The stories we're following: Eyes Open, Vroom Vroom and Plot Twist

Sam Deshayes and Mia Ranalletta bring you SYN Media's weekly wrap of the biggest stories covered by the news and current affairs team.  Elizabeth Fouldes, Bridie Golding, Tess McCracken, Sura Mishra, Freddie Moffat, Ruby Littler, Tayla Oates, Nick Sarlos-Welsh, Vince Trease and Loughlin Patrick report.   Gene Bawden is a researcher with ‘Consenting Cities’ organisers XYX Lab, and tells SYN Media urban design choices can contribute to gendered violence risk factors. The state government has awarded a new contract to a firm set to overhaul the Myki public transport ticketing system - besieged by technical faults and cost overruns. International students will face higher visa fees and stricter work requirements as part of changes in the federal budget to strengthen the integrity of the migration system. Tasmania’s Liberal state government has been thrown into a minority after two MPs resigned from the party this week, taking aim at a proposed $700 million stadium. Melbourne looked a little more colourful this week as queer advocates marked an annual day of advocacy, but it comes amid a fraught time for the local community. CarSales editor Terry Martin speaks to SYN Media about what the federal government's National Electric Vehicle Strategy means for Australian consumers. Gambling advertising has come under the microscope as politicians from both major federal parties took aim at the industry - but has the Prime Minister been wedged? Apple has expanded its satellite emergency calling feature to Australia and New Zealand this week - but only to users of its newest devices, who'll need to pay up. Google has unveiled a new language model using machine learning alongside other hardware at its annual flagship showcase, set to be deployed across its products. And, research published this week may finally settle a long-standing debate about which sea creature is the world’s oldest animal; was it the sea sponge or comb jelly?   On The Beat broadcasts from SYN Media's Melbourne/Naarm studios in the eastern Kulin nation.  SYN recognises this land is unceded and respectfully acknowledges the Wurundjeri people.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.