International news and global affairs
Ukraine has deployed interceptor drones and military specialists to the Middle East as the US faces Patriot missile shortages from the Iran conflict. Ukrainian systems cost under $2,000 each, versus millions for traditional air defence.
Sophia Vargas 
Western Sydney's toll-free M12 motorway has opened after four years of construction, promising major congestion relief on local roads and direct access to the new international airport launching later this year.
Zara Mitchell 
As the conflict between the US, Israel and Iran enters its third week, questions about accountability for alleged war crimes are running into steep legal obstacles that may render international justice impossible.
Yuki Tamura 
The US military has struck military targets on Iran's Kharg Island, which exports 90% of Iran's crude oil. Trump warns the island's oil infrastructure could be next if Iran blocks the Strait of Hormuz.
Aisha Khoury 
Lebanon's displacement crisis has reached catastrophic proportions, with hundreds of thousands forced from homes since escalating hostilities in early March. Humanitarian agencies warn the country's already fragile systems cannot cope.
Oliver Pemberton 
The effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz is cascading through global supply chains, threatening critical materials used in chip manufacturing and AI data centre infrastructure. With no timeline for reopening, the cost of doing business in the tech sector is rising sharply.
Zara Mitchell 
The U.S.-Israeli military campaign in the Middle East has closed the Strait of Hormuz to shipping, stranding cargo and forcing carriers to impose emergency surcharges. For Australia, the impact depends on how long the conflict persists.
Sophia Vargas 
Meta's landmark 2Africa submarine cable project has stalled in the Persian Gulf after contractor Alcatel Submarine Networks declared it unsafe to continue operations amid escalating Iran conflict.
Yuki Tamura 
The February 28 Middle East conflict has exposed a fundamental contradiction in Australia's energy strategy: we profit from global energy crises but remain vulnerable to the same market shocks that harm our households.
Fatima Al-Rashid 
ByteDance has secured access to 36,000 of Nvidia's latest Blackwell AI processors via a Malaysian cloud provider. The arrangement highlights the growing challenge of restricting technology access in an interconnected global economy.
Zara Mitchell Iran's decision to close the Strait of Hormuz in response to U.S. and Israeli strikes has disrupted 20% of global oil supply, exposing Australia's energy vulnerability and the limits of existing regional deterrence.
Fatima Al-Rashid 
When Iran's women's football team remained silent during their national anthem at the Women's Asian Cup, they triggered a crisis that would change the lives of seven players forever.
Patrick Donnelly 
Afghan cricketer Firooza Amiri, now based in Melbourne after fleeing her homeland, has become a voice of encouragement for Iranian women's footballers seeking asylum in Australia after their act of defiance at the Asian Cup.
Zara Mitchell 
Iran's new Supreme Leader has issued his first public statement since taking power, promising to keep the Strait of Hormuz closed and continue targeting US interests. The message raises fresh concerns about the conflict's trajectory.
James Callahan 
Kim Jong Un tested new pistols at a munitions factory this week alongside his teenage daughter, signalling both weapons modernisation and potential succession plans.
Sophia Vargas 
Despite Foreign Minister Penny Wong urging Australians to leave the Middle East immediately, thousands of expats in Dubai are staying put, citing confidence in local defences and economic ties keeping them rooted.
Kate Morrison 
Australia has ordered all non-essential government officials to leave Israel and the United Arab Emirates as the Middle East conflict enters its second week, with over 2,600 Australians already returning home.
Aisha Khoury 
Iran's new supreme leader has vowed to maintain the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz as leverage against the US and Israel, signalling a prolonged conflict with profound implications for Australian consumers and the global economy.
Fatima Al-Rashid 
Up to 3.2 million Iranians have been forced from their homes in two weeks of conflict, the fastest displacement wave in decades. Regional implications extend far beyond Iran's borders.
Priya Narayanan 
The 98th Academy Awards is proceeding with heightened security measures following an FBI warning to California law enforcement about potential Iranian drone attacks. Officials say there is no known, specific threat to the ceremony.
Samantha Blake