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.”

Liberal Party Defence and National Security Policy Chair Lincoln Parker has called the decision by the Albanese government to not donate retired helicopters to Ukraine “insane” because it is equipment “we’re no longer using”. Ukraine is pleading with the Australian government to donate its fleet of retired Taipan helicopters instead of dismantling and burying them. It was revealed on Thursday morning that Defence Minister Richard Marles was yet to respond to a request from the Ukrainians which came more than a month ago. Acting Defence Minister Pat Conroy formally rejected the request on Thursday afternoon. “This time [the Ukrainians] have asked for Taipan helicopters that we’re no longer using and, again, Prime Minister Albanese has said no,” Mr Parker told Sky News host Erin Parker. “In fact, what we’re going to do with these helicopters is bury them – and I mean literally bury them in the ground instead of giving them to Ukraine who desperately need them. “It’s insane.”

Former Australian Special Forces commando Wes Hennessey “categorically disagrees” with the idea of recruiting non-Australians into the Defence Forces. “We have a retention issue; we have a recruitment issue,” he told Sky News host Erin Molan. “You would have read in the media that we are contemplating bringing in recruits who have non-Australian citizenship - which I categorically disagree with. “But it just gives you an idea of how desperate the Australian Defence Forces is to build the numbers that we require into the future.” Mr Hennessey’s comments come as the Minister for Veterans’ Affairs Matt Keogh said the government are looking at how they might be able to grow the ADF from "friendly forces from other countries.”

China's Ministry of Commerce says it's keeping an eye on developments in the Red Sea. Beijing claims it's willing to provide assistance to affected foreign trade enterprises. A spokesperson for the ministry released a statement saying it hopes all parties will work together to ensure security along the major shipping route. Houthi - a militant group from Yemen - have been targeting Israeli-linked ships and disrupting a vital commercial waterway in retaliation for Israel's war against Hamas in Gaza. The United States launched strikes on the Iran-backed Houthi rebels in response.

There is "great concern" in the retail industry as consumers are urged to stock up on imported goods before prices "go up" and items entirely disappear, says Australian Retailers Association CEO Paul Zahra. Mr Zahra’s comments come after the federal government refused to mediate an industrial standoff between Dubai-based logistics company DP World and its employees. DP World employees are requesting a 16 per cent pay rise across two years which, after months of negotiations, has led to increasingly disruptive industrial action. “All consumers can do is right now is if they see something that is imported and they want it, they should buy it because it may not be there in the future,” Mr Zahra told Sky News Australia. “Until this is resolved, consumers get what they need also be very patient and tolerant towards retailers and retail staff.”

Former first lady Melania Trump has memorialised her late mother, Amalija Knavs, during her funeral. Amalija Knavs died on January 9 at age 78 and was honoured at the Episcopal Church of Bethesda-by-the-Sea in Palm Beach. During an emotional eulogy, the former first lady spoke about her mother as “a ray of light in the darkest of days”. Melania also spoke about how she always found peace in her mother’s “nurturing spirit” and “unparalleled affection”. “She embodied the best mother, wife, grandmother, mother-in-law, a true beacon of love and luxury in our lives,” she said. The former model concluded her eulogy by saying, “Rest in peace, my beloved mummy”. Melania was seen supported by her father Viktor Knavs, son Barron Trump and husband Donald Trump, who skipped his New York defamation trial to attend the funeral.

Sky News Australia host Piers Morgan says US President Joe Biden’s problem is his “clear senility”. “I think the problem is not his age,” Mr Morgan said. “I think that Joe Biden’s problem is the clear senility that’s going with his age.” He said the Democrats decided to “finish” former president Donald Trump off with 91 criminal charges, but it’s had the “complete opposite effect”. “It has fuelled a resurge in Trump, and you cannot deny it,” Mr Morgan said.

Democratic strategist Jessica Tarlov says there is a “problem going on” with media coverage of the Biden presidency and campaign. “Everybody knows now that you want to print stories that get clicks, and negative stories are the ones that do,” she told Sky News Australia host Piers Morgan. “Even people who are huge supporters of the President focus on all the polls that are negative. “I think the President himself needs to be more visible. “He connects with people.”