SBS News In Depth

Multiple states are on high alert for bushfires with scorching conditions forecast this weekend. High temperatures across South Australia are expected to continue over the weekend, while heatwave conditions will also affect New South Wales, with dry lightning adding to the fire risk.

The presidential election in Taiwan will take place early next year. And Australia is now thinking about what the election will mean for its interests in the region.

The RBA and government have updated their agreement which stipulates its independence and dual mandate of targeting inflation and full employment. SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves speaks with Paul Bloxham from HSBC about the new flexibility being afforded to the RBA in meeting its objectives as it prepares to implement the recommendations of this year's RBA Review; plus Kyle Rodda from capital.com on a potential Santos/Woodside merger.

The national domestic violence hotline has launched an expanded counselling and referral service to now include a text messaging option.

Tens of thousands of Palestinians are being pushed further south as intense fighting continues in Gaza, two months since the beginning of the war between Israel and Hamas. Hundreds of people have meanwhile gathered in Tel Aviv to light the first candle of Hanukkah and hold a vigil for the families of Israeli hostages still being held by Hamas.

On the eighth day of the United Nations climate summit in Dubai, delegates have discussed ways to better protect the ocean's atmosphere. Meanwhile, for the first time in history, a COP gathering has hosted a sustainable fashion show.

A family's quest to trace its father's past has shed light on a shadowy moment in Australian history, uncovering how Holocaust survivors may have carried out executions of Nazis living in the country. The journey to find the truth features in a new documentary called 'Revenge: Our Dad the Nazi Killer', now released in cinemas.

With over half-a-million people in Australia living with blindness or impaired vision, one tour operator is helping them see the world. They've travelled to Perth for the first time, helping a small group of the low-vision community accomplish something they didn't think they could in life.

A landmark review into the National Disability Insurance Scheme has found Australia's disability support system is too reliant on the scheme, resulting in limited choice and control for users. The independent report, released today, was commissioned by the government to look at the scheme's ongoing effectiveness as costs surge at an unsustainable 14 per cent per year.

Anglicare's latest Jobs Availability Snapshot reveals the extent of long-term unemployment in Australia. The annual report has found almost 560,000 people have been looking for work for four years - and entering the workforce only gets harder for those who've been locked out

The Federal Government is introducing new laws to make getting financial advice more accessible by introducing a new class of profession, 'Qualified Advisers', which will be able to offer limited personal advice at banks, insurance companies and super funds. Rhayna Bosch speaks with Sarah Abood from the Financial Advice Association Australia to find out more; plus SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves speaks with Gemma Dale from nabtrade for the latest on the markets.

On the seventh day of the United Nations climate summit in Dubai, U-N climate chief Simon Stiell has urged attendees to agree on a phase out of fossil fuels. It comes as Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen has arrived in Dubai with pressure mounting for Australia to increase financing for Pacific countries.

The United Nations Secretary General has invoked Article 99 of the founding U-N charter as Israeli forces intensify their bombing of southern Gaza.

At a time when charities are stepping up appeals for donations in the lead up to Christmas, the national charity regulator warns there is a high risk of fake charity scams. It comes as official data shows Australians are losing billions of dollars to scammers each year

Just in time for Christmas, a major change is coming to the way Australia Post delivers. Daily letter deliveries are ending to focus more on parcels.

We often hear about society's high achievers but there are others in our community working as role models of change. From community owned farms to the healing power of fairy tales, people passionate about changing the lives of those around them. Change Agents - a podcast about people transforming their communites one step at a time.

On the sixth day of the United Nations climate summit in Dubai, 63 countries have pledged to deeply cut cooling-related emissions. It comes as activists attending the summit have voiced their concerns around the high number of fossil fuel lobbyists at the event.

Israel officials say its forces are in the heart of the city of Khan Younis, in what it has called the most intense fighting in five weeks of ground operations against Hamas. In a rare move, the United States is announcing a new visa restrictions in an effort to hold those accountable for violence against civilians in the West Bank.

Since the start of the war in Gaza, 139 Australian citizens, permanent residents and family members have been evacuated, but more than 60 remain. SBS has been speaking with one Australian man, Mohammed Al Shawwa separated from his family. They were able to leave via the Rafah border two weeks ago, but he is still waiting for approval. With the truce now ended, he is facing mounting uncertainty about whether he and his 80 year old mother will be able to evacuate safely.

New research from Beyond Blue reveals one in five people are experiencing extreme effects on their mental health due to the rising cost of living. The data suggests financial pressures are the number one stressor as the end of the year approaches.