Shadow Resources Minister Susan McDonald has called discussion suggesting meat is bad for the environment “crazy”. Ms McDonald joined Sky News host Danica De Giorgio to discuss whether more people should go vegan or plant-based to save the planet. “No, well it’s a crazy discussion,” she said. “Because for a range of reasons, I mean the first is over hundreds of thousands of years humans have developed to be an omnivore diet. “Meat works well for us, we know that in bush tucker and we know that in the food we crave.”

Donald Trump wins South Carolina primary, Victorians warned of worsening fire conditions, the Victorian government considering a pill testing trial, New South Wales Police Commissioner Karen Webb has expressed her sadness and shock at Luke Davies and Jesse Baird’s deaths, Victoria’s GP bulk billing rates drop sharply, Gaza hospitals under intense pressure, Israelis call for hostage deal in a protest against the government. See omnystudio.com/listener (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information.

Tasmania’s Liberal and Labor parties have made competing pledges ahead of next month’s state election. Jeremy Rockliff’s Liberal government has promised $250 of household power bill relief if re-elected. He has also promised a $300 power credit for small businesses. However, Labor Leader Rebecca White has pledged free lunches for all primary school students in the state by 2030. Ms White said this policy would save families around $4,000 a year.

Latvia has re-introduced conscription, something its leaders are encouraging the UK and other NATO allies to consider, as Ukraine goes into its third year of war with Russia. Latvia is one of the three Baltic states that are members of the NATO alliance, scrapped conscription almost two decades ago. However, have now decided to reintroduce the draft as part of a plan to double the size of its armed forces. It is two years since Russian forces crossed Ukraine's border and launched a full-scale invasion. As Western leaders converge in Kyiv to pledge their ongoing support for Ukraine, its residents have paused to reflect on the impact of two years of war.

The New South Wales Government is set to establish a new company to run a world-leading viral vector facility in Westmead. Viral vectors are a critical component of many modern gene and cell therapies. They are also used for vaccines. Stage one of the facility is expected to be operational by next year. The state government will fund $134 million for the facility.

The wreck of the missing coal ship, SS Nemesis, has been found off the coast of Kembla in NSW. The discovery has put to bed a 120-year-old mystery. The ship disappeared in 1904 when travelling from Newcastle to Melbourne. Its crew of 32 members died, leaving around 40 of their children behind. The state government says its discovery can finally bring some kind of closure to the families of the lost crew.

A group of French farmers have stormed an agriculture fair in Paris. The incident comes as part of ongoing protests. The protesters shouted and called for the resignation of French President Emmanuel Macron. The farmers are supported throughout Europe as calls grow louder for greater assistance with costs and also a relaxation of EU farming regulations. At least one person was arrested.

BHP has revealed its latest half-year result showing an 86 per cent slump in net profits from $USD6.5 billion to $USD927 million in the six months to December 31. BHP announced last week it would take a $USD2.5 billion impairment post-tax on the value of its West Australian nickel asset. BHP CEO Mike Henry discussed BHP’s earnings, nickel demand and supply. "By way of context, nickel, of course, is the smallest business by some margin in the BHP portfolio, but given the lack of supply we've seen coming in from Indonesia nickel from the last 12 months that forced us to step back and reassess the carrying value of that business," Mr Henry told Sky News Australia. "That resulted in the impairment that we've seen.

The body of Alexei Navalny has been handed over to his mother after reportedly agreeing to a 'secret burial'. The Russian Opposition leader died last week in a prison in Siberia where he was serving his three-decade sentence. Alexei Navalny spokesperson Kira Yarmysh wrote on X, "Alexei’s body was given to his mother. Thank you very much to everyone who demanded this with us". Ms Yarmysh went on to say in the tweet “the funeral is still pending” and it was unclear if authorities would "interfere" with how it is carried out. "We will provide information as it becomes available," she said.

Sky News host James Morrow says former US President Donald Trump has been “having a bit of fun” at President Joe Biden’s expense. Mr Morrow said the former US President was “doing his impersonation of Joe Biden trying to find his way off stage”. “I know Biden doesn’t seem to have it going on, but I’ve got some more horrifying news for you,” Mr Morrow said. “According to a new book about to be released the 81-year-old Joe Biden is fond of telling White House staffers that the key to a successful marriage is … good sex. “Sorry, there's an image you didn't need on a Sunday, but it's my duty to report these things.”

Writer and broadcaster Esther Krakue has weighed in on speculation that former British prime minister Liz Truss is trying to make a political comeback alongside Nigel Farage. It comes after the former British prime minister urged Mr Farage to join the Tories. “Trying to get Nigel Farage on board is obviously a very wise move,” Ms Krakue said. “This is a man who is behind Brexit, he has a lot of grassroots supporting traditional Tory-voting communities.” Both Ms Truss and Mr Farage have been attended recently the Conservative Political Action Conference a key annual event in right-wing US politics.

Sky News Business Editor Ross Greenwood says GPU maker Nvidia’s value rose by more than $250 billion in “just one night” after its sales and profits in the latest quarter “shot the lights out”. Mr Greenwood said the company’s value rose by “more than the value of the world’s biggest mining company – BHP”. “The first GPU was released back in 1999, by - Nvidia … at the time, Nvidia struggled hard for cashing, having started six years earlier. “But for Nvidia's developers, the promise of GPUs was colossal. Traditional CPU chips, central processing units, control the general functions of your computer. “Nvidia today makes around 80 per cent of the world's GPUs. Others also make chips for generative artificial intelligence: AMD even Intel. But none is growing faster than Nvidia. Ten years ago Nvidia as a company was worth just under $US 1 billion. Today it's worth just under $US 2,000 billion ... $2 trillion.”

Political Commentator Shemeka Michelle says she is “desperate” not to have US President Joe Biden in the White House for “another four years”. Ms Michelle says she doesn’t think America can “afford it”. “America is broken,” she said. “We’re back at having to try and put America back together again. “I’m desperate not to have Biden in office.”

Sky News host Rowan Dean says it is “great to see” Woolworths Chief Executive Brad Banducci stand down. Mr Dean poked fun at the CEO’s “car crash” interview. Mr Banducci announced he will be resigning in September after eight years in the role. Amanda Bardwell will replace him as Managing Director and Group CEO. “Great to see that the Woolies CEO stood down – you’ve seen the footage of that car crash of an interview,” Mr Dean said.

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has won the South Carolina primary. The former US president’s win is considered a crushing blow for Nikki Haley who was the state’s governor twice. “We’re going to look at Joe Biden and we’re going to look him right in the eye,” Mr Trump said during his victory speech. “He’s destroying our country. “And we’re going to say, Joe you’re fired – get out Joe.”

Political Commentator Shemeka Michelle says she is “so sick of” Republican Presidential Candidate Nikki Haley. Ms Michelle’s comments come as the vote for the South Carolina Republican Primary closes. The Political Commentator said people are “really believing" that Trump is on the way back. “We’re all watching it because we are so sick of Nikki Haley,” she said. “Nikki is like a roach.”

Defence Minister Richard Marles has rejected claims that the Albanese government cut funding to border protection measures. The Coalition have criticised the government's handling of the border claiming the government had cut $600 million from the Australian Border Force. "Well, that criticism is just, frankly, a lie. I mean, it is actually not true,” Mr Marles told Sky News Australia. “We've increased funding to the support of our border. "The government has increased expenditure, on our border. No ifs, no buts. It's a matter of record. “The fact that the opposition is desperately trying to say otherwise says more about the way in which the opposition goes."

Shadow Home Affairs Minister James Paterson has taken aim at Richard Marles for being a “weak” Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister. Mr Paterson joined Sky News Australia to discuss the government’s approach to defence. “The great problem with this government when it comes to defence is a total lack of urgency,” he told Sky News Australia. “A total failure to appreciate just how serious our circumstances are. “This is just what we’ve come to expect from Labor in office when it comes to defence.”

The Liberal party “believes it will struggle” to get the 6.3 per cent swing required to wrest the seat off Labor but is expecting a swing towards it, says Sky News Political Editor Andrew Clennell. He said when Labor polled the seat, they were ahead 52-48 in the seat. “One poll in the field this week is believed to have that margin tightening to 51-49, but no poll has found a Liberal victory will occur since the government made its move in terms of rejigging the Stage 3 tax cuts,” Mr Clennell said. “Labor is nervous about the result but will be throwing the kitchen sink at it this week. “It hopes its tax cuts package passing the Senate will assist in the by-election, even as the Prime Minister continues to say that the tax cuts decision and the by-election are unrelated.”

Small Business Women Australia Founder Amanda Rose discusses the Taylor Swift effect and how parents can “leverage” their children’s love of her music. Ms Rose said the excitement among young girls for the popstar's music is “fantastic”. “I always say to parents leverage it,” she told Sky News Australia. “Get them into singing lessons, and guitar lessons, piano lessons. “Whatever it is to keep that momentum – you know, take advantage of the situation.”