ASX soars to a four week high as investors eye Santa rally. SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves speaks with Marcus Bogdan from Blackmore Capital about what's driving the sharemarket and whether to expect the so-called Santa rally.

State and territory health ministers have unanimously rejected the Commonwealth's latest hospital funding offer, stating it fails to meet the commitment for increased federal contributions needed to handle Australia's growing and ageing patient population. This funding standoff has caused a critical bottleneck, leaving over 3,000 federally-funded aged care patients stranded in public hospitals and increasing pressure on state health services.

The United States has defended the seizure of a Venezuelan oil tanker as a major US naval build-up in the region continues. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has described the seizure as illegal with the US also imposing further sanctions on relatives of Maduro and other targetted naval vessels.

Thailand’s escalating border conflict with Cambodia has entered a deadly fourth day, with artillery exchanges killing at least 20 people, injuring hundreds, and driving massive evacuations on both sides of the border. Amid the violence, Thailand's prime minister has dissolved parliament and called early elections after a political rift with the opposition People’s Party.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says his government has spoken with the United States about possible security guarantees for Ukraine. He says those security guarantees would be impossible without support from the US, Europe and all members of the coalition of the willing, including Australia and New Zealand.

In the final episode for 2025, Elfy and Rania take a trip down memory lane looking at what happened in the federal election, some of the silliest moments of the year and a certain portrait of an ex Prime Minister Elfy hasn't gotten to talk about yet.

Australia has recorded the highest number of Indigenous deaths in custody in four decades. Data from the Australian Institute of Criminology finds 33 of the 113 people who died in police or prison custody in the last financial year were First Nations.

SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves speaks with Darren Thompson from Equity Trustees and Diana Mousina from AMP about the impact lower US interest rates and today's local labour force data is having on the sharemarket and what it means for local rates.

Ceasefires are collapsing from Southeast Asia to eastern DRC, with civilians once again bearing the brunt of diplomatic failure. Plus, one year after the fall of the brutal Assad regime, are Syrians any better off? And FIFA honours President Trump – but is the prize an own goal?

President Donald Trump says US forces have seized the largest oil tanker ever intercepted off Venezuela’s coast, escalating Washington’s maritime campaign against vessels it claims support Nicolás Maduro or drug smuggling operations. Venezuela's government has accused the US of theft and international piracy. It has previously said it believes the United States is trying to depose President Maduro.