SBS News In Depth

When planes fly faster than the speed of sound, air molecules can’t get out of the way fast enough and begin to pack together. Eventually they form a wave in front of the aircraft, creating a burst of air pressure. And you get a big bang - the sound of an aircraft breaking the sound barrier - a sonic boom. This sonic boom can damage structures and break glass. Because of this, supersonic overland flight has been banned in the United States since the 1970s. That was always a problem for aircraft like The Concorde - it simply wasn't allowed to get any further than the eastern seaboard when flying from Europe. But now, America's FAA is in the process of lifting this restriction. In this episode of Weekend One on One, William Crossley, the head of aeronautics and astronautics at Purdue University in the US, explains commercial flights traveling at supersonic speeds could reduce a cross-country flight from five hours to one hour, saving people valuable time.

The Wimmera region in rural Victoria is becoming a flashpoint in the global race for rare earth minerals.

Global demand for rare earth minerals is surging and many of them lie under Australian soil. So what exactly are they and why are they important?

Former RAAF airwoman Julia Delaforce speaks with Angelica Waite about her experience as a whistleblower and why that has led her to call for change.

Some cultures value gold jewellery above all when it comes to gifts for special events such as weddings or birthdays. But with the price up around 70 per cent in the last five years, more people are torn between whether to sell these items to make ends meet or keep them for sentimental reasons.

A $30 million initiative aims to boost the number of vocational education trainers.

The Donbas region has become a fault-line in peace talks between Ukraine and Russia. It’s a territory known as Ukraine’s energy powerhouse, and is desired by Russian President Vladimir Putin, experts suggesting its position as a hotbed for Kremlin propaganda could be a contributing factor to Putin not wanting to give it up.

The shooting of two police officers in the rural Victorian town of Porepunkah has revived questions about the licensing and ownership of guns in Australia. Nearly three decades since the Port Arthur massacre in Tasmania, experts say we have 25 per cent more legal firearms than ever now registered in Australia, and advocates are concerned that our laws have been eroded.

SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Goncalves speaks with Australia Post CEO Paul Graham following the company's profit result to find out what the future holds for the service amid structural change which is seeing consumers continue to send fewer letters but greater numbers of parcels, plus Dianne Colledge from Morgans wraps up what has been a very busy reporting season.

In this episode: Australia punishes Iran after dramatic revelations in Canberra, Trump’s latest threats to set troops on more Democrat-held cities in the US, and a mass deportation pitch from the UK’s far right. Plus, why Venezuelan housewives are joining Maduro’s militia and South Korea’s supernatural export pops on global streaming.

At least 23 people are reported dead in the latest Russian attack on the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv. It's a brutal reminder that despite upbeat talk in recent times, the war still rages on, with a lot to do until peace is realistically in sight.

A lot has happened since the last sitting week. The Prime Minister announced Australia's plan to soon recognise Palestinian statehood, and the best economic minds gathered to solve the productivity crisis. We break down why you should care about productivity at all, and Jacqui Lambie talks through her idea for a 'climate army'.

SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves speaks with Wesfarmers CEO Rob Scott about the company's $2.9bn profit, bonus shareholder returns and the economic environment, plus a look at the day on the sharemarket including Qantas' second best profit result ever, with Angus Geddes from Fat Prophets.

Two children have been killed and 17 people wounded in a Catholic school shooting in Minneapolis in the United States. Authorities say they're investigating the shooting as an act of domestic terrorism and a hate crime targeting Catholics.

The United Nations has held an emergency Security Council meeting on Gaza, where famine has now been declared by international experts. Israel disputes the findings, calling them fabricated, while all but one Security Council member has voiced alarm.

Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke has condemned marches scheduled in major cities around the nation this Sunday, as "dividing and undermining social cohesion". Ahead of the Marches for Australia, some Indian influencers and community leaders are urging immigrants living in Australia to "stay inside" and avoid protests for "safety".

The Coalition is urging the government to accelerate its legislation for listing the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist group. It comes after Australia's security and intelligence community alleged the IRGC directed attacks on the Jewish community.

SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves speaks with Flight Centre CEO Graham Turner following the group's results announcement to find out more about the operating environment, airfares and consumer trends, plus Michael Wayne from Medallion Financial Group goes through the day's sharemarket action including a look at the surprise rise in inflation.

Australians in Iran have been urged to leave, after the federal government cut diplomatic ties with the country and expelled the Iranian ambassador from Australia. Many in the Australian-Iranian community have welcomed the decision, as well as the move by the Australian government to list the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organisation. While some Iranian community groups have been advocating for the move for years, some do fear what it might mean for family members back home.

A major manhunt is underway in Victoria for the man suspected of killing two police officers and injuring one after opening fire on them during a search warrant. The 56-year-old suspect, Dezi Freeman, was known to have beliefs consistent with the so-called 'sovereign citizens' movement.

Israel’s war in Gaza has drawn renewed outrage after air strikes on Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis killed 20 people, including five journalists and several medical staff, in what are described as double-tap attacks. The incident, captured live on television, has sparked international condemnation, while in Israel thousands have marched demanding a ceasefire and the release of hostages still held in Gaza.

The number of Australians living with allergy has doubled in nearly 20 years, according to a new report, which examines the financial and personal costs of the chronic condition. Demand for services is unprecedented, and experts warn allergy does not just impact health - it can reshape sufferers’ lives.

In this special extended edition of SBS On the Money, join SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves as he speaks with Coles Group CEO Leah Weckert to find out how shoppers are feeling, Fortescue CEO Dino Otranto on how the political landscape is impacting his operations while Stephanie Youssef discusses Tyro's results with CEO Jon Davey, plus hear from Jamie Hannah from VanEck on the day on the sharemarket.

Women who speak up against wrongdoing and become whistleblowers are paying a heavy price for their courage, according to a new report from the Human Rights Law Centre. The study finds women are more likely to face harassment and bullying in the workplace because of their whistleblowing disclosures. Whistleblower advocates are urgently calling for the establishment of a Whistleblower Protection Authority, to ensure safety and support for those who are brave enough to come forward.

Australia's police and intelligence agencies have revealed the Iranian Revolutionary Guard was behind two antisemitic attacks in Australia. The discovery of the network being directed by Iran has led to the expulsion of Iran's Ambassador in Canberra and the removal of Australia's diplomats from Tehran.

The government's First Home Buyer Guarantee scheme will allow thousands more renters, who are struggling to save for the usual 20 per cent home deposit, the chance to enter the property market. But experts say the scheme, brought forward by three months to October, may not be as helpful as it initially sounds. They say it leaves those using the scheme financially vulnerable, and shuts out low-income earners. And for the next generation of first home buyers, it could make their journey to property ownership even harder.

Environment Minister Murray Watt has announced an accelerated timeframe to improve Australia's 'broken' biodiversity and conservation laws. It comes after broad consensus emerged on the urgent need for reform at the government's economic roundtable. Labor is promising stronger environmental protections and faster project approvals - but it's not the first time.

A new report by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has found fewer Australians are reporting scams in 2025, but more money has been lost. The report has found people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds are more likely to suffer loss.

SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves speaks with George Boubouras from K2 Asset Management about the day's sharemarket action, including why investors are increasingly confident of a September interest rate cut in the US. Plus Hannah Kwon finds out more about the way AI is being used to scam people with Jeannie Paterson from the Melbourne Law School.

The government has already pledged to pause changes to the National Construction Code to accelerate housing supply - and now they are fast-tracking their expansion of the First Home Buyer Guarantee. While the expansion is being praised for widening access to the property market, critics say it will drive up property prices if not paired with a boost in supply.

Russia and Ukraine have exchanged nearly 300 prisoners of war, a swap deal unfolding on Ukraine's Independence Day. The day was commemorated in solemn ceremonies both in Ukraine and around the world among the Ukrainian diaspora.

As pranks go, this one certainly hit the headlines. The US State Department is warning diplomats about attempts to impersonate Secretary of State Marco Rubio and possibly other officials using technology driven by artificial intelligence. It’s the latest high-tech instance of a top-level Trump administration figure being targeted by an impersonator.

People have turned out in huge numbers for nationwide protests against Israel's military actions and restrictions on aid into Gaza. The marches in more than 40 locations nationally were backed over 250 community organisations, including unions and prominent public figures. It comes days after famine was declared in Gaza City, where Israel is poised to intensify its military assault.

Noah Paoa is a PhD candidate in the Department of Earth Sciences at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. His research focuses on sea level rise-induced flooding and its specific impacts on coastal cultural assets and archaeological sites throughout Polynesia. Using digital elevation mapping and wave-driven flood models, Paoa’s work projects future threats to irreplaceable heritage sites. In this episode of weekend one on one, he explains his research on Rapa Nui - also known as Easter Island - shows that iconic monuments, including the famous moai statues of Ahu Tongariki, are at significant risk from coastal erosion and could be reached by destructive waves as early as 2080

The controversy over working from home continues to swirl around the nation's workplaces. Employers want their workers back in the office; workers ask why as they get more work done at home. So what do the facts tell us about working from home? Dr. Mark Benden is the chair for the Department of Environmental and Occupational Health at Texas A&M University in the US, and he's been carrying out exhaustive research in to the way people work. In this edition of Weekend One on One, he talks about working from home - and also which days of the week are least productive.

As a humanitarian crisis escalates in Gaza, Australian Red Cross emergency nurse Jean-Philippe Miller has flown back for his fourth rotation. After 14 humanitarian deployments worldwide, the 41-year-old from Melbourne says aid work in Gaza is ‘unlike anything else’. Prior to his departure, Mr Miller described his life-saving mission to SBS’s Sandra Fulloon.

Colombia is reeling from two attacks on its police and military, in what's been described as the country's bloodiest day in months.

As the humanitarian crisis escalates in Gaza, an Australian emergency nurse has flown back for his fourth rotation. Based at the Red Cross field hospital in Rafah, Jean-Philippe Miller is offering humanitarian aid on an ever-deteriorating medical frontline.

This week marks the 50th anniversary since the Gurindji land handback, an historic turning point for Aboriginal land rights in Australia. Fifty years on, people from all over Australia have gathered for the Gurindji Freedom Day Festival to celebrate the anniversary of the land hand-back, and remember the iconic events of the 1966 Wave Hill Walk Off.

In this episode, we cover Donald Trump's latest attempts at peace for Ukraine, and the growing ties between India and Russia. Also, the diplomatic row between Israel and Australia deepens. Plus, Xi Jinping visits Tibet and the White House embraces TikTok.

SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves speaks with Guzman y Gomez Mexican Kitchen co-CEO Steven Marks about the Mexican restaurant chain's record sales and to find out more about why investors didn't like it, plus Isaac Poole PhD, CIMA® from Ascalon Capital on the day's market action, including his take on reporting season and the trends being seen.

The number of children being diagnosed with autism is rising, putting a heavy strain on the National Disability Insurance Scheme. The government has responded, announcing a plan to divert children away from the NDIS to a new scheme called Thriving Kids. Parents and autism advocates say they were unaware of the strategy until it was made public.

The productivity of Australia's economy is seen as a driver of economic growth, higher real incomes, and improved living standards. A three-day summit in Canberra - convened by the federal government - brought together politicians, business leaders, unions, civil society, and other experts to tackle the issue of productivity - along with budget sustainability and tax reform.

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered renewed negotiations to free hostages and end the war on Israel’s terms, as he authorises plans to seize Gaza City. This comes as aid agencies race to evacuate critically injured patients while UN officials warn of a looming man-made famine, with child malnutrition already at crisis levels.

The diplomatic rift between Israel and Australia has deepened, as Israel's Prime Minister repeated his criticism of the decision to recognise Palestinian statehood - this time choosing an Australian media outlet.

SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves speaks with Gemma Dale from nabtrade about the ASX 200's record close, and takes a closer look at Rebel Sport's theft problem.

Major obstacles remain as momentum builds towards negotiating a peace deal to end the fighting in Ukraine. While US President Donald Trump says arrangements have begun for a meeting between the leaders of Russia and Ukraine, the Kremlin has not publicly confirmed that is underway.

For nearly two years, Gaza has been at the heart of one of the world’s deadliest conflicts. Now Israel is preparing its largest mobilisation of reservists in months: a move that could decide the next phase of the war, but also deepen the humanitarian catastrophe.

Surrounded by the stringybark forest of Northeast Arnhem Land, a group of Yolngu cultural educators are passing on knowledge of bush medicine to a new wave of First Nations doctors. The remote placement, formed in partnership with Flinders University, explores traditional healing methods, while building cultural awareness in modern practices.

SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves speaks with Luke Laretive from Seneca Financial Solutions about the day's sharemarket action, including what the James Hardie and Breville profit updates says about the US economy, as debate continues on whether the US should cut interest rates.