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TRANSCRIPT:
- Man charged with murder of Kumanjayi Little Baby
- Japan's Prime Minister urges Australia to deepen defence ties ahead of a meeting in Canberra
- McLaren's Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri take first and second place at the Miami Open
WARNING: Listeners may find the following story distressing. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander listeners are advised that this story includes the name of an Indigenous person who has passed away.
Northern Territory police have charged a man with one count of murder and two counts of sexual assault, in the case of a five-year-old girl who disappeared from a community near Alice Springs last weekend.
A suspect is in custody for allegedly killing Kumanjayi Little Baby.
Her death has sparked national grief and triggered riots in Alice Springs, with a woman arrested overnight after a car was set alight.
Commissioner Martin Dole says the investigation has been complex and difficult, commending detectives for their work.
"I would ask that the community respect the judicial process. And I would also ask that the community continue to respect the family as they continue to process their deep grief and sorrow."
(If you or someone you know wants to talk about sexual assualt or harassment, family or domestic violence, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732 or visit www.1800RESPECT.org.au. In an emergency, call 000. For culturally appropriate Indigenous support 24 hours a day, call 13YARN on 13 92 76 or visit https://www.13yarn.org.au)
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Japan's Prime Minister Minister Sanae Takaichi will meet with Anthony Albanese tomorrow on her latest stop in an Asia tour.
Ms Takaichi is urging the Prime Minister to deepen defence and critical mineral ties between the two countries, as they two countries move to counter China’s growing economic and military reach across the Indo-Pacific.
While the Japanese leader shores up support from allies, there is major dissent at home.
Japanese civic groups and residents have rallied in Tokyo this weekend, to protest the remilitarisation of Japan under Ms Sanae's government.
"Japan, as China's neighbour, should have reflected deeply on its past war aggressions. Instead, it is now completely disregarding history, unilaterally expanding its military and continuously increasing armaments. Meanwhile people's livelihoods are worsening. Social security is being reduced, and education budgets are shrinking, but the government keeps pouring money into military spending. To me, this is a policy that will ultimately ruin the country."
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Jewish Australians will give evidence at the Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion, as public hearings begin tomorrow.
The inquiry, established after the Bondi Beach terror attack on the 14th of December last year, is examining the impact of antisemitism on Jewish communities and broader social cohesion.
Community members, including Stephanie Cunio, say Jewish Australians have been unfairly blamed for the actions of the Israeli government.
Researcher Matteo Vergani says distinguishing between criticism of Israel, anti-Zionism and antisemitism remains complex.
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Israeli air strikes on southern Lebanon on Saturday have killed at least seven people and wounded others, as violence continues despite a ceasefire deal.
The Israeli military has also issued fresh evacuation warnings for residents of nine villages along the border, signalling the risk of further escalation.
In the village of Yaroun, troops used bulldozers to demolish parts of an empty Catholic convent that had already been affected by the fighting.
The convent’s superior, Gladys Sabbagh, says the site once housed a school closed since the 2006 Israel-Hezbollah war, as well as a clinic that had recently been relocated to a nearby village.
Israel and the militant group Hezbollah have continued to exchange strikes in recent weeks, despite the ceasefire remaining formally in place.
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Economists and finance analysts are united in predicting an interest rate rise this Tuesday, after the Reserve Bank's monthly meeting.
The expected rise comes after March inflation data showed a major increase in the consumer price index, due to soaring costs of fuel and goods as a result of the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
The RBA uses interest rate rises to attempt to curb growth and bring inflation between its target range of two to three per cent.
Dr Christian Bayliss, founder of Fortlake Asset management, tells Channel Seven there are already signs spending is being reduced in the wake of a series of interest rate hikes.
"This is going to be back to back to back. And then you've also got the impact of higher oil prices. All of the cumulative effects of that are definitely starting to have an effect on the discretionary side of expenditure. People are starting to pull on their purse strings and ultimately, people are starting to save money and squirrel money away."
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To sport and in Formula One, Team McLaren has bounced back with a dominant one-two in the Miami Grand Prix sprint race -with Australian Oscar Piastri runner-up to his world champion teammate Lando Norris.
Piastri ended up having to repel a late challenge from Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc to finish second in the 19-lap race [[Sat]], 3.766 seconds behind Norris.
It is an improvement for Piastri, who began the season by failing to get to the start in the first two races.
He has now enjoyed two second place finishes in a row in Japan's main race and the Miami sprint.
