The Coalition is calling on the government to declare parts of Lebanon a terrorist no-go zone. It follows the deaths of two Australians in the region last week. Their deaths came as a result of an Israeli strike on the Hezbollah-occupied region. The Opposition says Labor should make it an offence for any Australian to travel to the area in a bid to aid Hezbollah. It says the government should enact its criminal code - after similar measures were enacted to prevent people travelling to parts of Syria and Iraq at the height of ISIS.

Two top US Security Analysts expected to play major roles in the next Republican administration have delivered criticisms of several aspects from the AUKUS timeline. Sending nuclear submarines on the currently agreed timeframe has been labelled as crazy by ex-Pentagon official Elbridge Colby and former Republican Senate security adviser Alex Velez-Green. Despite passing AUKUS-allowing legislation just weeks ago, the laws possess many out-clauses in regard to the US' national interests and their existing defence capabilities. Mr Colby told The Australian their nuclear submarines remain "the ace in the hole for a fight with China". Mr Colby also maintained "Australia is America's best ally" and it remains "highly desirable" to send nuclear submarines down under.

Royal commentator and biographer Angela Levin says Prince Harry is “very much under Meghan’s thumb” and will listen to what she says. It comes as the royal commentator was asked what it would take for Prince Harry to return to the Royal fold. “First of all he's got to apologise hugely, and he's also got to compromise,” she told Sky News host James Macpherson. “He keeps saying he wants the King and Prince William to apologise for things going right back to childhood when William had five sausages he got four, it's that sort of pettiness. “But if you want to bring back the family argument you have to spend the time. You can't rush here stay half an hour then rush away. It takes weeks, months even. “And of course, his very much under Meghan’s thumb, and he will listen to what she says.”

Media commentator Karalee Katsambanis has weighed in on the government's crackdown on vaping products, saying it won’t make much difference. The importation of disposable single-use vapes to Australia will be banned starting on January 1, 2024. The Government granted $25 million to the Australian Border Force to help combat the problem at the border, and an additional $56.9 million to the Therapeutic Goods Administration over two years to facilitate the ban. Ms Katsambanis said the actions from the government are a little too late. “I mean okay somebody could say well done to the government for trying to do this but the fox is already out of the hen house, or the horse has already bolted on something like this," she told Sky News contributor Gary Hardgrave. “It’s a worry because it's so prolific now, it’s so prolific I don’t think it will actually make much of a difference, but I guess a New Year's day tick for doing something. “But it’s a little too late, it's about 18 months too late.”

The rise of anti-Semitism in Australian society is something which has been unexpected “in my lifetime”, Australian Jewish Association President David Adler says. “We’re shocked by what’s happened in Australia across Australian society, I didn’t expect in my lifetime to see the explosion of anti-Semitism,” Mr Adler told Sky News host James Macpherson. “The statistics – are really only the surface, if you look at the nature of the incidents, they’re completely different. “We have had numerous death threats, we have seen assaults in our community – In a meeting I had with counter terrorisms police a few weeks ago – I asked them, have there been any significant threats from the Jewish community directed at Muslims, and their answer was zero.” Warning: This video contains distressing content.

Australia has seen a “shocking rise” in anti-Semitism since the October 7 terrorist attack last year by Hamas, Sky News host James Macpherson says. “Since the horrific Hamas terrorist attacks on October 7 last year, there’s been a shocking rise in anti-Semitism around the world,” Mr Macpherson said. “The situation’s become so bad here in Australia that many Jewish residents in Sydney were too scared to venture out last night for New Years Eve celebrations. “This morning, a 76 year old Jewish doctor was hospitalised after being beaten in the head as he collected his rubbish bins in the Melbourne suburb of Brighton.” Warning: This video contains distressing content.

The Australian government has had many “excuses” for not providing support into the Red Sea, Nationals MP Keith Pitt says. “There’s been lots of, I say, excuses about why we’re not providing support into the Red Sea,” Mr Pitt told Sky News contributor Gary Hardgrave. “In terms of the alliance that’s there. “But helicopter air support sounds like something the Australian Navy can do, to me. “This is a really important trade route.”

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is being “slippery” over the stage-three tax cuts, Former speaker of the House Bronwyn Bishop says. “This was a very big promise made by Albanese prior to the election,” Ms Bishop told Sky News contributor Gary Hardgrave. “Well, he’s managed to break quite a few already. “But there are so many things that he’s broken or being slippery about. “And he’s being slippery about these tax cuts.”

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is a “failure” as he is failing to show leadership with the ongoing anti-Semitic crisis on Australian shores, Former speaker of the House Bronwyn Bishop says. “The problem is, he is just Albo the trot,” Ms Bishop told Sky News contributor Gary Hardgrave. “In the 20-plus years I sat in that chamber nobody ever said he was leadership material. “And it’s just been proven. “We’re seeing all this anti-Semitic movement going on right now simply because there is a failure of leadership at the top.”

MacroBusiness Chief Economist Leith van Onselen has shared his economic projections for 2024, touching on cash and inflation rates. “The best-case scenario is that these attacks in the Middle East don’t disrupt global supply chains and we actually have fallen inflation globally brought down by goods primarily,” he told Sky News host James Macpherson. “What that would mean is that the central banks are likely done raising interest rates, including Australia and we could actually start seeing interest rates cuts towards the second half of this year. “That’s the best-case scenario and it would mean 18 months of pain that Australian households have suffered would start to alleviate. “And we could also potentially see lower migration than what the federal government has forecast. “That’s more – wishful thinking but if we get that, that would also ease the rental crisis. “So those are the two things I am hoping happen this year.”

A tsunami warning has been issued in Japan after a 7.6 magnitude earthquake in the country’s west. A series of 20 earthquakes have been reported each with a magnitude of four or stronger. A 6.3 magnitude earthquake has also been recorded. Since the initial tsunami warning, parts of Russia and North Korea have also issued tsunami warnings. Tsunami advisories have been issued as far north as the Island of Hokkaido and the southern island of Kyushu

Sky News Contributor Gary Hardgrave says the stage-three tax cuts “surely” must go ahead as “leftist types” are battling against them. “Our former colleagues, our leaders … are demanding leadership from the Prime Minister,” Mr Hardgrave said. “As leftist types try to stop the middle-income tax relief due this year. “Surely it’s got to go ahead.” Mr Hardgrave sat down with former speaker of the House Bronwyn Bishop and Nationals MP Keith Pitt to discuss stage-three tax cuts.

The migrant crisis along the US southern border is still straining resources in Texas. However, one man has opened his Airbnb to dozens of migrants needing a roof over their heads. Santiago Rodriguez transformed an Airbnb into a makeshift shelter, where they welcomed more than 40 migrants over the past two weeks. Mr Rodriguez said he spent thousands of dollars on all sorts of goods to ensure the families are able to live comfortably while they figure out the next steps in their journey across the United States. A Catholic Charities spokesman says they continue to see an influx of migrants – some arriving without proper federally approved documentation, which is required to receive services.

A report into the Sea World helicopter crash, which left four dead, is set to be released tomorrow. The report includes video footage, 3D computer modelling technology, and interviews from more than 80 witnesses, including crash survivors. Australian Transport Safety Bureau Chief Commissioner Angus Mitchell says the investigation is one of the most complex in the agency’s history. It is almost twelve months since the two helicopters collided. The collision killed four people and injured nine others.

There's a heavy police presence at this year's annual Field Day music festival in Sydney. Sniffer dogs are in place, and officers will be keeping an eye on festivalgoers at The Domain. They're expected to see headline acts such as dance group Rufus Du Sol and British rapper Central Cee. Field Day is an annual music festival which was established in 2002 and has attracted thousands of revellers each year. This comes as Victorian festival goers have flocked to Werribee for the ‘Let Them Eat Cake’ festival.

Almost one million Centrelink recipients will see a six per cent boost to their payments from today. Australian Council of Social Service CEO Cassandra Goldie says there's "no doubt" every dollar will help people. "But it does not get these key payments to the level that will lift people out of poverty," she told Sky News Australia. "Our cost of living research towards the end of now-last year showed people relying on these kinds of payments were going without food; they were going without heating and cooling. "So we want to see action - we do want the government to go much further with its approach to tackling cost of living, particularly for people on the very lowest incomes."

Huge amounts of rain are coming down in areas surrounding the border between south-east Queensland and north-east New South Wales. Sky News Meteorologist Rob Sharpe says Coffs Harbour is one of the worst places which has been hit by the severe weather system. “In just a matter of three hours, we saw 180 millimetres (of rain),” Mr Sharpe said. “This wasn’t just heavy rain or flash-flooding – we’re talking about intense rain and life-threatening flash-flooding. “That is still a chance up around the border area.”

Mayors of so-called sanctuary cities in the US are taking action to slow the influx of migrants coming to them from Texas. Authorities at the southern US border encountered a record number of migrants in December, seeing the highest monthly total recorded in more than 20 years. For months, Texas Governor Greg Abbott has sent thousands of migrants to certain cities led by Democrats, resulting in turmoil and straining resources. The mayors of Chicago, Denver and New York City are asking the federal government for help. They are also demanding coordinated drop-offs with exact times and locations to dedicate the appropriate resources.

Russia has begun hitting back at Ukraine in retaliation to yesterday’s attack on the border city of Belgorod that killed 24 people and injured 108 others. Most of the new attacks ordered by Russian President Vladimir Putin hit the city of Kharkiv in the east of Ukraine. A hotel, apartment blocks, homes, and hospitals were hit, with at least 28 people injured – according to Ukrainian authorities. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has vowed retribution. This is the latest in a flurry of tit-for-tat aerial attacks by the two countries.

The mother of an 18-year-old girl who died after taking ketamine on her first night at university has called for UK police and the government to take its dangers more seriously. The number of young people taking ketamine has tripled in Britain in recent years. Sandra Larmour now visits schools, warning young people of the risks, but she wants government action too. "The political leaders of the country need to take it seriously, and the only way that I believe it can be taken seriously is if the sentences are increased," she said. Home Office figures show ketamine is the country's fourth most popular illegal drug.