Author Douglas Murray has slammed Palestinian National Initiative leader Mustafa Barghouti for calling Palestinian terrorists “freedom fighters”.

A world-first IVF pregnancy is being heralded as a breakthrough which could save a species from extinction. A new international team successfully implanted the first lab-created rhino embryo. Reportedly, there are only two Northern White Rhinos left in the world. The procedure was carried out with Southern White Rhinos, which are closely related to Northern Whites. Kenya’s Embassy in Berlin Ambassador Valerie Rugene said for the first time, “we really have the chance to save the Northern White Rhino from extinction”.

Multiple weather conditions are sweeping across the nation on Australia Day. “We’ve got ex-Tropical Cyclone Kirrily up north producing its heavy rainfall, possibly intense at times today,” Sky News Meteorologist Rob Sharpe said. “For New South Wales and Queensland, for many other regions, we’ve got a heatwave currently underway. “From now on we’re looking at hot weather for South East Queensland and North East New South Wales. “Just a chance of a shower for Melbourne and Hobart.”

Shadow Treasurer Angus Taylor has ridiculed the Prime Minister’s National Press Club address where he attempted to justify breaking an election promise on stage three tax cuts. “The way they were both trying to spin it yesterday was beyond laughable,” Mr Taylor told Sky News Australia. “It is actually sad that a Prime Minister could lie to the Australian people so many times. “He was actually lying right up until just before he made this announcement. “We know now he made the decision at the back end of last year and I am sure there will be more to come out of this.”

A group of South Australians has not taken its council's decision to dump Australia Day citizenship ceremonies lightly. The patriotic group has opted to organise its own community festivities, dropping invitations into letterboxes across the city of Unley. More than 80 councils across the country will forego the Australia Day traditions on January 26. Liberal Senator Alex Antic has called for only one flag to be flown at any Australia Day celebrations as he slammed an “overarching self-loathing creeping into the country”. Mr Antic confirmed he would attempt to stop by and show support for the ratepayer-organised event which has been decided upon as a barbeque in Heywood Park, Unley.

A High Court judge in Spain is calling for the country's former Football Federation chief to stand trial. Luis Rubiales came under intense scrutiny following the 2023 Women's World Cup final in Sydney. During the medal ceremony, Mr Rubiales kissed Spanish striker Jenni Hermoso on the lips. The court heard an investigation found the kiss was not consensual. The judge is also seeking a trial for the team's coach and marketing chief for attempting to convince the player to admit the kiss was consensual.

Australia Day is expected to be a scorcher in several capital cities. Sydney is aiming for the hottest temperature with the mercury likely to peak at 38 degrees and nearby, Brisbane is attempting to reach 33 degrees. A reprieve may be on the cards for both cities, however, as a change of rain looks set to arrive. Perth will persevere in heat as temperatures will sit at 31 degrees without any cloud cover arriving to ease the heat. A cooler day is en route for the rest of the country as Melbourne is forecast to top 22 degrees, Adelaide 24 degrees and Hobart 21.

The consumer watchdog has been given the green light to use significant powers as part of its investigation into grocery price gouging. The ACCC will begin by looking into the major supermarkets’ price-placing process. Investigations will include comparing the price farmers are paid and what consumers are then charged at the check-out. Red meat, fruits and vegetables will be a major focus of the inquiry as Australians struggle to put essential foods on the table during an ever-mounting cost-of-living crisis. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced the process at his opening National Press Club appearance of 2024 where he explained the investigation would continue for 12 months.

The Prime Minister agrees he has changed his position on the stage three tax cuts but abruptly pulled up short of admitting to breaking a campaign promise. Opposition Leader Peter Dutton called on Labor to bring forward an election and place the changed position before the Australian public. Mr Albanese justified his precarious political move by displaying how the newly reformed stage three tax cuts provided relief for every Australian. The Prime Minister fronted the National Press Club on Thursday to announce the changes, only to be met with a barrage of questioning over his and his government’s trustworthiness. Mr Albanese denied the change in approach from his government has come at the cost of his personal integrity.

Sky News host Liz Storer has branded the defacing of two statues in Melbourne as “terrorism”. Vandals have defaced two statues in Melbourne on the eve of Australia Day – hacking down a statue of Captain Cook in St Kilda and spray painting a Queen Victoria statue near the Botanical Gardens. “This is terrorism,” Ms Storer said. “I don’t care how anyone paints it; this is like in-house terrorism, plain and simple. “These guys make their agenda known – they’re just going to keep destroying stuff until – until what?”

The United States remains a “vibrant democracy” as Donald Trump wins in Iowa, GB News host Nigel Farage says. “I was in Iowa, and it was fascinating, all the big money, all the global businesses backing Haley, two-thirds of the elected local Iowan politicians backing DeSantis,” Mr Farage told Sky News host Paul Murray. “There I was, in a gymnasium of a school, in a little suburb – and they arrive the four-by-fours – it was 28 degrees below freezing, and they arrived to put their votes in for Donald Trump. “It shows you America, through its open primaries, still has a vibrant democracy. “He won by a record margin – not only is he winning, but I got to tell you, he is in the most terrific humour.”

Former Victorian Liberal Party president Michael Kroger is “shocked” at what Anthony Albanese is doing because he has “gone and broken” his stage three tax cuts promise. The prime minister unveiled the government’s new tax plan – after dumping the much-promised stage three tax cuts – in favour of directed assistance for low and middle-income earners. “The polling organisations which will be doing surveys on the tax cuts now will only be asking one question, which is are you in favour of the tax cuts now or against the changes to the tax system, and a majority will say they are in favour,” Mr Kroger told Sky News host Paul Murray. “However, what they’re not going to do is ask question two, which is the fundamental question, which is this: do you believe a promise made to you by Anthony Albanese? And a majority of people are going to say I wouldn’t believe a word he says. “I am shocked at what this bloke’s doing. “If you thought the Voice was a big enough disaster, he’s now gone and broken this promise. “What is this guy thinking? “How many hundreds of times is he on the record saying no changes to the policy?”

Anthony Albanese breaks yet another election promise, how can we trust a PM with this record? Plus, Dave Rubin and Nigel Farage join the show to discuss Donald Trump's second straight win in a Republican state primary.  See omnystudio.com/listener (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information.

A small minority have welcomed the destruction of the Captain Cook Statue in Melbourne. Vandals used red spray paint to write ‘The colony will fall’ on the plinth. The metal statue was found toppled off its stone and was later removed by Port Phillip council. “Most locals were shocked and disheartened by the act – a small minority have welcomed it.” Some have labelled the destruction as “a beautiful statement”.

GB News host Patrick Christy has slammed Prince Harry for ‘swanning’ around on a red carpet before wishing any of his ill family members well publicly or flying to the UK to visit them. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle attended the premiere of ‘Bob Marley: One Love’ in Jamaica on Tuesday night and snapped a picture with Jamaica’s openly anti-monarchy prime minister. It comes as senior royals in the UK - including King Charles and the Princess of Wales are in hospital recovering from major surgeries. “So basically, while Prince Harry’s family are in hospital, he hasn’t said anything publicly about that - he hasn’t come out and wished them well publicly. “There's no plans for him to come and visit, of course. “He is, however, on a red carpet cosying up to a bloke who essentially wants to abolish the monarchy from his country – it’s a terrible look.”

Sky News host Liz Storer says Woolworths CEO Brad Banducci is “simply a pawn” as you need to look to their stakeholders to find the “gun” held to his head. “I feel sorry for Banducci because this man is simply a pawn in a much bigger man’s game,” Ms Storer told Sky News host Andrew Bolt. “You’ve got to look at their stakeholders, and their two biggest shareholders are BlackRock and Vanguard. “Guys like Brad Banducci are simply following orders; he doesn’t get to make calls like this. “Those guys, BlackRock and Vanguard, are the world’s largest asset managers, they’re the world’s biggest money managers, and that means they control a lot more of what goes on in our world than we can possibly imagine – including what happens at our local Woolies.”

Opposition leader Peter Dutton has slammed Anthony Albanese for the “significant betrayal” on stage three tax changes and calls on him to “refresh his mandate” so Australians can pass judgement on his character. Mr Dutton has called on the prime minister to call an election because of his changes to the stage three tax cuts. “It has been such a significant betrayal of his trust that was instilled, and people voted for him in their millions,” Mr Dutton told Sky News host Andrew Bolt. “If you’re walking away from it, you’ve promised it 100 times, and you are looking the Australian public in the eye and saying that I’m not going to do what I promised you I would do, I think the prime minister needs to refresh his mandate. “I think people need to be given the opportunity to pass judgement on his character and on his betrayal of the Australian people.”

Sky News host James Macpherson says Woolworths’ Australia Day issue is a case of “gaslighting” everyday Australians. “Does the boss of Woolworths imagine that we don’t celebrate Australia Day with food,” Mr Macpherson told Sky News host Andrew Bolt. “All of Australia Day is built around a barbecue. “In fact, their own brochures this week advertised – celebrate Australia Day with sausages and lamb chops. “So, this is just a classic case of gaslighting.”

Teachers’ Professional Association of Qld Secretary Edward Schuller says the he decided to go out to the front of his local Woolworths and hand out "free Australia Day paraphernalia". "We’re celebrating, we’re proud to be Australians, we’re proud to represent Australians,” he told Sky News host Andrew Bolt. He said historically Woolworths has been a “very fine institution” but they’ve been let down by their leadership on this occasion. “And I think Brad, as he’s known, should firstly enjoy Australia Day tomorrow, have a great long weekend and hand in his resignation on Monday. “He doesn’t represent Woolworths workers.”

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has confirmed his government has decided to break an election promise but has defended the move as “choosing a better way forward, given the changed circumstances”. The Albanese government has walked away from its pledge to deliver stage three tax cuts unblemished as it gears up to present proposed changes to parliament. “We are doing the right thing for the right reasons,” Mr Albanese said at the National Press Club on Thursday. Mr Albanese pointed to numerous global and national challenges causing inflationary challenges. “If we were to simply proceed with the old plan, promoted before any of these challenges even existed, it would mean middle Australia missing out on the help that they need and the help that they deserve,” he said. “This is the right decision, not the easy decision.”