Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says Foreign Minister Penny Wong is going to visit Israel and will speak to the family and friends of the hostages. Ms Wong touched down in Jordan at about 5am on Tuesday to begin her tour of the Middle East, which will include stops in Israel, the Occupied Palestinian Territories and the United Arab Emirates. The Foreign Minister has attracted criticism for deciding not to visit kibbutzim, which saw horrific violence during Hamas’ October 7 attacks. “Penny Wong is visiting Israel - she’s speaking to the family and friends of the hostages,” Mr Albanese said during a media conference on Tuesday. “Both those people who have been released but also the families who quite rightly want people released.”

USSC Foreign Policy and Defence Director Professor Peter Dean says the Labor government boosting Australia’s plan for guided missile manufacture is a “very positive move”. The government announced a significant boost to Australia's plan for domestic guided weapons manufacturing and acquisitions. “The guided weapons enterprise is a key pillar of the strategy that’s embedded within the Defence Strategic Review that the government has adopted,” he told Sky News Australia. “So along with programs like AUKUS and, of course, other programs to develop capability, this is really going to sit at the centre of what Australia’s developing for its defence and security going forward. “As we’ve seen from the lessons from Ukraine, for instance, that not only are these particular capabilities – the prism missiles, GMLRS missiles that are launched out of the HMAS batteries are particularly important on the battlefield, the ability to manufacture them domestically is absolutely key to Australia’s sovereign defence capability.”

Scott County GOP Chair Jeanita McNulty reveals the number one issue motivating Iowa Republican voters. Early results for the Iowa caucuses show Donald Trump is the clear frontrunner for the Republican presidential nomination. Ms McNulty told Sky News Australia the key issue Iowans are concerned with is the nation’s border. “The border affects everything,” she said. “It affects the economy which effects Iowans when they go to the grocery store, when they go to the gas station – everyone is connected to a wide open border.”

Hollywood actress and activist Susan Sarandon has been criticised for her new post about the Israel-Hamas war. Ms Sarandon posted a message on ‘X’ which read, “Don’t let anyone tell you it started on October 7th 2023”. It was posted one day after the 100-day anniversary of the attack on Israel by Hamas terrorists. Some people responded to the post describing it as “anti-Semitic”. “Imagine the good you could do if you just exhibited empathy for both sides of this conflict, and called out Hamas for its uniquely horrific actions, and its responsibility for setting off what ensued,” one user wrote. Ms Sarandon apologised last year for comments she made at pro-Palestine rally, where she declared American Jews “are getting a taste of what it feels like to be a Muslim" amid a rise in anti-Semitism.

Parts of Queensland stare down the barrel of a fresh cyclone threat, two Queensland men killed in a plane crash on Sunday identified, the City of Sydney council confiscate a banned coat of arms flag, geopolitics and AI set to dominate World Economic Forum discussions, thousands of German farmers descend on Berlin in protest, stars gather on the red carpet for the 75th Emmy Awards, and Lionel Messi has been named FIFA's best men's player.  See omnystudio.com/listener (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information.

Two men injured in a Sydney truck crash, Houthi rebels claim responsibility for a missile strike on a U.S. container ship near Yemen, Hamas release a new video announcing the death of two Israeli hostages, the bushfire emergency north of Perth has been downgraded to a Watch and Act, an 83 year old man has died in a unit fire in Adelaide, and NSW residents could soon benefit from a new cost of living relief package.   See omnystudio.com/listener (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information.

Former White House deputy chief of staff Emma Doyle says the rurality of Donald Trump’s supporters in Iowa may cut into his lead and “damage momentum” ahead of the caucuses. “Based on the polling I’ve seen, I don’t think there is a way for Haley to catch him,” Ms Doyle told Sky News Australia. “Although, a strong showing coming in second would certainly benefit her going into the next primary in New Hampshire. “Iowa isn’t really about the number of delegates to win the nomination; it’s really about showing that a candidate is viable and has enough support to keep going and maintain a campaign to the next couple of primaries.” The mid-western state of Iowa will today become the first in the United States to cast a ballot, to decide the Republican nominee for President this coming November.

Crews are working to clear a major Sydney road after two trucks collided earlier this morning. Two men had to be freed after the smash at Berkshire Park around 5:30am on Tuesday morning. SES crews were one of the first to respond to beginning the difficult task of cutting the truck drivers out of the mangled mess followed by Fire and Rescue crews. One of the truck drivers was in a much worse condition and required much more assistance from paramedics. Due to the driver's severe condition, he was airlifted to Westmead Hospital.

US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin has been released from hospital. The 70-year-old was admitted to an intensive care unit a fortnight ago. His admission followed surgery complications from an operation in December. His doctors claim his prognosis is excellent. No further treatment is planned for Mr Austin, according to his doctors.

Business NSW Chief Executive Daniel Hunter has welcomed Industrial Relations Minister Tony Burke’s move to meet with DP World over its dispute with the Maritime Union. Supply chains are facing major disruptions amid strikes from one of the nation’s largest port operators. Mr Burke’s involvement marks the Albanese government’s first intervention in the biggest industrial action on the ports for nearly a decade, according to The Australian. DP World is set to meet the minister on Thursday morning. “The union and the provider need to sit down and they need to sort this out and they need to progress it and solve it,” Mr Hunter told Sky News Australia. “If the government needs to intervene, the time is now.”

The Albanese government is yet to send additional personnel to assist Western allies in the Red Sea. Labor had promised to triple Australian defence personnel in the region recently. The Prime Minister says the help promised is what's required of Australia, which consists of operational support in Bahrain. Australians will play no part in supporting joint US-UK strikes against Houthi ­terrorists in Yemen. Defence Minister Richard Marles says Australia’s decision to support the strikes was ”not taken lightly”.

An Australian actor, who took a break from Hollywood to advocate for Israel in the wake of the October 7 attacks, has accused the local pro-Palestinian movement of “hypocrisy”. In his only Australian interview, The Vampire Diaries star Nate Buzolic told Sky News that “Palestinian propagandists” have the advantage of most of the country having “very little understanding about Israel and they want you to stay in that world of ignorance.” Buzolic starred in the hit US television series and its spinoff The Originals, gaining an online following of millions. The actor now uses his huge platform to counter rising antisemitism.

Australian actor Nate Buzolic is using his huge online platform to advocate for Israel in the wake of the October 7 attacks and to fight back against rising antisemitism. He has called the pro-Palestinian movement in Australia “hypocritical” and full of “hatred” for Jews. Mr Buzolic sat down with Sky News Senior Reporter Caroline Marcus for his only Australian interview on a visit to Sydney. “It’s a bizarre point in human history that we’re living in where we say racism is wrong in 2023 but racism towards Jews is going to be okay,” Mr Buzolic said. “We either support or be complicit in a radical ideology that has no desire for peace or we actually stand up and say enough is enough.” The Aussie actor travelled to Israel shortly after October 7 and spent weeks meeting survivors, the families of hostages, released hostages and political leaders.

Sky News host Liz Storer says Foreign Minister Penny Wong’s actions show she is just trying to “check the box” with her visit to Israel. “I don’t think it is inexplicable … it is very obvious what they are trying to do here,” Ms Storer said. “She is trying to check the box by having said ‘well we’ve been, I did it, I went to Israel’. “After the pressure that has been placed on them from those of us here in Australia. “Which are the vast majority who support Israel and their right to defend themselves and indeed to exist.”

Melbourne Deputy Lord Mayor Nicholas Reece has predicted Keir Starmer and Labour to win UK election in 2024. "I think Keir Starmer and Labour are going to win the election in Britain later this year," he told Sky News host Paul Murray. "It will be the first time the government has changed in that country for around 15 years. "And unlike the US I think it will be probably a good example of how in a democracy you can have a transferral of power between political opposing parties and do it without bloodshed."

Sky News host James Macpherson says Joe Biden is not faring well in the polls. With 28 per cent of Americans reckon he doesn’t have enough mental capacity to be president. It comes ahead as voters in Iowa will be the first in the nation to cast ballots in deciding who should be the Republican nominee for president at this year’s election. Former President Donald Trump has hit new highs in his polling lead over his opponents, with a recent poll showing 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.

Sky News host Sharri Markson says Cricket South Africa's decision to remove Jewish player David Teeger from his captaincy of the under 19s was to "punish" rather than protect him. Teeger had dedicated his Rising Star Award at a Jewish achiever ceremony to a South African family whose son was missing in Israel, sparking outrage and controversy. “There was an inquiry to see if he had breached any codes, with complaints claiming his words were provocative because Palestinians were being killed by the Israeli army,” Ms Markson said. “Teeger defended himself by saying it was his personal view that Israel has not committed genocide, war crimes or crimes against humanity. He was cleared of all charges and it seemed the matter was over." On Friday, South Africa stripped him of his cricket captaincy, claiming they were protecting him and were only worried about his safety ahead of protests at tournament venues. “They're not protecting Teeger, they're punishing him for being Jewish, for supporting a Jewish homeland – it’s clearly religious discrimination,” Ms Markson said.

Donald Trump has urged Americans in Iowa to brave the cold weather and to get out and vote for him ahead of this week's caucuses. "You can't sit home," Trump said. "If you're sick as a dog you say: God I gotta make it," he said. "Even if you vote and then pass away, it's worth it." According to a recent poll by the Des Moines Register and NBC News revealed 48 per cent of Iowa voters supported Trump, while 20 per cent backed Haley and 16 per cent picked DeSantis.

Sky News host Andrew Bolt has taken aim at Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s response to China’s latest “bully boy threats”. Mr Bolt said China Foreign Minister Wang Yi was “furious” over Taiwan DPP vice-president Lai Ching-te’s win in the country’s presidential election. Wang Yi particularly took aim at those who support Taiwanese independence during a scathing speech. “What is the Albanese government’s response to the communist dictatorship’s threats to us here and to the Taiwanese?” Mr Bolt added. “Nothing – silence.”

The Albanese government stays silent as China issues yet another threat, a victory against the woke race politics threatening Australia's economic future. Plus, Michael Kroger joins from Israel over Foreign Minister Penny Wong's Middle East trip. See omnystudio.com/listener (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information.