AAP Rolling News Bulletin for June 7 at 1430
AUKUS (CANBERRA)
The AUKUS agreement is "full steam ahead", Prime Minister Anthony Albanese insists, despite renewed criticism over the nuclear submarine deal.
In the latest alteration to the defence agreement with the United States and the UK, Australia will receive three second-hand Virginia-class nuclear submarines from the US, despite the original terms of the arrangement stipulating two used and one new boat.
The setback has reignited scrutiny over the mega-money deal.
It showed the greatest strategic risk Australia faced at the moment was losing sovereignty to Washington over the defence of the nation, Greens defence spokesman David Shoebridge told the ABC's Insiders program on Sunday.
Australia risked being dragged into a conflict between the US and China as a result, Senator Shoebridge said, and questioned the need for nuclear submarines to defend Australia's maritime approaches.
Ukraine (KYIV)
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer is set to host Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz to discuss ongoing support for Ukraine.
The Ukrainian leader will visit the United Kingdom on Sunday with the two other leaders, officials in Downing Street said.
It comes after a large-scale Ukrainian drone attack targeted St Petersburg, Russia's second-largest city, on Saturday, underscoring the country's growing ability to hit deep inside Russia.
Russia's defence ministry said on Saturday its anti-aircraft units had intercepted and destroyed 339 Ukrainian drones over a 13-hour period in various Russian regions including Moscow.
The ministry, posting on Telegram, listed 13 regions where the interceptions took place, plus areas over the Black Sea, between 7am and 8pm.
Iran (TEHRAN)
Lebanese army commander General Rudolf Haykal has left on a visit to Pakistan, Lebanon's army says, amid Pakistani efforts to mediate an end to the US-Israeli conflict with Iran that has also spilled into Lebanon.
The army said the visit was at the invitation of Haykal's Pakistani counterpart but did not immediately provide further details on its purpose or duration.
The surprise visit is notable given the insistence by the United States - and by Lebanese leaders including the president - that ceasefire talks for Lebanon remain separate from US-Iran negotiations mediated by Pakistan.
It comes as Iran's government again warned neighbouring countries against making their territory available for potential US military operations against it.
"The countries in the region should observe the principle of good neighbourliness and not use their territory for aggressive actions against Iran," the Iranian foreign ministry said on Saturday.
Mideast (HEBRON)
A seven-month-old Palestinian has been laid to rest in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, a day after he was shot dead and his parents were injured by the Israeli military near Hebron, according to family members who witnessed the shooting and the Palestinian health ministry.
Sam Fahd Abu Haikal, wrapped in a white shroud and a Palestinian flag, was buried in Hebron after funeral prayers were held at a nearby mosque.
The infant was killed on Friday while travelling with his family by car near the city of Hebron.
"What happened to us is not a matter of an apology. What happened is not that shots were fired by mistake and led to this tragedy," the child's father, Fahd, said on Saturday.
Ukraine (ST PETERSBURG)
Residents of St Petersburg have been told not to leave their homes after a "large-scale" Ukrainian drone attack targeted the city.
The attack on Saturday underscored Kyiv's growing ability to hit deep inside Russia and coming a day after the Russian president refused an offer to meet his Ukrainian counterpart.
St Petersburg governor Alexander Beglov advised the residents not to go outside and warned of possible disruptions to mobile internet service, while regional governor Alexander Drozdenko said 141 drones were shot down over the surrounding Leningrad region.
Russia's defence ministry said its air defences shot down 376 Ukrainian drones.
"Last night, our drones covered a distance of about 1000km to the St Petersburg region - to the enemy navy's arsenals and a base in Kronstadt," Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy wrote of the attack on X.
Mideast (EAST JERUSALEM)
Israeli troops have killed a seven-month-old Palestinian baby boy after firing at his parents' vehicle in the occupied West Bank, the Palestinian health ministry said.
Sam Fahd Abu Haikal was killed on Friday evening, and his parents were wounded while driving in the Tel Rumeida area south of Hebron City, according to the ministry.
The official Palestinian news agency WAFA said the infant was critically wounded after being struck in the jaw by the same bullet that injured his mother.
He later died of his injuries.
His father, Fahd Abdul Aziz Abu Haikal, a lecturer at Bethlehem University, was shot in the hand.
They were travelling from Bethlehem to visit family in Hebron when soldiers opened fire, the agency reported.
Shark (PERTH)
A man has died after being attacked by a shark while spearfishing with his family.
The 35-year-old was bitten by a suspected 4.5-metre shark at about 11.20am on Saturday off Michaelmas Island near Albany in Western Australia's south west.
"He was conveyed back to shore by boat where he was met by paramedics,'' WA Police said in a statement.
"Sadly, he was unable to be revived."
The death comes after father of two, Steven "Mattas" Mattaboni, was killed while diving at Horseshoe Reef off Rottnest Island near Perth in May.
The 38-year-old was pulled from the water after being bitten and was rushed by boat to a jetty at Geordie Bay on the north side of the island.
Paramedics were unable to revive him.
NZ Aust (CANBERRA)
Australia's diplomatic relationship with New Zealand is "in the best shape it has ever been" as the leaders of both nations meet to discuss trade, defence and foreign affairs.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and New Zealand counterpart Christopher Luxon held the annual leaders' meeting in Noosa, Queensland, on Saturday.
Mr Luxon arrived in Australia on Friday for a two-day visit.
He told reporters the relationship between the two nations was "in the best shape it's ever been".
"At its core this is a relationship that is deeply integrated, it is highly practical and pragmatic," Mr Luxon said on Saturday.
"It's focused on delivering outcomes for both of our countries, and the priority for both of us is to continue to build on that strength, focusing on positioning Australia and New Zealand to make the most of the opportunities ... in spite of the volatility and the uncertainty."
In entertainment ...
Noise (SYDNEY)
Gigs at one of Australia's most famous landmarks are set to get louder.
Along with lifting capacity limits, sound regulation for late-night concerts at the Sydney Opera House's forecourt will be raised to be consistent with settings for daytime gigs.
NSW ministers labelled the tweaks as common sense and said sound restrictions would no longer be determined by residents of the 'Toaster' - the nearby luxury apartment building whose residents have regularly complained about noise.
Notably, the Opera House copped a $15,000 fine after residents complained about the volume of a performance from English band Florence and The Machine in 2015.
"Over the decades it became a Sydney sport to move in next door to a pub and then campaign to close it down," Arts and Night-time Economy Minister John Graham said on Sunday
Arts Remote (MELBOURNE)
In the remote community of Papulankutja in Western Australia, diesel is $4.28 a litre, roughly double the price in capital cities.
One of the few sources of income in the community is its not-for-profit arts centre, but selling artworks at Aboriginal art fairs requires huge amounts of travel.
Making it to the Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair in August, for example, is a journey of some 2500km, at a time when filling up the four-wheel-drive costs about $350.
"With fuel going up, prices are definitely more expensive and general travel costs have increased," arts centre worker Simone from Papulankutja Artists told AAP.
Papulankutja, also known as Blackstone, is 900km west of Alice Springs - it's a five hour drive to get to a bitumen road at Yulara, another five to Alice Springs and 15 more to Darwin.
In sport ...
RL Origin NSW (SYDNEY)
Jason Ryles insists Mitch Moses will be fit for the second State of Origin match despite missing Parramatta's last NRL match before NSW team selection.
Scratched from Origin I the day before kick-off, five-eighth Moses has resumed running on return from his minor hamstring injury.
But his omission from Monday's NRL clash against Canterbury robbed Moses of his last chance to reaffirm his credentials before Origin II on June 17.
Eels coach Ryles said "it wasn't worth" risking captain and star player Moses for round 14, but that he was tracking well in his recovery ahead of Origin II.
"All you need to know is, if he gets selected, he'll be right to play," said Ryles.
"They just build up their speeds of running and their volumes and he's in the middle of that at the moment.
Com26 Swi (SYDNEY)
Australian swimmer Shayna Jack was driven by anger, pain and injustice.
Now vying for her third Commonwealth Games appearance, the Paris Olympic gold medallist has found new motivation: swimming in Glasgow with younger brother Jamie.
Australia's 42-strong squad for this year's Games will be decided from Monday in the week-long trials at Sydney Olympic Park, with selection for the Pan Pacific championships also on the table.
Freestyle swimmer Jack will be just one of many heavyweights in the Sydney pool, joined by Mollie O'Callaghan, Kaylee McKeown, and an in-form Lani Pallister.
Pallister has set herself an audacious program, racing in the 100, 200, 400, 800 and 1500 freestyle events.
Cameron McEvoy - 50-metre freestyle world record holder - headlines the men's field, alongside Kyle Chalmers and Zac Stubblety-Cook.
Ends Bulletin
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