Sky News host Caleb Bond claims the “only way” to return the Israeli hostages is for the IDF to eliminate Hamas and win the war in the Middle East. About 130 hostages are still being held by the terrorist organisation. Mr Bond criticised Western nations expressing hope for a ceasefire despite Israel and Hamas refusing to agree on a deal. “The only way to end this war and the only way to get those hostages back is to finish the war, and that means defeating Hamas,” Mr Bond said. “Anyone who says otherwise – they have got rocks in their head, to be perfectly honest.”

The Daily Telegraph has revealed Workplace Relations Minister Tony Burke spent $57,000 in taxpayer funds during a four-day trip to the United States. Previously, secret documents have revealed the minister’s spending at the 30th Australian American Leadership Dialogue trip in July 2022. Mr Burke’s bill included $44,000 on business class flights. The flights were for himself and a staff member. More than $8,000 on hire cars and $4,000 on accommodation.

Sky News Political Editor Andrew Clennell says Nationals Deputy leader Perin Davey is set to face a pre-selection battle against two other contenders. Ms Davey will go against Federal Secretary Juliana McArthur and David Lamb on Friday. “We saw yesterday Peter Dutton with his re-vamped frontbench, Perin Davey retained the water portfolio in that reshuffle yesterday, but she could be out of the parliament if she’s not successful on Friday,” Mr Clennell said. “It’s a close race – you can see that Perin Davey is at peril of not getting that winnable spot on the Coalition ticket at the next election.” Nationals sources have indicated that Ms Davey and Ms McArthur have about 20 votes each, while Mr Lamb has about 10, and 20 are undecided.

Sky News Washington Correspondent Annelise Nielsen speaks to protest voters taking to the polls on Super Tuesday. Ms Nielsen explained how protest voters register as independent constituents to allow themselves a vote in another political party’s Primary. One voter told Sky News Australia he registered as a Republican despite never voting for them and selected Nikki Haley to “show support against Donald Trump”. When asked if he would vote for her in the presidential election, he answered he would “likely end up still voting Democrat”. Another independent told Ms Nielsen she voted “uncommitted” to try and “send a message about what is happening in Gaza”.

Sky News meteorologist Alison Osborne says weather across the southeast is “on the milder side” this Wednesday. “15.2 the lowest temperature in Melbourne, 10.2 in Canberra, still remaining mild in Sydney – 18.4,” Ms Osbourne said. “Brisbane, partly cloudy today, a top of 29 degrees, 29 for Sydneysiders as well – it is a hot one for Canberra, a top of 31. “We have got plenty of sunshine for our southern capitals too, 26 the high in Hobart, 27 in Melbourne, 34 in Adelaide, and 33 the high in Perth. “Darwin the only capital expecting substantial rain today.”

Ukraine’s military says it has sunk a Russian patrol ship off the Crimean coast. According to Ukraine, the vessel was struck by marine drones fired by a special unit named Group 13. The strike caused an estimated $100 million of damage to the ship’s stern, starboard, and portside. Ukraine’s military intelligence agency posted a video which depicted the ship being blown up.

A crime scene has been set up near an intersection in Sydney's southwest after a man's body was found on a road. Police are trying to find out who the man is and how he got to the scene. They are looking at the possibility this could have been a hit-and-run. The crime scene was set up on the corner of Pritchard St in Mount Pritchard shortly after 3am on Wednesday. Police say it appears the man was hit by a car and possibly dragged as he suffered very serious injuries.

It’s the final day of the ASEAN Summit in Melbourne. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is expected to outline more than $60 million worth of commitments. “Albanese is expected to tell regional leaders that Australia’s destiny relies on Southeast Asia,” Sky News Melbourne Reporter Holly Stearnes said. “Today is very much about reaffirming and cementing those relations in the Indo-Pacific. “We can expect today that Anthony Albanese will announce a package of about $61.5 million – all in a bid to strengthen those ties.”

Sky News host Liz Storer disagrees with Adaminaby residents who think the makeover of a large Trout is “hideous.” Adaminaby’s big trout statue underwent a makeover in December but the colour scheme left locals so horrified, a repaint has been agreed to. “I think it’s a shame look at him,” Ms Storer said of the trout. “He’s loud and proud. “I approve, I approve. “I know my vote doesn’t count but I vote keep him the way he is.”

GB News host Nigel Farage has warned that religious sectarian politics beginning to come to the UK. Mr Farage’s comments come after a left-wing United Kingdom politician celebrated his landslide victory in a UK by-election promising to advocate for Gaza. “I’ve been warning ever since the 7 October that if we weren’t careful religious sectarian politics would come to England,” Nigel Farage told Sky News Australia host Paul Murray in response. “We saw it for decades in Northern Ireland with that protestant catholic split. “Now it’s coming to England.”

Sky News contributor Kosha Gada discussed the US Supreme Court’s “monumental” ruling that former US president Donald Trump can stay on the presidential primary ballot in Colorado. The former president had been facing a potential obstacle in the election after Colorado's Supreme Court ruled he was ineligible to appear on ballots under Section 3 of the 14th Amendment to the US Constitution. The decision comes a day before Super Tuesday – when 16 states and territories will hold primaries and caucuses. “Pretty monumental ruling certainly legally because it was a nine – zero, unanimous majority decision which doesn’t happen very often,” Ms Gada told Sky News host Peta Credlin. “So, I think was certainly a boost for the Trump campaign, but more importantly for the country as it's restoring law and constitutional clarity.”

Sky News host Caleb Bond reacts to a UK poll revealing 58 per cent of scientists believe sex is binary. “Which means there’s 42 per cent of scientists who were surveyed here who either didn’t believe sex is binary or refused to answer the question,” Mr Bond said. “In fact, 29 per cent said that sex is non-binary – nearly a third. “And 13 per cent had no view whatsoever or decided they wouldn’t answer. “Which means ‘I’m too afraid to say what I actually think because I fear I might get in trouble from some of my colleagues for saying it’.”

Former Labor MP Michael Danby has blasted UK MP Geoge Galloway over his views on Hezbollah and the war in Gaza. Mr Danby’s remarks come as the controversial Workers Party of Britain leader Geoge Galloway has been sworn in as an MP following his victory in the Rochdale by-election last week. Mr Danby labelled the Mr Galloway as a “loudmouth grifter”. “George is a loudmouth grifter, they call them wide boys in the UK, loud and shallow,” he told Sky News host Peta Credlin. “He is a hypocrite.”

Democrats and leftie journalists are having a “meltdown” after the US Supreme Court unanimously ruled in favour to keep former US president Donald Trump on state ballots. The former president had been facing a potential obstacle in the election after Colorado's Supreme Court ruled, he was ineligible to appear on ballots under Section 3 of the 14th Amendment to the US Constitution. Leftie journalist Keith Olbermann tweeted: "The Supreme Court has betrayed democracy. Its members including Jackson, Kagan and Sotomayor have proved themselves inept at reading comprehension.” “And collectively the "court" has shown itself to be corrupt and illegitimate. It must be dissolved,” the tweet went on to read. Newsweek senior editor-at-large Josh Hammer joined Sky News host Rita Panahi to discuss the US Supreme Court’s ruling on Donald Trump.

Sky News host Liz Storer says the Coalition is moving ahead with the plan to pitch nuclear energy to the Australian public with a “comprehensive plan” for the next election. “We are moving ahead with pitching nuclear energy to the Australian public – it sounds like they are coming up with the extremely comprehensive plan to take to the next election,” she said. “As opposed to simply going hey, vote for us if you want nuclear. “They are taking care of the details now. “Labor has done nothing but say, oh, it is really expensive, and infer that is also very unsafe.”

Sky News host Caleb Bond says the Albanese Labor government has put $2 billion fund to help ASEAN Asian nations set up renewable energy. “The ASEAN conference is on here in Australia,” he said. “To discuss all manner of topics. “They have of course been talking about … climate change. “The Albanese government has put up a $2 billion fund to help these Asian nations go out and set up renewable energy.”

Sky News host Rita Panahi looks at some “unhinged" lefties who poured porridge and jam on a bust of Queen Victoria at Glasgow’s Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum. The group were protesting against food insecurity. “Freedom begins with breakfast,” one woman in the video said. “Food is a human right. “Just brave and stunning work there,” Ms Panahi said.

Newsweek senior editor-at-large Josh Hammer has discussed the US Supreme Court’s unanimous decision to keep Donald Trump on the presidential primary ballot in Colorado. The former president had been facing a potential obstacle in the election after Colorado's Supreme Court ruled, he was ineligible to appear on ballots under Section 3 of the 14th Amendment to the US Constitution. “Overall fantastic day, I mean absolutely fantastic day at the United States Supreme Court,” Mr Hammer told Sky News host Rita Panahi. “They have said that Donald Trump cannot be removed from the ballot box. “Ultimately it is an affirmation of lower-case Republican self-governance and the very notion that is rooted in America’s constitutional preamble, that is we the people who decide our own destiny still in this country for the most part. “This is a big win.”

Sky News Business Editor Ross Greenwood says the reaction from industry to the Albanese government’s housing target is that it is “almost unachievable”. The forecasted increase for new housing approvals in January was four per cent, but the reality was just one per cent. This means in the last 12 months, just 163,000 new dwellings were approved, which is a long way off the Albanese government’s target of 240,000. “The reaction is the same as it’s always been, and that is that the target, ambitious though it might be, is almost unachievable,” Mr Greenwood told Sky News host Peta Credlin. “The reason, as we’ve talked about before, is if you’re a builder or developer … they tell you, quite frankly, if you can’t make money or if you’ve got a significant risk of making money when you’re going into a building project, you simply don’t build – that’s the key.”

Sky News Business Editor Ross Greenwood has warned that an increase in private health premiums could cause a “circular game” where premiums continue to rise as younger people “start to drop out”. Private health premiums will rise 3.03 per cent from April 1, the biggest increase in five years, though well below inflation. The increases go through after approval from Health Minister Mark Butler. “Any big insurance industry is a big pool, and the reality is the people that drop out first are those people who are feeling the mortgage pain – they’re the younger people,” Mr Greenwood told Sky News host Peta Credlin. “But the younger people claim less than the older people, and so what happens is you add more risk to the pool if the younger people start to drop out. “The increases right now are not as great as what they were … but the real issue that happened then could happen now – people start to drop out, it increases the risk in the pool; if the people start to drop out, the pool has a greater risk, the premiums keep going up, and therefore more people drop out. “That is a circular game you don’t want any health insurance company to have to face.”