Democracy after Donald Trump

Gabriel Zucman's radical plan to tax billionaires

Hamas has announced the dissolution of its governing body in Gaza, in an effort, it says, to advance Donald Trump's peace plan. But Israel insists it's all a ruse to avoid giving us its weapons. The billionaire class is booming and most of them are paying less tax than you or I, sometimes close to zero. In his new book We Need To Tax Billionaires acclaimed French economist Gabriel Zucman argues this legalised swindle is the greatest threat to democracy in the 21st century.   She first picked up the violin as a three year old, more than four decades on virtuoso Leila Josefowicz still finds her chosen instrument endlessly fascinating.

It's one of the deadliest terror attacks in modern history, but chances are you've never heard of it

When the Taliban took back control of Afghanistan in 2021 Hamida Samar thought her life was over. But now with the support of Rural Australians for Refugees and volunteer Marie Sellstrom she’s not only been given protection here, she's dedicated herself to helping other Afghan women. In 2021 Islamic Jihadists went on a rampage at a French gas project in Northern Mozambique, slaughtering more than 14 hundred people over four days. In his new book, Blood Will Flow, writer and journalist Alex Perry tells how the promise of striking it rich in a faraway African nation, blinded a multi-billion dollar French energy company to a catastrophe foretold.

Why decriminalisation of sex work is the unlikely response to Thai teen murder

A Thai family is grieving the loss of a teenage daughter, allegedly murdered by an Australian man in the tourist city of Pattaya - one of Southeast Asia’s most notorious sex tourism hubs. Should this trade, which supports millions of impoverished families, be decriminalised in Thailand? Sociologist and author of Sex Tourism in Thailand: Inside Asia’s Premier Erotic Playground, professor Ronald Weitzer says there are powerful forces at play in the industry. America’s once unconditional support for Israel is declining, with some politicians, including the nation’s Vice President openly hostile towards its leadership … is this a permanent rupture or just a spat between staunch allies? Israeli American pollster and political scientist Dahlia Scheindlin says Israelis are concerned but remain deeply divided over its warmongering leadership.  An allegation of inappropriate behaviour is made, without evidence, about a popular priest at a Catholic school. Is suspicion alone enough to condemn him? That’s the premise of the cult classic play Doubt: A Parable which is currently being staged at the Sydney Theatre Company, starring actors Pamela Rabe and Sam Reid.

How far can the Socceroos go this World Cup?

We're now half-way through the men's football World Cup, David Basheer, SBS Sports' lead commentator discusses the winners, the surprise losers and how far the Socceroos can go. Is Kim Ju Ae being groomed to become North Korea's first female Supreme Leader with Rachel Minyoung Lee, a senior fellow with the Korea Program and 38 North at the Stimson Centre And musician Xavier Rudd on his latest release, an homage to Dr Jane Goodall

Parliament rises after a turbulent six months

The Parliament has risen for its winter recess, leaving much unfinished business and a trail of broken promises. Press gallery journalists Clare Armstrong and Ashleigh Raper wrap up a long 6 months in federal politics.  Former Attorney General Mark Dreyfus is among those who’ve made deeply personal submissions to the Royal Commission into Antisemitism and Social Cohesion. He says he's been shocked at the growing abuse of Jewish Australians, particularly on social media.  After growing up in a family where a game of Mahjong was cutting loose, Jailing Cai chose a decidedly more daring career; photographing microscopic sea creatures in the open ocean in the dead of night. Now the award winning photographer travels all over the world mastering this dark art.