WASHINGTON (AP) – The national debt surpassed a record $39 trillion on Wednesday, a milestone that comes just weeks into the U.S.-Israeli war in Iran. The unprecedented figure highlights competing administration priorities, from passing a massive tax law and boosting defense spending and immigration enforcement to chipping away at the debt itself.

Police have charged two people with serious drug offences following the execution of a search warrant at a residential address in Airlie Beach, as part of ongoing efforts to disrupt the supply of illicit substances across the Whitsundays. The operation took place at about 8am on Sunday, 16 February, when officers attended a property on Hermitage Drive.

After two back-to-back interest rate hikes by the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) in February and March, all eyes are on the next policy meeting set for May. While much attention tends to focus on current inflation, the central bank's latest decision on Tuesday highlights another concern: what people think inflation will be in the future.

WASHINGTON (AP) – Jay Allen is a fan of President Donald Trump, and voted for him on the belief that the Republican would cut taxes and trim regulations, helping his manufacturing business in northeast Arkansas. But the tariffs at the core of Trump’s economic agenda have wreaked havoc on his company, Allen Engineering Corp.

Brisbane drivers have enjoyed a rare stretch of below-average petrol prices, offering modest cost-of-living relief for households and small businesses that rely on daily travel. The extended dip isn't the result of a single cause - it's a mix of global market settings and local price cycles that, for now, have aligned in motorists' favour.

Soaring petrol prices are once again making many Australians think seriously about switching to an electric vehicle. As politicians warn Australians not to resort to panic buying, finding constructive ways to reduce your petrol costs has become increasingly appealing. The strikes on Iran have seen prices of Brent crude  trade around US$104 (A$150) per barrel.

WASHINGTON (AP) – U.S. wholesale prices came in hotter than expected in February, driven partly by a sharp increase in food costs. The Labor Department reported Wednesday that its producer price index – which measures inflation before it hits consumers – rose 0.7% from January, and 3.4% from February 2025. The year-over-year increase was the most since February 2025.

Police have launched an investigation after the bodies of a man and a woman were discovered at a home in Rockhampton, in central Queensland, following a welfare check late Tuesday evening. Emergency services were called to a property on Lion Creek Road in the suburb of Wandal shortly after 8pm, after concerns were raised for the occupants' wellbeing.