Good morning and welcome to our national news live coverage for Monday, June 15. Here’s what’s making news today.
Politics: Pauline Hanson has rocketed past Anthony Albanese as Australians’ first choice to be prime minister, with One Nation now leading both major parties on primary vote while the Coalition has crashed to a record low primary vote of just 20 per cent in the latest Resolve Political Monitor.
Middle East conflict: US President Donald Trump has berated Israel for launching airstrikes on Lebanon that could wreck a potential deal with Iran to end months of war. He called on both sides to “stand down” from the latest fighting to seal a pact that would bring peace to the region and restore the global oil trade.
Energy: Labor is sending a delegation of top officials to Asia this week as it tries to head off a growing diplomatic crisis over its plans to force Australian gas exporters to hold back supplies for domestic use.
Defence: The rapid expansion of China’s nuclear-powered submarine fleet and long-range missile stockpile is fuelling its growing ability to hit targets in Australia, a threat that could expand dramatically over the next decade, new analysis warns.
Pakistan tragedy: The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is assisting the family of a nine-year-old West Australian girl who was shot dead by police while travelling in Pakistan. Local media reported that she and her family were mistaken for armed robbers that the police were pursuing.
World Cup: Australia’s newest football sensation Nestory Irankunda says the Socceroos are determined to show the world they can “do something special” after they began their World Cup campaign with a famous 2-0 win over Turkey. Follow our live World Cup coverage.
