SBS News In Depth

Donald Trump is preparing to be formally briefed by senior officials on options for responding to deadly protests in Iran. The US president says he is willing to back up his earlier threat to strike Iran over the deaths of civilian protesters.

Autism advocates have had mixed reactions to the release of an autism Barbie, designed to increase awareness and acceptance of neurodiversity in children, particularly girls. American toymaker Mattel announced the new doll this week, including special features to accomodate the traits and behaviours associated with autism.

One of the world's biggest tennis tournaments is back for another year as the Australian Open gets underway in Melbourne. Here's a breakdown of some of the details of the Australian Grand Slam as well as some key names to watch out for.

Cooler conditions are helping fire crews in Victoria contain the raging bushfires which have devastated regional communities around the state for the past six days. But with many blazes still out of control, those communities now face an overwhelming recovery and uncertain future.

As the world's population becomes increasingly reliant on critical minerals to make technology from smart phones to car parts and even weapons, the resource has become a matter of national security. The Australian Government, announcing that it will prioritise several key critical minerals in the nation's 1.2 billion dollar strategic reserve.

Anti-government protests in Iran have now entered a third week. Human rights groups say more than 490 protesters and 48 security personnel have already been killed since the demonstrations began. Iranian authorities have vowed to toughen their response to demonstrators further, accusing the United States and Israel of trying to escalate unrest.

At least 29 people have been arrested in Minneapolis during ongoing protests over the fatal shooting of a US citizen by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent. The killing of Renee Good has sparked demonstrations across the country, while further confrontations with ICE agents have been filmed.

SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves speaks with Ord Minnett's David Lane about Rio Tinto and Glencore restarting merger talks and if it will be any different this time around, as they seek to create the world's biggest mining company with huge copper assets.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced a Federal Royal Commission into the Bondi terror attack and rising antisemitism. It's to be led by former High Court Justice Virginia Bell and incorporate a national security review by Dennis Richardson. While the inquiry aims to promote social cohesion and address extremism by December 2026, experts warn that its success will depend on navigating the delicate balance between free speech and hate speech.

Tensions between Minnesota and federal officials have deepened over a United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer's fatal shooting of a woman in the city of Minneapolis. Protesters have clashed with law enforcement in the city, the day after the US citizen was killed by ICE agents.

Deadly protests in Iran have spread to more provinces presenting a new challenge for the country's leadership. It is the biggest wave of protests since the nationwide demonstrations in 2022, sparked by the death in custody of Mahsa Amini.

President Maduro snatched from his bed, Trump’s grab for Greenland unifies Europe. Plus, nationwide protests rattle the Iranian regime, and China’s stiff rise in the cost of condoms.

SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves takes a look at why some global markets are hitting record levels with Matt Wacher from Morningstar, plus why BlueScope has rejected a $13bn takeover bid.

Syria's government is demanding that Kurdish fighters leave the neighbourhoods they control in Aleppo following clashes between the two sides which saw thousands of civilians flee. The clashes in the north Syrian city have killed at least 16 civilians, prompting calls from the United Nations for a peaceful resolution to the conflict.

The United States has seized two oil tankers linked to Venezuela from the North Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. The seizure takes place days after the US captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife in a pre-dawn military operation. It's prompted renewed calls for the US to comply with international law and respect trade between sovereign nations.

Following the final funeral for a victim of the Bondi terror attack, the Coalition has ramped up pressure on the Government to launch a Royal Commission with a specific focus on government accountability and extremist ideology. While the Opposition has detailed a three-commissioner model, the Government remains cautious, with analysts suggesting concerns over how the inquiry's scope might affect social cohesion and the broader national agenda.

SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves speaks to Pradeep Philip, from Deloitte Access Economics, and Alice Shen, CFA from VanEck, about the latest inflation result and the day's sharemarket moves.

A new study has found trees across Australia are dying at a faster rate than new ones are growing, a trend that is contributing to an increase in carbon emissions. The research, led by Western Sydney University and published in the Nature Plants journal, has found trees in all types of ecosystems - from tropical rainforests to eucalypt forests - are thinning as the climate warms.

Fodmap, high protein, gluten-free, lowfat, clean eating - so many diets, so much conflicting advice. Australian experts are warning that following multiple diets at the same time could have unexpected consequences.

The United Nations has condemned the US attacks in Venezuela over the weekend as a direct violation of the UN charter. As the former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro awaits his next court date in New York, the Venezuelan Attorney General joins others urging recognition of Mr Maduro's immunity under international law.

Almost seven million people living on the expanding fringes of Australia's capital cities are at risk from urban fires similar to those seen in Los Angeles last year. The warning, by former Australian fire chiefs and the Climate Council comes as the country is set to swelter in one of the most significant heatwaves of recent years.

SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves speaks with Chris Brycki from Stockspot about the Dow Jones Index overnight record and takes a closer look at the joint takeover bid for Bluescope Steel.

Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen believes Donald Trump is 'very serious' about wanting control of Greenland, a largely autonomous part of the Danish kingdom. President Trump has repeatedly said the US ‘must’ control it for national security reasons, sparking real concern among European leaders who have backed Denmark’s position.

Former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has pleaded not guilty to so-called narco-terrorism charges in New York's federal court. As criticism builds over the US assault in Venezuela, so too do fears over similar military operations elsewhere.

Parents sending children to childcare are now guaranteed a 90 per cent subsidy for three days a week, without completing any eligibility test. The subsidy will cost around $430 million over the next four years but the government says hundreds of thousands of families are set to benefit.

As the world digests the US capture of Venezuela’s President Nicolás Maduro, the Australian government is calling for diplomatic restraint while domestic critics warn the military operation constitutes a "gross breach" of international law. The Coalition is backing what it calls the "decisive action" against a government they link to global drug trafficking, while the Greens and legal experts warn that failing to condemn the raid sets a dangerous precedent for global aggression and puts Australian sovereignty at risk.

SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves speaks with Saul Kavonic from MST Marquee to find out what the developments in Venezuela means for oil and petrol prices; plus Armina Rosenberg from Minatour Capital takes a look at the key sharemarket investment themes for 2026.

Events in Venezuela have stirred emotion among the Latin American diaspora in Australia. In Sydney and Melbourne, Venezuelans are gathering in streets and community spaces as developments unfold.

Top Venezuelan officials say they will remain unified behind President Nicolas Maduro, who remains in custody in New York after he was captured in a US military operation over the weekend. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has continued to defend the military action, despite mounting domestic and international criticism.

Associate Professor Patsie Frawley researches sexuality rights as well as violence and abuse prevention in the lives of people with disabilities.

US President Donald Trump says he ordered a large-scale strike on Venezuela to capture Venezuela's President Nicolás Maduro and his wife. They have been charged with drug and weapons offences in New York. The action has been praised by Mr Trump's allies, but widely condemned by many nations.

Australia’s non-dairy milk market is worth more than $600 million annually and is growing rapidly. One plant-based milk business run by an Australian entrepreneur also supports some of the world’s poorest women.

Artificial intelligence is turning ideas into art. It’s being auctioned for thousands of dollars and increasingly winning art prizes. But visual artists are divided about what this new movement means for their job futures and the future of creativity.

Some remember the Vietnam War battles from the headlines of the 1960s and 1970s, and some from movies and history books. Others know them as the graveyards of loved ones who died fighting more than a half-century ago. Today, the battlefields of Vietnam are sites of pilgrimage for veterans from both sides who fought there, and tourists wanting to see firsthand where the war was waged.

Australia’s billion-dollar beef trade faces a massive shakeup as China imposes a new 55 per cent tariff on imports that exceed strictly capped annual quotas. While the Chinese government claims the move will protect its farmers from oversupply, Australian industry leaders and the Federal Opposition warn the tariff increase breaches the spirit of Australia's long-standing free trade agreement with China.

A New Year’s Eve celebration at a luxury Alpine ski resort has ended in one of the deadliest disasters in Switzerland's modern history. Around 40 people are dead and more than 100 injured, including one Australian, after a fire tore through a crowded nightclub in the early hours of New Year’s Day, triggering scenes of panic, chaos and devastation. A warning: this story has elements that may distress some people.

While statelessness affects millions of people around the world, Australia also has stateless people.The United Nations refugee agency says there are around 8,000 stateless people in Australia, but experts say there could be more. The UNHCR is calling on the Australian government to create a stateless determination procedure (SDP), which would contribute to efforts to assess the size and the situation of stateless population amongst migrant populations.The fourth episode of Belonging Nowhere looks at Australia and how it deals with statelessness.

The use of AI in recruitment is on the rise, with almost two thirds of Australian organisations believed to be using the technology in their job hiring processes. There are growing concerns over the risks of discrimination.

Hundreds of newly released cabinet papers reveal the inner workings of the Howard government in the mid-noughties with warnings about the role that defence personnel should play in Afghanistan and Australia's preparedness for a pandemic.

The Israeli government is set to revoke the licences of 37 aid groups working in Gaza and the West Bank, which have failed to meet its new vetting rules. Israel says the suspensions will not affect the delivery of aid, but the move has drawn widespread criticism.

SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves speaks with Mark Gardner from MPC Markets about whether investors should be happy with the near 7% return on the ASX200 this year and what the key investment themes for 2026 will likely be.

Russia says nuclear-capable missiles have been deployed to Belarus and are in active service. It brings the weapons closer to Europe as Russia toughens its negotiating position in peace talks with Ukraine.

Sydney's iconic New Year's Eve fireworks will ring in 2026, but celebrations will look a little different this year with some police officers carrying long-arms following the Bondi terror attack. In other cities the New Year will also be welcomed with fireworks and music in many popular spots around the country.

For a year and a half, Israel has been bombarding the densely populated Gaza Strip in response to attacks staged by Hamas on October 7th, 2023. It was a rapid escalation of an old, old conflict and many people understand that it has created millions of displaced people and refugees. Not many people understand that many of those are also stateless. This third episode of Belonging Nowhere looks into it.

More details have emerged from police into the motives and movements of the two alleged shooters of the Bondi Beach terror attack. An initial assessment has found Sajid and Naveed Akram acted alone, and weren't part of a terrorist cell.

SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves speaks with Gemma Dale from nabtrade about the day's sharemarket action and a look to the investment themes for 2026.

Russia has accused Ukraine of trying to attack President Vladimir Putin's residence in northern Russia, which Ukraine's government has dismissed as baseless and designed to undermine peace negotiations. The angry exchanges have dealt a new blow to prospects for peace in Ukraine.

Many stateless people are displaced around the world, attempting to find somewhere they can call home. Their journeys can often take a heavy toll, as they deal with traumatic experiences, or need to hid their true identities as a persecuted minority. In this second episode of 'Belonging Nowhere' we’ll hear some of the many stories of how people from different stateless backgrounds come to Australia – and the difficulties they’ve faced trying to make a home.

The search for Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 is set to resume more than a decade after the aircraft vanished while travelling from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing with 239 people on board. A fresh search in the southern Indian Ocean is being conducted by private marine robotics company Ocean Infinity, using advanced technology in hopes of retrieving answers to one of the world's greatest aviation mysteries. But families of passengers on board say they need transparency on the terms of the search, and clarity on the prospects for recovery.

SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves speaks with Hugh Lam from Betashares about the day's market action including the rising gold and silver price, plus investment themes for 2026.