Thousands have gathered outside the military headquarters in Tel Aviv in a demonstration against the Israeli government. This comes as reports of a possible breakthrough in negotiations between Israel and Hamas over a potential hostage deal. Israeli media says there has been ‘significant progress’ in the talks in Paris. These include negotiators from the United States, Egypt and Qatar. The Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry says 29,000 people have been killed by Israeli attacks on Gaza.

Nigel and Vanessa Corish have celebrated winning The Weekly Times Coles Farmers of the Year by saying it was “very humbling to be recognised”. “We got to meet some amazing farmers,” Mr Corish told Sky News presenter Ortenzia Borre. “Particularly honouring for the family to be sitting here as a fourth generation family. “My great grandfather immigrated from Ireland and began farming in Central New South Wales. “Farming and agriculture has just been so good for our family.”

Angry farmers in Paris mounted their tractors yesterday to protest for more government support and simpler regulations. The tractors drove peacefully into a Paris neighbourhood carrying flags from Rural Coordination, the farmers' union that staged the protest. Farmers are complaining that EU environmental policies limit their business and make their products more expensive than non-EU imports. France President Emmanuel Macron promised to meet with farmers' unions for further discussions. Demonstrators told Reuters they did not expect the President’s visit to amount to anything.

Travellers are being warned to be on alert for measles after an outbreak in Melbourne. The alert is the second of its kind in just one week. Passengers on board Singapore Airlines flight SQ217 or transiting through Melbourne Airport on Monday February 19 are being told to monitor for symptoms. Infectious people are being advised to contact the Department of Health and present themselves to a medical clinic for diagnosis. All travellers are advised to monitor for symptoms until Friday, March 8.

Sydney Boutique cake shop Bakealicious has been tasked with baking desserts for popstar Taylor Swift as she embarks on the Australian leg of her Eras tour. Owner Gabriela Oporto joined Sky News presenter Jaynie Seal to talk about how she was discovered by the catering team assisting popstars Ed Sheeran and Harry Styles during their Australian tours in 2023. “The same people obviously catered this year,” Ms Oporto said. “I was lucky enough to get the call on Tuesday. “They said they found me online so I probably have a good SEO.”

Buckingham Palace has released details of the get-well wishes sent to King Charles III. The sentiments were delivered after the King’s cancer diagnosis. The monarch has received thousands of letters. King Charles was reportedly reduced to tears whilst reading. The King continues to remain removed from Royal duties as he recovers from treatment following his cancer diagnosis.

Thousands of law enforcement investigations could be stalled as Australian Federal Police workers hint at industrial action. A secret ballot will be held next week after the Fair Work Commission backed certain measures by the AFP Officers’ Association. Officers are seeking better pay and conditions which could result in a strike if not met by the government. The strike would be the first ever in the AFP’s history. Both parties are working towards striking a new Enterprise Bargaining Agreement.

More than 6,000 homes across Australia are set to go to auction this weekend. The amount has added up to mark two consecutive 'Super Saturdays'. The number of homes heading to auction in 2024 has been consistently above 2023 levels. Buyer demand is keeping pace with all increases in property listings. There is also growing expectations that interest rates could fall during 2024.

Alexei Navalny's mother confirms she has been given an ultimatum to agree to a secret funeral for her son or see him buried in the Siberian prison where he died. Lyudmila Navalnaya says investigators allowed her to see her son’s body in the morgue, where she was pressured to agree to a secret burial for her son. Ms Navalnaya says she was only given three hours to make the decision. Alexei Navalny was serving 19 years in an Arctic Circle jail for extremism charges when he suddenly died last week. Russian authorities maintain Mr Navalny died of natural causes while his widow claims he was killed.

The death toll from an apartment fire in the Spanish city of Valencia has risen to 10. More than a dozen people remain unaccounted for since the blaze on Thursday night 15 people, including six firefighters and a young child sustained non-life-threatening injuries. Experts say plastic cladding on the exterior of the building fueled the blaze and allowed it to spread quickly to adjoining buildings. Investigators have yet to determine the cause of the fire.

Entertainment commentator Shane A. Bassett says one of the Coen brothers has returned with a “wild” and “untamed” comedy film titled ‘Drive-Away Dolls’. Mr Bassett joined Sky News presenter Tim Gilbert to review recent and upcoming releases inside the film industry. “It doesn’t take itself too seriously and I thought it was hysterical,” he said. “Just an amazing movie … loved it; 4.5. “It is Ethan Coen only – it is not Joel his brother.”

Entertainment commentator Shane A. Bassett says the new Australian film ‘The Rooster’ starring actor Hugo Weaving “was a struggle”. Mr Bassett joined Sky News presenter Tim Gilbert to review recent and upcoming releases inside the film industry. “Hugo’s character is a little bit unhinged, and he doesn’t make much sense a lot of the time,” he said. “It is a tough, tough watch. “Well acted by Phoenix Raei and Hugo Weaving but I am only going to give it a two.”

Entertainment commentator Shane A. Bassett says Holocaust film ‘The Zone of Interest’ “deserves its five Oscar nominations” as he drew comparisons to Steven Spielberg’s ‘Schindler’s List’. Mr Bassett joined Sky News presenter Tim Gilbert to review recent and upcoming releases inside the film industry. “It is harrowing, I will never watch it again – it is a little bit like Schindler’s List in that sense,” he said. Mr Bassett described the film as “captivating” but also warned viewers it was a “tough watch”. “It is a great film, it really is – it is almost flawless. “If anything is going to surprise Oppenheimer and Poor Things, it will be the Zone of Interest.”

Residents in Western Australia have begun preparations for ex-Tropical Cyclone Lincoln, the Ballarat community is leading a new search effort to find missing mum Samantha Murphy, a Sydney man has been killed in a suspected Sydney shooting, Adelaide adopts digital ticketing on transport, Aussie farmers honoured in the Coles' 2023 Farmer of the Year awards, French farmers protest in Paris, and Donald Trump speaks to voters at a rally in South Carolina. See omnystudio.com/listener (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information.

The Odysseus moon lander is “alive and well” but flight controllers are trying to establish more specific data on its location. Intuitive Machines became the first private company to have a successful moon landing yesterday. It is the first for America since its 1972 Apollo 17 mission. Odysseus was aiming for the Moon’s south polar region, where NASA hopes the region’s dirt and craters may contain ice for fuel. The company has reported it is learning more about the vehicle’s specific location, overall health and positioning.

Former US president Donald Trump says the American people were “better off” under his administration. The former US president held a rally in South Carolina ahead of Saturday’s primary. “Our country was far, far, far better off – that’s for sure,” Mr Trump said. “America was stronger and tougher and richer and safer and more confident. “We’ve lost our confidence as a country.”

Former US president Donald Trump says the kind of “stupidity and destruction” the Biden administration has unleashed on the United States is “mind boggling”. The former US president held a rally in South Carolina ahead of Saturday’s primary. “We have to take over, they are going to destroy this country,” Mr Trump said. “We are going to end up in a world war – we’ll end up in World War III. “They’ll destroy our country, we have to get out, we have to win.”

Queensland police have reported a fall in crime rates in the state's youth crime “capital” of Townsville. Early data shows a drop of up to 53 per cent in robbery, car theft and burglary rates. Deputy Police Commissioner Shane Chelepy says Taskforce Guardian has allowed police to target repeat and serious youth offenders. Mr Chelepy believes a law change last year to make breaching bail conditions an offence for young offenders has helped. In the past six months, solved crimes committed by juveniles are down 11 per cent in Townsville and 28 per cent across the state – compared to the previous six months.

An unexploded Nazi-era bomb has been successfully removed from a home in England. A man building an extension for his daughter discovered the device in Plymouth. The discovery led to one of the largest evacuations in the UK since World War Two. The 500-kilogram Nazi bomb was driven slowly through the streets of Plymouth. It was then taken out to sea for disposal.

Taylor Swift delights Sydney fans in the rain, 500 firefighters are working to contain an out-of-control bushfire in western Victoria, the Opposition accuses Labor of losing control of Australia's borders, Queensland police report a drop in crime rates in Townsville, Melbourne on alert after a measles scare, Optus loses over $61 million over last year's national outage, and the US imposes fresh sanctions on Russia. See omnystudio.com/listener (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information.