SBS News In Depth

Russia faces another Trump deadline to end the war in Ukraine, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese wraps up his trip to China, and violence flares again in Syria as Israeli airstrikes target Damascus. Plus, a secret UK plan to resettle Afghans is exposed, and the world’s oldest president wants another term.

Israel has acknowledged striking Gaza’s only Catholic church, killing three Palestinian civilians and injuring ten others. The attack has drawn condemnation from the Vatican, the United Nations and the United States President. Israel has issued a rare apology and launched an investigation.

Eight healthy babies have been born in Britain with the help of an experimental technique that uses DNA from three people to help mothers avoid passing devastating rare diseases to their children. Mutations in mitochondrial DNA can affect multiple organs, particularly those that require high energy, such as the brain, liver, heart, muscles and kidneys. The new technique has spurred considerable interest in Australia, where mitochondrial donations are allowed under the law.

There are calls for the federal government to criminalise the possession and use of Artificial Intelligence tools designed to create child abuse material. Child safety advocates say Australia should set a global benchmark for ethical AI and child protection.

Syrian authorities have announced a new ceasefire agreement for the southern province of Sweida following days of fighting, but it remains uncertain whether peace will prevail after a local leader of the Druze minority rejected the deal. It comes after the collapse of a short-lived truce just a day earlier to bring an end to violent sectarian clashes that are said to have claimed more than 300 lives and prompted Israel to attack targets across Syria, including in Damascus.

SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves speaks with Nick Stenner from Bank of America about the rise in Australia's unemployment rate to 4.3% to find out what it says about the labour market and means for interest rates, while Henry Jennings from Marcus Today goes through market reaction, plus Mariam Veiszadeh from the AICD checks in on how corporate Australia is tackling diversity in boardrooms.

Twenty-eight years after Diana, Princess of Wales drew the world's attention to the impacts of landmines on war-affected countries, an Australian innovation is revolutionising de-mining efforts. Australian company MRead have developed a device that can accurately detect explosives underground, promising safer, faster landmine clearance.

Two years after the Broome air raid—when Japanese Zero fighter planes attacked and more than 80 lives were lost—local Bardi man Charles D’Antoine was awarded a medal by the Kingdom of the Netherlands for saving three Dutch nationals. Now, 83 years on, the Australian government has yet to formally acknowledge Uncle Charlie’s act of bravery. In the second episode of this 3-part series, host Paulien Roessink finds out who Uncle Charlie was, and what was the cost of being a hero?

Two men have each been jailed for more than four years for cutting down the Sycamore Gap tree in the United Kingdom. The tree is a much-loved and well-known global landmark whose dramatic silhouette had featured in a Hollywood movie. The sycamore, estimated to be almost 200 years old, stood at the centre of a dramatic dip in the landscape alongside Hadrian's Wall in northern England, making it a popular spot for photographers, hikers and even marriage proposals.

The man who murdered British backpacker Peter Falconio, Bradley John Murdoch, has died of throat cancer. The killer's silence on what he did with Mr Falconio's body means his family still has no complete closure to the infamous murder case.

On a hot autumn day in Broome, 1942 a young Indigenous man named Charles D’Antoine is cleaning boat planes along Roebuck Bay. Charles, also known as Uncle Charlie to his loved ones, couldn’t have imagined the carnage that was about to be unleashed on this small regional town. Japanese Zero fighter planes launched a devastating air raid on Broome, leaving approximately 80 people dead. Amid the chaos, Uncle Charlie saved the lives of three Dutch citizens. For his bravery, he was awarded a Silver Medal by the Dutch government. But why was this act of heroism never officially recognised by Aust...

The United Nations human rights office says at least 875 people have been killed while seeking aid in Gaza in a month, with most killed in the vicinity of US-Israeli backed aid sites. In Europe, the E-U says it will consider taking action if Israel fails to improve the humanitarian situation inside Gaza.

Thousands of Afghan nationals have been secretly relocated to the United Kingdom after a major data breach in 2022 compromised their identities. The resettlement scheme was kept secret under a super-injunction which stopped it from being made public. Three years later, that injunction has now been lifted, and while the UK Ministry for Defence has declared there is no longer at risk to those exposed in the breach, many still fear for their safety.

Experts are warning young adults and parents of young children to be aware of early symptoms of meningococcal disease, as Australia enters its peak season. The bacterial infection can strike without warning and progress rapidly, in many cases causing death or leading to life-changing complications.

Verity Tuck and Mike Fraser have developed an AI assistant for parents. They're early adopters of emerging technologies but warn they don't come without risks. In this episode, they discuss how they're using AI to make parenting easier, as well as how they plan to introduce their children to technology.

A third of young workers in Australia are being paid less than $15 an hour - that's almost ten dollars below the minimum hourly wage. It's one of the key findings of a Melbourne University report showing 15 to 30 year olds are experiencing widespread breaches of labour laws. And those from non-English speaking backgrounds were shown to be the worst treated in the workplace.

The Federal Court has dismissed a landmark case which argued the federal government breached its duty of care to protect the Torres Strait Islands from climate change. The case, brought by Traditional Owners Uncle Pabai Pabai and Uncle Paul Kabai in 2021, argued the government held a duty of care to the Indigenous peoples and alleged that its failure to adequately reduce emissions has contributed to harm of their island communities. Justice Michael Wigney delivered the Federal Court's ruling, says the government had no such duty in this case.

SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves speaks with Jonathan Shead from State Street Investment Management about why China's economy is growing faster than expected despite global headwinds, plus the RBA's Michele Bullock on its proposal to end debit and credit card surcharges.

The fallout from Donald Trump's surprise announcement over the weekend of a 30 per cent tariff on goods from Mexico and the European Union continues. In response, EU trade ministers are pledging unity within the bloc, and warning of countermeasures if negotiations with the US fail, while Mexico is still hopeful negotiations will result in a deal.

As they await the arrival of a plane load of Kiwi detectives, Norfolk island’s three police officers are warned about the dangerous secret agents in their midst. A game of cat and mouse begins as police and locals shadow the Frenchmen around the tiny island.

The Trump administration has announced a deal to provide Ukraine with American weapons as it threatens sanctions against Russia. Shifting his tone towards Ukraine and Russia, Donald Trump says Russia has 50 days to sign a peace deal or else it will face 'biting' tariffs

Health experts are calling for more early action to prevent the seventh most common cause of death in Australia: diabetes. The Royal Australian College of G-Ps are urging Australians to see their doctor and make steps to change their lifestyle now to avoid long-term health struggles in later life. The George Institute for Global Health is also pushing for a sugar tax and subsidies on fresh fruits and vegetables to help these lifestyle changes.

SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves speaks with Kyle Rodda from Capital.com about the day's market action including the renewed interest in iron ore as PM Anthony Albanese pitches Australian steel with China.

For the first time in 40 years, sexually active gay and bisexual men are able to donate plasma in Australia. The changes to Lifeblood's screening questions mean more than 600,000 additional Australians are eligible to donate the 'liquid gold' part of blood.

Environmental researchers are calling for greater attention and potential regulation of artificial sweeteners, as they are building up in the environment and waterways around the world. A new study out of the University of Technology, Sydney [[UTS]] has found widely-used sugar substitutes are not decomposing and are turning into 'forever chemicals' that are comparable to P-FAS in the potential harm to animals and the ecosystem. P-FAS is a commonly used acronym for poly fluoro-alkyl substances - a group of man-made chemicals commonly used in water-resistant and non-stick items. P-FAS has been identified in a growing body of research as a...

Several people have been killed at a Gaza Strip water distribution site in an Israeli attack that the military says was meant for a different target but fell dozens of metres short. Local officials say most of the eight Palestinians killed were children.

The opening of Emily Kam Kngwarray at the Tate Modern marks the first major solo exhibition of the First Nations artist in Europe. Five years in the making, the show is a collaboration with the National Gallery of Australia and showcases the works of one of Australia's most renowned artists.

A landmark report released this week has found Indigenous businesses are helping to make progress on Closing the Gap targets, creating $42.6 billion in social value each year. That means every dollar invested equates to $3.66 in social value. The report by Supply Nation, which runs the largest directory of Indigenous businesses in Australia, says it leads to improved mental health conditions, increased pride among communities, and a better connection to culture and Country. Supply Nation CEO Kate Russell spoke with Stephanie Youssef about the report's findings.

The Prime Minister has struggled to avoid a US-sized elephant in the room on the first full day of his visit to China, with questions of military allegiance arising from the strategist conducting the US AUKUS review. Despite these tensions, the start of his six-day tour has been spent launching a brand new campaign to encourage Chinese tourists to visit Australia, and a morning walk along Shanghai's historic Bund promenade to promote the two nations' interpersonal links.

An ancient indigenous rock art collection in Western Australia's Pilbara region has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Traditional owners travelled to Paris for the decision, where member nations unanimously voted for the inclusion of the Murujuga Cultural Landscape. The engravings pre-date anything found in ancient Egypt or the Roman empire.

Australia's Law Reform Commission is currently conducting an inquiry into surrogacy law across the country. Sarah Jefford is a family creation lawyer practising across Australia, and a former surrogate. She has spoken with SBS's Deborah Groarke on the aims of the review, and what surrogacy currently looks like in Australia and the world

Would you eat meat grown from animal cells in a factory? Restaurants across Australia are now serving up so-called 'cultured meat' for the first time. But what exactly is it and why produce food this way?

U-S President Donald Trump has lashed out at a reporter during a tour of the flash flooding site in central Texas, suggesting she is "evil" after she asked a question about whether the area's warning alert system worked as well as it could have. His response is unlikely to dampen mounting concerns about official preparations, which have refused to go away after the flash floods killed at least 120 people and left another 170 missing.

A new report from non-profit organisation Supply Nation has found Indigenous businesses are experiencing growing demand for their products, and increased exports to other countries. Indigenous businesses have been found to create more than 40 billion dollars in value each year, helping to progress Closing the Gap targets, and leading to stronger connection to culture and country.

Toxic algae is taking over the waters off South Australia, with devastating consequences for marine life. It's also impacting the state's fisheries, and prompting fears of serious long-term effects.

The triple-murder by death cap mushroom captured the nation's attention. But with no cameras allowed in, it's the job of courtroom artists to capture what's happening. Anita Lester's depiction of Erin Patterson has become synonymous with the Mushroom Trial.

A large systematic review has been released looking at antidepressant withdrawal symptoms. The meta-analysis examined the findings of 50 randomised controlled trials, involving 17 828 participants. The average age of the participants was 44, and 70 per cent were female. Health professionals in Australia say the review provides useful insights, and there is room for further research in this area.

Australian markets seesaw after US President Donald Trump announced 35 per cent tariffs on Canada, seeing the Australian dollar reverse most of its gains. Blackmore Capital's chief investment officer, Marcus Bogdan, joins Stephanie Youssef with the details. Plus - a new taskforce, known as a 'fusion cell', has been set up to target a rising number of romance scams. ACCC Deputy Chair Catriona Lowe spoke more about the significant development.

In this episode: Israel's Benjamin Netanyahu visits Washington, while a Gaza ceasefire remains elusive, and Taiwan answers China’s military pressure with drills of its own. Plus, The UN ramps up calls for the Taliban to end their oppression on women and girls in Afghanistan - but will it have any effect? And we take you inside the courtroom for the dramatic finale of the mushroom murder trial that shocked the world.

Israeli attacks have killed over 60 Palestinians in Gaza, including at least 10 children, in strikes near medical facilities and aid centres. As talks continue on a possible 60-day ceasefire, hospitals in Gaza warn that fuel is critically low and say hospitals and other essential facilities will shut down without it