WA Labor Senator Fatima Payman has been condemned by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and the Senate after she accused Israel of genocide. “This incident took the risk of further inciting intentions in the Australian community on the issue,” Sky News Political Editor Andrew Clennell said. “But the Senator is not facing disciplinary action with the PM’s view being she’s a vulnerable young senator and has been subject to a lot of pressure to come forward with the views she did.”

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton confirmed in his budget reply speech that he intends to cut immigration and do more for first-home buyers if elected. “Sky News revealed last Thursday that the Opposition wants to cut net overseas migration from 260,000 in 24/25, which the government is projecting, to 160,000,” Sky News Political Editor Andrew Clennell said. “That’s on top of what Peter Dutton announced in his budget reply speech of a cut to permanent migration from the government’s project 185,000 to 140,000.”

Local officials in the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv say at least four people have been killed in a Russian airstrike. 31 others were injured in the attack as Russian forces pushed forward. Ukraine is belatedly hardening its defences, but the last few days show they’ve already been badly breached, says Sky News UK Security and Defence Editor Deborah Haynes.

The Biden campaign is rejecting further debates put forward by former US president Donald Trump’s team. Mr Trump has posted on his Truth Social account claiming he is willing to participate in four presidential debates against US President Joe Biden. The Biden campaign has released a statement indicating it will stick to the current agreement of two debates. Recent polling suggests both candidates are neck and neck.

Brisbane is alive with activity as an epic weekend of major events attracts more than 200,000 visitors to the city. The NRL’s sold-out Magic Round is the headline event for the major city's weekend of attractions. Magic Round has attracted more than 75,000 visitors and is expected to inject at least $40 million into the local economy.

British TV presenter Anne Robinson has confirmed she is in a relationship with Queen Camilla's ex-husband Andrew Parker-Bowles. The former host of UK game show 'The Weakest Link' confirmed her relationship in the June issue of 'Saga' magazine saying: "Yes. mind your own business." In the interview, Ms Robinson spoke about returning to the dating pool in her 70's after being single for more than a decade.

Sony and Apollo have signed non-disclosure agreements which will allow them to examine Paramount's financial records. According to a New York Times report, both companies are preparing for a potential bid on the movie studio's assets. It could have implications for Australia's media landscape as Paramount owns Network 10 in the five major state capitals.

Former US president Donald Trump has attended his son's graduation while taking a break from the trial into his alleged hush money payments to adult film star Stormy Daniels. The former president's youngest child Barron graduated from a private school in Florida. Mr Trump and the former first lady Melania Trump sat in the first row during the ceremony which went ahead with heightened security.

An Australian tourist has been injured during a deadly shooting in central Afghanistan. According to local authorities, several gunmen opened fire in the city of Bamyan. At least four people were killed during the attack, including three foreign nationals believed to be Spanish tourists. Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs said it is providing consular assistance.

US Politics Expert Dr Jennifer Walsh says Donald Trump “has presented concerns about cognitive decline” which have been raised by “those who are watching” the former president’s speech patterns and behaviours. Ms Walsh referenced Donald Trump’s medical history with a “very serious case of Covid” back when he was still in the Oval Office. “There is worry that both of these candidates could suffer a major medical setback even before the November election,” she told Sky News Australia.

Party ID "still governs" how Americans think about their candidates who are up for re-election, US Politics Expert Dr Jennifer Walsh explains. Ms Walsh joined Sky News presenter Tim Gilbert to discuss the upcoming US election and the positions of the two leading candidates, US President Joe Biden and former president Donald Trump. “Trump right now has a two-to-three-point edge in most swing states,” she said. “It is a clear indication that Biden does not have an easy path ahead of him.”

NZ Deputy PM and Foreign Minister Winston Peters says the Coalition’s goal in government is for New Zealand to get its “mojo back” and be “respected” internationally. Mr Peters sat down with Sky News NZ correspondent Jack Nyhof during a visit to several Pacific nations. “I want to see us respected because we are a good country,” he said. “We are a country that puts its money where its mouth is and then we do the best we can internationally. “I want to see us get our mojo back.”

Domain Chief of Research Dr Nicola Powell discusses how the latest policies from the federal budget will affect the housing and rental crisis. “It is great to see that rental assistance has increased by 10 per cent, and that is on top of the 15 per cent increase that was announced in September of last year, it is grossly needed,” Dr Powell told Sky News Australia. “I think there is more that needs to be done, I think it is a positive step forward, we do need to do things like reducing red tape to make sure there is land being released in the right areas at affordable prices. “I really think it is a call to the government of all levels, local governments, states to federal, to collaboratively work together to get the job done. “Ultimately, that job is about providing supply.”

There is “a little bit of cancel culture happening” to Kansas City Chiefs’ Kicker Harrison Butker after he delivered a speech at a Catholic liberal arts school, says former Special Forces commando Wes Hennessey. Mr Butker told female students he expected them to be “most excited” about the “marriage and the children you will bring into this world”. “I think what he is trying to emphasise, maybe poorly, is that the role of the mother and bringing up children – doing that full time is a highly regarded profession,” Mr Hennessey told Sky News Australia host Erin Molan. “It is something that is extremely important.”

Australian farmers are furious over plans to phase out live sheep exports in 2028. In an unprecedented move, industry leaders gathered in Canberra this week to move a vote of no-confidence in the Albanese government. They also staged a walkout as Agriculture Minister Murray Watt gave a post-budget speech on Wednesday. The government has allocated $107 million to help the industry transition from the practice.

People should be “very worried” about China and Russia deepening their partnership, according to Strategic Analysis Australia’s Michael Shoebridge.  This comes after Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, met in Beijing this week and signed a joint statement pledging a “new era” of cooperation.  “They’re really celebrating their relationship and celebrating their progress in political security and economic fields,” Mr Shoebridge told Sky News Australia.

Strategic Analysis Australia’s Michael Shoebridge says China is “pretending” to support the UN Charter.  He said however, China’s President Xi Jinping is supporting Russian President Vladimir Putin fight the war in Ukraine.  “It’s a very hypocritical stance from Beijing.”

National Farmers’ Federation President David Jochinke discusses the Albanese government’s decision to ban live sheep exports from 2028. “Our concern is not only is the time frame too short, the quantum of the funds is too small to make any significant change on how we operate our businesses,” he told Sky News Australia. “Our message is simpler than that. We are telling the government they can hold on to that $107 million and put that into something that will build economic development, maybe roads, maybe infrastructure to help agriculture. “And we will keep the trade, thank you very much.”

“Quite frankly, farmers are frustrated with the position, not only of the banning of live exports but also multiple other issues around industrial relations, around water buybacks and even the way that we’ve had discussion around the biosecurity levy,” Mr Jochinke told Sky News Australia. “We haven’t been able to get the voice of the farmer where it depends the most … we need to get a better consultation, co-development, codesign when we have these discussions.”

Sky News has revealed three out of five medium-sized businesses have experienced a cyber-attack or cyber incident.  This is according to new research from the business management platform MYOB.  It conducted a poll of 500 businesses with up to 500 full-time staff members and found 61 per cent have experienced a cyber-attack or incident.  That figure rises to more than 80 per cent for those in the finance and insurance sectors.  However, many businesses are now stepping up their defences.