RUSH HOUR: The stories you need to know today
JAPAN has faced one of the strongest and biggest storms to ever hit during summer, with winds of up to 216km/h paralysing the country’s southern islands.
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● Japan has faced one of the strongest and biggest storms to ever hit during summer
● David “The Wolfman” Williams has been named as part of an NRL betting scandal
● There are phenomenal scenes at the World Cup this morning with Germany trouncing Brazil 7-1
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10am
That’s it for our RUSH HOUR live news blog for this morning. You can get across the stories you need to know today below.
9.50am
Labor has called for an inquiry into the country’s financial services industry, slamming the government for inaction over the Commonwealth Bank scandal.
Opposition Leader Bill Shorten and shadow treasurer Chris Bowen are speaking at a press conference now, calling on the government to abandon its plans to “water down” regulations that require people giving financial advice to work in the best interests of the customer.
“Too many people had their lives devastated by some very bad and dodgy practices in financial advice,” shadow financial services minister Bernie Ripoll said at the press conference.
The Commonwealth Bank apologised last week for the dodgy advice its some of its financial advisers gave to customers over the past decade that saw thousands ripped off.
9.30am
Creeks and rivers in the Adelaide Hills flowing well this morning, more rain coming @TenNewsADEL #tennews pic.twitter.com/3FRpQqnMMh
— Matt Bonser (@Matt_Bonser) July 8, 2014Brollies at the ready, Adelaide!
The weather bureau has issued a severe weather warning for Adelaide and much of the South Australian coast for today.
Expect squally showers and possible thunderstorms, more frequent and heavy about the southern coasts and ranges. Damaging winds are also likely this morning.
The State Emergency Service has taken more than 40 calls for help since the first cold front moved through Adelaide late yesterday and expects more today.
Keep up to date with The Adverstier.
9.15am
Tony Abbott’s love-in with the Japanese Prime Minister will continue today, after the two countries signed a historic free trade agreement yesterday.
Mr Abbott will take Shinzo Abe on a tour of Western Australia’s Pilbara region today to show off the iron ore that built much of Japan.
They will top off the tour with a formal dinner in Perth in honour of Mr Abe’s visit tonight.
What does the free trade agreement mean for you? It’s likely to lead to cheaper cars and electronic appliances for Aussie consumers.
8.55am
She was once named among Interpol’s top 10 most wanted, but the Irish police don’t seem that interested in picking up alleged drug mule Lisa Marie Smith.
The wanted woman from Melbourne was at the centre of global search in 1996 after fleeing Thailand while on bail for drug smuggling charges.
The Irish Sun found her running a cafe in Dublin this week, but the Irish Republic police force has declined to comment on the case. If she stays in Ireland, she is unlikely to face extradition to Thailand.
Read more in the Herald Sun.
8.15am
David “The Wolfman” Williams has been named as part of a betting scandal that has rocked the NRL on the eve of the third State of Origin.
The NRL is on the verge of banning a star player for betting on rugby league games, Phil Rothfield reveals in The Daily Telegraph.
A big-name player from a Sydney club is expected to be suspended for six weeks for breaking the league’s strict gambling rules, and a number of other players are expected to be fined for betting in smaller amounts.
Williams is one player involved in the betting ring, but there is no suggestion Williams was involved in match fixing, nor did the bets involve his Manly team.
The third Origin match kicks off tonight at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane.
The drama comes one week after the Todd Carney photo shocker.
Read the full story in The Daily Telegraph.
8am
Wow wow wow this is crazy. Whens #BRA going to turn up. I know predict a few red cards now @FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/jXoSE5Ttla
— Tim Cahill (@Tim_Cahill) July 8, 2014Germany has dominated Brazil in a jaw-dropping World Cup semi-final, winning 7-1.
The astonishing match included Germany scoring four goals in seven minutes.
The match has already given birth to the meme #timcahilling, with a selfie shot of him expressing his shock sparking an internet phenomenon. (See all the hilarious reactions here.)
Read all about the stunning match in our live World Cup blog.
7.45am
A juvenile whale will remain stranded on a Gold Coast beach all day after three attempts to tow it out to sea this morning failed.
SeaWorld marine staff tried to rescue the whale on Palm Beach by strapping a harness around it and towing it at first light this morning but the rope snapped three times, The Courier-Mail reports.
Rescuers hope to refloat the whale at high tide this afternoon.
The sea mammal has been beached since about 7 last night.
Stay up to date with The Courier-Mail.
7.20am
Japan has faced one of the strongest and biggest storms to ever hit during the summer, with wind of up to 216km/h paralysing the country’s southern islands.
Typhoon Neoguri crippled transportation and knocked out power to thousands overnight.
The Okinawan government said 17 people were injured, one seriously, and a man has been reported missing from a fishing boat in rough seas off Kyushu island, to the north.
The typhoon is weakening, but torrential rain could cause greater damage if it moves across the Japanese archipelago as expected on Thursday or Friday.
7am
The woman caught in the middle of the love triangle suspected of sparking this week’s fatal knife attack in a western Sydney shopping centre sobbed uncontrollably as her accused boyfriend faced court yesterday.
Neda Esmaeili wept as her boyfriend of three years, Kazem Mohammadi Payam, 35, appeared in court over the stabbing death of her former partner Nabil Naser, 40, at Westfield Parramatta on Monday, The Daily Telegraph reports.
Mr Payam’s lawyer indicated that he planned to defend the murder charge.
Read the full story here.
6.40am
There are amazing scenes at the World Cup this morning with Germany scoring a phenomenal four goals within seven minutes.
Brazilian fans are in anguish as Germany continues to dominate the match 40 minutes in.
Germany scored early and then followed up with three goals in three minutes, and added a fifth four minutes after that. Brazil are yet to score.
Keep up with the match with our live World Cup blog here.
6.15am
One week after the Todd Carney photo shocker, rugby league is dealing with another scandal on the eve of the third State of Origin clash.
The NRL is on the verge of banning a star player for betting on rugby league games, Phil Rothfield reveals in The Daily Telegraph.
A big-name player from a Sydney club will be suspended for six weeks for breaking the league’s strict gambling rules.
A number of other players are expected to be fined for betting in smaller amounts.
The third Origin match kicks off tonight at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane.
6.01am
A WOMAN grounded flights at Brisbane Airport last night when she drove her car through a fence and onto the airfield.
Flights were held about 9.40pm while police detained the 37-year-old woman involved, The Courier-Mail reports. The woman has since been transported to the Royal Brisbane Hospital.
The runway has now reopened.
UPDATE: Our runway has reopened. Flights will resume soon. Thanks for your patience this evening.
— Brisbane Airport (@BrisbaneAirport) July 8, 20146am
Good morning, and welcome to our “headlines in a hurry” news coverage. We’ll be bringing you the morning’s biggest stories so you can get across the news quickly.
Originally published as RUSH HOUR: The stories you need to know today
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