RUSH HOUR: The stories you need to know today
INVESTIGATORS have revealed the gruesome way star Brisbane chef Peter Milos was allegedly killed.
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Today
● Police reveal the gruesome way star chef was allegedly killed
● What happened when Tony met Obama
● Harrison Ford injured on set of Star Wars sequel
10am
That’s it for our RUSH HOUR live blog for this morning. Catch up on all the stories you need to know today below.
9.49am
The Aussies have made the World Cup final!
… The hockey World Cup, that is.
While all eyes are on Brazil for the FIFA contest, the Australian women’s hockey team has made it into the hockey World Cup final against the Netherlands.
The Hockeyroos claimed a down-to-the-wire win over the US, 3-1 in the shootout after a 2-2 draw.
Saturday’s decider will be the first World Cup or Olympic Games final for the national team since 2006.
Thanks to @mike_stoba on Twitter for making sure we give the Aussies the credit they deserve.
.@newscomauHQ @JournoLawJSeems you missed some real news ..Aussies in World Cup FINAL !!@Hockeyroos @RHWC2014
— mike stoba photo (@mike_stoba) June 12, 2014 Sub-type: comment CAPTION: .@newscomauHQ @JournoLawJ Seems you missed some real news .. Aussies in World Cup FINAL !! @Hockeyroos @RHWC2014— mike stoba photo (@mike_stoba) June 12, 2014
9.20am
Julia Gillard tried many times to shut down the story when she was prime minister, but the allegation that she knew of and profited from an alleged slush fund continues to develop.
There was further evidence given to the royal commission into union corruption yesterday that Ms Gillard’s former boyfriend Bruce Wilson funnelled money from Australian Workers Union members into her home renovations.
The inquiry was told that the former Labor leader flew to Perth to help the then union boss rescue the alleged slush fund.
Mr Wilson defended Ms Gillard, denying he ever gave money to her for the renovations. Ms Gillard has also repeatedly denied allegations of wrongdoing.
9.10am
It couldn’t have started off worse for the host country, but Brazil have secured a 3-1 win over Croatia in the opening match of the World Cup in Sao Paulo.
Brazilian superstar Neymar scored a double with a long-rage strike before the half-hour siren and a penalty goal in the 71st minute.
It was a horror start for the host nation, with Marcelo scoring an own goal in the 11th minute.
Here’s a full rundown of the exciting opener.
9am
The youth jobless rate has hit its highest level in two decades, right when the government has committed to getting tough on welfare for young people.
New figures show that only 57.4 per cent of Australians aged 15 to 24 are working, the lowest level since September of 1994.
Despite the dire figures, Employment Minister Eric Abetz has stood by the government’s Budget policies that severely cut unemployment benefits to those under 30.
Read more in The Australian.
8.40am
Get up to date with how the markets fared overnight with our round-the-world finance wrap.
8.25am
Essendon will fight back against doping claimsafter its players were issued with legal notices yesterday.
The Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority has informed 34 AFL players that they had a case to answer over the club’s 2012 supplements program, after its sensational 16-month investigation.
Bombers sources said the club would seek a Federal Court ruling that the AFL-ASADA investigation was unlawful.
8.10am
Islamic militants who seized cities and towns across Iraq have vowed to march on the capital Baghdad to settle old scores.
The jihadists, the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, have trumpeted their victory, declaring that they would impose Shariah law in Mosul and other areas they have captured, AP reports.
The crisis amounts to the biggest threat to Iraq’s stability since the US withdrawal.
President Barack Obama said Iraq will need more help from the US, but he did not specify what it would be willing to provide.
7.40am
Former Aussie swimming champ Lisa Curry has revealed that a bizarre medical condition called rushing women’s syndrome is the reason her marriage to former ironman Grant Kenny broke down.
In an interview with A Current Affair last night, Curry said the hormonal imbalance led to her feeling like she was constantly in a rush.
“I had days where I just felt completely out of control,” the 52-year-old said.
“I was angry, irritable, moody, cried for no reason, and wanted to kill the world.”
Read more here.
7.25am
The mysterious death of British actor Rik Mayall has been explained.
The Young Ones and Blackadder star suffered a heart attack after going for a run, his widow Barbara said in a statement.
The 56-year-old was found dead at his home in southwest London on Monday.
7am
Brisbane chef Peter Milos was bludgeoned to death with spirit level and a hammer — and minutes later his alleged attacker walked into a KFC, Queensland police claim.
Investigators allege that Mr Milos was invited into the suburban Brisbane home of the accused murderer, his friend James Thomas Howell, on May 4 with the text message “Just open garage door”, The Courier Mail reports.
Mr Howell, 35, is accused of delivering 13 blows to the head of Milos and leaving the crime scene with a green bag stained with the victim’s blood.
His lawyer has indicated that Mr Howell will plead not guilty to the murder charge.
6.38am
Is Harrison Ford a little too old to be still playing an action hero?
The Hollywood veteran was taken to hospital overnight after he hurt his ankle on the set of Star Wars: Episode VII.
The 71-year-old was injured by the door of Han Solo’s spaceship, the Millennium Falcon, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
It’s enough to make Chewbacca cry.
The Star Wars sequel, directed by JJ Abrams, is scheduled to hit cinemas in December 2015.
6.15am
Well, that’s an inauspicious start if ever I’ve seen one.
World Cup 2014 has got off to an embarrassing start for Brazil with the first point of the competition an own goal off the boot of Marcelo in the 11th minute.
The Cup’s host country is currently playing Croatian in the first of 64 matches.
Stay up to date with the first game with our live blog.
6am
It was predicted to be a majorly awkward point of contention when the US President and Australian Prime Minister met for the first time.
But both Barack Obama and Tony Abbott made it through the topic of climate change without any drama during their Oval Office meeting overnight.
In fact, Mr Obama conceded that Mr Abbott’s election victory had given him a clear mandate to scrap the carbon tax.
Mr Abbott said the two countries’ environmental strategies actually had plenty in common, including plans to reduce pollution from power stations.
The Aussie PM said he was committed to Australia’s emission cut targets and pointed to the country’s fuel excise, which could address emissions indirectly.
Beyond climate change, the two leaders discussed strengthening the countries’ military ties, including stationing more American troops and military assets in Australia.
“Aussies know how to fight. I like to have them in a foxhole when we are in trouble,” Mr Obama said.
Originally published as RUSH HOUR: The stories you need to know today
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