Skills and Training Minister Brendan O’Connor says the Reserve Bank will take in a “series of factors across the economy” when deciding interest rates. Data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics has revealed the unemployment rate for March has risen to 3.8 per cent. The updated figures show a 0.1 per cent rise in unemployment since February. Mr O’Connor told Sky News Australia that the government will continue to “manage” the economy. “Obviously, we believe a surplus is within our reach.”

Filmmaker Ami Horowitz has slammed Joe Biden for making a “very crass political decision” of “turning on Israel”. Mr Horowitz says pro-Palestine protests in the United States are “of course” impacting Joe Biden’s foreign policy with Israel. “The president is making a very crass political decision, which is I am going to turn on Israel because I think that that will get me the margin of votes I need in Michigan, in Minnesota, in Georgia,” Mr Horowitz told Sky News host Rita Panahi. “He is absolutely incorrect. “Turning on Israel will make absolutely no difference.”

Psychiatrist Professor Patrick McGorry says the trauma from the Bondi stabbings would be “incredibly impactful” for victims’ families. A mass stabbing occurred at Bondi Westfield, which took the lives of five women and one male security guard. Joel Cauchi was shot dead on Saturday by a police officer after he stabbed several shoppers in a Westfield. Westfield Bondi Junction will reopen today for a community day of reflection. Mr McGorry told Sky News Australia that there are “phases of trauma and grief”.

Filmmaker Ami Horowitz believes Joe Biden’s “turning on Israel” is “exactly what led” to Iran bombing Israel. There are growing calls for restraint as the world reacts to Iran’s aerial bombardment of Israel. It is Tehran’s first-ever direct attack on its neighbour. Israel says more than 300 missiles and drones were fired by Iran, Iraq, Syria and Yemen, but most were intercepted before entering Israeli airspace. “His turning on Israel is exactly what led Iran to bomb Israel,” Mr Horowitz told Sky News host Rita Panahi. “His turning on Israel begets the Iran invasion. “You are crazy if you don’t think so. “He is already calling for de-escalation.”

Filmmaker Ami Horowitz believes Joe Biden’s hyperbole against Donald Trump “will fail” and American people “understand that this is craziness”. Former US president Donald Trump’s hush money trial has begun in New York City. It is the first time a US president has faced trial in a criminal court. Mr Trump has pleaded not guilty to 34 counts of falsifying business records. “When Biden goes here is Donald Trump – he’s anti-democratic; he’s going to be a dictator,” Mr Horowitz told Sky News host Rita Panahi. “Look, this hyperbole will fail. “The American people understand that this is craziness and, therefore, they’re going to side with Trump.”

The government is celebrating this morning as the International Monetary Fund says we have the second-strongest budget position among the G20 nations. Sky News Business Editor Ross Greenwood explains Australia’s strong budget position. “It takes away from the Coalition one of their key arguments that they will manage the economy better than what the Labor Party will”, Mr Greenwood told Sky News Australia. “You know, broadly, it’s good news; it means the government doesn’t have as much debt as it otherwise would have and doesn’t have to pay as much interest as it otherwise would have. “Its problems are ahead with the key spending areas in defence and trying to fix the NDIS that are very well known”.

CommSec’s Tom Piotrowski says US markets “tried to make a fist of things” in early trade before sellers “took advantage” of the strength. “US markets tried to make a fist of things in early trade, moving higher, before sellers just took advantage of that strength,” Mr Piotrowski told Sky News Australia. “We saw the markets end generally weaker. “The technology sector was the one that stood out, so the NASDAQ was down by more than a per cent. “The S&P 500 finished down by half of one per cent.” Presented by CommSec.

Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says “we will make our own decisions” over how it responds to Iran following a missile attack over the weekend. It comes after UK Foreign Secretary David Cameron called for Israel to show restraint in its response. Mr Netanhayu met with the UK and Germany's foreign ministers on Wednesday. “World leaders have also all types of suggestions and advice, I appreciate it but I want to make clear that we will make our own decision,” Mr Netanyahu said. “The state of Israel will do all that is needed to defend itself,” he said. Iran said the missile attack on Israel was in retaliation for a strike on an Iranian consular building in Syria earlier this month, which killed two Iranian generals.

Farmers in the Southwest of WA have held an urgent meeting to discuss how the record-breaking dry spell has affected their livestock. Farmers said the lack of rain, feed and uncertainty in the future of live sheep exports have come together in a perfect storm. “Feed very short, but very expensive, the issue at the moment is finding enough feed, the whole state is probably going to run out of feed,” Manjimup farmer Gary Ryan. On an average year good quality hay costs around $150 to $250 a ton, the lack of supply and increase in demand means that the price has almost doubled. The state government recently launched a dry season task force to help address the lack of feed and water for livestock and to get advice on how to support regional communities affected by this record-breaking dry spell.

China's Foreign Ministry has delivered a sharp rebuke of the Australian Government's increased defence spend. It comes after Defence Minister Richard Marles on Wednesday revealed the government would boost defence spending by $50 billion over the next decade. Mr Marles has confirmed less than six per cent of the new funds will be spent in the next four years. The Defence Minister also released the government's new defence strategy, warning China is looking to "change the current regional balance" Beijing has responded by expressing a firm opposition to assertions of China's so-called 'coercive tactics'.

A Russian missile strike has killed at least 17 people in the city of Chernihiv in northern Ukraine, according to officials. More than 60 others, including three children, were injured in the assault on a residential building in the country's north, according to reports. Authorities said three missiles struck close to the city of Chernihiv at around 9am on Wednesday (local time). Rescue operations are underway as police search for survivors. The latest attack from Russia comes as its conflict with Ukraine has stretched into its third year.

Sky News contributor Megyn Kelly has slammed pro-Palestinian protesters blocking roads in the United States. This comes as Pro-Palestinian demonstrations sweep across the United States amid the war in Gaza. “I have to be honest, they look like complete morons,” Ms Kelly told Sky News host Paul Murray. “We've got these people in the keffiyeh, scarves with a full head wrap because nobody wants to show their face when they're saying this nonsense – chanting death to America. “How dare they? Steps from where thousands of their fellow New Yorkers died 20 years ago – It's an absolute disgrace.”

Sky News contributor Megyn Kelly has mocked the media for its “weird love-hate relationship” with Donald Trump which is on “full display”. Donald Trump’s ‘hush money’ case will formally begin in Manhattan on Monday morning (local time) and is expected to run for six to eight weeks. Ms Kelly read out an excerpt from a Washington Post article that details the former president looking at his lawyer's phone. “There’s not much to cover, it's just jury selections so what can you really say,” Ms Kelly said. “Well, they have found a way because it’s not interesting unless it's about Trump. “Get a hold of yourself – he looked down, that’s your whole story.”

Sky News host Liz Storer says a trans sprinter demolishing female competitors in a high school running competition shows people are “entertaining the delusions” of trans people. “You have got to ask yourself what amount of narcissism enables any individual to say I want to be a female, I am now treating myself as a female, everyone else can suck it up buttercup,” Ms Storer said. “All these women who have trained so hard, I don’t care about you. “I don’t care that I just thrashed you out of any possibility of going to get a scholarship and maybe attend the uni of your dreams. “In order to entertain the delusions of one young man.”

Sky News host Liz Storer has questioned why the Australian cartoon show Bluey showcased a same-sex couple in its latest season. The well-loved cartoon showcased a brief mention of a lesbian couple in the final episode of its third season. “This is how they are ensuring that the way you think about these things, the way I consider these matters is going to be extinct within the space of a single generation,” she said. “Remember it was March 2022 when one of the big Disney directors came out and said ‘we vow that by the end of this year – 50 per cent of our main characters … will be LGBTIQ and or a racial minority. “This is very, very deliberate because when you grow up in a culture that normalises these things, it is normalised.”

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called for men to change their attitudes towards women as a way to combat Australia’s epidemic of domestic violence. Sky News contributor Joe Hildebrand joined Sky News host Paul Murray to discuss the Prime Minister’s comments. “I have been very outspoken about the contributing factors to domestic violence, I have … been absolutely excoriated ironically by so-called feminists who hang out with some very questionable gentlemen themselves,” Mr Hildebrand said. “I’m going to read you something that comes the Australian Institute of Criminology, five years ago they put out a groundbreaking report and it opened with this extraordinary statement. “It opened it with this comment – To our knowledge there has been no attempt … to develop a comprehensive understanding of what characterises domestic violences offenders and offending across Australia.” If you or anyone you know needs support: 1800RESPECT 1800 737 732 Lifeline: 13 11 14 Beyond blue: 1300 22 4636

Sky News host Sharri Markson says the West alliance has been undermined by the recent missile and drone strikes on Israel and that US President Joe Biden is “no deterrent” to Iran. Ms Markson was joined by Sky News contributor Rocco Loiacono to discuss the recent attacks on Israel. “Well in the aftermath of Iran’s missile and drone attack against Israel over the weekend, there is one thing that is abundantly clear. “That Joe Biden is no deterrent for Tehran’s terrorism, he’s basically asleep at the wheel. “He’s only emboldened Iran.”

Shadow Immigration Minister Dan Tehan says the Labor government is both “hopeless and hapless” when it comes to immigration. Mr Tehan joined Sky News host Andrew Bolt to discuss the sudden surge in migrants. “The latest ABS data shows for the month of February permanent and semi-permanent arrivals hit 100,000 for the month," he said. “We’ve never had that occur in our history and what we’re seeing under this Labor government is numbers coming into this country – the like of which we have never seen. “As a matter of fact, we think the Labor Party are on target for their first term of government to bring in well over a million people.”

Some people are suggesting the Royal Family “bring back” Prince Harry to the UK to “help share the burden” following two cancer diagnoses, according to GB News host Darren Grimes. This comes as King Charles and Princess Catherine undergo cancer treatment following their shock diagnoses. Princess Catherine has taken a break from royal engagements since her abdominal surgery in January. Meanwhile, the King made his first major public appearance since his diagnosis during Easter Sunday in March. “Some people are suggesting that we bring back Prince Harry to the United Kingdom in order to help share the burden,” Mr Grimes told Sky News host Rita Panahi.

Shadow Immigration Minister Dan Tehan says Australia experiencing a migration surge is the “last thing” the country needs at the moment. Mr Tehan joined Sky News host Andrew Bolt to discuss how February saw the largest intake of migrants ever for the country. “We’ll be announcing our policy in the coming months, we’ve obviously got a strong sense now as to what Labor’s up to with their Big Australia approach to immigration. “We don’t think a Big Australia approach is the right way to go. “We will be very upfront now – I’ve got to take my policies to my colleagues in the Shadow cabinet but we will announce a policy in the coming months.”