It has been revealed Foreign Minister Penny Wong will not visit the sites of the October 7 attacks in southern Israel during her tour of the region this week. The move signals a further departure by the government from its Western allies after voting in favour of an immediate ceasefire at the UN in December. The decision is expected to draw anger from Israeli leadership and some in the Australian Jewish community. Ms Wong will also visit Palestinian victims of settler violence in the West Bank during her visit. This comes as calls mount from within Labor to pressure hardline Israeli settlers.

Sky News host Caroline Di Russo says King Frederik X and Queen Mary have a “lot of similarities” to Prince William and Kate. Questions have been raised over whether King Charles would ever abdicate in the future following Queen Margrethe II giving up the throne for her son, the newly crowned King Frederik X. “Well, anything is possible, and I suppose when we look at Charles – talk about an apprenticeship,” Ms Di Russo said. “So he did a hugely long ‘apprenticeship’ as, you know, waiting to take over from his mother – so he has gone into the role older than one would have expected. “70 years of service from Queen Elizabeth II is absolutely extraordinary.”

Sky News host Caroline Di Russo says Queen Margrethe II choosing to abdicate her throne was a “very selfless” act for her son, King Frederik X. Queen Margrethe II was the world’s only reigning queen and the longest-serving current monarch in Europe before her abdication. Crown Prince Frederik X became King of Denmark and head of state in the country as well as in Greenland and the Faroe Islands. “Because, when you think about the amount of work that is involved in being a sovereign, the service to your country, to your community, the patronages, the attending of events, supporting charities,” Ms Di Russo said. “Perhaps she just got to the point where she didn’t feel like she could serve in the way that she wanted to be able to serve her people.”

Sky News Reporter Julia Bradley says Queen Margrethe II’s abdication and Frederik X’s coronation is a “bittersweet moment”. “Because this is the moment when people are farewelling their beloved queen,” she said. “No one was expecting her to announce her abdication when she gave that speech." Margrethe II has signed the instrument of abdication, passing the crown to her son. King Frederik X has taken the throne following the formal abdication of his mother.

Sky News host Danica De Giorgio says King Frederik looked “quite emotional” after Queen Margrethe II signed the instrument of abdication. Prince Frederik and his Australian-born wife, Princess Mary, are officially Denmark’s new King and Queen. King Frederik X and Queen Mary ascended to the throne on Sunday afternoon, local time, after Queen Margrethe II declared her abdication. “He looked quite emotional there – quite solemn as his mother signed that document,” Ms De Giorgio said. “And then she stood up, and she left, and he took that main position in the middle of the table and on his right side – of course – was his son.”

Republican presidential candidates are converging on the snowbound state of Iowa for the first-in-the-nation caucuses. Former president Donald Trump has hit new highs in his polling lead over his opponents. A recent poll shows his support among Republican-aligned voters at more than 70 per cent. His closest rivals, Ron DeSantis and Nikki Haley, have a satisfaction rating of 61 and 48 per cent respectively. President Joe Biden has received considerably lower figures in a recent poll among Democrats with only 57 per cent of whom saying they would be satisfied with him as the party's nominee.

Sky News host Caroline Di Russo says the ascension of King Frederik X to the throne is “totally steeped in tradition”. Crown Prince Frederik X became King of Denmark and head of state in the country as well as in Greenland and the Faroe Islands. “There are a number of royal families in Europe and elsewhere, they all have their own way of doing things,” Ms Di Russo said. “You can tell that it is totally steeped in tradition, they have their way of doing this. “The Scandinavians have that elegant, traditional yet very pragmatic sense about them and you can see the way that that comes out in their royalty.”

Australians feel like they have been part of Queen Mary’s story “the whole way along” as her ascension becomes the next step in the Australian-born Queen’s story, says Sky News host Caroline Di Russo. It follows the formal abdication of Queen Margrethe II. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen proclaimed Frederik the new King of Denmark. The new King and Queen shared a surprise kiss on the balcony of Christiansborg Palace in their first historic appearance as monarchs. “This is something that Australians feel they have been buying into because obviously she is no longer an Australian citizen but she is still one of us,” Ms Di Russo said.

Australian-born Mary Donaldson is now Queen of Denmark. The girl from Tasmania has become a monarch in a fairytale-like journey since her chance encounter with a prince in a Sydney bar. This comes after Queen Margrethe's abdication and handing over her kingdom of 52 years to her son and now King Frederik X. The ascension of King Frederik and Queen Mary was sealed with a kiss on the balcony of Christiansborg Palace. Immersed in the huge crowd were many Australians who either called Copenhagen home or made the journey to mark the milestone.

After taking the throne, King Frederik X and Queen Mary returned to their royal residence in Amalienborg in the Golden Wedding Anniversary Coach. This comes after the formal abdication of Queen Margrethe II. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen proclaimed Frederik the new King of Denmark. The new King and Queen shared a surprise kiss on the balcony of Christiansborg Palace in their first historic appearance as monarchs. The Golden Coach was built over nine months in 1892 as a gift for King Christian and Queen Louise to mark their golden wedding.

Denmark's new Queen Mary was seen in an all-white dress as she appeared on the balcony at Christiansborg Castle on Sunday. Queen Mary donned a white dress which was designed by Soeren Le Schmidt and sewn by Birgit Hallstein. The abdication of Queen Margrethe II is well underway. Queen Margrethe II was the world’s only reigning queen and the longest-serving current monarch in Europe before her abdication. On the first day of their reign, Mary and Frederik and the entire royal family will participate in the Danish Parliament’s formal celebration of the succession of the throne. The new King and Queen will also be marked spiritually in a celebratory church service at Aarhus Cathedral on Sunday.

King Frederik and Queen Mary were all smiles as they shared a surprise kiss on the balcony of Christiansborg Palace in their first historic appearance as monarchs. The monarchs were also joined by their children Prince Christian, Princess Isabella, Prince Vincent and Princess Josephine on the balcony, where they waved to the crowd. On the first day of their reign, Mary and Frederik and the entire royal family will participate in the Danish Parliament’s formal celebration of the succession of the throne. The new King and Queen will also be marked spiritually in a celebratory church service at Aarhus Cathedral on Sunday.

King Frederik was seen wiping away tears as he spoke on the balcony at the Christiansborg Palace. The Denmark King saying: "My hope is to become a unifying king of tomorrow". "It's a task I've approached all my life. It's a task I've taken on with pride, respect and joy." The King also paid tribute to his mother Margrethe II. He said she would always be remembered as an “extraordinary” regent.

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has proclaimed Frederik the new King of Denmark. Ms Frederiksen proclaimed the King three times from the balacony at Christiansborg Palace. It comes after Queen Margarethe abdicated the throne on New Year’s Eve. On the first day of their reign, Mary and Frederik and the entire royal family will participate in the Danish Parliament’s formal celebration of the succession of the throne. The new King and Queen will also be marked spiritually in a celebratory church service at Aarhus Cathedral on Sunday.

King Frederik X has taken the throne, following the formal abdication of his mother, Queen Margrethe II. Margrethe II has just signed the instrument of abdication, passing the crown to her son. There will be no formal crowning ceremony for Crown Prince Frederik. He will become King of Denmark and head of state in the country as well as in Greenland and the Faroe Islands. On the first day of their reign, Mary and Frederik and the entire royal family will participate in the Danish Parliament’s formal celebration of the succession of the throne. The new King and Queen will also be marked spiritually in a celebratory church service at Aarhus Cathedral on Sunday.

Excitement is building in Denmark's capital where tens of thousands of people have gathered to catch a glimpse of the new monarchs. Among the masses of people waving red and white Danish flags are a number of Australians who have moved abroad to the country, as well as some who had flown in for the occasion. The succession will begin around 1pm GMT, when Queen Margrethe II will sign a declaration of her abdication. Mary will become the first Australian woman to head a European Royal family after her mother-in-law Queen Margarethe abdicated the throne on New Year’s Eve. Queen Margrethe II was the world’s only reigning queen and the longest-serving current monarch in Europe before her abdication.

Crowds have gathered along the procession route in Copenhagen to catch a glimpse of the soon to be King and Queen of Denmark. Tasmanian-born Mary Donaldson married Denmark’s Prince Frederik in 2004. Mary will become the first Australian woman to head a European Royal family after her mother-in-law Queen Margrethe abdicated the throne on New Year’s Eve. Queen Margrethe II was the world’s only reigning queen and the longest-serving current monarch in Europe before her abdication. There will be no formal crowning ceremony for Crown Prince Frederik.

The Albanese government has admitted sensitive information was lost after a cyber-attack. The hack was allegedly carried out by a Russia-linked hacker. The prime minister’s office, the Reserve Bank of Australia and Australia Post have been confirmed as victims of the hack. Around 62 offices have been confirmed to be included in the breach. The government confirming information lost in the breach includes data relating to national security and law enforcement, legal advice and medical information.

Crown Princess Mary’s ascent to the Danish throne is an “iconic moment” for Australia and particularly Tasmania, says Tasmania Arts Minister Madeleine Ogilvie. Tasmanian-born Mary Donaldson married Denmark’s Prince Frederik in 2004. “We’re all really taken with this story as I think Australia is and everybody internationally is as well,” Ms Ogilvie told Sky News Australia. She said the state of Tasmania expresses their “great well wishes” to the new King and Queen of Denmark and their four children. “For what is really an iconic moment for Australia but also for Tasmania.”

Calls for drug testing to be done at festivals intensify after a recent incident in Melbourne, a teenage girl has been assaulted in a Western Australia beach toilet block, Australia’s population is expected to tick over 27 million, there has ben a drop in prison population in New South Wales, Days of Our Lives actor Bill Hayes dies aged 98, a huge fire engulfs a warehouse in Russia, and a Sydney cafe has commenced a dedication to Taylor Swift fans. See omnystudio.com/listener (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information.