Hi there, it's Monday, June 27. Here's what you need to get going today.
One thing to know right now: An Australian space launch
It's the first commercial rocket launch in Australia's history and NASA's first from here in over 25 years. Here's the lowdown:
- Rain and wind delayed the launch by more than an hour, but take-off happened early on Monday
- The rocket is expected to fly about 300 kilometres into space to conduct astrophysics studies
- Yirrkala School co-principal Merrkiyawuy Ganambarr-Stubbs was one of the people who viewed the launch in Arnhem Land and said it was "unbelievable for something like this to happen here on Yolngu country"
What you’ll be hearing about today: G7 jokes, Biden and China
- The key summit (with leaders of Japan, Canada, the US, UK, Italy, France and Germany, plus the EU) saw a massive $860 billion investment program unveiled for developing countries, to rival China's controversial Belt and Road Initiative
- But world leaders were caught mocking Russia's President Vladimir Putin at the meeting in Germany. Boris Johnson joked they should take their jackets off while Justin Trudeau suggested some horse riding:
- Ukraine's capital had also been hit with a series of Russian air strikes, which officials say is a warning to those at the meeting
- And on the international summit front, Anthony Albanese will arrive in Europe later today for a NATO meeting dominated by the war in Ukraine — he'll travel to Paris to meet the French President and has been invited to visit the Ukrainian capital Kyiv (but is taking advice on if that's safe)
And back home:
- There'll be "significant delays" from tomorrow until the end of the week for commuters across New South Wales, with industrial action incoming
- The Rail, Tram and Bus Union says drivers will reduce the speed of trains from tomorrow and peak-hour services will be cut by up to 75 per cent — it's down to concerns over safety for the new InterCity train fleet
News while you snoozed
Let's get you up to speed.
- Police in South Africa are investigating how at least 22 young people died in a nightclub in the city of East London — they were celebrating the end of school exams. Local media said the bodies were strewn across tables and chairs without any visible signs of injuries
- Four people have been killed and hundreds were injured after a stand collapsed during a bullfight in the municipality of El Espina in central Colombia, the BBC reported, citing local media
- Jacinta Allan will be sworn in as Victoria's new deputy premier today, alongside a revamped cabinet. The Labor caucus voted over the weekend, after the resignation of four senior government ministers who announced they would not recontest at this year's state election
The news Australia is searching for
- State of Origin: Yep, it was a thrashing — NSW took the second game of the series, beating Queensland 44-12. And it was allll about the Panthers on the side:
- Paul McCartney: The former Beatle *finally* made it to the UK's Glastonbury Festival – two years after he was originally slated to headline the event. He also brought Foo Fighters' Dave Grohl on stage for his first public performance since the band's drummer, Taylor Hawkins, died:
One more thing: Top Gun is smashing records
They're feeling the need… the need for speed (and a whole lot of money).
It's just the second film to break the $US1 billion mark at the worldwide box office since the pandemic began.
In its fifth week of release, Top Gun: Maverick has earned slightly more than half of its takings in the United States.
The film is the biggest ever for Tom Cruise, coming 36 years after the original Top Gun film was released.
That's it for now
We'll be back later on with more.
ABC/wires
