SBS News In Depth

Scary movies, haunted houses and trick or treating, October is the unofficial start to “spooky season” - at least, that's what you would think judging by what's on the shelves in our local shops. Sarah Kollat, teaching professor of psychology at Penn State University in the US, says there are lots of reasons people like to be scared. At a chemical level, our brains and bodies are reacting to the jump scares in a movie and “surviving” a haunted house. But psychologists also say getting scared in a safe environment prepares us for real danger.

Nearly two years after the failed referendum saw a First Nations voice to parliament shot down, some NGOs and state governments have been taking the initiative to follow the wishes of the majority of Indigenous communities in Australia who voted for this special representation. Australia's principal non-government organisation for public health, the Public Health Association of Australia, has announced they will be instituting an Aboriginal and Torres-Strait Islander voice to help guide their work after a near unanimous vote by their members. SBS spoke to Dr Summer May Finlay, a Yorta Yorta woman, an Associate Professor at the University of Wollongong and the Vice President (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) of the Public Health Association about the importance of a First Nations voice in helping to Close the Gap on healthcare outcomes between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians

SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves speaks with Dianne Colledge from Morgans Financial Limited about the days sharemarket action including the opportunites for investors.

This weekend will see the largest annual gathering of Indigenous people in the country at the New South Wales Koori knockout rugby league tournament. It's a sporting competition... but also, so much more.

Israeli naval forces have intercepted the Global Sumud Flotilla, seizing more than 40 civilian boats and hundreds of activists - including Australians. The action has sparked global protests and condemnation, with Israel saying it is necessary for its own security.

A WARNING THAT THE FOLLOWING STORY CONTAINS CONTENT THAT MAY BE DISTRESSING FOR SOME LISTENERS Two people have been killed and three others seriously hurt after an assailant drove a car into pedestrians and stabbed a security guard near a synagogue in Manchester in northern England. Greater Manchester Police say officers shot and killed the suspect, who investigators say attacked just as Jewish communities around the world mark Yom Kippur, the holiest holiday in the Jewish calendar.

SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves speaks with Callam Pickering about the latest household spending data and what it means for interest rates, plus Henry Jennings from Marcus Today on the days market action.

The coalition are revamping their proposal for nuclear energy, despite suffering an election loss with this policy. The details are yet to be confirmed, but the Opposition Energy Minister says they will adapt their plan to meet developments in the space.

Israeli military personnel have intercepted an international flotilla trying to deliver medicine and food to Gaza and boarded its boats as it approached the area. The Global Sumud Flotilla consists of more than 40 civilian boats carrying about 500 parliamentarians, lawyers and activists including Swedish climate campaigner Greta Thunberg. The organisers say they are trying to break Israel's blockade of Gaza, despite repeated warnings from Israel to turn back. The United Nations last month ruled that Israel had committed genocide in Gaza, a claim Israel denies. Israel has imposed a naval blockade on Gaza since Hamas took control of the coastal enclave in 2007 and they claim it is a legal part of the action they are taking against Hamas. They've accused the flotilla of having connections to Hamas - which the organisers strongly deny, while other critics accuse them of grandstanding. Judy Patterson's son, Hamish, is the captain of the Wahoo, one of the ships taking part in the action, and she spoke to SBS's Tee Mitchell.

A new 20-point plan for peace in Gaza gains support among the international community. Trump warns the US military of the enemy from within as Hegseth tells Generals to slim down for the war on woke. Plus, Democrats and Republicans point the finger at each other as the US government shuts down. Also, Moscow warns of a new red line in the war in Ukraine. And, China launches a campaign to stamp out online negativity.

Loneliness among men has been described as a "crisis" in Australia, and it appears to be on the rise. This social isolation can not only hurt mens mental health and overall wellbeing, it is also costing the Australian economy billions of dollars. A recent Australian study could hold the answer as to why men appear to be stuggling more with loneliness.

Washington has ground to a halt thanks to a government shutdown, triggered by Congress being unable to agree on a funding bill. It is the 15th government shutdown since 1981, which will likely slow the release of key reports and lead to the furlough of 750,000 federal workers at a daily cost of $US400 million.

The renowned conservationist, scientist, and global activist Jane Goodall has died at the age of 91. The Jane Goodall Institute announced the primatologist's death of natural causes on social media.

The U.S. federal government has entered a shutdown, a few hours after the U.S. Senate failed to pass a short-term spending bill on Tuesday night US East Coast time. It's the first government shutdown in nearly seven years. The last and also the longest federal government shutdown occurred from late 2018 to early 2019 during President Trump's first term when Democrats opposed funding the U.S.-Mexico border wall. The result was a shutdown lasting over five weeks, during which some 800,000 federal employees were forced to work without pay or take unpaid leave. Hundreds of thousands of federal employees will be forced to take unpaid leave this time too, with some public services potentially suspended or delayed, and the release of economic data possibly impacted as well. Bruce Wolpe is a senior fellow at the University of Sydney's United States Studies Centre and has served on the Democratic staff in the US Congress. He's been speaking to SBS's Virginia Langeberg about the impact of the shutdown.

The Public Health Association of Australia has announced they will be establishing an Aboriginal and Torres-Strait Islander voice to help guide their work after a near unanimous vote by their members. Nearly two years after the failed referendum saw a First Nations voice to parliament shot down, NGOs like the PHAA and state governments have chosen to follow the wishes of the majority of Indigenous communities in Australia who voted for this special representation.

The Australian sharemarket has fallen flat, as investors react to the US government shutdown and reports of China temporarily banning purchases of BHP’s iron ore. For more, Stephanie Youssef spoke with Niv Dagan from Peak Asset Management. Plus, Australian house prices continue to rise, as the Albanese Government’s Home Guarantee scheme is expanded to all first home buyers. For more, Stephanie Youssef spoke with Tim Lawless, Asia-Pacific research director at Cotality.

When hundreds of military commanders were ordered to attend a last-minute meeting in Virginia in the United States, there was speculation of a major announcement. What greeted them was US President Donald Trump and defence secretary Pete Hegseth delivering an impassioned speech on "wokeness", obesity and using US cities as military training grounds.

Psychologists warn that the use of tracking apps like Life360 and FindMyPhone can normalise constant monitoring, which may start in families but spill into intimate partner relationships, potentially leading to controlling and coercive behaviours. But how do we know if tracking those we love is beneficial or problematic? And if it's the latter, how do we address it?

The United Nations has welcomed the US-led peace plan in achieving a ceasefire to end a nearly two-year war for Gaza and the region. But internationally, the plan continues to receive mixed reactions, as Hamas and Qatar mediators review the deal.

Tens of thousands of registered nurses across the country will be able to up-skill to prescribe medications usually authorised by a doctor. It's a reform that could change the medical landscape in Australia... and the lives of many patients.