AAP Rolling News Bulletin for June 3 at 1130
UK Nowak (SOUTHAMPTON)
British police are facing a national backlash over the inflammatory case of an 18-year-old student who was handcuffed as he lay dying from stab wounds after his killer falsely alleged a racist attack.
Henry Nowak died after the knife attack in the southern England city of Southampton in December.
His killer Vickrum Digwa, a 23-year-old Sikh man, was on Monday sentenced to life in prison, having lied to police at the time that Nowak had assaulted him.
In police bodycam footage, Nowak is seen lying on the street saying "I've been stabbed" and "I can't breathe" while an officer responds, "I don't think you have, mate".
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said there were "serious questions" to answer, including how "allegations of racism informed or fed into the decision-making in that particular case".
AUKUS (CANBERRA)
Australia receiving only used nuclear submarines from the US will not change the government's commitment to the AUKUS pact, the foreign minister says.
The $368 billion plan originally had Australia receiving three nuclear submarines from the US - two used and one new Virginia-Class vessels - before building its own in Adelaide.
But after changes to the deal, Australia will now get three used submarines from the US.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong said it did not matter whether the submarines were used or new.
"Whether it's two (used) and one (new) or three, it's the capability that matters," she told ABC Radio on Wednesday.
"We want three submarines to deal with, from the United States, to deal with a capability gap before the AUKUS submarines are to be delivered ... that is the plan."
Iran (DUBAI/WASHINGTON)
Iran is reviewing a proposed agreement with the US to halt their war but has not communicated with Washington for a few days, Iranian media reports, though US President Donald Trump said negotiations had been going on continuously.
More than three months after the US and Israel launched strikes against Iran, the conflict is stuck in a stalemate, with a shaky ceasefire in place while the pivotal Strait of Hormuz remains largely shut to maritime traffic.
Iran has not yet responded to a proposed final text of a temporary deal, and was taking a "stern" approach given what it sees as a history of US non-compliance and longstanding mistrust, Mehr News Agency cited a source as saying.
The semi-official Fars agency, also citing a source, added that messages on the possible deal, or memorandum of understanding, had stopped a few days ago, with the last one being Tehran's "clear message" over Lebanon, where Iran is seeking a halt to Israel's incursion against its ally Hezbollah.
Mideast (CAIRO)
Israeli fire has killed at least four Palestinians in separate incidents across the Gaza Strip, Gaza health officials say.
Medics said at least one person was killed and four were wounded on Tuesday when an Israeli air strike hit a vehicle east of Deir Al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip. The blast left the vehicle a mangled skeleton.
Another strike earlier in the day killed one person and wounded another in the nearby Zawayda town, they added. Later on Tuesday an air strike killed one person at a tent encampment in Khan Younis, in the south of the enclave.
The Israeli military did not immediately comment on those incidents.
Israeli gunfire also killed one man in northwest Khan Younis, medics said, taking Tuesday's death toll to at least four.
Ukraine (KYIV)
Russia pounded Ukraine with hundreds of drones and dozens of missiles in a heavy attack that authorities said killed 22 people and wounded more than 100.
The strikes on cities including Kyiv and Dnipro followed Russian warnings of "systematic" attacks on the capital after a drone attack on a dormitory in Ukraine's Russian-held region of Luhansk last month. Kyiv denies targeting the dormitory.
It was the third heavy assault on Kyiv in under a month, but Russia has been relentlessly attacking Ukrainian cities, including Kyiv, since it invaded its smaller neighbour in 2022.
US-brokered talks on the war in Ukraine have stalled with Washington focusing on Iran, while Russian advances on the battlefield have slowed this year and Kyiv has stepped up strikes on Russian oil refineries.
Economy (CANBERRA)
Contentious tax changes that have dented housing market activity could slow Australia's economy and deter the Reserve Bank from hiking interest rates again.
Fresh data is likely to show gross domestic product was still growing at a fairly rapid clip at the start of the year, but a slowdown is on the way.
Wednesday's national accounts release is likely to be the last time annual growth has a two in front of it for some time, which could convince the central bank to hold off on more rate rises.
Economists at National Australia Bank expect the Australian Bureau of Statistics to show the economy grew by 0.3 in the March quarter, which would put the annual growth rate at 2.4 per cent.
Solomons Aust (CANBERRA)
A treaty between Australia and the Solomon Islands is on the cards as the Pacific nation's new prime minister prepares for talks with Anthony Albanese.
Matthew Wale is in Canberra for his first overseas trip since he was elected by his country's parliament in May.
Mr Wale has long been an advocate for diplomatically tying his country to Australia, but it's the Pacific nation's relationship with China that has drawn attention.
The Solomon Islands and China signed a security pact in 2022, which partially eclipsed the bilateral security arrangement Australia has had with its Pacific neighbour since 2017.
Mr Wale has been critical of the Solomons' relationship with China, using the 2024 elections to accuse his political opponents of "sleazing up" to Beijing.
Iran (DUBAI)
Iran is reviewing a proposed agreement with the United States to halt the war between the two countries, Iran's Mehr news reports, after US President Donald Trump said talks to reach a deal were continuing.
More than three months after the US and Israel launched strikes against Iran, the conflict has hardened into a stalemate while largely indirect talks to negotiate an interim deal have proved inconclusive, leaving the Strait of Hormuz largely shut.
Iran had not yet responded to a proposed final text of the temporary deal, and was taking a "stern" approach given what it sees as a history of US non-compliance and longstanding mistrust, Mehr cited a source as saying.
Trump said on Monday that negotiations with Iran were continuing and there would be a deal to extend the ceasefire and reopen the Strait of Hormuz in the next week.
In finance ...
Scam (SYDNEY)
Australians love to gamble, but if you're going to try your luck, please don't get lured in by illegal online gambling sites.
That's the message from one of Australia's biggest telecommunications companies, which is ramping up its fight against "scambling".
Scambling, or scam gambling, is one of the fast-growing threats faced by people going online, where they already lose about $2.2 billion a year to hundreds, if not thousands, of different financial swindles.
These gambling games, which mirror casinos, poker machines and even scratchies, have been illegal in Australia since 2021, but that hasn't stopped scammers reaching their targets.
Telstra has blocked close to 1,800 high-risk gambling-themed domains since the start of 2026, stopping more than two million attempted visits by people lured in by promises of big wins or prizes.
Markets Aust (SYDNEY)
Australia's share market has trimmed early losses but ended the session slightly lower, with Persian Gulf tensions and underwhelming economic data weighing on confidence.
The S&P/ASX200 fell five points on Tuesday, down 0.06 per cent, to 8,724.4, while the broader All Ordinaries slipped 3.8 points, or 0.04 per cent, to 8,966.
The market started the day on the back foot amid signs US-Iran peace negotiations were stalling, but an afternoon rebound in mining stocks helped cap losses.
Consumer stocks were under pressure after the Fair Work Commission approved a 4.75 per cent increase to the minimum wage, while real estate trusts slumped after April building approvals fell by more than expected.
The Australian dollar is buying 71.63 US cents, down from 71.83 US cents on Monday at 5pm AEST.
In entertainment ...
Obit Bryson (NEW YORK CITY)
Peabo Bryson, the two-time Grammy Award-winning R&B singer best known as the voice behind the Oscar-winning Disney film duets Beauty and the Beast and A Whole New World from Aladdin, has died.
He was 75.
His family said in a statement Bryson died on Tuesday, days after having a stroke.
"While our hearts are broken, we find comfort in knowing how deeply Peabo was loved and how many lives were touched by his voice and his generous spirit," the family's statement said.
"His legacy and music will live on for generations to come."
Born and raised in South Carolina, the singer, songwriter and balladeer launched his career with the group Moses Dillard and the Tex-Town Display in the 1970s. Shortly afterward, Atlanta label Bang Records signed him as a solo artist.
Cooper (LONDON)
Alice Cooper has issued a stark warning about the future of rock music, claiming artificial intelligence is now capable of creating fully‑formed rock stars who don't actually exist - and could even release hit albums without a single human emotion behind them.
Appearing on SiriusXM's Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk, the 78-year-old shock rock legend said the technology has advanced so far that a convincing, marketable artist could be generated from scratch.
He explained: "Well, here's the deal. I could right now create a rock star. I could create a Yungblud, a guy that's really appealing, rock, tough, cool looking. I could create a guy named - I don't care - Starboy or whatever, and make him look great. He doesn't actually exist."
In sport ...
Cri Aust (LONDON)
Australia have turned the tables on Pakistan, battling their way to victory on a difficult track at Lahore's Gaddafi Stadium to level the ODI series one-apiece with one to play.
On a surface catered for spinners seamer Nathan Ellis was the star, returning 4-33 in his nine overs with some key wickets.
In the absence of Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Mitch Starc Ellis stepped up to lead the attack superbly.
With stand-in captain Josh Inglis and Cam Green both making half-centuries the makeshift Australian XI set Pakistan a challenging 232 to win.
The home side rarely looked like getting close as they were bowled out for 190 to give the tourists a 41-run victory.
Pakistan had won the opening game by five wickets at Rawalpindi, where left-arm spinner Arafat Minhas took 5-32 on his ODI debut, after which Pakistan's Kiwi coach Mike Hesson knocked back criticism of preparing spin-friendly wickets.
CRI AUST (LAHORE)
Pakistan has won the toss and elected to field first against Australia in the second one-day international in Lahore.
The home side leads the three-match series 1-0 after winning the opening game by five wickets at Rawalpindi, where left-arm spinner Arafat Minhas took 5-32 on his ODI debut.
Pakistan was unchanged, which meant spinners were expected to dominate at Gaddafi Stadium, which also hosts the third game on Thursday.
Depleted Australia went with three specialist spinners including Adam Zampa, who has recovered from the neck spasms which forced him to miss the first ODI.
Zampa replaced fast bowler Billy Stanlake.
Line-ups:
Pakistan: Sahibzada Farhan, Maaz Sadaqat, Babar Azam, Ghazi Ghori, Salman Ali Agha, Abdul Samad, Shadab Khan, Arafat Minhas, Shaheen Shah Afridi (captain), Haris Rauf, Abrar Ahmed.
Ends Bulletin
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