SBS News In Depth

From torched buildings in France to housing protests in Portugal, rising living costs are fuelling anger across Europe.

An Afghan refugee in Australia helps women under Taliban rule earn an income through embroidery. An Afghan refugee in Australia is helping women living under Taliban rule earn income through traditional embroidery. As the initiative grows, participants say it is helping families stay together. But behind every piece is a carefully managed operation working amid restrictions, risk and uncertainty....

As Halloween approaches, haunted houses, horror movies and jump scares are taking centre stage, but why do so many people enjoy being scared? In this edition of Weekend One on One, Clemson University psychology researcher Cynthia Pury explains why fear can feel fun, and why some people seek it out more than others. Why do haunted houses, horror movies and jump scares appeal to so many people? A ps...

In a first for Cuba, the Havana baseball team displays sponsor advertisements on jerseys. The country’s dire economic situation has forced it to seek income from sources that, until recently, were considered unacceptable. For the first time, sponsorship appears on the jerseys and stadium of one of Cuba’s most iconic baseball teams. As economic pressures mount and reforms reshape the country, the n...

Israel's election is drawing global attention, with diaspora communities closely watching the outcome. Israel heads to a pivotal election three years after the October 7 attacks, with deep divisions over Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s future. As voters weigh competing visions for the country, Australians with ties to Israel, Palestine, Lebanon and Iran reveal what is at stake for them. In thi...

The senior leader of the ultra-conservative religious group, the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church, has appeared before a parliamentary inquiry to respond to allegations of interference in the last federal election in 2025. Senior leaders of the the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church have given evidence at a parliamentary inquiry on allegations of interference with the 2025 federal election. Bruc...

Some Australian cemeteries could run out of burial space within a decade, raising questions about the future of deathcare. As some urban cemeteries near capacity, Australia's deathcare sector is grappling with a growing shortage of burial space. It's changing how Australians are approaching death and disposition, with cremation and alternative commemorisation rituals on the rise. In this episode:...

As Ukraine casts doubt over US partnership,it looks to Europe for fresh support in the ongoing war with Russia. Ukraine's leader says the US has chosen the "wrong side" in signing a deal with Russia for oil exports despite Moscow's ongoing war in Ukraine, accusing the US of withholding crucial intelligence information as he courts European leaders for fresh support. Donald Trump is spruiking what...

South Australia becomes the first Australian home of the Michelin Guide, with 77 restaurants recognised. The Michelin Guide has arrived in Australia for the first time, choosing South Australia for its inaugural guide. Anonymous inspectors assessed dozens of venues, with one restaurant earning two stars. What made the cut, and why is the move being hailed as a major boost for the state's food and...

The US President appears to have upended months of support for Ukraine, striking a diesel import deal with Vladimir Putin. What does the agreement mean for Ukraine’s fight for survival? And as fears of Russian aggression linger, how is neighbouring Estonia preparing to defend itself? Meanwhile, Houthi fighters are escalating tensions in the Middle East, targeting Saudi Arabia’s main airport. We ex...

Australia’s jobless rate reaches 4.7%, raising questions about hiring, wages and the RBA’s next move. Australia’s unemployment rate rose to 4.7 per cent in September, its highest level since October 2021. Blair Chapman, chief economist at Seek, discusses the state of the jobs market, hiring trends, salaries and what the figures could mean for interest rates. The Australian sharemarket fell 0.1 per...

Labor's digital duty of care bill would let Australians opt out of social media algorithms. Labor has introduced its digital duty of care bill, giving Australians the option to opt in or out of algorithm-driven social media feeds. Supporters say it will improve online safety, while critics argue it either goes too far or not far enough. What changes could be coming, and why is the debate so divide...

Student protests spread from France to Belgium, Greece and Albania over education, costs and future prospects. A student protest movement that began in France is spreading across Europe. As demonstrations grow in Belgium, Greece and Albania, students voice concerns about education funding, living costs, university access and their futures, while governments face mounting pressure to respond. In th...

New analysis shows economic misery is being driven by higher prices and interest rates. So what's in store for Australia? Economic misery in Australia is on the march. New analysis from the Committee for Economic Development of Australia (CEDA) has found it's back near its post-pandemic highs, and is expected to stay well above recent historical averages until at least the end of 2028. In this epi...

Newly released national survey data provides a clearer picture of the health and wellbeing outcomes for the Stolen Generations survivors and descendants. The data released by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare also shows there are an estimated 200,000 Stolen Generations descendants aged 18 years and over. Half of descendants live with a disability or restrictive long-term condition and...

Global mining giant rises on first day on ASX Australian shares fell 0.6 per cent as banks led losses, with CBA down more than 2 per cent after chief executive Matt Comyn told shareholders it could take time for higher rates to bring inflation back to target. SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves speaks with Damien Boey, portfolio manager at Wilson HTM, about investor sentiment, rising global rates...

It’s a recipe for disaster. Hackers have turned up the heat on French supermarkets – literally – by hacking into remote temperature control systems, leaving fresh produce shelves empty. Hackers remotely tamper with supermarket refrigeration systems in France, ruining food on a massive scale. An OpenAI engineer is accused of secretly recording confidential meetings in the US. Meanwhile, AI systems...

Skipping meals and struggling to pay bills: these are just some impacts of rising rents. So, are rental caps part of the solution? A poll by the Australia Institute shows 4 in 5 voters support some regulation of the rental market and more than half believe rents should be kept in line with inflation. All sides agree increasing housing supply is critical. In this episode: A new poll commissioned by...

Around 460,000 workers in care female-dominated care industries will receive a pay rise thanks to a $630 million funding boost from the federal government. A $630 million wage boost for health, disability and community service workers is being welcomed as long-overdue recognition for a workforce mostly made up of women. This episode explores what the changes could mean for workers, services and ef...

Dr Hawraa Al-Naqshabandi speaks about the signs women shouldn't ignore. Everyday 56 people are diagnosed with breast cancer in Australia and more than 3,300 die from the cancer every year - that's according to the National Breast Cancer Foundation. But, as SBS Arabic Producer Dima Alkaed finds, experts say more education for women from migrant backgrounds on breast cancer is needed. In this episod...

Tuvalu hits back at claims that a pre-COP event was a flop, emphasising a phase-out of fossil fuels must be discussed around COP31. Tuvalu, whose population numbers around 10,000, hosted a leader's gathering at last week's Pre-COP event shared with Fiji, part of a compromise struck by Australia to divide hosting rights with Türkiye. The event came under heavy Australian media scrutiny, with shadow...

Visa delays and new rules leave families struggling to reunite with ageing parents as backlogs continue to grow. New visitor visa restrictions are adding pressure to families already facing lengthy parent visa backlogs. This episode explores the difficult choices confronting migrants with ageing parents overseas as long waits, high costs and changing rules raise fresh questions about family reunif...

Women are entering management at similar rates to men, but higher resignation rates point to barriers to staying. Women are advancing into management at rates close to men’s, but they leave those roles more often. A decade of higher resignation rates raises questions about caring responsibilities, flexibility and career progression. Christine Castley, chief executive of the Workplace Gender Equali...

India's Supreme Court is set to examine a growing dispute over the removal of more than 130 million names from electoral rolls. Election authorities say the review is needed to remove duplicate and ineligible registrations, but opposition parties allege it could be used to influence election outcomes. The controversy has triggered nationwide protests, calls for electoral reform and demands for gre...

Clubs with rich migrant histories will take to the football field as the Australian Championship season begins. The Australian Championship kicks off as South Melbourne begins its title defence amid a shock coaching change. As clubs with deep migrant roots prepare for a national second-tier battle, the competition reignites debate about football’s future, grassroots clubs and promotion and relegat...