US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has held a meeting with Qatar's Prime Minister to discuss easing tensions and negotiating a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war. Secretary Blinken emphasised the US' priority of preventing the spread of the conflict – noting an increase in Houthi attacks in shipping lanes as an effect of the war. He also thanked the Qatari government for its role in negotiating a previous ceasefire in November and stressed the importance of increasing the flow of humanitarian aid. The Qatari PM stressed Gaza and the West Bank must remain under Palestinian control, with international recognition as a state, for stable and lasting peace in the region. He says the two also discussed their shared opposition to any forced displacement of Palestinian civilians from Gaza or the West Bank.

CommSec’s Craig James says Australia is going to experience a “flat start” following a “mixed lead-in” from overseas markets. Mr James joined Sky News Australia to give the latest update on the stock markets in Australia and across the globe. “But the US markets were a smidgen higher,” he said. “Dow Jones was up by 26 points or one tenth of one per cent. “NASDAQ was also up by one tenth of one per cent … overall the share price index on the futures is pointing to a fall by just three points at the start of trade so a fairly steady start to the week.” Presented by CommSec.

Hollywood's awards season kicks off today as the 81st Golden Globes Awards are held. Hosted by Comedian Jo Koy, this will be the first ceremony since the dissolution of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association. Three Australian actors are up for awards: Margot Robbie for ‘Barbie’, Sarah Snook for ‘Succession’, and Elizabeth Debicki for ‘The Crown’. Greta Gerwig's 'Barbie' leads the film nominations with nine nods, closely followed by Christopher Nolan's ‘Oppenheimer’ with eight. 'Succession' is the most nominated television program.

A 90-year-old woman has been miraculously rescued from the rubble of her collapsed home 124 hours after the New Year's Day earthquake. The woman from Suzu City had survived more than 5 days after the 7.6 magnitude earthquake hit her area last Monday. The discovery of this elderly lady has spurred hope, as survival rates diminish greatly after 72 hours. More than 500 people were injured, at least 27 of them seriously. More than 200 people remain unaccounted for, following the quake.

Nationals Leader David Littleproud is calling for an inquiry into supermarket pricing. The Nationals Leader warned that if something isn't done soon, producers could soon send more overseas to try to survive. “Supermarkets are cleaning up and they are cleaning up not just at farmers' expense they're cleaning up at consumers' expense as well,” Mr Littleproud said. The federal government is reviewing the supermarket code of conduct, amid growing anger over the gap between food prices charged by big supermarkets and those paid to farmers. And a senate inquiry will look at the power and practices of supermarkets over the next few months.

Several areas of Victoria are under severe weather warnings- after heavy rain and flooding. Around 100 millimetres of rain has been forecast across northern regions, potentially flooding catchments already full from last week's rain. Victoria's State Emergency Service is warning flood-prone areas are at particular risk, reminding residents to take necessary precautions. Victoria SES State Agency Commander David Baker urging people to stay away from flood water and not to drive through. “You’re driving a car, not a boat, they don’t float,” Mr Baker told Sky News Australia. “So just stay away from flood waters, stay on higher ground and stay safe.” Mr Baker said the SES has already seen 20 flood rescues in the first seven days of 2024.

US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin has taken responsibility for the secrecy surrounding his ongoing week-long hospitalisation. He was admitted to Water Reed National Military Medical Centre in Maryland on New Year's Day for what the Pentagon says were procedural complications. The Pentagon has been accused of failing to inform Congress immediately as required by law. It is unclear how widely shared the information was. Mr Austin resumed his duties on Friday evening but remains in hospital.

SES Agency Commander Mark Cattel has warned Victorians who decide to drive into floodwater that it “could be the last decision you make” as the state faces heavy rainfall. Several areas of Victoria are under flood watch ahead of forecast rain and thunderstorms over the coming days. 150 millimetres of rain have been forecast but authorities predict there could be more than 200 millimetres of rainfall. Mr Cattel said the SES has already seen 20 flood rescues in the first seven days of 2024. “We’re certainly pleading for public not to be driving into floodwater,” he told Sky News Australia. “The decision you make to drive into floodwater could be the last decision you make.”

Australians may see an increase in the price of fresh food produce, as Queensland farmers threaten a walkout. Supermarket pricing problems may see up to 30 per cent of Queensland fruit and vegetable growers walk away from the industry. Farmers say they are not being paid a fair price for produce, with supermarkets selling produce such as melons for almost four times the price. National Party leader David Littleproud is calling for an ACCC inquiry into pricing in response. “The cost of living crisis was before Christmas, we could have had a better Christmas, and people could have made better choices at Christmas time because we could have had the ACCC look at the supermarkets and force them and the government to take action against them,” Mr Littleproud said.

A dog in the northwestern US is expected to recover after an alarming fall of almost 100 metres. An air, land and sea rescue was enough to pull the golden retriever from the water before flying him home to his family. Footage captured the dramatic helicopter rescue off the shores of Oregon. Coast Guard rescue found ‘Leo’ bloodied and bruised but conscious. Leo’s owners say he is doing well after spending the night at an emergency vet.

US-Mexico border crossings reached a record monthly high in December 2023. More than 220,000 migrants were found along the border by authorities, making it the highest monthly recorded total since 2000. Democratic Congressman Don Davis visited Eagle Pass, Texas on Friday to witness the issues the southern border is facing firsthand. It comes as the talks between lawmakers and the White House continue over the supplemental spending agreement where President Biden has requested $USD14 billion for additional border funding. Congressman Don Davis said they must act fast as the ongoing crisis is not sustainable.

An 11-year-old girl has died eight days after being involved in a multi-vehicle crash in the NSW Central Tablelands. The 5-car accident claimed the lives of two drivers on the Great Western Highway at Lithgow on December 29. The girl was among six passengers in the Kia – five of which were children aged from five to 15. The four other children remain in the hospital in stable condition. The woman who was in the vehicle has since been released from hospital.

Victorian Liberal MP Cindy McLeish discusses the growing concern among Victorian communities over the threat of flash flooding as the state experiences heavy rain. The state’s northwest and High Country regions are particularly expected to be hit hard by rain. Ms McLeish says there is particular concern around the threat of flash flooding as there is notable capacity in rivers and dams in the state. “We had some heavy rain and storm a week or so ago and a lot of that water got absorbed which was pretty good,” she told Sky News Australia. “So unless there’s drains that are blocked, there’s always drains on roads that are blocked and in streets, and that causes a lot of flash flooding – I expect that’s probably going to happen.” She applauded drivers who have been “sensible” on roads amid heavy rain. “That’s what’s required if you don’t need to be out – don’t be out.”

Alaska Airlines has been ordered to ground all of its Boeing 737 Max 9 aircraft after a section of a plane blew out mid-flight. The plane departed from Portland, Oregon for Ontario, California but was forced to return to make an emergency landing. There were reportedly 171 passengers and four flight attendants onboard with two pilots. “Fortunately, all passengers deplaned – we are not aware of any serious injuries,” National Transportation Safety Board Chair Jennifer Homendy said in a press conference. “We are aware of reports of minor injuries … I imagine this was a pretty terrifying event, we don’t often talk about psychological injury but I’m sure that occurred here.”

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The United States East Coast is preparing for its first major snowfall of 2024. The storm is expected to bring heavy snow to more than a dozen states. The National Weather Service has issued winter storm warnings for the Carolinas up through Maine. Parts of New York state and New England could see as much as a foot of snow. Emergency crews have spent the last few days chaining up their tyres and salting up the roadways.

Several parts of Victoria are under severe weather warnings, southeast Queensland will be provided with more disaster funding, Victorian local governments are bracing for fringe and anti-lockdown groups plan to get elected, Eric Abetz will seek pre-selection for Tasmania's next state election, farmers threaten walkout over unfair pricing, Melbourne’s west gate freeway will endure closures, a wild brawl has erupted at a major festival in Canberra. See omnystudio.com/listener (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information.

Donald Trump believes the entire Republican Party should show “allegiance” to him, says The Washington Post White House Bureau Chief Toluse Olorunnipa. “He not only wants to defeat his Republican rivals — he wants to crush them, he wants to embarrass them, he wants to drive them out of the Republican Party,” Mr Olorunnipa said. “I would not be surprised if this primary race becomes very brutal, becomes very nasty. “And in the general election – between potentially Donald Trump and the current president Joe Biden – could be even darker, even more gloomy, even more nasty.” According to a Fox Business poll of Iowa GOP caucus-goers, Mr Trump is polling at 52 per cent, Ron DeSantis at 18 per cent, Nikki Haley at 16 per cent, Vivek Ramaswamy is at seven per cent and Chris Christie is at three per cent. More than 80 per cent of Trump supporters say their minds cannot be changed at this point.

Queensland shopping centres are calling on the government for tougher laws to address violent crime. It comes as criminals are stashing deadly weapons in shopping malls. These include the hiding of knives in malls across Queensland. The Shopping Centre Council of Australia is calling Queensland Premier Steven Miles to make the deliberate concealment of a weapon a criminal offence. The Queensland government has already introduced laws banning the sale of replica guns and knives to children.

A neighbourhood in Alaska’s biggest city has seen one of its new year’s traditions return. The tradition involves an eight-metre snowman nicknamed ‘Snowzilla’. Put up in time to ring in the new year after a long hiatus – this is just one of a few novel ways people around the United States have celebrated the start of 2024. The snowman had previously been on a ten-year hiatus. One family celebrated the return by recreating a family photo taken before the hiatus.