SBS News In Depth

The latest report on Closing the Gap Targets, released last month, found just four of the nineteen targets are on track. Among those targets Australia is failing to meet, the country is moving backward when it comes to reducing suicide rates for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people , which are now more than three times higher than for non-Indigenous Australians. First Nations health advocates and practitioners are urgently calling for investment in new approaches to preventative mental health led by First Nations wisdom and experience.

Australia’s new free trade deal with the European Union could unlock a $10 billion boost to trade, cut prices on European goods and expand access for local exports, though it comes with compromises for some producers. University of Technology Sydney Chief Economist Tim Harcourt explains what it means, before a look at the markets with Stuart Roberts from Stocks Down Under, as the ASX200 edges higher and mining stocks lift.

Tens of thousands of education workers have walked off the job and marched on the Victorian parliament over a pay dispute. It's the first time in 13 years the state's teachers, principals and support staff have staged a 24-hour stoppage, severely disrupting lessons in hundreds of schools.

Australia and the European Union have signed a landmark $10 billion trade and security pact to eliminate industrial tariffs and strengthen co-operation on cyber and maritime defence. While the Prime Minister has hailed it as an economic win, the deal has faced criticism from the National Party regarding agricultural access, and from the Greens over Australia's strategic dependency on Europe.

Iran says no negotiations have been held with the United States, despite US President Donald Trump's claims US envoys have been holding talks with a respected Iranian leader. Mr Trump had earlier abruptly postponed plans to obliterate Iran's power plants. Meanwhile, Israel says it will continue to strike Iran and Lebanon, as the U-S considers a ceasefire.

The war in the Middle East, and the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz, has triggered what experts describe as one of the most significant energy crises in decades. But oil and gas are not the only vital resources that are impacted. The war has also severely disrupted the flow of fertiliser from the Middle East, triggering concerns over the impacts on local food production and food security.

The International Energy Agency is warning world leaders may not appreciate the depth of the energy crisis that is looming, as the US war with Iran develops. The effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz has triggered a global fuel shortage experts say will have widespread and severe implications.

The recent attempt by Iran to launch a missile attack on the UK-US air base on the island of Diego Garcia in the middle of the Indian Ocean has raised questions about the real strength of Iran's firepower. Iran previously has put a self-imposed limit on its ballistic missile program, limiting their range to (2,000 kilometers. Diego Garcia is well outside that range, 4000 kilometres from Iran. And as the war drags on, how much weaponry does Iran have in reserve? Justin Bronk, an airpower and defence analyst at defence think tank the Royal United Services Institute, has told the Associated Press Iran's resources are not limitless.

As the use of Artificial Intelligence surges around the world, the number of data centres required to power the technology is also growing rapidly, including in Australia. Now the Federal Government is laying out a plan aiming to ensure sustainability, as investment in data centres grows.

The South Australian election has triggered a federal political crisis, with One Nation displacing the Liberals as the primary alternative to Labor and securing its most significant electoral foothold in nearly 30 years. As the Coalition grapples with whether to pivot right to reclaim regional voters or overhaul its suburban appeal, the result has forced a panicked Parliament House to recognise the populist surge as a permanent disruption to the traditional political order.

In a climate of increasing global conflict and uncertainty, people are adopting a peaceful practice to reduce stress. Forest bathing is giving nature-lovers respite from a chaotic and challenging news cycle.

Missiles have struck Israel, as Israeli forces expand operations on the ground in Lebanon. The developments mark a significant widening of the war in the Middle East, raising fears of there being no end in sight. Meanwhile, the US is warning Iran about the risks involved, if the Strait of Hormuz is not reopened.

The Labor Party has comfortably won re-election in South Australia in a poll which saw support for One Nation climb to more than 21 per cent of the vote. Premier Peter Malinauskas secured a second term with a significantly increased majority while the Liberal Party secured around 19 per cent of the vote. As vote counting continues, it remains unclear whether One Nation can secure any lower house seats.

As Iran is embroiled in an ongoing war and crippling economic conditions, multiple reports have shown its new supreme leader is linked to a multi-million dollar portfolio of assets all over the world. Some are concerned this money trail may reach as far as Australia.

A new HIV drug has arrived in Zimbabwe, promising protection from the virus that has devastated the population in the past two decades. But there are concerns that testing health systems won't cope, after international aid cuts.

Fuel prices are climbing and tensions in the Middle East are putting even more pressure on what we pay at the pump. So how can everyday drivers squeeze more kilometres out of every tank? In this edition of Weekend One on One, SBS's Asha Abdi spoke to Andrea Matthews, Motoring Editor at RACV, about practical tips to help you stretch your fuel further without changing your life too dramatically.

Tributes are being made to SBS Elder-in-residence and Widjabul Wia-bal woman, Auntie Rhoda Roberts, who has died at the age of 66. Her short battle with a very rare type of ovarian cancer ended on Saturday afternoon on her country surrounded by family. The decorated writer, actor and director was awarded an Order of Australia in 2016 for her service to performing arts and immense impact on and off the stage and screen. Rhoda Robert’s family has granted permission for SBS to broadcast images and audio, to honour and celebrate her life and enduring legacy.

Festivities marking the spring equinox are tinged with sorrow, as war continues to devastate the Middle East. Even so, more than 300 million people worldwide are expected to welcome Nowruz - the new year - with families, food and fresh hope.

South Australians head to the polls on Saturday, 21 March, to elect the state’s 56th Parliament, with the latest YouGov poll pointing to a strong result for Labor. The survey suggests Labor could achieve its highest-ever two-party preferred vote in South Australia, while the Liberal Party is tracking toward a historically poor outcome. Meanwhile, Pauline Hanson’s One Nation is polling at 22 per cent, signalling a significant presence in the vote. SBS Chief Political Correspondent Anna Henderson spoke with One Nation candidate and former Liberal Senator Cory Bernardi.

South Australia votes to elect its 56th Parliament on Saturday, 21 March. YouGov’s final poll ahead of the election showed Labor is on track to secure its highest-ever two-party preferred vote in the state party's history, while the Liberals face their worst result to date. One Nation however is at 22 percent. SBS Chief Political Correspondent Anna Henderson has spoken with South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas about his hopes for the election - and what he thinks of Pauline Hanson.

SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves speaks with Tony Sycamore from IG Austraila about the day's market action and why markets are now pricing in three rate rises this year; plus Stephanie Youssef looks though The Australian's Rich List 250 with list editor John Stensholt.

New data from the Productivity Commission reveals that the national effort to Close the Gap is failing. As the 2031 deadline looms, Indigenous leaders and advocates are calling for an urgent shift away from "band-aid" government strategies toward genuine community-led action and structural reform.

Oil and gas facilities are now being targeted in the war in the Middle East, prolonging the disruption to global fuel supply chains. It has also sent shockwaves to the global economy.

As the war in the Middle East continues, the United States is fighting a battle on another front: information.

The Prime Minister has appointed a 'fuel tsar' to help tackle supply chain issues caused by the war in the Middle East. It comes as the competition watchdog investigates major fuel suppliers for alleged bad behaviour.

The war in the Middle East is entering a dangerous new phase, with a global oil chokepoint at the centre of rising tensions, but just how far will NATO allies go to support Trump’s push to reopen the Strait of Hormuz? Plus, a delayed China meeting raises fresh diplomatic concerns, and why not everyone is feeling the economic squeeze.

The heads of the UN land mine action program for Ethiopia and Sudan have called for more funding and awareness over the munitions, which kill and maim a disproportionate number of children. They are launching the International Campaign to Ban Landmines, hosted by the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research.

A WARNING THAT THIS STORY MAY BE DISTRESSING FOR SOME LISTENERS: Scotland's Parliament has rejected legislation that would have made Scotland the first part of the United Kingdom to allow terminally ill adults to end their lives. Members of the Edinburgh-based legislature voted 69 to 57 against a bill that would have let people in Scotland with six months or less to live seek help to end their life. The Scottish vote is part of a wider debate across the UK.

As the humanitarian and energy crisis in Cuba worsens, US President Donald Trump has announced he plans on "taking" the Caribbean island. Desperate for relief from a US-imposed blockade, Cuban citizens and members of the diaspora say that while they're hopeful for change, they're fearful of the US agenda.

SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves speaks with Jamie Hannah from VanEck about the day's market action including the latest global interest rate expectations and what it means for investments, while BHP announces who will replace CEO Mike Henry.

Plans to build a production hub for the Special Broadcasting Service in Western Sydney will no longer go ahead. The government has indicated its decision has been made in the context of the current fiscal environment.

A top U-S counterterrorism official has resigned over the war in the Middle East. Meanwhile, Donald Trump has lashed out at NATO allies and Australia, saying the U-S no longer needs their assistance. And Israel's military says it'll continue to target Iranian leaders.

The war in Ukraine is intersecting with rising instability in the Middle East and pressure on global energy supplies. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is in London, warning modern warfare is rapidly evolving and pushing for deeper defence cooperation. At the same time, the EU is moving to resolve an oil dispute threatening support for Kyiv.

SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves speaks with Nick Stenner from Bank of America; Alice Shen from VanEck; and Sally Tindall from Canstar to find out why the RBA lifted interest rates, how the market reacted and what it means for borrowers.

The Reserve Bank has hiked interest rates by 25 basis points to 4.1 per cent. It's the second rise in a row - and there could be more to come.

A Melbourne mother stranded in Lebanon with her children is pleading for help to return to Australia as war rages around them. Iman Nayef travelled to southern Lebanon to visit relatives, arriving just one day before the conflict began. Now trapped as Israeli strikes and Hezbollah rocket fire intensify, she says her children are terrified as explosions echo non-stop.

Rental affordability has hit a new low in Australia - but a European city boasts a century-old social housing model, which houses about 50 per cent of its population. With low rental costs and rolling leases, it's led some to refer to it as a 'renter's utopia'.

Global oil prices have increased by 40 to 50 percent as Iran attacks shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. President Donald Trump says the United States is negotiating with countries heavily reliant on Middle East oil, after he demanded several nations send warships to re-open the Strait of Hormuz. But European allies have so far proved resistant to President Trump's request.

In a week that began with the International Day to Combat Islamophobia, SBS's Tee Mitchell spoke to Australia's Race Discrimination Commissioner at the Human Rights Commission, Giridharan Sivaraman, about Islamophobia in this country and race relations in general.

SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves speaks with Mathan Somasundaram from Deep Data Analytics and looks ahead to tomorrow's RBA interest rate decision on what will be a big week for global central banks; plus Stephanie Youssef looks at how Generation Z is seeking out financial advice with ASIC's Adam Kirkland.

One Battle After Another has bested Sinners at this year's Oscars, winning six awards to Sinners' four. KPop Demon Hunters and Frankenstein were among the other winners at Hollywood's night of nights. Michael B. Jordan and Jessie Buckley won the top acting gongs.

The war in the Middle East has rocked the financial world, with the price of oil sky rocketing and no end to the conflict in sight. This week will see the Reserve Bank set the interest rate - and the markets are now predicting there's likely to be a hike in the rates. Cameron Carr spoke to the AMP's Chief Economist Shane Oliver. He says it's an uncertain situation.

The Federal Government has authorised a temporary 60-day easing of sulphur standards to inject high-sulphur petrol into regional communities facing critical fuel shortages. While Energy Minister Chris Bowen maintains that national reserves are stable, critics and analysts warn that Australia’s decade-long failure to meet international stockpile obligations leaves the country vulnerable to prolonged geopolitical shocks.

A displacement crisis has accelerated in Lebanon over the last fortnight, driven by the widening war in the Middle East. Nearly 15 per cent of Lebanon's population have been forced to flee their homes in the past fortnight and the UN is warning the humanitarian situation is set to further deteriorate.

The United States says its conflict with Iran will end in the next few weeks. But not all indicators are pointing to that outcome, as economic concerns continue to dominate around the world, alongside the military strikes.

The Australian Human Rights Commission is calling for urgent action to tackle violence, vilification and hate towards Muslims on the International Day to Combat Islamophobia. Race Discrimination Commissioner Giri Sivaraman says he's 'confounded' the government hasn't responded to the National Anti-Racism Framework yet. It was launched in November 2024, but the government is yet to provide a response.

A new permanent exhibition on the ancient Roman city of Pompeii has showcased an arresting image of the moment when a catastrophic volcano eruption destroyed the city in 79 AD. Over 20 casts of bodies of residents in the city will be displayed at the exhibition, along with other findings such as plants and food that remained buried for centuries under metres of ash and lava.

With dementia now confirmed as the leading cause of death in Australia, advocates are calling on the federal government to fund a public health campaign to promote brain health. The CEO of Dementia Australia, professor Tanya Buchanan, speaks to Blake Quinn about what the data is showing and what Australians should be doing to reduce the risk of getting the brain condition.

Across the UK, hate crimes targeting Muslims have become increasingly prevalent, and are now at record levels, representing almost half of all religious hate crimes in the country. At a local mosque in Peterborough, community members have responded by celebrating a campaign featuring kindness and cupcakes.

Milk bars, often run by Greek migrants, forever changed the way Australians meet and eat. Across the country, cafes and milk bars popularised juke boxes, rock and roll and frothy soda drinks.