Several business entities have already expressed interest in land the federal government could potentially put up for sale - in a bid to bolster its defence budget.

An independent probe of the country's defence estate has identified 67 sites for potential sale - which could raise up to $1.8 billion, as the ADF tries to address critical capability gaps and redirect investment.

Some advocates are hoping the land could be used to develop more housing.

Billionaire Bill Gates says he never went to Jeffrey Epstein's island and never met any women.

His name features heavily in the three million documents released by the US Justice Department last week.

An email written by the late convicted sex offender in 2013, appears to suggest that Mr Gates contracted a sexually transmitted disease and sought to secretly give his then-wife, Melinda French Gates, antibiotics.

A spokesperson for Mr Gates has rejected the claims, 

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has confirmed it's providing consular assistance to the family of a 27 year old Melbourne man who died while skiing in Japan.

Michael "Micky" Hurst died from a sudden medical episode while holidaying with friends in Japan's Hokkaido region.

His death comes less than a week after 22 year old Brooke Day from Queensland died after she became caught in a chairlift at a different Japanese snowfield. 

The federal government will sell dozens of defence properties across Australia after an independent audit found many of them aren't being properly utilised.

High-profile defence estates, including the Victoria Barracks in Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne and Spectacle Island in New South Wales, are now set to be sold, raising up to one-point-eight billion dollars for other key military priorities.  

Advocacy groups have suggested transforming some of these sites into affordable housing, or green space

Melbourne man Michael 'Micky' Hurst has died in a skiing related accident in Japan, less than a week after the death of a 22 year old Queensland woman.

local media reports that the 27 year old was at the rear of a group of seven skiers in the Hokkaido region when he became separated from the group and buried by snow

It comes after Brooke Day died in hospital on Sunday morning.

She was critically injured when she became caught in a lift in the Hakuba Valley

Melinda French Gates says her ex-husband, Bill Gates, needs to answer for his behaviour alleged in the latest batch of Epstein files released by the US Department of Justice.

In a series of emails written by Jeffrey Epstein in 2013, the late sex offender claims Mr Gates contracted a sexually transmitted disease and sought to secretly give his then-wife, Melinda, antibiotics.

A spokesperson for Bill Gates has rejected the claims.

Federal treasurer Jim Chalmers has defended his management of the nation's economy following the Reserve Bank's decision to raise interest rates.

The Reserve Bank lifted interest rates to 3.85 per cent yesterday, citing higher and than expected inflation - but the Opposition has been blaming government spending.

The RBA did not list government spending in their reasoning to raise the rates

The Nationals have met to discuss the future of the Coalition and finalise their conditions on a reunion.

Liberal Leader Sussan Ley has issued a list of non negotiable's to the junior party, which includes a six-month suspension from the frontbench for the three senators who crossed the floor.

Nationals leader David Littleproud has repeatedly said his senators returning to the shadow cabinet was a prerequisite for a new agreement, after he split from the Coalition for the second time in a year.

Emails released by the US Department of Justice have revealed additional details about Sarah Ferguson's relationship with Jeffrey Epstein.

In one message, the former British royal appeared to offer the convicted child sex offender the opportunity to meet a woman with "a great body".

On Tuesday Ms Ferguson's charity 'Sarah's Trust' announced that it would be closing "for the foreseeable future".

Australia's treasurer has backed his economic management after the Reserve Bank's decision to raise interest rates.

The rate hike means mortgage holders will have to fork out more on monthly repayments, and economists say it could also put pressure on the rental market, by deterring first home buyers and therefore increasing demand for rentals.

But Treasurer Jim Chalmers says the economy is in a good position.

The New South Wales premier has backed a decision to extend protest restrictions in Sydney's CBD, ahead of a controverisial visit from the Israeli president next week.

Australia's invited Israel's Isaac Herzog to visit in the wake of the Bondi terror attack.

That's sparked plans for protests around the country, over concerns about Israel's conduct in Gaza.

The Palestine Action Group's planning a rally in Sydney, but police have extended rules around protests in the area.

Premier Chris Minns supports the police who are negotiating with organisers on the location, and says the priority is to maintain public safety.

Aussie athletes are taking to the Swiss mountains to prep for the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics this week.

Skiiers, snowboarders and ice skaters are among the athletes training at a high altidude centre in Switzerland, ahead of the Opening Ceremony in Italy on Friday.

The Aussies have already hit some hurdles on their way to the games, with aerial skier Laura Peel copping a knee injury while training, and two staff members catching Covid. 

US President Donald Trump says America's negotiating with Iran "right now" on the country's nuclear program.

Earlier today, the US said it shot down an Iranian drone that approached an aircraft carrier ship in the Middle East.

It came after Mr Trump threatened to attack Iran last month if it didn't come to the table for a nuclear deal.

He now says both sides are eager to find a way forward.

There are warnings millennial and Gen-Z home owners will be hit the hardest by the Reserve Bank's latest interest rate hike.

The RBA lifted the cash rate yesterday, to curb inflation.

An average new home loan is just under $700,000, with the rate hike meaning an average extra $110 in monthly payments.

Economists say it'll be tough for first home buyers, and some experts say the rate increase will also put pressure on the rental market.

Palestinian-Australian author Randa Abdel-Fattah will appear at an alternate Adelaide Writers' Week event, after the original festival was canned when organisers cancelled her appearance.

The Adelaide Writers Week board rescinded Abdel-Fattah's invitation last month, citing comments she made about Israel and Zionism.

That triggered a mass boycott of other speakers, which made global headlines and ultimately led to the festival being canned and the board stepping down.

Now, she's set to appear at a new event called "Constellations: Not Writers Week," and will appear with ex-writer's week director Louise Adler, who resigned during the scandal. 

America says it'll continue to try for diplomacy with Iran, after shooting down an Iranian drone.

The US says the drone aggressively approached an American aircraft carrier in the Arabian sea, and US president Donald Trump has been threatening to attack Iran if it doesn't reach a deal on nuclear weapons.

But senior US officials say planned talks with Iran will still go ahead later this week.

The stepson of Norway's future kind pleaded guilty to four counts of rape at the start of his high profile trial.

Marius Borg Hoiby's facing 38 charges, including assault and drug trafficking.

He's not technically a royal, but was a small child when his mother Mette-Marit married into the family, becoming the Crown Princess.

She's also embroiled in a scandal, having been named in the Epstein files.

She says she "deeply regrets" her friendship with the late sex offender.

And Opposition Leader Sussan Ley's says speculation she'll lose her position is "ridiculous."

There's been widespread suspicion Ms Ley will soon face a leadership challenge, with the Opposition in chaos after the Nationals split their longstanding Coalition with the Liberal party last month.

But Sussan Ley says that speculation's coming from the media, not her team. 

Opposition Leader Sussan Ley says she'll meet with Nationals leader David Littleproud again today, to keep talking about whether the Coalition can get back together.

The Opposition's been in chaos since the Nationals split their longstanding alliance with the Liberals last month, dividing over a vote on Labor's new hate laws.

Talks between the party leaders failed to reach a resolution on Monday.

Ms Ley says they'll try again today but says it'll only work if the Nationals agree to shadow cabinet solidarity - which means always voting the same way.

Australia's major banks have started increasing interest rates, after the Reserve Bank hiked the cash rate.

The RBA lifted the cash rate in response to inflation yesterday.

Commonwealth, Westpac, NAB and ANZ have already said they're passing that onto mortgage holders - it means repayments will be about $90 more a month for a $600,000 loan.

Experts say it will also put pressure on the rental market, by making it harder for people to buy houses.

NATO's reaffirmed its support for Ukraine, as the country reels from more Russian strikes overnight.

The strikes left hundreds of thousands without power during freezing temperatures, and come as the two countries gear up for more talks on ending the war.

NATO Secretary-General says he doubts Russia's serious about peace. 

Mortgage holders will start copping higher repayments in less than a fortnight, as major banks respond to a rate hike from the Reserve Bank.

The RBA has increased the cash rate to curb inflation.

Commonwealth, Westpac, NAB and ANZ have already announced they'll pass that increase onto mortgage holders.

Experts say the rate rise will also effect renters, by making it harder to buy a house and therefore increasing demand for rentals.

Spain is planning to follow Australia's lead in banning under 16s from social media.

The Spanish Prime Minister says he wants to protect kids from "the digital wild west," while also pledging to make tech companies legally responsible for removing illegal or hateful content from their platforms.

If the laws pass, Spain will be the second country after Australia to implement a youth social media ban.

Thailand's military says it's discovered a fake Australian Federal Police office inside a Cambodian scam centre.

The military reportedly seized the compound in its border clashes with Cambodia last year, and found loads of evidence of transnational fraud.

That included fake offices for international police forces, including Australia.

Officials say the compound housed thousands of people, many of them human trafficking victims forced into scamming. 

Australia's rental market is expected to face more pressure after the Reserve Bank's interest rate hike.

The Reserve Bank has increased the cash rate to 3.85 per cent, responding to rising inflation.

It means higher mortgage repayments for home owners, but experts say it may also deter people from wanting to buy a home, increasing demand on rentals.

Famous politicians are under pressure after the US government's latest release of files related to late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Former US president and Secretary of State Bill and Hillary Clinton will give evidence to an investigation into Epstein this month.

Bill Clinton's pictured with Epstein in the documents, but denies knowing anything about his crimes.

British politician Peter Mandelson's quit politics and his facing police questioning over his ties with the sex offender.

And Donald Trump's name also appears in the documents, with the US president denying any wrongdoing.

Aussie athletes are taking to the Swiss mountains to prep for the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics this week.

Skiiers, snowboarders and ice skaters are among the athletes training at a high altitude centre in Switzerland, ahead of the Opening Ceremony in Italy on Friday.

The Aussies have already hit some hurdles on their way to the games, with aerial skier Laura Peel copping a knee injury while training, and two staff members catching Covid.

Australia's major banks have started increasing interest rates, after the Reserve Bank hiked the cash rate.

The RBA lifted the cash rate to 3.85 per cent yesterday, responding to rising inflation.

Commonwealth, Westpac, NAB and ANZ have already said they're passing that onto mortgage holders - it means repayments will be about $90 more a month for a $600,000 loan.

British politician Peter Mandelson is quitting politics over his relationship with late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

The UK prime minister sacked Lord Mandelson from his US ambassador role in September, but there's been mounting pressure for him to leave parliament altogether after the US government's latest release of Epstein files highlighted his ties with the sex offender.

Mandelson will be questioned by police over his correspondence with Epstein.

Meanwhile, the US government's removed thousands of Epstein files from its website, after survivors said their identities had been compromised.

The U-S military says a fighter jet has shot down an Iranian drone that was approaching an American aircraft carrier in the Middle East.

The US says the drone "aggressively approached" the carrier.

It also alleges Iranian forces harassed a US merchant vessel.

Last month, Donald Trump threatened to attack Iran if it didn't reach a deal on nuclear weapons.

The family of a young Canadian tourist who died on K'Gari off southern Queensland has arrived in Australia for a ceremony with Traditional Owners.

A coroner's report found 19-year-old Piper James likely drowned, but had been bitten by dingoes before and after she died.

The island's Traditional Owners will hold a smoking ceremony with her family today.

Australia's government has officially condemned an attempted bomb attack at a Perth Invasion Day Rally, with the prime minister confirming it's being investigated as terrorism.

A man allegedly threw a homemade bomb into the crowd on January 26.

While it didn't go off, the incident sparked criticism of authorities who didn't immediately label the incident terrorism.

Senator Lidia Thorpe says her condemnation motion recognises racism and hatred towards First Nations people, and acknowledges the hurt the bomb incident has caused.