The children’s mother has sided with her husband, who still denies any wrongdoing.

Thieves have siphoned petrol from bushfire-stricken farmers in Victorian communities as the fuel reaches a cruel new low.

Sarah Thomson and her husband Ross awoke yesterday to find the tanks on their Ruffy property had been squeezed dry.

Around 400 litres of diesel and 100 litres of unleaded had been siphoned from the tanks, which the sheep farmers use to power their farm vehicles.

READ MORE: Qantas makes changes to Europe-bound flights as conflict rages on in Middle East

"It's incomprehensible really, that someone could drive in here, trespass for a start, but onto an area that's been burnt and steal fuel from us while we're trying to rebuild after this fire," Sarah said.

The couple's land was hit by the deadly Longwood fire that devastated the region in January.

More than 1850 sheep were killed or had to be put down and 1500 acres of the farm was scorched.

Sarah and Ross are now working to restore 18 km of fencing around the farm.

"It's bone dry and we can't do what we need to do without fuel," Sarah said.

"Our business runs on fuel, regional Australia runs on fuel."

READ MORE: Aussie households set for triple-whammy bill price hike next month

Police have issued alerts about possible fuel theft in the regions.

Nearby Euroa is also feeling the sting from delivery surcharges passed on to business customers as a result of skyrocketing fuel costs.

"Our customers are struggling but we're doing our best to support them, but there will come a point when it's no longer sustainable for us to absorb it," Euroa IGA owner Tim Burton said.

Local MP Annabelle Cleeland urged the government to cut the fuel excise immediately, fearing Victoria could "grind to a halt rapidly".

"Right now we're seeing supply shortages right across regional Victoria and this is going to disrupt the supply chain," she said.

"We're going to see supermarket products become extraordinarily expensive on the shelves in Melbourne if we don't give a break to regional Victorians."

NEVER MISS A STORY: Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.

• Download the 9NEWS App here via Apple and Google Play
• Make 9News your preferred source on Google by ticking this box here
• Sign up to our breaking newsletter here



Residents asked to ‘immediately reduce’ water consumption.

Diesel prices soared 10 per cent while unleaded prices rose 8 per cent in just one week.

Thursday’s weather event caused wastewater overflow into many of the city’s swim spots.

Four stores were caught selling vaping products to people under 18.

Lower house prices, a healthy economy and attractive lifestyle are drawing people in.

The White House's official social media accounts have been posting heavily pixelated images of administration officials, with no explanation why.

For the last few hours, The White House's Instagram and X accounts have posted three images with heavy pixelations.

One appears to be of Donald Trump in his trademark red cap, while another seems to be of Vice President JD Vance.

READ MORE: Trump on shaky ground after Democrats win Mar-a-Lago seat

https://x.com/WhiteHouse/status/2037345520398528770

It is not readily apparent who the third image is of.

None of the images are captioned in any way.

The White House also posted a seven-second video of a black-and-white White House logo which flickers and disintegrates as discordant noise plays.

The video is captioned with only an emoji of a smiley face with a hushing finger over its mouth.

A four-second video posted yesterday showed someone's feet and a female voice saying "It's launching soon, right?"

That video was deleted after 90 minutes.

READ MORE: Iran looking to turn Strait of Hormuz into massive toll booth

https://x.com/WhiteHouse/status/2037326888285122788

The Federal Communications Commission has also posted a pixelated image, perhaps of chairman Brendan Carr.

What the administration is doing with the posts remains a mystery.

But it is far from unprecedented for the Trump administration to seek to change the subject when it is mired in an unpopular scandal.

In the past few months it has been beset with what is turning into a quagmire in Iran as well as unflattering revelations in the Epstein files.

The administration is also copping flak for massive queues at airport security, rapidly rising petrol prices and a sluggish economy.

Trump's approval rating is now at record lows.

READ MORE: Donald Trump to put his name on all US paper money

NEVER MISS A STORY: Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.

• Download the 9NEWS App here via Apple and Google Play
• Make 9News your preferred source on Google by ticking this box here
• Sign up to our breaking newsletter here



Australian mortgage holders will soon feel the sting of the Reserve Bank of Australia's (RBA) latest rate hike as the big four banks pass it on in full from today.

The RBA raised the official cash rate target to 4.10 per cent last week, a hike of 0.25 basis points.

Variable borrowers with CBA, NAB and ANZ had their mortgage rates increased this morning.

LIVE UPDATES: Trump hits out at Australia, UK and NATO over lack of help against Ira

CBA and NAB have also increased fixed rates by up to 0.30 and 0.35 percentage points respectively.

Their lowest advertised fixed rates for a one-year term are now 6.49 per cent and 6.04 per cent, respectively.

ANZ's lowest advertised fixed rate is hovering at 5.99 per cent.

Westpac customers won't be slugged with the rate hike until Tuesday, March 31.

READ MORE: Donald Trump to put his name on all US paper money

It will offer the lowest advertised variable rate at 5.74 per cent once the new rates are in effect across all four big banks.

The only other big four bank offering an advertised variable rate under 6 per cent is CBA at 5.84 per cent.

Westpac also currently offers the lowest fixed rate, but that could change in the coming days.

Most mortgage holders will be hit with higher rates right away, which will sting when combined with the RBA's February rate hike.

"Variable borrowers across the country are now having to brace for the second cash rate hike in as many months, while staring down the barrel of a potential third hike as soon as May," Canstar data insights director Sally Tindall said.

Mortgage holders with a debt of $500,000 could pay at least $151 more per month with the cumulative increase from February and March, according to data from Canstar.

READ MORE: Iran could develop nuclear suicide bomb vests, claims JD Vance

Those paying the minimum on their monthly repayments will have a few weeks to prepare for this latest rate increase before it hits.

That's because the big four banks must provide written notice of the changes; at least 20 days' notice for CBA, and at least 30 days' for the other three.

"Make no mistake, banks are starting to charge customers higher rates from today, but be aware there's a significant delay between today and when that extra money comes out of your bank account, for those paying the minimum," Tindall said.

"Customers might think they've successfully accounted for two hikes, when in actual fact they might not have even started paying for the first one."

READ MORE: Aussie households set for triple-whammy bill price hike next month

Borrowers who can't meet the higher repayment amount can request a rate review or rate reduction.

They can also contact their bank, which may be able to help them switch to interest-only or make reduced payments for a period of time, or extend the loan term.

The National Debt Helpline also offers free financial advice.

READ MORE: Kyle Sandilands addresses media after exiting court in $100 million showdown with ARN

"There's almost certainly more pain ahead for borrowers, with all four big bank economists forecasting another 0.25 percentage point hike in May," Tindall said.

"If you've got a mortgage, work out what your repayments might look like if rates rose not just in May but again later in the year.

"You want to make sure this figure fits in your budget alongside the other rising cost-of-living pressures."

NEVER MISS A STORY: Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.

• Download the 9NEWS App here via Apple and Google Play
• Make 9News your preferred source on Google by ticking this box here
• Sign up to our breaking newsletter here

The information provided on this website is general in nature only and does not constitute personal financial advice. The information has been prepared without taking into account your personal objectives, financial situation or needs. Before acting on any information on this website you should consider the appropriateness of the information having regard to your objectives, financial situation and needs.

Donald Trump's signature will be added to all US banknotes in a first for a sitting president.

Historically, the only signatures to appear on American money are the Treasury Secretary and the Treasurer.

But Treasurer Brandon Beach's name will be taken off the cash to make room for Trump.

READ MORE: Trump on shaky ground after Democrats win Mar-a-Lago seat

The announcement was made in a statement by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.

"Under President Trump's leadership, we are on a path toward unprecedented economic growth, lasting dollar dominance, and fiscal strength and stability," Bessent said.

"There is no more powerful way to recognise the historic achievements of our great country and President Donald J Trump than US dollar bills bearing his name, and it is only appropriate that this historic currency be issued at the Semiquincentennial."

The United States is marking its 250th anniversary this year.

Beach will become the first treasurer of the United States since 1861 to not have their name on American paper money.

But in a statement, Beach did not mention his own name getting bumped.

READ MORE: $800m in trades before Trump announcement 'is treason'

"The President's mark on history as the architect of America's Golden Age economic revival is undeniable," Beach said.

"Printing his signature on the American currency is not only appropriate, but also well deserved."

The decision has been panned by California Governor Gavin Newsom.

"Now Americans will know exactly who to blame as they're paying more for groceries, gas, rent, and health care," he wrote on Bluesky.

"Americans now have to pay a dollar more on average for a gallon of gas because of Donald Trump's war with Iran.

"But don't worry! Our beloved president is moving heaven and earth to make sure he…can golf all day at his private golf course this weekend."

READ MORE: How a stationery store owner crashed an entire economy

As Trump staffers tout his economic achievement, Wall Street has seen its biggest drop since the beginning of the Iran war overnight.

The S&P 500 fell 1.7 per cent, as it braces for its fifth week of losses.

The Dow Jones and the Nasdaq composite also saw steep falls.

The ASX 200 also began the morning down on the back of Wall Street's drop.

READ MORE: Iran looking to turn Strait of Hormuz into massive toll booth

NEVER MISS A STORY: Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.

• Download the 9NEWS App here via Apple and Google Play
• Make 9News your preferred source on Google by ticking this box here
• Sign up to our breaking newsletter here