Today Updates - 11 March 2026 - World, Australia and India News on Radio Haanji

Wednesday morning on Radio Haanji 1674 AM, host Ranjodh Singh brought listeners the biggest stories shaping the world, Australia and India right now. From the continuing war in the Middle East to a major shift in Australian politics and the start of NAPLAN season, Today Updates covered it all in one sharp, community-focused morning bulletin. Tune in at haanji.com.au or wherever you listen to your favourite Punjabi podcast Australia.

World Updates

The conflict between Iran, the United States and Israel continues to dominate global headlines as it enters its eleventh day. The US and Israel launched coordinated strikes on Iran on 28 February 2026, triggering a wave of retaliatory missile and drone attacks by Iran across Israel and several Gulf nations, including Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates. Iran has made clear it will not back down, with senior officials including Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stating the country is prepared to continue striking for as long as necessary. The Iranian Revolutionary Guards also pushed back against comments from President Trump, declaring it is Iran — not Washington — that will determine when the war ends.

Global oil markets have been severely disrupted by the conflict, with prices surging above one hundred dollars per barrel due to fears over disruptions to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. Trump held a press conference in Florida on Monday in which he claimed the US was achieving major progress toward its military objectives and that the war could be nearing an end, though he stopped short of giving a firm timeline. He also said he would consider easing sanctions on certain countries to help stabilise oil supply during the crisis.

In a significant diplomatic development, President Trump held a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday — the first conversation between the two leaders since the war began. The Kremlin described the hour-long call as frank and constructive, with Putin presenting proposals for a swift political settlement. Trump acknowledged the call was positive but urged Putin to focus on ending the war in Ukraine as well, telling reporters, "He wants to be helpful on Iran. I told him you can be more helpful by ending the war in Ukraine." The call underscores growing international concern over both the humanitarian and economic fallout of the widening Middle East conflict.

Lebanon has been drawn deeper into the crisis, with over 700,000 people now displaced as Israeli strikes and Hezbollah rocket exchanges escalate across the country. The International Rescue Committee has issued an emergency alert, warning that the displacement crisis is becoming the most visible humanitarian consequence of the war. Lebanon's Prime Minister has called on all parties to allow displaced families to return home safely.

The Afghanistan-Pakistan border has also seen rising tensions, with the UN Refugee Agency reporting an estimated 115,000 people internally displaced inside Afghanistan and several thousand more in Pakistan due to active conflict along the border region.

Australia in Focus - Politics and Education in the Spotlight

In a major political development, National Party leader David Littleproud announced his resignation on Tuesday, 10 March 2026, stepping down after nearly four years at the helm of the party. Littleproud made the announcement at a press conference at Parliament House alongside his wife, saying he no longer had the energy to lead. He will remain in parliament as the member for the Queensland seat of Maranoa, which he has held since 2016. A party room vote to elect a new Nationals leader is expected later this week, with several candidates including deputy leader Kevin Hogan, former leader Michael McCormack, and senator Matt Canavan all indicating interest. The news caught many senior Nationals MPs by surprise and sets up an important transition for the junior coalition partner as Australia looks ahead to the next federal election.

For families with children in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9, Wednesday 11 March marks the start of NAPLAN 2026. Around 1.4 million students across more than 9,400 schools will sit the national literacy and numeracy assessment during the testing window, which runs until 23 March. Writing tests began today, with all other assessments to follow across the two-week period. For Indian and Punjabi families in Australia, NAPLAN is an important measure of how children are progressing in their schooling and an opportunity to identify early where extra support may be helpful. Schools are advised to schedule tests in the morning where possible. Preliminary results are expected to be back with schools around four weeks after the testing window closes.

Australia is also in active talks about the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, where the scaled-down 2026 edition is set to take place from 23 July to 2 August. Australia is expected to send a team of more than 400 athletes and officials to Glasgow, which stepped in to host the Games after Victoria withdrew in 2023 citing escalating costs. The Labour government has been in ongoing discussions with Commonwealth Games Australia regarding Australia's participation in the reimagined event.

A significant change to the Training Visa (Subclass 407) also took effect today, 11 March 2026. Under the new rules, visa applications can no longer be lodged at the same time as sponsorship and nomination applications. Sponsorship must now be fully approved, followed by nomination approval, before a valid visa application can be submitted. This change is particularly important for Indian and South Asian community members in Australia who are on training pathways, as those whose current visas expire before approvals are in place may need to seek alternative visa arrangements. Migration agents are strongly advising applicants to begin the sponsorship process at least six months before their current visa expires.

India and the World - From Back Home

India is closely watching developments in the Middle East, as the continuing US-Israel war with Iran is having a direct impact on global energy prices and shipping routes. India is a significant buyer of oil from the Gulf region and has been closely monitoring disruptions to the Strait of Hormuz. Reports indicate the US temporarily allowed India to continue purchasing Russian oil as part of broader efforts to mitigate global production shortfalls during the conflict. Indian diplomatic channels have been active in international discussions around a potential ceasefire, with France, China and Russia all said to be engaging with conditions for de-escalation.

The worsening situation along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border is also of concern to the Indian community globally, given the deep connections many families have to the region. The UN has confirmed significant internal displacement in both countries, with humanitarian needs described as already high before the latest round of conflict. UN emergency relief chief Tom Fletcher has warned that the ongoing focus on the Middle East risks allowing existing crises in Afghanistan and elsewhere to slip further down the international agenda.

Why Today Updates on Radio Haanji Is the Daily News Podcast Indian Australia Needs

For Punjabi and Indian families in Australia, staying informed about world events is not just a matter of general interest — it often has direct relevance to family members back home, economic decisions here, and community wellbeing. Today Updates on Radio Haanji 1674 AM fills that gap every morning by delivering clear, factual, community-first news across world, Australia and India in a single convenient podcast. As one of the best Punjabi podcasts in 2026, the show combines the reach of Indian community radio Melbourne with the accessibility of a free Punjabi podcast online.

Whether you are concerned about oil prices and the Middle East, following immigration and visa changes affecting your family, or simply trying to understand Australian politics better, Today Updates covers it all with the kind of clarity and cultural context that mainstream media often misses. This is daily news for Indian community Australia, delivered by and for people who understand what these stories really mean for families like yours.

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