US debt surges past $39 trillion, weeks into Iran war
The US national debt has surpassed a record $US39 trillion ($A55 trillion), a milestone that comes just weeks into the US-Israeli war in Iran. The unprecedented figure revealed on Wednesday…
US Fed leaves rates unchanged despite higher inflation
The US Federal Reserve has held interest rates steady and projected higher inflation, steady unemployment and only a single reduction in borrowing costs this year as officials took stock of…
Under the pump: extra fuel to flow as premiers, PM meet
Fuel is expected to begin flowing from Australia’s emergency stockpiles imminently in response to the war in the Middle East, as state and territory officials prepare for crisis talks on…
Safe as houses: home resale profits go through the roof
Australian homeowners are in their strongest financial position, with median resale profits at all-time highs. In the second half of 2025, 97.5 per cent of house resales and 88.3 per…
Civil liberties. Senate to approve extraordinary ASIO powers
New laws are poised to pass the Senate and enshrine ASIO’s extraordinary powers of interrogation without proper judicial, parliamentary or public review. Marcus Reubenstein reports. In July 2025, an extension…
State braces as cyclone looms but ‘she’ll be right’
Like many laid-back locals, Luke Pote doesn’t usually stay up to date with weather advice at his remote community. But that looks set to change as one of the biggest…
Fairytale ending for Queen Mary’s royal homecoming
A real life fairytale will come a full circle as Denmark’s Queen returns home, this time with a king by her side. King Frederik and Queen Mary will bring their…
Treasurer promises ‘ambitious’ tax-reforming budget
Changes to the way capital gains and businesses are taxed are on the cards, as Treasurer Jim Chalmers promises more reforms to level the playing field for younger generations and…
Australia exposed as China rewrites green economy
The shuttering of a Western Australian lithium refinery after just four years should serve as a warning as China pumps more than A$160 billion into overseas critical minerals and metals…
Jobs data to help guide Reserve Bank’s May rates move
Australia’s jobs market is expected to give the Reserve Bank more to worry about. Economists predict official labour force data, due to be released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics…