New Zealand economy limps on with lacklustre GDP
New Zealand’s economy continues to underwhelm, posting 0.2 per cent growth in the final quarter of 2025 with darker storm clouds ahead. The Q4 result, released by Stats NZ on…
Indigenous jail rates up as Closing the Gap targets lag
Rates of Indigenous incarceration have been steadily increasing across Australia, the latest example of how Closing the Gap targets are falling well short of expectations. Of 17 identified socio-economic outcome…
The high costs of Albo’s rubber-stamp war in the Middle-East
While the “Iran war” is fuelling Israel’s desire for Middle East chaos, Australia finds itself in strategic quagmire of confused priorities and escalating energy costs. Stuart McCarthy reports. According to…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…