Hello and welcome to our national news live coverage for Thursday, June 18. Here are today’s main headlines.
Ukraine attacks Moscow: Ukraine launched its largest drone attack on Moscow in years in a bid to force Russia back to the negotiating table. The attacks wounded at least 17 and hit a major oil refinery. Moscow airport was evacuated and closed for hours, prompting major delays. Russian President Vladimir Putin was hosting South-East Asian leaders at a summit in Kazan at the time, about 700 kilometres east of Moscow.
Israel chastised following US-Iran peace deal: US Vice President JD Vance has rebuked Israeli critics for criticising the US-Iran peace deal. Several right-wing Israeli cabinet ministers, such as Ben Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, attacked the deal as “bad for Israel and the entire free world”. In response, Vance said that it might be wise for politicians not to attack “the only powerful ally … left in the entire world.”
Consultancy giant to be grilled in parliament: More than 30 current and former senior staff at KPMG will face questioning at a federal parliamentary committee hearing following allegations that the company misused confidential client information.
Shark attack victim’s brother speaks out: The twin brother of a shark attack victim has spoken out about shark mitigation strategies following summer’s spate of bull shark attacks and last weekend’s attack at Coogee Beach. Mercury Psillakis died in a white shark attack off Long Reef in September last year. His brother Mike is calling for renewed attention on drumlines.
