This is The Loop, your quick catch-up for this morning's news as it happened.
Key events
Live updates
That's all for The Loop this morning
By Tom Williams
Thanks for joining us today. If you're catching up, here's a bit of what was covered (click the link to jump straight to the post):
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Two men run over and killed on NSW South Coast
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Australia's Thanasi Kokkinakis stages comeback to defeat Stan Wawrinka
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Science minister says banning 'high risk' artificial intelligence is an option
- Ben Roberts-Smith to learn fate of five-year defamation battle
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North Korea vows to launch more spy satellites after failed launch
You can keep up-to-date with other news on the ABC's website, by subscribing to our mobile alerts, and by watching News Channel or listening to local radio here.
HECS-HELP student loans are being indexed by 7.1% today
By Tom Williams
Indexation of 7.1 per cent is being applied to outstanding HECS-HELP debts today, which will add more than $1,000 to the average student loan.
The Greens are accusing the federal government of causing significant distress to more than three million Australians with student loans, which have today risen at their highest rate in more than 30 years.
It's fuelling concerns more Australians will be locked out of the housing market, with student debts taken into account when people apply for mortgages.
If you have a HECS-HELP debt, you can use our calculator below to check how much your debt will increase by:
Convicted killer Alex Murdaugh pleads not guilty to wire fraud and money laundering
By Stefanie Garber
Alex Murdaugh had pled not guilty on federal money laundering and wire fraud charges in a US court, although his lawyer said that may change soon.
Murdaugh is already serving a life sentence in a South Carolina state prison for the high-profile killing his wife and son at the family's rural estate.
Murdaugh also faces state charges on indictments alleging he stole money meant for clients and from a wrongful death settlement for his family's longtime housekeeper who died at Murdaugh's home, as well as around 100 other state charges.
Murdaugh's lawyers said in a statement last week the former attorney has been cooperating with federal investigators, and they anticipated the latest charges would be "quickly resolved without a trial".
North Korea vows to launch more spy satellites after failed launch
By Stefanie Garber
North Korea's military spy satellite will soon enter orbit, according to Kim Yo Jong, a government official and Kim Jong Un's sister.
She also vowed to ramp up military surveillance efforts, state media KCNA reported.
Her remarks come after Pyongyang's satellite launch on Wednesday ended in failure.
"Enemies are most afraid of the DPRK's access to excellent reconnaissance and information means including reconnaissance satellite and, accordingly, we are aware that we should direct greater efforts to developing reconnaissance means," Kim said in a statement carried by the news agency.
In her statement, Kim also said the wide criticism of her country's satellite launch was "self-contradiction" as the US and other countries have already launched "thousands of satellites".
You can read up on yesterday's failed launch here:
Sean 'Diddy' Combs sues Diageo, saying it neglected his vodka and tequila brands
By Daniel Nancarrow
Rapper, producer and entrepreneur Sean "Diddy" Combs has sued spirit maker Diageo, saying the company didn't make promised investments in his vodka and tequila brands and treated them as inferior "urban" products.
The US lawsuit claims Diageo North America starved Combs's Ciroc vodka and DeLeon tequila brands of resources even as it showered attention on other celebrity brands.
Diageo bought actor George Clooney's Casamigos tequila brand for $US1 billion ($1.5 billion) in 2017, for example.
Combs, who is Black, says Diageo leadership told him his race was one of the reasons it limited distribution to urban neighborhoods.
He was also told that some Diageo leaders resented him for making too much money, according to the lawsuit.
Brazil's ex-president Collor de Mello sentenced to nearly 9 years in prison
By Stefanie Garber
Brazil's Supreme Court has sentenced former president Fernando Collor de Mello to eight years and 10 months in prison for corruption.
This comes as part of the fallout from the country's sweeping "Car Wash" graft investigation.
The court convicted Collor, 73, of taking 20 million reais ($6 million) in bribes to "irregularly" arrange contracts for a construction company with a subsidiary of state-run oil company Petrobras between 2010-2014, while he was a senator.
Collor led Brazil from 1990 to 1992 before resigning to avoid impeachment.
Housing crisis has Australians 'living in two worlds', says ACTU Secretary
By Daniel Nancarrow
Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) Secretary Sally McManus says Reserve Bank governor Philip Lowe's comments yesterday on the need for more Australians to share dwellings in response to the housing crisis was putting undue pressure on "ordinary people".
Lowe said yesterday record-low rental vacancies and high population growth would mean more people would not move out of home or would need to share homes in response to rising rent prices.
"I just think of that and I think we're living in two worlds," McManus tells News Breakfast in response to Lowe's comments.
"We've got people living in very big houses that have multiple dwellings and they're landlords.
"And what they're doing is when the Reserve Bank governor puts up interest rates, they're passing on that cost to renters and that's part of the reason why we're seeing rents increase."
McManus says big business can help Australians struggling with rising rents and the cost of living by providing pay rises to workers.
Police alert after man with cognitive impairment is scammed in Melbourne
By Tom Williams
Police say two men claiming to do magic have scammed a man with a cognitive impairment out of $1,700 dollars in Melbourne's CBD.
The first offender is said to have approached the 33-year-old on Little Bourke Street saying he had "good fortune" and performed a magic trick before demanding a payment.
Police say the man handed over a small amount of cash before being pressured to withdraw more from an ATM.
A second offender is then said to have performed the same scam.
Police have released images of the alleged perpetrators (above) and are calling for public help to identify them.
Mike Pence will reportedly launch US presidential campaign next week
By Stefanie Garber
Former US vice president Mike Pence is expected to officially launch his campaign for president on June 7, according to two people familiar with his plans who spoke to the Associated Press.
The move will put him in direct competition with his former boss Donald Trump for the Republican nomination.
Pence is an avowed social conservative and is staunchly opposed to abortion rights, favouring a national ban.
Pence was an exceedingly loyal vice president until he broke with Trump over the 2020 election.
As Pence presided over the ceremonial counting of electoral college votes on January 6, 2021, a violent mob of Trump's supporters stormed the Capitol building, some chanting "Hang Mike Pence!"
Pence has said Trump's "reckless words" in the lead up to the riot endangered his family and everyone else who was at the Capitol that day.
"History will hold Donald Trump accountable," he has said.
The week will be a busy one for Republican party announcements, with former New Jersey governor Chris Christie planning to launch his campaign on Tuesday evening and North Dakota governor Doug Burgum announcing on June 7.
Science minister says banning 'high risk' artificial intelligence is an option
By Tom Williams
The federal government has outlined its intention to regulate artificial intelligence, saying there are gaps in existing law and new forms of AI technology will need "safeguards" to protect society.
Industry and Science Minister Ed Husic tells ABC News Breakfast that the government is open to banning "high risk" AI technologies, but is consulting with the sector.
"Where there is a clear high risk, that is one of the options that is on the table," he says.
"We want to go through the consultation process. We don't want to put the cart before the horse, as it were, here. We want people to have their say.
"But, clearly, where there are things that the public are saying in very loud terms that they want us to be able to respond and manage, then we want to have those options on the table, absolutely."
Happening today: Ben Roberts-Smith to learn fate of five-year defamation battle
By Daniel Nancarrow
Ben Roberts-Smith, one of Australia's most decorated soldiers, will today learn the outcome of an extraordinary defamation battle against three newspapers that began nearly five years ago.
The Victoria Cross recipient sued the Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, The Canberra Times and three journalists in the Federal Court over a series of articles published in 2018.
Those stories contained allegations of unlawful killings while on deployment with the Special Air Service Regiment (SAS) in Afghanistan, bullying of his former comrades and domestic violence against a woman in Canberra, all of which Mr Roberts-Smith denied.
Justice Anthony Besanko will deliver his judgement at 2:15pm AEST today.
Read more:
First batch of remaining Kanye West Yeezy shoes back on sale after controversy
By Daniel Nancarrow
Some of Adidas' remaining Yeezy shoes are back on sale — months after the German sportswear company cut ties with Ye, the rapper formerly known as Kanye West.
Earlier this month Adidas CEO Bjørn Gulden announced the company would be selling a portion of the remaining Yeezy inventory and donating some of the proceeds to social justice organizations.
Adidas says part of the profits will be donated to organisations including the Anti-Defamation League and the Philonise & Keeta Floyd Institute for Social Change.
Adidas ended its partnership with Ye in late October, in light of his controversial public behaviour, including antisemitic remarks.
Two men run over and killed on NSW South Coast
By Tom Williams
Two men have died after being run over by a ute on the South Coast of New South Wales, and police are investigating whether they were lying on the road.
Police say they were called to North Nowra at around 7pm on Wednesday night and found two men, aged 36 and 41, with critical injuries.
Bystanders are said to have provided first aid until paramedics arrived, but both men died at the scene.
"Officers attached to the South Coast Police District are investigating reports that the men may have been lying on the road when they were run over by a utility being driven by a 27-year-old man, " NSW Police says in a statement.
The driver was taken to hospital to undergo mandatory testing.
Australia's Thanasi Kokkinakis stages comeback to defeat Stan Wawrinka
By Tom Williams
Australia's Thanasi Kokkinakis has beaten Swiss tennis player Stan Wawrinka to reach the third round of the French Open.
Kokkinakis fought back from a set down to win 3-6, 7-5, 6-3, 6-7, 6-3 in a match lasting four hours and 38 minutes.
Fellow Australian Jason Kubler lost to Italy's Fabio Fognini in straight sets, while in the women's draw Storm Hunter had a three-set loss to Ukraine's Elina Svitolina.
News Australia is searching for: State of Origin
By Tom Williams
Queensland staged a remarkable comeback to defeat New South Wales in the State of Origin opener in Adelaide overnight, taking a 1-0 lead in the series.
Trailing by two points at one stage and down a man after Tom Flegler was sent to the sin-bin, the Maroons miraculously came back to win 26-18.
You can read up on the five key moments from the match, below:
Swan babies rescued in the US after their mother was killed and eaten
By Stefanie Garber
A US village is mourning after a beloved swan was stolen from the town's pond along with her four cygnets.
The baby swans were recovered, but officials from the town in rural New York state say the mother, Faye, was eaten.
"Sad to say, but that's what they did," the mayor of Manlius Paul Whorrall says.
Three teenagers were arrested on charges including grand larceny and criminal mischief in connection with the swan-napping, Manlius police Sgt. Ken Hatter says.
The village of Manlius has a swan insignia on its website, as well as on merchandise like hats and T-shirts
Hunting swans is legal in a few US states but not in New York.
One more thing: Here's the moment missile debris hit a street in Ukraine's capital
By Tom Williams
The BBC is reporting this morning on dashcam footage which appears to show the moment missile debris crashed down on a street in Ukraine's capital, Kyiv.
The incident reportedly happened on May 29, during a rare daytime attack on the city.
Luckily, no injuries were reported.
The fragments were later collected by police for further investigation.
