SBS News In Depth

All eyes are on the New York City Mayoral election this year, with political newcomer Zohran Mamdani making waves as he holds a steady lead over both Andrew Cuomo and Curtis Sliwa. Drawing the attention of both Barack Obama and Donald Trump, the Mayoral race for America's largest city is attracting attention across the country.

New national clinical guidelines for the treatment of concussion have been released. They are aimed at helping healthcare professionals treat patients with greater consistency, amid concern that providing the right care can still be a blind spot.

Thousands of Indigenous households across northern Australia live with prepaid power, where disconnection can happen at any moment. Now a new report has warned that without stronger protections, the system could turn deadly in extreme heat. SBS’s Christopher Tan travelled to the Kimberley to see what life is like when power is a privilege, not a guarantee.

SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves speaks with Westpac CEO Anthony Miller about the bank's full-year results to find out what will drive growth in the future, and takes a look at the market reaction with David Walsh from Sarto Advisory Pty Ltd.

Traditional owners in far north Queensland are calling for an iconic saltwater crocodile to be returned to country. The croc, named 'Old Faithful', featured in the Crocodile Hunter series alongside the late Steve Irwin - but he's been re-homed far from his natural habitat following concerns over aggressive behaviour.

Under-fire Optus executives have copped a parliamentary bashing for their response to a triple-zero outage linked to the deaths of three people. The proceedings have immediately zeroed in on CEO Stephen Rue, who is being pressured to explain a significant delay in reporting the fatalities to both the government and the regulator.

Spring is historically the time of year that sees the most new listings in the property market - and the highest sales volumes. But with rumours that the RBA is likely to keep interest rates on hold until next year, what effect will that have on sales? Eliza Owen from Cotality (formerly Corelogic) spoke to SBS's Cameron Carr

After a mass stabbing on a train in the UK left 11 people hospitalised, police say they have no evidence suggesting the attack was related to terrorism.With one suspect now in custody, authorities in the UK are urging the public to give time for a full investigation into the motives behind the incident.

The Nationals have formally walked away from support of Australia's net zero emissions by 2050 policy after a party room meeting in Canberra. The decision sets up a potential showdown with their coalition partner the Liberals, who are also reviewing their approach to climate change after their disastrous election defeat.

[[A WARNING THAT THIS STORY CONTAINS GRAPHIC DESCRIPTIONS]] Ten people have been injured - nine of them critically - after a stabbing rampage on a train in London. The country's Prime Minister has called the attack deeply concerning. Counter terrorism police are now investigating the incident.

A new report released this week by the Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA) has found the financial cost of the gender pay gap accelerates across a woman’s lifetime, peaking in the late 50s at a difference of $53,000. WGEA’s Ages and Wages report investigates how and why the gender pay gap changes at different stages across a lifetime. It lists key actions employers can take to address it. WGEA CEO Mary Wooldridge spoke to SBS On the Money's Stephanie Youssef

State and territory governments in Australia will face scrutiny as part of a parliamentary inquiry on the outcomes and impacts of youth incarceration. The over-incarceration of First Nations children will also be a key focus.

As Australia deepens its engagement in the Indo-Pacific region, strategic partners are more important than ever. Australia's longstanding military alliance with American forces is being expanded into the future. Josh van Staden takes a look inside the US Marines base near Darwin, where thousands of US Marines have recently departed as part of an annual rotational force.

England has a new law that will force social housing landlords to ensure their property is safe. The legislation came about as a result of the death of a two-year old boy who died from breathing in black mould which infested his family's home.

A long-awaited Aged Care Act comes into force today [[Nov 1]], four years after a Royal Commission recommended major reforms to the sector. The federal government says it will give older Australians more choice and access to in-home support, but there are concerns many people will end up paying more for care.

The author of the review that triggered the government's environment reforms has fully endorsed Labor's nature legislation. Professor Graeme Samuel has told SBS the bill implements the 'totality' of the recommendations he made in his report, five years after it was delivered. The Greens and Coalition have objected to the bill, with Greens leader Larissa Waters describing it as 1400 pages gift-wrapped for big business. But Professor Samuel says environmental groups and business interests alike had substantial input into his report, and their desires were fully taken into account in the recommendations. He's been talking to SBS chief political correspondent Anna Henderson.

A new report by SBS and the University of Canberra have found there is an increased sense of belonging among multilingual communities compared to 2023. It also details factors that could affect the levels of civic participation among multilingual communities, and the different attitudes toward sense of belonging between younger and older generations of multilingual Australians.

A not for profit organisation says almost half of Indigenous communities living cut off from the world face extinction within the decade due to logging, mining and tourism. Survival International says they want the world - especially governments and industries - to recognise and address the problem as a global emergency.

SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves speaks with Grady Wulff from Bell Direct about the day's market action including how the interest rate outlook is impacting the market and AI profitability.

Victoria's First Nations community is celebrating a historic milestone - legislation to establish the first treaty in Australia's history passed through state parliament on Thursday night. It's expected to enter force by the end of the year, after an official signing ceremony and royal assent from Victoria's governor, in the culmination of a whole decade of negotiations. The legislation establishes a permanent Aboriginal advisory and decision-making body, to be known as Gellung Warl, which will remain outside the state's constitution. Aunty Jill Gallagher is the C-E-O of the Victorian Community Controlled Health Organisation, and served as the Treaty Advancement Commissioner in 2018. She's been talking to SBS's Tee Mitchell.

After almost a decade of activism and community efforts, Victoria has passed Australia's first ever treaty legislation establishing a permanent Indigenous representative body in the state parliament. The landmark agreement between the Victorian Government and the First People's Assembly of Victoria marks a historic step towards recognising and reckoning with Victoria's violent colonial history.

York in northern England is a historic city with a long tradition of spooky sightings and eerie apparitions. This Halloween, the city is celebrating its connections with ghosts.

Hurricane Melissa has left a trail of devastation across the northern Caribbean, striking Jamaica, Cuba and Haiti before sweeping towards Bermuda. One of the most powerful Atlantic storms on record, it has killed at least 30 people, displaced thousands and crippled vital infrastructure. Recovery efforts are now under way across the region.

This sitting week has brought a storm over the BoM's new website, controversy about a t-shirt and some massive proposed reforms to Australia's environmental laws. To help us sort through what on earth is happening with the EPBC (and explain what it is) we spoke with Dr Kirsty Howey from the Environment Centre NT.

SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves speaks with market analyst Evan Lucas about the implications of another US interest rate cut, talk a follow up in December isn't assured and what it means for AI investment; plus the AFR's Yolanda Redrup on the trends making young people rich.

A group of First Nations Australian business owners and operators are in India showcasing their businesses, as part of a push to build ties between Indigenous communities in the two countries. The aim is to expand opportunities for Indigenous participation in international trade, three years after a historic trade agreement was signed between India and Australia.

Australia's most significant environmental law reform in decades has been tabled in Parliament, but it faces immediate political deadlock with opponents in the Senate ready to delay the vote. As Minister Murray Watt pushes for a swift resolution, he must navigate an environment where both the Coalition and the Greens are demanding major concessions on accountability, climate, and industry protection.

Donald Trump talks up tributes and tariff deals on his Asia tour, as well as the possibility of a third term as he stops in on the ASEAN and APEC summits. In Gaza, Israel and Hamas accuse each other of ceasefire violations. US sanctions on Russian oil piles the pressure on Putin, and a curriculum catastrophe for Queensland students.

A week out from hosting thousands of international visitors for the United Nation's climate summit, Brazilian authorities are clearing the aftermath of what has become one of the deadliest police raids in the nation's history. The president says he had no warning of the scale of Rio de Janiero's police raid and the U-N is calling for an independent investigation.

Hurricane Melissa has carved a path of devastation through the Caribbean this week, first battering Jamaica, then surging into Cuba. It's left tens of thousands homeless, power grids faltering, and nations mobilising aid. At least 27 people are confirmed dead across Jamaica, Haiti, and Cuba, with early estimates suggesting hundreds of millions of dollars in damage.

A WARNING THAT THIS STORY CONTAINS GRAPHIC ELEMENTS THAT MAY DISTRESS SOME PEOPLE. There are fears for tens of thousands of civilians trapped in the western Sudanese city of Al Fasher, after the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces overran the military's last stronghold in the Darfur region. Aid groups and observers are now documenting cases of mass killings and other atrocities. SBS spoke with Nathaniel Raymond of the Yale Humanitarian Research Lab about the gravity of the crisis.

Hurricane Melissa is regathering strength as it makes way towards Cuba, where mass evacuations are taking place. Jamaica has officially been declared a disaster zone after Melissa swept through as a Category Five storm, weakening to a Category Four. The Caribbean disaster has left at least seven people dead with casualties reported in Jamaica, Haiti and the Dominican Republic.

The Housing Australia Future Fund (HAFF) is under intense political scrutiny following the launch of a forensic nine-month federal audit. The $10 billion scheme, intended to boost social and affordable housing, is accused by the Opposition of wasting taxpayer funds and overpaying for properties. The debate has been dominated by the fund's slow delivery and expert concerns that its structure incentivises market-tied "fake affordable" rents over genuine public housing.

SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves speaks with Belinda Allen from the Commonwealth Bank who is now predicting an end to the Reserve Bank cutting cycle, following a stronger than expected rise in September quarter inflation, while Sally Auld from NAB says there's still a chance of a cut in May; plus a look at the market reaction with Jun Bei Liu fom TenCap.

The Western Australian Governor has apologised for his predecessor's role in a state-led violent attack against Noongar men, women and children almost 200 years ago, known as the Pinjarra massacre. Descendants of the Bindjareb Noongar people received the long-awaited apology saying it is a meaningful step towards reconciliation.

Voters in the Netherlands have begun casting their ballots in the country’s general election. Polls suggest the hard-right anti-immigration party led by Geert Wilders is likely to win the most seats, however that doesn’t mean he’ll lead a new government. The campaign has been dominated by housing and immigration with concern about asylum seekers being scapegoated.

SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves speaks with Australia's Special Envoy to Southeast Asia Nicholas Moore to find out how regional leaders feel about doing business with Australians as he attends the ASEAN summit; plus Michael Jenneke from UBS Management takes a look at the day's sharemarket action as CSL and Wisetech shares crash.

The federal government will add a medicine for chronic kidney disease into the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme. More than 65.000 Australians are expected to benefit from the cheaper access to Jardiance , also known as Empagliflozin.

Hurricane Melissa, a rare and powerful Category Five storm, is bearing down on Jamaica, threatening to be the island’s worst hurricane in more than a century. With winds near 280 kilometres an hour and up to a metre of rain forecast, the storm could cause catastrophic flooding. Authorities warn that the entire island is at risk, with Cuba and the Bahamas also in Melissa’s path later this week.

The long-awaited overhaul of Australia’s national environmental law is set to ignite Parliament this week, as the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act (EPBC) faces its first major reform in twenty-six years. This second attempt at a package, featuring an independent EPA and a new National Interest power, has already generated a political firestorm. The Opposition is demanding the bill be split, while the Greens warn the entire package is "riddled with loopholes."

A man and a young woman have been killed in a mine explosion near the outback town of Cobar in far western New South Wales. An investigation is underway into the cause of the underground blast, which has devastated the local community. Political leaders and mining unions say the tragedy highlights the urgent need to strengthen workplace safety in Australia’s mining industry.

Sudan’s civil war has entered a dangerous new phase as the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) seize the army’s last major base in Darfur. The fall of El-Fasher has sparked a humanitarian crisis, with thousands fleeing and aid groups warning of ethnic violence and starvation.

The Kurdistan Workers' Party, otherwise known as the P-K-K, has announced it will withdraw its fighters from Turkiye after a decades-long insurgency. While the move has been welcomed by many, the P-K-K says it now wants to see Turkiye's government act in good faith to protect Kurdish rights and allow the group to enter mainstream politics.

SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves speaks with Elio D'Amato from EnviroInvest about why investors are increasingly optimistic of a US China trade deal ahead of leadership talks, as some global central banks prepare to cut interest rates this week.

Timor-Leste has officially joined ASEAN as its 11th member state – an achievement more than a decade in the making. The moment marks both a diplomatic triumph and a new chapter for the young nation forged from decades of struggle.

The Albanese government has handed Australian artists a major victory by definitively ruling out a controversial exemption that would have allowed tech companies free rein to mine creative work to train AI models. This decision, which was immediately praised as a "critical step in the right direction" by the creative sector, now paves the way for the Copyright and AI Reference Group to convene and determine the next steps for modernising Australia's copyright laws.

The 47th annual ASEAN summit is underway in Malaysia, with talks expected to focus on trade and regional security - with a dash of US President Donald Trump. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is also attending and says his focus for the trip will be Australian jobs and security.

US and EU sanctions on Russia's largest oil companies this week has left refineries in China and India assessing their implications. Some sell refined products to Australia. But will the latest measures be able to capture Russia's shadow fleet that exploit sanction loopholes? Exclusive data shared with SBS has shown vessels transporting Russian crude oil and previously sanctioned by the Federal government still appear in the supply chains of Australian companies.

One in five Australians, or around three-million adults, have low literacy or numeracy skills - and it can have a big impact on how people are able to engage in every day life. Programs are in place across the country to help people improve their skills and achieve their life goals. Including one in Tasmania, helping adults become work ready.

The prospect for an alien invasion of Earth has been flooding the Internet in recent weeks thanks to the object 3-I-ATLAS currently hurtling through our solar system which some have warned may be an alien spacecraft that can attack our planet. Spoiler alert - NASA says it isn't. But even so, the fears of alien invasion are nothing new: in the final years of the nineteenth century, in his novel War of the Worlds, British author H G Wells wrote that 'minds immeasurably greater than our own, across the gulf of space, made their plans against us'. So what is the likelihood of an alien invasion? In this edition of Weekend One on One, Jason Wright, professor of astronomy and astrophysics at Penn State University and director of the Penn State Extraterrestrial Intelligence Centre looks into whether it could happen here.