In this bulletin;
- Major parties begin their election campaigns in full force;
- Powerful quake hits Myanmar, kills several and traps dozens in Bangkok;
- And in basketball, Australian Josh Giddey scores an impressive half-court shot just in time for a victory.
Both major parties have begun their federal election campaigns in full force with voters being asked to stick with the Labor government or choose a different path under the Coalition.
Anthony Albanese has called the election for May 3rd, with the prime minister and Opposition Leader Peter Dutton to criss-cross the country in a frantic five-week campaign.
In an election defined by cost-of-living issues and global tensions, Mr Albanese used his opening pitch to stress Labor would provide stability in uncertain times.
"Australia is turning the corner. Only Labor has the plan to make you better off over the next three year. This election is a choice between Labor's plan to keep building or Peter Dutton's promise to cut. That is the choice."
And Mr Dutton has asked voters to focus on cost-of-living concerns, as he launched his campaign in Brisbane.
"The question Australians need to ask is: are you better off today, is our country better off today than three years ago? Mr Albanese is too weak and Labor is too incompetent to fix the problems that they've created and are facing our country today."
Prime Minister Albanese has touched down in Brisbane himself, as he begins his campaigning through the Sunshine State.
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A powerful earthquake has struck Myanmar, shaking much of Southeast Asia, killing several people, and causing widespread damage.
In Bangkok, Thailand, rescuers are searching for 81 people trapped beneath the rubble of a collapsed building.
In Myanmar, at least three people died when a mosque partially collapsed in the town of Taungoo, while local media report two more deaths and 20 injuries after a hotel collapsed in Aung Ban.
Marie Manrique is the International Federation of Red Cross' Program Coordinator.
She says six states and regions, particularly in the northwest, were hit hardest.
“One of the things that's quite important is to understand not only the buildings that have cracks and tremors but also fissures in them, but also collapsing buildings and public infrastructure has been damaged. This includes roads, bridges, and public buildings. We currently have concern for a large-scale dam that people are watching to see the conditions of the dam."
While the military junta has yet to release an official death toll, the opposition National Unity Government says at least 12 people were killed in the Mandalay region, with fears the number could rise.
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An economist says the Coalition's promises of substantial savings on petrol prices if they win the federal election are somewhat overstated.
As part of a counter to the Albanese government's promised tax cuts, Opposition leader Peter Dutton has pledged to slash the fuel excise on petrol sales for one year, to offer immediate cost-of-living relief.
"For a household with one car, filling up once a week, that's a savings of about $14 a week or around $700 over the year. For a household with two cars, filling up once a week, that's a saving of $28 a week."
ANU economist Ben Phillips says independent modelling suggests those figures are a bit high.
"It's probably more likely that savings will be more likely eight, nine, $10 per week for the average household, so about 400-500 dollars per year. I think the estimates hypothesised by the Opposition are probably on the high side."
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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says he will assess a new draft minerals deal proposed by the United States, because it is 'entirely different' from an earlier framework.
This comes as he also called for the United States to put pressure on Russia, including through sanctions, if President Vladimir Putin does not cooperate with a ceasefire.
"We are saying that there is not enough pressure on him (Putin). It is important for us that the U.S. recognises this fact. Europe is absolutely consolidated in understanding this."
Mr Zelenskiy added that Ukraine would not accept a deal that threatens its integration with the European Union, and denied that previous US military aid would be recognised as loans that need repaying.
Ukraine and Russia have agreed to a deal brokered by the US, which includes maritime security in the Black Sea, as well as a halt in attacks on energy infrastructure.
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In basketball,
Australian Josh Giddey has scored a shocking halfcourt shot just as the clock expired to cap perhaps the wildest finish in the NBA this season, giving Chicago a 119-117 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers.
LA looked to have the game in hand leading 115-100 with less than 13 seconds remaining, before Patrick Williams and Coby White hit back-to-back three-pointers to put the Bulls ahead.
Los Angeles had a 117-116 lead with three seconds to go but Aussie guard Josh Giddey scored a last-second three-pointer to secure it for the Bulls.
