AAP Rolling News Bulletin for June 10 at 1430
Legal: Joannidis (MELBOURNE)
The son of a woman killed in a horrific crash has declared the justice system "absolutely broken" after prosecutors lost their appeal of the driver's three-year prison term.
Christopher Joannidis ignored a police warning about the dangerous roads in Strathmerton, in Victoria's north, disregarded signs and crossed three sets of rumble strips before killing five people and a dog.
He had just been given a speeding ticket before he crashed into a ute, which was pushed into the path of a truck towing two trailers along the Murray Valley Highway in 2023.
Ute driver Deborah Markey, 62, her dog Sophie and four farm workers from Taiwan and Hong Kong who were staying at her home - Zhi-Yao Chen, Pin-Yu Wang, Wai Yan Lam and Hsin-Yu Chen - all died instantly.
Smelter (BRISBANE)
More than 1000 workers at two major smelters have been given a lifeline after a metals producer received a $105 million government boost.
The joint federal and state funding will keep Nyrstar's Hobart and Port Pirie, South Australia, plants running through 2026 while the international company weighs up major investments in critical minerals production.
The agreement follows the expiry of a $135 million rescue package in May and weeks of tense talks over how much taxpayer money would be put on the table to secure the sites.
The new deal would keep workers in jobs and protect Australia's ability to process minerals vital to defence, semiconductor, energy and automotive industries, Industry and Innovation Minister Tim Ayres said.
Nyrstar, headquartered in the Netherlands, is a major producer of lead, silver, zinc and other critical minerals at the Port Pirie and Hobart smelters
Legal: Akram (SYDNEY)
Numerous devices and thousands of images connected to the surviving Bondi Beach massacre shooter are being examined as he faces new charges.
Naveed Akram was charged with 19 further offences in Sydney's Downing Centre Local Court on Wednesday.
The 24-year-old is accused of opening fire on a crowd of people celebrating Hanukkah at Bondi Beach alongside his father, 50-year-old Sajid Akram, on December 14.
The attack left 15 people dead - including a 10-year-old girl - and dozens more injured.
The elder Akram was shot dead by police, while his son was taken into custody.
He was charged with 59 offences and is being held at Goulburn's supermax prison.
The existing charges included committing a terrorist act, 15 counts of murder, and 40 charges of attempted murder over his alleged role in the massacre.
Ebola (GOMA)
The Democratic Republic of Congo has confirmed the number of Ebola cases has climbed to nearly 600, raising awareness within the local population about the importance of safety measures.
The outbreak of the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola was announced on May 15, though officials have since said it went undetected for weeks, leaving health authorities behind the curve and struggling to bring it under control.
One of the world's largest ever Ebola outbreaks is unfolding in three provinces long beset by armed conflict: Ituri, North Kivu and South Kivu.
In its latest statement published on X, Congo's government said the number of confirmed Ebola cases had increased to 598, including 115 deaths.
It also said that 22 patients had recovered from the disease and that new cases didn't spread to more health zones.
NIreland Stab (BELFAST)
Police in Northern Ireland appealed for calm after arresting a Sudanese man over a knife attack that left one person in a serious condition and prompted calls online for protest.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer described the incident as "sickening" after video of the attack, which took place in north Belfast late on Monday evening, was shared widely on social media.
The incident, which is currently not being treated as terrorism, comes at a time of heightened tensions in Britain following the murder of a student who was handcuffed by police as he lay dying from stab wounds after his killer, a Sikh man, falsely alleged a racist attack.
It also follows repeated protests about immigration, with populist parties saying Britain's asylum policy had allowed dangerous men into the country. Northern Ireland saw anti-immigrant rioting last year amid anger over an alleged sexual assault.
Iran (WASHINGTON/BEIRUT/DUBAI)
US President Donald Trump says Iran had shot down a US Apache helicopter that was patrolling the Strait of Hormuz overnight and vowed to respond, deepening doubts about prospects for a truce announced in April in the war in the Gulf.
"I have just been informed by our Great Military that last night the Iranians shot down one of our highly sophisticated Apache Helicopters while patrolling over the Strait of Hormuz," Trump wrote in a social media post.
He said the two US pilots involved in the incident were both safe and uninjured.
"Nevertheless, the United States must, of necessity, respond to this attack," he added.
The episode adds further strain to efforts to broker a peace deal to end the wider Middle East war and reopen Hormuz, a vital conduit for international trade in energy and other commodities.
BudgetACT (CANBERRA)
First home buyers in the ACT will no longer have to pay stamp duty, the territory government will reveal, as it hands down a budget mired in debt.
Housing is central to Treasurer Chris Steel's second budget, to be unveiled on Wednesday.
The latest milestone in ACT Labor's long-term project to abolish stamp duty in favour of higher property rates will extend the exemption to all first home buyers from July 1.
Currently, only homes under $1 million are exempt and purchasers must be below income eligibility thresholds.
The ACT will become the first jurisdiction in Australia to fully abolish stamp duty for people entering the property market.
"The elimination of stamp duty for first home buyers compliments the federal government's tax reforms by supporting younger generations of Canberrans to own their own home," Mr Steel said.
Daniher (MELBOURNE)
AFL great and motor neurone disease crusader Neale Daniher will be farewelled at a state funeral in front of legions of fans he inspired over his decade-long battle.
The man who became the symbol of the fight against MND died at home on May 25, aged 65.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will lead tributes at Daniher's funeral on Wednesday, held on the same hallowed grounds of the MCG where he played for and coached Melbourne and Essendon.
Family, friends and former colleagues will also offer tributes to the much-loved football figure before he is sent off with a guard of honour.
Daniher was diagnosed with the incurable and fatal disease which he dubbed The Beast in 2013.
The average life expectancy was 27 months, but he resisted for 13 years.
In finance ...
Markets Aust (SYDNEY)
Australia's share market is on-track to snap a three-session losing streak as interest-rate sensitive stocks rebound on a softening local monetary policy outlook.
The S&P/ASX200 rose 34.8 points by midday, up 0.4 per cent, to 8,639, as the broader All Ordinaries improved by 23.9 points, or 0.27 per cent, to 8,847.4.
NAB economists predicted on Tuesday the Reserve Bank was likely finished with its interest rate hiking cycle and expected its next move would be a cut, although they weren't sure when.
The RBA is widely tipped to keep the cash interest rate on hold at 4.35 per cent at its meeting next week, after April's jobs and inflation figures came in softer than expected.
"Domestic data since the May meeting has softened, and while inflation remains elevated, the cooling in domestic economic conditions supports the case for keeping rates on hold," Ebury economist Anthony Malouf said.
Shipping (SYDNEY)
Australians are paying more for online deliveries, and while faster and more convenient, the rise of global e-commerce giants could spell trouble for local retailers.
With labour, fuel and maintenance costs continuing to rise, consumers are forking out an average of $11.30 for a delivery in 2026, up from $10.39 a year ago, shipping software platform Shippit says.
More than 71 per cent of carrier companies said fuel price volatility was now their biggest operational challenge, while more than two in five had implemented fuel surcharges as a result, according to Shippit's State of Shipping report.
While delivery was faster and more reliable than ever, providing an accurate timeline for buyers was becoming crucial as players such as Amazon, Temu and Shein continued to grow market share.
In entertainment ...
Legal: Perry (LONDON)
Matthew Perry's doctor has appealed his sentence in connection with the actor's death.
The Friends star died from accidental drowning caused by the acute effects of ketamine use in October 2023, and Dr Salvador Placencia was one of five people convicted of crimes relating to his death and was the first to be sentenced in December 2025, given a 30-month prison term.
According to a defence brief obtained by People magazine, the doctor argued he received a harsher sentence for violating a position of trust as a medical professional, when he was "nothing more than a drug dealer".
The medic's lawyers argued their client - who pleaded guilty to four counts of distribution of ketamine as part of a plea agreement - was not acting as a doctor when he sold the drug to Perry.
Reiner (LOS ANGELES)
Rob Reiner's son Nick Reiner is seeking unpaid money from a trust his parents established for him, saying he needs it to help in his defence against charges that he killed them.
A petition filed by the 32-year-old Nick Reiner's civil lawyers in a Los Angeles County court on Monday says that trustees overseeing the funds have denied them to him without legal justification, and he needs and should get them now.
"Nick loved his parents, and he is devastated by their deaths. But the facts about what did and did not happen to them are not at issue in this Trust litigation," the petition says.
"Like anyone accused of a crime, Nick is presumed innocent, and he is entitled to mount his defence with the resources that are lawfully his own."
In sport ...
WC26 Aust (OAKLAND)
Jordan Bos doesn't know how good he can be.
But arguably Australia's best player, the explosive left wing-back with a lethal left foot has been building for this World Cup since he learned to walk.
The Feyenoord sensation is poised for a tournament that could catapult him into superstardom and a berth in the Premier League, Bundesliga or other top league.
"He's unbelievable. He's had an amazing season, just getting better and better and better," teammate Harry Souttar tells AAP.
"I don't think he realises how good he is himself.
"He's just a great player, great guy to be around and just takes everything in his stride. There's nothing that fazes him and nothing's too big for him."
Bos plays on instinct: backing his speed to beat an opponent, going on incredible marauding runs then scoring or setting up a teammate.
RL Origin Qld (BRISBANE)
Queensland debutant Kulikefu Finefeuiaki credits giving up a family favourite Tongan dish as one reason why he is now a streamlined wrecking ball set to unleash his best in State of Origin.
The 22-year-old Dolphin and Tonga international wasn't always the athletic beast and 80-minute second-rower he is now.
"Young Kuli was a bit chubbier back then," the new Maroons forward chuckled.
"Looking back, every time I was running on the field I was getting a bit too tired so I had to lay off the food."
One particular dish - Lu Sipi - was his go-to, expertly prepared by his father.
"Lu Sipi is tarot leaves with lamb, onions and coconut cream. I was having it a bit too much, credit to my dad," he said.
Ends Bulletin
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