Robert F Kennedy Jr has succeeded in having his name removed in two key swing states. Under existing rules, ballots will have to be reprinted before they can be distributed – leaving millions of already filled in absentee ballots in limbo.

The Victorian Liberal Party is reopening the process to nominate candidates for two prized federal seats in Melbourne. It follows this week's confirmation of new boundaries after the blue-ribbon electorate of Higgins was abolished. Sky News can reveal three candidates are vying for two seats – Katie Allen, Amelia Hamer and Theo Zographos.

Universities are raising concerns about the Federal Government's international student cap. Some believe it will lead to less nurses in public hospitals and the scrapping of food banks and study help for local students. The Australian Catholic University – which is the nation's largest educator of teachers and nurses – warns the plan will reduce international intake by 55 per cent. Regional facilities will suffer as foreign universities will no longer want to collaborate due to the uncertain future of exchanges.

RACGP President Doctor Nicole Higgins says pharmacists being allowed more diagnostic and treatment capabilities won’t ease pressure off doctors. General Practitioners have raised concerns over a plan to expand the role of pharmacists in New South Wales which allows them to treat a range of conditions that would normally require a doctor’s opinion. “This has been done to address access,” Dr Higgins told Sky News Australia. “Maccas is easy access, but its not necessarily healthy for you. “We need to make sure we invest in the system from the bottom up not just keep shifting the deck chairs around.”

RACGP President Doctor Nicole Higgins says pharmacists being allowed more diagnostic and treatment capabilities won’t ease pressure off doctors. General Practitioners have raised concerns over a plan to expand the role of pharmacists in New South Wales which allows them to treat a range of conditions that would normally require a doctor’s opinion. “What we’ve seen in the UK is its actually increased delayed presentation and misdiagnosis,” Dr Higgins told Sky News Australia. “So, we need to make sure that people do what they’re best at doing and what they’re trained for.”

The heads of the US and UK's intelligence agencies have met at a conference to discuss foreign security. CIA Director William Burns and MI6 Chief Richard Moore have appeared together at the Financial Times Weekend event. Their appearance follows a joint opinion piece on Russia's actions in Ukraine and the ongoing conflict in Gaza. The intelligence masters issued a joint call for a ceasefire in Gaza, saying there is no better alternate than a two-state solution.

Independent Senator David Pocock has created and shared a deepfake video of the Prime Minister as a warning against AI. The online video features the voice and face of Anthony Albanese seemingly confirming a total ban on gambling advertising. Mr Pocock also created and posted one of Opposition Leader Peter Dutton. The posts call for a ban on the use of generative AI in election materials, saying the technology poses a threat to democracy.

RACGP President Doctor Nicole Higgins takes issue with pharmacists possibly being allowed to treat conditions normally left to a GP, worrying it will lead to an increase in antibiotic use. General Practitioners have raised concerns over a plan to expand the role of pharmacists in New South Wales which allows them to treat a range of conditions that would normally require a doctor’s opinion. “Our concern is more around that at a time when we’re trying to reduce the amount of antibiotics in the world – it’s one of the biggest health threats – we’re actually going to be increasing the prescribing and the use of those types of medicines,” Dr Higgins told Sky News Australia.

Housing Industry Association’s Mike Hermon outlines how the consumer must “bear the brunt” of the “quite significant” housing delays. New South Wales’ housing planning system has been ranked as equal worst in the country, according to the recent Housing Industry Association report. “Throughout the planning delays, cost increases, such as materials, … it’s the purchaser who has to bear the brunt of those costs at the end of these delays,” Mr Hermon told Sky News Australia. “These delays are quite significant, well and beyond what are the regulated times for councils to respond.”

Housing Industry Association’s Mike Hermon outlines the “worst performers” of Australia’s housing planning system. New South Wales’ housing planning system has been ranked as equal worst in the country, according to the recent Housing Industry Association report card. “The worst performers were New South Wales, Queensland and the Northern Territory,” Mr Hermon told Sky News Australia.

The University of Queensland’s Professor Peter Soyer says the research conducted by his team “should lead” to a targeted “nation-wide” screening program for melanoma. A team of researchers from The University of Queensland working on melanoma imaging have won the prestigious 2024 Australian Museum Eureka prize. “Unfortunately, close to 2,000 people are dying every year from this tumour,” Professor Soyer told Sky News Australia. “Our research should lead to a targeted nation-wide screening program.”

The University of Queensland’s Professor Peter Soyer discusses his team’s ability to create an “avatar” of a patient with “unprecedented” image quality. A team of researchers from The University of Queensland working on melanoma imaging have won the prestigious 2024 Australian Museum Eureka prize. “Within a second, we are able to take an avatar of your total body with an unprecedented image quality,” Professor Soyer told Sky News Australia. “Which of course allows a beautiful documentation of your skin and also for follow up purposes.”

The University of Queensland’s Professor Peter Soyer discusses his team’s “new” technology in the melanoma research field. A team of researchers from The University of Queensland working on melanoma imaging have won the prestigious 2024 Australian Museum Eureka prize. “It’s relatively new [technology],” Professor Soyer told Sky News Australia. “We are now building up a kind of a network.”

Strategic Analysis Australia Founder and Director Michael Shoebridge says China would prefer Kamala Harris as the next US president because she’s “predictable”. “While both Harris and Trump will pursue decoupling from China economically,” he said. “Harris is predictable, and the one thing the Chinese Communist Party likes about the external world is predictability.”

American Enterprise Institute’s John Ferrari says China wants “dysfunction” in the United States government. “I don’t think there’s a preference,” he said. “What the Chinese really want is dysfunction in the United States government.”

Strategic Analysis Australia Founder and Director Michael Shoebridge says China is “anxious” about a second Trump term because they don’t know what he’ll do. “They are worried because they don’t know what Trump would do,” he said.

National Seniors Australia Chief Executive Chris Grice says senior citizens in particular are most “affected” by stores going cashless. The Gloria Jeans coffee shop chain has confirmed it will trial cashless payments in stores across Australia, which has drawn criticism. “It’s somewhat concerning that we’re seeing another retailer move to cashless transactions,” Mr Grice told Sky News Australia. “Seniors, in particular, are affected by this new step.”

Kamala Harris is preparing for next week’s US presidential debate against Donald Trump. The Democratic presidential candidate remains hunkered down in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, preparing for her first and potentially only debate with Mr Trump. In a radio interview, Ms Harris said voters are tired of her Republican opponent. “We need to turn the page on this Trump era. You know, this person who has talked about how immigrants poison the blood of America. This person who seeks to divide our nation,” she said. Members of her campaign team argue she’s the underdog despite touting major fundraising success.

Former Howard government minister Peter McGauran says the federal government has done a “great deal by its own actions” to fuel inflation. “I suspect if you were to poll it, you’d find that more Australians have a degree of respect and trust in the RBA than they do the federal government,” he told Sky News Australia. “Because the federal government has done a great deal by its own actions in spending and wage support and the like to fuel inflation.”

Former Howard government minister Peter McGauran says an interest rate cut is critical to Labor’s “political fortunes” in the next federal election. “I can’t see there being an interest rate drop this year but next year, you could get some movement downwards,” he told Sky News Australia. “And that’s what the government’s relying on leading into a March or May election.”