Former US president Donald Trump has angrily slammed the judge "corrupt" and asserted his innocence in his hush money as he left the New York court house on Thursday evening. Juan Manuel Merchan denied defense attorneys' requests to modify the gag order placed on Trump or declare a mistrial based on Stormy Daniels' testimony. Trump spoke briefly to reporters outside the courtroom, denouncing the judge's ruling and declaring the trial a disgrace. "You saw what happened today. I don't think we have to do any explaining, I'm not allowed to anyway, because this judge is corrupt. He's a corrupt judge," Trump said. "This judge, what he did and what his ruling was is a disgrace. "And I gotta get back on the campaign trail. I'm not supposed to be here. We are so innocent."

The Biden administration has announced a new rule which aims to speed up the removal of some illegal immigrants. The change seeks to quickly eject people from the US who are believed to have committed serious crimes or who have links to terror. The Department of Homeland Security said the new rule will improve the “security” of the southern border. “This will allow DHS to expeditiously remove individuals who pose a threat to the United States much sooner than is currently the case, better safeguarding the security of our border and our country,” the department said in a statement. But some Republicans argue the changes don't go far enough to address the immigration crisis. House Committee on Homeland Security Chairman Mark E. Green, a Republican from Tennessee called the rule an “unserious, politically motivated attempt to address a significant problem the Biden administration itself created".

Two inner-city Melbourne suburbs will reduce their speed limits to 30km/h after the Victorian government approved a two-year council trial to improve road safety.  Every street in Collingwood and Fitzroy, except for major thoroughfare roads, will have a speed limit of 30km/h under Yarra City Council’s plan.   Former Victorian Liberal Party president Michael Kroger slammed this as “just another whacky idea from green central” in Victoria.  “This is green central – so, eventually, what they’d like to do is to get cars off the roads altogether,” Mr Kroger told Sky News host Paul Murray.  “That’s basically their objective.”

EQ Economics Managing Director Warren Hogan says the cost-of-living crisis is a “diabolical situation” for the Labor government. Treasurer Jim Chalmers will deliver the federal Budget on Tuesday evening. “It is a diabolical situation for them because their every political instinct is going to be seen to be doing something but really that could be counterproductive,” Mr Hogan told Sky News Australia. “We’ll find out on Tuesday what their judgment is – both in terms of economic policy and also in terms of the politics. “I think the politics do tend to win the day, unfortunately.”

Former Labor senator Graham Richardson discusses the High Court’s decision to dismiss the case brought forward by a man under the pseudonym ASF17 who had requested to be released from immigration detention. The High Court of Australia handed down a unanimous decision stating a non-citizen who has no right to stay in the country and refuses to cooperate with their removal can remain in immigration detention indefinitely. “I think that ruling was probably expected I don’t think anyone has been terribly shocked,” Mr Richardson told Sky News Australia. “I don’t think governments have an excuse to not act on this quickly.” When asked whether the Albanese government rushed through its immigration policy, Mr Richardson said, “I don’t think there was a need to rush it at the rate they tried to do, and whenever you do that, you’re going to make some errors.”

Immigration Minister Andrew Giles has fronted the media after the High Court handed down its decision in the ASF17 case. The High Court, on Friday, rejected a challenge by an Iranian refugee known by the pseudonym ASF17. This means that the government will not have to release up to 170 asylum seekers from detention whose lack of cooperation is a factor in why they can’t be deported. “The government welcomes this decision of the court because we’ve always held this view,” Mr Giles said. “We’ll continue to work to make our migration system better, stronger, and also fairer.”

Mater Regional Health executive director Chris Went has applauded the Queensland government after it announced a $39 million funding package to improve perinatal mental healthcare services across the state. The announcement was made at the Future Townsville 2024 forum which is focusing on healthcare services across Northern Australia. “We were delighted to hear that the Queensland government is supporting perinatal mental health across the state with funding towards eight perinatal mental heath beds at our Mater Townsville private hospital for our public community,” Ms Went told Sky News Australia. “We work very closely with the hospital and health service locally here and it's just a great service for the mums and bubs of the town.”

Former Secret Service special agent Chuck Marino has slammed the Biden administration for “abandoning” its federal responsibilities of securing its borders and enforcing the immigration laws. Under President Biden, the southern border has become more chaotic than ever, with people on both sides of the political aisle calling for more to be done. “That opens up to great risks. I’m aware of it. Intelligence and law enforcement officials are aware of it,” Mr Marino told Sky News Australia. “It undercuts every single aspect of our Homeland Security apparatus, and it’s unacceptable. It should be unacceptable to the American public. “I think they realise that as the number one issue now going into the 2024 presidential election, and it also increases their risk to an unacceptable level.”

Endometriosis Australia Ambassador Julie Snook says any little bit of money and support is "great news" as the federal government is expected to announce a major boost for the more than one million Australians suffering from the disease. Beginning July next year, $49 million will go towards providing women with longer specialist consultations, all covered under Medicare. “On average, it costs a woman with endometriosis $30,000 a year in medical bills,” Ms Snook told Sky News Australia. “All the work we have done with Endometriosis Australia, we’ve been desperate for this funding, and we’ve been desperate for this support.” “Some women, on average, it takes six and a half years for a woman to be diagnosed with endometriosis. “Think of six and a half years' worth of medical appointments, in and out of GPs and specialists, trying to come up with different solutions. It adds up.” "Any little bit of money, any little bit of support we will absolutely take, this is great news."

Shadow Communications Minister David Coleman has urged the Albanese government to include age verification trials in the government’s specialised committee into social media. A Joint Parliamentary Select Committee will investigate Meta ending its financial deals with news media companies in Australia and the consequences of countering misinformation on digital platforms. The committee is expected to report on the impacts of harmful content on users' mental health. “We need to move into the era of moving into age verification to protect kids online,” Mr Coleman told Sky News Australia. “We would never allow kids to watch dangerous movies or R-rated material on TV, so why is it okay on social media? It’s not okay, it has got to stop and the government has to include social media in this trial.”

Treasurer Jim Chalmers says the federal budget will “fight inflation” without “smashing” the economy.  “It won’t be a smash and grab budget because people are hurting and the economy is slowing,” Mr Chalmers said during a media conference on Friday. “But there will be a premium on responsibility and restraint. “There will be savings in the budget, there’ll be spending restraint in the budget so that we can get the budget in much better nick to make room for our priorities.” The Albanese government is set to hand down its federal budget on Tuesday next week.

Cato Institute Latin America Policy Analyst Daniel Raisbeck discussed the controversy around El Salvador President Nayib Bukele’s battle against crime. This comes amid released footage showing the El Salvador President announcing to his cabinet they are all under investigation for corruption. “El Salvador has been, during the last few decades, one of the most violent countries in Latin America and in fact in the world,” Mr Raisbeck told Sky News host Gabriella Power. “This changed with Bukele who came to power around 5 years ago. He has … made El Salvador from one of the most violent countries in the world to one of the least violent in the region. “This has been done by violating all types of due process. “There is already several instances of Bukele really installing the early stages of an autocratic regime. “On the one hand, he is tremendously popular, he has definitely solved the issue of crime for the time being, on the other hand, he has used very questionable methods.”

Cato Institute Latin America Policy Analyst Daniel Raisbeck says there will probably be more arrests of El Salvador government figures. El Salvador President Nayib Bukele announced to his cabinet they are all under investigation for corruption, already arresting one of his advisers. “Bukele wants to portray himself not only as the victor in the war against crime but also the war against corruption,” Mr Raisbeck told Sky News host Gabriella Power. “In a certain sense, Bukele has won because there hasn’t been very many times the president of El Salvador is discussed outside of Central America or in the region, let alone across the Anglo-speaking world. “On the other hand … his tactics have been very heavy-handed. “The question is to what extent there can be any rules or checks on his power.”

The federal government will establish a specialised committee into social media in a bid for more transparency and accountability. A Joint Parliamentary Select Committee will investigate Meta ending its financial deals with news media companies in Australia. It will also examine the consequences of countering misinformation on digital platforms. The Committee is expected to report on the impacts of harmful content on users' mental health. Communications Minister Michelle Rowland says the inquiry will provide an opportunity to hold social media giants accountable.

CommSec’s Tom Piotrowski says the ASX 200 is expected to kick off in positive territory after hope “revived” in the Northern Hemisphere with interest rates. “We’re going to kick off in positive territory this morning. It will only be a modest gain up by around 0.2 of a per cent,” he told Sky News Australia. “But slightly more encouraging is the tone we saw in the Northern Hemisphere because of the fact that we saw a movement lower, where interest rates were concerned both in Europe and the United States. “Hope has revived somewhat after recent weeks of doubt that interest rates are not that far off.” Presented by CommSec.

Sky News host Paul Murray says there was a survey put out to Australians asking them about their “sense of belonging” to the country. Mr Murray said the results show people that feel they belong to Australia to a great extent is under 60 per cent in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. The results suggest people with ‘only slightly or not at all’ selected are 10 per cent of Sydney, 13 per cent of Melbourne and 11 per cent of Brisbane. “The number of people between the ages of 18-29 who believe that they have a sense of belonging to a great extent is just 26 per cent, a quarter of young people in Melbourne. “33 (per cent) in Brisbane and in Sydney.”

Sky News Australia host James Macpherson says Joe Biden has just “spooked” all US allies with a threat to withhold weapons from Israel if they invade Rafah. “Doesn’t this decision spook every US ally? “Here we are down under thinking you know what if China attacks, the US will come to our rescue. “Joe Biden has just informed all of his allies, domestic politics trumps our commitment to allies. “So you’d be thinking twice before you rely on America wouldn’t you.”

Robert F Kennedy Jr on Tuesday has reignited calls to debate former US president Donald Trump at the upcoming Libertarian Party convention. In a post to X, Kennedy wrote; "I'd like to make you an offer. We're both going to be speaking at the upcoming Libertarian convention on May 24 and 25". "It's perfect neutral territory for you and me to have a debate where you can defend your record for your wavering supporters;. "You yourself have said you're not afraid to debate me as long as my poll numbers are decent. "Well, they are. In fact, I'm the only presidential candidate in history who has polled ahead of both major party candidates in head-to-head races. "So let's meet in a couple of weeks and show the American public that at least two of the major candidates aren't afraid to debate each other". Turning Point USA contributor Erin Elmore joined Sky News Digital Presenter Gabriella Power to discuss whether the debate between the pair is likely to happen.

Sky News Australia host Caleb Bond has responded to the Hunter Valley Grammar school replacing their Mother’s Day gift stall with an ‘inclusive’ Family gift stall. “It’s the same as the whole war on Christmas,” Mr Bond said. “How many people have you met who are actually offended by Christmas? “Zero, right? “I am willing to bet a lot of money that not a single parent at Hunter Valley Grammar complained about their being a Mother’s Day gift stall.”

‘To Di For’ podcast host Kinsey Schofield has reacted to Netflix editing out Kim Kardashian being booed at Tom Brady roast. The reality television star was intensely booed by the audience during the Tom Brady's roast for Netflix. “This woman is still so powerful it’s the only thing that was removed from the Tom Brady roast,” Ms Schofield told Sky News host Rita Panahi. “That’s the only edit that was made after the live broadcast they reuploaded it without the booing of Kim Kardashian. “So why? Who requested it? That’s wild to me.”