Fire has engulfed a row of townhouses in the New South Wales Hunter Region. More than 50 firefighters were called to the scene at Teralba just after 4 am. It is understood one of the homes has been destroyed. Authorities say at least two people have been unaccounted for. It is unknown whether they were at the property at the time the fire broke out.

Texas Panhandle wildfires on Monday have led to a disaster declaration by Governor Greg Abbott for numerous counties, including evacuation orders. After two days, the wildfires rapidly spread over hundreds of thousands of acres and consumed everything in its path. The Smokehouse Creek Fire on Wednesday is the second largest in the state’s history, as up to 60 counties face fire danger. The flames, stemming from Smokehouse Creek, Texas, moved at an alarming speed and consumed a vast stretch of land, turning it all to ash. Texas A&M Forrest Service released a statement saying the Smokehouse Creek Fire started in Hutchinson County and spread over 500,000 acres. Governor Abbot said the high temperatures and dry, windy conditions have all contributed to the spread of the flames and could last a few more days. “These conditions could increase the potential for these wildfires to grow larger and more dangerous. Texans are urged to limit activities that could create sparks and take precautions to keep their loved ones safe,” he said.

The last day of the ASX’s profit reporting season arrived this Thursday, the last day of February. Corporate Australia remains in “pretty good” shape, but it “really depends on where you look”, says Sky News Business Editor Ross Greenwood. “Some companies have done better during this month, these are largely reporting the last six months' results – the interim results as they call them. “It really gives you a snapshot as to how Australia is fairing. “The one area that’s been the clear standout is tech companies.”

Australia's top spy has detailed how a former politician provided sensitive information to an international spy network. ASIO Director General Mike Burgess accused him of “selling out his country". Mr Burgess was very careful not to name the former politician as calls mount for the ASIO chief to reveal the identity of the individual. Former treasurer and US ambassador Joe Hockey says it is a potential smear on anyone who has served their country. “It is absolutely inconceivable that you would have a former politician, representing their community ... who then goes and engages with a foreign adversary and somehow, they are allowed to walk off into the sunset without having their name or their reputation revealed,” Mr Hockey said on ABC radio. “That is absurd – it makes us all question, as representatives in the parliament, who we can trust.” Mike Burgess said although the individual behaved in seriously incorrect conduct, he no longer poses a threat.

Forest Fire Management Victoria Chris Hardman says Victoria has been through a “really tough period” Mr Hardman’s comments come as emergency fire warnings have been lifted across Victoria after parts of the state saw temperatures above 40 degrees. “Yesterday was an incredibly challenging day for people,” Mr Hardman told Sky News Australia. “Yesterday overnight last night the Bayindeen rocky road fire …has stopped moving. “It’s not fully contained yet but firefighters have got the upper hand.”

Environment and Water Minister Tanya Plibersek has labelled the former politician mentioned by ASIO in their espionage report as a “traitor”. “Anybody who works with foreign agents of influence to pass on information to a foreign government is a traitor,” she told Sky News Australia. “We live in a world where foreign agents of influence are going after information valuable to their own governments that could be detrimental to Australia. “If someone is reaching out the hand of friendship you’ve got to sometimes wonder why – of course there have been times where I have been suspicious of people’s motives and I have shut it down. “Kept my distance and, at times, I have reported approaches to ASIO.”

Mexico’s most active volcano has been releasing plumes of ash since Tuesday. Reportedly, the volcano is affecting air travel. A significant number of flights have been grounded in and out of Mexico City. Experts are currently monitoring the level of ash. Residents face the threat of evacuation.

Violent protests have erupted in Greece. It comes on the anniversary of the country’s deadliest rail disaster. Workers launched strike action to demand justice for the 57 people killed in the collision. They claim investigations into the crash are taking too long. Demonstrators are also seeking better pay rises to offset the country’s cost of living crisis.

People in Japan are having fewer babies than ever before. Reportedly, the number of newborns hit a record-low last year. The government has said time is running out to prevent a population collapse. Fewer than 800,000 babies were born in Japan in 2023. Neighbouring South Korea is also experiencing a decline in births.

Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles has confirmed the ADF personnel being deployed to the Red Sea region are an “increased contribution” to US and UK headquarters operating strikes against Houthi rebels. “It is another six people that will be going into that headquarters,” Mr Marles told Sky News Australia. “But it is an important contribution to this mission, which is ultimately about protecting international shipping. “As an island trading nation, we are deeply invested in the rules of the sea. “Freedom of navigation is utterly essential to our way of life, and that is what is being disrupted by the Houthis in the Red Sea.”

CommSec’s Tom Piotrowski says global share markets have been “pensive” overnight after “an entrée in economic news”. “They’re pensive because, in a day’s time, we are going to see an important measure of US inflation release,” he told Sky News Australia. “It comes on the heels of recent measures that have shown some heat in inflation, be it at a consumer or a producer level. “So, we had an entrée, if you like, in economic news last night with some revisions to how growth performed in the US in the fourth quarter. “There was a slight downgrade of the performance of the US economy in the last quarter.” Presented by CommSec.

Reason Associate Editor Billy Binion has slammed the liberal defence of a Trump prosecutor who admitted to having a relationship with a fellow lawyer on the case. Georgia prosecutor Fani Wallis who is trying former US President Donald Trump for seeking to overturn his 2020 election defeat acknowledged on Friday to having a personal relationship with another lawyer on the criminal case, but denied it tainted the prosecution. “If you are enforcing a law I don’t think you should be above it," Mr Binion told Sky News Australia host Rita Panahi. “Those on the left in this country are often on board with that premise. “During this hearing, a lot of the commentary from liberal-leaning people it was a lot of Fani Willis is a girl boss. “If you care about law enforcement accountability… that cannot disappear just because this woman is on your team.”

Reason Associate Editor Billy Binion says people using Fani Willis being a black woman and a divorced mother as a way of defending her is “infantilising” and “insulting.” The Georgia prosecutor who trying former US President Donald Trump for seeking to overturn his 2020 election defeat acknowledged on Friday to having a personal relationship with another lawyer on the criminal case but denied it tainted the prosecution. “I just don’t understand why being a divorced mother, a black woman whatever the case may be why that means we have to hold her to a lower standard,” Mr Binion told Sky News Australia host Rita Panahi. “That seems very infantilising and insulting. “Fani Willis is in a very powerful position.”

Filmmaker Ami Horowitz has roasted US President Joe Biden after the President weighed in on the Israel-Hamas war and his visit to the southern border while eating an ice cream. When asked when he expected the ceasefire to begin, Mr Biden, with a mint ice cream cone in hand, said he hoped by at least “the end of the weekend”. “At least, my national security adviser tells me that we’re close. We’re close. It’s not done yet,” Mr Biden said. “I couldn’t understand a word what that guy was saying in that clip,” Mr Horowitz told Sky News host Rita Panahi. “He’s barely with us these days".

Filmmaker Ami Horowitz says US President Joe Biden's planned visit to the southern border on Thursday will be "performative". The US President is expected to visit the southern border on Thursday where he will meet border agents and discuss the importance of bipartisan legislation. It will be Joe Biden’s first visit to the border in over a year, with the 81-year-old last visiting it in January 2023. “Does it matter really … there’s nothing he could do at this point to salvage his standing when it comes to the American people on the border,” Mr Horowitz told Sky News host Rita Panahi. “It all looks performative like he’s showing up now. “He’s just doing a dance because he is so underwater on the single most important issue facing our country today. "Nobody's buying it."

Filmmaker Ami Horowitz breaks down recent US polling revealing black, Hispanic and young voters are shifting to the Republican Party. “Trump has a positive approval rating he is at almost 60 per cent with the United States having a positive approval of his presidency, his past presidency," he told Sky News host Rita Panahi. "If you really break down the numbers and look at the core demographics that are so important to Biden the Hispanic vote and the black vote, 40 per cent of black people have a positive view on Trump as president when remember he only got eight per cent of the vote." "The Hispanics 57 per cent approve of his presidency ... and he only got 38 per cent of the vote. "These are numbers that are very hard to overcome, particularly because that is their core constituency. "He is actually almost dead even with young voters 18-38, that's when he trounced Trump on it.

Sky News host Sharri Markson says Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has labelled his team as the “Albanistas” after the Nicaraguan left-wing resistance fighters. “The influence of Penny Wong – Albanese has been apparently begging her not to retire,” she said. “It is astonishing, that this deep dive into Albanese’s office and team shows he is surrounded by, even what Albanese, apparently according to this reporting, he refers to his own team as the Albanistas. “After the Nicaraguan left-wing resistance fighters. “It is just astonishing when you look at it.”

The Labor Party is “incredibly tribal” as the members who are likely to stick around have been in Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s “corner” for 20 to 30 years, Former Victorian Liberal Party president Michael Kroger says. “The Labor Party is incredibly tribal,” he said. “He has surrounded himself with people who have been in his corner for 20 or 30 years. “There is nothing a leader dislikes more than a blow-in telling you where you are wrong all day long. “The people that will last long are the people that have been with him on this 30-year journey.”

Sky News contributor Evelyn Rae has reacted to a “cute” lizard holding up the development of 310,000 homes in Victoria. Developers had to reconsider plans to build more housing near Bacchus Marsh after a Victorian Grassland Earless Dragon - thought to be extinct, was discovered by Melbourne Zoo in the wild late last year. “I never thought in my wildest dreams I’d be on the side of housing developers,” Ms Rae told Sky News Australia host Steve Price. “But have you seen that lizard? How cute it is. “I’m all for this right-wing environmentalism which is let's try and preserve life- it’s a life, but let’s do it reasonably and timely.”

Andrew Bolt visits Jerusalem and reflects on Israel's historical context. Sophie Elsworth joins the show with this week's media news. Plus, the Mayor of Lismore reflects on the devastating floods that hit the region, two years on. See omnystudio.com/listener (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information.