SBS News In Depth

Typhoon Fung Wong leaves a vast trail of destruction in the Philippines, Syrian President Al-Sharaa shoots hoops before meeting Trump and Trump COPs it in Brazil. Also Zelenskyy under fire from corruption allegations, why AI is spreading Russian propaganda, and Bob Ross makes a splash.

The Liberal Party has voted to officially abandon its net zero by 2050 emissions reduction target, following a contentious internal meeting. This dramatic policy reversal, which will also seek to remove the target from the Climate Change Act, has triggered fierce internal debate among senior members and drawn criticism from the government and independents.

US House Democrats have released emails they say raise new questions about President Donald Trump's ties to Jeffrey Epstein and how much he knew about the financier's abuse of underage girls. The correspondence released by Democrats on the U-S House Oversight Committee consist of messages between Epstein, Ghislaine Maxwell and journalist Michael Wolff that directly name Mr Trump, and suggest he may have spent hours at Epstein’s home with one of the victims.

Ukraine's President, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, has called for the removal of the nation's justice and energy ministers, amid a wide-reaching corruption scandal involving the state nuclear power company. One minister has submitted her resignation, the other has been suspended. Ukraine’s anti-corruption agency has carried out a major investigation, involving alleged kickbacks worth around $100 million in the energy sector.

Assistant Minister for Climate Change Josh Wilson is Australia's highest-ranking official at COP30, now underway in Belem, Brazil. He's spoken with SBS Portuguese in a wide-ranging interview about the balance between the urgency and the opportunity that climate action represents, Australia's fossil fuel exports and renewable energy ambitions, and how COP can achieve results without USA and China. The Assistant Minister has also talked about Australia's continuing bid to host COP31, the absence of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at this climate summit, and his response to the Liberals party room discussions on net zero.

SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves speaks with Maree Kilroy from Oxford Economics Australia about the latest home loan data which shows lending to investors hit a record high to find out what it means for supply; plus James Gerrish from Market Parters takes a look at the day's market action and reveals what he's telling his clients.

A neo-Nazi demonstration outside New South Wales parliament has sent shockwaves through Sydney's Jewish and multicultural communities. The state government has been criticised after it was revealed the event proceeded with approval from the New South Wales Police. So how exactly was this neo-Nazi rally allowed to go ahead in the first place?

Indigenous leaders in the Amazon are urging leaders at the UN Climate Summit to empower First Nations people to protect their land and rainforests. As world leaders gather in the Amazonian city of Belem, pressure is on to go beyond words and ideas and start implementing meaningful policy.

A WARNING THAT THIS STORY CONTAINS GRAPHIC CONTENT At least twelve people have been killed and nearly thirty injured after a suicide bomber detonated explosives outside a district court in Islamabad. A faction of the Pakistani Taliban known as Jamaat-ul-Ahrar has claimed responsibility for the blast, which tore through one of the capital’s busiest legal precincts.

Australia's biggest citizen science project and the world's largest week-long frog count is underway. The croaks, chirps and clicks of 1.3 million frogs have already been recorded through the FrogID app. The initiative, led by the Australian Museum has contributed to the discovery of 13 new Australian frog species, including four which were described as "new to science" in the past year.

On November 11, 1975, Australia experienced its most dramatic constitutional crisis when Governor-General Sir John Kerr dismissed Prime Minister Gough Whitlam 50 years ago. We examine the full story of the Dismissal, from the political deadlock and the Loans Affair to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's recent claim of a "partisan political ambush" and new evidence suggesting foreign interference.

SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves speaks with Westpac's Matt Hassan about a dramatic rise in consumer confidence, despite reaccelerating inflation and diminishing prospects of lower interest rates; plus the day on the sharemarket with Jamie Hannah from VanEck, including a closer look at the Commonwealth Bank's latest profit result.

US President Donald Trump is threatening to sue the BBC over allegations they edited a speech to make it seem like he incited violence from supporters ahead of the January 6th US Capitol riots. Following the resignation of two senior BBC bosses, analysts say the legal action is just the latest effort from Trump to silence his critics.

A powerful car explosion near New Delhi’s historic Red Fort has killed at least eight people and injured around twenty others. The blast, which erupted near the Red Fort metro station in the city's old quarter, tore through one of the city’s busiest streets, setting vehicles ablaze and scattering debris and human remains along the road.

The director for the International Centre for Journalists says the resignation of two senior figures at the BBC is a result of an "orchestrated campaign to undercut public trust" in the broadcaster. The head of the BBC, director-general Tim Davie and news CEO Deborah Turness both resigned after criticism of the broadcaster’s editing of a speech by US President Donald Trump. Critics said the way the speech was edited for the BBC's flagship documentary program Panorama last year was misleading and cut out a section where Donald Trump said that he wanted supporters to demonstrate peacefully. Mr Trump has threatened legal action against the BBC over the way the speech he made was edited. Julie Posetti is a professor of journalism at City St George's University of London and director for the International Centre for Journalists and she's speaking here to AP.

Issuing a warning last week, Australia’s spy chief expressed concern about the potential for artificial intelligence to take online radicalisation and disinformation to new levels. Speaking to the spread of false news and violent narratives, Russian operatives were singled out. This growing threat has prompted experts to warn of quote: 'information warfare' If it’s not combatted.

John Laws, one of the Australia's most influential talkback radio presenters, has died aged 90. Tributes have been flowing for the legendary broadcaster from former colleagues to politicians who once feared him. His career spanned more than seven decades - not without its controversies.

Growing optimism that the US government shutdown could end this week has lifted share markets, including the ASX-200. Plus, ANZ has reported a full-year cash profit of $5.8 billion, down by 14 per cent after factoring in legal penalties and the costs of mass redundancies. For more, Stephanie Youssef spoke with Mathan Somasundaram, CEO of Deep Data Analytics.

After extreme weather events across the country this year, India will be among countries at COP 30 this week, calling for developed nations to pay more to mitigate the impacts of climate change. At last year’s COP conference, delegates agreed to a new financial target of $450 billion per year by 2035 to support developing countries. But many in the global south say that’s not enough. SBS News Correspondent Aaron Fernandes travelled to flood ravaged communities in India’s Uttarakhand state and filed this report.

Two BBC bosses have resigned amid accusations of institutional bias within the UK public broadcaster. The criticism focuses on an edit of a speech by Donald Trump before protesters attacked the US Capitol, with many commentators calling their treatment of the speech misleading. The controversy has raised questions about the role of the BBC and public broadcasters more generally, in an increasingly polarised media landscape.

Super Typhoon Fung-Wong has torn through the Philippines one week after the archipelago was hit hard by Typhoon Kalmaegi. Kalmaegi left widespread destruction and at least 224 Filipinos dead, with at least five dead in Vietnam. Typhoon Fung-Wong has now left the Philippines and is set to weaken before reaching Taiwan.

Thousands of flights across the United States are being cancelled and delayed as the U-S government shutdown passes 40 days. With federal workers going unpaid and food assistance programs facing cuts, Americans are urging Congress to reach a deal and end the shutdown.

The Victorian government has released the final report of an inquiry into women's experiences of pain - and it's made for some uncomfortable reading. Shaped by the experiences of 13,000 women and girls, the report has revealed gender health gaps, experiences of medical bias, sexism and misogyny, and feelings of being ignored or dismissed by clinicians are rampant throughout the Victorian health system.

Australian scientist Bruce Stillman reflects on the complicated legacy of American biologist James Watson who has died at the age of 97. He co-discovered the double helix structure of the DNA molecule - but his remarks in later life have drawn criticism.

Eighty years after the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the shadow of nuclear weapons has re-emerged on the world stage. Once thought to be relics of a bygone era, they are again the subject of fierce rhetoric between Washington, Moscow and Beijing.

Australia is set to issue its one millionth permanent humanitarian visa since the end of World War II as early as the end of this year. The milestone has prompted celebration over the immense contribution refugees make to Australia's national story. But refugee rights organisations say it's a pertinent time to consider how Australia can improve its response to mass global displacement.

An international team of scientists has warned that the world’s penguins could be at risk from the combined effects of extreme weather. The new study suggests it’s not single events like heatwaves that pose the biggest danger, but their combined impact both on land and at sea.

Demand for donated eggs is growing in Australia as more people face fertility challenges. But the demand for eggs far outstrips their supply and now, experts are arguing Australia should consider changing the rules around donation.

Tesla shareholders have approved a US$1 trillion dollar compensation package for CEO Elon Musk, tying him to the electric vehicle maker for a decade. Plus, the Australian sharemarket has followed Wall Street on a downward tilt, thanks to concerns over tech stock valuations and economic uncertainty. For more, Stephanie Youssef spoke with Heath Moss, Portfolio Manager at HLM Investments.

Leaders are gathering in Brazil for the UN COP30 Climate Summit as the United Nations declares the world will not meet the 1.5 degree warming limit set in 2015. With 2025 set to be one of the warmest years on record, the most vulnerable small island nations are pleading for stronger action.

Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, the RSF, has agreed to a humanitarian truce proposed by mediators, the first sign of possible peace after nearly three years of brutal conflict. The group says the pause is meant to allow aid to reach civilians, but the Sudanese Army has yet to accept the terms, insisting RSF fighters must first withdraw from populated areas.

A landmark report released this week has found Australian boys are feeling pressure to follow restrictive ideas about masculinity - and when they do - they are more likely to hurt themselves and others. Advocates have used a National Press Club address to call for urgent government reform, including a national action plan to improve young people's wellbeing and reduce violence.

The Nationals have officially dumped their net zero policy - but does that mean the Liberals are going to dump them? This week, we speak to Jill Sheppard, a political scientist from the Australian National University, about what's happening to the Coalition's relationship and if they should break up. We also have news about a very spooky White House Halloween and - for some reason - horse racing commentary in the House of Representatives.

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Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has called for sexual harassment to be made a criminal offence nationwide after being groped on the street. The incident occurred as she walked to an event near the presidential palace, shaking hands and taking pictures with people along the way.

SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves speaks with Michael Wayne from Medallion Financial about the day's sharemarket action including why investors were disappointed with NAB's $7.1bn cash earnings full- year report.

Confronting reports of mass killings in Sudan, after a key city in Darfur falls to the RSF. The plan for an international stabilisation force for Gaza makes its way to the UN and it’s ‘GAME ON’ after the democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani wins NY – with Donald Trump threatening to cut federal funding to the city. Plus, why young men in China are opening up about getting the snip.

This year's global climate summit - COP30 - is being hailed as the most significant in ten years, with experts describing it the "make or break decade" for action on global warming. But doubts are being raised about whether enough can be achieved.

The Democrats have secured landslide victories in a number of elections across the United States, with Zohran Mamdani making history in his election as New York City mayor. A year out from the midterms, analysts say the resounding Democratic victory should serve as a warning to Republicans that Donald Trump's more hard-line actions aren't going over well with voters.

New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani led a new generation of Democrat victories this week with his victory over the old guard and Andrew Cuomo. Mr Mamdani, the first Muslim to be elected mayor of the biggest U.S. city, defeated former Democratic Governor Andrew Cuomo, who ran as an independent after losing the nomination to Mamdani earlier this year. Mr Cuomo, who resigned as governor four years ago after sexual harassment allegations that he has denied, painted Mr Mamdani as a radical leftist whose proposals were unworkable and dangerous. Mr Mamdani himself has proposed raising taxes on corporations and the wealthy to pay for ambitious policies such as rent freezes, free childcare and free city buses. But like other winning candidates from the off-year elections, Mr Mamdani focused intensely on economic issues, particularly the cost of living, an issue that helped propel U.S. President, Donald Trump, to the White House last year but has remained top-of-mind for voters. In this episode of weeke nd omne-on-one, we hear from Eric Gander, who's the chair of the Department of Communications at New York's Baruch College.

Australia's race discrimination commissioner Giridharan Sivaraman says Australia needs a national inquiry into racism in workplaces. He has made the remarks as community leaders, advocates and trade union gathered in Canberra to examine systemic barriers faced by First Peoples and other racialised communities in the workplace.

SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves speaks with Rachael Lucas from BTC Markets about bitcoin's latest plunge while Luke Laretive from Seneca Financial Solutions takes a look at the day's trading action including a global sell-off triggered by interest rate and AI valuation concerns.

Reddit and live-streaming platform Kick will be added to the platforms required to ban 16s when the new rules come into effect in December. Australia's impending social media ban for under-16s, which covers eight major platforms, hinges on ongoing eSafety assessments that distinguish between social media, messaging, and gaming services, explaining why platforms like Steam and Twitch were not initially included.

One in three Australian households experienced food insecurity in the past 12 months, according to the Foodbank Hunger Report 2025. The report paints a stark picture of widening food insecurity across the nation, debunking the myth that hunger only affects the unemployed or homeless. The report reveals that cost-of-living pressures remain the number one concern for 91% of food-insecure households, followed by housing and the broader economy. Behind the data are the real stories of families forced to skip meals so children can eat, workers going hungry to pay rising rents, and people living with disability or illness struggling to put food on the table. Foodbank Australia CEO Kylea Tink spoke with SBS's Cameron Carr

Former US Vice President Dick Cheney has died at the age of 84 from complications related to pneumonia and cardiovascular disease. Mr Cheney became one of the most powerful vice presidents in US history as George W Bush’s number two during 9/11 and the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Professor Michael Wear, a Malgana Traditional Custodian from Shark Bay, has been honoured at the 26th Prime Minister’s Prizes for Science for his groundbreaking work uniting Indigenous knowledge and marine science. He is the inaugural winner of the Prime Minister’s Prize for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Knowledge Systems. Through his company Tidal Moon, Professor Wear is leading a world-first seagrass restoration project that employs Aboriginal divers, supports sustainable livelihoods, and restores cultural connections to Sea Country. His work highlights how traditional wisdom and Western science can come together to protect Australia’s oceans and climate.

Members of the Sudanese-Australian community are anxiously awaiting news from their family trapped in the city of Al-Fasher after an explosion of violence. The city was captured by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces one week ago, with experts believing thousands may have been killed in widespread massacres. With internet and phone services cut off, those living abroad are forced to sit and wait to learn if their loved ones are still alive.

Australians in three states are to be offered three hours of free electricity in the middle of the day, under a scheme to share abundant solar energy harvested in non-peak hours. The plan has been welcomed by environmental groups, but some in the Opposition are unimpressed.

SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves speaks with Laura Cooper from Nuveen and Gemma Dale from nabtrade about the RBA's decision to leave interest rates on hold and why its revised inflation forecasts risks an end to its rate cutting cycle.

An unusual alliance of crossbenchers and the Coalition has forced an ongoing extension of Question Time in the Senate. They are demanding the Labor government immediately release the "jobs for mates" report, which it has withheld for two years. Critics, including Transparency International, say the government's refusal to release the report is further evidence of a "culture of secrecy" at a time when its integrity standards are under heightened scrutiny.