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North Korea claims to have successfully tested its first Intercontinental ballistic missile. A missile was fired this morning from a site on North Korea's border with China, it travelled for 40 minutes, before splashing down in the Sea of Japan. It looks to have been timed to coincide with US Independence Day celebrations and comes just days after President Trump met with the South Korean President and said the era of 'strategic patience' with North Korea had passed.

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop is in Central America but has released a statement this evening saying: 'Australia condemns North Korea's provocative ballistic tests in breach of numerous UN security council resolutions. North Korea's long-term interests would be best served in ceasing its nuclear and missile programs and focussing on improving the lives of its long-suffering people.' Joining PM to discuss North Korea's missile launch is Dr Malcolm Davis, a senior analyst at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute.

Federal Police are investigating, following revelations the Medicare Card details of Australians were for sale on the 'dark web.' There are reports about 75 Australian's have had their Medicare card number and expiry date stolen. The Human Services Minister won't confirm or deny the figure. The Government says there has not been a cyber security breach of its systems, rather an act by traditional criminals aiming to make some cash.

The Reserve Bank has kept the official cash rate unchanged at 1.5 per cent for the 11th straight month. Australia's central bank is walking a tight-rope, balancing risks in the property market, while simultaneously trying to lift spending in the economy.

As the deadlock in the cricket pay dispute continues, it's becoming increasingly unlikely a scheduled tour of South Africa will go ahead this week. While Australia A players train in Brisbane as an act of what they're calling 'good faith', behind the scenes it appears the impasse is far from being resolved. And while a player boycott of the South Africa tour may not break the game, many are beginning to wonder how long negotiations could take, as a summer of cricket looms.

If you were trying to convince to a billion or more people about the merits of a new tax, would you use the theme for Darth Vader? India's chattering classes spent yesterday scratching their heads over that very question, after their Prime Minister Narendra Modi closed out a speech about a goods and services tax to the ominous score from the Star Wars films.

The money drug companies are spending wining and dining doctors is back in the spotlight following new analysis from The University of Sydney. The study found in the four years between 2011 and 2015 pharmaceutical companies sponsored 600 events a week.

The Institute of Marine and Antarctic Studies at the University of Tasmania use tags to track salmon in Macquarie Harbour on Tasmania's west coast. They found that in the hottest summer on record in 2015-2016 the salmon swam into the mid waters of their cages to escape low oxygen levels in the waters below them and warmer waters above.

The Northern Territory Government will retain a 20 per cent stake in the Darwin port that was sold to the Chinese-owned Landbridge group in 2015. The Northern Territory Government won't receive a financial return for its share, but will have input on executive-level appointments for Landbridge in Australia. Under the terms of the 99-year lease, a 20 per cent stake in the operations of the port had to stay in Australian hands.

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