AAP Rolling News Bulletin for June 11 at 0500
Legal: UK Stab (BELFAST)
The family of a man who lost an eye in a knife attack has appealed for calm after the incident triggered a wave of anti-immigrant violence in Belfast , with masked men burning families out of their homes and torching vehicles.
The appeal came as a Sudanese man appeared in court charged with attempted murder and as UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and politicians in Northern Ireland condemned the violence by "masked thugs" that had targeted ethnic minorities.
Hundreds of protesters, many with their faces covered, had attacked police and burned vehicles in a number of locations across Northern Ireland late on Tuesday after a video of the knife attack went viral.
"We want to make it absolutely clear that overnight unrest is not welcome, and peaceful protest is the only way forward," the family of the victim, Stephen Ogilvie, said in a statement.
Iran (WASHINGTON, D. C.)
US President Donald Trump says the United States is going to attack Iran "very hard" if no peace deal is finalised and has announced the US has been taking oil out of Iran.
"We're going to be attacking them, attacking them very hard," Trump told reporters at the White House, citing Iran's downing of an Apache helicopter in the Strait of Hormuz.
The president reiterated that Iran will be hit on Wednesday.
Trump also revealed that the United States has been taking oil out of Iran.
"I'm just announcing today for the first time, but we've been taking out millions of barrels of oil, millions of barrels every night," Trump said, adding that Iran "just figured it out".
"Millions of barrels of oil has come out, and that's why it's at $US85-90 a barrel, instead of $US250," Trump said, sharing no other details about these operations.
Daniher (MELBOURNE)
Neale Daniher's family have vowed to "play on" and continue his quest to find a cure for the "beast" he battled.
The much-loved AFL legend and motor neurone disease advocate was honoured in an emotional state funeral on Wednesday, attended by more than 5000 people, including political leaders, former and current AFL players and colleagues.
A symbol of the fight against MND, Daniher died on May 25 aged 65 after a 13-year battle with what he called The Beast.
Thousands of attendees formed guard of honour wearing their distinctive blue FightMND beanies along Daniher's Way and clapped as his hearse was driven from the grounds of the MCG for a final time.
The former Essendon player, Melbourne coach and tireless MND campaigner had been eulogised inside the hallowed grounds where he spent much of his life working and playing.
Social (MELBOURNE)
There is little sign of a dip in cyberbullying or image-based abuse in the six months since teenagers under 16 have been banned from social media.
But, even without a clear fall in reports of online harm, the early results are not necessarily discouraging, experts say, as the nation remains at the front of efforts to restrict under-16 access to social media.
The world-first ban, which stipulates users must be 16 or older to create or hold social media accounts, made international headlines in December.
Call patterns remained largely unchanged since the ban was introduced, a helplines operator said.
Non-profit yourtown operates Kids Helpline and virtual services manager Tony FitzGerald told AAP it was too early to gauge any real difference.
BudgetACT (CANBERRA)
First home buyers in the ACT will no longer have to pay stamp duty, despite the territory set to surpass $12 billion in debt.
The nation-first measure was the centrepiece of Treasurer Chris Steel's second budget, unveiled on Wednesday.
It's a major milestone in ACT Labor's 20-year journey to abolish stamp duty in its entirety, in favour of higher property rates.
"We've made some very significant decisions today to completely eliminate stamp duty for certain cohorts and for certain homes, but we will continue the work to phase out what is an inefficient and unfair tax," Mr Steel told reporters.
From July 1, exemptions will be extended to every resident entering the property market.
Currently, only homes under $1 million are exempt and purchasers must be below income eligibility thresholds.
UK Stab (BELFAST)
Masked men have burned families out of their homes in Belfast in a wave of anti-immigrant violence after a Sudanese man was charged over a knife attack.
Hundreds of protesters, many with their faces covered, attacked police and burned vehicles in a number of locations across Northern Ireland on Tuesday after a video of the knife attack, which left one person with serious neck and head wounds, went viral.
A number of homes could be seen burning in the city on Tuesday evening, with video broadcast by the BBC showing police helping a family escape from a burning house.
"There can be no excuse and no justification for these attacks tonight," Northern Ireland First Minister Michelle O'Neill said in a statement.
Legal: Cutmore (BRISBANE)
A man accused of wielding a knife in a violent home invasion and carjacking spree has been stripped of bail.
Darren Brian Cutmore, 35, is in a mental health unit after allegedly sparking a police chase across Brisbane's north in May 2025 that ended when good Samaritans fought back.
A police helicopter tracked Cutmore who allegedly drove the wrong way down busy roads and threatened motorists during a six-hour rampage.
Cutmore on Wednesday had his bail revoked after a Supreme Court judge ruled he was an unacceptable risk to the public.
Cutmore allegedly began his spree when he broke into a home and held a woman at knifepoint before leaving in her blue BMW coupe.
He is accused of driving dangerously before pulling in front of a young woman, brandishing a large knife and demanding she get out of her vehicle.
Smelter (HOBART)
Two under-pressure smelters and their 1000-plus workers have been given a $105 million lifeline as the federal government aims to build critical minerals production.
The joint state and commonwealth funding, announced on Wednesday, supports continued Nyrstar operations in South Australia's Port Pirie and Hobart until the end of 2026.
The money would allow the company to continue work on a two-year feasibility study into critical minerals production and modernisation, Industry Minister Tim Ayres said.
"It is really important as Australians we value these facilities and think carefully about the industrial capability that we need for the future," he said in Hobart.
"This is about securing jobs, strengthening our industrial base and positioning Australia higher up the global value chain."
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.
In finance ...
US Economy (WASHINGTON, D. C.)
US consumer inflation increased at its fastest pace in three years in May, boosted by surging prices for energy products amid the Middle East conflict, and giving more ammunition for the Federal Reserve to keep interest rates unchanged into 2027.
The third straight month of strong increases in the Consumer Price Index reported by the Labor Department on Wednesday underscored the mounting pressure on households, who are increasingly tapping their savings to fund spending.
Inflation eroded wages for a second consecutive month in May, which could weigh on overall economic growth.
The soaring cost of living is a political liability for US President Donald Trump and his Republican Party, seeking to retain control of Congress in the midterm elections in November.
Boresight (SYDNEY)
An Australian company that makes cheap drones for armies to destroy during training has soared after making its stock exchange debut.
Boresight shares were changing hands at 36c on Wednesday afternoon, up 80 per cent from the 20c offer price in its $8 million initial public offering, giving the company a market value of $75 million.
"I wouldn't say we're surprised at the result," Boresight managing director and chief executive Justin Olde told AAP.
"There was a lot of interest in the lead-up to the bell-ringing, so you're always cautiously optimistic.
"The fact that things did well, it's great, we're thrilled to bits with it.
"We're in a great position in a very fast, expanding and growing market, and that's reflected in what's happened to the share price."
In entertainment ...
Arts Philanthropy (MELBOURNE)
Arts philanthropy is a distant dream for organisations in some of Australia's most remote communities, with generous donors far away in capital cities.
A parliamentary inquiry into arts and cultural philanthropy is trying to work out how to encourage more donations from the private sector, for groups such as the Northern Territory's peak music body, Music NT.
Current policies to encourage philanthropy favour city-based organisations and need structural reform, Music NT executive director Mark Smith told the federal inquiry.
"(Remote) organisations face thin local donor markets, higher delivery costs across vast distances, and limited access to major foundations," he said.
"We see this inquiry as a genuine opportunity to make cultural philanthropy work for the whole country."
The federal government will spend $1.1 billion on Australia's arts and cultural sector in 2026/27, according to budget figures.
Swift (LOS ANGELES)
Pop superstar Taylor Swift has made a surprise appearance in Hollywood at the premiere of animated movie Toy Story 5.
Swift sat at a piano in a full-length gown on stage at the Dolby Theatre and sang I Knew It, I Knew You, the song she wrote for the new Toy Story instalment.
The singer said she has been a longtime fan of the movie franchise.
"It means the world to me to be a small part of these films," she said on Tuesday.
Swift then introduced another unexpected guest - Randy Newman, composer of the musical scores and many of the breakout songs from the Toy Story movies.
The pair sang a duet of You've Got a Friend in Me, one of Newman's hits from the first Toy Story in 1995.
In sport ...
WC26 (OAKLAND)
The biggest, flashiest and most polarising World Cup is finally here.
The action officially gets under way on Thursday (Friday 5am AEST) when co-hosts Mexico play South Africa at the Estadio Azteca.
The following day, Canada host Bosnia and Herzegovina in Toronto while the United States play Paraguay.
There will be a monster 104 matches across 39 days in the new 48-team format, stretching across three countries.
But so far what's happening off the field is taking centre stage.
If some continue to argue that politics should be kept out of sports, the lead-up to this tournament has underlined how the two are always connected.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino famously declared this tournament would be "the biggest, the most inclusive, the greatest FIFA World Cup ever".
AFL Bulldogs (ADELAIDE)
Marcus Bontempelli against Jordan Dawson is arguably the most mouth-watering match-up in the AFL.
And it could happen on Thursday night when Bontempelli's Western Bulldogs host Dawson's Adelaide at Marvel Stadium.
"I'd love to see that as well," Crows coach Matthew Nicks said of the potential duel.
"And if the game is going our way, then we may get a look at that."
Bontempelli and Dawson, renowned as among the best players in the competition, boast strikingly similar traits.
Both are inspirational captains. Both are multiple All Australians.
Both are dynamic midfielders, but capable of kicking clutch goals when stationed in attack. Both boast raking left-foot kicks.
Bontempelli is 1.94 metres tall and weighs 96 kilograms; Dawson is 1.92m tall and 91kg.
Ends Bulletin
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