1. NSW lockdown to be extended for four weeks

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian will today announce that NSW will remain in lockdown for an additional four weeks from Friday. Concessions for the construction industry and students in year 12 are also expected to be introduced.

2. Crown repays $61 million to the Victorian government

Crown Resorts has paid $61 million to the Victorian government, including $37 million in unpaid taxes and $24 million in penalty interest. Crown could owe the state up to $480 million according to prosecutors at the Victorian royal commission.

3. 70% of adults in the EU have received at least one coronavirus shot

The European Union has reached its goal of 70% of all adults in its 27 member states receiving at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. EU chief Ursula von der Leyen said that 57% of adults are now fully vaccinated. "The Delta variant is very dangerous. I call on everyone who can to get vaccinated. For your health and to protect others," von der Leyen said.

4. New York restaurant breaks record with $270 fries

Serendipty3 in Manhattan has earned the Guinness World Record for most expensive French fries with its dish 'Crème de la Crème Pomme Frites'. The US$200 ($270) fries are blanched in champagne, fried in goose fat from France and served with shaved truffle and edible gold.

5. Nasdaq falls more than 1%

All three major US indexes fell from Monday's record highs on Tuesday, with the Nasdaq closing down 180.14 points or 1.21% to 14,660.58, the S&P 500 dropping 20.84 points or 0.47% to 4,401.46 and the Dow Jones falling 85.79 points or 0.24% to 35,058.52.