5月13日的航拍图显示，在澳大利亚本库宾（Bencubbin）的一个农场，播种机正在播种小麦。 （路透社）

（悉尼综合电）由于天气干旱，加上中东冲突推高燃料和化肥价格，澳大利亚本季小麦产量预计将下降超过四分之一。

澳洲农业部6月2日发布报告指出，澳洲本季小麦收成预计为2670万吨，与去年同期相比下降26%，也比过去五年平均水平少23%。

产量下降的部分原因是种植面积减少，农业部估计本季小麦种植面积将缩减12%至1090万公顷，创2019/2020年度以来的最低水平。

农民减少种植小麦，主要因为全球小麦价格疲软，且相对于其他作物，种植小麦的利润空间不断收窄，尤其是在霍尔木兹海峡贸易受阻，导致燃料和化肥价格飙升之后。农业部指出，化肥变得更贵，预料会促使农民减少施肥，进而降低作物产量。

澳洲是全球最大的小麦出口国之一，也是东南亚、中东以及中国等经济体的重要供应国。澳洲农业部说，由于美伊战争已进入第四个月，全球燃料和化肥供应出现重大干扰。如果中东冲突持续，投入成本可能会在更长时间内维持高位，从而对产量构成压力。

气候因素也影响小麦产量。澳洲部分地区包括新南威尔士州和昆士兰州南部出现极端干旱，促使农民缩减种植面积。预计厄尔尼诺现象也将使澳洲东部各州在重要的春耕期间降雨量减少，影响小麦生长。西澳和南澳部分地区则老鼠增多，鼠患可能危及作物产量。

5月13日的航拍图显示，在澳大利亚本库宾（Bencubbin）的一个农场，播种机正在播种小麦。 （路透社）

（悉尼综合电）由于天气干旱，加上中东冲突推高燃料和化肥价格，澳大利亚本季小麦产量预计将下降超过四分之一。

澳洲农业部6月2日发布报告指出，澳洲本季小麦收成预计为2670万吨，与去年同期相比下降26%，也比过去五年平均水平少23%。

产量下降的部分原因是种植面积减少，农业部估计本季小麦种植面积将缩减12%至1090万公顷，创2019/2020年度以来的最低水平。

农民减少种植小麦，主要因为全球小麦价格疲软，且相对于其他作物，种植小麦的利润空间不断收窄，尤其是在霍尔木兹海峡贸易受阻，导致燃料和化肥价格飙升之后。农业部指出，化肥变得更贵，预料会促使农民减少施肥，进而降低作物产量。

澳洲是全球最大的小麦出口国之一，也是东南亚、中东以及中国等经济体的重要供应国。澳洲农业部说，由于美伊战争已进入第四个月，全球燃料和化肥供应出现重大干扰。如果中东冲突持续，投入成本可能会在更长时间内维持高位，从而对产量构成压力。

延伸阅读

战火与干旱双重夹击 澳洲小麦面临千万吨减产恐推高全球粮价 中国增加澳洲小麦进口应对全球产出不足

气候因素也影响小麦产量。澳洲部分地区包括新南威尔士州和昆士兰州南部出现极端干旱，促使农民缩减种植面积。预计厄尔尼诺现象也将使澳洲东部各州在重要的春耕期间降雨量减少，影响小麦生长。西澳和南澳部分地区则老鼠增多，鼠患可能危及作物产量。

知情者说，以色列在阿塞拜疆的其中一个秘密军事据点距离伊朗大不里士仅约60英里。图为3月10日，大不里士发生爆炸，以军当天宣布对德黑兰和大不里士实施了空袭。 （路透社）

（华盛顿讯）消息人士透露，以色列在同伊朗作战期间，秘密向阿塞拜疆部署了精锐军事和情报部队。这是以色列在中东各地建立的秘密据点网络的一部分，旨在为针对伊朗的行动提供便利。

美国有线电视新闻网（CNN）周五（6月5日）引述知情者报道，这些以色列部队在与伊朗北部边境接壤的阿塞拜疆南部多地活动，其中一个地点距离伊朗城市大不里士（Tabriz）仅约96公里。

据报道，以色列向这个地点派遣了数十人，包括执行情报收集和无人机行动的特种作战部队，以及空降突击搜救精锐和摩萨德特工。这使以色列获得一个监视伊朗北部的重要阵地，以及在有飞行员坠机时展开救援行动的据点。

消息人士透露，以军3月4日刺杀伊朗伊斯兰革命卫队情报系统负责人莫加达姆（Rahman Moghaddam）的行动，就是从阿塞拜疆的据点执行的。

一天后的3月5日，阿塞拜疆一座机场遭到无人机袭击，造成数人受伤，阿塞拜疆称是伊朗所为，但伊朗否认。3月6日，阿塞拜疆安全机构宣布挫败伊朗革命卫队的袭击计划，并指袭击目标包括阿塞拜疆关键基础设施，以及以色列和犹太人目标；以色列过后承认，阿塞拜疆联合执行了此次行动。

延伸阅读

以黎同意停火 但黎南战火未见消停 消息：以军在伊拉克设秘密哨所 支援对伊朗空袭

除了阿塞拜疆，以色列据说还在伊拉克、阿联酋、索马里兰等其他国家建立大量隐秘军事据点和基地。这类部署让以军得以在战争期间沿伊朗南部、西部和北部边境布防，军事行动范围也向外延伸了数百公里，深入伊朗境内。战争期间，这些前沿阵地助以色列对伊朗境内发动了多轮打击。

以色列长期以来视阿塞拜疆为对抗伊朗的战略伙伴，两国在商业和军事领域关系密切。

分析员指出，以色列在阿塞拜疆的战略保持低调，主要依靠武器转让、情报合作，以及在安全领域的长期技术相互依存。

这种关系也为阿塞拜疆提供了一项重要外交资源，让它能够利用以色列在华盛顿的游说力量。国际危机组织高级分析师库切拉（Joshua Kucera）说：“阿塞拜疆正努力把自己定位为地区强国，这包括在一些时候充当以色列与阿拉伯国家和其他国家之间的桥梁。”

阿塞拜疆坚决否认领土被用于针对第三国的军事行动。阿塞拜疆媒体发展署说：“这些信息的发布旨在混淆国际社会的视听，破坏地区稳定和国家间关系，并在中东地区制造紧张局势。”

美媒：以军在阿塞拜疆设秘密据点 支援对伊朗行动

2026年6月6日 17:11 / 联合早报

（华盛顿讯）消息人士透露，以色列在同伊朗作战期间，秘密向阿塞拜疆部署了精锐军事和情报部队。这是以色列在中东各地建立的秘密据点网络的一部分，旨在为针对伊朗的行动提供便利。

美国有线电视新闻网（CNN）周五（6月5日）引述知情者报道，这些以色列部队在与伊朗北部边境接壤的阿塞拜疆南部多地活动，其中一个地点距离伊朗城市大不里士（Tabriz）仅约96公里。

知情者说，以色列在阿塞拜疆的其中一个秘密军事据点距离伊朗大不里士仅约60英里。图为3月10日，大不里士发生爆炸，以军当天宣布对德黑兰和大不里士实施了空袭。 （路透社）

据报道，以色列向这个地点派遣了数十人，包括执行情报收集和无人机行动的特种作战部队，以及空降突击搜救精锐和摩萨德特工。这使以色列获得一个监视伊朗北部的重要阵地，以及在有飞行员坠机时展开救援行动的据点。

消息人士透露，以军3月4日刺杀伊朗伊斯兰革命卫队情报系统负责人莫加达姆（Rahman Moghaddam）的行动，就是从阿塞拜疆的据点执行的。

一天后的3月5日，阿塞拜疆一座机场遭到无人机袭击，造成数人受伤，阿塞拜疆称是伊朗所为，但伊朗否认。3月6日，阿塞拜疆安全机构宣布挫败伊朗革命卫队的袭击计划，并指袭击目标包括阿塞拜疆关键基础设施，以及以色列和犹太人目标；以色列过后承认，阿塞拜疆联合执行了此次行动。

除了阿塞拜疆，以色列据说还在伊拉克、阿联酋、索马里兰等其他国家建立大量隐秘军事据点和基地。这类部署让以军得以在战争期间沿伊朗南部、西部和北部边境布防，军事行动范围也向外延伸了数百公里，深入伊朗境内。战争期间，这些前沿阵地助以色列对伊朗境内发动了多轮打击。

以色列长期以来视阿塞拜疆为对抗伊朗的战略伙伴，两国在商业和军事领域关系密切。

分析员指出，以色列在阿塞拜疆的战略保持低调，主要依靠武器转让、情报合作，以及在安全领域的长期技术相互依存。

这种关系也为阿塞拜疆提供了一项重要外交资源，让它能够利用以色列在华盛顿的游说力量。国际危机组织高级分析师库切拉（Joshua Kucera）说：“阿塞拜疆正努力把自己定位为地区强国，这包括在一些时候充当以色列与阿拉伯国家和其他国家之间的桥梁。”

阿塞拜疆坚决否认领土被用于针对第三国的军事行动。阿塞拜疆媒体发展署说：“这些信息的发布旨在混淆国际社会的视听，破坏地区稳定和国家间关系，并在中东地区制造紧张局势。”

GOP victor in CA House primary cites major momentum shift in deep blue state: ‘Californians are tired’

June 6, 2026 6:00am EDT / Fox News

Le Roux says criminals will be indicted over the next 6 months as federal officials crack down on Medicare fraud

By Kiera McDonald , Andrew Mark Miller , Paul Steinhauser Fox News

GOP hopeful says voters are sending a message: ‘Californians are tired’
https://www.foxnews.com/video/6397459485112

Jenny Rae Le Roux said Republican victories reflect mounting frustration with decades of Democratic control in California.

NEW You can now listen to Fox News articles!

Republican congressional candidate and CAL DOGE Director Jenny Rae Le Roux says pushback on decades of Democratic control is fueling a political shift in deep-blue California, which was on display Tuesday with strong performances by gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton and LA mayoral candidate Spencer Pratt.

“Californians are tired of one-party rule,” Le Roux told Fox News Digital after her Tuesday night primary victory that sent her into a head-to-head match up with incumbent Democrat Dave Min in California’s 47th Congressional District.

“They know that the reason we’re suffering in this state and people are leaving California is because Democrats have been in charge for 60 years, and they’re up to no good.”

Le Roux argues that Min has not done enough to represent people across the district, saying her campaign has “already started doing the job that he’s not doing.”

CALIFORNIANS EXPERIENCING A ‘RED SHIFT’ OF LOCAL DEMOCRATS BECOMING REPUBLICANS AMID MIGRANT CRISIS, CRIME

Spencer Pratt and Steve Hilton scored major victories Tuesday night in California.(HIGHFIVE/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images ; Jeff Gritchen/MediaNews Group/Orange County)

“It’s just to do the thing that Dave Min is not doing, which is to represent the district,” she said. “We are out in every community. We have a precinct-by-precinct operation. Anyone who wants to meet with us, we will meet with them.”

Le Roux said residents unable to get answers from Min’s office on fraud, veterans’ concerns or housing issues are turning to Republicans like her for help.

“People are frustrated by his office,” she said. “They’re not responsive. They ask us for help with fraud issues, issues with HUD and veterans’ issues, and we’re making calls and getting things done for the people in the district.”

In a statement to Fox News Digital, Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee spokesperson Anna Elsasser defended Min, saying his office has helped constituents recover over $5 million from federal agencies.

“Jenny Rae Le Roux’s lame attacks reflect both a lack of familiarity with Dave Min’s office, which has brought back over $5.7 million to constituents, and with the issues that Orange County families care about,” Elsasser said.

The Cook Political Report ranks the race between Min and Le Roux as “Solid D” as Republicans try to hold onto their razor-thin margin in the House.

Democrats’ decades-long control of California has come under scrutiny as the Trump administration investigates alleged fraud involving healthcare, homelessness spending and nonprofit groups, issues Le Roux says are driving residents out of the state and pushing voters toward Republicans.

HOUSE COMMITTEE LAUNCHES INVESTIGATION INTO ‘RAMPANT’ CALIFORNIA HOSPICE FRAUD

Jenny Rae Le Roux and Rep. Dave Min are set to face off in California’s 47th Congressional District race.(Leonard Ortiz/MediaNews Group/Orange County Register via Getty Images 😉

Last month, federal officials suspended 800 California hospice and home health providers in a Medicare fraud crackdown tied to foreign-linked criminal networks accused of stealing more than $1 billion from taxpayers.

Le Roux said her team at CAL DOGE, a private-sector initiative founded by Hilton, is uncovering more fraud in the state and “taking down not just the systems, but actually each one of the criminals that are going to be indicted over the course of the next six months.”

SCOOP: DEMOCRATIC VIRGINIA GOV SPANBERGER’S REPUBLICAN COUSIN AIMS TO FLIP KEY CALIFORNIA HOUSE SEAT RED

Los Angeles Mayoral candidate Spencer Pratt speaks with the media outside Don Antonio’s restaurant in Los Angeles, California, on June 2, 2026, the day of California’s primary elections.(Highfive/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images)

“We’re finding the fraud that’s happening through Sacramento,” she said. “They’ve been completely silent about it. They haven’t fought it themselves because they’re in on it.”

Since launching in early 2026, CAL DOGE says it has uncovered nearly $700 million in misused taxpayer funds. Le Roux said she will continue working with Republican gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton to root out fraud.

“We’ve got some fraud-fighting on our hands, and I’ll work with Steve up and down the state to make sure our money is being spent wisely before either one of us is in office,” Le Roux said.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Despite her criticism of Democrats, Le Roux said “it’s really important to keep relationships with people in other parties.”

Le Roux is the cousin of Virginia Democratic Gov. Abigail Spanberger, and she told Fox News Digital the two “faithfully messaged each other after campaigns” and despite having “completely different opinions,” we “really love each other.”

Kiera McDonald is a Production Assistant for Fox News Digital.

Israeli forces kill a Palestinian baby after firing at car in the West Bank, health ministry says

June 6, 2026 / 7:02 AM EDT / CBS/AP

Israeli troops killed a seven-month-old Palestinian baby boy after firing at his parents’ vehicle in the occupied West Bank, the Palestinian health ministry said.

Sam Fahd Abu Haikal was killed Friday evening, and his parents were wounded while driving in the Tel Rumeida area south of Hebron City, according to the ministry.

The official Palestinian news agency WAFA said the baby was critically wounded after being struck in the face by the same bullet that injured his mother. He later died of his injuries. His father, Fahd Abu Haikal, a lecturer at Bethlehem University, was shot in the hand. They were traveling from Bethlehem to visit family in Hebron when soldiers opened fire, the agency reported.

Photos from the Associated Press show that the baby’s carseat was behind the driver’s seat of the vehicle. Photos also show damage, including at least one bullet hole, in the car’s windshield.

A man inspects the damaged family vehicle of seven month old Palestinian baby boy Sam Fahd Abu Haikal, onSaturday, June 6, 2026. Mahmoud Illean/AP

Israel’s military has scaled up military operations in the West Bank since the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas attack that killed some 1,200 people and took 251 people hostage, which triggered the war in Gaza. Israel’s retaliatory military campaign has so far killed more than 72,900 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. The ministry, which is part of the Hamas-led government, is generally seen as reliable by United Nations agencies and independent experts.

A spokesperson for the Israel Defense Forces told CBS News that soldiers “perceived a vehicle accelerating toward them” in the Hebron area. A soldier responded by firing single shots, the spokesperson said. The statement said three Palestinians were injured and evacuated for medical treatment, but did not confirm the age or gender of any of the injured.

An initial inquiry “found that those injured were uninvolved civilians,” the IDF spokesperson said, adding that the incident is under review and that the IDF “expresses deep sorrow for any harm caused to uninvolved individuals.”

At Al-Ahly Hospital in Hebron, the baby’s father told Associated Press reporters that a bullet struck the car’s windshield before piercing his hand, then his son and wife.

“It entered the child’s face on the right side and exited on the left, then passed directly into his mother’s face and exited on the other side, with shrapnel lodged near her heart,” Abu Haikal said.

Fahd Abu Haikal, 41 displays a mobile photo of his seven month old Palestinian baby boy Sam. Mahmoud Illean/AP

The mother is in critical condition because there’s shrapnel close to her heart, he said. They haven’t told her yet that her son, who turned seven months old on Friday, was killed.

The baby’s grandmother, Feryal Abu Heikal, was in the car during the shooting and said they were driving near a checkpoint and stopped when they saw Israeli military vehicles and soldiers in the distance. As the forces fired at them, she initially thought it was warning shots before they were struck, she said.

“The scene was horrific to see a seven-month-old baby with a smashed face,” she said. “What kind of army in the world does this? … What happened to my grandson can’t be easily forgotten.”

The baby’s funeral is expected later Saturday.

The British consulate in Jerusalem said it was “shocked and saddened” by the incident, saying on social media that it was calling for an “immediate and transparent investigation and accountability” and that “civilians must be protected.”

Child care bag of seven month old Palestinian baby boy Sam Fahd Abu Haikal. Mahmoud Illean/AP

The United Nations said last month that more than 1,000 Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank and east Jerusalem since the war began. At least 240 of them children, according to the U.N. Forty-nine people have been killed since the start of 2026, it said.

In March, Israeli soldiers fired on a car carrying a family in the northern West Bank, killing four people, including two children, the Palestinian Authority’s Health Ministry said at the time.

Israeli soldiers accused of harming Palestinians are rarely penalized and were indicted in fewer than 1% of cases based on 2,427 complaints alleging wrongdoing between 2016 and 2024, according to Israeli rights group Yesh Din.

More than 700,000 Israelis live in the occupied West Bank and east Jerusalem, territories captured by Israel in 1967 from Jordan and sought by the Palestinians for a future state.

以色列与黎巴嫩真主党继续交火，黎巴嫩南部局势不断紧张。周五（6月5日）在黎南的纳巴蒂耶（Nabatieh），一辆汽车遭以军击中起火燃烧。 （路透社）

（贝鲁特综合电）黎巴嫩总统奥恩周五（6月5日）指责伊朗在与美国谈判时利用黎巴嫩为谈判筹码，要求伊朗停止干涉黎巴嫩内政。这是奥恩至今对伊朗和黎巴嫩真主党做出极为严厉的批评。伊朗已将黎巴嫩停火作为与美国达成和平协议的先决条件。

奥恩接受美国有线电视新闻网（CNN）访问时说，黎巴嫩人民正在为伊朗的利益付出代价，并对以色列和真主党之间的战争感到厌倦。

他指伊朗把黎巴嫩当成跟美国谈判的筹码，并说：“这是无法令人接受的。”

同天，黎巴嫩总理萨拉姆在贝鲁特举行的记者会上，直接向伊朗领导人喊话，他说：“请放过我们（黎巴嫩）的南方，不要再把黎南及当地居民当作谈判筹码。”

萨拉姆又说：“我们是一个主权国家的人民，我们拒绝成为其他国家开战的公开战场。”

黎巴嫩政府说，自3月以来，以色列的袭击已造成黎巴嫩境内数千人死亡，约120万人流离失所。以军占领黎南大片土地。

自去年被议会选举为国家元首以来，奥恩一直敦促真主党和平解除武装。在以色列与真主党战斗初期，他呼吁真主党与以方面对面会谈，这进一步加剧了他与真主党的矛盾。

真主党周四反对黎巴嫩和以色列在美国斡旋下于华盛顿达成的停火协议。按照以黎的协议，真主党必须停止攻击，真主党武装人员必须撤出黎巴嫩南部。真主党领袖卡西姆称，黎巴嫩和以色列在华盛顿举行的直接会谈，遭到广大黎巴嫩民众的反对。

对此，奥恩周五回应说：“这不是你们的国家，这是我们的国家。”他又说：“你们没有权利干涉我们的国家。”

奥恩表示，真主党必须明白，除了通过谈判和外交手段，没有其他办法可以解决以黎问题。

他也说，处理真主党问题是黎巴嫩的责任，以色列自身无力解决。

奥恩指出，即使以色列夷平黎巴嫩整个国家，也永远无法实现铲除真主党的目标。“他们（以色列）已在加沙试过了，哈马斯至今依然存在。”

针对奥恩的指责，伊朗外长阿拉格齐周六在社交媒体平台X上说，如果黎巴嫩是伊朗的谈判筹码，美伊早就达成协议，他促请奥恩把黎巴嫩从真正的敌人手中拯救出来。

Why California is taking so long to count votes in key primary races

2026-06-06T09:00:00.000Z / The Washington Post

The state is an outlier in taking days to count most votes, but supporters of the system say it is designed to enfranchise more people while protecting against fraud.

June 6, 2026 at 5:00 a.m. EDT Today at 5:00 a.m. EDT

An election worker moves mail-in ballots to be counted at a Los Angeles County processing center on June 2. (Patrick T. Fallon/AFP/Getty Images)

By Praveena Somasundaram

California’s notoriously slow ballot count persists despite attempts to fix the problem, leaving key races in the Tuesday primary uncalled and unleashing a new round of baseless conspiracy theories.

Officials knew before the election that they would be accused of vote-rigging, as they have in past cycles in which Republicans lost ground as late ballots were counted. Last year, Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) signed bills aimed at a faster count. Last month, he urged election authorities to process ballots quickly.

以色列与黎巴嫩真主党继续交火，黎巴嫩南部局势不断紧张。周五（6月5日）在黎南的纳巴蒂耶（Nabatieh），一辆汽车遭以军击中起火燃烧。 （路透社）

（贝鲁特综合电）黎巴嫩总统奥恩周五（6月5日）指责伊朗在与美国谈判时利用黎巴嫩为谈判筹码，要求伊朗停止干涉黎巴嫩内政。这是奥恩至今对伊朗和黎巴嫩真主党做出极为严厉的批评。伊朗已将黎巴嫩停火作为与美国达成和平协议的先决条件。

奥恩接受美国有线电视新闻网（CNN）访问时说，黎巴嫩人民正在为伊朗的利益付出代价，并对以色列和真主党之间的战争感到厌倦。

他指伊朗把黎巴嫩当成跟美国谈判的筹码，并说：“这是无法令人接受的。”

同天，黎巴嫩总理萨拉姆在贝鲁特举行的记者会上，直接向伊朗领导人喊话，他说：“请放过我们（黎巴嫩）的南方，不要再把黎南及当地居民当作谈判筹码。”

萨拉姆又说：“我们是一个主权国家的人民，我们拒绝成为其他国家开战的公开战场。”

黎巴嫩政府说，自3月以来，以色列的袭击已造成黎巴嫩境内数千人死亡，约120万人流离失所。以军占领黎南大片土地。

自去年被议会选举为国家元首以来，奥恩一直敦促真主党和平解除武装。在以色列与真主党战斗初期，他呼吁真主党与以方面对面会谈，这进一步加剧了他与真主党的矛盾。

真主党周四反对黎巴嫩和以色列在美国斡旋下于华盛顿达成的停火协议。按照以黎的协议，真主党必须停止攻击，真主党武装人员必须撤出黎巴嫩南部。真主党领袖卡西姆称，黎巴嫩和以色列在华盛顿举行的直接会谈，遭到广大黎巴嫩民众的反对。

对此，奥恩周五回应说：“这不是你们的国家，这是我们的国家。”他又说：“你们没有权利干涉我们的国家。”

奥恩表示，真主党必须明白，除了通过谈判和外交手段，没有其他办法可以解决以黎问题。

他也说，处理真主党问题是黎巴嫩的责任，以色列自身无力解决。

奥恩指出，即使以色列夷平黎巴嫩整个国家，也永远无法实现铲除真主党的目标。“他们（以色列）已在加沙试过了，哈马斯至今依然存在。”

针对奥恩的指责，伊朗外长阿拉格齐周六在社交媒体平台X上说，如果黎巴嫩是伊朗的谈判筹码，美伊早就达成协议，他促请奥恩把黎巴嫩从真正的敌人手中拯救出来。

Spearfisher killed in Australia’s third fatal shark attack in 4 weeks

June 6, 2026 / 7:41 AM EDT / CBS/AP

A spearfisher was killed on Saturday in Australia’s third fatal shark attack in four weeks, police said.

The 35-year-old man was spearfishing with family off Michaelmas Island near the port city of Albany in Western Australia state when he was attacked before noon local time, a police statement said.

The man was brought by boat to Albany where paramedics were waiting but he could not be revived, police said. Authorities suspect a 15-foot white shark was responsible. Gregory Sharp, a commercial fisherman in the area, told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation there has been an increase in shark activity in the area recently.

“We do see an increase in larger sharks this time of the year, particularly chasing the sardine and the salmon along the coast, which is quite normal,” he said.

The spate of three fatalities is extraordinary in a nation that has averaged around three shark deaths a year in recent decades.

The last fatality was on May 24 when 39-year-old spearfisher Michael Jensz suffered unsurvivable head injuries in an attack on the Great Barrier Reef off Australia’s northeast coast. Bull sharks had been seen in the vicinity. Rob Parsonage, another boat charter operator with a vessel in the area at the time of the attack, said “the sharks are competing with the fishermen.”

A week earlier, on May 16, a 13-foot white shark fatally mauled 38-year-old spearfisher Steve Mattabonni northwest of Albany near Rottnest Island. The attack was witnessed by the man’s friends, Western Australia Police Sgt. Michael Wear said at the time. His friends tried to save him, but he could not be resuscitated after being bitten on the legs.

Mattaboni’s wife, Shirene, told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation that he had two young children. The family’s “hearts are irrevocably broken,” she said.

Australia’s only other fatal shark attack this year occurred in January, when a 12-year-old boy died in a hospital days after he was mauled by a bull shark in Sydney Harbor. Nico Antic’s family said he and friends had been jumping in the water when the attack happened. Recent rains had made the water murky, CBS News previously reported. Poor water quality is “really conducive” to shark activity, according to Australian officials.

Australian scientists believe increasingly crowded waters and rising ocean temperatures are swaying sharks’ migratory patterns, which may be contributing to a rise in attacks.

The International Shark Attack File, a database of global shark attacks maintained by the University of Florida, has recorded more than 1,280 shark incidents around Australia since 1791, including more than 250 fatal incidents.

Shark attack survivor helps prevent attacks
https://www.cbsnews.com/video/she-was-attacked-by-a-shark-at-15-heres-how-this-teen-is-helping-to-prevent-future-attacks/

She was attacked by a shark at 15. Here’s how this teen is helping to prevent future attacks.

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