SBS News In Depth

Trump tries to extinguish the oil price fire but Iran and Israel both double down on an extended war. Iranian women soccer players seek asylum and the Nepali youth’s hip-hop hero. Plus, Ready Player One? The virtual world to the rescue…

Soldiers have been deployed to the streets of Johannesburg in the first major troop deployment since South African President Cyril Ramaphosa vowed to crack down on violent crime and illegal mining. With some of the highest crime rates in the world, South Africa is deploying troops to five of its nine provinces in an effort to tackle the growing violence.

The war in the Middle East is continuing to intensify, with Iran warning oil prices could surge to US$200 a barrel if the conflict spreads across the region. As missiles strike Israel and Iran, tensions are rising rise in the Gulf and Lebanon, as fears grow of a wider war and a global economic shock.

An investigation into the Robodebt Scheme has found two people engaged in "serious corrupt conduct". The Investigation by the National Anti-Corruption Commission cleared four other people, including former Prime Minister Scott Morrison. And a warning - this feature contains references to suicide.

The federal government has introduced new legislation to impose a temporary ban from some countries travelling to Australia on certain visas. Rights groups and experts have condemned the move, raising concerns that the war in the Middle East could prevent people from seeking asylum in Australia.

SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves speaks with Josh Gilbert from eToro to as NAB, Westpac and Citi predict two RBA interest rate rises in a row as oil prices remain high threatening inflation; and Stephanie Youssef speaks with Blair Davies from the Australian Taxi Industry Association to find out, if like some airlines, taxis will need to increase fares to cover the spike in petrol prices.

Queensland Senator Matt Canavan has been elected leader of the Nationals following David Littleproud's resignation, appointing Darren Chester as his deputy. The conservative leader aims to challenge net-zero targets, address fuel crises, and advocate for child care reform.

The Australian government has granted humanitarian visas to seven members of the Iranian National women's football team to stay in Australia. Amid relief from the supporters within the community and fears for the remaining players, critics say the government's proposed visa legislation will leave other visa holders in the region stranded.

It's been 15 years since one of the worst natural disasters in history. The 2011 East Japan Earthquake and tsunami killed more than 19,000 people and displaced hundreds of thousands of people, especially those forced to evacuate following the subsequent Fukushima nuclear accident. So what lessons can be learnt from this disaster and nuclear accident in a climate of increasing global turmoil?

SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves speaks with Cirium Aviation Analyst Ellis Taylor who says airfares may rise as much as 30 per cent as jet fuel prices soar amid the Middle-East war; and Todd Hoare from LGT Wealth Management Australia Management on the markets partial recovery following yesterday's $90bn sell-off.

Iran has been retaliating since coming under United States and Israeli bombardment more than a week ago, launching strikes against Israel and Gulf states allied with the US that host American military bases. Experts are describing Iran's actions as a bid for "regime survival". Associate Professor Jessica Genauer at Flinders University says the conflict can be described as "asymmetric". She's been talking to SBS's Cameron Carr.

Australia is deploying an E7A Wedgetail surveillance aircraft and 85 personnel to the United Arab Emirates to bolster regional air defences. The government is maintaining the mission is strictly defensive, while the Greens warn it risks entangling Australia in an illegal conflict.

The war involving the United States, Israel and Iran is entering a volatile new phase, with fighting spreading across the Middle East, missiles and drones striking multiple countries, global energy markets under pressure, and hundreds of thousands of civilians forced to flee their homes.

Global oil prices have surged and sunk as the US-Israeli war on Iran chokes major supply chains of oil and gas. With deep uncertainty and mixed messaging over the US timeframe for the war, world leaders are scrambling to ensure they're prepared for ongoing pressures.

Women across the world have taken to the streets to mark International Women's Day, calling for an end to inequality and discrimination. Some of the issues in focus - pay inequity, reproductive rights and gender-based violence.

Australia have faced South Korea in one of the AFC Women's Asia Cup's most anticipated fixtures, surrendering the top spot in the group to South Korea, after a 3-all draw. The match delivered a crucial result at the eleventh hour for home side. As fans celebrate the rise in women's football, experts say more work needs to be done in the space.

The Middle East conflict is entering a new and uncertain phase. Iran has appointed Mojtaba Khamenei as its new Supreme Leader following the killing of his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, as fighting with Israel intensifies. Military strikes are escalating across the region, oil prices are surging, and world leaders are urging restraint amid fears of a wider war.

Six months after youth-led protests in Nepal ousted the government, voters have elected 35-year-old rapper turned politician Balendra Shah. Defeating former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, the landslide victory of the former mayor of Kathmandu shows the lasting strength of the youth-led movement.

In December 2025, Australia's ban on under 16s having social media accounts on some of the world's highest profile platforms took effect. Since then, around the world, other countries have taken note, and are implementing or considering their own underage ban.

Today is International Women's Day, with the theme of 'Balancing the Scales' which calls for accelerated progress toward gender equity. SBS World News Chief Political Correspondent Anna Henderson has spoken with Irish Ambassador Fiona Flood, German Ambassador Beate Grzeski, and Croatian Ambassador Betty Pavelich on their experiences as senior diplomats. The conversation covers a range of important issues, including gender equality in world diplomacy, the conflict with Iran, and the struggles women have in getting ahead in a traditionally man's world of diplomacy.

More than three thousand kilometres off the Western Australian coast lie the Cocos Islands — a tiny archipelago of 27 coral islands scattered across the Indian Ocean. Just two are inhabited. One of them is Home Island, a kampong of about 460 people, where the overwhelming majority are Cocos Malays — and where Islam has shaped daily life for generations. As Western Australia Correspondent Christopher Tan reports, it is here that the month-long fast of Ramadan has reached the halfway mark on one of Australia’s most remote communities.

A warning - the following story contains elements that may distress some people. In 2025, New South Wales alone recorded the highest number of women murdered in domestic violence situations. Advocates say it's not a one-off situation - and that women's safety remains an ongoing concern.

Families in Australia are bracing for a cost-of-living hit, as energy prices soar. Charities are increasing gifts of free food during Ramadan, to help those already struggling. SBS Arabic takes a look at how one group is trying to help.

The S&P/ASX 200 has recorded its worst weekly drop since Donald Trump’s so-called Liberation Day tariffs shocked global markets in April last year. That’s as investors weigh the prospect of a drawn-out war in the Middle East, with the rising oil price prompting further inflation concerns. Meanwhile, the US Pentagon has formally labelled AI company Anthropic a supply chain risk, escalating its dispute over AI safeguards. For more, Stephanie Youssef spoke with capital.com senior market analyst Kyle Rodda.

Counting is underway in Nepal's general elections which were held six months after deadly anti-corruption protests toppled the government in the Himalayan nation. Nearly 19 million voters were eligible to choose who replaces the interim government in place since the September 2025 uprising. A winner is not expected to be announced until after a week.

As the US-Israeli war on Iran rages on, the United States has asked Ukraine for help to fend off Iranian drone attacks in the region. Despite Donald Trump's scaled back support for Ukraine and Israel's refusal to impose sanctions on Russia, Ukraine has offered allies in the region a swap of key defence systems.

A federal parliamentary inquiry has opened into racism in Australia, with advocates calling for the probe to be not 'another exercise in diagnosis'. The Australian Human Rights Commission says the government already knows what needs to change, and the inquiry must turn that knowledge into action, with timelines and accountability. Meanwhile the federal Minister for Indigenous Australians Malandirri McCarthy is encouraging big social media platforms to make submissions to the inquiry. She's told NITV some Indigenous people are feeling scared after a string of reports of racist attacks in public. She's talking here to NITV's John Paul Janke

SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves speaks with Robert Talevski from Activam about the day's market action while Stephanie Youseff discusses the ACCC's latest airports report which warns high levels of investment will be passed onto airlines which may increase airfares as a result.

Amid escalating war in Iran, there are concerns for the tens-of-thousands of political prisoners held in jails across the country, some facing execution. The head of the Iranian judiciary has announced that those in Iran who support the US and Israel will be treated as an 'enemy'. This story has been produced in collaboration with SBS Persian.

With the Supreme Leader killed, Iran lashes out. Will the Middle East choose sides as oil prices skyrocket and travel chaos sees thousands stranded. Plus, who could be next in line in Iran, could the US strikes encourage others into action and proof that sometimes the best defence is a very loud, slightly unhinged cuddly toy.

Explosions have lit up the skies over Beirut as Israeli strikes continue to target Hezbollah positions in the Lebanese capital, widening the regional war that began after the U-S and Israeli strikes on Iran. Officials say more than 70 people have been killed in Lebanon, while tens of thousands of civilians have been forced to flee their homes.

Almost 90-thousand people have packed a Sydney stadium to see Bad Bunny’s first live concerts in Australia. It's a record for the ENGIE Stadium, underlining the global audience for music sung in Spanish, including among Western audiences that don't understand or speak the language.

Australia and Canada have agreed to deepen their ties after Canada's Prime Minister urged middle powers to collaborate in the face of a ruptured ruled-based world order. Describing the two countries as strategic cousins, both Mark Carney and Anthony Albanese agreed that like-minded middle powers must work together to secure their future.

A former intelligence officer who resigned over the Iraq War has told SBS it's indisputable that Australian intelligence is being used by Israel and the United States in their war against Iran. Referring partly to Pine Gap, the secret US-Australian intelligence base near Alice Springs, Independent Andrew Wilkie is demanding the parliament be able to scrutinise any Australian involvement in what he claims are a series of illegal strikes by western allies. Israel's top Canberra diplomat says the strikes were in self defence and complied with international law. Andrew Wilkie is talking to SBS Chief Political Correspondent Anna Henderson.

Australia’s Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong has sat down with Federal Politics reporter Anna Henderson, where she was pressed on Canberra’s position and whether Australia has any involvement in the escalating global conflict following the recent attacks on Iran. The Minister addressed questions about the legal justification for the strikes, Australia’s role, and national security concerns as tensions continue to reverberate beyond the Middle East.

A First Nations advocate and activist for incarcerated women says the social contract between the Australian government and the community is broken. Tahlia Isaac, who founded 'Project:herSelf', says authorities are more interested in punishment than providing the conditions to keep people safe. She says the system needs to change and the government needs to start listening to women who have real insight into the cycle of incarceration.

SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves speaks with Harry Murphy Cruise from Oxford Economics about the impact of the Middle East war on the Australian economy, even as GDP expands at its fastest rate in almost three years. Plus Niv Dagan from Peak Asset Management on the day's sharemarket news including the market's reaction to ARN Media's decision to pull the Kyle and Jackie O show.

United States President Donald Trump has lashed out at European allies for what he says is a lack of support on Iran. As diplomatic ties strain over the war, Iran says the time for negotiations has passed, warning Europe not to get involved.

Oil prices across the globe have surged to multi-year highs, as the war in Iran expands into a broader regional conflict. A prolonged war risks disrupting energy supply chains, particularly as key shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz are effectively closed. Analysts say impacts are already being felt - and that has implications for the global economic outlook and inflation.

Across Australia, for every dollar a man earns, women on average are earning 88- point- 8 cents. The government's gender equality agency says the gender pay gap has narrowed to 11. 2 per cent. And while most sectors have seen improvements, pay gaps remain large in some male-dominated industries, such as finance, construction and mining.

Australian leaders are condemning local mourning services for the late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, sparking a fierce debate over national security and the limits of free expression.

At least 52 people have been killed and more than 150 injured in Lebanon, as Israel targets operations of the Iran-allied militant group Hezbollah, after it launched missiles and drones toward Israel.

As US President Donald Trump warns of a big wave of further attacks on Iran, the UN Security Council is under pressure to act over the US and Israel's strikes. Iran's U-N ambassador, Amir Saeid Iravani says the strikes on the weekend were unlawful - a position shared by many international law experts globally. So what are the facts? Dr Tamer Morris is a senior lecturer at the University of Sydney, and he's speaking with SBS reporter Rayane Tamer, who asked him what international law says about the Israeli/US strikes on Iran.

In his first address since the United States and Israel launched joint strikes on Iran, Donald Trump says his war on Iran could last longer than anticipated. Spreading quickly throughout the region and rocking global financial markets, polls suggest most Americans are already opposed to the strikes.

One of the country's most commercially successful and globally recognised performers has been chosen to represent Australia at this year's Eurovision song contest in Vienna. Delta Goodrem will take centre-stage at the 70th edition of the contest. It's a milestone year for the competition, and one which has become clouded by controversy.

There is bipartisan support in Australian politics for a joint US-Israeli offensive dubbed 'Operation Epic Fury', despite warnings of a major breach of international law. While the government backs the action to prevent a nuclear Iran, critics and legal experts question the legality of the strikes and Australia’s potential intelligence role.

As Iran vows revenge on the United States for toppling its leader and launching attacks that have killed civilians, President Donald Trump is warning there will be more American casualties. But as the United Nations chief condemns the move, there are questions over what legal and diplomatic consequences the US could face for initiating the attacks.

Experts are warning regime change in Iran will not be a simple matter, despite the assassination of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in a strike over the weekend. Khamenei's death is far from the end of issues in in the international community surrounding Iran.

Iranian-Australians are expressing mixed emotions over the US-Israeli strikes in Iran and the killing of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. While many hope his death will lead to a free Iran, others say they don't believe that Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu have good intentions.

.Australian leaders have thrown their support behind the strikes on Iran amid reports Iran's supreme leader has been killed. For the second time in 12 months, the US and Israel have conducted co-ordinated strikes on Iran in what US President Donald Trump called a "massive and ongoing" operation to topple the Iranian administration.