What we learned today, Sunday 16 June
We’re going to wrap things up for the day. Here’s what happened:
The Chinese premier, Li Qiang, has announced that China will loan Adelaide zoo two new “adorable” giant pandas to replace a popular pair, on the second day of his visit to Australia. Adelaide zoo has been home to Wang Wang and Fu Ni since 2009 when they were loaned by China as part of a global preservation scheme that also serves as a tool of “panda diplomacy”.
Penny Wong was asked this morning whether Australia is selling weapons to Israel, in breach of an international arms trade treaty, as the Greens have repeatedly alleged. Wong says these allegations by the Greens are being used to “incite conflict in Australia”, which she calls “reprehensible”. This has been one of the most heavily contested areas of political debate in Australia’s response to the war in Gaza.
The Reserve Bank of Australia is expected to keep the cash rate steady at its board meeting this week, sparing homeowners any increase in rate hikes, but also delaying a long-awaited rate cut that might see mortgage-holders granted any relief, economists say.
The New South Wales premier, Chris Minns, has apologised for the cancellation of the drone light show at Vivid last night. The cancellation, on the final night of Vivid, was announced just 20 minutes before it was due to start. Minns apologised for the disappointment and said the decision to cancel had been made by the drone operator due to inclement weather.
A search and rescue operation is under way to locate a man, missing from a vessel which overturned off Lady Elliot Island near Gladstone in central Queensland, on Sunday morning. Two people were rescued by helicopter from the water. They were winched to safety and taken to hospital for treatment.
Thanks for reading, we’ll see you tomorrow.
Updated
Bad weather prevented drone show on final night of Vivid Sydney, Minns says
The New South Wales premier, Chris Minns, has apologised for the cancellation of the drone light show at Vivid last night. The cancellation of the show, on the final night of Vivid, was announced just 20 minutes before it was due to start.
Minns apologised for the disappointment and said the decision to cancel had been made by the drone operator due to inclement weather and that it had been made as late as possible to see whether the program could still go ahead:
Unfortunately, it wasn’t possible. I’m really sorry about that. I know a lot of families and a lot of kids were looking forward to it … It’s deeply regrettable and I’m sincerely sorry.
I know families are doing it really tough at the moment and the free entertainment that comes about as a result of Vivid and the drone show is welcome because it means that you can take your kids and your family and doesn’t cost anything.
Minns said he was “determined” to offer more free entertainment in Sydney in the next 12 month:
This one didn’t go to plan but there’ll be many other opportunities in months and years ahead.
Updated
