There has been a mixed response to Labor's announcement of HECS changes. The federal opposition has derided the plan as unfair, while others say it is a vote grab that will fail to counteract the impact of current indexation practices.

It’s countdown to Election Day. Candidates present their closing arguments to voters as fears around voter fraud continue to circulate. Political analysts share what they’ll be looking out for on November Fifth. Pope Francis pens a new encyclical on the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and the Synod on Synodality ends after three years of discernment – we sh…

With the US election less than a day away, both candidates are making their final calls to voters in key battleground states.This unprecedented election campaign has been unlike any other and has voters across the political aisle nervous about the future of their country.

Israel has informed the United Nations of its intentions to cut ties with the organisation's Palestinian Relief Agency, despite global concerns. It comes as the Israeli forces continue their operations in northern Gaza, making the work of local medical groups extremely challenging.

As the new Northern Territory government implements the tough-on-crime policies that helped bring them to office, access to legal aid is being cut back sharply, raising concerns vulnerable Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people will be left to defend themselves in court.

The Melbourne Cup has long been described as the race that stops the nation but can the annual horse race still lay claim to that title today? From concerns over animal welfare to gambling, the popularity of the race has steadily declined. However, with around 90,000 people expected to attend the racecourse at Flemington on Tuesday race organisers …

SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves speaks with George Boubouras from K2 Asset Management Ltd to find out how the market is positioning itself ahead of the US Presidential election and the implication for global interest rates; plus Rhayna Bosch discusses the changing digital entertainment consumption landscape with Peter Corbett from Deloitte.…

The US presidential election is looming, and the candidates are making their final pitches in the key swing states considered to be decisive in deciding the final result. The final moments of the campaigns are being marked by contrasting messages of faith, hope - and darker rhetoric. Opinion polls show the pair locked in a tight race splintering al…

People in flood-affected areas of Spain have hurled mud and insults towards Spanish King Felipe VI, claiming the government's response was too late. It comes as rescue teams continue their work in the aftermath of the devastating rainstorms, with fears people could have lost their lives in underground car parks.…

Leaked military documents from Benjamin Netanyahu's office risk stalling hostage and ceasefire negotiations as Israeli courts issue arrests.Israel continues bombardment of Gaza and Lebanon as it carries out ground raids in Syria.

The 2024 US Presidential Election is finally upon us but how exactly does it all work? This episode of US Election Unplugged takes you through some of the key differences between the US and Australian election systems and shows you what to be watching for as the votes start pouring in.

As summer is just around the corner, many international students are planning celebrate their university break in a very Australian way - by heading to the beach. But in recent years, Australia has faced record rates of drowning. In New South Wales, several universities have launched swimming programs to help equip international students with the l…

Surfing is a popular hobby in Australia.... but it's often harder to take up and sustain in many other countries. One group of young enthusiasts in Pakistan is trying to make history, as they pursue their love for the sport.

As Sofia Jayne reports, this centre is helping women who are experiencing domestic violence take control of their lives.

Cory Alpert is a PhD researcher at the University of Melbourne looking at the impact of AI on democracy - but he has a wealth of experience in the world of American politics. He served for three years in the White House during the Biden-Harris Administration working in the Executive Office of the President. He's worked on three Presidential campaig…

Mahendra Chaudhry was Fiji's first Prime Minister of Indian ancestry, but in 2000 he and most his cabinet were held hostage for almost two months, after a civilian coup backed by a faction of the military and led by George Speight stormed parliament. Since the 1980s there have been four coups in Fiji - each with links to ethnic tension between Indi…

With high temperatures and strong winds forecast this week across the country, bushfire authorities are on alert. Alongside the rising threat, there are fears that multicultural communities are at risk as many do not don’t understand, or access, vital emergency warnings. A new system aims to change that.…

As the world marks the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists, the death toll for Palestinian journalists continues to rise. The United Nations and other organisations say the deaths of Palestinian journalists in Gaza and the occupied territories are threatening freedom of expression about what is really happening in Gaza.…

Fears around women's rights in the United States have entered the conversation once again as the nation approaches an election. In 2022, Roe v Wade, a bill protecting the constitutional right to abortion, was overturned by the Supreme Court - 3 of the judges behind this majority decision were appointed by Trump during his presidency. Meanwhile, for…

A fluffy native mouse and five other Australian species have been added to the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List. According to the Australian Conservation Foundation, Australia’s escalating extinction crisis, is being fuelled by climate change, deforestation, and outdated conservation laws. SBS's Essam Al-Ghalib was joined b…

The public appetite for 'real stories' in Australia has over one million people tuning into a true crime podcast every week. But how are we telling these stories? And should we?

Rhayna Bosch speaks with Tim Lawless from CoreLogic to find out what's behind an easing in dwelling price growth; plus SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves discusses the day's sharemarket action with Lochlan Halloway from Morningstar, including concerns about AI costs from the world's biggest tech companies.…

The federal government has revealed there is $241 million in unclaimed Medicare benefits belonging to 930,000 people in Australia. It's something migrant and refugee advocacy bodies are hoping to spread awareness about, in order to avoid potential scams.

The US has revealed intelligence that up to 8,000 more North Korean soldiers are set to join the efforts of Russian troops in their invasion of Ukraine. US officials have warned that if they choose to enter the war, the North Korean troops will be making themselves targets.

Democrats are concerned Muslim voters in the swing state of Michigan could propel Donald Trump back into the White House amid anger over the Biden Administration’s support for Israel. SBS News has been to Dearborn, a suburb of Detroit, to see if the 'Abandon Harris' movement could cost her the Presidency.…

The Japanese media franchise, Hello Kitty, has generated billions of dollars over decades. With over 50,000 product lines sold in more than 130 countries, the Hello Kitty brand has transcended language and cultural barriers to reach its 50th birthday. But what accounts for the enduring appeal?

Electioneering is essentially the process by which candidates in an election seek to convince voters to support them - and not the other guy. In the US, the campaigns of the Democratic and Republican nominees for president have centred around particular age and class groups of people - as well as voters in crucial areas known as battleground states…

Rhayna Bosch speaks with Justin Untersteiner from the AFCA about the record number of financial compalints its received and what can be done about it; plus SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves goes through the day's sharemarket news with Scott Phillips from The Motley Fool including the latest from the US.…

Democratic Party Strategist Hyma Moore, of US consulting firm Cornerstone, speaks to SBS News' Tys Occhiuzzi about Joe Biden's controversial comments, current polling in the major battleground states, and what Kamala Harris needs to do.

The Valencia region in the country's east has been hit by what meteorologists are calling the storm of the century. A year's worth of rain has fallen in just a few hours, causing major flooding and destruction.

The 2024 State of the Climate Report has been released and warns that if action is delayed, the costs of adapting to an ever-changing climate will continue to increase. With Australia less than a decade away from an emissions tipping point, climate experts are urging leaders to step up actions to mitigate climate change.…

October 31st is Halloween - a celebration going back centuries.The largely American tradition of trick-or-treating - children dressing up, going around the neighbourhood, collecting sweets from locals - has become an Australian tradition as well. But there are some who say it's not just harmless fun.…

The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) confirms they will conduct a new, independent review of the Robodebt referrals. The agency earlier decided not to investigate six referrals of corruption in relation to the unlawful Robodebt scheme. But now an inspector of the corruption watchdog has found the NACC Commissioner failed to properly remov…

Diwali celebrations will kick off this week ((Oct 31)) - celebrated by billions of people from the Indian subcontinent and its diaspora. While the festival is marked predominantly by Hindus, variations are celebrated across faiths. In Fiji, approximately one-third of the population is of Indian origin, and Diwali has become a national event despite…

SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves looks through today's official inflation report with David Bassanese from BetaShares and Josh Gilbert from eToro to find out what it means about interest rates and more.

The US state of Georgia’s 16 electoral votes could be crucial in a week’s time ((5 Nov)) and Democrats are banking on the support of Black voters to get them over the line in the “Peach Tree state”. Four years ago, Joe Biden beat Donald Trump in the state by just under 12,000 votes. But polls suggest the Republican candidate has improved his standi…

The global community has criticised Israel's decision to ban the operations of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees within its borders. Meanwhile, military group Hezbollah have chosen Naim Qassem to replace Hassan Nasrallah as their leader, following the latter's death in an Israeli air strike last month.…

The 145-million-year-old remains of a giant dinosaur are set to be auctioned to private bidders in France this November. Expected to fetch millions, the skeleton could set a new benchmark in the booming fossil market, but experts raise concerns about having fossils being sold privately.

A deadly rampage through central Sudan by paramilitary forces has left at least 124 people dead and scores of locals wounded and displaced. SBS News spoke to a Sudanese-Australian woman in Sydney whose family members have been killed, wounded and displaced in the attacks with her 27-year-old brother Ibrahim still missing. Some listeners may find th…

A review of Australia's COVID-19 response has revealed a major erosion of trust by the Australian public and health systems. It found inconsistent messaging from state and federal governments and heavy restrictions contributed to the decline. In response, the federal government has committed more than 250 million dollars to establish a national pub…

Domain says home values reached new records, but Nicola Powell says the pace of growth continues to slow; plus SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves speaks with Mathan Somasundaram from Deep Data Analytics about the day's market news including how the US election is already impacting shares along with Myer's near $900m deal with Solomon Lew's Premie…

Israel has passed laws banning the operations of the U-N agency for Palestinian refugees inside of Israel.Sparking global condemnation even from their closest allies, the move threatens to worsen an already dire humanitarian situation inside the Gaza Strip.

A five minute daily news wrap for new English speakers and those with disability

New research has found that an enlarged prostate gland is causing serious problems for more than 2.8 million Australian men and people assigned male at birth over the age of 50. The research by YouGov for Boston Scientific found most men fail to recognise the seriousness of what is a common health condition. The problems include increased frequency…

A fluffy native mouse and five other Australian species have been added to the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List. According to the Australian Conservation Foundation, Australia’s escalating extinction crisis, is being fuelled by climate change, deforestation, and outdated conservation laws.…

One of the key issues in this US election is immigration. Donald Trump often refers to ‘border chaos’, warning of out-of-control ‘migrant crime’ and accusing Kamala Harris of allowing "20 million criminals” into the country. Yet statistics show the number of irregular border crossings from Mexico have dropped significantly over the last year. SBS N…

Ukraine's military intelligence agency says Russia is transporting North Korean soldiers to the Kursk region, to counter Ukraine's offensive there. The agency released a recording of what it says are intercepted Russian military radio communications - in which officials can be heard stopping a civilian truck travelling into Kursk, carrying North Ko…

Rhayna Bosch speaks with Ryan Felsman from CommSec about its State of the States report to find out who is leading the nation; SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves talks with Kai Chen from MPC Markets about how the US election is impacting shares; plus AFCA's June Smith about why the industry has seen a record rise in financial complaints lobbed by…

Ten of thousands of old mobile phones have stopped working today, after telecommunication giants Telstra and Optus started the shutdown of its 3G networks. As the first high-speed mobile network in the world, 3G was launched in Australia in 2003, before it was overtaken by better and faster connections. However, some regional and rural communities …

Revised drinking water guidelines in Australia have been released for public consultation. The update includes more stringent standards on the allowable level of the so-called forever chemicals or PFAS in tap water - based on the latest scientific evidence and international guidance on human health considerations.…