7News Just In

In one of his final public appearances, Sam Neill read the iconic poem For the Fallen by Laurence Binyon during the ANZAC Day Eve Sunset Tribute at the Sydney Opera House. The beloved actor, best known for the Jurassic Park franchise, has died aged 78, surrounded by his family. His passing comes after he recently revealed he was cancer-free following a diagnosis of a rare form of blood cancer in March 2022.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A new poll reveals 61% of Australians want house prices to fall, with support spanning across all political parties including homeowners and investors. Cricket Australia faces criticism for not planning to sing the national anthem at the Big Bash final on Australia Day, with Indigenous Olympic gold medallist Nova Peris calling for its inclusion as a uniting gesture. Director Christopher Nolan dismisses concerns about AI replacing actors and film technicians as 'nonsense', noting young audiences are rejecting AI-generated content dubbed 'AI slop'.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Telstra is offering compensation to customers affected by its major nationwide outage last week, but claimants must provide evidence of losses through a complaints process. A software defect caused widespread disruption including halted rail networks, failed payment systems and impacts on millions of Australians. Unlike Optus's automatic $100 data credit after its 2023 outage, Telstra requires documentation proving financial losses, while Victoria's government is reimbursing travellers for extra costs but not lost income.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

At least 28 people have died and 73 were injured in a deadly fire at a bar in Bangkok's tourism district. Initial investigations suggest the blaze was caused by a short circuit in a ceiling-mounted air conditioning unit, with officials examining possible negligence over blocked emergency exits that prevented people from escaping. The Department of Foreign Affairs is working to determine if any Australians were affected by the tragedy.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A 26-year-old man was killed in Maine in a fatal shooting involving U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers, marking the second deadly ICE-involved shooting within a week. The Department of Homeland Security states the officer feared for public safety, while witnesses including Daniel Boucher described hearing gunshots and seeing the bloodied victim being removed from a vehicle. Days earlier, another ICE officer fatally shot a Mexican immigrant during a traffic stop in Houston, Texas.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

French President Emmanuel Macron will oversee the largest military parade in France since the Second World War for Bastille Day celebrations. The event will feature 6,000 military personnel marching down the Champs-Élysées, including 500 troops from countries supporting Ukraine, with Ukraine's war effort against Russia serving as the centrepiece. World leaders from 30 nations, including Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky and British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, are expected to attend the commemoration of the French Revolution's pivotal moment.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Andy Burnham is set to become Britain's next Prime Minister after receiving endorsement from 349 Labour Party MPs, following Sir Keir Starmer's impending resignation due to falling opinion polls and the rise of Reform UK. Counter-terrorism police have joined the investigation into the murder of 78-year-old former Conservative MP Ann Widdecombe, who had joined Reform UK, with a 28-year-old British man arrested in Rotherham in connection with her death at her isolated Devon home.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Actor Sam Neill has died in Sydney at age 76, with his family by his side at St Vincent's Hospital. The New Zealand-born actor, known for iconic roles in Jurassic Park and My Brilliant Career, had recently declared himself cancer-free after battling a rare form of blood cancer for four years. Tributes have poured in from both Australian and New Zealand leaders, honouring his five-decade career and contribution to cinema.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A 45-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder following two separate attacks in Sydney, including the brutal assault of a 74-year-old pensioner in Enoora who remains fighting for life. Two separate fire incidents occurred overnight: a blaze destroyed two apartments in a Carlton North multi-storey complex on Lygon Street, forcing a family to evacuate safely, and a Lebanese seafood restaurant in Villawood, Sydney's west, was engulfed in flames. All occupants escaped without injury in both fire incidents, with investigations ongoing into the causes.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

President Trump has announced the US will reinstate a blockade and become the 'guardian of the Strait of Hormuz', charging other nations a 20% fee on all cargo shipped through the waterway for providing safety and security. Iran's foreign minister has responded by asserting that Iran has always been and will remain the guardian of the Strait, suggesting their fees would be more fair than the proposed 20%. The US blockade is set to commence within 25 minutes of the announcement.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.