SBS News

Angus Taylor's first press conference as Opposition leader was dominated by comparisons to One Nation and questions about immigration. "We respect the fact that those voters who might be thinking about One Nation have reasons for wanting to do so, and we have to restore their confidence in us," he said. "We do need to focus on protecting Australia's way of life, which I know many voters are concerned about." Taylor said the country needs to maintain "good immigration" while reducing "bad immigration", a sentiment echoed by incoming deputy Opposition leader Jane Hume. "My partner is Greek, my brother-in-law is Chinese. Of course, it's part of all Australians. So, when we say we want to talk to all Australians, that includes everybody. We are not discriminating one section or another," she said.

US President Donald Trump says he wants to continue negotiations with Iran, following his meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Prime Ministet Netanyahu has been pushing for the deal to include measures to halt Iran's ballistic missile program and support for Hamas and Hezbollah. Iran has indicated it is willing to limit its nuclear program, but has rejected other requests. After the three-hour-long meeting Trump said, "This will be very traumatic for Iran if they don't make a deal." Catch up with today's headlines on @sbsnews_au (link in bio)

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in Minnesota are being withdrawn following months of protests and violent confrontations between demonstrators and agents, including the fatal shootings of two US citizens – Alex Pretti and Renee Good. Some 3,000 armed ICE agents have been deployed to Minnesota since December to find and deport undocumented migrants. White House Associate Director of Enforcement and Removal Operations, also know as the 'border tsar', Tom Homan, announced that officers will return to their duty stations or be reassigned. "We have a lot of work to do across this country to remove public safety risk … and to deliver on President Trump's promise for strong border security and mass deportation," Homan said. Many locals who staunchly oppose the surge operation remain sceptical about the announcement, and have been calling for an end to the operation for weeks. Read more on @sbsnews_au

Sussan Ley has announced her resignation from politics after losing leadership of the Liberal Party to Angus Taylor. “I'm not sure what comes next for me. I look forward to stepping away completely and comprehensively from public life, to spend time with my family, to reconnect with my enduring passion — aviation,” she said. Ley has congratulated Taylor, saying she’ll be “cheering” his team on against “this awful Labor government”. Her departure will now trigger a by-election in her electorate of Farrer in south-western NSW. Follow the live blog here @sbsnews_au (link in bio).

Warning: this video discusses topics that may be distressing to some readers, including suicide. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has delivered the government's annual report on Closing the Gap targets. Albanese said four of the 19 targets are on track for completion by 2030, while six are "improving". Four targets are going backwards, including suicide rates in Indigenous communities. The prime minister also addressed the 'shock and fear' felt by First Nations communities in the wake of the alleged January 26 attack during his speech in parliament on Thursday. Read more @sbsnews_au (link in bio)

Audio has surfaced of 13-year-old hero Austin Appelbee's triple-zero call, after the WA teen swam 4km against a strong current to seek help for his stranded mother and siblings. On 30 January, Austin's family rented paddleboards and a kayak at Quindalup, about 250km south of Perth, before heading out into the waters of the vast Geographe Bay. Around noon, rough ocean and wind conditions started dragging them out to sea. Appelbee swam to shore to raise the alarm, leading to the rescue of his mother Joanne, 47, brother Beau, 12, and sister Grace, eight, who had drifted 14km offshore. On Wednesday, WA Police Force shared a portion of the recording of Austin's triple-zero call. "We couldn't get back to shore and mum told me to go back to get help. I haven't seen them since then," Appelbee told the operator. Read more @sbsnews_au (link in bio)

30 giant panda cubs from the China Giant Panda Protection and Research Center made their public debuts to celebrate Chinese New Year in China's Sichuan Province. The cubs were held by their caretakers and posed for cameras with large red lanterns hung overhead, adorned with creative elements inspired by the Year of the Horse. The area also included bamboo joints inscribed with New Year blessings, bamboo-woven ornaments representing reunion, and enrichment facilities such as wooden rocking horses. According to data, China successfully bred 45 giant pandas in 2025. During the Chinese New Year holiday, keepers at each base will maintain 24-hour shifts to provide round-the-clock care for the panda cubs.

In a hearing before a House of Representatives panel, US attorney general Pam Bondi contended Democrats and praised President Donald Trump as she faced criticism from lawmakers over the US justice department's handling of the Epstein files. Bondi had a series of confrontations with Democrats on the House Judiciary Committee as they expressed frustration with the amount of Epstein material the department has redacted and withheld, despite a federal law requiring the release of nearly all files. The department released more than three million pages of documents late last month, drawing renewed attention to wealthy and powerful individuals who maintained ties with Epstein, even after his conviction for soliciting prostitution from a minor. Read more @sbsnews_au (link in bio)

Israeli president Isaac Herzog said relations with Australia are entering "a new beginning" as he visited Canberra on the third day of his controversial state visit to Australia. President Herzog met with Governor-General Sam Mostyn to pay tribute to the 15 people killed in the Bondi terror attack before continuing to Parliament House, where he was welcomed by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Opposition Leader Sussan Ley. Hundreds of protesters, including several senators, gathered on the lawns of Parliament to oppose the visit, following major protests in cities around Australia earlier in the week. While Herzog received a warm welcome from some political leaders, the government also issued a statement critical of the Israeli security cabinet’s approval to expand settlements in the occupied West Bank. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is subject to an International Criminal Court arrest warrant, but Herzog is not — and is granted customary immunity under international law as a visiting head of state. Read more @sbsnews_au (link in bio).

Watch the moment Bondi hero Ahmed al-Ahmed received a standing ovation from MPs in the NSW legislative assembly. Al-Ahmed disarmed one of the alleged gunmen during the Bondi terror attack, before being shot multiple times, while another shooter was just not far away from him. He was welcomed by the Speaker of the NSW Legislative Assembly Greg Piper, who praised him as a "person that has become a national hero, an international hero indeed, an inspiration to our communities right around Australia, but certainly here in NSW".

After months braving winter temperatures, Buddhist monks arrived in Washington DC, ending their 3,700km 'Walk of Peace'. Hundreds gathered outside Washington National Cathedral to show their support, some waiting hours. The monks' journey began in Texas, crossing nine states to spread messages of unity, compassion and healing. Read more stories @sbsnews_au (link in bio).

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said he has raised the "issue of Zomi Frankom" with Israeli President Isaac Herzog during his controversial visit to Australia, as questions still remain nearly two years after the Australian aid worker was killed by Israeli strikes in Gaza. "We will continue to work each and every day to do our best to ensure there is transparency and appropriate action," he said. Albanese told parliament that Herzog said he will engage and come back to the Australian government on the issues he raised. The comments came after Zomi Frankcom's brother told SBS News in an exclusive interview his grieving family is disappointed by the government's invitation to the Israeli president, but hopes it will lead to progress on his sister's stalled case. His family is still searching for answers after Lalzawmi "Zomi" Frankcom, alongside six of her colleagues, was killed in an Israeli drone strike in Gaza while working for the World Central Kitchen aid organisation in April 2024. The group had been helping feed hungry Palestinians in central Gaza. Israel at the time said it was a "tragic incident" before apologising and blaming "misidentification". Watch SBS News' full interview with Mal Frankcom @sbsnews_au (link in bio).

Australia's Islamophobia envoy, Aftab Malik, has called for an investigation into NSW Police's use of force during a Sydney rally opposing Israeli President Isaac Herzog's visit on Monday evening, after officers intervened while a group of Muslim protesters were praying. Footage circulated on social media, and shared by Greens senator David Shoebridge, appeared to show a group of Muslim men kneeling in prayer during the demonstration outside Sydney's Town Hall. Several NSW Police officers were seen physically moving two of the men away from the group and trying to drag another to his feet as others continued praying. NSW Premier Chris Minns defended NSW Police officers involved in the incident, saying “context is important here”. “The circumstances facing New South Wales Police was incredibly difficult. It was, in effect, in the middle of a riot. Now, police have to make critical early decisions in those circumstances,” he said. The imam leading the prayer, Wesam Charkawi, said: "It's so offensive and insulting that the police would literally physically manhandle people." One of the men moved by police, Shahbaz Jamal, said they were "throwing us like we're nothing — like we were pieces of rubbish". Read more @sbsnews_au (link in bio).

Israeli President Isaac Herzog continues his state visit today, attending official events in Canberra after two days in Sydney. The federal government has said Herzog's visit would provide comfort to the Jewish community following the Bondi terror attack. Earlier this week, President Herzog met with families and survivors of the 14 December shooting, attending an event honouring victims at the International Convention Centre in Darling Harbour, as well as visiting a Sydney Jewish school and synagogue. While welcomed by many in the Jewish community, Herzog visit's has also been controversial, with thousands of people attending protests in major cities including Sydney, where demonstrators and police clashed on Monday night. NSW Premier Chris Minns has rejected claims of police brutality after the clashes, but state MPs who attended the protest against Herzog's visit are among those critical of the police response, calling it violent and heavy-handed. Herzog's four-day trip concludes at the end of the week. Read our ongoing coverage here @sbsnews_au (link in bio)

Controversial gaming platform Roblox has been put on notice following persistent reports predators are targeting kids with sexually explicit and suicidal material. Communications Minister Anika Wells has requested an urgent meeting with the popular platform two months after Australia's world-leading under-16s social media ban kicked in. She's alarmed by claims young Roblox users are being exposed to graphic and gratuitous user-generated content. "Even more disturbing are reports and concerns about children being approached and groomed by predators, who actively seek to exploit their curiosity and innocence," Wells said in a statement. Roblox is not included in the government's social media ban for under-16s but could face fines of up to $49.5 million under the Online Safety Act. Read more @sbsnews_au (link in bio).