Former Howard advisor Peter McGauran has branded Foreign Minister Penny Wong’s trip to Israel as a “failure” after her actions meant the Israelis “weren’t going to take her very seriously”. “She dismissed the potential for her trip … by refusing to go to the site of the initial invasion – a massacre of 1,200 Israelis in the most barbarous of circumstances,” Mr McGauran told Sky News Australia. “The Israelis weren’t going to take her very seriously after that. “She had to show the raw emotion – the unqualified condemnation of Hamas. “It was a failure I’m afraid but the chances of it moving the dial in any way or being a success were pretty remote anyway.”

The moment a building in Washington DC exploded has been captured on video. Emergency services responding to the scene of the blast say there are no reports of any casualties. Police say one man received minor injuries and around 16 children at a nearby daycare centre were safely evacuated. The footage captured onboard a fire truck shows the moment the fireball tears through the convenience store and damages two other buildings. Firefighters were on hand before the explosion took place responding to reports of a gas leak in the building.

The Duke of Sussex has withdrawn his libel claim against the publisher Mail on Sunday. Prince Harry was suing the company over an article written in 2022 about his legal challenge to the UK's Home Office on their decision to change his security funding. The lawsuit was based on Prince Harry claiming the article attacked his honesty and integrity as well as being inaccurate. The Prince’s legal team have joined him in dropping this particular case. The publisher has stood firm on the article being honest opinion.

Donald Trump has to “work on Wall Street” as global markets “are very keen” on the former US president being re-elected, says Curtin University Global Futures Dean Joe Siracusa. “In Davos right now, we have the world’s economic and political leaders there and they are not talking about climate change,” he told Sky News Australia. “They are talking about Donald Trump. “These guys never lost any money betting on the right horse. “They can see Donald Trump is a business-style president – he favours businesses over unions.”

Labor has been accused of being slow on national security. Albanese’s government has yet to register October 7 as a terrorist attack against Israel. With families of victims waiting for the announcement to trigger necessary support, the Coalition is suggesting it is time for Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neil “to direct her department”. Labor has brushed away the suggestion, claiming support is being provided via other routes. The process taken to register an overseas terrorist attack has varied greatly in the past, sometimes taking months and other times dragging out for years.

A cargo flight has made an emergency landing in Miami after a reported engine failure. Footage from the ground shows the plane flying with a trail of sparks as a fire burns from the engine. Crew on board the cargo bound for Puerto Rico reported an engine fire three minutes into the flight before returning to Miami. Atlas Air has praised its crew for successfully following emergency procedures and landing safely back in Miami. Aviation authorities will investigate what caused the mid-air emergency.

Former Victorian premier Daniel Andrews has established two companies in the past week, signalling his post-political ambitions. Mr Andrews has kept a relatively low profile since retiring from his elected position in September 2023. Sources close to the former premier have confirmed he is focused on building investment-oriented businesses. The Glencairn Street Proprietary Company was registered Wednesday and holds nine out of the ten shares in Andrews’ other company, Wedgetail Partners – registered Thursday. The sole other share is held by Chinese businessman Zheng Mei.

Shadow Victoria Tourism Minister Sam Groth has slammed the Allan Labor government for doings thing “without any accountability” after they failed to provide a “clear answer” on why a payment to Tennis Australia was made. It was revealed this week the Victorian government approved a secret $63 million taxpayer-funded bailout of Tennis Australia on the eve of the last election. “We’ve very supportive of the Australian Open … but this payment only came to light through FOI requests,” Mr Groth told Sky News host Steve Price. “Had those FOI requests not gone in, this payment would never have been known to the Australian taxpayer. “This was at a time when Tennis Australia then went on to post a $62 million surplus in that year. “We still don’t have a clear answer as to why that payment was made, and I think this is just what we see from the Allan Labor government and the Andrew Labor government before that – it’s all about secrecy, it’s all about doing things that they want without any accountability to the Victorian taxpayer.”

Prince William has visited his wife, Catherine, in hospital after she underwent abdominal surgery this week. Details surrounding the surgery are scarce, but it is expected she will be away from royal duties for several months. Earlier, the Queen gave an update on King Charles’ condition after it was revealed he would be treated for an enlarged prostate. Queen Camilla said the King was “fine” and is “looking forward to getting back to work”. The King has cancelled all engagements ahead of his surgery next week.

At least 15 students have drowned after a boat capsized in a lake in Western India. Eleven students were pulled from the water alive. However, some of them are undergoing intensive care treatment in hospital. Emergency services are searching for one person still missing. An investigation is underway to determine the cause of the accident.

Astrobotic’s Peregrine moon lander failed its mission hours after it started. The lunar lander successfully launched from Cape Canaveral in Florida. However, it was later spotted firing its thrusters. The company confirmed the craft failed to reach the moon after experiencing a propellant leak shortly after take-off. It is believed the lander burned up upon re-entry above Australia.

Almost a dozen cases of polio have been detected in children in the Indonesian province of East Java. Nine of the children are believed to be asymptomatic. Two are being treated in intensive care. Health authorities are launching a mass immunisation drive. Indonesia was declared free from polio a decade ago by the World Health Organisation.

The federal government has rejected a $500 million plus interest offer to settle a live export class action case. The 2020 case brought by a group of cattle producers and exporters found a 2011 ban on live exports to Indonesia was unlawful. Only the lead claimant has been compensated. The government declined to pay the 215 claimants on Friday. The export industry previously rejected a $215 million offer made by the government in 2022. The case may end up back in court for a final settlement.

The Australian’s former media editor Darren Davidson has called out MSNBC for their “crazy” act of “not doing their job” by refusing to broadcast Donald Trump’s Iowa victory speech. Trump won the Iowa Republican caucus this week, beating Ron DeSantis and Nikki Haley, with many major news networks refusing to air his victory speech. “They’re just not doing their job,” Mr Davidson told Sky News Digital Editor Jack Houghton. “He may not win in New Hampshire – they have a track record of rejecting Iowa’s chosen candidate. “It’s a long shot he won’t be the chosen nominee, so it’s crazy they’re ignoring him.”

The Australian’s former media editor Darren Davidson has criticised left-wing American media for how they “clearly loathe” Donald Trump, but they make his “nomination more possible by doing that”. Trump won the Iowa Republican caucus this week, beating Ron DeSantis and Nikki Haley, with many major news networks refusing to air his victory speech. “Trump, in the last presidential election, got more votes– other than Biden, the victor – than anyone’s ever attracted in any presidential election, so there’s an enormous amount of Americans that supported him back then and … continue to support him,” Mr Davidson told Sky News Digital Editor Jack Houghton. “The actual victory speech by Trump … was quite noteworthy because it was quite restrained, measured and gracious – it was complimentary of his opponents, which is a marked departure from the way he’s been conducting himself in the past. “The other point to make as well is that they clearly loathe him, and so does Biden and the Democrats … but they actually make a Trump nomination more possible by doing that.”

The PR Counsel Managing Director Kristy McSweeney has called out MSNBC for not airing Donald Trump’s Iowa victory speech as “anti-journalism” as it “censored” a significantly important political event. Trump won the Iowa Republican caucus this week, beating Ron DeSantis and Nikki Haley, with many major news networks refusing to air his victory speech. “There’s a lot of people who don’t like Donald Trump,” Ms McSweeney told Sky News Digital Editor Jack Houghton. “He looks to be the Republican nominee, and even if he’s not, he was the victor at this caucus event; therefore, in the interest of reporting what is happening and what’s going on in the election, that speech needed to be broadcast. “You don’t have to like it … but you should not censor a broadcast of the victor who has won a significantly important political event – that is just disgraceful; that is anti-journalism.”

Sky News Digital Editor Jack Houghton has weighed in on Screen NSW awarding $31,387 in taxpayer funds to a project co-created by “serial misandrist” Clementine Ford. The new TV show is apparently about a "high-profile media presenter who develops an appetite for murder after one too many sexist microaggressions". Mr Houghton said it sounded more like an autobiography rather than a work of fiction. “There needs to be accountability for the way that these arts groups are using taxpayer funds,” he said. “It is completely inappropriate for someone of Ford's character to financially benefit from this sort of garbage.”

Foreign Minister funding for Palestine, killer Cop's life support switched off, concerns over medical research reforms, Sydney swimmers warned of pollution, calls for Federal Government to freeze alcohol tax, 11 cases of polio detected in East Java and China tracking developments in the Red Sea. See omnystudio.com/listener (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information.

Sky News host Steve Price has slammed Australia’s alcohol tax as “highway robbery” because it is the “average folk who suffer” from the excise increase. Beer and spirit lovers are set to be slugged more than $15 for a pint and $24 for a negroni when the increase in the tax on alcohol comes next month, in another blow to Australia’s cost of living. “That's highway robbery – I looked back a bit … you know what you paid in 1970 for a schooner of beer? You paid 86 cents – now, adjusted for today's prices that would be $5.58, not $14,” Mr Price said. “Governments are taking the you know what to beer drinkers and it’s about to get worse with a February excise increase next month. “So much for Labor looking after the workers, the blue-collar voters – beer, petrol, smokes, and food prices are all through the roof. “Soon, you will need to be on a six-figure salary to just go to the pub.”

Liberal Party Defence and National Security Policy Chair Lincoln Parker has slammed the Albanese government for “punching below” their weight by “bludging off our allies” by refusing to send a ship to the Red Sea. In December, Australia denied a request from the United States to send a warship to the Red Sea as part of international efforts to safeguard ships from attacks by Iranian-backed Houthi rebels. “We’re actually bludging right now off our allies. Australia relies on sea lanes for all of our important and all of our exports … we should be doing our bit,” Mr Parker told Sky News host Erin Parker. “We were asked by the Americans to come out and send a ship for the Red Sea to stop an attack on all the shipping. “Prime Minister Albanese has said no, and we’re not punching above our weight - we’re punching below our weight, and it’s a real shame.”