In this bulletin;
- Senior Australian politicians say trilateral defence deal with the US and UK is on solid ground;
- Israel confirms plans to delay talks on the second phase of its ceasefire deal with Hamas;
- And in sport, Australia's NRL season launches in Vegas this weekend.
Senior Australian politicians says the fate of a multi-billion-dollar submarine deal with the US is assured, after US President Donald Trump appeared to forget the name of the trilateral AUKUS pact with the UK.
The defence agreement will see Australia obtain nuclear submarines through a partnership with the US and UK, paying 800 million dollars this month in a first payment to AUKUS.
In total, Australia has a $368 billion bill to acquire the submarines - a deal that was signed by former Prime Minister Scott Morrison.
When asked about the submarine deal, ahead of a meeting with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Mr Trump told reporters the U-S has a "very good relationship" with Australia.
Federal Opposition leader Peter Dutton shared that sentiment when he spoke with Channel Nine's today show.
"There is no doubt in my mind that the president strongly supports the alliance between our three countries and strongly supports AUKUS. He has stated that previously and the submarine deal, which was inked when we were in government, when I was Defence Minister, will strongly underpin the security of our country."
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The Israeli Government is seeking to further delay the second phase of a ceasefire with Hamas that is due to expire this weekend.
Israel's Foreign Minister Gideon Sarr spoke about the talks at a press conference with his counterpart from the Czech Republic, Jan Lipavsky.
Hamas has returned 33 hostages, including the bodies of eight people.
In exchange, Israel has released nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners, as well as those held in administrative detention.
Mr Sarr said the priority is to see the return of more Israeli hostages held by Hamas.
"Our delegation will go to Cairo and see whether we have a common ground to negotiate. We said we are ready to make the framework longer in return to release of more hostages."
Negotiations for the second phase of the ceasefire were originally scheduled to begin at the start of February.
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Two new cases of measles have been detected in Melbourne, with Victorian health authorities issuing a warning over the virus.
The highly-contagious, airborne disease illness can cause lead to serious health concerns including pneumonia and encephalitis, but in most cases will result in symptoms including a rash, fevers, runny nose and cough.
It is the latest in a series of outbreaks causing concern in the state, with a similar warning issued in January.
Worldwide, measles outbreaks are being linked to low rates of vaccination.
This week, there is particular concern in the US state of Texas, where an unvaccinated child has died in an outbreak of more than 120 cases.
University of Texas virologist Scott Weaver said the disease is especially dangerous for children.
"It's also so transmissible that it can spread and cause a big outbreak very quickly and explosively unless people are vaccinated to protect them from infection and becoming a spreader of the virus."
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From tomorrow, women who use the Yaz or Yasmine oral contraceptive pill, will pay hundreds of dollars less for their subscriptions.
These types of contraceptive pill are among the most expensive and are widely used by women of childbearing age and are the first to be added to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme in 30 years.
The new PBS listing is expected to save around 50 thousand Australian women hundreds of dollars a year and is part of a $573.3 million women's health funding promise by the Albanese Government that was announced last month.
The Opposition has committed to matching the spend if it is elected to government.
The Federal election date is yet to be announced, but must happen before the 17th of May.
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To sport,
NRL bosses are talking up the wins of their big gamble on a Las Vegas season launch.
For a second year, the season will kick off in the US city on Sunday - with the Canberra Raiders playing New Zealand's Warriors, before the Penrith Panthers take on the Cronulla Sharks the same day.
The move was a bid to grow the sport's international audience, but has seen a big windfall in Australian viewership.
The league is reporting higher ticket sales to the event than last year.
