Interest rates in Japan have increased for the first time in 17 years. The central bank lifted the rate from below zero per cent to 0.1 per cent. The rate hike comes after an increase in wages and consumer prices. Negative interest rates were implemented in 2016 in a bid to stimulate the country’s stagnating economy. The hike means there are no longer any countries left with negative interest rates.

The Australian’s Media Writer Sophie Elsworth says Australia can’t cope with the rise in migration amid low housing supply. Economist Leith van Onselen told 2GB radio that Australian living standards are in “terminal decline” thanks to rapid immigration. He warned that the surge in migration is another sign that the population numbers are “out of control” as housing construction is “collapsing”. “We’re not building enough houses – we don’t have enough stock to house all these people,” Ms Elsworth told Sky News host Rita Panahi. “This is just a ticking time bomb – Australia cannot cope with this rise in population, rise in migration if we don’t have places for people to put their heads under.”

There has been a lot of speculation in the US press and markets that rates are ready to fall from June this year, according to Sky News Business Reporter Edward Boyd. The US Federal Reserve will meet on Wednesday to release its decision on rates. “For Australia, the expectation is September, perhaps a little later this year, we will see rate cuts from the RBA,” Mr Boyd said. “But the US Fed, there is a lot of hope that rates will start to go down around that month of June.” Mr Boyd also noted that inflation is becoming more of a challenge in the United States compared to Australia.

The Albanese government has removed two of Australia’s most senior intelligence bosses from a top security body. ASIO Director General Mike Burgess and ASIS Director General Kerri Hartland have been removed from the National Security Committee of Cabinet. Sky News Australia understands the director generals will be invited on a case-by-case basis but have both been removed as permanent members. The Coalition has criticised the move, with Shadow Home Affairs Minister James Paterson urging the government to “reverse this reckless decision urgently”. It comes after Mr Burgess uncovered bombshell revelations that a former MP had “sold out” Australia after being recruited by a sophisticated foreign intelligence network.

An out-of-control bushfire is threatening homes in the Perth Hills. The threat quickly escalated to emergency level late Tuesday after strong winds fanned the blaze northeast of Perth. It’s understood the fire has burned through nearly 400 hectares so far. There are fears Aboriginal sacred land might be destroyed. Authorities warn it may take several days before crews are able to contain the blaze.

Sky News Senior Reporter Caroline Marcus says Iran’s Revolutionary Guards have wrecked “absolute havoc” in the past couple of years as the government refuses to label the IRGC a terrorist organisation. According to bombshell documents obtained by Sky News, the government refused to label the group on the grounds that the IRGC is an organ of a nation’s state. The Coalition is mounting pressure on the Albanese government to follow through with the terror-naming process for the IRCG after US allies completed the progression in 2023. Iran’s Revolutionary Guards are at the core of terror operations throughout the Middle East, arming Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthis in Yemen. “Of course, Iran is the world’s leading state sponsor for terrorism,” Ms Marcus told Sky News host Rita Panahi.

A famous Japanese icon has become Tokyo’s newest police officer. Godzilla was appointed chief of a local police station for a day to promote traffic safety. The King of the Monsters is fresh off a win for best visual effects at the Oscars. The reptile walked the streets meeting with the public and fans. At the end of the day, Godzilla relinquished his position.

Tough new security laws have been passed in Hong Kong. The laws are set to bring the city more in line with mainland China. The laws were passed unanimously by Hong Kong’s legislature. Those found guilty of offences, such as treason and insurrection, could face life behind bars under the new laws. Authorities say the new laws will “plug loopholes” following mass protests in 2019.

The new face of James Bond may soon be made official. British-born actor Aaron Taylor-Johnson has officially been offered the role, according to UK tabloid The Sun. The 33-year-old would take over the role from Daniel Craig. Mr Craig starred as the MI6 spy for the past 15 years across five movies. The new actor is no stranger to action, having featured in Bullet Train.

Sky News Australia host James Macpherson says Victoria being the ‘fine capital’ of Australia is “not a sign of success.” Victoria is expected to rake in almost $1 billion this financial year. “Increasing fines is not a sign of success from the government," Mr Macpherson said. “It’s a sign of failure. “If more and more money is being raised from speeding fines then clearly road safety campaigns are not working, safety signs etc. are not working.”

Sky News host Caleb Bond says there’s no need for religious freedom to be legislated into law as Australia “already has” it. Mr Bond’s remarks come after Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced he would not introduce the religious discrimination bill without bipartisan support. “Those freedoms are already existent and implied unless you create a law that says otherwise,” Mr Bond said. “Like there is no need to legislate into law religious freedom; we already have religious freedom. “Just as there is freedom to do anything else you want to do that isn’t outside the bounds of the law, because there is no law saying you can’t do it.”

Sky News Australia host Liz Storer has responded to Nashville Police Department’s “fitness” regime. The video posted by Nashville Police Department showcases a police officer running around traffic cones in a parking lot. “Are you serious?,” Ms Storer said in response. “That is the fitness regime that you have to be able to complete in order to join the force in Nashville. “I reckon crime is actually going to sky rocket once people see the fitness level of the police that will potentially be chasing them.”

Daily Telegraph political reporter James O’Doherty says NSW Local Government Minister Ron Hoenig’s defence for having TikTok on his phone is “a bit too cute by half” as the matter is serious. It comes as Mr Hoenig responded to security concerns around his use of the app, claiming he was in the clear as he doesn’t get his ministerial emails to his mobile phone, just his parliamentary ones. “That seems a bit too cute by half,” Mr O’ Doherty told Sky News Australia host Sharri Markson in response. “This whole thing seems a little bit trite when you consider the kind of content that Ron is sharing on his TikTok, but it’s actually fairly serious. “Our intelligence agencies were so concerned that they moved to ban government officials using TikTok on official phones.”

Sky News Contributor Joe Hilderbrand says he thinks it's unlikely that the government will pass new legislation to breakup supermarkets. Mr Hilderbran’s remarks come as The Greens are pushing for a new bill designed to limit the power of Coles and Woolworths in the supermarket sector. The move would force the chains to sell off parts of their business to limit price inflation and increase competition. The bill would make large businesses divest assets if their market power blocks competition. “I don’t think it can politically, and I’m not necessarily sure it wants to both politically and economically,” he told Sky News host Paul Murray. “I think yes give them the powers, but I would treat them almost as reserve powers. “Like a stick that is always holstered that people know is there.”

Behavioural scientist Dr Gad Saad describes how people can be "parasitised" by “ideological worms”, which he discusses in his book, ‘The Parasitic Mind’. “It's parasitic because once you hold on to those beliefs, it is contrary to your best interest,” Dr Saad told Sky News host Rita Panahi. “In my book ‘The Parasitic Mind’, what I argue is that human beings can also be parasitised not only by actual physical worms, they could be parasitised by ideological worms. “So postmodernism, cultural relativism, radical feminism, transgender activism, the rejection of biology in explaining human behaviour, which I call biophobia. “All of these parasitic ideas, when put together, create the wokesters that you see walking around on university campuses.”

Herald Sun's Business Commentator Terry McCrann has slammed the Albanese government over Australia's growing migration crisis. “Absolutely zero thought behind what’s unfolded since the election," Mr McCrann told Sky News host Sharri Markson. His remarks come as Australia faces a growing migration and housing supply crisis. According to The Australian, the rate of migrants arriving into Australia are at nearly four times the pace which new homes are constructed. In other words, for the 900,200 permanent and long-term immigrants who landed between July 2022 and December 2023, only 265,000 buildings were built. “I mean if you had any sort of planning, any sort of thought process behind this you would have set and train policies which would enable the houses to be built to house these migrants,” he said.

Sky News Australia host Peta Credlin fears Kate Middleton is going to be hounded when she returns to the public eye. A new video has emerged of the Princess of Wales looking happy and healthy out shopping with her husband Prince William. “We saw a glimmer of her out today,” Ms Credlin said. “Putting paid to this idea that she’s in a hospital bed, in a coma or on life support. “I feel for her when she eventually comes back into the public square, she’s going to be hounded."

Sky News host Paul Murray says recent news about energy bill reductions is a “headline number” but the cost remains “way higher” than before Labor came to power. “While there is a headline number here, it only really applies to one part of the country,” he said. “Let’s not pretend this is touching the sides or going anywhere near reversing the increases that have been around for the past couple of years since this government came to power. “It could not be clearer, well done on a little bit here, or a little bit there. “The reality is, we are still way higher than we were when you came to office.”

Sky News host Rita Panahi says US Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson “seems to not understand” the constitution she is meant to protect, following her comments on the First Amendment. This comes after Ms Jackson expressed concerns that the First Amendment was “hamstringing” the US government regarding the censorship of speech on social media. Behavioural scientist Dr Gad Saad says freedom of speech is a "deontological principle" because deontological ethics are "absolute statements of truth". "You never say 'I believe in freedom of speech'. But on the other hand, if your spouse asks you, 'do I look fat in those jeans?' Then you could put on your consequentialist hat, because then you might say, 'I'm going to lie to spare my spouse's feelings'. “But when it comes to foundational principles that are enshrined in the First Amendment, it has to be a deontological principle. And apparently our US Supreme Court justice is unaware of that distinction.”

Energy Minister Chris Bowen’s rationale for not lifting the ban on nuclear power is “hilarious”, according to The Australian’s Contributing Economics Editor Judith Sloan. Ms Sloan joined Sky News host Chris Kenny to discuss energy in Australia. “I thought his rationale for not getting rid of the ban was hilarious,” she said. “Which was to say, we wouldn’t want to get rid of the ban because those investors might be looking for government money. “Excuse me? There’s one estimate that puts the annual subsidy to the renewable energy sector at $16 billion per year.”