The Prime Minister says Australia will not impose reciprocal tariffs on the US; Russia launches air attack on Ukraine amid talks of 30-day ceasefire agreement; And in tennis, two-time champion Iga Swiatek through to quarter finals.
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In this bulletin;
- The Prime Minister says Australia will not impose reciprocal tariffs on the US;
- Russia launches air attack on Ukraine amid talks of 30-day ceasefire agreement;
- And in tennis, two-time champion Iga Swiatek through to quarter finals.
Russia has launched an overnight air attack on Ukraine's capital, as world leaders have welcomed the news of a US agreement to work with Ukraine towards a 30-day pause in fighting with Russia.
The mayor of Kyiv said air defence forces engaged in repelling the strikes.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer called Ukraine's agreement a "remarkable breakthrough".
French President Emmanuel Macron welcomed the progress and echoed US assertions that the ball is now in Russia's court, while European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen says the EU is "ready play its full part, together with its partners, in the upcoming peace negotiations".
The proposal would still require sign off from Russia, and US President Donald Trump says he plans to speak to President Vladimir Putin soon.
"I think it's a big difference between the last visit you saw at the Oval Office and this. So, that's a total ceasefire. Ukraine has agreed to it, and hopefully Russia will agree to it. We're going to meet with them later on, today and tomorrow, and hopefully we'll be able to wipe out a deal. But I think the ceasefire is very important. If we can get Russia to do it, that'll be great. If we can't, we just keep going on and people are going to get killed, lots of people."
President Trump also says Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy would be welcome back to the White House, after their last meeting ended in an acrimonious argument.
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Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says his goverment will not impose reciprocal tariffs on the United States, despite import levies on Australian steel and aluminium entering force today.
Mr Albanese says the US tarrifs are "not a friendly act" and he is disappointed to see a close ally imposing import levvies but Australia will continue to seek an exemption.
He points out that steel and aluminium exports to the U-S make up less than 0.2 per cent of the total value of Australia's exports.
The Prime Minister says Australia "continue to diversify markets for our products" but a tit-for-tat trade war won't help anyone.
"Tariffs and escalating trade tensions are a form of economic self harm and a recipe for slower growth and higher inflation. They are paid by the consumers. This is why Australia will not be imposing reciprocal tariffs on the United States. Such a course of action would only push up prices for Australian consumers and increase inflation."
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The US Department of Education says it will cut nearly half of its staff as it scrambles to implement a second round of mass layoffs ordered by US President Donald Trump.
Affected employees of the education department are set to be placed on administrative leave from March 21, amid speculation the agency could be closed altogether.
The main union for representing education workers vowed to fight staff cuts, which it decried as "draconian".
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An Israeli air strike killed four Palestinians in Gaza on Tuesday, as the United States met with Arab mediators in an attempt to repair a splintering ceasefire agreement.
The Israeli military said its air force attacked "terrorists who were engaged in suspicious activity on the ground in central Gaza" while medics and relatives said the four killed were civilians.
This comes as Israel sent a delegation to the Qatari capital, Doha, for more ceasefire talks, and Hamas leaders ended a round of talks in Cairo earlier this week.
There has been no sign yet of a breakthrough to resolve the disputes that threaten a return to armed conflict.
Israel has cut aid flows of food, medicine, fuel and electricity this month, aiming to pressure militant group Hamas in ceasefire talks.
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And in tennis,
Two-time champion Iga Swiatek has crushed Czech Karolina Muchova 6-1 6-1 to reach the Indian Wells quarter-finals.
The Polish former world No.1 has only dropped six games since arriving at the event, with just four errors against a dozen winners while never facing a break point.
Swiatek is aiming to become the first woman to win the 1000-level tournament three times, after serving a one-month suspension late last year for a failed drug test.
