Minor stabbed to death in Melbourne

Canberra, June 29 (IANS)

The Australian government on Thursday canceled the National Space Mission for Earth Observation program for reportedly "budget repair" reasons.

Announced by the former government before the 2022 election, the program would have funded the design, construction and launch of four satellites from Australia, reports Xinhua news agency.

The satellites would have added to Australia's global earth observation data and aided responses to bushfires and floods. Instead, the government will continue to rely on international partners to provide the information.

Despite canceling the program, Ed Husic, the minister for industry and science, said the

On Wednesday Chalmers said the final budget surplus for the current financial year -- the first since 2008 -- will come in bigger than forecast by the government in May.

However, Chalmers also said inflation and interest rate increases along with global challenges will significantly slow the economy, with the growth expected to fall from 3.25 per cent this year to 1.5 per cent next year.

Melbourne, June 28 (IANS) A 14-year-old boy was stabbed to death in Australia's Melbourne city, police said on Wednesday. According to a statement released by the police in Victoria, of which Melbourne is the state capital, emergency services were called to Bailey Street in St Albans following reports of an injured male having been found on the road, reports Xinhua news agency.

Paramedics treated the boy at the scene, but he died on the way to the hospital.

Addressing a press conference on Wednesday morning, Victoria Police Detective Inspector David Dunstan said the victim and his two friends were in the CBD of Melbourne, then caught a train to Ginifer railway station and after leaving Ginifer they were walking home.

"A vehicle approached them. The vehicle turned and struck them on the road. After that occurred, the vehicle stopped and two males exited the vehicle," said Dunstan. They were armed with knives and it appears that they have assaulted the victim fatally wounding him, he added.

The police officer noted that the other two boys, who were with the victim at the time, then fled the scene and they were physically uninjured.