.
The Princess of Wales has barely been seen since Christmas and everyone is asking, where is Kate?The Royal Family released a photo meant to squash the rumours, but when it became obvious it had been photoshopped, the speculation just got worse.Fake photos are everywhere, and there's a long history of people doctoring them, from photocopying to photoshopping, to straight up AI.But is there a time coming where we won't be able to tell the difference between what's real and what's fake?Subscribe to If You're Listening on the ABC Listen app.Check out our series on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ihzt5GNfnig
For most politicians, the image of a stable marriage and a happy family is a crucial part of their pitch to voters. But in India, being single is a selling point: leaders want to show that they are dedicated only to their country. Narendra Modi's carefully crafted image of a bachelor was up-ended when it emerged that he had a wife who had been kept secret for decades.Since this scandal broke, Modi's estranged wife has barely been seen or spoken to the media. In this episode, we're going to find her.
Russia is in the midst of an election, but we already know Vladimir Putin will win. He always wins.So why does Russia bother holding elections? What’s the point?Putin learned a lesson many years ago about the illusion of democracy, and it’s one he has never forgotten.
Every Tuesday for the next seven weeks, we'll be dropping an extra episode from a new ABC podcast into the If You're Listening feed. Looking for Modi, hosted by the ABC's South Asia correspondent Avani Dias, examines the life and political career of Indian prime minister Narendra Modi. It's a fascinating show that we think you might enjoy. Matt will be back with another episode on Thursday.Narendra Modi's rise from poverty-stricken childhood has been a major appeal throughout his political career. He tells ordinary Indians that he is just like them, and that his life is proof of India's egalitarian democracy. But in truth, some of the central elements of his own biography are disputed. What do we really know about his origin story, and how did his time spent with a volunteer right wing organisation many view as a paramilitary group influence his politics?
The police arrested and interrogated Andrew after he was set up by hackers.Now we know how Chinese spies pull it off.An unprecedented leak of data from Chinese company i-Soon has cracked open the black box, revealing the secrets of China's cyber espionage operations.Correction: When Andrew Phelan was taken in for questioning by Victoria Police, he was never chargedSubscribe to If You're Listening on the ABC Listen app.Check out our series on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c58XyP6Bx1E
Donald Trump was ordered to pay a $463.9 million fine for lying to banks about how rich he is.He's also facing at least five other cases that could cost him millions more in legal fees and fines.And this is all happening as he tries to run for president again — and political campaigns ain't cheap.So the question is: Can Donald Trump make it to election day without running out of money?Subscribe to If You're Listening on the ABC Listen app.Check out our series on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EzEp-Vr4Oao
Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini was a revolutionary leader with a revolutionary idea.In just 10 years as Supreme Leader, Iran became a global pariah; virtually friendless in the international community.Yet when he died, millions of Iranians hysterically grieved his death.In today's episode, how Ayatollah Khomeini changed the course of Middle Eastern history, and how his ideas are still affecting us today.Subscribe to If You're Listening on the ABC Listen app.Check out our series on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vOsdbCwS5qQ
In 1974, the Shah of Iran was diagnosed with cancer.It led to a Shakespearean tragedy that brought about the end of the Iranian monarchy and shaped the Middle East conflict we're seeing today.As open warfare between the US and Iran becomes more and more likely by the day, it's worth remembering that it all started with something tiny — a small lump in the spleen of one man.Subscribe to If You're Listening on the ABC Listen app.Check out our series on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZgrNZDxQhA
The Red Sea is the most trafficked trade route in the world, and now the US Navy and a group of militant Houthi rebels are going to war over it.The Houthis are attacking ships it says are linked to Israel and its allies; America is desperately trying to stop them. I mean, America might not get directly involved in the Israel-Gaza conflict, but you bet they'll protect their trade routes.The stakes couldn't be higher — if the US can't prove they have this under control, plenty of other groups around the world might decide to try their hand at blocking global trade as well.Editor's note: This introduction has been edited to clarify that not only Israeli ships have been targeted in Houthi attacks.Subscribe to If You're Listening on the ABC Listen app.Check out our series on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OYJFHtTYc0g
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has a new problem. As well as fighting Russia, he also has to fight Israel and Hamas for the world's attention.The shift in attention to Gaza has already meant Ukraine has lost crucial support.The question is — can Zelenskyy get the world to care about Ukraine again? And if not, what will that mean for the war?Subscribe to If You're Listening on the ABC Listen app.Check out our series on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-fSMBo3xGBQ
China's pandas are not just pandas. They're diplomats.You're friendly to China? You get a panda. You criticise China? You get no pandas.In recent years China has been hostile toward the West, with the most literal symbol of their displeasure being the withdrawal of their pandas from zoos around the world.And yet, Chinese President Xi Jinping appears to be having a change of heart.This may indicate something very important — a return to a more peaceful relationship with the West.But why? And why are pandas the key to understanding it?Please participate in our listener survey!Subscribe to If You're Listening on the ABC Listen app.Check out our series on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CzM1L3Nrc-I
The world's most famous artificial intelligence company, OpenAI — the creator of ChatGPT — was set up to create a superintelligent AI, while at the same time safeguarding humanity from an omnipotent robot overlord which could enslave us all.But last week the company fell into chaos. OpenAI fired its wunderkind CEO Sam Altman.Just days later, under intense pressure, Sam Altman was put back in charge and the entire board was booted.So is an AI apocalypse possible, and with Altman back in charge, will OpenAI be able to protect us from its own robots?Please participate in our listener survey!Subscribe to If You're Listening on the ABC Listen app.Check out our series on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LR8c10Tkb3E
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Matt, You frame this chaos so clearly. You show that mud is on everyone's hands and all contributed to this sad state of Australian politics! Thank you again
Matt Bevan thank you for your work. Like always this third series lays out the truth so easily for all to know. so glad you keep educating us all
I want the creator of this podcast take each episode of the Russia episodes stick it in his ass. Motherfucker liar.
No Biden are you that stupid special
Bill Clinton, Barack Obama and Joe Biden did not. They sell their soul to the devil.
Misinformation
Nice one. Gold: "MALCOLM TURNBULL: I would say, in talking about America and the West with Xi, it's a reminder that Chinese leaders have a much better understanding of the West than the West does of China." Kevin Rudd and Malcolm Turnbull know China relatively better than the rest of Australian politicians🤷♂️
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Can someone remind me what the name of the song is at the start of this episode please. Also, brilliant journalism.
It's 1989 instead of 1999. How many times have the host got it wrong🤦♂️
The host should simply put a "She" sign in front of him 🤦♂️
Everyone on the show is able to pronounce Xi... except for the host. It's driving me crazy.
Great episode! So glad it's back for another season and this one already fascinating
What happened... so enjoyed listening to you, come back please!!! Are you?
I really enjoy your podcast...thank you
Looking forward to the next instalment
such a brilliant, well-researched podcast! I love this series! so good!
Great series!
Please do a China if you're listening , re the Covid19 and Wuhan disaster
Matt I'm sure it's a struggle to keep finding new material on this topic but if you choose another topic I will be the first to subscribe!