Four Corners

Monday's Four Corners episode, "Losing Streak", reported by Steve Cannane and produced by Mayeta Clark, reveals how online bookmakers have kept millions in wagers placed with stolen money.This week on Four Corners reporter Steve Cannane reveals how financial advisers courted with inducements, have gambled away their clients' investments uninhibited by regulation or oversight. In some cases, while the advisors have gone to jail, and the victims remain empty handed, the companies that accepted the bets have not returned a cent.More than two years after a landmark parliamentary inquiry recommended sweeping reforms to tackle online gambling harm, the Albanese government has yet to act.Losing Streak reveals how the defacto regulator charged with overseeing online bookmakers is ineffective. Based in Darwin, it meets once a month, has no full-time staff, and has been accused of being too close to the industry it's supposed to police.Cannane and the team ask why the federal government has failed to respond to a cross parliamentary blueprint for reform and what it will take to curb the harms of a sector that turns over tens of billions of dollars a year.

In December 2024 the world witnessed the dramatic fall of Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad, ending a 13-year civil war. But behind the celebrations is a grim legacy, over 100,000 Syrians disappeared and more than a million imprisoned.This week on Four Corners, a two-year investigation into one of the most brutal campaigns of state repression in modern history, as told by the victims and the perpetrators.The BBC's Surviving Syria's Prisons gets rare access to more than 40 former regime operatives, from intelligence officers to the prison guards who oversaw torture and execution.This chilling investigation exposes the mentality and motivation of those who tortured and the regime that enabled it.Their confessions, told for the first time, are intertwined with the powerful story of two brothers who survived Syria's most notorious prison Saydnaya, known as the "human slaughterhouse" to start a journey for justice.The United Nations has said the torture and detention under the Assad regime constitutes crimes against humanity.

Havana Syndrome is a report by Brother films and CANAL+ on multiple incidents of U.S. officials becoming sick and disoriented.A strange sound, an immaculate crime scene, American diplomats collapsing with unexplained symptoms: This is how one of the most troubling intelligence mysteries of recent years began.What seemed to start in Havana soon spread around the world, leaving U.S. officials sick and disoriented. Hundreds of national security officers reported unexplained injuries, from vertigo and memory loss to vision damage and brain trauma.But as reports of these incidents multiplied, some dismissed the victims as suffering from stress or hysteria. For the officers affected, the greatest battle became forcing their own government to take them seriously.This week on Four Corners, Brother Films and CANAL+ bring you exclusive interviews with victims, doctors, scientists and senior officials. Their stories show the toll of what's been labelled Havana Syndrome and their resilience in pushing for recognition, care and accountability.What emerges is not only a medical mystery but a struggle for recognition within the U.S. intelligence community.The officers' fight to be heard exposes a deeper question: how do governments respond when their own are caught in the shadows of a new kind of conflict?

In the streets of suburban Sydney lies the headquarters of the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church — a secretive, ultra-wealthy organisation whose $22 billion business empire stretches around the globe. Critics accuse the religious group, once known as the Exclusive Brethren, of operating like a cult, while its leader Bruce Hales and his family live in luxury, at the centre of a network of thousands of companies worldwide. This week on Four Corners, former members tell reporter Louise Milligan about the psychological manipulation, surveillance, and threats the church allegedly uses against them, as well as attempts to intimidate them and buy their silence. Big Brethren charts how companies that support the church have amassed billions and are now under scrutiny from the Australian Taxation Office.  Whistleblowers also reveal the group's attempts at political penetration, including covert election campaigning, despite members traditionally being discouraged from voting. 

The race is on to find the minerals we need to enable the world's transition to clean energy, and vast reserves of those minerals lie untouched at the bottom of the Pacific.But, while mining them could fuel our green future, scientists warn it risks catastrophic damage to our oceans.Enter Australian entrepreneur Gerard Barron, the founder and CEO of The Metals Company.He wants to extract potato-sized balls called polymetallic nodules from the seabed and believes they could be worth trillions of dollars.His project has gained political momentum after US President Donald Trump signed an executive order supporting seabed mining, even in international waters.The United Nations affiliated agency responsible for regulating the exploitation of the world's deep-sea resources says mining under US permits would be unlawful and undermines global cooperation.With no clear rules in place, and the stakes higher than ever, the future of deep-sea mining is now a global flashpoint.Reporter Mark Willacy travels from Jamaica to Tonga to Washington D.C. to investigate the battle over who controls the ocean, who profits from its resources, and what the world could stand to lose.Race to the Bottom is a stunning film that reveals a growing divide between political ambition, corporate interests and environmental responsibility.Race to the Bottom, reported by Mark Willacy and produced by Mary Fallon, goes to air on Monday 8 September at 8.30pm on ABC TV and ABC iview.

Hospitals, doctors and nurses have long been protected under international law. But in Gaza, most of the territory's 36 main hospitals have now been attacked or destroyed. Gaza: Doctors Under Attack is an investigation into the impact of war on Gaza's health system and the treatment of its medical staff. Israel says it's justified in attacking the hospitals as Hamas uses them for military purposes.   The documentary draws on testimony from Palestinian health workers, witness accounts, and official reports from human rights agencies, to examine allegations of attacks, detainment and mistreatment.  At its core are the personal stories of doctors trying to treat patients under extraordinary conditions.  One doctor survived strikes that killed his family, only to be detained while continuing his work. Another doctor, a senior medic, died in custody. Directed by Karim Shah, Ramita Navai and Ben de Pear, and reported by Emmy award-winning journalist Ramita Navai for Basement Films and Channel 4. It presents a rare and detailed account of the toll of the conflict on Gaza's hospitals and the doctors within them, confronting urgent questions about the rules of war.  

More than $100 million has vanished in a financial scandal at the heart of the federal government's disability housing program.One enterprise lured in more than 500 Australians with the promise of glittering high returns and social good, only to be exposed as one of the country's most audacious investment scams.Investors were told their money would help tackle the disability housing crisis while earning government backed, fixed returns. Instead, $78 million is alleged to have disappeared into a web of failed projects, luxury cars, gambling sprees and offshore ventures.This week on Four Corners, reporter Jessica Longbottom reveals the cracks in the governance of Australia's disability housing market and exposes systemic regulatory failure.The government's Specialist Disability Accommodation program, part of the NDIS, was meant to transform lives, but it was handed to a poorly regulated private sector.Four Corners investigates how the program, marketed as an ethical investment, has turned into a feeding ground for property sharks and led to streets of vacant homes across the country.The program asks: is this once in a generation opportunity at risk of collapse amid fraud, waste and shattered trust?

A growing anti-government movement in Australia is challenging the authority of the courts, councils and cops.  Some call themselves sovereign citizens, others freedom fighters. Supercharged during the COVID lockdowns, the movement's rising influence and resolve has made it one of the judiciary's primary concerns. They're flooding the legal system with pseudolaw claims, staging their own "trials" and targeting officials with campaigns of harassment and intimidation. While they claim to be peaceful, many express the desire for an armed population, ready to act against what they see as an oppressive government. This week on Four Corners, reporter Mahmood Fazal embeds with key figures inside the movement to see how it operates. From "sheriffs" serving their own court orders to government departments, to local council meetings overrun by anti-vax activists.  Lawfare traces how the movement is trying to exert influence across Australia. Legal experts explain how this seemingly victimless civil disobedience can sometimes escalate into intimidation, violence and serious risks to public safety. The investigation exposes a movement that's testing the limits of Australian law and the institutions meant to uphold it.  It examines the human and institutional impact of the movement and the danger to our democracy if it's not taken seriously.

In this Four Corners episode: "Trump's Power and the Law" from PBS examines how President Trump is pushing the limits on Presidential powers.Trump versus the Courts: What will the American system of government become — the rule of law or the rule of the president?President Trump has expanded the power and authority of his office like no other, and he is not stopping.At stake is the foundational document of the United States of America – the constitution.From undermining the courts to attacking prosecutors, judges, and the justice system itself, this week Four Corners examines how President Trump is pushing the limits.Trump's Power and the Law from the American public broadcaster PBS is a forensic examination of how the law is being remade to serve the ambitions of one man.It draws on 20 interviews with Trump allies, opponents, legal experts and journalists to piece together a picture of a system under extreme pressure.

At least one class action is launched on average every week in Australia. They are often seen as the only way Australians wronged by powerful institutions can get compensation and justice.  Across the country retirees, taxi drivers and First Nations families have signed up with the hope of compensation and recognition, but the reality is often very different – many are left feeling sidelined, short-changed, and sometimes retraumatised.  In this Four Corners, ABC investigations' reporter Anne Connolly reveals how some class actions have become a brazen money-making exercise for lawyers and litigation funders – many of them based overseas.  The investigation exposes cases where law firms charged huge fees, funders nearly tripled their money, and people meant to be protected were left feeling exploited once again.  The Price of Justice asks whether the system still serves the public, or whether it's now serving itself. 

The Australian Taxation Office holds extraordinary power, but who's keeping it in check? The ATO is one of the most powerful and secretive institutions in the country, but for years, it's operated without effective scrutiny. In this major Four Corners investigation, award-winning financial journalists Neil Chenoweth and Angus Grigg reveal how inaction and flawed systems have allowed more than $50 billion in tax to go uncollected.  They unpick how a simple scam, supercharged on social media, saw tens of thousands of Australians fraudulently claim at least $2 billion in GST refunds.  They also show how corporate operators extracted millions more through fake invoices and phantom construction projects, often without triggering even basic checks. And they expose how deep cuts, digital automation and a lack of independent oversight has left one of Australia's most powerful institutions wide open to exploitation. Born of years of forensic reporting by two of Australia's most respected financial journalists in collaboration with the ABC's investigations team, No Return exposes systemic failures inside one of the nation's most opaque institutions.  It demonstrates why every taxpayer should demand accountability from the very agency entrusted to uphold it. 

For years, a star neurosurgeon operated inside Australia's hospital system despite repeated allegations of sexist and inappropriate behaviour, and a string of legal claims by devastated patients.  This is the hidden story of the toxic culture that enabled him.  In this Four Corners investigation, reporter Louise Milligan talks to senior surgeons and hospital insiders who are speaking out for the first time.  Through powerful testimonies, internal documents, and newly surfaced footage, God Complex reveals a culture of protection, silence and complicity in Australia's most elite medical circles, and the human cost of letting power go unchecked. 

For decades, Iranians have resisted a regime built on fear, repression and religious control.Rage Against the Regime captures the latest chapter in that struggle through the voices of those who have lived it, exiled dissidents, young protesters and women who dared to speak out.This is a story filmed in exile, told by Iranians forced to flee their country. Their testimonies reveal the reality of life under constant surveillance, where a wrong word or a visible strand of hair can lead to arrest, torture, or worse. The film centers on the protest movement sparked by the death of Mahsa Amini while under police protection. Using powerful first-person accounts and rare footage smuggled out of Iran, it shows how a single act of state violence reignited a movement, bringing thousands into the streets, threatening the regime.Rage Against the Regime is an unflinching portrait of courage in the face of brutal repression. It is a story about freedom, sacrifice and the cost of speaking out.

Australians in their 30s and 40s are facing an alarming surge in cancer diagnoses and researchers are scrambling to understand why. From bowel and breast to liver and kidney, aggressive cancers are hitting younger people; they're often detected late, with devastating outcomes. Dr Norman Swan investigates what's behind the change.

Four Corners dives into the chaos created by Donald Trump's trade policy.Reported by Steve Cannane, Trading in Chaos investigates how the very people the president set out to help are now being harmed.From soybean farms in North Carolina to toy warehouses in Texas, from the ports of New York and New Jersey to the rust belt of Pennsylvania, Steve and the Four Corners team have crisscrossed the US to talk to those most affected by the tariffs.The film captures the confusion, uncertainty and fear generated by Trump's whiplash-inducing tariffs, policies that experts say will increase the cost of living, make the US poorer and the world a less prosperous and secure place.

For years, serious abuse allegations followed Sean "Diddy" Combs, so how did his empire continue to grow? With the music mogul now on trial for alleged sex trafficking, Diddy: In Plain Sight pulls back the curtain on the world he built, and the people who helped protect it. Featuring first-hand accounts and never-before-seen footage, the film explores how silence, complicity and power allowed the allegations to stay hidden for so long.

As the US launches a review into AUKUS, Four Corners examines the future of the $368 billion submarine deal. Reporter Mark Willacy and the Four Corners team travel to Washington, DC to speak with key players inside the Congress and the defence community. One former Trump Defense Secretary says the program is moving too slowly. Now, the Pentagon is reviewing the entire AUKUS deal with fears it might not align with the new administration's "America First" policy. In London, senior UK figures also sound the alarm. They warn of cost blowouts and delays in building the new AUKUS-class nuclear submarine with Australia. Submerged asks the tough questions about what happens to Australia if Donald Trump decides the AUKUS deal doesn't serve America's interests – leaving Australia out of pocket and stranded.

Former UFC stars say the organisation is built on their pain, not their pay. Some of the biggest names in Australian mixed martial arts say they were pushed to their physical and financial limits while the UFC made over a billion dollars in revenue. In this week's Four Corners, reporter Mahmood Fazal speaks to former fighters who describe a culture of exploitation, secrecy, and lasting damage. Professional fighters share what it's like to be locked into restrictive contracts, take punishing fights, and end up broke or broken after years in the cage.

Doctors and frontline health workers warn they are witnessing the collapse of public mental health care in NSW. Staff say they're being forced to release people who are still seriously unwell because there aren't enough beds.

"Decimated" reported by Patricia Karvelas, produced by Alex McDonald and Joshua Martin for Four Corners, hears from Liberal insiders following the fallout of the Federal Election.They lost the inner-city seats and now the outer suburbs. Can the Liberal Party ever recover from its historic election loss?Behind closed doors a battle is raging for the heart and soul of the party.ABC presenter Patricia Karvelas talks to Liberal insiders as they grapple with the existential crisis of what the Liberal Party stands for and who it represents.Liberal Party powerbrokers talk to Four Corners candidly and honestly about the contest which will redefine Australian politics.With the Nationals walking away from the Coalition, the Liberals face the very real prospect that they may never govern again.The party of Menzies and Howard faces a reckoning: can they rebuild and win back middle Australia or face further losses?Four Corners charts the inside story of these monumental political shifts.

The Rise and Fall of Terrorgram, a PBS Frontline and ProPublica Production.They call themselves Terrorgram — a group of "militant accelerationists" who use extreme violence to bring down governments and create new white "ethnostates".They came together on social media apps like Telegram and created a transnational network resulting in a spree of deadly terror attacks across the globe.A year-long investigation by PBS and ProPublica unmasks the ringleaders and how they operated.And it uncovers the failings of authorities to stop them.The Rise and Fall of Terrorgram shows the consequences of unfettered free speech - having influencers advocate mass murder.It asks the chilling question: are the arrests of the leaders the end of the Terrorgram or just the beginning?

We love Bunnings — it's where we go for our weekend sausage sizzle and to fulfill our DIY dreams.  But what if the store Australians trust most is not as benign as it would have us believe?  Bunnings has quietly become one of Australia's most dominant and profitable retailers, with rivals saying its market power matches Coles and Woolworths combined.   Yet it faces none of the scrutiny of the big two supermarkets.  Critics also claim it's a corporate predator systematically picking off independents, shutting down competition and abusing its dominance with suppliers. For its part Bunnings insists it's just another competitor in a crowded field.  Four Corners' Angus Grigg and Emilia Terzon from the ABC business team dig into Bunnings' unchecked dominance, its soaring profits, and whether regulators have turned a blind eye while it reshapes Australian retail.  This is the untold story of how Bunnings became a national icon — and what we lose when one brand dominates the backyard.  

Over summer, organised crime cast a terrifying shadow over Australia.The Jewish community in Sydney was left reeling — shaken by a wave of attacks that culminated in the discovery of a caravan packed with explosives and a list of Jewish sites.NSW police have maintained that the crimes are connected, that a mastermind has orchestrated more than a dozen attacks.In the months following the caravan's discovery, a name began to emerge: Sayit Erhan Akca—a figure well-known in Sydney's criminal underworld, currently on the run from Australian authorities.Reporter Mahmood Fazal travels to the country where Akca is hiding to seek answers about his involvement and to challenge his account, in the hope of piecing together the truth of what really happened.In his first ever TV interview Akca makes stunning admissions, raising questions about how authorities have responded to this unprecedented wave of crime and hatred.

Travelling on the campaign buses of our political leaders gives you a curious insight into Australian democracy.They almost never meet anyone who hasn't been carefully vetted beforehand. Journalists have no idea where they're going until they arrive at a location.Everything is tightly scripted and choreographed to deliver the leaders' messages to a weary and distracted public.We joined this political mystery tour to get an insight into this high-stakes theatre, but more importantly to try to get answers to the questions that matter to Australians:What can be done to address housing affordability? Is there relief from rising cost of living? What does a chaotic and uncertain world mean for Australia?We also spoke to those who've seen up close how Peter Dutton and Anthony Albanese operate, and who've followed their campaigns' highs and lows.We do a deep dive into their histories and reveal new details that have never come to light.With less than a week to go, Four Corners takes you beyond the talking points and the spin, to examine the leadership records of Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton. And their plans for the nation if they win.

Inside a dangerous terror network in Australia — the man who infiltrated it speaks out.One year after the Wakeley church stabbing shocked Australia, a former secret agent who infiltrated the country's jihadist underworld unmasks himself.In an extraordinary Four Corners exclusive, the former ASIO agent reveals to investigative reporter Sean Rubinsztein-Dunlop how a resurgent Islamic State (IS) network is radicalising Australian teens and plotting violence.He exposes the network's links to a global web of terrorist leaders.The agent spent years inside extremist circles, helping authorities thwart attacks and stop IS terrorists.Now, with teenage terrorism and hate crimes on the rise in Australia and around the world, he's stepping out of the shadows to sound the alarm.

BBC Journalist Richard Bilton travels the globe meeting brilliant scientists racing to turn the tide on climate change – people whose ideas could reshape the world.From volcano labs in Iceland, to disappearing glaciers in Switzerland and to sun-reflecting clouds in Australia, he finds bold experiments aimed not just at cutting emissions but removing carbon from the atmosphere.  The film, Can Climate Scientists Save the World? zeroes in on Australia's Great Barrier Reef, where researchers are working to protect coral with technology as delicate as it is daring.  This is a story of urgent action, hope, and a global effort to future-proof our earth.  

This week Four Corners unpacks the rise of Xi Jinping, China's most dominant leader since Mao Zedong, and the global consequences of his rule. With rare access and deep reporting, Frontline correspondent Martin Smith investigates Xi's path to power, his ideological vision, and how he has reshaped China's relationship with the world. Once dismissed as a compromise leader, Xi Jinping seized total control through a ruthless anti-corruption campaign, silencing dissent and tightening the Party's grip.His "China Dream" envisions a dominant China—militarily, technologically, and on the world stage. But Xi's grip is being tested.  Economic instability, mass protests, and international pushback challenge his vision for a resurgent China.  As tensions over Taiwan escalate and China's future grows uncertain, The Power of Xi reveals the stakes of his rule—for China, the U.S., and the world. 

A decade-long investigation has uncovered explosive new evidence suggesting that corrupt former NSW Crime Commission assistant director Mark Standen's criminality was far more extensive than the public was led to believe.  While Standen was jailed for a single drug importation, he is the most senior crime fighter in the country ever to be convicted for such an offence. And now sources and official documents indicate he protected criminals, sabotaged investigations, and is believed to have helped facilitate multiple imports of illegal drugs. Investigative reporter Janine Cohen has been following Standen's case for 14 years, uncovering new details that challenge the official narrative. Now, in his first ever on-camera interview, Standen insists he is innocent — but law enforcement colleagues and others who knew him tell a different story.  As calls grow for a deeper inquiry, Four Corners exposes the full extent of a betrayal that shook Australia's justice system. 

The Yoorrook Justice Commission is making history as Australia's first formal truth-telling inquiry, shedding light on a violent past long buried in the nation's consciousness. Bridget Brennan, with the ABC's Indigenous Affairs Team in collaboration with Four Corners, has been documenting the powerful testimonies presented to the groundbreaking commission in Victoria, which expose the deep and ongoing impact of massacres and human rights abuses which began when Australia was colonised. Among these stories is the harrowing account of the Warrigal Creek massacre, where, in 1843, dozens of Aboriginal people were shot dead by white settlers in retaliation for the killing of a pastoralist's nephew. For Elizabeth Balderstone, the tragic history of Warrigal Creek is not just a historical account - it is a lived reality. She and Gunaikurnai elder Uncle Russell Mullett have come forward to share their story, bringing long-suppressed truths onto the public record.  "If we are to have a future where we live together with understanding," Uncle Russell said, "we must first be willing to know our history—and accept it." The documentary witnesses the gruelling and deeply personal work of the Aboriginal truth commissioners, as they attempt to document the true history of Victoria. The team also follows along as the Commission investigates the catastrophic legacy of a former Prime Minister. Truth/Yoorrook is a fearless, definitive documentary which examines how we as a nation reckon with our colonial past and take critical steps towards truth, healing and justice.

This week on Four Corners, a one-hour special reveals the deep failures and systemic issues plaguing Australia's childcare sector.  With nearly one-and-a-half million children enrolled in childcare across the country, parents trust that their children will be safe and cared for.  And while the glossy brochures and marketing paint a rosy picture, the reality of the system is far darker, and families are paying the price. Reporter Adele Ferguson uncovers shocking cases of child abuse, neglect, and injury, highlighting critical gaps in childcare safety and accountability.  As the $20 billion industry grows, the focus on financial gain over child welfare has sparked a nationwide call for action.Advocates warn that without immediate reform, the childcare industry will continue to put profit over children's safety. 

For more than 80 years, the Australian War Memorial has stood as a solemn shrine to those who have served and sacrificed for our country.  This week, Four Corners reveals how this sacred institution is increasingly entwined with the global arms industry — raising troubling questions about conflicts of interest, corporate influence, and the future of the memorial itself. In Sacrifice, Gold Walkley Award-winning journalist Mark Willacy exposes how the war memorial has accepted funding from some of the world's largest weapons manufacturers, despite former insiders condemning the money as "dirty" and inappropriate for an institution dedicated to honouring the human cost of war.As the war memorial undergoes a $550 million redevelopment — described by critics as an attempt to turn the site into a "Disneyland of war" — this investigation asks whether the expansion ensures the memorial's future or undermines its fundamental purpose.  

Four Corners investigative journalist Dan Oakes uncovers the secrets of Australia's black-market tobacco trade in Tobacco Wars.With illicit cigarettes readily available in cash-only stores and distributed by unmarked vans across the country, this investigation reveals a vast network stretching from Melbourne's suburban tobacconists to international smuggling routes.Using concealed cameras and exclusive access to law enforcement, the Four Corners team follows the illicit pipeline, exposing the lucrative industry that is fueling violent organised crime while robbing the government of billions in lost revenue.Tobacco Wars investigates the high-stakes underworld where arson attacks, extortion, and deadly feuds are used to control the illegal cigarette market.As the government grapples with policy responses and law enforcement agencies struggle to disrupt smuggling syndicates, Tobacco Wars raises urgent questions about the country's ability to curb this thriving illicit trade.With gripping undercover footage and exclusive insights from key players, Four Corners delivers a must-watch exposé on how Australia's efforts to cut smoking rates have inadvertently fueled a dangerous and violent underworld.

The Comeback King explores Donald Trump's dramatic resurgence following his 2020 election defeat, examining the pivotal moments and strategies that propelled him back to the forefront as a dominant force in U.S. politics.

Families call on governments to act as loved ones fall into extremism. Reporter Avani Dias investigates the growing threat of homegrown extremism, the painful reality of radicalisation and desperate calls for stronger action.

Is nuclear a viable answer to Australia's energy woes or is it a quixotic quest never to be realised? Eric Campbell visits the US, the largest producer of nuclear energy in the world and the place where atomic energy began.

What went wrong for Rex Airlines. The regional carrier entered voluntary administration and hundreds of jobs were lost. Emily Baker interviews Rex's former leaders and asks why Australia can't seem to sustain a third airline.

Germany has spent decades reckoning with its Nazi history, but far-right extremism and violent plots, particularly targeting Jews, Muslims and immigrants, have been increasing. Evan Williams investigates the rise of the AfD.

The execution of one of Australia's most powerful organised criminals in Sydney raised difficult questions. Surveillance recorded the alleged murder plot weeks beforehand, yet police faced a dilemma - Should they intervene?

Linton Besser exposes the graft and greed of the strata industry - supposed to protect apartment owners' interests - with shocking stories of financial abuse, unethical practices and a lack of meaningful consumer protection.

A compelling documentary that sheds light on the escalating tensions in the South China Sea, exploring the broader geopolitical implications including the Philippines' deepening partnerships with Australia and Japan.

With the Middle East on the brink of war, Four Corners travels to Iran, Lebanon and Israel to investigate why a new regional war is looming. Global Affairs Editor John Lyons and the Four Corners team gain rare access to Iran.

In the red soil of the Top End a new 'silver bullet' industry is emerging - cotton. Angus Grigg exposes a system riven by conflicts of interest that threatens to destroy some of the NT's most famous tourism destinations.

Channel Seven bills itself as a family network. Four Corners investigates allegations of sexism, exploitation and extreme bullying at the network. In some extreme cases employees have been hospitalised.

Is a tussle over electric vehicle imports the start of another East-West trade war? Fuelling the conflict are accusations that China is dumping EVs, solar panels and batteries on the global market, at artificially low prices.

Mega-fires destroying forests, hungry polar bears invading towns and fishing villages at risk of going underwater - Canada's climate catastrophe. Can one of the world's largest producers of fossil fuels combat global warming?

Donald Trump was talking about immigration on stage during the assassination attempt that left him bloodied and defiant. It's one of the fundamental issues currently dividing the US, alongside the economy, abortion, and race.

There has never been a US president like Donald Trump - and now he's back, this time with a detailed plan for his second coming. Mark Willacy sits down with White House insiders who witnessed the chaos of Trump's first term.

Sex work is big business in the Philippines, and men from overseas have fathered many children to sex workers. Children's DNA is being used to identify their sex-tourist fathers, track them down, and demand child support.

From solar power to 5G, China has transformed into a science and technology superpower - but how does China innovate? What drives its bid for technological supremacy, and what it means for the future of the global economy.

One in every 18 births in Australia is now a result of IVF. It's a multi-million-dollar industry creating 'miracle babies'. But when things go wrong, who is holding these fertility clinics to account? Grace Tobin reports.

The long arm of the Indian state in Australia. Avani Dias reveals new details about the local "nest of spies" previously disrupted by ASIO and meets Australian residents who say they've been threatened by India's authorities.

A new climate battle is now raging, pitting nature conservation against wind farms. It's fracturing communities and leading to enemies forming alliances. Plus the next frontier for clean energy - giant wind turbines offshore.

Every year, 19,000 people leave prison in New South Wales. Reporter Linton Besser meets the lucky few who've been given a place at Sydney's Rainbow Lodge - one of the longest continually running halfway houses in the world.

New, tough questions are being asked about Boeing's 737 Max, the fastest-selling jet in the company's history. After a door plug blew out, we investigate the plane's commercial pressures, flawed design and failed oversight.

Who's following our children online? It's the age of social media influencers and Australian kids are getting on board. But there's a darker side to this new and unregulated world. How can we keep young people safe?

For the first time ever, a former spy for China's notorious secret police goes public, exposing the covert and illegal operations he was ordered to carry out on foreign soil, including in Australia.

A major international investigation into how porn websites operate and exposes their business models. Former employees give inside accounts, and victims whose lives have been destroyed by the videos speak out.

A growing number of children are struggling to attend school - they want to go to school but feel like they can't because of anxiety and stress. We meet families battling the blame, shame and fear of missing out on education.

Australia's addiction to crystal meth or 'ice' is having devastating consequences, but beyond the street dealer, most are unaware of the drug's murky supply chains - and the faceless figures profiting at the top.

The inside story of one of America's biggest national security leaks. We expose the inner circle and the young US Air National Guardsman at the centre of it, who leaked classified defence documents on an online chat platform.

More than three million Australians are living with chronic pain, and it's become a breeding ground for exploitation. We expose the ugly side of medicine with patients in worse pain after having surgery and lives put at risk.

Elise WorthingtonFor the last year we've had so much media coverage of the new class of weight loss drugs like Ozempic. Are they dangerous? Do they work? Who should have access to them?As the ABC's National Health Reporter, I started out by looking into how the ongoing shortages of these drugs are affecting everyday Australians. Then I went down the rabbit hole.What I found was a black market taking advantage of people desperate to lose weight.Join me this week as we uncover a scam targeting Australian doctors and follow a trail of mysterious vials of red copycat Ozempic being posted around the country — and overseas.The investigation takes me from a tiny town in Tasmania where patients started experiencing strange side effects, and back to the mainland as I chase down who is behind the vials.

Behind the scenes of David McBride's fight to clear his name. The former Australian military lawyer is credited with exposing war crimes in Afghanistan - but was that his intention when he released government secrets?

Two years since Ukraine was invaded by Russia, Four Corners brings you a rare insight from the other side. Filmmaker Sean Langan's groundbreaking documentary offers a human perspective on life on the Russian frontline.

Inside Israel's war machine. John Lyons asks the tough questions; challenging some of Israel's most powerful political and military voices about the country's strategy and intentions. Is there any way out of this war?

Why the rest of Australia should care about what's happening at elite schools. Amid the push for private boys' schools in Australia to go co-educational, we investigate if these institutions are safe places for girls.

A man accused by Rwandan authorities of being involved in brutal atrocities is living in Australia's suburbs. This joint Four Corners and Guardian investigation raise tough questions about our immigration screening processes.

The cost of living with Coles and Woolworths. We uncover the tactics used by supermarkets to keep prices high - and competition out. Both deny price gouging but there are now six inquiries and reviews targeting the duopoly.

Climate, protest and the fight for the future. Reporter Hagar Cohen takes you deep inside the battle between climate activists, the government and energy companies.

Undercover operatives and secret informants have been crucial in the fight against organised crime. But what happens to these people who risk their lives once the operations have finished and the criminals are behind bars?

How the NDIS fails to protect our most vulnerable. Anne Connolly and the Four Corners team expose criminals, opportunists and registered providers who have been busted exploiting loopholes to overcharge and defraud the NDIS.

Renegotiating Australia's democracy. Dan Bourchier travels the country talking to people about what the referendum means to them. The Voice debate has been unsettling and confusing, so what does self-determination look like?

Despite the Taliban's public promises of change, we expose the reality of life for women in Afghanistan. We accompany an underground network of female activists on dangerous missions to rescue women hunted by the Taliban.

Antidepressants have helped many treat anxiety and depression but the physical and mental side effects can be wide-ranging - from headaches, brain fog, loss of sexual function and suicidal thoughts - and are often downplayed.

The AFL is the only major sporting code in the world that hasn't had a single elite male player publicly identify as gay. Louise Milligan investigates the AFL's culture and asks what has created this silence?

"Breaking the Cycle", reported by: Grace Tobin....I've never met anyone like the women in this week's story.They're young, pregnant and addicted.One sits beside me on a bed, her hand resting on her belly as she describes her use of methamphetamines and cannabis."I never wanted to be a pregnant drug user," she says.It's a moment I can't forget.Amid Australia's decade-long battle with ice, thousands of babies are born each year exposed to their mother's drug use.These women let us into their lives as they desperately try to get help for themselves and their unborn children.Four Corners reveals a system largely unwilling to deal with the health crisis — but there is some hope.

This is a story that Angus Grigg has wanted to tell for five years.It's got all the elements – money, insiders and power – but until recently, the rise of the consulting giants and how they've infiltrated government was confined to the business pages.Then the PwC tax scandal happened.This week on Four Corners, we investigate PwC's equally large and consequential rivals, and their huge influence in Canberra.Top of our list is KPMG, which has billed the Department of Defence a staggering $1.3 billion over the past five years.Whistleblowers tell us how it repeatedly over-charged the department – and you the taxpayer – for work never completed, and even invoiced for a consultant who wasn't on a project.And we don't stop there.

Undercover cameras go inside Chinese fast-fashion retailer Shein's factories for the first time.

From the Ukrainian frontlines to the mines of the Central African Republic, this week's Four Corners lifts the veil on Putin's private army – The Wagner Group.In this independent French television investigation, former senior Wagner insiders speak out about what they saw in the line of duty.The film traces the group, from its origins in Ukraine, to its clandestine operations in Syria, and its reign of terror across Africa where victims tell of rape, torture and massacres.It also follows the rise and fall of the group's leader Yevgeny Prigozhin who recently dared to challenge Putin's power by marching on Moscow with thousands of his troops.

Inside the broken business of building. Australia has the highest rate of construction insolvencies in a decade. We examine the supply chain pressures, slim profit margins and failure in regulation as some flout the law.

Patricia Karvelas here, I usually host RN Breakfast but for the last few months I've also been working on a special episode of Four Corners on a debate that has become increasingly polarising and combative.Medical transitions for young people who are transgender have galvanised campaigns around the world, but we wanted to explore what is happening in Australia's health system.The gender "affirmation" model of care for young people diagnosed with gender dysphoria – offering a path to medical interventions — is under scrutiny, review and change around the world.From Western Europe to the United States there have been changes to restrict access to puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones.At the heart of the debate is whether these medical interventions should be given to young people.The fight is now boiling over in Australia. It's playing out dramatically at Westmead children's hospital in Sydney.Over the last few months we have spoken to many insiders who have told us that the dispute over care is affecting their ability to help children languishing on their waiting list.We also wanted to hear from the critics of the affirmation model. Some argue that with the passage of time and therapy, gender issues will resolve. This approach is strongly refuted by most gender doctors.At the center of all this though are families desperate to do what's right for their distressed children.We've spoken to young people who are just starting the process that can lead to transitioning.Their accounts are powerful because for them it is not an academic abstract debate – it is their experience and their story.

This week Four Corners investigates his decades-long clashes with American presidents.The documentary from Frontline filmmaker Michael Kirk and his award-winning team reveals how the miscalculations and missteps of multiple American presidents over two decades paved the way for Putin's attack on Ukraine.This is the story as seen through the eyes of people who were in the room. It draws on in-depth conversations with insiders from five U.S. presidential administrations, former U.S. intelligence leaders, diplomats, Russian politicians, authors and journalists.Putin and the Presidents traces how, prior to launching the war on Ukraine, Putin tested the waters by provoking and defying American presidents for 20 years — cyberattacking Estonia, invading Georgia, seizing Crimea, and interfering in a U.S. presidential election.The report provides unique insight into the icy relationship between Putin and current U.S. President Joe Biden, and into the evolution of the Russian leader's grievances with the U.S. and the West.

Inside Australia's Biggest Tax Scam. Paul Farrell investigates the Plutus Payroll scheme: a vast conspiracy to defraud more than $100 million from Australian taxpayers, revealing how it was set up and how it was brought down.

What did it take to lure the two of us back to our old stomping ground? A cracking expose on Australia's greatest untold spy story.It was only six years ago in 2017 that ASIO's Official History confirmed our spy agency had been penetrated by the KGB during the Cold War. But just what happened and who betrayed Australia has been a closely guarded secret. Until now.In this week's Four Corners, we reveal not just the full extent of this breathtaking treachery but also the identity of the ASIO officer who became a KGB mole.At the time, he was a senior manager with top secret clearance who sold out his colleagues and his country for cash payments from the Russians. He was considered one of the KGB's most valuable western intelligence assets during the Cold War.For the first time, former colleagues also speak about the shock and trauma of realising they had a traitor inside their office.Because of his access to critical secrets shared among the Five Eyes intelligence partnership, the mole's actions also jeopardised Australia's intelligence alliance with the United States and the United Kingdom.It's a genuine spy thriller with hidden compartments in diplomatic cars, exercise groups acting as diversions at Sydney's Bondi Beach and so-called 'dead drops' of classified documents at night in Centennial Park.

At first glance, the man sitting in a folding chair on the sidelines of a soccer field in Melbourne's suburbs could be just another supporter of South Springvale Football Club.You'd be forgiven for not having heard of the team. They play in the fifth tier of Victoria's state competition.But the man wasn't one of South Springvale's loyal local fans. He was a data scout - working for an international company that generated almost $1.2 billion in revenue last year.Because of the man's live updates, several international bookmakers were offering people the chance to bet on this amateur game in real-time.The club, and players, had no idea.Not only does the sport's governing body Football Australia allow data scouts to be on the sidelines of games like this, but it also receives a cut of any domestic bets that are placed.This is Australian sport in 2023.I've spent the past six months investigating how the games we love have become deeply entwined with gambling.I found secret deals between the biggest sporting codes and global betting giants and explored how the influence of gambling infiltrates local community sports.Many clubs, players and fans I spoke to say they've had enough. Is a change coming?

A narrow stretch of water is all that separates the People's Republic of China, ruled by the Communist Party, from Taiwan, Asia's most successful democracy.The small island is in dire straits, stuck in the middle of a struggle between two nuclear powers — China and the United States. There are real fears it will soon become the centre of the next major global conflict.While China insists Taiwan must re-unify with the motherland, Taiwan's president says the island must maintain its freedom and democracy.This week's episode of Four Corners goes inside the fight to tell a story that could have ramifications for us all.We meet young people training in urban warfare who are bracing for more cyber-attacks, disinformation and the possibility of an all-out battle.A pro-Beijing campaigner and a former gang leader explains why they want reunification and shares footage of his party members battling pro-independence students.And we tackle the question: what next for Taiwan?

Five years after the conclusion of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, a fierce new battleground is emerging as survivors turn to the courts seeking compensation from the institutions they say should have kept them safe.In my own journalism, I followed closely over many years the work of the royal commission, and there was great hope when it made its final recommendations — many of which were adopted by parliaments — that a new and fairer legal landscape would emerge for survivors.But despite those reforms designed to ease the path to justice, for many survivors, getting proper civil compensation when they finally pluck up the courage to come forward is now more difficult than ever.In this week's Four Corners, we go behind the scenes to reveal the extraordinary legal tactics being used to have claims thrown out of court and compensation payments cut.We talk to victims whose cases have been thwarted by permanent stays — a legal mechanism that's only granted by courts in exceptional circumstances, when a case is considered so oppressively unfair to one party that it's an abuse of process.If granted, it effectively puts an end to proceedings.The lawyers we spoke to say they're now being used or threatened in almost all cases where an abuser has died or has dementia. And shockingly, in at least one case, where the convicted pedophile is very much alive, in jail and willing to give evidence that the institution should have done more to stop him.The survivor of that perpetrator is now facing bankruptcy, after the court awarded costs against him.We meet another survivor who sued the church for childhood abuse perpetrated by a priest, only for the institution to turn around and cross-claim against his aunt because, it argued, it should have been "reasonably foreseeable" that it was unwise to leave the boy alone with the priest.Meanwhile, another institution is threatening to seek a stay that would prevent an Aboriginal woman from seeking compensation through the courts because her alleged perpetrator — who was charged with the abuse of 40 children — died six months before his criminal trial.

We lift the lid on the shadowy underworld of Australia's cocaine supply chain, with unprecedented access to traffickers, importers, street dealers and high-ranking cartel operatives.

It's long been dangerous for ordinary Russians to speak up against Vladimir Putin's regime, but since the invasion of Ukraine it's become riskier than ever.This week Four Corners goes deep inside Russia to meet the citizens who have chosen to stay after thousands of others have fled. Some vocally oppose the war, others have remained silent, and some support the government.The filmmakers meet a group of young graffiti artists who create art mocking the government's pro-war propaganda, before one of their members is arrested.They follow the members of a small, independent YouTube channel as they travel the country to give voice to the views of ordinary Russians, after other independent media outlets were forced to close.And a local politician is forced to make the ultimate choice after a video of her accusing the Russian government of war crimes during a council meeting goes viral.When authorities decide to press charges, she must decide: should she face criminal conviction or flee the country?

The new reality of artificial life. As tech companies race to dominate the artificial intelligence market, experts warn we're not prepared for what happens next. Grace Tobin investigates the misuse and abuse of generative AI.

The United States, for only the second time ever, is prepared to share its nuclear submarine technology. And it will be sharing it with us.In framing last month's AUKUS announcement this way, the question of "should we go nuclear?" has largely been ignored.On this week's episode of Four Corners, we examine the price of pursuing this nuclear dream — how it will cost up to $32 million a day for the next three decades, require a near-tripling of an already stretched submarine corps and limit Defence's ability to produce or buy other critical military items.But most of all we investigate how the navy is struggling to keep its current fleet of ageing subs in the water.We reveal it had only one battle-ready submarine from its fleet of six at the start of this year.This was due to floods, a fire and maintenance delays, which are set to become even more common as the fleet enters its fourth decade of service.If we are finding it difficult to keep these conventional submarines in the water, can we really go nuclear?

Fox News has abruptly agreed to pay more than $AU1 billion over allegations it promoted misinformation about the 2020 US election.It's one of the highest publicly known defamation settlements in US history.The settlement with election technology company Dominion Voting Systems was the latest twist in an extraordinary case that has exposed the inner workings of the powerful Murdoch-owned conservative news network. Dominion, in addition to the huge payout, heard a statement from Fox News that "certain claims" it made about the company were not true.This case is just one of many launched against Fox and its friends.Two years ago, reporter Sarah Ferguson investigated how Rupert Murdoch's Fox News promoted Donald Trump's propaganda and helped destabilise democracy in America.In light of the Dominion settlement, this week 4Corners will re-air that special investigation (updated), including the next big case against Fox brought by a second voting-machine company.

Australia is under cyber-attack and the problem is not going away – it's getting worse.Over the last three months I've explored the shadowy world of the criminal syndicates behind this.It's taken me from Australia to Ukraine — and back again.On that journey I've been stunned by how well organised – and corporatised – these gangs are. Some even have HR departments and negotiating teams.Many are based in Russia, where they clearly receive the protection of powerful people in the regime.Our Four Corners team has looked at two of Russia's crime gangs, Revil and Conti.While technically they have closed down, it's clear that hackers from groups like this often re-emerge in other guises. Their malicious software – known as malware – is also used by other criminals.I spent time inside the cyber nerve centre in Ukraine – where they warned that because of Australia's support for the country, we can expect an increase in attacks from Russia's gangs.Preparing this report, I was stunned by the damage these attacks are causing. The Federal Government's own figures estimate 23 per cent of small and medium-sized businesses that are hacked are paying ransoms.What can be done to stop the hackers?

Japan's secret sex scandal. A music executive with a long history of allegations of sexual abuse made by boys in his talent agency. We examine the suffocating reality of being a J-pop idol and the media cover up over decades.

In this episode of Four Corners "Gaming The Games", an investigation by Hagar Cohen, uncovers a scandal that goes to the heart of the Paralympic Games.The Paralympics have become the world's third biggest sporting event, generating tens of millions of dollars in revenue and sponsorships.Reporter Hagar Cohen speaks to former athletes and high-ranking officials who tell her the system that's meant to ensure a level playing field for Paralympians, is flawed and easily manipulated.The insiders describe a culture where classification rules are regularly bent and broken, with few repercussions.They fear that without substantial reform, athletes who follow the rules will continue to be robbed of the chance to compete and win.

More than a hundred agents and property professionals reveal the ways in which their profession manipulates and misleads buyers as well as sellers in the pursuit of making a deal.As part of a crowdsourced investigation into the sector, reporter Paul Farrell and the team gain access to those in the know and ask them to lift the veil of secrecy surrounding how they make their money.The revelations are stunning and highlight limits to regulation, as well as the pitfalls to look out for.

This week on Four Corners, British filmmaker Ben Zand takes us into the dark world of Incels – a radical online subculture of young men who rage against women for supposedly denying them sex and then turn that rage into fantasies about horrific violence.Zand uncovers the shockingly violent content that is being shared online and talks to the men behind it, in an effort to understand the Incel mentality that has in part lead to hate crimes and in some cases mass murders.The film also explores the intersection between loneliness and young men's vulnerability to online radicalisation – a practice known as black pilling. This culminates when Zand accompanies one young man to a bar to meet and talk to a woman for the very first time.

The gambling industry has long been one of the most powerful interest groups in Australia.Yet you might not have even heard of one of its main lobby groups — Clubs NSW. It represents the interests of over 1,000 clubs and their more than 64,000 poker machines.We've been investigating the power this lobby group has over governments and regulators, both state and federal.In our investigation you'll hear from people with first-hand knowledge of how the group operates, who are speaking out for the first time.There's a former industry insider blowing the whistle on the organisation's culture; and a Liberal party gambling minister who was targeted by the group – and was ultimately forced out of the job.How to fix problem gambling and money laundering associated with poker machines has become a hot topic at this month's NSW election.Veteran campaigners for reform believe it's a watershed moment – the biggest ever test of ClubsNSW's power and influence, that could have ramifications across Australia and even globally.

On Four Corners this week we investigate how the Perth Mint may have been used to move millions of dollars around the world.The Perth Mint, which is owned by the WA government, sells $20 billion of gold annually and is one of the world's biggest gold refiners. This makes it a very large business and one that should be acutely aware of its obligations to comply with Australia's anti-money laundering laws.We uncover major holes in its money laundering defences and how the historic institution has been singled out by law enforcement authorities.There's a notorious bikie who has bought gold with no background checks, and we put the WA Premier on the spot. We also delve into how clients of a tax haven bank were able to buy $25 million worth of precious metals from the Perth Mint.

Monday's Four Corners report 'Fading Away' by Grace Tobin profiles the Australian mums fighting to keep their children alive.For months reporter Grace Tobin and the team followed families as they struggled to get the right treatment for life-threatening eating disorders.With more than one million Australians estimated to be living with an eating disorder at any time, they are also one of the deadliest of all mental illnesses.The program explores the complexities of the illness and reveals a health system appallingly underprepared to deal with this crisis.For 23-year-old Sara, who compares her eating disorder to a "monster", the solution is not as simple as just eating."It's so much more than just the actual food. For me, when I have food, there's so much guilt and shame and anxiety around it. That doesn't just go away if you eat the food," Sara says.Her mother Jenny lives in fear, "I come home thinking, ‘Is she going to be collapsed on the floor or is she going to be okay?' ... She could die from it."Another mother, Faye lost her daughter Caitlin after a 16-year battle with the disease. "She gave up on the system. The system is broken. It's so broken," she tells Four Corners.

The People's Fight, the inside story of the battle of the strategic city of Kherson. This Ukrainian victory halted Russian advances in the South and showed how an army of volunteers could defeat the might of the Russian army.

In the race to curb catastrophic climate change, prominent Australian businesses have been enthusiastic customers of carbon credits. They've been offsetting their emissions by buying credits from companies promising to stop exploitative timber harvesting, whilst lifting locals out of poverty.But reporter Stephen Long has found that there is a vast chasm between what is marketed and what is really happening on the ground.In a month-long trip, the team travelled to some of the most isolated villages in Papua New Guinea. They uncovered environmental devastation in the very areas one company claimed to be protecting and indigenous landowners angry at unfulfilled promises.Long asks, who will really benefit from the carbon trade?

This week Four Corners reveals Australia's system of health regulation is allowing doctors who have groped, dated and even raped their patients to continue practising.A six-month investigation into the medical complaints handling process has found hundreds of medical practitioners have been sanctioned by tribunals for sexual misconduct involving patients since 2010.Many are still registered to work.Reporter Emily Baker has forensically analysed over a decade's worth of healthcare complaints and uncovered a complex and unwieldy system struggling to protect the public from sexual predators.The program follows several disturbing cases -- patients tell Baker harrowing stories of betrayal at the hands of those entrusted with their care – and the system that struggled to respond.Baker investigates where the system is failing and asks how it could be improved.

Former students from private schools in Sydney are grappling with a troubling question: What happens when freedom of religious expression strays into misinformation?We have spoken to more than 30 former students from elite schools associated with the small but powerful branch of the Catholic Church known as Opus Dei.The students have made disturbing claims about the messaging at the schools, which they say at times deviated from the curriculum and veered into misinformation.Students say they were told that masturbation was mentally disordered behaviour, homosexuality would send them to hell, and girls were discouraged from getting the HPV cancer vaccine because it encouraged promiscuity.For some, their schooling has left them with deep psychological scars.The schools and the Opus Dei community have strong ties to the NSW Liberal Party. Premier Dominic Perrottet is an Old Boy.Faced with questions from Four Corners about the schools' practices, Mr Perrottet has referred the allegations to an investigation by the NSW Educations Standards Authority.But tonight on Four Corners former students warn that parents and others in the community are in the dark as to what is going on behind the school gates.

The real cost of Australia's worker shortage. From hospitals and hotels to farms and factories there's an urgent need for workers. The problem is particularly acute in regional towns where almost every sector is struggling.

How genealogy databases are being used to solve crimes and cold cases. As DNA databases continue to grow, law enforcement agencies are becoming increasingly confident these new DNA detectives will expose criminals.

In towns and cities across Australia, the critical lack of affordable and social housing now means people with low paying jobs are struggling to find accommodation. Louise Milligan reports on the new face of homelessness.

In a rare in-depth interview, Federal Opposition Leader Peter Dutton speaks about some of the issues that shaped him and his vision for Australia. Colleagues who've known him for many years also offer their insights.

Street gangs, drugs and organised crime. A turf war where teenagers are being attacked with knives. Grace Tobin has gained extraordinary access to the teenagers who are being drawn into the violence and criminal activities.

The inside story of the decline of Qantas. Current and former staff talk about ruthless cost cutting and a divide and conquer culture. An airline in damage control, beset by customer complaints and a demoralised workforce.

The working-class investors duped by a man the regulators won't pursue. Caro Meldrum-Hanna goes in pursuit of the elusive businessman and the missing money people invested in the mining exploration company he spruiked.

Almost 20,000 people have reportedly been killed since the military seized power in Myanmar in February 2021. Filmmakers risk their life to secretly document the army's brutal repression and use of lethal force on protesters.

Behind the scenes with some of the Independent women who defied the odds and defeated high profile politicians. With rare access we filmed personal moments away from the spotlight, documenting their transition to Canberra.

How Chinese money is buying the Solomon Islands. Angus Grigg investigates the extent of Chinese influence and control, plus new details about the Chinese money being used by PM Sogavare to secure his hold over the country.

The race to make psychedelic drugs part of mainstream medicine. Elise Worthington looks into clinical trials to treat trauma, PTSD and mental health conditions, plus the dark side of abuse, malpractice and underground supply.

The plastic surgery industry in China is booming, estimated to be worth $US200bn by 2030. We meet social media influencers and ordinary young Chinese prepared to undergo extreme procedures to radically alter their appearance.

The planning failures deepening Australia's flood crisis. Adam Harvey meets families struggling with current and past flood events. They tell stories of despair, abandonment, and financial ruin. Many have lost everything.

How factional infighting contributed to the Liberal Party's election loss. Liberal insiders speak for the first time about deep divisions, pre-selections, branch stacking and the extraordinary measures by factional warriors.

Vaping was hailed as the new way to quit smoking but there are concerns it is now causing nicotine addiction in teens. Grace Tobin investigates the booming black market which is thriving due to a failure to police the rules.

We examine the failures in the investigation into the abduction and murder of 13-year-old Milly Dowler, featuring interviews with senior police and those covering the case. Plus we shed light on the role of the media.

Dr Norman Swan reports on "Holding on to Hope", looking at lifestyle choices whch may help delay the onset of dementia."It's the number one fear that older people have. More than any other disease … more than anything else." (Dementia clinician)Half a million Australians live with dementia and for the past two decades scientists have been working on a new drug treatment they hope will combat the most common form, Alzheimer's disease."If we can give people another five years of quality life, that's going to make a massive difference to people around the world. It's going to make a massive difference to healthcare systems around the world as well." (Neurologist)ABC's health expert Dr Norman Swan investigates the science behind the treatment in the race to solve dementia.

What happened to a group of young female athletes who were groomed and abused by their running coach. Charlie Webster uncovers the truth of what happened to her teenage running friends at the hands of a manipulative predator.

Cryptocurrency is the hottest financial product in the world.  The hype is everywhere, with forms of the digital currency endorsed and advertised by celebrities daring you to invest in this brave new world.  Not everyone is convinced by the glossy ads and bold claims.Four Corners investigates what lies behind the slick marketing and big promises to examine if it's a fad, a fraud or the future.

How the 2022 election was won and lost. Undecided voters talk about the leaders, policies and performance during the campaign and what influenced their vote. Plus political strategists pull apart the tactics and motivations.

When Russia invaded Ukraine it overturned decades of stability. We trace Vladimir Putin's rise to power from his days as a KGB counterintelligence officer to his emergence as a global power player in the post Cold War era.

Four Corners investigates the new mining boom in critical minerals - necessary in mobile phones, renewable energy and electric vehicles. Angus Grigg finds Australia is in the box seat to exploit a surge in worldwide demand.

How Aspen Medical cashed in on COVID. Linton Besser investigates the health contractor hand-picked by the federal government for lucrative contracts worth more than a billion dollars. Why was it chosen and did they deliver?

Four Corners investigates the corporate colossus that has taken a major slice of Australia's food production sector while being exposed internationally for bribery, corruption and environmental vandalism. Grace Tobin reports.

The dark stain on Australia's proudest military mission. Mark Willacy reveals fresh allegations of serious misconduct, including torture, carried out by Australian soldiers during the intervention in East Timor in 1999.

Two decades ago, Australia's military forces led an international armed intervention in East Timor to quell a wave of sickening violence. Mark Willacy reveals the untold story of a disturbing chapter in our military history.

Our planet under threat and the terrible cost of extreme weather. Australia is not the only nation experiencing wild, dangerous and unprecedented weather. A sobering look at increasing extreme weather events around the world.

"We're pleading with the whole world to hear us."  Military volunteer On Monday, Four Corners takes you into a city under siege - Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine.  "The Ukrainian army and the Ukrainian spirit prevail.  We are highly motivated, but Putin's number of jets, bombers and other weapons significantly outnumber ours."  Ukrainian member of parliamentWith the city enduring indiscriminate bombing, and with Russian forces attempting to encircle the capital, Sarah Ferguson reports on the Ukrainian people resisting the Russian invasion

Exposing the stories of Australians who say they've been virtually abducted by the state, stripped of their assets and stopped from speaking out, until now. How a system designed to protect the vulnerable, does the opposite.

An investigation into the hidden and shameful failure in public health taking place in remote Australian communities. Incompetent and inexcusable medical care resulted in multiple preventable deaths. Louise Milligan reports.

President Vladimir Putin has gone on the attack, taking aim at western nations, accusing them of threatening the Russian state. Now activists who have risked everything speak out about the abusive political climate in Russia.

In the magnificent high country of the Snowy Mountains, wild horses roam the land. But there is a bitter clash of culture dividing communities - national icon or feral pest? The ugly divide over Australia's brumbies.

Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese is facing the biggest test of his political life. Can he convince voters he is ready to run the country? Voters in key seats give their assessment of Anthony Albanese's performance so far.

The first in a two-part special focusing on voters as they weigh up their options in key electorates. Voters assess the key moments of Scott Morrison's prime ministership, and share their opinions of his leadership.

The inside story of Sony Music, where fear and intimidation stalked the corridors for decades. Former employees break their silence to expose a toxic workplace culture where appalling behaviour was normalised and covered up.

In a major international investigation Four Corners reveals the secrets of the Pandora Papers. Despite authorities promising to close loop holes and crack down on the myriad of offshore services, this industry is flourishing.

Big money, sportswashing and the power play to control Australian soccer. Almost half of our premier soccer clubs are owned or controlled by foreign entities. Who are these powerbrokers and what are they getting out of it?

A new type of crime that goes to the heart of what we eat. Criminal syndicates are infiltrating the global food supply chain, undermining the ability of consumers to trust what is on the label and what ends up on their plate.

Exposing the secretive world of the Jehovah's Witnesses. Former members reveal the secretive practices used to instil fear and maintain discipline among followers. Those who have escaped say it's time to hold them to account.

Four Corners takes you into the fall of Kabul. Interviews and videos from people on the ground capture the drama and chaos of the last 16 days and show the desperate lengths people were resorting to for a chance at freedom.

Fox News insiders reveal how the network changed once Donald Trump entered politics and Rupert Murdoch took over. Part 2 examines the politics at work within the network and fear this alliance has put US democracy in peril.

Reporter: Sarah FergusonFour Corners investigates how the Murdoch run Fox News became a propaganda vehicle for Donald Trump and helped destabilise democracy in the United States. Featuring Fox News insiders, the program reveals how the network changed once Donald Trump entered politics and Rupert Murdoch took over.In interviews with major Fox figures including Gretchen Carlson, the presenter who brought down famed network boss Roger Ailes; and former Fox political editor Chris Stirewalt, a key figure on the Decision Desk whose election night call triggered a Trump meltdown - the program examines the politics at work within the network and why it tied its fortunes to Donald Trump.

Four Corners is the longest running show on Australian Television.On Saturday 19th August 1961, Four Corners made its debut on Australian TV. With a staff of just six and a weekly budget of £480, the first national TV current affairs show was on the air. Originally a ‘magazine' style show made up of several stories, copies of the program were flown around the country for broadcast. Today, Four Corners is the longest running series on Australian television and a powerhouse of investigative journalism – fearless and forensic, holding power to account for 60 years.The award-winning program has amassed 62 Walkley awards, seven of them the coveted Gold, as well as 23 Logie awards.To mark the program's extraordinary milestone, Four Corners will broadcast a special episode with highlights from the show's six decades.As the program travels through the decades the faces and voices of generations of reporters and hosts appear, including the likes of Michael Charlton, Michael Willesee, Caroline Jones, Paul Lyneham, Andrew Olle, Kerry O'Brien, Chris Masters, Paul Barry, Liz Jackson, Tony Jones, and Sarah Ferguson.https://www.abc.net.au/4corners/fearless-and-forensic,-for-60-years/13498436

Artificial intelligence is changing our lives in ways that were once dismissed as the stuff of science fiction. The technology has the capacity to improve our lives, but it also presents potentially grave risks.

How Australia became trapped by COVID-19. Despite millions of people staying at home, the number of infections is climbing with the virulent Delta strain. How issues of supply and hesitancy left Australia dangerously exposed.

Data mining, discrimination and dangerous content on the world's most popular app. In a joint investigation by Four Corners and triple j's Hack, Avani Dias uncovers the many techniques TikTok is using to know about its users.

Mount Everest has become big business with multiple companies selling the promise of an adventure of a lifetime. But surging numbers of inexperienced climbers have been swarming the mountain, with deadly consequences. Now the elder statesmen of the climbing community warn that change is needed to protect both Everest and those who climb it.

The rise and fall of an Australian billionaire. From Bundaberg to the boardrooms of the international corporate elite, how did Lex Greensill make and lose a fortune, leaving a trail of creditors and investors in the lurch.

How the casino regulator failed to stop crime at Crown. Industry insiders with decades of experience speak for the first time about how the regulator allowed crime to flourish under its nose. Their revelations expose how and why Crown was not held in check and they say Crown is not the only one that needs to accountable.

The story behind the turmoil that's engulfed Australia Post. Four Corners investigates allegations of secret privatisation plans and proposed job cuts, and examines who was really standing up for whom. In interviews with key players, we ask the decision makers to explain their actions to the people of Australia.

A family divided by QAnon. The extreme political movement has mobilised a committed band of believers dedicated to fighting what they claim is a war against corrupt child abusing elites. QAnon has vocal devotees in Australia.

Twenty years on from the 9/11 terror attacks, former war correspondent Graeme Smith travels back through the cities and provinces of Afghanistan to try and make sense of the conflict.

A cautionary tale of big money, back room lobbying and political influence. As James Packer prepares to walk away from the casino business he championed, those who fought against Crown say there are lessons to be learned.

Australia's success in keeping COVID from taking hold made us the envy of the world, but the slow pace of vaccine rollout has caused frustration and confusion. Adam Harvey charts how our vaccination program has fallen short.

With the rise of online shopping, the demand for cheap and readily available clothing has created a new fashion boom. Four Corners investigates the unglamorous, and in some cases illegal practices of the clothing industry.

After being diagnosed with motor neurone disease (MND), renowned scientist and robotics expert Dr Peter Scott-Morgan set out to find and apply cutting edge technology to extend his life and retain the essence of who he is.

Across the country, millions of Australians of all ages, play video games every day. Four Corners brings together gamers, industry players and psychologists to investigate the manipulative techniques used across many games.

How Australia's trade with China became a political weapon. Stephen Long reveals how trade sanctions appear to have been carefully timed and targeted to cause maximum damage plus the human and financial cost of the dispute.

An investigation into what the Chinese government knew about the COVID-19 outbreak and compelling evidence of a determined campaign to keep it under wraps.

Four Corners investigates what is driving the Federal Government's push for a gas-fired future in the face of considerable scepticism, with many warning that the public is not fully informed about the costs of backing gas.

When former coalition staffer Brittany Higgins came forward to allege that she had been raped in a ministerial office in Parliament House, it horrified the country. Four Corners examines who knew what, and when.

In a shocking investigation, Four Corners reveals how a sex slave cult has been operating in plain sight here in Australia.

Tonight on Four Corners Louise Milligan reports on "Bursting the Canberra Bubble".Four Corners examines the historical rape allegation made against Federal Attorney General Christian Porter, which he strenuously denies."I have been subject to the most wild, intense, unrestrained series of accusations that I can remember in modern Australian politics." Federal Attorney General Christian Porter"The only thing that I'm ever going to be able to say, and it's the truth — and that is that nothing in the allegations that have been printed ever happened." Federal Attorney General Christian Porter"I would have thought if there was an inquiry by a competent person without a political agenda, that that would be a way of stopping this trial by media." Friend of the complainant.

China's President Xi Jinping and his quest for world power. An insightful look at his rise to power, how he consolidated his leadership through economic strength, populism and iron fist control, and what is his agenda?

Four Corners investigates accusations of mismanagement and neglect which have fuelled a bitter dispute between Kakadu's traditional owners and the authority that runs the World Heritage Listed site.

Self-described defenders of Russia are determined to shut down anti-Putin sentiment in Australia, establishing pro-Moscow chapters as part of a propaganda war to remind the world that Russia is a force to the reckoned with.

A personal portrait of the man now leading America charting Joe Biden's rise from a hardscrabble childhood where he faced bullying and discrimination based on a severe stutter, to personal tragedies and political missteps.

A gripping account of the insurrection as it unfolded, told by those who were there. In her return to Four Corners, Sarah Ferguson confronts some of those who answered Donald Trump's call to overturn the election result.

How digital dating became a predators' playground. In a joint investigation for Four Corners and triple j Hack, Avani Dias uncovers a deeply troubling pattern of sexual assault and rape facilitated by the use of Tinder.

On a hot summer evening two months ago in the Lebanese capital of Beirut, a catastrophic explosion ripped through the city. It looked like a scene from a disaster movie, but it was very real.Four Corners pieces together the story of the explosion, tracking down many of the people who filmed the blast as well as those who were dramatically shown on screen.Using previously unseen footage, the program tracks the final minutes of the emergency responders who had no idea what they were walking into.In this city with so many connections to Australia, the pain and grief is immense, as is their anger.

Australia is in a deep economic downturn, decades of growth halted by the coronavirus pandemic. After the closure of our borders and extensive restrictions, we investigate the financial fallout and what the future may hold.

The investigation that exposed a predatory network of human traffickers. With exclusive access to police and the court case, see how they brought down the family crime group behind the UK's biggest human slavery operation.

The Australian mercenaries selling paramilitary services to warlords and despots abroad. Four Corners investigates this murky world as conflicts are being fought by private military contractors operating as guns for hire.

How bribes, sex and money fuelled America's opioid epidemic. The aggressive marketing of dangerously potent and addictive opioids by pharmaceutical companies has driven an alarming rise in global drug addiction and death.

The race to colonise outer space. We examine the extraordinary opportunities and challenges of the new space age as billionaire entrepreneurs make travel beyond our own planet possible, while nation states stake their claims.

Violent crime and the mentally ill: how the mental health system is failing to protect the community and the patients themselves. Families reveal a disturbing picture of inadequate healthcare with devastating consequences.

The second wave: what went so wrong in Victoria. How did COVID-19 escape into the community, wreaking havoc and putting the nation in peril. We examine failures by the authorities who were supposed to keep the community safe.

We reveal how 'big plastic' used clever marketing campaigns to persuade consumers and environmental groups to carry the burden by recycling rather than reducing the amount of plastic manufactured, allowing exponential growth.

Four Corners investigates the claims of a worldwide protest movement against wireless 5G technology, exploring how it works and the scientific studies undertaken into whether the technology is actually a threat to our health.

The financial scandal and human cost of Australia's workers compensation schemes. Some injured workers say their lives have been ruined by insurers hell-bent on avoiding payouts. We examine the methods used to assess claims.

Witness the daily struggles of doctors and hospital staff in Cremona as they battle to keep coronavirus patients alive. Medical staff fight off emotion, fatigue and fear as numbers continued to climb in the north of Italy.

In a searing and deeply personal story, Stan Grant gives voice to the frustration and hurt that has defined the life experience of so many Indigenous Australians and explores why George Floyd's death resonates so profoundly.

The long road to recovery after the Black Summer bushfires. Despite millions in donations and promises of government assistance, communities such as Cobargo still live in terrible conditions and fear they have been forgotten.