Two months ago, Israel and Hamas agreed to the first phase of a ceasefire plan for Gaza.

But since the truce began on October 10, Gaza authorities say Israel has carried out nearly 800 attacks, killing almost 400 people – including in a recent strike targeting a senior Hamas commander.

Israel, meanwhile, says militants have repeatedly violated the ceasefire, killing at least three Israeli soldiers.

And as Hamas refuses to disarm, Washington seems to have gone silent.

Today, Middle East correspondent for The Economist, Gregg Carlstrom, on why plans for peace have stalled – and who may end up running Gaza.

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Guest: Middle East correspondent for The Economist, Gregg Carlstrom

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As the country tries to understand how a Hanukkah gathering in Bondi ended with 15 people dead, more details about the alleged shooters have come to light.

Authorities say the attack was inspired by Islamic State. The two gunmen had recently travelled to the Philippines for military-style training. The surviving gunman, now in custody, had been known to ASIO since 2019.

And yet the attack still went ahead, raising fresh questions about the limits of Australia’s counter-terrorism systems – and how hard it is to detect and stop lone-actor violence before it happens.

Today, Chair in Global Islamic Politics at Deakin University, Professor Greg Barton, on how a mass attack like this can still happen in Australia, even when intelligence agencies are on high alert.

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Guest: Chair in Global Islamic Politics at Deakin University, Professor Greg Barton

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Donald Trump has promised to deport a million people in his first year back in office.

As a result, immigration officers are conducting widespread raids across the country – often targeting and locking up American citizens.

The Trump administration says nearly 70 percent of the people Immigration and Customs Enforcement has arrested are criminals. But ICE’s own data shows the overwhelming majority have no criminal conviction at all.

Today, reporter at ProPublica Nicole Foy, on how Trump’s immigration crackdown is changing America – and how ordinary civilians are fighting back.

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Guest: Reporter at ProPublica Nicole Foy

Photo: AP Photo/Evan Vucci

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On Sunday night in Bondi two gunmen opened fire on Jewish families.

Sixteen people, including one of the gunmen, are confirmed dead, making the tragedy Australia’s first mass shooting in nearly 30 years.

A further 42 people were taken to hospital, as well as the second gunman, who is under police guard.

ASIO has confirmed one of the gunmen was known to them, and there are reports the men are linked to Islamic State.

As authorities grapple with the terror event, The Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will put tougher gun laws to national cabinet.

Today federal member for Wentworth Allegra Spender on how the Bondi community is responding to this tragedy, and what needs to change to keep Jewish Australians safe.

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Guest: Federal member for Wentworth Allegra Spender

Photo: AAP Image/Mick Tsikas

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Catherine Liddle is the CEO of SNAICC, the national body that represents Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and their families.

Every year, Catherine and her team document how First Nations children are faring, and how they’re treated. And yet again, the picture is devastating.

Catherine’s report shows that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children are more likely to be reported to authorities, they’re more likely to be taken away from their families and they spend more time institutionalised.

For every dollar the government spends on this, only 16 cents goes to helping families – the rest is on taking children away, causing enormous harm.

Today, SNAICC CEO Catherine Liddle on the damage the child protection system is doing to First Nations children – and what needs to be done to break the cycle.

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Guest: SNAICC CEO Catherine Liddle

Photo: AAP Image/Lukas Coch

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This week, devastating figures were released that show the over-representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in out-of-home care.

It’s damning evidence that not enough has changed since the Stolen Generations.

Last year, we published a story about the long shadow cast by a policy of child removal, centred on the notorious Kinchela Boys Home in NSW.

It’s a place that holds painful memories for the many survivors of the Stolen Generations who went through its doors. Hundreds of of Indigenous boys were sent there, and subjected to torture, abuse and reprogramming, in order to assimilate them into white society.

Now, the survivors and their families want to take ownership of the site, to make it a place of healing for future generations.

Today, Gunaikurnai and Wotjobaluk writer and contributor to The Saturday Paper Ben Abbatangelo, on the enduring legacy of the Kinchela Boys Home.

This episode was originally published in October 2024.

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Guest: Gunaikurnai and Wotjobaluk writer and contributor to The Saturday Paper Ben Abbatangelo

Photo: Kinchela Boys Home Aboriginal Corporation

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This week, Labor rolled out its flagship social media ban for under-16s. The reform was expected to be one last win for the government after a year of political victories.

But while the spotlight was on the minister leading the charge, it was for all the wrong reasons. Instead of having runway to promote the ban, Anika Wells spent the week defending her use of taxpayer-funded expense entitlements.

Today, former political advisor to two prime ministers, Sean Kelly, on how even a tightly planned policy launch can be knocked off course, and the unquenchable thirst to apply the pub test to some and not others.

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Guest: Former political advisor to two prime ministers Sean Kelly

Photo: AAP Image/Lukas Coch

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Condoms and other contraceptives are set to become more expensive in China, as the Communist Party tries to boost population growth.

With the economy slowing, birth rates declining and the population ageing, the government is now trying all kinds of ways to make women have more babies – from taxing contraception, to new laws on marriages, to cash bonuses and propaganda campaigns.

Reproduction is now seen as a national security issue, and the success or failure of the new policies will have far-reaching consequences – for China’s economic and military strength, and for countries like Australia, who rely on China continuing to grow.

Today, senior analyst at the Mercator Institute for China Studies, Daria Impiombato – on the threat to women’s autonomy in China’s new phase of population control.

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Guest: Senior analyst at The Mercator Institute for China Studies, Daria Impiombato

Photo: CFOTO/Sipa USA

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