Bleak warning - America’s new Afghanistan commander predicts an escalation of violence.
Femme fatale - the Russian beauty in the alleged spy ring.
Jayant Patel - the former Bundaberg surgeon behind bars and facing sentence.
And Spain books a quarterfinal slot in the World Cup.
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One of NATO’s biggest airbases in Afghanistan has come under attack from the Taliban tonight. It’s the airfield at Jalalabad, where the fighting is continuing this evening, though NATO says the rebels have not penetrated its defences. The assault has underlined a stark warning from the man about to take charge of the Western military coalition in Afghanistan over the challenges his troops will face in the coming months and years. General David Petraeus says it’s going to get tougher before it gets easier, predicting an escalation in the violence and playing down hopes of a quick exit from Afghanistan.
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Jayant Patel, the former Bundaberg Hospital surgeon convicted of the manslaughter of three patients, will spend a second night in prison as he awaits sentencing tomorrow. He is believed to be the first doctor to be found guilty of the manslaughter of a patient in more than 100 years. But it’s already expected his lawyers will lodge an appeal.
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The Federal Government appears close to a compromise deal with the mining industry over the resource super-profits tax after more talks in Canberra today. Before the meeting, the new Prime Minister found time to move into her new office. But, before the boxes were unpacked, the Opposition was upping the stakes in the new political contest, unveiling plans to inject more than $1 billion into mental health.
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Both the US and Russia say they hope the uncovering of a Russian spy ring allegedly operating in the US will not damage relations between the two countries. But Russia has objected to the arrest of 11 people after a very public FBI operation. And Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has accused American law enforcement of being out of control.
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The Philippines, has a new President, but with a familiar name. Benigno Aquino III has been sworn in, promising his new government will fight to end to poverty and corruption. But the new administration faces daunting challenges.
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Torrential rains and heavy flooding have left 12 dead and 2 missing in north-eastern Romania. Hundreds of other people have been moved to higher ground from villages near the Siret River. The storm also damaged bridges and roads and washed away crops.
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Trouble is brewing in Kashmir again. In the worst street violence this year, three more civilians have been killed in clashes with Indian police, bringing the total in recent days to 11. The latest unrest took place in the town of Anantnag, south of the main city of Srinagar.
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The Queen has been given a royal salute in Canada as she reviewed an international flotilla of coast guard vessels and warships in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Accompanied by Prince Philip, she’s on her 22nd visit to Canada.
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Spain have kept their tournament hopes alive after defeating Iberian neighbours Portugal 1-0 in their Round of 16 clash. The game again brought into question the standard of refereeing at this World Cup. SBS senior correspondent Brian Thomson was at Green Point Stadium for the match.
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Just when Prime Minister Julia Gillard is enjoying a bounce in the polls, there’s always the state of New South Wales to remind her of the hurdles ahead. According to the latest figures, brand Labor has once again taken a battering, with a primary vote of 25%. That’s the lowest ever result to be recorded by a State government in the history of Newspoll. But it doesn’t spell good news for the Opposition either.
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A key report has added to the growing debate over Australia’s population after Julia Gillard rejected Kevin Rudd’s idea of a "big Australia". The Australian Bureau of Statistics predicts the population could hit 40 million in 40 years. And with questions over whether there is enough infrastructure to support more people, new figures show hospitals are under more pressure.
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A new era has begun for Australian television - the beginning of the end for analogue broadcasting. The Sunraysia town of Mildura, in north-western Victoria, has made television history. It’s the first place in the country to have its analogue signal switched off. The district is now totally reliant on digital transmissions. The move is welcome relief for local viewers who, for years, have had some of the worst TV reception in Australia.
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Another sign today that rising interest rates are kicking in, with sales of new homes falling to a 3-month low in May. Sales fell a seasonally adjusted 6.5% to the lowest figure since February. It coincides with a report finding that mortgage distress is on the rise. It says an increasing number of home owners are taking desperate measures, including living on rice, to hold on to their dream of home ownership.
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An investigation into an incident involving a Qantas aircraft bound for Perth last year has found the plane’s weather radar failed to pick up cloud and ice crystals in the atmosphere. Two hours into the flight from Hong Kong the Qantas Airbus A-330 hit severe turbulence, resulting in seven injuries. Qantas says it’ll be changing its weather radars so that its fleet can detect such turbulence in the future.
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A new breeding centre for Tasmanian devils has been unveiled in Sydney’s Taronga Zoo. The zoo hopes to help efforts to boost the marsupials’ dwindling population. Devils are facing extinction because of a facial tumour which prevents them from eating.
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To Germany now, where the parliament is about to vote for a new president in what could prove to be a significant test for Chancellor Angela Merkel. Some members of her ruling coalition are threatening to break ranks by voting for the opposition candidate. A defeat would further undermine Chancellor Merkel’s Government, which is already slumping in the opinion polls.
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US President Barack Obama has declared a state of emergency in Texas with Tropical Storm Alex strengthening into the first Atlantic hurricane for the season. Waves of almost 4m have forced the suspension of the oil clean-up operation in the Gulf of Mexico and are threatening to push more of the slick onto the coastline.
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World stocks have tumbled on renewed concerns over the European banking sector and weaker than expected economic data from the US and China. Following the trend, Australian stocks fell for a seventh session, ending the quarter with losses of around $175 billion. However, for the financial year, key indices added around 9%, clawing back some of their big losses the previous two years.
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European champions Spain have confirmed their place in the quarterfinals after accounting for Portugal. Unbeaten in the group phase, Portugal keeper Eduardo had his unblemished record spoiled by Barcelona striker David Villa while Paraguay needed a penalty shoot-out against Japan to advance to the final eight for the first time in their history. But we start with Spain, who put their Iberian neighbours to the sword.
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Australia’s hopes of hosting the 2022 World Cup have received a setback after allegations Football Federation Australia kept secret files of payments made to two lobbyists involved in the bid. Federal Sports Minister Kate Ellis was among those to respond to the claims following reports of gifts, kickbacks and payments made to FIFA executives, with the Minister claiming any breach of the Federal Government’s funding agreement will be investigated.
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St Kilda have decided against appealing Steven Baker’s 9-match suspension at the AFL tribunal. The St Kilda star unsuccessfully challenged his misconduct charge against Steve Johnson with Baker taking early pleas on three other striking charges against the Geelong forward. The ban means Baker will not be available for selection again until the first week of the finals.
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Former Australian prime minister John Howard has failed in his bid to become the ICC president after a revolt by African and Asian countries. Howard’s nomination for the role has been rejected by at least 6 of the 10 Test-playing nations at an ICC executive board meeting in Singapore. Zimbabwe and South Africa led the opposition to his appointment, with the former PM’s hardline stance against Zimbabwe’s Robert Mugabe believed to be behind the decision. Australia and New Zealand have been invited to nominate another candidate by the end of August.
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Unseeded Bulgarian Tsvetana Pironkova has played the match of her life, causing one of the biggest upsets at Wimbledon in recent years. Pironkova, who is yet to win a title on tour, defeated 5-time champion Venus Williams in straight sets. That wasn’t the only upset of the day, with Russia’s Vera Zvonareva ending Kim Clijsters’s run at the All England Club. World number one Serena Williams will meet Petra Kvitova in the semifinal after both secured wins.
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With the world championships just two months away, the Boomers have stepped up their preparations after completing a clean sweep of the 3-match series against Argentina. Australia ran out convincing 18-point winners in game three, in Adelaide, with NBA representative Patrick Mills in devastating form, nailing 32 points.
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Traditionally, it’s drawn sharp criticism from parents - fast-food businesses using cartoon characters to sell their products. But in a twist, one of this year’s biggest animated stars has been engaged in America to promote a vegetable. And it seems to be working.
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