Israel vows to ramp up fighting with Hamas, Christmas Day dampened for parts of Australia, Far North Queensland food shortages after floods ruin crops, thousands gather in Sydney to honour Gaza victims, former NSW ministers' spending revealed, US Supreme Court declines to expedite Trump court case. See omnystudio.com/listener (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information.

A former NSW premier is among multiple state politicians fined for road infringements. According to the Saturday Telegraph, Dominic Perrottet was fined for speeding in a ministerial car during his stint as premier. Four of his then-ministers were also caught speeding. Among those caught were former NSW treasurer Matt Kean and ex-Nationals MP Melinda Pavey. Ministerial drivers received the most fines for offences such as running red lights, using mobile phones, and speeding through school zones.

Bondi Partners Senior Advisor Peter McGauran says Australia “should be supporting allies” as he slammed the Albanese government’s “terrible” decision to not send a warship requested by the US for assistance against Houthi rebels in the Red Sea. "Surely we can supply a warship in the Northern Hemisphere as well as maintain our commitments in the Indo-Pacific,” Mr McGauran told Sky News Australia. “I think the bigger problem here is the government doesn’t have a warship with sufficient capability to be put in harm’s way. “The Houthis from Yemen, which is an Iranian state, are inveterate users of drones – they have destroyed targets in Saudi Arabia for instance. “I don’t believe we have a warship that has a counter-drone capacity which is a terrible indictment on our naval capacity.”

A toddler is in a serious condition after he and his mother were struck by lightning. The tragic incident occurred in Far North Queensland. The pair were injured at Mareeba on Friday afternoon as storms swept across the region. Both were taken to hospital. Reportedly, the mother is in a stable condition.

Bondi Partners Senior Advisor Peter McGauran says the “tragic but inevitable” loss of hostages as the IDF presses further into Gaza is a price they “will accept”. Mr McGauran’s comments come as reports confirm Israeli-American hostage Gadi Haggai has become the first US hostage to be killed. “Reluctantly, tragically, and sadly, they will press on to destroy Hamas,” he told Sky News Australia. “The loss of the life of hostages are part of the loss of life of October 7 and the loss of future life if Hamas remain in place. “It is just part of all of the tragedy and uncertainty of the conflict.”

Scientists in Iceland say they are surprised by how quickly volcanic activity has subsided. Thousands of residents in the town of Grindavik were evacuated several weeks ago ahead of an imminent eruption. Some locals have revealed they will never return to their town. Seismologist Kristin Jonsdottir told Sky News, “it’s a huge surprise the lava activity has stopped”. “We don’t see any activity in the craters that were active yesterday,” she said. “It’s a huge surprise for me – I was expecting the eruption to continue for much longer.”

The New South Wales government is under fire over housing developments. The state government is accused of going against planning rules to meet national housing targets. Parramatta and the Inner West Council have threatened legal action after the Minns government overturned their rejection of proposed housing developments. The Planning Department has requested a reconsideration of the council’s rejection. The request is in light of changed circumstances from the National Housing Accord’s 2029 targets.

Researchers have discovered a massive hidden mountain range near Australia. Scientists say the discovery is an underwater mountain range, featuring eight long-dormant volcanoes. It is believed some of the mountain peaks reach up to 1.5 kilometres high. The range was detected as part of a first-ever detailed underwater scan of around 20,000 square kilometres. The range lies between Tasmania and Antarctica.

‘Antipodes’ Navigator Lindsay May says there is “a sense of addiction” which comes from the Sydney to Hobart yacht race. “146 people have done more than 25 races and there are many in their 30s,” he said. “So that’s a lot of people. “It is just the getting out into the conditions – the unknown almost.” Mr May joined Sky News Australia host and 2010 Sydney to Hobart participant Ashlea Hansen to discuss his 49 years of history in the race and the necessary preparation ahead of his 50th event.

DFES Incident Controller Russell Wells says the Keysbrook bushfire is contained but is not yet under control as the Department confirmed two homes have been lost. “At this stage, it is contained – we have got a track around the entire fire,” he said during a media conference on Saturday afternoon. “But we are not saying it is controlled at this stage. “We’ve got really strong easterlies this afternoon into the evening. “It is really going to test our containment lines.”

Two Australian brothers have found themselves at the centre of a global fight over the future of video games. Their enterprise, Immutable, recently signed two major deals to become, arguably, the biggest player in Web3 gaming. The Web3 Games company utilises NFTs and cryptocurrencies which has caused debate to erupt over its influence affecting the outlook of video games. Digital purchases of gear can extend across multiple Web3 games with ownership recorded on the blockchain. The video game industry has eclipsed the combined film and TV industries, raking in more than USD 150 billion annually from in-game purchases.

A toddler and his mother were struck by lightening in Queensland’s far north, tourism operators in far north Queensland expect major losses, the New South Wales government is being accused of going against housing decisions, the court has heard Bruce Lehrmann’s final submissions in his defamation trial, two U.S. paramedics are found guilty of homicide, the Defence Force has begun dismantling it’s grounded Taipan Helicopter fleet, and $23.9 billion is expected to be spent by Australians during the Boxing Day sale period. See omnystudio.com/listener (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information.

The Colorado state Supreme Court’s disqualification of former US president Donald Trump will be appealed to the United States Supreme Court, says Washington Post’s National Political Reporter Isaac Arnsdorf. “It is expected in time for the Colorado Primary that would be in March,” he told Sky News Australia. Mr Arnsdorf explained Donald Trump expects the decision to be reversed and for him to be allowed to appear on the ballot nationwide. “A number of other lawsuits have tried this in other states and been unsuccessful,” Mr Arnsdorf said. “The Trump campaign feels very good about their chances at the Supreme Court.”

Another US government shutdown looms as lawmakers have already wrapped up their business for the year. US lawmakers are facing another government shutdown in January unless a bill to fund the government can be passed. House Speaker Mike Johnson cobbled together one stopgap bill to avoid a shutdown just after the ouster of former Speaker Kevin McCarthy. Congress passed only 30 bills this year which became law. One was the annual defence bill which raised pay for service members.

A major fruit and vegetable processor is pleading for science to drive the management of the Murray Darling River Basin, not politics. The Chair of SPC Hussain Rifai has told Sky News rising water prices would not only hit local growers but the businesses that help put produce on supermarket shelves. Mr Rifai says SPC suppliers, and local growers in and around Shepparton and the Golden Valley need water supply certainty. The Murray-Darling Basin Plan sets limits on how much water can be used for irrigation, and drinking water, to ensure the long-term health of the environment. Victoria is the only state that hasn’t agreed to the Murray-Darling Basin plan because of buybacks.

Shoppers are set to splurge at this year’s Boxing Day sales despite cost-of-living pressures. Thousands of people are expected to head to retailers around the country to finish their last-minute Christmas shopping on the weekend. The Australian Retailers Association says 88 per cent of Australians will still buy Christmas presents this year, despite the cost of living crisis. Boxing Day sales are just around the corner, but a whopping $9 billion is expected to be spent before then. About $23.9 billion is expected to be spent by Australians during the Boxing Day sale period.

Salvation Army public relations secretary Major Warren Elliott says people from “all walks of life” are struggling and have been forced to reach out for help and support this Christmas. Research from the Salvation Army revealed that 68 per cent of Australians are being seriously impacted by the cost of living crisis this Christmas. It is estimated more than 5.3 million Aussies won't be able to afford a Christmas meal. “We're concerned that a lot of people are really struggling over Christmas in a number of different ways and people from all different walks of life are struggling,” Mr Elliot told Sky News Australia. “People are spending less on food, people are going out less … they're purchasing less presents for their children and for their family so people are really doing it tough.”

Victorian commuters will be stung even more for travelling around the transport network. The state government has announced it will increase Myki fares for the second time in six months. The move is part of an effort to fund growing debts. Fare increases are expected to be in line with inflation. The new prices will come into effect in 2024, but passengers will benefit from free travel on Christmas Day and on New Year's Eve.

A toddler is in a serious condition after he and his mother were struck by lightning in Queensland's far north. Emergency crews were called to Mareeba at around 3:40pm on Friday following reports two people had been seriously injured when lightning struck outside a property. The pair were taken to Mareeba Hospital. It's understood the mother is in a stable condition. November 2023 saw the most lightning strikes ever recorded in Australian meteorological history, with 40 million lightning pulses detected.

Tourism operators in Far North Queensland are experiencing a significant downturn in bookings and an increase in cancellations following flooding. Tourism businesses south of the flood zone are also say they will feel the impact of ex-Tropical Cyclone Jasper. The Whitsundays Tourism operators said they expect to lose out on over $10 million in business. The state government has approved special temporary planning powers. Their aim is to keep vital services open 24 hours a day to assist residents in the eight impacted local government areas.