United States Australian and British defence ministers have met at the Pentagon for the first AUKUS ministerial meeting with Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth. Hegseth welcomed Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles and UK Minister of Defence John Healey.

Twenty years ago, thousands descended on the Sydney beachside suburb of Cronulla for what became a violent rally against Middle Eastern immigration. Today, Cronulla locals and some Australians of Middle Eastern descent say attitudes are changing. But others are concerned about new, more organised anti-immigration movements.

SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves speaks with Andrew McAuley from UBS Global Wealth Management Australia about the changing interest rate outlook and what it means for 2026; Cameron Gleeson from Betashares explains the recent pick up in ETF activity; and a look at the day on the sharemarket with Hebe Chen from Vantage Australia.

The Australian government has implemented the world's first social media ban for all under-16s, citing the protection of developing adolescent brains. But the move faces immediate backlash from teenagers who are sharing evasion tactics.

United States President Donald Trump has escalated his criticism of Europe in a controversial new interview, claiming the continent is “decaying” due to weak immigration policies. He also hit out at Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who he sees as an obstacle to peace between Ukraine and Russia, and questioned Ukraine's credentials as a democracy.

Fighting between Cambodia and Thailand has escalated along their contested border on Tuesday, with the Southeast Asian neighbours both saying they will not back down in defending their sovereignty. With each side is blaming the other for starting Monday's renewed clashes, and it's unclear how or if a fragile ceasefire brokered by US President Donald Trump in July can be salvaged.

SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Goncalves speaks with Paul Bloxham from HSBC and Stuart Roberts from Stocks Down Under about why the RBA decision to leave interest rates on hold at its December board meeting and the increasing chance the next move in rates will be up, not down.

Top security officials from the United States and Australia have met in Washington, confirming that the AUKUS security pact is moving "full steam ahead," despite the Pentagon's five-month review of the deal remaining secret. Both nations emphasised increased defence spending, critical minerals cooperation, and greater burden-sharing from allies to confront growing Indo-Pacific tensions.

A new national report has found that Australians are facing an average five-year wait for life-saving medical technologies. The report says that while medical technology is advancing rapidly overseas, Australia's system is still slow to approve and fund the new technologies.

European leaders have met the Ukrainian President in London, in a show of support as United States-led ceasefire negotiations gather pace. The allies sought to strengthen Ukraine's position, amid concerns the emerging US proposal could pressure the nation into accepting terms favourable to Russia. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says soon he will present a revised 20-point peace proposal to the United States, though major disagreements around territory remain unresolved.