Listen to the latest updates from ABC News

Listen to the latest updates from ABC News

Concerns are being raised over the impacts of the Reserve Bank's rate rise on struggling Australian households.

The Reserve Bank has increased the cash rate to 3.85 per cent, citing a spike in inflation at the end of last year.

Some economists are warning that the rental market is expected to face more pressure following the hike.

The Liberals have offered a series of conditions to the Nationals Party to re-form the coalition, including that the three Senators that crossed the floor on the Government's hate laws are unable to rejoin Shadow Cabinet for six months.

Liberal leader Sussan Ley and Nationals Leader David Littleproud met last night to discuss reuniting the coalition.

The Nationals have stressed that a condition on them returning would be that the three Senators who crossed the floor are reinstated to Shadow Cabinet.

Other conditions put forward by the Liberals include that Shadow Cabinet solidarity is reaffirmed by both parties and that neither party room has the ability to overturn any decision endorsed by the Coalition Shadow Cabinet.

The mother of a WA teenager, who swam for four hours to call for help after he and his family were swept out to sea, says her son saved their lives.

Austin Applebee was paddling with his mother and two siblings off Quindalup, in WA's South West, last Friday, when strong winds pushed them out to sea.

The 13-year-old swam through rough seas to reach shore and call triple zero.

The Reserve Bank says its bracing for inflation to stay higher for longer as it increases interest rates for the first time in more than two years.

The board has unanimously moved to lift the cash rate by 25 basis points to 3.85 per cent, the first increase since November 2023, and just six months after lowering it

The New South Wales Opposition has backed the Police Commissioner's decision to extend protest restrictions for an other fortnight in light of concerns about public safety ahead of next week's visit by the Israeli President.

Commissioner Mal Lanyon says he fears a large scale public assembly with heightened tensions due to animosity, could present a risk to community safety.

Laws giving police the power to restrict protest activity in the wake of the Bondi terror attacks were rushed through parliament late last year.

Pro -Palestine activists are preparing  for nationwide protests against Isaac Herzog on Monday , including one in central Sydney.

And Former US president Bill Clinton and his wife Hillary - a former secretary of state - will testify in the Jeffrey Epstein investigation.

The US House of Representatives was just days away from voting on whether to hold the pair in criminal contempt for refusing to do so.

Flight logs of Epstein's private jet show Mr Clinton took four international flights in 2002 and 2003.

The former president denies knowledge of the convicted paedophile's sex offending and says he cut off contact two decades ago.

The reserve bank has lifted interest rates to 3.85-per cent at its first meeting of the year.

As expected, the RBA board has responded to strong employment numbers and stubborn inflation to increase rates by 25 basis points.

It's the first increase to interest rates since November 2023.

The Nationals demand for three of their senators to be reinstated to shadow cabinet is looming as a key sticking point if the coalition is to re-form.They say any return to the Coalition would be subject to senators Bridget McKenzie, Ross Cadell and Susan McDonald being reinstated to shadow cabinet.

Liberal Leader Susan Ley has now offered the Nationals a series of conditions if they are to reunite, one of which is that the three senators be banned from shadow cabinet for six months.

Nationals leader David Littleproud says his party will take its time to consider it the offer.

The New South Wales Police commissioner has announced a 14 day extension on restrictions on protests, just days ahead of planned demonstrations against the upcoming Sydney visit of Israel's president.

The protest laws were rushed through state parliament in December following the Bondi terror attack, enabling police to refuse authorisation for all protests.

The Palestine Action Group Sydney had said a planned protest would still go ahead even if restrictions were extended.

Bill and Hillary Clinton have agreed to give evidence in an investigation into late sex offender Jeffery Epstein.

The former US president and former secretary of state had previously resisted legal summons, and the Republican-led House of Representatives was expected to hold them in contempt for not testifying.

High profile figures from US president Donald Trump to ex-royals Fergie and Andrew are named in the so-called "Epstein files" that the US government's released.

There's a photo of Bill Clinton with Epstein in the files, but he's never been accused of wrongdoing by survivors, and has denied knowledge of Epstein's offences.

Donald Trump's also denied any wrongdoing and says he was "never friendly" with Epstein.

While the Reserve Bank is widely expected to lift interest rates today, some economists think it may put them on hold instead.

Home owners are bracing for the RBA to increase the cash rate, which would see interest rates on mortgages rise,

But some experts say it's possible the Reserve Bank might take a more cautious approach, and keep rates the same.

And The U-N says it's closely monitoring the partial re-opening of the Rafah border crossing in Gaza.

It's the sole entry point into Egypt, and is viewed as a lifeline for Palestinians who waiting for specialised medical care.

As it was reopened, Israel pounded Gaza with intense air strikes, which it says was in retaliation to a breach of the ceasefire.

The UN says it's good news the border crossing is open again, but says reports of civilian deaths are alarming.

Opposition Leader Sussan Ley as brushed off questions about a potential challenge to her position.

The Opposition's been in chaos since the Coalition split last month, and the Liberals and Nationals remain separate despite talks about the parties' futures last night.

There's been speculation Sussan Ley won't last as leader, but she says her team is united.

Some economists think there's a chance the Reserve Bank could hold interest rates today, rather than lift them.

The RBA is widely tipped to increase the cash rate by a quarter of a percent, following stronger than expected inflation data last month.

That would see interest rates on mortgages rise, meaning higher repayments for home owners.

But some experts say it's possible RBA might take a more cautious approach, and keep rates the same.

Documents related to late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein are putting pressure on high profile figures, from the US president to disgraced British royals.

The US government's released another batch of the Epstein files, which includes a list from the FBI including allegations callers to a tip line made against US President Donald Trump.

Mr Trump's repeatedly denied any wrongdoing in relation to Epstein, and says he was "never friendly" with him.

Britain's former US ambassador Peter Mandelson and ex royals Fergie and Andrew are also in the spotlight over their ties with the sex offender. 

The United Nations says it's alarmed by reports Israeli strikes have killed more civilians.

It comes as Israel partly reopens the key Rafah crossing, which it seized and closed two years ago, allowing for some of the tens of thousands of Palestinians needing medical care to get out.

The UN's welcomed the Rafah opening, but says it's very concerned about Israeli strikes on the weekend which Palestinian officials say killed 30 people, despite the ceasefire in place since October.

Ukraine's president says a new round of peace talks on ending Russia's war are set to go ahead this week.

The talks come amid continued frontline fighting, and deadly long range attacks.

The US will broker the discussions, with the Trump Administration pushing Russia and Ukraine to find compromises.

It comes as Donald Trump announces a new trade deal with India, which the US president says will see India stop buying Russian oil.

The Victorian government's planning to let GPs diagnose and treat ADHD.

The move would see 150 general practitioners trained in the condition.. which at the moment is only able to be diagnosed by a psychiatrist or paediatrician in Victoria.

The state government says it'll cut costs and wait times for treatment.

It follows similar moves around the country, with almost all states and territories putting similar plans in motion for GPs to treat the condition.

Victoria Police say they're facing challenging conditions in the search for Dezi Freeman.

Yesterday, police began a new five day search for the fugitive, who allegedly shot and killed two police and fled into the Victorian bush in August.

Police say they believe he's dead.

Authorities are hunting for any sign of him, but say tough terrain is making searching difficult.

Australia's opposition is still in limbo, despite talks between the Liberals and Nationals last night.

The Coalition split last month caused turmoil for both parties, and a leadership spill for the Nationals, which David Littleproud survived yesterday.

Meanwhile, former federal Liberal Senator Cory Bernardi has joined One Nation - the second high profile ex-Coalition MP to do so in recent months.

The political chaos within opposition has sparked criticism from other pollies, with independent MP Jacqui Lambie saying the saga is like "MAFS or Love Island gone wrong."

US President Donald Trump has denied ever visiting what he calls Jeffery Epstein's "infested island".

Epstein was a convicted sex offender, who allegedly used a private island as a base for underage sex trafficking.

The US government has released documents showing links between the late sex offender and high profile global figures.

The latest files include a list from the FBI containing allegations made against Mr Trump by callers to a tip line.

The US president's denied any wrongdoing in relation to Epstein, and in a social media post Mr Trump's added he was "never friendly" with him.

Mortgage payments are likely to get more expensive, with many economists expecting the Reserve Bank to hike interest rates today.

The RBA generally raises rates to stem inflation, which is slowly creeping up.

Treasurer Jim Chalmers says holiday purchases and the withdrawal of energy rebates are behind recent inflation rises - not government spending.

If the RBA does announce a rate hike, it'll be the first in two years.

A motion condemning the attempted bombing of an Invasion Day rally in Perth is set to be introduced in federal parliament today.

On January 26, a man alleged threw a homemade bomb into the rally crowd, but it was days before authorities labelled the incident a "potential terrorist act."

Senator Lidia Thorpe is pursing a parliamentary motion which acknowledges the impact of the alleged attack on First Nations communities.

The motion's expected to receive government support in the senate.

And the latest release of the Epstein files is continuing to put pressure on high profile figures from around the world.

The documents reveal Sarah Ferguson called late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein "the brother I've always wished for."

Fergie was married to Andrew Mount Batten Windsor, who lost his royal title over his relationship with Epstein.

The UK prime minister's also calling for Britain's former US ambassador Peter Mandelson to be removed from parliament after his ties to Epstein were highlighted in the documents.