SBS News In Depth

Coeliac disease affects one in seventy Australians, according to the Wesley Research Institute. But when food is integral to cultural identity, the impacts of this autoimmune disease — especially on multicultural and diasporic communities in Australia — can extend beyond the physical, affecting mental health. Jude Soussan is a young person of Lebanese heritage in Perth, Western Australia, and has used her diagnosis to help educate others about what it means to live with coeliac disease in the diaspora, using creativity. She hopes that, with time, communities can better understand how to accommodate chronic illness.

A beloved dish shared by both Turkish and Greek people has sparked new cultural tensions between the two countries.A Greek restaurant owner is striving to register tripe soup with the United Nations' cultural body, UNESCO, but the move has sparked uproar in neighbouring Turkiye.

The ASX200 has edged lower, snapping a three-week run despite fresh record highs on Wall Street, with weakness in consumer discretionary stocks offset by gains in tech and buy now, pay later players. In this short end-of-week update, Ricardo Gonçalves speaks with Dianne Colledge from Morgans Financial Limited about what is driving the local market, the outlook for key sectors and how global momentum is shaping sentiment at home, alongside moves in the Australian dollar and oil prices.

How do you guarantee a good turn out at a funeral? After all, the last thing you want to happen as you pass on to whatever lies beyond the grave... is to go without at least a bit of fuss. In Kenya, some families are hiring professional mourners to give their loved ones the ultimate send-off.

Israel has agreed a 10-day ceasefire with the Lebanese government off the back of recent talks in Washington. Hezbollah has not been directly included in negotiations but appears willing to uphold the temporary truce. US President Donald Trump says leader-level talks are expected to follow in coming days.

The Australian Government has unveiled the 2026 National Defence Strategy, outlining reprioritised investments in drones, missile defence and undersea warfare capabilities. While the government claims the new strategy includes record defence spending allocations, the opposition has accused Labor of artificially inflating the numbers.

The ASX eases despite strong leads from Wall Street, while Australia’s unemployment rate holds at 4.3 per cent and companies grapple with rising costs. Ricardo Gonçalves speaks with HSBC Chief Economist Paul Bloxham on what the latest labour market data means for interest rates, and with David Lane from Ord Minnett on the day’s market moves. Plus, Mark Thirlwell from the Australian Institute of Company Directors explains why artificial intelligence and productivity pressures are keeping business leaders awake at night.

US-Iran talks collapse, and China feels the pressure over President Trump’s blockade in the Strait of Hormuz. Plus, a stunning election victory signals a new era for Hungary and how Australia is helping to fuel Colombia’s drug trade.

U-S President Donald Trump continues to talk up prospects for an end to the war in the Middle East. In media interviews, he has told the world to watch out for an amazing two days ahead of new ceasefire talks, while U-S forces continue their blockade on vessels leaving Iranian ports. But Israel's campaign in Lebanon is casting doubt on prospects for peace.

A new Human Rights Commission report highlights the devastating impacts of discrimination against communities in Australia - targetting Jewish, Muslim, Palestinian, Arab and Israeli communities - since the October 7, 2023 attacks. The federal government is facing urgent calls to implement the National Anti-Racism Framework - which they've had access to for almost two years - to combat racism.

Vanuatu’s Minister for Climate Change, Ralph Regenvanu, has emerged as one of the Pacific’s most influential and principled public figures, combining political leadership with cultural advocacy and a sustained commitment to climate justice. In an exclusive interview with SBS, he said that current issues with fuel security and supply wouldn’t influence the negotiations between Australia and Vanuatu to finalise the Nakamal agreement. The treaty, initialed in August last year but not finalised, aims to enhance economic, security and cultural cooperation between the two countries. He told SBS’s Rayane Tamer that the current fuel crisis presents Australia with a unique opportunity to become an alternative energy superpower

Airfares are set to climb as Virgin Australia cuts flights to manage rising fuel costs, while Qantas flags a sharp increase in its fuel bill, reshaping travel plans for Australians. Phoebe Deas speaks with Ellis Taylor from Cirium on what these changes mean for the aviation sector, as new data reveals Japan has overtaken Indonesia as Australia’s second most popular destination, helped by a stronger exchange rate. Meanwhile, the ASX closes slightly higher, with insight from Scott Phillips of The Motley Fool on the market’s mixed performance.

Pope Leo the Fourteenth is on a historic tour of Africa, a journey spanning four countries, thousands of kilometres, and a continent that is now central to the future of the Catholic Church. From Algeria to Cameroon, Angola and Equatorial Guinea, the visit is being described as both pastoral and political.

Israel and Lebanon have agreed to formally launch direct negotiations with one another after historic talks in Washington, mediated by the United States. The first direct talks between the two countries in more than three decades have been characterised as a diplomatic milestone. But, negotiations have been overshadowed by conflicting agendas, and ongoing fighting.

After Prime Minister Albanese’s whistle-stop visit to Singapore, the future of Australia’s fuel supplies looks a lot more secure as the ripples from the Straits of Hormuz spread outwards. Last week Anthony Albanese met with his Singaporean counterpart Lawrence Wong in Singapore. The two signed off on a new bilateral trade agreement, under which Australia would guarantee Singapore’s supply of liquefied natural gas, and Singapore would prioritise the flow of refined petroleum to Australia. Singapore is Australia’s largest source of refined petrol. SBS's Naveen Razik secured an exclusive interview with Singapore's Energy Minister Dr. Tan See Leng about our energy partnership and the wider consequences of the current crisis in the Strait of Hormuz.

Opposition leader Angus Taylor has outlined the Coalition's new hardline immigration policy. The plan has drawn widespread criticism and strong condemnation from critics, including Labor and human rights groups.

The ASX edges higher despite fresh warnings from corporate Australia, with Qantas and Westpac flagging the financial impact of the Middle East conflict as cost pressures build. Ricardo Gonçalves unpacks the latest market moves and what they mean for inflation and interest rates, speaking with NAB Chief Economist Sally Auld and LGT Wealth Management CIO Scott Haslem, while new data reveals rental stress has hit record levels. Cotality’s Head of Research Gerard Burg joins to explain why Australians are now spending more than ever on housing and what’s driving the shortage.

Australian consumers will be paying a temporary fuel surcharge for their Uber trips if they choose to ride in a petrol or hybrid car. The new measure will begin from Wednesday, and end on June 8. It comes at a time when the transport sector is introducing fee adjustments to cope with the ongoing fuel crisis.

Hungarian voters continue to celebrate after ousting Prime Minister Viktor Orbán after 16 years in power. The election result was a rejection of his authoritarian, far-right agenda in favour of pro-European challenger Peter Magyar. But for the new leader, the coming months won't be easy.

A US naval blockade on all maritime traffic through Iranian ports in the Strait of Hormuz has come into effect, after a deadline passed for a ceasefire deal and reopening of the passage. US President Donald Trump says any Iranian ships that challenge the blockade will be sunk, as Iran blames excessive demands from the U-S for stalling a resolution to the conflict.