AAP Rolling News Bulletin for June 14 at 1230
Economy Preview (CANBERRA)
Mortgage holders could get a brief reprieve from further interest rate hikes, but economic uncertainty in the Middle East will still loom for the Reserve Bank.
Economists are tipping the central bank to keep the official cash rate on hold at 4.35 per cent when it meets on Tuesday.
Should the predictions hold, it would be the first time the Reserve Bank has kept rates steady since the start of 2026.
Despite inflation levels remaining above the Reserve Bank's target band of two to three per cent, economists expect it will consider the impact of consecutive hikes.
Westpac economists Luci Ellis and Neha Sharma said the mixed data on inflation and the labour market supported the case for a pause.
NDIS (CANBERRA)
Criticism of looming changes to the National Disability Insurance Scheme by states and territories is overblown, the minister who oversees the scheme says.
Carve-outs from the reforms were unlikely despite disapproval from the disability sector and state and territory disability ministers, federal Health Minister Mark Butler said on Sunday.
About 160,000 people will be removed from the NDIS and transferred to other state-run support programs as part of changes designed to cut the cost of the $56 billion scheme.
But in a submission to a Senate inquiry examining the reforms, state and territory disability ministers said jurisdictions were not prepared and many NDIS participants would fall through the cracks.
Mr Butler said the jurisdictions were exaggerating in their criticisms.
"There's a bit of posturing going on through this process," he told ABC's Insiders program on Sunday.
Ukraine (KYIV)
A Ukrainian drone attack has killed one person and injured three in Russia's southern Krasnodar region, local officials said, as part of Kyiv's campaign of strikes on military and energy targets deep inside Russia.
Drone debris sparked a fire at a sea terminal, local Governor Veniamin Kondratyev said on Saturday. He did not give details, but Russian news outlets reported that a Black Sea export terminal transporting terminal crude oil, petroleum products and liquefied gas in the village of Volna was damaged.
Ukraine's General Staff did not comment on the Krasnodar strike on Saturday, but said that its forces had hit an oil preparation and pumping station overnight in Russia's Volgograd region, as well as Russian-occupied areas in Ukraine's Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia regions.
Iran (DUBAI/WASHINGTON)
US President Donald Trump and mediator Pakistan say an initial deal to end the war in the Middle East will be signed in hours, although Iran denies the signing will take place so soon.
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said the two sides had agreed on a framework for a peace deal and that Islamabad was preparing for an electronic signing on Sunday, to be followed by technical-level talks next week.
Trump also said in a social media post that the deal with Iran was scheduled to be signed on Sunday and that the Strait of Hormuz, a vital artery for global oil supplies which Iran has blocked, would be immediately "open to all" after it was signed.
Earlier on Saturday, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei cautioned against commenting on the timing the signing.
Shark (MELBOURNE)
Multiple city beaches remain off limits to board riders and swimmers after a woman mauled by a shark up to 4m long was left critically injured.
The attack happened just metres from shore and between the flags at Sydney's popular Coogee Beach shortly after 11am on Saturday.
The woman, thought aged in her 30s, was airlifted to hospital after being brought from the water by an off-duty lifeguard said to have paddled towards the incident.
Footage from a Westpac Life Saving Rescue Helicopter appears to show a lone shark swimming near the beach after the assault.
All of Sydney's eastern suburbs beaches remain closed.
Randwick City Council made the call to prohibit anyone entering the surf during the 24 hours following the attack.
Iran (DUBAI)
The United States and Iran say an agreement to end their war is close, with a senior US administration official saying both sides have agreed on a text and Washington expects to sign an initial deal in the coming days.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said while changes in the deal were still possible, the tentative agreement showed his country had emerged stronger from the conflict.
"Iran is the winner of the war with the US," he said on state television.
Hours after those remarks, US forces shot down multiple Iranian one-way attack drones heading toward the Strait of Hormuz, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters. The source said the drones had posed a threat to commercial traffic.
Fuel (MELBOURNE)
Australian motorists are in for higher prices at the bowser when temporary tax relief measures wrap up at the end of the month.
A fuel excise cut and GST rebate designed to ease surging costs for motorists amid the conflict in Iran are both set to expire on June 30.
Plans to repeal the 32 cent per litre tax break haven't changed, Energy Minister Chris Bowen told media on Saturday but added that the government would continue to assess the latest information.
"We've been very clear this was a temporary reduction in the excise; it was always intended to be temporary," he said.
"Our intention has been for it to come off at the end of the month and that remains the plan."
Search (MELBOURNE)
Police have recovered the body of a man and are desperately scouring a Sydney waterway and surrounds for a young girl.
The girl, who is believed to be six or seven years old, was reportedly spotted with the man in a small boat on the Parramatta River.
Police were called to Hen and Chicken Bay in Concord in inner-west Sydney about 11.45am on Saturday following reports a man's body had been found in the water.
Responding to witness reports the man and girl had been seen together, a search was launched to locate the child.
The man has yet to be identified.
A command post has been established at the scene and specialist resources are assisting.
Anyone with information is urged to contact police.
In entertainment ...
Pacino
Oscar-winner Al Pacino says it is a "profound honour" to be the recipient of the Sam Wanamaker Award, which recognises his connection to the works of William Shakespeare.
The award was established by Shakespeare's Globe in 1994 to honour the work of individuals who have increased the understanding and enjoyment of the celebrated playwright.
Pacino, 86, is known for his starring roles in films such as Scarface and the Godfather trilogy, as well as celebrated performances in many of Shakespeare's plays.
These include as Shylock in The Merchant Of Venice, Mark Antony in Julius Caesar, and the title role in Richard III.
"Throughout my life, the theatre has given me a sense of purpose and belonging, and Shakespeare has always been a guiding force in that journey," Pacino said.
Trump (LONDON)
Vanessa Trump is beginning the "second stage" of treatment for breast cancer.
The 48-year-old model gave a health update to her Instagram followers on Saturday, almost a month after she revealed her diagnosis with the disease.
"I wanted to share an update on my cancer journey," she wrote.
"Over the past four weeks, I've been recovering from surgery, and I'm grateful to be healing and moving forward.
"Soon, I'll be starting the second stage of my treatment.
"Sending love, strength, and hope to everyone fighting this battle."
Vanessa - who has five children with her 48-year-old ex-husband Donald Trump Jr, and is in a relationship with 50-year-old golfing legend Tiger Woods - revealed her breast cancer diagnosis on May 20.
"I am staying focused and hopeful while surrounded by the love and support of my family, my kids, and those closest to me," she wrote on Instagram.
In sport ...
RL Origin Qld (MELBOURNE)
Queensland players say they will support prop Tino Fa'asuamaleaui any way they can after the death of his father Fereti.
Fereti Fa'asuamaleaui died after a battle with cancer and his son is still with family in Queensland, after the Maroons flew to Melbourne on Friday to prepare for the second State of Origin clash at the MCG on Wednesday night.
Fa'asuamaleaui, who has played 16 times for the Maroons, told coach Billy Slater that he intends to join the team and play.
Maroons hooker Harry Grant spoke from the heart about his teammate's difficult time.
"It is obviously a very tricky situation and all raw and emotional but we have all got Tino's back and the family's back," Grant said.
WC26 Aust (VANCOUVER)
Young, exuberant and with talent to burn, a new-look Socceroos are ready for their own chance to shock the world.
Australia will kick off their World Cup campaign against Turkey on Saturday night (Sunday afternoon AEST) at Vancouver's BC Place.
The Socceroos are underdogs against the world No.22, whose captain Hakan Calhanoglu only on Friday said he expected Turkey to dominate as they are "more talented".
But Jackson Irvine believes there's no ceiling on this group, with 17 debutants and eight players under 23.
Attackers Nestory Irankunda, Mohamed Toure and Cristian Volpato are dynamic and Paul Okon-Engstler adds midfield drive.
Defender Alessandro Circati could be anything while 18-year-old centre-back Lucas Herrington is already attracting attention from Barcelona.
"The level of hype around this group has probably never been (this high). In my 10 to 12 years, I've never experienced what Mo and Nestor and Ale are probably having now," midfielder Jackson Irvine told AAP.
Ends Bulletin
Rolling News Desk inquiries : 02 9322 8611
