SBS News In Depth

A coronial investigation launched in Tasmania in 2016 has found the University of Tasmania removed and kept human remains without consent or approval. The investigation raises broader questions about collections of human remains in other universities and museums in Australia, and what obligation these institutions have to identify their origin.

New research has found Australia's heat-stressed forests are rapidly thinning, and could even be producing carbon emissions. It comes as the government prepares to release its 2035 emissions targets and a climate risk report later this month. But local researchers, politicians and Traditional Owner land groups remain divided on how to protect the forest.

World leaders will gather in New York next week for the annual General Assembly. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has highlighted peace, climate, responsible innovation, gender equality, development financing and UN reform as central themes of the week. But the high-level week of the General Assembly also marks the 80th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations. We take a look at just what the UNGA is and what its powers are.

After years of trying to conceive, Isabel Lewis thought the hard part was over — until cybercriminals targeted her fertility clinic. The data breach at Genea Fertility included patient's medical histories, diagnoses and treatments, medications and prescriptions, as well as pathology and diagnostic test results. Now, hundreds of Australians have shown interest in a class action lawsuit over the breach, which could be the first test of new reforms to Australia's Privacy Act.

In Western Australia's Wheatbelt, a region long shaped by industrial farming practices, a new model of regenerative agriculture is taking root. At Yaraguia farm, Ballardong Noongar man Oral McGuire is healing Country, reconnecting First Nations knowledge of caring for Country with modern land management to restore ecosystems and produce food that benefits both the land and the community.

The Israeli military has confirmed four of its personnel were killed in Rafah as well as two Israeli citizens, in a shooting described as a terrorist attack at Allenby Crossing. The crisis has deepened divisions around the world and at the United Nations, where a US veto blocked a resolution calling for a ceasefire and unrestricted aid.

Stephanie Youssef speaks with Omkar Joshi from Opal Capital Management for the day's sharemarket news, including whether AI is in bubble territory, while SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves goes through the upcoming age pension changes with Joshua Parisotto from HESTA.

Climate advocates say the federal government's 2035 emissions reduction target falls "dangerously short", while the Coalition has said its plan is "grounded in fantasy land". Government ministers are now working to justify the target to the public and the community, as the Coalition is under pressure to outline their climate policy.

Donald Trump says Vladimir Putin has “let him down”, and revealed the US is working to regain control of a key air base in Afghanistan, during a wide-ranging press conference that marked the end of his state visit to the United Kingdom. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer farewelled his guest - relieved the trip went without any major controversy.

This week marks 25 years since the opening of the Sydney Olympics. From welcoming athletes to washing t-shirts, an army of than 46,000 volunteers helped maintain the smooth running of the games - including pioneer volunteers who volunteered in the years leading up to the games.

Donald Trump gets some face time with the King & Queen on a state visit to the UK. A UN commission of inquiry finds Israel’s war in Gaza amounts to genocide as Israel’s ground operation in Gaza City gets underway. MAGA vows war on the left in response to Charlie Kirk's killing and Bolsonaro is sentenced to 27 years in jail. Plus, Albania unveils an all AI minister.

Retail giant Kmart has been accused of violating customers' privacy with its use of facial recognition. The company says it trialled the technology to tackle increased theft and fraud and is considering appealing the Privacy Commissioner's ruling.

SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves speaks with Blair Chapman from Seek about the latest jobs data which showed a near 41,000 fall in full-time jobs; Lochlan Halloway from Morningstar takes a look at the day's sharemarket action including the reaction to the US Federal Reserve's first interst rate cut this year; and Stephanie Youssef discusses the future of chocolate prices with Paul Joules from Rabobank.

As one of the world's biggest greenhouse gas emitters per capita, Australia has announced its new 2035 emissions reduction target. The federal government has committed to a target to cut emissions by 62 to 70 per cent by 2035, based on 2005 levels. Some say the target is too high, others say it's too low. Labor says it's both ambitious and achievable.

United States President Donald Trump is visiting the United Kingdom where he has met with members of the Royal family and talked up the historical bond between the two countries.

Hundreds of thousands of Gazans are fleeing south as Israel’s bombardment of the enclave intensifies, with families forced to carry children and the elderly along designated so-called safe routes.Meanwhile, Israel’s far-right finance minister has controversially described Gaza as a potential real estate bonanza once demolished.

Experts say there are a number of driving forces behind recent mass demonstrations in Australia and the UK, and says they are "not particularly exceptional". They also say media organisations need to treat this issue with caution when reporting.

Thousands are celebrating becoming new Australians, as local councils hosted ceremonies around the country for Australian Citizenship Day. SBS spoke to some of the new citizens.

Parents and grandparents are increasingly offering financial assistance to family members with 20 per cent saying they provided help in the last quarter, so SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves speaks with UBS Economist Stephen Wu to find out to what extent they're helping. Plus Kyle Rodda from capital.com looks through the day's sharemarket action and previews the Federal Reserve's interest rate decision.

The 22-year-old suspected of killing conservative activist Charlie Kirk has been formally charged with capital murder. Meanwhile, the fallout from the assassination continues to reverberate across the United States, in the courts, in politics, and in public debate.

The Prime Minister is leaving Papua New Guinea empty-handed after a landmark security agreement wasn't signed in the final hours. The delayed deal comes less than two weeks after a similar defence with Vanuatu was delayed over concerns it will affect their other relationships.

Israel has intensified its ground assault on Gaza City just hours after a UN committee released a report adding to widespread accusations of genocide. The Australian government is among a growing chorus of countries - and hostage families - calling for Israel to change course.

Australia's eSafety commissioner has published regulatory guidelines for social media platforms, giving effect to the government's under-16 social media ban. While the ban won't be in place until December 10th, the eSafety commissioner says they want it to be as minimally invasive as possible. Under the guidance, social media platforms will not have to verify the age of every user on their platforms.

Liberal senator Jonathan Duniam has warned the Coalition will face a "mass exodus" from its frontbench if it adopts a net zero policy without caveats, handing Opposition leader Sussan Ley a fresh test over the party's stance on climate action. The warning comes a day after Liberal MP Andrew Hastie threatened to quit the party if it pursued a policy of net zero emissions by 2050.

SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves takes a look at the driving forces in the currency markets with Chris Weston from Pepperstone and previews the US Federal Reserve's Thursday morning interest rate decision.

Voters in Moldova head to the polls later this month, in an election authorities warn is being undermined by a campaign of vote buying and digital propaganda, orchestrated by Moscow. Independent investigators believe up to 40% of votes will be the result of the Russian interference campaign, which seeks to promote pro-Kremlin parties and slow Moldova’s plans to join the European Union.

Arab and Islamic leaders have met in Doha following Israel’s strike that killed Hamas officials and a Qatari security officer. Qatar’s Emir accused Israel of seeking dominance, while Iran, Turkey and Egypt called for sanctions, isolation and regional defence coordination.

Papua New Guinea is celebrating the 50th anniversary of its independence from Australia. The occasion is being marked with festivities in the capital Port Moresby as well as Papua New Guinean communities in Australia. The ongoing relationship remains crucial to both counties - even more so with the signing of an landmark defence agreement in Port Moresby.

The latest snapshot of sexually transmitted infections in Australia shows some alarming trends over the past 10 years. A report from the University of New South Wales' Kirby Institute suggests testing gaps and accessibility issues are contributing to a rise in cases.

The Australian share market has begun the week lower, despite optimism ahead of the US Federal Reserve’s expected interest rate cut this week. For more, Stephanie Youssef spoke with Macquarie Private Bank Division Director Martin Lakos. Plus, ANZ has been fined $240 million for what ASIC has called widespread misconduct, including allegations of failing to respond to customer hardship notices and failing to refund fees charged to thousands of dead customers. For more, Asha Abdi spoke with Professor Allan Fels from the University of Melbourne.

Coastal hazards driven by climate change could put three million people at risk by 2090 if Australia warms by 3 degrees, according to a major body of new climate research released by the federal government. The National Climate Risk Assessment has been released, as the government prepares the ground to announce its carbon emissions reduction target for 2035.

Prominent calls are being made for the federal government to adopt newly-introduced recommendations, following a report by the government-appointed Envoy to Combat Islamophobia. It follows data from the Islamophobia Register Australia, revealing a 530 per cent increase in incidents since October 7, 2023.

An Israeli strike on Doha last week has set off a wave of condemnation, with Arab and Islamic leaders gathering in Qatar to arrive at a united response. Israel, meanwhile, is standing firm, deepening its alliance with Washington as the war in Gaza rages on.

In Iran, mandatory hijab laws sparked nationwide protests three years ago over death in custody of Mahsa Jina Amini. While the presence of morality police on the streets has declined, the regime says it is instead using digital tools such as citizen-watch apps, drones and facial recognition to enforce its crackdown. But women are finding new ways to resist.

A new Aged Care Act is weeks away from coming into effect, but there are aspects that has the Inspector-General of Aged Care concerned.

This week, NASA announced findings of potential biosignatures on Mars. Does that mean there's proof that there was once life on Mars? In this edition of Weekend One on One, Dr Micheal Tice, geology professor at Texas A&M University, who's involved in the ongoing research project, explains what the findings mean.

Using your phone while on the toilet could be linked to an increased chance of haemorrhoids, according to a study from the United States. So if you're a loo scroller, the extra time spent on the toilet could be doing you more harm than good.

Politicians are warning against the risks of extremism and political violence, after rival rallies were held in Australia's capital cities and regional centres.

A 22-year-old man has been arrested over the shooting death of Charlie Kirk at a Utah University. He's been identified as Tyler Robinson, a Utah resident who family members say had recently become more 'political' and increasingly vocal in his opposition to the conservative activist's ideas.

Making the switch from branded products to a store's home brand alternatives could save shoppers thousands of dollars each year at checkout, according to a financial comparison website. SBS's Cameron Carr has been finding out more from Compare the Market spokesman Phillip Portman.

Dr Dara Conduit at the University of Melbourne explains the impact of the death in custody of Mahsa Jina Amini three years ago on women's rights in Iran today.

The Special Envoy to Combat Islamophobia has handed down his long-awaited report, containing 54 recommendations to the federal government.

Former Virgin Australia CEO Jayne Hrdlicka is collecting a $49.9 million pay packet, which includes 10 million shares, as revealed in the company’s annual report. For more on this and the ASX-200’s performance this week, Stephanie Youssef spoke with IG Markets analyst Tony Sycamore. Plus, US inflation has risen 2.9% in August, paving the way for the first US interest rate cut of the year when the Federal Reserve meets next week. For more, Stephanie Youssef spoke with AMP Chief Economist Shane Oliver.

The federal government has given the final approval for the Woodside North West Shelf gas project with a series of conditions. The approval comes ahead of the Albanese government's announcement of a 2035 emissions reduction target, and after Australia emphasised its commitment to tackling climate change to Pacific leaders.

The hunt for the killer of conservative activist Charlie Kirk continues, with US federal investigators pursuing new leads in Utah. The FBI has released images of the suspect and is offering a reward of up to A$150,000 (US$$100,000) for information.

Brazil's former President, Jair Bolsonaro has been sentenced to prison after being convicted of plotting a coup to remain in power after losing the 2022 election. Mr Bolsonaro, who has denied any wrongdoing, has not attended the court and has only sent his lawyers.He is the first former president in the country's history to be convicted for attacking democracy.

The ASX 200 has closed 0.3% lower with healthcare stocks dragging the index down, despite gains by gold miners. That’s almost despite Oracle’s shares soaring almost 40% in its best one-day performance since 1992, lifting the S&P 500 and other global markets to record highs. For more, Stephanie Youssef spoke with Mark Gardner from MPC Markets. Plus, new analysis from Domain shows the dream of owning a home is becoming further out of reach – with deposit hurdles, coupled with climbing house prices and mortgage repayments, driving the sharpest generational divide in decades. For more, Stephanie Youssef spoke with Domain’s research chief, Dr Nicola Powell.

Israel's strike on Qatar blows up ceasefire talks, the prime ministers of Nepal, Japan and France depart in a hurry, and Albanese battles for influence in the Pacific, while Moldova battles to stop Putin’s influence ahead of elections. Plus, the Murdoch succession is finally settled.

Northern Territory Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price has been removed from the Coalition frontbench, following fallout from remarks she made about Indian migrants. Sydney Lang takes a look at how the last week unfolded.

Poland has reported its most serious airspace breach since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, after nearly 20 drones entered from Belarus and Ukraine. European leaders have condemned Moscow for reckless escalation, with the Kremlin saying such accusations are baseless.