AAP Rolling News Bulletin for June 10 at 0100
Ukraine (TALLINN)
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has arrived in Estonia to attend a summit of Nordic and Baltic leaders, a visit that comes amid friction over Ukrainian drones straying into the region in recent months.
The drones have crashed into the chimney of a power plant in Estonia, hit empty fuel tanks in Latvia and been shot down by Romanian fighter jets stationed in Lithuania.
Ukrainian officials apologised, saying the drones had been aimed at military targets inside Russia but were sent off course by Russian electronic interference.
Estonia is hosting the summit in its capital, Tallinn.
The country holds the rotating presidency of the NB8, a regional grouping of the five Nordic countries and the three Baltic states.
It brought together the bloc's prime ministers, along with Zelenskiy.
Legal: Starling (SYDNEY)
Whether a NRL star was pulled down from a stage by police officers or jumped on them from a height is a key question in the trial of two officers charged with assault.
Evan Huw Prowse and Steven Lockwood Brown have both pleaded not guilty to the common assault of Canberra Raiders hooker Tom Starling at a 21st birthday party in December 2020.
Starling, his brothers Jackson and Josh and friend Jesse Byrne, had originally been charged with assaulting police and resisting arrest after a drunken night out on the NSW Central Coast.
But those charges were later dropped, and Brown and Prowse were subsequently charged with assaulting the NRL player, who suffered concussion and a bloodied face in the incident.
NDIS (CANBERRA)
Disabled Australians have slammed a huge overhaul of funding that would give a single minister the power to cut support as they see fit.
People have been given just over a fortnight to respond to laws which would deliver the largest ever cuts to the National Disability Insurance Scheme.
Disabled people are at risk of losing their independence and enjoyment as a result, a senate inquiry into proposed changes was told on Tuesday.
The Albanese government maintains the cuts are needed to curb a $50 billion spending blow out in the scheme.
About $11 billion of the $16.6 billion savings forecast for 2029/30 will come from eligibility changes, including more detailed assessments, modelling from the Grattan Institute shows.
The changes are likely to reduce the number of NDIS participants to 598,000 in 2030/31 - a third of the expected cohort if no changes were made.
CFMEU (BRISBANE)
A senior public servant braced for a physical assault during an "unhinged" CFMEU boss's frightening tirade, an inquiry has been told.
Andrea Fox fought back tears as she described the meeting, saying former CFMEU state leader Michael Ravbar threatened to have her "physically dragged downstairs" and thrown into the street.
But Mr Ravbar has denied scaring Ms Fox, saying he was "blunt" but never raised his voice in an exchange he claimed lasted only a few minutes.
An emotional Ms Fox said a "menacing" Mr Ravbar blocked her only exit as he stood over her, saying she disgusted him and the union would not work with her.
She broke down on Tuesday as she told an inquiry into the Queensland CFMEU about what was meant to be a routine meeting at the rogue construction union's office in January 2018.
Iran (DUBAI)
Two US pilots whose helicopter crashed near the Strait of Hormuz "are fine", President Donald Trump says, after the New York Times reported the crew of an Apache gunship had been rescued after the aircraft went down near the Iran-controlled waterway.
It was not immediately clear whether the Apache was shot down by Iranian fire, experienced mechanical failure or encountered some other problem, the report said.
The White House, US Department of State, and the US Central Command did not immediately respond to requests for comment from Reuters.
Asked if he knew what brought the helicopter down, Trump said they would issue a report later on Tuesday.
"The pilots are fine," Trump said, speaking on the runway at John F Kennedy International Airport before returning to Washington, DC.
SpaceX (SYDNEY)
Australian investors are lining up to jump aboard one of the world's hottest initial public offerings, the launch of Elon Musk's SpaceX.
The spaceflight and artificial intelligence company will go public on the US Nasdaq exchange on Friday after raising up to $US75 billion ($A106 billion).
It will have a mammoth $US1.75 trillion ($A2.5 trillion) valuation, making it among the 10 most valuable companies in the world.
CommSec, the lead Australian broker on the float, said on Tuesday it was "experiencing extremely high call volumes" and advised customers to submit an application for the share offer online ahead of the 5pm Wednesday deadline.
CommSec also cautioned hopeful Australian buyers to beware of fake "SpaceX IPO" emails that are phishing scams purporting to be from the broker.
Quake Phil (GENERAL SANTOS)
Rescuers have searched the rubble of a collapsed building in the southern Philippine city of General Santos, the worst hit by a powerful earthquake that has killed at least 37 people and injured hundreds, to reach two people still believed to be trapped inside.
Regional fire officer Edgar Tanawan, who is leading the operation, told Reuters on Tuesday that two people had been pulled out alive from the commercial building, housing a grocery store and other businesses, but a third was found dead.
Scanners had detected no signs of life from the remaining two, he said.
"It's difficult to accept, as a mother, that my son is still trapped there," said Dioslinda Deluvio, distraught as she waited outside the building for news of her son. "I don't know ... it's very hard to accept.
Legal: CHAMBERS (BRISBANE)
A family has poured out its pain in court while awaiting the sentence of a man who ploughed his minivan into a father and his nine-year-old son.
Aiden Guimaraes was riding pillion on an e-bike driven by his father David in a designated lane in Robina, on the Gold Coast, when they were struck by the speeding van.
The heavily intoxicated Keith Andrew Chambers was behind the wheel at the time of the October 2024 crash.
Aiden's mother Andrea had to make the decision to turn off the boy's life support later that day while Mr Guimaraes, who was critically injured, remained unconscious.
A large crowd of family and supporters gathered in Brisbane Supreme Court for Chambers' sentencing for the nine-year-old's manslaughter, as well as dangerous driving causing grievous bodily harm to Aiden's father.
In finance ...
Economy (CANBERRA)
The Reserve Bank's next interest rate move is more likely to be down than up, economists at National Australia Bank say.
NAB has joined Commonwealth Bank and ANZ in forecasting the cash rate to stay on hold at 4.35 per cent for the rest of 2026, having previously predicted one more hike in August.
Westpac is the last of the big four banks to hang onto its rate rise call, with two more hikes pencilled in for the year.
Recently released GDP data and NAB's business survey, published on Tuesday, showed momentum in the economy has slowed, NAB's chief economist Sally Auld and head of Australian economics Gareth Spence said in a research note.
"The backdrop for the RBA when we look back to February - when they started hiking - was one of growth above its trend pace, or its sustainable pace, with the economy operating above capacity and inflation above target," Mr Spence told AAP.
Barbeques (MELBOURNE)
Hundreds of workers will lose their jobs after retail chain Barbeques Galore collapsed, ending an almost 50-year run.
The company was placed into voluntary administration in February, with receivers tasked with finding a new buyer.
While there were several interested parties, receivers said there were no acceptable offers to recapitalise the business by late May.
The business's 62 company-owned stores will start winding down from June 16, with transitional arrangements under way for the remaining 27 franchise-owned stores, administrators from consultancy firm Ankura said on Tuesday.
The outdoor retailer's closure will make 500 staff redundant.
"All employees will be paid their full accrued redundancies and termination payments in the ordinary course of separation," the receivers said in a statement.
Stores will continue to trade remaining stock and suppliers will continue to be paid until liquidators step in on the June 16 deadline.
In entertainment ...
Laurie (LONDON)
Hugh Laurie has apologised for a "drunk" brutal outburst over someone criticising House.
The 66-year-old actor, who played grumpy doctor Gregory House in the medical drama, responded with a scathing retort after freelance journalist Janet Murray poked fun at the show's formulaic episodes, which the journalist claimed led to her being heavily trolled online.
In response, Laurie wrote on X: "I'm sorry if people have been having a go at you because of my tweet.
"Not at all the plan. I was very slightly drunk and already upset about something that had nothing to do with you.
"If it's any comfort, I got it in the neck too. I'm a thin-skinned twat, apparently, even though it wasn't my skin. I was sticking up for the writers who I adored.
Romy (LONDON)
Lisa Kudrow and Mira Sorvino have started production on the Romy and Michele's Hugh School Reunion sequel.
Work has officially started on the long-awaited follow-up to the 1997 cult classic comedy after the two returning stars shared a photo of themselves on set in their iconic quirky style.
The professional photo was also shared by 20th Century Studios, with the caption: "The reunion you've been waiting for! The Romy and Michele sequel is now in production."
The project is set to be released exclusively as a Hulu Original via streaming, rather than in cinemas.
The new Romy and Michele movie will be helmed by Tim Federle, while Robin Schiff - who created the characters and wrote the original - will pen the script.
In sport ...
AFL Fame (MELBOURNE)
Geelong and Gold Coast champion Gary Ablett has been honoured for his glittering contribution to the game, joining his father and namesake in the Australian Football Hall of Fame.
On a night when West Australian great Bill Walker was officially elevated to Legend status, Ablett was named among the new inductees at Tuesday's gala event in Melbourne.
West Coast premiership captain and coach John Worsfold, Essendon games record holder Dustin Fletcher, Indigenous champion David Kantilla, Port Adelaide goal-kicking machine Tim Evans and five-time AFL grand final umpire Hayden Kennedy were also acknowledged.
Ablett, who retired in 2020 and became eligible for Hall of Fame induction this year, joined Geelong in 2001 as a father-son selection under huge pressure, given Gary Ablett Sr's revered status at Kardinia Park.
Com26 Swi (SYDNEY)
Eyeing her final Commonwealth Games appearance, swim star Kaylee McKeown has labelled her form at Australia's swim trials as far from her best.
After pulling out of 200m individual medley heats, a still underdone McKeown fought off a spirited challenge from youngster Iona Anderson to win the women's final in 57.77 seconds at Sydney Olympic Park.
The five-time Olympic gold champion fell short of her personal best of 57.16 seconds and the world record of 57.13 seconds set by US rival Regan Smith.
"That's the fourth fastest time in the world - I'd like to be faster than that," McKeown said.
"But we're our own harshest critics. And at the end of the day, I just need to do it when it counts."
Ends Bulletin
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