A powerful earthquake strikes Japan; the Reserve Bank warns interest rates could rise again; and in football, UEFA rejects a FIFA plan to sell stakes in the World Cup to private investors.
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TRANSCRIPT
Emergency services in Japan say many people are trapped in a shopping centre in Japan, after a powerful earthquake struck the country's southwest region.
Kyodo News is reporting one death, with reports of more than 100 people injured.
The US Geological Survey says it recorded a mganitude of 6.8 for the earthquake.
The country's meteorological agency has warned of strong aftershocks given the shallow epicentre of 10 kilometres.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi says hundreds of soldiers have been deployed to help with rescue operations - as aftershocks continue to impact the area.
"To those in areas that experienced strong shaking, the risk of building collapses and landslides remains high. Please avoid entering dangerous areas and take all precautions to ensure your safety. Over the next week or so, please remain alert for the possibility of earthquakes with a maximum seismic intensity of 7."
Due to its location on the Pacific Ring of Fire, Japan experiences about 1,500 earthquakes a year, many of which are mild, but some of which are deadly.
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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says he had good meeting with his US counterpart, Donald Trump, at the White House.
The leaders spoke for just over an hour in a meeting behind closed doors.
In a statement, Mr Zelenskyy thanked the US for their support.
He says the discussion topics ncluded licenses for Patriot interceptor production and also ways to reinvigorate the diplomatic process.
White House officials described the meeting as positive and productive.
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Federal Opposition Leader Angus Taylor has been named during a New South Wales corruption inquiry.
WhatsApp messages aired at the ICAC suggest efforts were made to secure donations from Mr Taylor to support a conservative faction within the state Liberal Party.
Mr Taylor’s spokesman says he is not a party to the matters before the commission and has not been approached.
Cabinet Minister Murray Watt says Mr Taylor has questions to answer.
"This is damning evidence in a corruption inquiry that potentially implicates Angus Taylor in an illegal branch stacking and donation scandal, Mr Taylor has serious questions to answer, did he know what this group was up to did he provide funds to this group and where did those funds come from?"
Mr Taylor has not been accused of any wrongdoing.
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The Melbourne Holocaust Museum is pushing for more training on social cohesion and antisemitism training to be rolled out across the public sector.
Dr Breann Fallon is the CEO of the Melbourne Holocaust Museum.
She has told the Royal Commission into Social Cohesion and Antisemitism that she would like to see more funding for holocaust education programs - as a way of combating historical disinformation, especially in the current social media era.
"Holocaust education is really embedding character strengths and skills and those skills in particular critical thinking help us look at the past and draw connections through to the presents. For example when analysing propaganda in our programs, we are working on those critical thinking skills, strengthening that knowledge base and that skills based, that can then be transferred to modern social media for example."
The inquiry was called in January after 15 people were killed and when two gunmen opened fire at a Hanukkah event at Sydney's Bondi Beach in December.
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Reserve Bank Governor Michele Bullock has warned interest rates may need to rise further.
Speaking in Sydney, Ms Bullock said underlying inflation remains above the RBA’s two to three per cent target.
She says higher fuel prices are expected to keep inflation elevated, even if disruptions to oil supplies ease.
Ms Bullock says the board is prepared to act if needed
"The best contribution monetary policy can make is to maintain low and stable inflation and support sustainable full employment. The board is prepared to act as required to achieve it's mandate including by increasing the cash rate further if needed."
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And in sport,
European football's governing body, UEFA, has condemned FIFA's proposal to sell minority stakes in a new entity that would manage the commercial rights to the World Cup and other major tournaments.
FIFA says the proposed FIFA Forward Enterprise would be valued at 20 billion US dollars and aims to raise money from private investors to expand funding for football development.
FIFA says it would retain full control over the governance of the game, the match calendar and all regulatory and sporting decisions.
But UEFA - in a statement - says the plan crosses a line and argues the World Cup is not FIFA's to sell.
The proposal must still be approved by FIFA's 211 member associations.
