RUSH HOUR: The stories you need to know today
CHINA ‘doesn’t respect weakness’ or Julie Bishop it seems. The Foreign Minister has been labelled a ‘complete fool’.
TODAY
• Two young men have been found dead this morning after a tornado hit Perth.
• A 3-year-old girl who was pronounced dead after a fever woke up in a coffin, during her funeral ceremony.
• People in Adelaide really excited for a sweet treat, lining up for two days
10am
That’s it for our live #RUSHHOUR news blog. You can get across the stories you need to know today below or go to news.com.au for the latest headlines.
9.30am
Foreign Minister Julie Bishop has been called a “complete fool” by a Chinese paper.
The state-owned Global Times published a strong editorial expressing how appalled the Chinese people were by Ms Bishop’s comments that Australia will “stand up to China to defend people, liberal values and the rule of law”. She said “China doesn’t respect weakness”.
“Bishop’s verbal provocation made her look more like one of the often pointless “angry youths” found in the Chinese cyber sphere than a diplomat,” the editorial said.
But a Chinese version of the editorial went further, saying “China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs doesn’t even have the tools to deal with this kind of ‘complete fool’ of a foreign minister.”
9am
Victoria’s biggest class action has been settled, with taxpayers to fork out about $100 million to victims of the Black Saturday Kilmore East fire, which killed 119 people.
The victims of the Kilmore East fire, who had sued the State Government, power company SP Ausnet and asset manager Utility Services Group, are set to collect about $494 million.
8.15am
Washington has warned its Israeli ally against any ground invasion of Gaza, as Egyptian officials say the US top diplomat is headed to the region to join efforts to end a week of deadly violence.
The White House stopped short of criticising Israel over the civilian casualty toll from its devastating air and artillery bombardment of the densely populated Palestinian enclave that has drawn flak from the UN and human rights watchdogs.
But it said even more civilians would be put at risk were Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to heed hardliners in his governing coalition and send in troops and armour.
7.50am
People in Adelaide really excited for Krispy Kreme, lining up for two days ahead of the doughnut chain’s opening this morning.
No biggie, just ppl camping out for the opening of Krispy Kreme in Adelaide. Cld this be bigger than Wang Wang & Funi pic.twitter.com/FYORJllxqM
— Sam Mac (McMillan) (@MrSamMac) July 14, 20147.30am
Two Australians and a Spaniard have been gored in the final and longest bull run of this year’s San Fermin festival as it wound up in Spain’s northern city of Pamplona.
A 24-year-old Australian man was gored in the right thigh while a 26-year-old Australian was gored three times, the regional government of Navarra said in a statement.
7.15am
William Hague is to stand down as British foreign secretary, BBC is reporting.
The former Leader of the Conservative Party, will stay on in cabinet as Leader of the Commons but will leave Parliament at the 2015 general election after 26 years.
7am
An exclusive series of Newspoll surveys, commissioned to mark The Australian’s half-century anniversary, reveals strong sentiments of pride and patriotism among Australians.
According to the survey, one in three Australians thinks this is the “best country in the world’’ - a sentiment felt most strongly by older and poorer Australians.
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Seven out of 10 Australians regard Australia as a place where people get a “fair go’’, and 37 per cent are in strong agreement. The concept of mateship remains robust. Three-quarters of Australians agree this is a country where people look after those around them, are loyal and do the right thing by their friends.
6.55am
The Costa Concordia cruise ship has been refloated for the first time since it crashed in 2012, claiming 32 lives.
To check out how it was done, click here.
6.45am
A 3-year-old girl who was pronounced dead after a fever woke up a day later — in a coffin, during her funeral ceremony.
Police confirmed the incredible incident to the Philippine Star, after footage of the child seemingly rising from the dead at the church service in Bayabas went viral over the weekend.
The toddler was apparently taken to a local hospital on Friday after suffering a severe fever and was found to be clinically dead with no pulse.
The grave error was only discovered when a funeral attendee removed the cover of the girl’s coffin and saw her head move.
6.40am
The Government’s carbon tax repeal legislation has passed through the Lower House — and this time Clive Palmer’s party supported it.
The repeal legislation, with Mr Palmer’s amendment, passed the Lower House just before 6pm.
It will now move to the Upper House for the third time.
6.25am
TWO young men have been found dead this morning after a tornado hit Perth.
Both men were aged 25 years old and relied on electronic medical equipment. Western Australia Police said they had pre-existing conditions that required medical assistance.
The Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) confirmed the wild weather that hit Hilton, O’Connor and Claremont was a tornado.
As well as downing power lines, it tore roofs off homes, smashed trees and sent a dinghy flying into the front yard of a house.
6am
Good morning, and welcome to our morning news coverage. We will be bringing you the best of what’s happening this morning, so you can get across the news quickly.
PM dodges $3m super tax question
Anthony Albanese sidestepped a question on whether he’ll be immediately hit with Labor’s proposed tax of super balances above $3m.
Dad’s funeral refusal ‘discrimination’: court
A man has claimed he was subject to religious discrimination after the government refused to pay for his deceased father’s Greek Orthodox funeral when he could not afford it.
Dire warning for Aussie favourite getaway
A major warning has been issued for travellers planning to head to a favourite Aussie tourist getaway – urging them to “exercise a high degree of caution”.