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.”

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.