Start your day off right with five things you need to know this morning.
Five things you need to know
Investigators in South Africa are continuing to probe the deaths of 21 teenagers in mysterious circumstances. Officials said there were no visible injuries on the youngsters, who died in a tavern in the city of East London.
At least 17 young people are found dead in a tavern in East London, South Africa. Police say the cause is being investigated. https://t.co/DVJeP0Yru5
— CNN Breaking News (@cnnbrk) June 26, 2022
The Japanese government has urged people in Tokyo to use less power on Monday after warning of a potential energy shortage due to a heatwave. The government said people should continue to use air conditioners to avoid heatstroke, but should turn off lights and other electrical devices.
Japanese told to turn off lights to save energy amid Tokyo heatwave https://t.co/sxB2368Tar
— The Guardian (@guardian) June 27, 2022
Observers have said Russia has defaulted on its debt for the first time since 1998 after missing a $100 million interest payment. Russia, however, called the situation a "farce" because it only failed to make the payment due to Western sanctions.
Russia in first foreign debt default in over a century, bondholders claim https://t.co/6CvuseuoYH
— Sky News (@SkyNews) June 27, 2022
Some corporate giants in the US have said they will pay for their staff to receive abortions after the Supreme Court ruled that individual states can determine their own laws on the practice. JP Morgan, Goldman Sachs, Facebook and Disney are among the companies to announce policies to pay for employees' abortion-related expenses.
US firms pledge to pay staff travel expenses for abortions https://t.co/Uafi463lHi
— BBC News (World) (@BBCWorld) June 27, 2022
A watchdog is investigating after a newspaper reported that a Qatari sheikh gave millions of euros in cash – some of it in a suitcase – to a non-profit operated by Prince Charles. Representatives of the heir to the throne said "all correct processes were followed" when the donation was made.
The British royal's office said the money -- reportedly $3.2 million that was partially delivered in a suitcase and in shopping bags -- was deposited in his charity accounts. https://t.co/BydBnsNyBk
— HuffPost (@HuffPost) June 26, 2022
In happier news, NASA has launched its first rocket from a commercial site outside the United States. The sub-orbital rocket fired off from Australia's Northern Territory and will be used to study the impact of a star's light on the habitability of planets.
Lift-off! In a first for Australia, NASA launched a commercial rocket from a remote area of the Northern Territory overnight. https://t.co/6Neqz5dKm4
— Herald Sun (@theheraldsun) June 27, 2022
